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The Joplin Horror

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Pub Date May 25 2027 | Archive Date Jun 29 2027

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Description

"A horrific thrill-ride as could've been penned by the late, great Donald Westlake. Spare prose, hardboiled characters, dancing to a high-octane Lovecraftian beat." —Nick Cutter, author of The Troop

When a crew of graverobbers targets an ancient mausoleum, they find themselves pursued through a labyrinth by something more than shadow and less than human.

This cinematic, psychological horror debut by an award-winning screenwriter is perfect for fans of Mark Z. Danielewski, Chuck Wendig, and Paul Tremblay.


Remember or die.

They should have known. There were signs. The groundskeeper’s warning, the little boy locked in the attic, all those missing persons posters… but there’s good money in robbing graves, and Alexis and her crew aren’t big believers in anything they can’t touch or kill.

Deep in the Joplin cemetery’s underbelly, they find uncountable halls and swirling tentacles of fathomless non-directions, all looping back to a windowless cabin surrounded by bones. When the staircase behind them seemingly vanishes, looting becomes secondary to survival.

That body on the floor—was that somehow their doing? Have they been through this hallway before? Some memories are swallowed, down here in the dark. Others, long buried, are regurgitated.

Plagued by rising tensions, impossible visions of past trauma, and an entity dubbed “The Lurker” that hunts them from just beyond their dying light, Alexis and her friends must figure out what’s happening and escape before it’s too late… or lose their minds trying.

Brilliant, original, the haunt that creeps at the edges of drowsy eyes: this lightning-quick read will speed past like a terrifying movie in your head. Joplin is a hungry mouth. Soon, you’ll meet its teeth.
"A horrific thrill-ride as could've been penned by the late, great Donald Westlake. Spare prose, hardboiled characters, dancing to a high-octane Lovecraftian beat." —Nick Cutter, author of The Troop

...

A Note From the Publisher

For Readers Who:
- Enjoy literary horror novels like House of Leaves and also to those who love commercial psychological horror authors like Chuck Wendig, Josh Malerman, and Paul Tremblay.
- Are looking for book with escalting twists and puzzles perfect for disection at their next horror book club
- A debut that layers dark comedy over raw emotion and terrifying psychological twists

For Readers Who:
- Enjoy literary horror novels like House of Leaves and also to those who love commercial psychological horror authors like Chuck Wendig, Josh Malerman, and Paul Tremblay.
- Are...


Advance Praise

"A horrific thrill-ride as could've been penned by the late, great Donald Westlake. Spare prose, hardboiled characters, dancing to a high-octane Lovecraftian beat." —Nick Cutter, author of The Troop

"A horrific thrill-ride as could've been penned by the late, great Donald Westlake. Spare prose, hardboiled characters, dancing to a high-octane Lovecraftian beat." —Nick Cutter, author of The Troop


Marketing Plan

  • National print and online publicity campaign
  • Winter Institute feature author
  • ABA digital mailing
  • Influencer mailing with branded keychain flashlight
  • West coast events
  • Book Club event kit & discussion guide
  • “Summer Reading” social media campaign & sell-sheet
  • Premium giveaway on Goodreads
  • Additional giveaways on The StoryGraph, and social media
  • Lead title in our “Summerween” and “Spooky Season” social media campaigns
  • Pre-pub advertising on social media and NetGalley
  • On-sale on Book Riot, Fangoria, and Goodreads, and social media targeting horror readers
  • National print and online publicity campaign
  • Winter Institute feature author
  • ABA digital mailing
  • Influencer mailing with branded keychain flashlight
  • West coast events
  • Book Club event kit & discussion guide
  • ...

Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9780756421427
PRICE $15.99 (USD)
PAGES 240

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Available to Buy

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*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

BISAC Codes

FIC015050 FICTION / Horror / Psychological
FIC019000 FICTION / Literary
FIC015020 FICTION / Horror / Cosmic & Eldritch