The Devil in Silver

In this inspired and haunting thriller from Victor LaValle, a monstrous devil is on the loose in a rundown, but still functioning, mental hospital in Queens, N.Y. And while the inmates have seen the creature, the hospital staff is working hard to keep it hidden away. But when the sun goes down, there’s no telling what horrors will be unleashed. Soon a diverse group of inmates is forced to band together and ward off the dangerous beast. As a narrator, LaValle turns in a surprisingly layered performance that is as wonderfully creepy as his novel. With the thrills coming fast and often, LaValle’s reading easily lures listeners into the story. Additionally, LaValle lends his characters original voices that are rarely over-the-top or stereotypical. A Random/Spiegel & Grau hardcover. (Aug.)