Westville wasn't the kind of place where people went missing. Until one October in 1996, it suddenly was.
When thirteen-year-old Millie Thompson vanishes, hometown cop Casey Benson is desperate to find her, still haunted by a past mistake that cost a life. But as the days pass without answers, shadowy agents roll in and a corporate conspiracy rears it's head, Casey starts to realize the town he thought he knew is unravelling at the seams.
Meanwhile, Millie's best friend Olivia Fischer refuses to sit back launches an investigation all her own, leading her into the dense woods north of town where she and her friends encounter a dark presence. A red light moving between the trees and a figure in the shadows. Something is out there. Watching, waiting, and hungry.
As their search brings them together and the clock winds down for Millie, they begin to uncover the dark heart hiding behind Westville's quiet facade, and must come face to face with a force feeding on their own worst nightmares.
The deeper they go the more they realize: Some doors should never be opened.
From Ryder Jones, debut author of the acclaimed Substack serial 'Westville', comes a new supernatural thriller, masterfully blending the small town horror and liminal dread from the works of Stephen King and the atmosphere of Remedy Games 'Alan Wake', with the dimensional terror of Stranger Things and the clandestine conspiracies of the 'The X-Files'.
Here's what readers are saying:
"From the very first page, I was hooked." "The world-building is rich, the characters are complex and relatable, and the pacing kept me turning pages late into the night. It's hard to believe this is a debut-it reads like the work of a seasoned pro.""Welcome to Westville is atmospheric, nostalgic, and full of intrigue from the start." "Jones has created a cast of characters that immediately pull you into their world and make you want to know what happens next.""Immersive storytelling, unexpected twists, and a fresh voice in fiction." "This one's a must-read. Can't wait to see where this series goes next."