Horror Novel Releases: June 2014

There are a ton of insanely awesome novels headed our way this month. Check out the scoop, and get those wallets open! You’re going to want to invest in talents like Stephen King, Brian Moreland, Hunter Shea, Charlie Higson and many, many more! Alright, alright, I’m hyping it up a bit too much now. Just feast on this list and tell me I’m wrong. June 2014 rocks!

The Vagrants by Brian Moreland http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00K1WUCIC/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 3, 2014

Synopsis: Beneath the city of Boston, evil is gathering.

Journalist Daniel Finley is determined to save the impoverished of the world. But the abandoned part of humanity has a dark side too. While living under a bridge with the homeless for six months, Daniel witnessed something terrifying. Something that nearly cost him his sanity.

Now, two years later, he’s published a book that exposes a deadly underground cult and its charismatic leader. And Daniel fears the vagrants are after him because of it. At the same time, his father is being terrorized by vicious mobsters. As he desperately tries to help his father, Daniel gets caught up in the middle of a war between the Irish-American mafia and a deranged cult of homeless people who are preparing to shed blood on the streets of Boston.

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1476754454/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 3, 2014

Synopsis: In a mega-stakes, high-suspense race against time, three of the most unlikely and winning heroes Stephen King has ever created try to stop a lone killer from blowing up thousands.

In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, hundreds of desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a lone driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again. Eight people are killed; fifteen are wounded. The killer escapes.

In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who self-identifies as the “perk” and threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy.

Brady Hartsfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. He loved the feel of death under the wheels of the Mercedes, and he wants that rush again. Only Bill Hodges, with a couple of highly unlikely allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again. And they have no time to lose, because Brady’s next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim thousands.

Mr. Mercedes is a war between good and evil, from the master of suspense whose insight into the mind of this obsessed, insane killer is chilling and unforgettable.

 

The Montauk Monster by Hunter Shea http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786034750/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 3, 2014

The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Six http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1597805033/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 3, 2014

Synopsis: “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”

This statement was true when H. P. Lovecraft first wrote it at the beginning of the twentieth century, and it remains true at the beginning of the twenty-first century. The only thing that has changed is what is unknown.

With each passing year, science, technology, and the march of time shine light into the craggy corners of the universe, making the fears of an earlier generation seem quaint. But this “light” creates its own shadows. The Best Horror of the Year, edited by Ellen Datlow, chronicles these shifting shadows. It is a catalog of terror, fear, and unpleasantness, as articulated by today’s most challenging and exciting writers.

The best horror writers of today do the same thing that horror writers of a hundred years ago did. They tell good stories–stories that scare us. And when these writers tell really good stories that really scare us, Ellen Datlow notices. She’s been noticing for more than a quarter century. For twenty-one years, she coedited The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror, and for the last six years, she’s edited this series. In addition to this monumental cataloging of the best, she has edited hundreds of other horror anthologies and won numerous awards, including the Hugo, Bram Stoker, and World Fantasy awards.

More than any other editor or critic, Ellen Datlow has charted the shadowy abyss of horror fiction. Join her on this journey into the dark parts of the human heart . . . either for the first time . . . or once again.

Ecko Burning by Danie Ware http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/178116908X/sfsi0c-20

Release June 3, 2014

Synopsis: Ruthless and ambitious, Lord Phylos has control of Fhaveon city, and is using her forces to bring the grasslands under his command. His last opponent is an elderly scribe who’s lost his best freind and wants only to do the right thing.

Seeking weapons, Ecko and his companions follow a trail of myth and rumour to a ruined city where both nightmare and shocking truth lie in wait.

When all of these things come together, the world will change beyond recognition.

Back in London, the Bard is offered the opportunity to realise everything he has ever wanted – if he will give up his soul.

Loosely Enforced Rules by Anthony Rapino http://www.amazon.com/Loosely-Enforced-Rules-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00KOXANTG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1402303063&sr=1-1&keywords=anthony+j+rapino

Release: June 4, 2014

Synopsis: Everyone has rules, whether they admit it or not. For Dave, Philly, and Sunshine, the rules mean everything. When Sunshine becomes cavalier with the group’s carefully laid plans, she puts everyone in jeopardy. Especially herself.

Follow along in this dark story of home invasion with a twist, and discover why loosely enforced rules should never be broken.

Say Her Name by James Dawson http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1471402444/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 5, 2014

Synopsis: Roberta ‘Bobbie’ Rowe is not the kind of person who believes in ghosts. A Halloween dare at her ridiculously spooky boarding school is no big deal, especially when her best friend Naya and cute local boy Caine agree to join in too. They are ordered to summon the legendary ghost of ‘Bloody Mary’: say her name five times in front of a candlelit mirror, and she shall appear…But, surprise surprise, nothing happens. Or does it? Next morning, Bobbie finds a message on her bathroom mirror…five days…but what does it mean? And who left it there? Things get increasingly weird and more terrifying for Bobbie and Naya, until it becomes all too clear that Bloody Mary was indeed called from the afterlife that night, and she is definitely not a friendly ghost. Bobbie, Naya and Caine are now in a race against time before their five days are up and Mary comes for them, as she has come for countless others before…This is a truly spine-chilling yet witty horror from shortlisted ‘Queen of Teen’ author James Dawson.

Haunt by Curtis Jobling http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1471115771/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 5, 2014

Synopsis: When Will finds himself in hospital, but unable to make anyone see or hear him, he realises that he never made it home from his first kiss with the school hottie. Knocked off his bike in a road traffic accident, Will is now officially dead – and a ghost. But somehow his best mate, Dougie, can still see him, and, what is more, increasingly Will seems bound to Dougie, going only where Dougie goes. Once they’ve exhausted all the comic possibilities of being invisible, they set about unravelling the mystery of Will’s predicament. Is it something to do with that kiss, or the driver of the car that killed him and didn’t stop? Maybe they will find an answer by investigating the rumour that there is an unhappy spirit haunting the ruins in the school grounds, and if so, why? What they discover is a long-buried mystery, which stretches its fingers right into the present…

Afterlife with Archie: Escape from Riverdale Paperback http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1619889080/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 10, 2014

Synopsis: When Jughead’s beloved pet Hot Dog is killed in a hit and run, Jughead turns to the only person he knows who can help bring back his furry best friend—Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Using dark, forbidden magic, Sabrina is successful and Hot Dog returns to the land of the living. But he’s not the same… and soon, the darkness he brings back with him from beyond the grave begins to spread, forcing Archie, Betty, Veronica and the gang to try to escape from Riverdale!

Savage by Gary Fry http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00JFARLQM/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 10, 2014

Synopsis: Driving home one day from a conference, Daryl seeks a shortcut through a barren countryside. He chances upon a mysterious village whose residents seem rather odd. But they have something to show him—a creature so strange he can hardly believe it exists.

And that’s only the beginning of Daryl’s problems, as he seeks to escape something far worse than he can ever imagine.

Something utterly horrific and extremely savage.

The Fallen (An Enemy Novel) by Charlie Higson http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1423165667/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 10

Synopsis: The Enemy is among us . . .

First the sickness rotted the adults’ minds. Then their bodies. Now they stalk the streets of London, hunting human flesh.

The Holloway crew are survivors. They’ve fought their way across the city and made it to the Natural History Museum alive–just barely. But their fight will never end while the Enemy lives, unless there’s another way. . . .

The kids at the museum are looking for a cure. All they need are medical supplies.To get them they must venture down unfamiliar streets, where it isn’t only crazed, hungry sickos who lurk in the shadows.

In this fifth terrifying entry in Charlie Higson’s Enemy series, suddenly it’s not so clear who–or what–the enemy is.

My Last Kiss by Bethany Neal http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0374351287/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 10, 2014

Synopsis: What if your last kiss was with the wrong boy?

Cassidy Haines remembers her first kiss vividly. It was on the old covered bridge the summer before her freshman year with her boyfriend of three years, Ethan Keys. But her last kiss–the one she shared with someone at her seventeenth birthday party the night she died–is a blur. Cassidy is trapped in the living world, not only mourning the loss of her human body, but left with the grim suspicion that her untimely death wasn’t a suicide as everyone assumes. She can’t remember anything from the weeks leading up to her birthday and she’s worried that she may have betrayed her boyfriend.

If Cassidy is to uncover the truth about that fateful night and make amends with the only boy she’ll ever love, she must face her past and all the decisions she made–good and bad–that led to her last kiss.

Heart of Art: A Glimpse into the Wondrous World of Special Effects Makeup and Fine Art of Akihito http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/162465004X/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 15, 2014

Synopsis: Akihito brings inimitable and interesting characters to life. The Heart of Art welcomes one to look deeper into the creative process and motivation behind the work of Akihito. Whether you are a designer, sculptor, makeup artist, or fine artist, this book will regale, challenge and inspire. The Heart of Art features the extraordinary work of an artist that creates characters that meld a love of Japan, its culture, and its rich…

The Wolves of Midwinter: The Wolf Gift Chronicles (2) by Anne Rice

Release: June 17, 2014

Synopsis: It is winter at Nideck Point. Oak fires burn in the stately flickering hearths, and the community organizes its annual celebration of music and pageantry. But for Reuben Golding, now infused with the Wolf Gift, this promises to be a season like no other. He’s preparing to honor an ancient Midwinter festival with his fellow Morphenkinder—a secret gathering that takes place deep within the verdant recesses of the surrounding forests.

However, Reuben is soon distracted by a ghost. Tormented, imploring, and unable to speak, it haunts the halls of the great mansion, drawing him toward a strange netherworld of new spirits, or “ageless ones.”  And as the swirl of Nideck’s preparations reaches a fever pitch, they reveal their own dark magical powers.

Followers by Anna Davies http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0545511968/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 24, 2014

Synopsis: When Briana loses out on a starring role in the school’s production of Hamlet, she reluctantly agrees to be the drama department’s “social media director” and starts tweeting half-hearted updates. She barely has any followers, so when someone hacks her twitter account, Briana can’t muster the energy to stop it. After all, tweets like “Something’s rotten in the state of Denmark . . . and a body’s rotting in the theater” are obviously a joke.

But then a body IS discovered in the theater: Briana’s rival. Suddenly, what seemed like a prank turns deadly serious. To everyone’s horror, the grisly tweets continue . . . and the body count starts to rise.

There’s no other explanation; someone is live-tweeting murders on campus.

With the school in chaos and the police unable to find the culprit, it’s up to Briana to unmask the psycho-tweeter before the carnage reaches Shakespearian proportions . . . or she becomes the next victim.

The 400lb. Gorilla by DC Farmer http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1939392837/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 24

Synopsis: Matt Danmor thinks he’s lucky. Not many people survive a near death accident with nothing more than a bout of amnesia, a touch of clumsiness and the conviction that the technician who did the MRI had grey skin and hooves. Still,  it takes time to recover from trauma like that, especially when the girl who was in the accident with you disappears into thin air. Especially when the shrinks keep telling you she’s just a figment of your imagination.  So when the girl turns up months later looking ravishing, and wanting to carry on where they left off, Matt’s troubled life starts looking up.  But he hasn’t bargained for the baggage that comes with Silvy, like the fact she isn’t really an English language student, or even a girl. Underneath her traffic stopping exterior is something else altogether, something involving raving fanatics bent on human sacrifice, dimensionally challenged baked bean tins, a vulture with a penchant for profanity, and a security agent  for the Dept of Fimmigration (that’s Fae immigration for those of you not in the know) called Kylah with the most amazing gold-flecked eyes   The 400 Lb Gorilla is caustic, (vampire-free) introduction to the Hipposync Archives: Contemporary fantasy at its sparkling best.

Say No to Drugs by Matt Molgaard

Release: June 24, 2014

Synopsis: A double feature in the tradition of vintage drive-in tales, Say No to Drugs serves as a reminder that some clichés are worth paying heed. In The Pot, the first of two tales, terror turns green, while Blue – the double feature’s second tale – should encourage hard drug users to think twice before mixing fatal cocktails.

Ray Waltz just wanted to get high as he ushered dreaded high school years into a deep crevice designed to bury life’s strangest of moments; never to be revisited again. But Jimmy Hanniger, local weed-man with the strongest herb in town held different designs for Ray and his future.

If only Ray had just said no.

In Blue a confused young man must decipher the visual riddles surrounding him. Why are the walls a sudden and mesmerizing blue? Why is there a body sprawled across the floor. And just what is that forcing its way through an ocean of turmoil, bound for dry land; bound for murderous actions?

Wickedpedia (Point Horror) by Chris Van Etten http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/054541587X/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 24, 2014

Synopsis: It’s the return of Point Horror for the Internet generation! Don’t open the door. Don’t answer your phone. And whatever you do, DON’T turn on your computer. . . .

Cole and Greg love playing practical jokes through Wikipedia. They edit key articles and watch their classmates crash and burn giving oral reports on historical figures like Genghis Khan, the first female astronaut on Jupiter. So after the star soccer player steals Cole’s girlfriend, the boys take their revenge by creating a Wikipedia page for him, an entry full of outlandish information including details about his bizarre death on the soccer field.

It’s all in good fun, until the soccer player is killed in a freak accident . . . just as Cole and Greg predicted. The uneasy boys vow to leave Wikipedia alone but someone continues to edit articles about classmates dying in gruesome ways . . . and those entries start to come true as well.

To his horror, Cole soon discovers that someone has created a Wikipedia page for him, and included a date of death. He has one week to figure out who’s behind the murders, or else he’s set to meet a pretty grisly end.

Ten Short Tales About Ghosts by K. C. Parton http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783063912/sfsi0c-20

Release: June 28, 2014

Synopsis: In a radical departure from his previous works, K. C. Parton has turned his prodigious imagination to the unsettling genre of the world that is sometimes glimpsed but never understood: the supernatural. This thrilling new collection of ghost stories explores the traditions of Edwardian horror placed in a contemporary setting. With compelling reads including, ‘The Last Train’ and the evocative ‘Ghost of Spetchley Bridge’, K. C. Parton portrays how people react when forces move beyond their control. Diverse locations and memorable characters are used in every story to maximise the disturbing effect. Old factories, the South Downs and Southend-on-Sea provide a vivid backdrop for these spine-chilling tales. With unearthly movements, strange noises and mysterious disappearances K. C. Parton creates an eerie atmosphere. Whether it is the creeping discomfort of a man being forced to challenge his understanding of the world, or an eerie appearance at the local cricket club, he transports the reader to the supernatural world. Ten Short Tales about Ghosts is a haunting read that will interest fans of gothic literature at any age. Characteristics of both Edwardian and Victorian ghost stories are present in this collection. Residents of the county areas mentioned in the stories may also be interested to explore the paranormal potential at their local landmarks. K. C. Parton has been inspired by the writing style of Susan Hill. His admiration for M. R. James encouraged him to develop his many characters of the collection. These spooky short stories, inspired by the genius of M. R. James, explore extraordinary things happen to ordinary people. Local stories of ghost sightings and strange hauntings also enabled K. C. Parton to find amicable settings for his characters to develop in.