This psychological thriller follows a family to their Appalachian farmhouse, where they encounter an unimaginable horror.
In the summer of 1994, psychologist Daniel Hill buys a rustic farmhouse nestled in the rolling hills of West Virginia.
Along with his wife and teenage daughter, the family uproots their lives in Ohio and moves south. They are initially seduced by the natural beauty of the country setting. That soon changes when they discover a hidden room in the basement with a well, boarded shut and adorned with crucifixes.
Local legends about the previous owner being an exorcist come to light, but by then, all Hell has broken loose.
This 1990s horror novel is perfect for fans of family thriller books, stories of demonic possession, exorcism fiction, the occult, or thrillers like The Exorcist, A Head Full of Ghosts, and The Amityville Horror.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing-Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Bryan and Ellie Stockton hope they left behind their demons when they move to their idyllic new home in southern West Virginia. Above all, they want a fresh start for their young son, Derrick, who witnessed the tumultuous first years of their marriage - years that were rife with substance abuse, rage, and resentment. Their bright hope for the future is darkened when a child disappears from their neighborhood. The couple becomes suspicious of a reclusive resident with a degenerative brain disorder. Strange events begin to happen in their house just as Derrick tells them about a new friend who visits him at night. Their son might be acting out from the trauma he endured, or he could be the obsession of something much more sinister.
An alcoholic teacher and father's world spirals out of control when a former student is killed and he is left with her dog and the dark presence that follows it.
Matt Matheny teaches during the day, drinks at night, and barely hides his functioning alcoholism from his veterinarian ex-wife, Lucy, and his six-year-old son, Mikey. His world spirals out of control when a former student is killed, and he's left with her dog, Conehead. But something isn't right with Conehead. A dark presence follows him, and very soon, people around him die. Matt realizes the only way to protect his son is to sober up and work with Lucy to expose the dog's mysterious past and face a secret so shocking-an evil so relentless-that it threatens to unleash hell on an entire town.
Taut, disturbing, and undeniably heartwrenching, Mean Spirited is a breakneck horror-thriller that pits compassion against survival. The plot is as thought-provoking as it is terrifying, and exposes the depth of soul Roberts pours into his work.-Felix Blackwell, author of Stolen Tongues
This horror novel pays homage to Stephen King's Cujo, and films like It Follows
and The Strangers. It is a haunting and suspenseful exploration of the unseen and the supernatural, set against the seemingly tranquil backdrop of rural West Virginia. Nick Roberts masterfully builds tension and atmosphere, creating a sense of impending doom with meticulous detailing and vivid imagery. The psychological exploration elevates the narrative, making Mean Spirited a compelling read for those who seek a blend of horror, mystery, and emotional depth.
Whether you are a seasoned fan of the genre or a curious newcomer, Mean Spirited promises a gripping and thought-provoking journey into the realms of the supernatural.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing-Tales from the Darkest Depths
In chasing devils, all roads lead to Hell.
1967: A brutal murder occurs at the Weston State Hospital in West Virginia. To amateur exorcist, Merle Blatty, this shocking story rings of the occult. Fueled by a desire to avenge the deaths of his wife and son, Merle investigates the case, unknowingly stepping into a sinister web spanning decades.
1997: It's been three years since the Hill family left the nightmares of the farm behind them. Alice is off to college while Daniel and Nora are closer than ever, living in Ohio and raising their three-year-old daughter, Maren. Their high hopes for the future are quickly extinguished when they receive a call, learning of a plan by Adam, Daniel's brother, to purchase the exorcist's former property and stage an Amityville-inspired haunting to profit from the story.
By alternating past and present narratives, The Exorcist's House: Genesis is a multi-generational odyssey through Hell, giving birth to a new breed of horror.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing-Tales from the Darkest Depths.
This psychological thriller follows a family to their Appalachian farmhouse, where they encounter an unimaginable horror.
In the summer of 1994, psychologist Daniel Hill buys a rustic farmhouse nestled in the rolling hills of West Virginia.
Along with his wife and teenage daughter, the family uproots their lives in Ohio and moves south. They are initially seduced by the natural beauty of the country setting. That soon changes when they discover a hidden room in the basement with a well, boarded shut and adorned with crucifixes.
Local legends about the previous owner being an exorcist come to light, but by then, all Hell has broken loose.
This 1990s horror novel is perfect for fans of family thriller books, stories of demonic possession, exorcism fiction, the occult, or thrillers like The Exorcist, A Head Full of Ghosts, and The Amityville Horror.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing-Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Maverick Hall has repressed the horrors he endured on his thirteenth birthday during the summer of 1999.
He's buried the memory of sneaking out with his best friends, riding bikes through that tunnel. And how one of them disappeared inside.
Now, a sinister presence is calling him back home, back to a neighborhood riddled with mystery, deception, and death. There, he must confront the nightmare looming in the darkness, hungrily awaiting his return.
In chasing devils, all roads lead to Hell.
1967: A brutal murder occurs at the Weston State Hospital in West Virginia. To amateur exorcist, Merle Blatty, this shocking story rings of the occult. Fueled by a desire to avenge the deaths of his wife and son, Merle investigates the case, unknowingly stepping into a sinister web spanning decades.
1997: It's been three years since the Hill family left the nightmares of the farm behind them. Alice is off to college while Daniel and Nora are closer than ever, living in Ohio and raising their three-year-old daughter, Maren. Their high hopes for the future are quickly extinguished when they receive a call, learning of a plan by Adam, Daniel's brother, to purchase the exorcist's former property and stage an Amityville-inspired haunting to profit from the story.
By alternating past and present narratives, The Exorcist's House: Genesis is a multi-generational odyssey through Hell, giving birth to a new breed of horror.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing-Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Derrick Stockton is in his mid-twenties, approaching three years sober, and working a stable job in Ohio. After surviving the seemingly random horrors of his childhood at the hands of a sinister neighbor, he believes he's finally moved on.
All that changes when a brutal murder occurs in his home state of West Virginia. His name is written in blood at the crime scene, and the only evidence is a blurry surveillance video offering a glimpse of the killer, one he knows to be long dead.
As the people closest to him are targeted by a mysterious figure, he works with state police to stop the growing body count. With the help of his support group, Derrick must confront the demons of his past to save his life and his sanity.
An alcoholic teacher and father's world spirals out of control when a former student is killed and he is left with her dog and the dark presence that follows it.
Matt Matheny teaches during the day, drinks at night, and barely hides his functioning alcoholism from his veterinarian ex-wife, Lucy, and his six-year-old son, Mikey. His world spirals out of control when a former student is killed, and he's left with her dog, Conehead. But something isn't right with Conehead. A dark presence follows him, and very soon, people around him die. Matt realizes the only way to protect his son is to sober up and work with Lucy to expose the dog's mysterious past and face a secret so shocking-an evil so relentless-that it threatens to unleash hell on an entire town.
Taut, disturbing, and undeniably heartwrenching, Mean Spirited is a breakneck horror-thriller that pits compassion against survival. The plot is as thought-provoking as it is terrifying, and exposes the depth of soul Roberts pours into his work.-Felix Blackwell, author of Stolen Tongues
This horror novel pays homage to Stephen King's Cujo, and films like It Follows and The Strangers. It is a haunting and suspenseful exploration of the unseen and the supernatural, set against the seemingly tranquil backdrop of rural West Virginia. Nick Roberts masterfully builds tension and atmosphere, creating a sense of impending doom with meticulous detailing and vivid imagery. The psychological exploration elevates the narrative, making Mean Spirited a compelling read for those who seek a blend of horror, mystery, and emotional depth.
Whether you are a seasoned fan of the genre or a curious newcomer, Mean Spirited promises a gripping and thought-provoking journey into the realms of the supernatural.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing-Tales from the Darkest Depths
Maverick Hall has repressed the horrors he endured on his thirteenth birthday during the summer of 1999.
He's buried the memory of sneaking out with his best friends, riding bikes through that tunnel. And how one of them disappeared inside.
Now, a sinister presence is calling him back home, back to a neighborhood riddled with mystery, deception, and death. There, he must confront the nightmare looming in the darkness, hungrily awaiting his return.
From the twisted imagination behind The Exorcist's House, Mean Spirited, and Anathema, come eleven new tales of terror guaranteed to haunt the mind.
Travel along a backcountry road as two bickering siblings encounter a sadistic masked menace. Watch from a couple's window as a mysterious figure lurks through the darkness of the vacant house next door. Witness a malevolent presence threaten to unravel a man's sanity decades after testing an urban legend.
From ventriloquist dummies to stuffed pandas, ancient vampires to human experimentation, this collection feeds on your fears of the supernatural and the horrors of real life. Abandon the light and become Nocturnal by Nature.
From the twisted imagination behind The Exorcist's House, Mean Spirited, and Anathema, come eleven new tales of terror guaranteed to haunt the mind.
Travel along a backcountry road as two bickering siblings encounter a sadistic masked menace. Watch from a couple's window as a mysterious figure lurks through the darkness of the vacant house next door. Witness a malevolent presence threaten to unravel a man's sanity decades after testing an urban legend.
From ventriloquist dummies to stuffed pandas, ancient vampires to human experimentation, this collection feeds on your fears of the supernatural and the horrors of real life. Abandon the light and become Nocturnal by Nature.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake-Where Stories Come Alive!
Behind every welcoming smile lies a chilling secret.
Everything was fantastic when they first moved in next door. The epitome of friendly, caring, trustworthy...until you got to know them. Then the nightmare began.
In this chilling collection of thirteen tales, meet the neighbors that want to make your life a living hell. From deranged to deadly, depraved to diabolical, these stories will forever make you realize what evil hides behind the curtains. But beware: once you've glimpsed the darkness that lurks next door, you'll forever question who-or what-lives beyond your own white picket fence.
This anthology includes the following authors:
Duncan Ralston
Jay Bower
MJ Mars
Steven Pajak
Candace Nola
Rebecca Rowland
Gage Greenwood
Mike Salt
Nick Roberts
Jeremy Megargee
R.E. Sargent
Nikki Noir
John Durgin
Megan Stockton
Brian Asman
Proudly represented by Sinister Smile Press, a division of Crystal Lake Publishing-Where Stories Come Alive!
Derrick Stockton is in his mid-twenties, approaching three years sober, and working a stable job in Ohio. After surviving the seemingly random horrors of his childhood at the hands of a sinister neighbor, he believes he's finally moved on.
All that changes when a brutal murder occurs in his home state of West Virginia. His name is written in blood at the crime scene, and the only evidence is a blurry surveillance video offering a glimpse of the killer, one he knows to be long dead.
As the people closest to him are targeted by a mysterious figure, he works with state police to stop the growing body count. With the help of his support group, Derrick must confront the demons of his past to save his life and his sanity.
Poetry by Nick Roberts.
Nick Roberts is a 25-year old poet, academic, and researcher from Boston, Massachusetts. His work has been previously featured in La Piccioletta Barca, Black Horse Review, and Iris. He studied at UMass Boston, where he received his BA and MA in English, focusing on Old English and the poetry of Charles Olson. He currently lives in Dorchester with his partner, dog, and many books.
6.5 X 6.5
60 pages.