Pat King from The Poisoned Pen welcomed Darcy Coates and Brian McAuley to the bookstore. Coates traveled from Australia to discuss How Bad Things Can Get. Brian McAuley’s new book is Breathe In, Bleed Out. There are still a few signed copies available in the Webstore. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
Here’s the description of Darcy Coates’ How Bad Things Can Get.
The Blair Witch Project meets Fyre Fest in this bloody new thriller from the queen of scares, Darcy Coates!
It was supposed to be the party of the century: miles of idyllic white sand beaches, lush jungle foliage…and a dark legend nobody dreamed might be all too true.
When an online influencer and several hundred of his most loyal fans land on Prosperity Island, the plan is simple: five days of elaborate games, drinking, and suntanned fun.
A week in paradise should have been a welcome respite. The only survivor of an infamous cult, Ruth wants nothing more than to keep her head down and not draw attention. She’s spent decades outrunning her blood-soaked childhood, and her identity is a closely held secret.
But then the true history of the island is revealed…along with its sinister connection to Ruth’s past. As guests go missing and games turn deadly, Ruth and the rest of the attendees are forced to question whether they’ve really been invited to paradise…or whether something much darker—and far bloodier—is waiting for them just beyond the bonfire’s light.
Darcy Coates is the USA Today bestselling author of Hunted, The Haunting of Ashburn House, Craven Manor, and more than a dozen horror and suspense titles. She lives on the Central Coast of Australia with her family, cats, and a garden full of herbs and vegetables. Darcy loves forests, especially old-growth forests where the trees dwarf anyone who steps between them. Wherever she lives, she tries to have a mountain range close by.
Here’s the summary of Breathe In, Bleed Out.
“Brian McAuley keeps you guessing the whole gory, satisfying way through this one. Come to this retreat for the blood. Stay for the healing.”
—Stephen Graham Jones, New York Times bestselling author of I Was a Teenage Slasher?
It’s a Midsommar night’s Scream in this blood-soaked thriller set at a remote healing retreat from horror author Brian McAuley.
Hannah has been running from her demons ever since she emerged from a harrowing wilderness trip without her fiancé. No one knows exactly what happened the day Ben died, and Hannah would like to keep it that way… even if his ghost still haunts her with vivid waking nightmares that are ruining her life. So when her friend group gets an exclusive invitation to a restorative spiritual retreat in Joshua Tree, Hannah reluctantly agrees in search of a fresh start.
Despite her skepticism of the strange Guru Pax and his belief in the supernatural world, Hannah soon finds healing through all the yoga, sound baths, and hot springs offered at the tech-free haven. But this peaceful journey of self-discovery quickly descends into a violent fight for self-preservation when a mysterious killer starts picking off retreat attendees in increasingly gruesome ways. As the body count rises and Hannah’s sanity frays, she’ll have to confront her dark past and uncover the true nature of a ruthless monster hellbent on killing her vibe for good.
BRIAN MCAULEY is an author and WGA screenwriter who has written everything from family sitcoms (Fuller House) to psychological thriller films (Dismissed). His debut novel, Curse of the Reaper, was named one of the Best Horror Books of 2022 by Esquire. His holiday slasher novella, Candy Cain Kills, earned praise from Booklist, Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews. His short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Dark Matter, Nightmare, Shortwave, and Monstrous Magazines. In addition to his writing, Brian is a clinical assistant professor of screenwriting at ASU’s Sidney Poitier New American Film School. Connect with him on social media @BrianMcWriter.
Enjoy the conversation with Darcy Coates and Brian McAuley.