That’s right — not just one, but two new books are coming your way this autumn: my brand new gothic supernatural horror, The Hollowing, and a special tenth-anniversary edition of Unspeakable.
As I mentioned in my last blog post, The Hollowing marks six years since my last standalone novel. Writing it felt like coming home. Free from the (wonderful) constraints of a series, I was able to let my creativity — and the prose — run wild, building a story from the ground up with new characters and fresh horrors. Honestly, after such a long gap, I’d have been happy just to remember how.
“After all these years, I might finally be writing the stories I’d always hoped to — in a way that truly connects with you.”
But then something surprising — and humbling — happened. The first draft of The Hollowing went to the focus group, and it came back with a near-perfect score. I was floored. You’ll appreciate just how rare that is! After all these years, it was a powerful reminder that I might finally be writing the stories I’d always hoped to — in a way that truly connects with you.
https://gainedspotsspun.com/emh5gxdh?key=e1916cbd192d21f326efd401bba4dfa9
OUT OCTOBER 4TH
The 1st draft of the Hollowing was rated 8.5 out of 10 by focus group members.
But then something surprising — and humbling — happened. The first draft of The Hollowing went to the focus group, and it came back with a near-perfect score. I was floored. You’ll appreciate just how rare that is! After all these years, it was a powerful reminder that I might finally be writing the stories I’d always hoped to — in a way that truly connects with you.
The manuscript is now revised, in editing, and heading for typesetting — one final check before it’s unleashed on OCTOBER 4TH, 2025. I can’t wait for you to read it.
“The confidence to write a book like The Hollowing didn’t come overnight.”
That confidence? It didn’t come overnight. It was a long journey, one that began decades ago with my first ghost story: Unspeakable. This year marks ten years since its original publication, but the story itself was written many years before, by a much younger (and arguably more naïve) me with some very lofty ideas. Back then, I was convinced I knew exactly what readers wanted: a shocker. A story that pushed every boundary. So I threw everything at it — visceral horror, twists and turns, and yes, a heaping dose of gratuitous sex.
Unspeakable became an Amazon #1 bestseller, and I’m immensely proud of that. But it also, understandably, picked up reviews from readers who weren’t quite so impressed by the shock-for-shock’s-sake approach. It was, after all, written by a younger man in a very different stage of his career.
The real turning point came later with Haunted — book two of the Haunted series. By then, I’d made the conscious decision to write a truly traditional ghost story: atmosphere, bumps in the night, psychological dread. Psychosis, the first book, had already set the stage with its human-driven narrative, but Haunted took it further. There was no need for sex scenes, no over-the-top gore or sensationalism. It was about the characters, their dynamics, the location — and the supernatural forces that lurked within.
Haunted became my most successful novel ever, spending weeks as an Amazon #1 bestseller and ultimately leading to the series being optioned for TV.
By then, my readership had grown exponentially — and I’d learned something important. You, my readers, are sophisticated. You appreciate human-driven stories, a suspenseful thrill, and an experience that lingers, long after the last page is turned. You taught me that true horror isn’t gratuitous — it’s psychological. It performs in the theatre of the mind.
OUT OCTOBER 24TH
This special edition has been fully revised and edited
So when someone reminded me that Unspeakable was turning ten, I knew exactly what I needed to do.
This isn’t just a reprint. The Unspeakable: Special Tenth Anniversary Edition is a complete revision. I’ve gone back to that original story and rewritten it from the perspective of the writer I am today. The core story, the human drama, the supernatural — all still there, but now firmly front and centre. I’ve dialled back the gore, removed the sensationalism, and focused on what makes a ghost story truly scary.
It’s the book I wish I’d known how to write back then — now brought into line with the work I’m proud of today, like the Haunted and Sinister series, and now, The Hollowing. It’s darker where it needs to be, more emotional, and I think, a much better story for it.
So, this Halloween, you have a choice.
You can experience the all-new The Hollowing — a gothic supernatural horror about a woman who moves to the northeastern coastal town of Cauldfreet to open a gift shop just in time for Christmas, only to be plagued by secrets, superstition, and a terror unlike anything she’s ever known.
Or, you can experience a reimagined Unspeakable — a supernatural thriller about a publishing magnate who returns to his father’s country home years after a terrible tragedy, where something evil is waiting… and it follows them back to London.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling particularly brave — why not both?
► Pre-order The Hollowing on Amazon now!
► Pre-order Unspeakable: 10th Anniversary Edition on Amazon now!
