Below, you’ll find several psychological thrillers and multiple horror novels, along with one speculative tale. You’ll also find multiple commentaries on the problematic aspects of true crime culture, and several meditations on the nature of unholy appetite. Many of the characters in the following books are lost, adrift, finding their way—not so, their self-assured authors, all of whom possess the confidence of career writers. Enjoy these first forays into the published world; the start, we hope, of many.Article continues after advertisement
V.A. Vazquez, The Death Row Club
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The set-up for this one is irresistible: murder at a weekend getaway for the scions of serial killers—I’m always a sucker for stories where grown children must continuously prove they are not, in fact, their parents. As the novel begins, art teacher Nicola has just lost her job after the airing of yet another true crime documentary accusing her of complicity in her father’s crimes (including the murder of her best friend). She needs an escape from the hungry curiosity and vapid judgements of the public; who better to spend her time with than those who not only have sympathy, but understand. Unfortunately, the peaceful retreat quickly becomes more of a bloodbath, and Nicola finds herself surrounded by those with the acumen to get away with not one, but multiple murders. Could one of her peers be following in the infamous footsteps of their relations? More charming than any story involving serial killers has any right to be!
