The Empty Ones

In this gonzo sequel to 2015’s The Unnoticeables, a burned-out punk and his unlikely allies continue their battle against bizarre otherworldly creatures. In 1977, Carey and his pal Randall are in London to take in the music scene, but they are instead drawn into an epic clash against the terrifying Unnoticeables, which have infested the city and hide in plain sight. Meanwhile, in 2013, Carey—older but no wiser—has teamed up with stuntwoman Kaitlyn and her friend Jackie on a quest to destroy Marco Luis, a teen heartthrob turned soulless monster. As the narrative bounces between the two eras, the true scope and horror of the threat are slowly revealed. Facing almost impossible odds, Carey and his companions must risk everything to gain an advantage. Brockway, a senior editor at Cracked, throws caution to the wind in this foul-mouthed, hard-drinking adventure, which reads like a collaboration by Hunter S. Thompson, the Sex Pistols, and H.P. Lovecraft. Kaitlyn describes Carey as “mostly bravado, lies, and perversion,” which perfectly sums up the gutter-dwelling vibe of this novel and its down-and-out protagonists. Agent: Sam Morgan, JABberwocky Literary. (Aug.)