‘Modern Natives’: Reimagining Coast Salish Myths for the 21st Century

‘Modern Natives’ blends myth, fiction, and illustrations. Photo: Amazon

Book Spotlight: ‘Modern Natives‘

An Illustrated Collection of Reimagined Coast Salish Myths by Andrea Grant

For the Coast Salish peoples of the Pacific Northwest, stories are more than entertainment, they are truth. Rooted in deep cultural tradition, Modern Natives brings to life the ancient belief that the world is surrounded by supernatural beings who shape, challenge, and guide us. Unlike typical mythology books, these stories are not treated as fiction; they are sacred teachings and oral records offering insight into the laws of nature and the spiritual connections between all living things.

Where Ancient Spirits Meet Urban Reality

In this collection, storytellers are the knowledge-keepers. Andrea Grant honors this tradition by reimagining supernatural beings and ancestral figures in contemporary settings, from the crowded sidewalks of New York City to quiet suburban apartments.

These luminous stories move between past and present, dreamtime and urban reality. It is a world where:

Water serpents haunt your sleep.
A trickster god orders whiskey in a Tacoma bar.
Wolves appear beneath the flickering streetlights of Manhattan.

Story Highlights

Modern Natives explores themes of identity, transformation, and mythic inheritance through several standout narratives:

The Water Dream: Noah is haunted by a sea serpent stalking her dreams. As her family life fractures, the boundary between myth and reality dissolves, forcing her to dive into the very waters she dreads.
Coyote Dances With Destiny: The immortal Trickster, haunted by loss, encounters the mysterious “Destiny” in a smoky blues bar. As they dance between temptation and fate, Coyote must decide if his memories are a curse or his only proof of existence.
The Isle of Women: When a young girl goes missing, two sisters follow their elders to a secret island to reclaim ancient power. This story powerfully merges the tragedy of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement with a mythic tale of vengeance and survival.

A Visually Driven Experience

The book is a multidimensional feast for the senses, blending short fiction and poetry with illustrations from:

Qwalsius–Shaun Peterson: Acclaimed Coast Salish artist.
Bowera Studio: Contributing high-impact visual storytelling.

With Grant’s professional background spanning Condé Nast editing, graphic novels, and short films, she brings a cinematic perspective to the genre that translates beautifully from the page to the mind’s eye.

“This book invites readers to step into a world where animals speak, ancestors walk among us, and the unseen is just as real as the seen.”

About the Author: Andrea Grant

Andrea Grant is a Canadian-born writer and multimedia artist of mixed-blood Coast Salish Native ancestry. Her work is renowned for its unique melding of mythological stories, poetry, photography, and live performance.

An alumnus of Kwantlen University College, Grant has been recognized with several prestigious First Nations Storyteller grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the B.C. Arts Council, and the First Peoples’ Cultural Council.

‘Tell No One’ by Harlan Coben: Book Review and Plot Summary

‘Tell No One’ is the thrilling psychological thriller by Harlan Coben. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: Tell No One by Harlan Coben

For Dr. David Beck, the loss was shattering. Every day for the past eight years, he has relived the horror of what happened: the gleaming lake, the pale moonlight, the piercing screams, and the last night he saw his wife alive.

Everyone tells him it’s time to move on and forget the past. But for David Beck, there can be no closure. A message has appeared on his computer—a phrase only he and his dead wife could know. Suddenly, Beck is taunted with the impossible: somewhere, somehow, his wife is alive… and he’s been warned to tell no one.

The Movie Adaptation

Note: Tell No One was adapted into a critically acclaimed French film (Ne le dis à personne) in 2006, directed by Guillaume Canet. It is widely considered one of the best book-to-film thriller adaptations.

Review

Harlan Coben is a master of the “suburban noir,” and Tell No One is arguably the best example of this. The novel follows Dr. David Beck, a man still shattered eight years after the brutal night his wife, Elizabeth, was murdered at a secluded lake. Every year he returns to that place, haunted by the memories that changed his life forever.

The pacing is relentless. From the moment he receives the first cryptic email, Beck is pulled into a dangerous web of secrets, lies, and buried truths. The story transforms into a high-stakes scavenger hunt through the dark underbelly of New York and the secrets of the wealthy.

It’s not just the “how” or the “who,” but the raw, emotional “why.” Beck is a deeply sympathetic protagonist, a man fueled by a flickering candle of hope that defies all logic. Coben builds tension through short, fast-paced chapters and unexpected twists that keep readers constantly guessing.

Highlights

The Hook: A dead spouse sending emails is the ultimate “one more chapter” device.
The Atmosphere: Coben perfectly balances the sterile safety of Beck’s medical world with the creeping dread of being watched.
The Twist: Just when you think you’ve mapped out the conspiracy, Coben pulls the rug out with surgical precision.

Final Verdict

Tell No One is a gripping psychological thriller that blends emotional depth with relentless suspense. It’s a story about devotion, hope, and the lengths someone will go to uncover the truth. If you enjoy stories where the protagonist is isolated by a secret they dare not share, this is a must-read. It’s a lean, mean, and surprisingly moving exploration of how far we’d go for a second chance.

“A staircase. There had to be a staircase down here somewhere. I felt my way forward, moving in a sort of spastic dance, leading with my left leg as though it were a white cane. My foot crunched over some broken glass. I kept moving.”

Stephen King’s ‘The Institute’ Review: A Gripping Look at Institutional Horror

‘The Institute’ by Stephen King. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Review: The Institute by Stephen King

The Master of Horror trades monsters for institutionalized cruelty.

Overview: A Nightmare in Broad Daylight

In the middle of the night, in a house on a quiet street in suburban Minneapolis, intruders silently murder Luke Ellis’s parents and load him into a black SUV. The operation takes less than two minutes. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)

Luke wakes up at The Institute, in a room that looks just like his own, except there’s no window. Outside his door are other children with special talents like telekinesis and telepathy: Kalisha, Nick, George, Iris, and ten-year-old Avery Dixon. They are all in “Front Half.” Others, Luke learns, graduated to “Back Half.”

“Like the roach motel,” Kalisha says. “You check in, but you don’t check out.”

In this sinister facility, the director, Mrs. Sigsby, and her staff are ruthlessly dedicated to extracting the force of these children’s extranormal gifts. There are no scruples here. If you go along, you get tokens for the vending machines. If you don’t, the punishment is brutal. No one has ever escaped from The Institute, but Luke is getting desperate.

TV Note: The Institute has been adapted into an MGM+ series starring Ben Barnes and Mary-Louise Parker, with a second season already confirmed.

My Review: Human Monsters vs. The Supernatural

Stephen King has always been the undisputed master of making the mundane feel predatory. In The Institute, he swaps supernatural clowns and haunted hotels for a far more terrifying monster: institutionalized cruelty.

A High-Stakes Thriller: The story kicks off with a precision that feels more like a thriller than a classic horror novel. King excels at grounding the “extranormal” in the visceral. The true horror isn’t just the experiments; it’s the cold, corporate indifference of the staff who treat children like disposable batteries.
The Heart of the Story: Inside the facility, Luke finds comfort in Maureen, an employee, and his fellow captives. The camaraderie among the kids provides the heartbeat of the novel, contrasting sharply with the clinical soullessness of their captors.
The Payoff: While the pacing in the middle stretches thin as Luke plots his escape, the conclusion is a propulsive collision between small-town heroism and shadowy conspiracies.

The Bottom Line: This is a suspenseful, emotionally engaging story. It isn’t just a horror novel; it’s a gripping exploration of friendship, resilience, and the “human monsters” who justify unthinkable means to reach their ends.

Expanded Reading: Entering the King Multiverse

If you enjoyed the psychic themes of The Institute, you’ve stepped into the interconnected world of the King Multiverse. King often refers to these abilities as “The Shine” or “The Touch.” If you want more, check out these four essentials:

Doctor Sleep – The sequel to The Shining. It follows an adult Dan Torrance and Abra Stone, a girl with a “Shine” so powerful she is hunted by a predatory group called the True Knot.
The Dead Zone – A grounded, melancholic thriller about Johnny Smith, who wakes from a coma with clairvoyant powers that force him into a high-stakes moral dilemma.
Carrie – The one that started it all. This is a tragic look at the raw, destructive side of telekinesis when it is suppressed by abuse and fanaticism.
Later – A recent “Hard Case Crime” novel following Jamie Conklin, a boy who can speak to the recently dead. It shares the “loss of innocence” vibe found in The Institute.

‘When AI Shops:’ A Guide to Marketing in the Age of AI Agents

‘When AI Shops’ is the new book on agentic commerce by Geoff Gibbins. Photo: Amazon

Book Spotlight: The Future of Commerce is Agentic

In the time it took you to perfect your marketing funnel, the game changed. While brands are still fighting for clicks, a new player has entered the chat: The AI Agent. (Amazon, 2026)

In his new book, When AI Shops: Agentic Commerce and the Revolution in How We Buy and Sell, author Geoff Gibbins explores a world where machines aren’t just suggesting products, they’re buying them.

The Reality Check

The digital landscape is shifting beneath our feet. Consider these startling shifts:

The Search Shift: Over two-thirds of Google searches now end without a single click to a website.
The Revenue Driver: AI already influences 35% of Amazon’s total revenue.
The New Storefront: With 800 million weekly ChatGPT users, consumers are bypassing traditional SEO and buying directly within AI interfaces.

“Agentic commerce isn’t coming. It’s here.”

What You’ll Discover

This isn’t just a book about problems; it’s a manual for the solution. Gibbins, who has advised giants like Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Mastercard, provides a roadmap for the “two-sided web.”

Key Takeaways:

The Death of the Funnel: Why the traditional purchase funnel is being replaced by a five-capability flywheel: Learn, Anticipate, Explore, Influence, and Transact.
Optimizing for Machines: How to create content for AI agents without losing your human audience.
The Scarcity Paradox: Why “limited time offer” messaging—which works on humans—actually reduces AI recommendations.
Strategic Roadmaps: Practical steps for both personal and organizational transformation.

Why This Book?

Unlike theoretical deep dives, When AI Shops is built on hard-won insights from 2024–2025 market data and real-world pilot projects. It offers specific frameworks and “early warning indicators” to help business leaders track the shift in real-time.

The Bottom Line: Read the book. Understand the change. Act while a competitive advantage is still possible.

About the Author

Geoff Gibbins is the Founder of Human Machines, a transformation company focused on the intersection of AI and human ingenuity. With nearly 20 years of experience, including a tenure as Managing Director at Accenture, Geoff has built AI-powered systems for brands like Walmart and Vanguard. He holds Master’s degrees from Oxford and Imperial College London and resides in Manhattan.

Ready to dive deeper into the world of Agentic Commerce?

Scarpetta on Prime Video: Everything You Need to Know Before the March 11 Premiere

Nicole Kidman stars in Scarpetta. Photo: Amazon Prime Video.

From Page to Screen: Why We Can’t Get Enough of Forensic Noir

Crime and forensic novels continue to dominate best-seller lists because they offer the perfect cocktail of suspense, mystery, and intellectual challenge. Stories by icons like Agatha Christie and Patricia Cornwell invite us to step into the role of the detective, meticulously analyzing clues and motives alongside the characters. The detailed exploration of forensic science adds a layer of grit and realism, revealing how microscopic evidence can uncover massive, hidden truths.

While these novels delve into the darker side of human nature, they almost always offer the catharsis of justice served. For many of us, the real thrill lies in that race against the clock: can we piece together the mystery before the final revelation?

The Long-Awaited Arrival: Scarpetta on Prime Video

As a lifelong fan of these novels, I am counting down the days for the new series on Amazon Prime Video. Having devoured the Patricia Cornwell Scarpetta novels for years, seeing this world come to life is a dream come true. (Amazon Prime Video, 2026)

Developed by Liz Sarnoff and produced by powerhouse duo Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, Scarpetta is set to be the television event of the season.

Mark Your Calendars: Scarpetta premieres on Amazon Prime Video on March 11, 2026.

Meet the Cast

The series boasts an incredible A-list ensemble to bring these beloved characters to life:

Actor	Role	Character Description
Nicole Kidman	Kay Scarpetta	The brilliant forensic pathologist.
Jamie Lee Curtis	Dorothy Scarpetta	Kay’s complicated older sister.
Ariana DeBose	Lucy Farinelli	Kay’s tech-savvy niece.
Bobby Cannavale	Pete Marino	The rugged former detective.
Simon Baker	Benton Wesley	The calculated FBI profiler.

Who is Kay Scarpetta?

Kay Scarpetta is more than just a medical examiner; she is a trailblazer. Inspired by the real-life former Virginia Chief Medical Examiner, Marcella Farinelli Fierro, MD, Scarpetta uses cutting-edge forensic technology to speak for the dead. (Patricia Cornwell, 2026)

Throughout the book series, Scarpetta—a woman of Italian descent—navigates intense investigations across the American South, from the humid streets of Florida and Virginia to the historic corridors of Charleston, South Carolina.

About the Author: Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell didn’t just write crime fiction; she revolutionized it. While working as a computer analyst at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia, she sold her first novel, Postmortem.

It was the world’s first “bona fide” forensic thriller, paving the way for the explosion of forensic-focused entertainment we see today in film, TV, and literature.

A Legacy of Excellence

Cornwell’s impact on the genre is staggering:

Award-Winning Debut: Postmortem was the first book ever to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards, plus the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure, in a single year.
Global Reach: Her books have sold over 120 million copies in 36 languages across 120 countries.
Literary Honors: She has received the Sherlock Award, the Gold Dagger Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.

Beyond the Morgue

While Kay, Lucy, and Marino are her most famous creations, Cornwell’s curiosity knows no bounds. Her diverse bibliography includes:

True Crime: A definitive account of Jack the Ripper’s identity.
Lifestyle: Two cookbooks (Food to Die For and Scarpetta’s Winter Table).
Other Fiction: Series featuring Boston detective Win Garano and reporter Andy Brazil.

Here is a curated “Essential Scarpetta” reading list to get you into the right mindset for the show:

1. Postmortem (The Origin)

You can’t skip the book that started it all. This is where we meet Kay in Richmond, Virginia, hunting a serial killer known as “Mr. Nobody.” It establishes her grit, her friction with Pete Marino, and the high-tech (for the time) forensic methods that changed crime fiction forever.

2. Body of Evidence (The Introduction of Benton Wesley)

If you’re excited to see Simon Baker as the FBI profiler, this is a must-read. It deepens the relationship between Kay and Benton and introduces the recurring theme of Kay’s past coming back to haunt her.

3. The Body Farm (The Science)

This novel takes Kay to the actual University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility. It’s peak forensic procedural and features a young Lucy (played by Ariana DeBose in the show) starting to show her tech genius.

4. From Potter’s Field (The Ultimate Villain)

Every great detective needs a Moriarty. For Scarpetta, that means Temple Gault. This book is a chilling, snowy cat-and-mouse game in New York City that shows just how high the stakes can get for Kay’s family.

5. Point of Origin (The Fire)

This is a pivotal emotional turning point for the “Core Four” (Kay, Marino, Lucy, and Benton). It involves a series of high-stakes arsons and a massive twist that changes the trajectory of the series for years.

Pro-Tip for the TV Series

Since Jamie Lee Curtis is playing Dorothy (Kay’s sister), you might want to pay extra attention to their sibling rivalry in the earlier books. Dorothy is often the “flighty” contrast to Kay’s “grounded” professionalism, it’s going to be fascinating to see that chemistry on screen.

Book Review: ‘The Spartan Sacrifice’ by Andrew Varga | A Jump in Time Book 4

‘The Spartan Sacrifice’ is the thrilling continuation of Andrew Varga’s time travel series. Photo: Barnes & Noble

⚔️ Rewriting History: A Review of ‘The Spartan Sacrifice’ by Andrew Varga

In the high-stakes world of Andrew Varga’s A Jump in Time series, the past isn’t just a memory, it’s a battlefield. The fourth installment, The Spartan Sacrifice, takes the series to a fever pitch, blending the grit of ancient warfare with the mind-bending ethics of time travel.

The Stakes: A Vision of Global Domination

Victor Stahl’s bid for power is no longer a shadow play; it’s an accelerating threat. As a congressman with presidential aspirations, Stahl isn’t just looking to win an election, he’s looking to “fix” humanity by erasing most of it. With his own team of time travelers, he is systematically manipulating history to pave the way for his dark utopia.

The Mission: 480 BCE

Fearing they are running out of time, 17-year-old Dan Renfrew and his partner Sam jump back to ancient Greece. They land on the eve of the legendary Battle of Thermopylae. While their primary goal is to thwart Victor, they are quickly pulled into the brutal reality of King Leonidas’s stand against the Persian Empire.

Why This Installment Stands Out

Varga vividly recreates the tension of Sparta, immersing readers in the harsh realities of the vastly outnumbered warriors.

Historical Immersion: The detail enriches the narrative without stalling the momentum, making the ancient world feel immediate and dangerous.
Character Growth: Dan’s evolution is a highlight. His courage is now tempered by the heavy responsibility of his powers and the unintended consequences of his actions.
Visceral Narrative: Writing in the first person, Varga puts us directly in Dan’s head. From the opening nightmare of vengeful horsemen to the “anxious vibe” of a lecture hall, the prose is sharp and evocative.

“As soon as I swung open the door to the lecture hall where the medieval club met, I could sense something was wrong – an anxious vibe hung over the room like a dark gray storm cloud.”

At a Glance: The Spartan Sacrifice

Category	Details
Series	A Jump in Time (Book 4)
Genre	YA Science Fiction / Historical Drama
Setting	Ancient Greece (480 BCE)
Themes	Power, Ethics of Time Travel, Heroism
Best For Fans Of	Quantum Leap, historical thrillers, and fast-paced YA

Final Verdict

Suspenseful and thought-provoking, The Spartan Sacrifice skillfully balances action with ethical complexity. It explores a chillingly timely theme: Whoever controls the past writes the future. When a catastrophic accident disrupts the timeline, the moral weight of altering history becomes more frightening than any villain’s scheme.

“As long as Victor controlled the past, he could write the future, and our little group was just a speck of dust he could whisk off the page.”

Rating: Highly Recommended for readers who love high-stakes adventures and the “what if” of historical events.

About the ‘A Jump in Time’ Series

If you’re new to the series, it follows Dan Renfrew, a normal teenager who discovers he is descended from a line of “time jumpers.” These secret heroes resolve glitches in the time stream to ensure history stays on its proper course.

From 1066 England to the gates of Sparta, Dan must battle malevolent jumpers whose lust for power threatens the entire future of the world. It’s a modern-day Quantum Leap that asks: How much would you sacrifice to save the world?

*Thank you to Michela Malafaia / Imbrifex Books for the gifted copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

‘The AI-Ready Human:’ Paul Slater’s Roadmap to Future-Proofing Your Career

‘The AI-Ready Human’ is the new business developement book by Paul Slater. Photo: Barnes & Noble

New Book Spotlight: The AI-Ready Human

Your 90-Day Program to Stay Relevant as Technology Transforms Work

By Paul Slater

In a world of seismic technology change, AI is rewriting what it means to be “good” at your job. The professionals who thrive won’t just be the ones who know how to code; they will be the ones who sharpen the capabilities that make technology actually useful: judgment, adaptability, resilience, and clear thinking.

Part Book, Part 90-Day “Brain Workout”

The AI-Ready Human replaces traditional chapters with 90 concepts (days) that build on each other to make you AI-Ready.

Every daily concept includes:

Clear Explanation: No jargon, just the facts.
Career Impact: Why this specific concept matters for your professional future.
Practical Exercises: Tangible steps you can take to grow.
Reflection Prompts: Tools to help lock in behavior change and new habits.

Who Is This Book For?

The short answer: If you work, and you are human, it’s for you. However, it is particularly essential for:

Executives: Who must understand the impact of AI on employees and customers.
Working Professionals: Who are concerned about staying relevant as their industry transforms.
Managers: Who are tasked with leading their teams through unprecedented change.

The Research Behind the Program

This isn’t just theory. Paul Slater’s 90-day program is built on interviews with over 200 professionals who are sustainably effective with AI every day.

Slater draws on over 30 years at the intersection of advanced technology and personal development, including a decade at Microsoft leading global strategy and contributing to AI think tanks at Harvard, Duke, and Arizona State University.

About the Author: Paul Slater

Paul Slater helps professionals and organizations navigate the “human side” of AI transformation. As the host of the Humanity Working podcast and author of The AI-Ready Human, he focuses on what it actually takes to thrive as intelligent machines reshape our world.

Paul equips professionals to build the human capabilities AI can’t replace—judgment, adaptability, resilience, and meaningful connection.

A Proven Track Record

Microsoft Veteran: Spent nearly two decades leading global digital transformation and authoring over 20 books for senior technologists.
C-Suite Advisor: Has delivered briefings to Fortune 500 executives and national governments worldwide.
Entrepreneur: Co-founded BillionMinds (a Techstars company), creating programs to help employees thrive in the age of emerging tech.
Academic Contributor: Served on AI-focused think tanks at some of the world’s most prestigious universities.

‘Night Night Fawn’ is a Bold and Unfiltered Novel About Family and Reckoning

‘Night Night Fawn’ is the new novel by Jordy Rosenberg. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: Night Night Fawn by Jordy Rosenberg

Overview

From the acclaimed author of Confessions of the Fox comes a novel that feels like an unauthorized memoir dictated in a fever dream. Set in a cluttered, rent-controlled Manhattan apartment, Barbara Rosenberg is terminally ill, high on opioids, and utterly unrepentant. Night Night Fawn will be released on Tuesday March 3, 2026 and available for pre-order. (Broadside PR, 2026)

As she writes the story of her life, she spares no one, least of all herself. Her narrative skips between memories of a smutty late husband, a career with a disreputable plastic surgeon, and her “glory days” of jazzercise, all while she grapples with unhinged thoughts on gender, Karl Marx, and Zionism.

At the heart of her delirium are two haunting disappointments:

An estranged trans son.
A long-lost best friend whose betrayal still lingers.

Review: A Reckoning in Real-Time

Written in a sharp first-person POV, Night Night Fawn forces readers to confront the jagged edges of intergenerational conflict. Barbara’s voice pivots effortlessly between gutter humor and piercing self-awareness. Rosenberg provides an unfiltered portrait of a mother who cannot love cleanly, apologize easily, or die quietly. Themes explored include identity, colonialism, sexuality, and gender.

The prose is vivid and descriptive, turning even the mundane into something cinematic:

“In my daughter’s bedroom the traffic along Second Avenue cast stripes of light through the blinds; they floated across the ceiling like empty frames of film reel ticking off after a show.”

The narrative structure is nonlinear, mirroring Barbara’s descent into illness. It’s a bold exploration of the stories we tell ourselves when time is running out. While the novel is provocative and often uncomfortable, it remains a fiercely intelligent reminder of our shared, messy humanity.

Recommended for: Fans of family life fiction and unconventional memoirs who appreciate raw, “unfiltered” storytelling.

Key Quotes

“As I started down the ramp of sleep, I could feel my mind begin to unravel, like a piece of knitting being pulled out to correct a slipped stitch.”

About the Author

Jordy Rosenberg is the author of Confessions of the Fox, a New York Times Editors’ Choice selection and finalist for numerous prestigious awards, including the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and the Lambda Literary Award.

A recipient of support from the MacDowell and Lannan Foundations, Rosenberg currently serves as a professor in the Department of English and MFA Faculty at UMass-Amherst.

*Thank you to Broadspire PR/NetGalley for the gifted ARC for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

1772572242

days

hours minutes seconds

until

Night Night Fawn release date

Stephen King to Write Introduction for Nat Cassidy’s New Horror Collection

‘I Know a Place’ is the new short story collection by Nat Cassidy. Photo: Shortwave Publishing.

The King of Horror Joins Forces with Nat Cassidy for New Collection

PORTLAND, OR – In a massive win for horror fans, Shortwave Publishing has announced that the legendary Stephen King will write the introduction to bestselling author Nat Cassidy’s upcoming short story collection, I Know A Place. (Shortwave Publishing, 2026)

King, who rarely lends his pen to contemporary introductions, has previously written forewords for literary staples such as Lord of the Flies and The Haunting of Hill House. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Cassidy, placing him among a select few living authors to receive such an endorsement from the “King of Horror.”

A Record-Breaking Release

The buzz surrounding I Know A Place is growing. Since its announcement, the collection has:

Peaked in the Top Ten Most Requested Books on NetGalley.
Remained the #1 Most Requested title in the Horror category.

This follows the massive success of Cassidy’s most recent novel, When The Wolf Comes Home, which was both a USA Today bestseller and a Goodreads Choice Award nominee.

About the Collection

I Know A Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours

There are locations in this world where the light doesn’t seem to reach. Where, no matter how illuminated the place might be, shadows creep in too strongly to fight back.

From a suspiciously empty gas station littered with googly eyes to a tech millionaire’s haunted kitchen, Cassidy takes readers on a travelogue through the macabre. The collection features:

“Rest Stop”: The Bram Stoker Award-nominated novella named one of Esquire’s Best Horror Books of 2024.
New Material: A number of original short stories, including several never-before-published pieces.

“I Know A Place is a travelogue down twisting side streets and through alleyways where the darkness has eyes… and teeth. Let’s hope you make it home in one piece.”

Meet the Author: Nat Cassidy

Nat Cassidy is a multi-talented force in the horror genre, writing for the page, stage, and screen.

The Novelist: Named one of the “writers shaping horror’s next golden age” by Esquire, NPR, Harper’s Bazaar, and the NY Public Library have featured his work.
The Playwright: A winner of multiple NY Innovative Theatre Awards, Cassidy has written everything from one-man shows about H.P. Lovecraft to commissions for the Washington National Opera.
The Actor: You may recognize him as a “Bad Guy of the Week” on shows like Law & Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, and Quantico.

Mark Your Calendars

I Know A Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours officially drops on May 5.

Ready to secure your copy? The collection is available for pre-order now at Shortwave Publishing and wherever books are sold.

1778001302

days

hours minutes seconds

until

‘I Know A Place’ release date

Fear, Noise, and Propaganda: Reviewing ‘Piper at the Gates of Dusk’ by Patrick Ness

Piper at the Gates of Dusk by Patrick Ness. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: Piper at the Gates of Dusk by Patrick Ness

In Piper at the Gates of Dusk, Patrick Ness returns to the beautiful and brutal landscape of New World, the setting first introduced in the Chaos Walking trilogy (The Knife of Never Letting Go). This continuation feels urgent and intimate, bridging the gap between a scarred past and an uncertain future. It will be released on April 7, 2026.

A New Generation in a Fragile Peace

Set twenty years after the original trilogy, the story follows Todd and Viola’s sons, Ben and Max. Having grown up untouched by the violence that shaped their parents, the brothers now navigate a peace that feels increasingly thin.

The novel opens with a heart-pounding sequence: a figure the boys call a “god” emerges from the woods, leveling trees in its path. Ness’ prose captures the sheer scale of the terror:

“Like a mountain coming at you, like the whole landscape peeling up into the sky, as if someone’s grabbed the far corners of it like a blanket and pulled it into the air, and all you can do is watch your death come at you, because there’s nowhere to stand, nowhere to run–.”

While they survive the encounter, Ben is left injured, forcing Max to leave his side to find help, setting the emotional and narrative stakes early.

The Evolution of “Noise”

For those new to this world, Noise is the telepathic broadcast of thoughts. When settlers first arrived, men’s thoughts became public, while women’s remained private. While a “cure” was eventually developed, it came with side effects. For Ben, it affected his vocal cords; unable to speak, he relies on a communication device and sign language.

Now, a new threat is emerging:

Nightmares: Young people are experiencing terrors believed to be brought on by Noise.
Paranoia: As suspicion falls on indigenous people and rumors of an ominous object in the sky swirl, the adults’ fragile truce threatens to unravel.

The Weight of Legacy

The story is told through dual first-person perspectives, offering a poignant look at what it means to inherit a hero’s history. Ben carries Viola’s analytical strength and navigates the world through logic and sign language while Max inherits Todd’s impulsive bravery and is driven by action and the need to protect this brother.

Ness’ vivid language propels the action:

“The scream comes again, louder this time, like a siren blaring right in your face but filled with terror and pain.”

Themes: Fear as a Weapon

When children begin to vanish, the “uneasy truce” of New World collapses. Ness uses Noise as a brilliant and painful metaphor for the modern mental health crisis and the corrosive power of internalized fear.

In this new saga, Noise becomes a targeted psychological weapon used to create chaos and spread propaganda. It is a haunting examination of how quickly communities turn on one another when fear is weaponized.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Piper at the Gates of Dusk is a gripping and atmospheric science fiction novel. It explores whether the stories we tell ourselves are meant to protect us or if they are the very things keeping us in the dark. Epic and deeply personal, it stands confidently on its own while honoring the emotional legacy of the original trilogy.

Recommended for readers who enjoy:

Thought-provoking discussions on xenophobia and disinformation.
Imaginative world-building and sci-fi landscapes.
Nuanced explorations of gender identity and family legacy.

“They want the comforting lie, the one that lets them sleep at night. They want to know who their enemy is, because they’re never, ever going to believe it’s themselves.”

*Thank you to Sara DiSalvo for the gifted ARC for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

SA Examiner

Your Insider Source For Entertainment And Business Headlines

Category: Book news