Clay McLeod Chapman is going to reach into your mind and haunt the corners of it.
Author: Clay McLeod Chapman
Released: September 2022
Genre: Fiction, Horror
Pages: 304
Audiobook Length: 9 hours (approx.)
Acclaim
One of Vulture's Best Horror Novels of 2022
Review
This should be billed as a psychological thriller. For anyone who has ever had a bad trip on questionable substances, this speaks to that fear of tip-toeing into insanity. Previous experience with any mind-altering substance is unnecessary to revel in this terrifying tale.
I love a book with a sharp and intelligent internal monologue and this delivered!
My only complaint is minor. There are aspects of a very small number of events that I question if they fall within the laws of specters set by the author. This was not a killer in terms of flow or enjoyability.
Ghost Eaters is a page-turner.
I had it read in a few short sittings. However, the break between those readings was strategic on my part. I did get a bit of, uh, a fright. Yep, this was an exceptional read and better than I had expected.
Plot
The narrator, Erin, loses a dear friend to drug use. Silas was charismatic and often the ringleader of her group of friends, but the pull of addiction leads to his untimely death. Erin is devastated, but she is soon told that she may be able to speak to him again.
A new drug, coined Ghost, can provide the gateway necessary for Erin and Silas to reunite. But, the consequences are greater than she could have ever imagined.
Additional Comments
The author alluded to a brief time of previous drug use in his early adult life. I'm unsure how short of a period it was, or what substances he used, but he wrote Ghost Eaters with the level of description of someone who knows what a hell of a bender looks like.
"Move over Nancy Reagan's Just-Say-No policy. A new drug czar has risen and he's created a scared-straight campaign that will terrify you." - Amy, My Corner Spot Blog
About the Author
I have the feeling I've only scratched the surface as it pertains to Chapman.
He has published several books, contributed to anthologies, and written comics for Marvel.
He has an IMDB page for his work on a number of films.
I would be scolded by my child if I did not mention Chapman co-authored an unpublished book with Henry Selick. The story was adapted into the Netflix movie Wendell & Wild produced by Jordan Peele.
Clay McLeod Chapman is a John C. Reilly or Steve Buscemi of the entertainment industry.
Check out his interview on the Reading Glasses podcast below in which he talks sporror horror.
Verdict
Score: 9.5/10
This is your next horror read.
Yes! Pick it up at your library, local bookstore, or favorite online retailer.
My Corner Spot blog is supported by our users. This post contains affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on the site at no additional cost to you.
Comments