Cradle Lake

From the award-winning author of Bone White: “Riveting, idiosyncratic horror at its best . . . Leaves readers breathless with anticipation” (Fresh Fiction).  New beginnings . . .   In the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains, an aging house leaves much to be desired, but Alan Hammerstun hopes it will be the fresh start he and his wife, Heather, need after her two miscarriages and later suicide attempt. But Heather remains distant and depressed and Alan is soon drawn to the woods behind the house—and the small lake hidden there. When he sees an injured child healed by its waters after being hit by a car, Alan becomes privy to the town’s greatest secret.   But for every benefit the lake bestows, it demands an exacting price. And when Alan dares to defy the warnings, an ancient evil enters his house and his mind, spawning nightmares and paranoia. Soon, nothing is off limits to its malignant power—even Alan’s wife . . .   “Malfi deftly maintains the tension and engrossing atmosphere of horror by stepping up the pace and frequency of bizarre events. . . . A tale of sustained terror.” —Publishers Weekly   “This is, very often, a haunting and disturbing read. In places genuinely terrifying, it’s also a book concerned with themes of hope, redemption and how your past can poison your present.” —Horror Novel Reviews   “A haunting and terrifying novel of madness and despair.” —Horror News Network

Rue Morgue magazine on Floating Staircase

“A thoughtful, multilayered tale.”

Suspense magazine on The Ascent

“A thrilling edge-of-your-seat ride that should not be missed. Don't let the title fool you; it is less about a mountain and more about life in general. If you love thrillers that keep you guessing, this is a must read.”

Publishers Weekly

"Malfi deftly maintains the tension and engrossing atmosphere of horror by stepping up the pace and frequency of bizarre events . . . as Alan spins out of control."

Booklist on Shamrock Alley

“A gripping thriller, similar to the novels of Gerald Petievich, the Secret Service agent turned author, but with more emotional and moral depth.”

Open Book Society

“I read the book quickly because of the suspense. The psychology of the Hammerstuns is fascinating.”

Night Owl Reviews

“This is the very first novel that I’ve read by Mr. Malfi, and I can assure you it won’t be my last. This author has a new fan following him now!”

About the Author

Ronald Malfi is the author of The Ascent, The Fall of Never, The Nature of Monsters, Shamrock Alley, Via Dolorosa, and Floating Staircase, which was nominated for the 2011 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel and won the 2012 IPPY National Gold Medal for Horror.He lives in Arnold, Maryland.

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