Ink

Maberry sends the hard-boiled skip tracer Monk Addison, who first appeared in 2018’s Glimpse, to the creepy small-town setting of his Pine Deep trilogy for a disquieting standalone adventure. Upon arriving in Pine Deep, Pa., the “most haunted town in America,” Monk immediately runs into trouble; one of his oldest friends, tattoo artist Patty Cakes, is attacked by a mysterious force that eats away at one of her most significant tattoos and steals the memories associated with it. Local psychic Dianna Agbala experiences something similar: a tattoo representing her core essence begins to fade, and with it her understanding of herself. The culprit is a man who calls himself the Lord of the Flies and feeds off memories—and it’s up to Monk and his allies to stop him. Moments of gruesome violence and abuse mark this as not for the faint of heart, though Maberry’s focus on the strength and resilience of his heroes offers a glimmer of light in the darkness. The unhinged and unrepentant Lord of the Flies is a striking villain who will haunt readers long after the book is through. Horror fans should take note. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Nov.)