October

When the autumn leaves begin to fall and shadows grow longer, something wicked arrives in Maplewood, New Hampshire. It’s 1970, and four boys on the edge of adolescence sense that their quiet town is changing—but the adults around them refuse to see what’s hiding in plain sight.

A mysterious magician has appeared, taking up residence in a local boarding house alongside a reclusive pulp horror writer who hasn’t stepped outside in over forty years. As Halloween approaches and children begin to disappear, the boys uncover a chilling connection between the magician’s previous visit decades ago and the terror gripping their community. The more they discover, the more they realize they’re the only ones who understand the dark forces at work.

Perfect for fans of Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes and Christopher Golden’s All Hallows, this atmospheric coming-of-age thriller weaves together nostalgia, supernatural dread, and the particular courage of young people who see what others cannot. Gregory Bastianelli crafts a story that captures both the innocence of childhood friendships and the very real monsters that lurk at the edges of small-town America.

This spine-tingling tale comes from Flame Tree Press, an imprint celebrated for bringing together exceptional new voices and established masters of horror, suspense, and supernatural fiction. If you’ve ever felt that October holds secrets the rest of the year doesn’t dare whisper, this book belongs on your shelf.

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