Horror June 2019 Recent Releases The Pandora Room by Christopher Golden What it's about: When the mythological Pandora's Box is found in a subterranean Iraqi city, Department of Defense fixer Ben Walker is called in to investigate the threats coming both from the artifact itself and from the jihadist forces eager to harness its power. Why you might like it: This eerie claustrophobic chiller offers well-developed characters, formidable human and supernatural adversaries, and pulse-pounding tension.  Series alert: The Pandora Room is the 2nd Ben Walker novel, following the Bram Stoker Award-winning Ararat. Little Darlings by Melanie Golding The premise: Recovering in the hospital after the birth of her twins, exhausted mom Lauren Tranter is visited by a sinister figure who tells her "I'll take yours and you can have mine." Her doctors blame sleep deprivation for her seeming hallucinations. What happens next: Lauren's twins mysteriously vanish from a park, but when they're found unharmed, only Lauren knows that something is terribly wrong...these babies aren't hers. Read it for: a haunting take on changeling folklore; an unflinching depiction of contemporary motherhood.  Inspection by Josh Malerman The experiment: What if separating the sexes made kids smarter? The pseudonymous M.O.M. and D.A.D. aim to accomplish just that in the sex-segregated schools they rule with rigidity and violence.  Is it for you? Though Inspection doesn't mine larger questions regarding gender and sexuality, it's a thought-provoking horror-thriller where every character is an unreliable narrator, whether by necessity or ignorance.    For fans of: Lord of the Flies and other works of psychological fiction. The Invited by Jennifer McMahon What it is: a compelling ghost story with a twist -- a haunted house is built, rather than moved into. How it happens: Drawn to the traumatic history of her property (hint: it involves witches), Helen Wetherell collects artifacts connected to the grounds, hoping to build them into her new home. Her efforts reveal long-buried secrets...and unleash vengeful ghosts. Try this next: For another fresh take on a haunted house story, check out Ezekiel Boone's The Mansion, set in a smart home menaced by its own AI. 2018 Bram Stoker Awards What Should Be Wild by Julia Fine Meet: Maisie Cothay, whose touch can kill the living and resurrect the dead. Raised by her anthropologist father, Maisie grows up in almost total isolation -- as well as total ignorance of her unusual family history. Is it for you? Although the premise is reminiscent of TV's Pushing Daisies, the tone of this Gothic-tinged modern fairy tale is much darker. Want a taste? "Still, I killed my father three times before the age of eight, and caused the demise of over a dozen small animals." Nominee, Superior Achievement in a First Novel Broken Lands by Jonathan Maberry What it is: a gory, action-packed YA zombie novel that will appeal to both teens and adults. Read it for: the large cast of diverse and well-developed characters; the cliffhanger ending. Series alert: Set in the world of Jonathan Maberry's bestselling Rot & Ruin novels, Broken Lands is the 1st in a new series that takes place shortly after the events of Fire & Ash.  Nominee, Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel  Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage Starring: seven-year-old daddy's girl Hanna and her mother Suzette, who Hanna considers competition for her father's affections. Who it's for: Readers who love sinister "bad seed" stories will enjoy Hanna's escalating psychopathic antics and her disturbing knack for antagonizing her long-suffering mother.   Reviewers say: "deviously fun" (Publishers Weekly); "deliciously creepy" (New York Post). Nominee, Superior Achievement in a First Novel  The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White What it is: a twisty YA retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. What sets it apart: Narrated by Elizabeth Lavenza (a passive minor character in the original novel), this Gothic tale offers a new perspective on a classic story by exploring themes of feminism, power, and captivity. Try this next: For another female-centric spin on a classic horror novel, try Megan Shepherd's The Madman's Daughter, inspired by H.G Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau. Winner, Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel Contact your librarian for more great books! Harford County Public Library 1221-A Brass Mill Rd Belcamp, Maryland 21017 410-273-5600 hcplonline.org