cover image Night Chill

Night Chill

Jeff Gunhus. Seven Guns Press, $14.95 paper (438p) ISBN 978-0-615-82838-1

Jack Tremont moves his family from California to Maryland for a slower pace and quieter life. Things in Maryland seem idyllic until a dying drunk tells Jack that his daughter, Sarah, is in grave danger. Soon, Nate Huckley%E2%80%94a terrifying killer with dark powers%E2%80%94sets his sights on Sarah. When Sarah goes missing, Jack%E2%80%94with the help a mysterious Native American named Joseph Lonetree%E2%80%94must take matters into his own hands and uncover a supernatural conspiracy. Gunhus (Jack Templar Monster Hunter) has created a taut thriller that will keep readers up at night. While the plot's supernatural elements can seem a bit heavy handed, the book's real strengths are the genuine creepiness of Huckley and the way the author steadily ramps up the tension. Readers looking for a good scare will delight in this novel, even if they suddenly feel compelled to sleep with the lights on.