Boys in the Valley

The latest from Fracassi (Gothic) is a sublimely chilling story that sinks its teeth into readers from the first page and refuses to let go until the very end. The novel centers on St. Vincent’s Orphanage in Pennsylvania in 1905, and a sinister visit that changes the lives of the priests and orphans who live there. Fracassi almost cheerfully paints this gloomy tale with painfully beautiful and detailed prose that is not afraid to shy away from gore and terror. It will strongly appeal to readers who love possession stories and keeps the reader guessing with several shocks and surprises. The cover, created by Jonathan Bartlett and Peter Lutjen, is an excellent pairing with the novel and will grab the casually browsing patron’s attention while managing to convey some of the pure dread Fracassi imbues into the story.