A Child Alone with Strangers: A Novel

“Fracassi’s novel hits me like a cross between McCammon and '80s King. Might be one of them summer blockbusters readers love.” —Laird Barron, author of Worse Angels"A Child Alone with Strangers starts out as a slow burn procedural with supernatural elements and inexorably cranks itself into a pulse-pounding symphony of eldritch horrors and all-too-human violence. Philip Fracassi is the best sort of horror writer--one who is unafraid to hunt for light in even the darkest places." —Shaun Hamill, author of A Cosmology of Monsters When young Henry Thorne is kidnapped and held prisoner in a remote farmhouse surrounded by miles of forest, he finds himself connecting with a strange force living in the woods—using that bond to wreak havoc against his captors. Unknown to the boy, however, is that this ancient being has its own reasons for wanting the interlopers gone—there is something hidden beneath the house, tucked away in the dark, damp root cellar . . . waiting for its return.

It; Firestarter; The Shining

"... a perfectly pitched horror novel, visceral and terrifying, delving deep into an eldritch world that sits alongside our own. It reminds me of early Stephen King

Christina Boswell, San Francisco Book Review (5 Stars)

"This book is huge but completely worth it. I haven’t read anything that terrifying in a while. . . . If you love horror, I highly recommend this story."

Laird Barron, author of Worse Angels

“Fracassi’s novel hits me like a cross between McCammon and '80s King. Might be one of them summer blockbusters readers love.”

Shaun Hamill, author of A Cosmology of Monsters

"A Child Alone with Strangers starts out as a slow burn procedural with supernatural elements and inexorably cranks itself into a pulse-pounding symphony of eldritch horrors and all-too-human violence. Philip Fracassi is the best sort of horror writer--one who is unafraid to hunt for light in even the darkest places."

Logan England, Signal Horizon

"Philip Fracassi's range, prolific output, and fast-paced prose are all set to put him on the shelf next to names such as King, Straub, and Thomas Harris . . . . one of the best books of the year."

Esquire

"A Child Alone with Strangers is one most affecting horror novels I've read this year."

for so many reasons! Very highly recommended. A Child Alone with Strangers is one most affecting horror novels I've read this year."

"This novel is at once terrifying and engrossing, so exquisitely composed by an artist who has found that terra firma of fear and sarcasm and compassion that makes this story soar. Successful on every level, this book is a must read

Tony Jones, Ginger Nuts of Horror

"...a sheer barrage of non-stop visceral horror and some truly breath-taking sequences which were vicious throwbacks to seventies and eighties era horror."

Brian McAuley, author of Curse of the Reaper

“An instant horror classic and my favorite read of the year. Every character is humanized with compelling depth. Every chapter is a study in tension and craft. Fracassi seamlessly weaves together so many horror sub-genres while organically rooting them all in a propulsive character-driven narrative that puts heart above all else. I really can't say enough good things about this one. A towering achievement.”

Scribble's Worth

“This book is a horror masterpiece.”

Book Stalker Blog

“It’s so much more than a supernatural horror thriller because at the heart of it is loss and living through the fog of grief.”

About the Author

Philip Fracassi is an award-winning author and screenwriter. His story collection, Behold the Void, won “Best Collection of the Year” from both This Is Horror and Strange Aeons Magazine, and has had numerous other short stories published in various magazines and anthologies, including The Best Horror of the Year. The author of Beneath a Pale Sky and Boys in the Valley, you can follow Philip via his social media @philipfracassi.

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