Horror - Zeno Agency Ltd.

Vincent Tirado’s WE DON’T SWIM HERE — Out in May 2023!

Posted on Friday, December 16th, 2022

Today, we’re very happy to share the cover for Vincent Tirado‘s upcoming chilling YA horror novel, WE DON’T SWIM HERE. Due to be published by Sourcebooks Fire, on May 2nd, 2023, here’s the synopsis…

Anais knows the rules keep everyone in Hillwoods safe. Her cousin is intent on breaking them. A new, chill-inducing YA Horror for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson and Lamar Giles.

Bronwyn is only supposed to be in rural Hillwoods for a year. Her grandmother is in hospice, and her father needs to get her affairs in order. And they’re all meant to make some final memories together.

Except Bronwyn is miserable. Her grandmother is dying, everyone is standoffish, and she can’t even go swimming. All she hears are warnings about going in the water, despite a gorgeous lake. And a pool at the abandoned rec center. And another in the high school basement.

Anais tries her hardest to protect Bronwyn from the shadows of Hillwoods. She follows her own rituals to avoid any unnecessary attention—and if she can just get Bronwyn to stop asking questions, she can protect her too. The less Bronwyn pays attention to Hillwoods, the less Hillwoods will pay attention to Bronwyn. She doesn’t get that the lore is, well, truth. History. Pain. The living aren’t the only ones who seek retribution when they’re wronged. But when Bronwyn does more exploring than she should, they are both in for danger they couldn’t expect.

Tirado’s acclaimed debut novel, BURN DOWN, RISE UP is available now, also published by Sourcebooks Fire.

‘A speculative horror that blends elements of horror with a history of gentrification and systemic racism.’ – Publishers Weekly

‘Tirado’s unsettling debut is a love letter to the Bronx and the community that makes it. The perfect pick for horror lovers still looking for a light at the end of the tunnel.’ – Booklist

‘BURN DOWN, RISE UP is a brilliant contemporary horror that masterfully emphasizes the dark history of the Bronx into the thing of urban legends. The writing and the wonderful world-building is sure to stick with you for days after you read.’ v Bookish Brews

‘A queer, heart-pounding thrill ride. Fans of Attack the Block and Vampires vs. the Bronx: prepare for your newest obsession.’ — Ryan Douglass, New York Times bestselling author

‘It is like if Nightmare on Elm Street, Get Out, and The Get Down had a baby.’ – Isis Asare, Sistah Scifi bookstore

Grady Hendrix Returns Next Month, with HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE!

Posted on Thursday, December 15th, 2022

On January 17th, 2023, Titan Books are due to publish (in the UK) the latest horror masterpiece by Grady Hendrix: HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE! Here’s the synopsis…

When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world.

Mostly, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. But she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market.

Some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them…

Like his novels The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires and The Final Girl Support Group, How to Sell a Haunted House is classic Hendrix: equal parts heartfelt and terrifying—a gripping new read from “the horror master” (USA Today).

The novel has already started generating some great early reviews…

‘A must-have for any library that will appeal to a broad audience. Hendrix is a best-seller for a reason, and this new novel shows he is only getting better with age.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘With strong connections to twenty-first century classics […] Hendrix’ book sets the high watermark for horror in 2023.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘Warm up the VCR and fire up the air popper for a most bitchin’ horror story by a gifted practitioner of these dark arts.’ — Kirkus

‘A spirited nightmare story about death, but also, what comes after: grief, guilt, family secrets, and estate administration. Oh, also, did I mention the evil puppets?’ — Chuck Wendig, New York Times-bestselling author of The Book of Accidents

‘It’s tempting to point out the balance of horror and humor here, and the comingling of the two really is something else, but the true power behind How to Sell a Haunted House is in its emotionality, the sister-brother dynamic, the family matters. It’s life and death in the childhood home, and Hendrix has masterfully rendered the journey from one end to the other.’ — Josh Malerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box and Daphne

‘A madcap fun house of a novel. Zigzags from hilarious to horrifying to heartbreaking and back again in the blink of an eye. I loved it!’ — Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of The House Across the Lake

‘With his trademark charm and ingenuity, Hendrix upends the haunted house story. Chilling, surprising, and at times downright frightening, How to Sell a Haunted House is ultimately about how we’re all haunted by our families and the lengths to which we must go to make peace with the past.’ — Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor and The Hunger

Hendrix’s previous novel, THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP was the winner of the Goodreads Choice Award (Horror), and is also published in the UK by Titan Books — out now in paperback.

Zeno represents Grady Hendrix in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Coming Soon: BURN THE NEGATIVE by Josh Winning (G. P. Putnam’s Sons)

Posted on Monday, December 5th, 2022

On July 11th, 2023, G. P. Putnam’s Sons are due to publish BURN THE NEGATIVE, the latest thriller/mystery from Josh Winning. Winning’s debut, THE SHADOW GLASS, was a huge hit with horror, mystery and nostalgia fans, and we’re sure that readers will take to his second novel just as much. Here’s the synopsis…

Thirty years hiding from her past.
Eight deaths still unexplained.
One haunted horror film.
Nowhere left to run.

Journalist Laura Warren is mid-flight to L.A. when she learns that the streaming series she’s about to report on is a remake of a ’90s horror flick. A cursed ’90s horror flick. The one she starred in—and has been running from her whole life.

As a child star, Laura was cast as the lead in The Guesthouse. She played Tammy Manners, the little girl with the terrifying gift to tell people how the Needle Man would kill them. But her big break was her last, as eight of her cast and crew mates died in mysterious ways, and the film became infamous—a cult classic of fictional horror that somehow summoned the real thing. Hoping to move on, Laura changed her name and her accent, dyed her hair, and moved across the Atlantic Ocean.

But some scripts don’t want to stay buried.

After landing, Laura finds a yellow dress like the one she wore in the movie. Then the words “She’s here” scratched into the wall in an actor’s trailer. And then people working on the series start dying. It’s all happening again, and Laura finds herself on the run with her sister and a jaded psychic, hoping to find answers—and to stay out of the Needle Man’s lethal reach.

An homage to slasher films with a fresh take on the true price of fame, Burn the Negative is a twisty thriller best read with the lights on.

If you haven’t yet had a chance to read Winning’s work, be sure to check out THE SHADOW GLASS — out now, published by Titan Books in North America and in the UK.

New Story Bundle, Curated by Lavie Tidhar!

Posted on Friday, October 14th, 2022

Lavie Tidhar has curated a new Story Bundle! This time, the collection has a Hollywood Horror theme. Here’s Lavie’s introduction to the collection…

Ah, Hollywood! The glitz, the glamour – the monsters! For Halloween this year I thought it would be fun to collect books with some connection to Tinseltown – whether by actors, screenwriters, books about the movies or those in development to become films and TV shows. It’s a mixed bag of fabulous! But all of it unsettling in some way. As the nights draw long and the frost settles on the windows and the wind howls mercilessly outside, what better time to settle down with a blanket and read some tales dark and grim?

So join me as we take a tour through worlds of ancient rockets and the devil, black and white monsters and deep hidden fungus, of vampires, fire-breathing giant lizards, horror film survivors and, of course, a dinosaur detective. Here is a mixture of novels and intelligent non-fiction, anthologies and novellas – the full gamut of the field spelled out in stars against a silver screen.

cue lights!
Camera!
… Aaaaand action!

In case you are not familiar with StoryBundle: you decide what price you want to pay, with more books available at certain amounts.

With the Hollywood Horror Bundle, for $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous), you’ll get the basic bundle of four books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE.

Who Wants to be the Prince of Darkness? by Michael Boatman
Monsters From the Vault by Orrin Grey
The Cutting Room edited by Ellen Datlow
We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory

If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus seven more books for a total of 11!

Deep State by Christopher Farnsworth
The Imaginary Corpse by Tyler Hayes
Scream Queen by Edo van Belkom
Revenge of Monsters From the Vault by Orrin Grey
Ancient Rockets by Kage Baker, edited by Kathleen Bartholomew
Shambling Towards Hiroshima by James Morrow
The Violent Century by Lavie Tidhar

If you are so moved, you can allocate some of what you pay for the bundle to go to Locus magazine.

The bundle is available until November 3rd.

As you can see, the bundle includes Lavie’s own THE VIOLENT CENTURY. Published by JABberwocky, here’s the synopsis…

A bold experiment has mutated a small fraction of humanity. Nations race to harness the gifted, putting them to increasingly dark ends. At the dawn of global war, flashy American superheroes square off against sinister Germans and dissolute Russians. Increasingly depraved scientists conduct despicable research in the name of victory

British agents Fogg and Oblivion, recalled to the Retirement Bureau, have kept a treacherous secret for over forty years. But all heroes must choose when to join the fray, and to whom their allegiance is owed — even for just one perfect summer’s day.

The cover for THE VIOLENT CENTURY is by the ever-excellent Sarah Anne Langton.

Lavie’s latest novel is MAROR, which is published by Head of Zeus. He also curated and edited the new THE BEST OF WORLD SF, Volume 2, which AdAstra published yesterday.

Simon R. Green’s WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG Out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Friday, September 23rd, 2022

WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG, Simon R. Green‘s third novel starring master conman Gideon Sable novel, is out in two weeks! It is published by Severn House, in the UK and North America on October 4th. Here’s the synopsis…

The tables are turned on legendary master thief Gideon Sable when a priceless magical artifact is stolen from him, in this fast-paced supernatural heist thriller.

You can find everything you’ve ever dreamed of in the strange, old magical shop known as Old Harry’s Place. The problem is, not all dreams are kind.

Gideon Sable – legendary master thief, conman and well-dressed rogue – and his partner in crime Annie Anybody don’t want to be shopkeepers, but when the enigmatic Harry decides to retire, he blackmails the pair into taking the store on.

Before the grand reopening can happen, however, a menacing stranger arrives – with a rare and deadly item for them to appraise. A small piece of rock, with an unnerving aura, which ‘Smith’ claims contains the last echoes of the legendary sirens’ song. Before they can find out more, however, Smith vanishes… leaving only the stone.

Some valuables are more trouble than they’re worth. But before Gideon and Annie can work out if they’ve been set up, the stone is stolen from its impregnable hiding place. How? And why? Gideon only knows one thing for certain: no one steals from him and gets away with it…

The first two novels in the series — THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL and A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE — are also published by Severn House (UK and North America).

If you’re looking for even more great supernatural mysteries from Green, you should check out his Ishmael Jones mystery series, also published by Severn House.

Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU is Out Tomorrow in the UK!

Posted on Monday, July 18th, 2022

THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU, the latest masterpiece by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, is out tomorrow in the UK! To be published by Jo Fletcher Books, here’s the synopsis…

Carlota Moreau: A young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula, the only daughter of a genius – or a madman.

Montgomery Laughton: A melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol, an outcast who assists Dr Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas with plentiful coffers.

The hybrids: The fruits of the Doctor’s labour, destined to blindly obey their creator while they remain in the shadows, are a motley group of part-human, part-animal monstrosities.

All of them are living in a perfectly balanced and static world which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron – who will, unwittingly, begin a dangerous chain-reaction.

For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle passions may ignite.

You can also pre-order a special, sprayed-edge signed hardcover edition from Waterstones (while stocks last).

THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU has already wracked up plenty of glowing advance reviews, in case you need any more convincing…

‘ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022’ – She Reads

‘The imagination of Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a thing of wonder, restless and romantic, fearless in the face of genre, embracing the polarities of storytelling’ – New York Times

‘[T]his wholly new novel paints a vivid picture that is as alluring as it is unsettling, filled with action, romance, and monsters. However, it is Moreno-Garcia’s ability to mesh the unease of the scientifically created beasts with the real-life terrors of a life on the margins and the horror of colonialism that elevates this story. Readers will fall into this tale immediately, enchanted.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘With its evocative prose, post-colonial historical setting that drives the plot, and the introduction of vibrant, fascinating characters, both familiar and new, THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU very much stands on its own.’ — Locus

‘[T]he setup is crucial to the book’s action-packed second half, and the payoff is worth it. Moreno-Garcia’s previous work has spanned genres — horror in Mexican Gothic (2020), noir in Velvet Was the Night (2021) — and in this volume, she deftly combines fantasy, adventure, and even romance; the result is hard to classify but definitely a lot of fun. This isn’t the first book to riff on H.G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), but it’s definitely one of the better ones. A fun literary remix.’ — Kirkus

‘This imaginative retelling of The Island of Doctor Moreau takes place in 19th-century Mexico, revolving around the sole daughter of a reclusive researcher (who may or may not be a madman) and the unexpected guest whose curiosity compels Carlota to question things herself. It’s got action, romance, and even monsters — what more could ya want??’ — Cosmopolitan

‘Silvia Moreno-Garcia stuns us once again with her atmospheric world-building and beautiful prose in this historical reimagining of H. G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau. Fans of Gods of Jade and Shadow and Mexican Gothic will rejoice to have another fantastic read to add to their collection.’ — Barnes & Noble

‘If there are two things I love in this world, it’s contemporary reimaginings of Victorian era horror and sci-fi, and joyful genre mashups in literature. Thank the Lord, then, for Silvia Moreno-Garcia… A thrilling fable of imperialism and exploitation… This sublime hybrid of historical, speculative, and gothic fiction might be Moreno-Garcia’s best yet.’ — LitHub

‘I can’t get enough of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s playful takes on classic genres… steeped in sultry atmospherics…’ — CrimeReads

Zeno represents Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

UK Paperback of Grady Hendrix’s Acclaimed THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, July 12th, 2022

The UK paperback edition of Grady Hendrix‘s acclaimed novel THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP is out today! The novel was the Goodreads Choice Award Winner in 2021, a Bram Stoker Award Finalist in 2021, and also a Locus Award Finalist in 2022!

Published by Titan Books, here’s the synopsis…

In horror movies, the final girl is the one who’s left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her?

Lynnette Tarkington survived a massacre twenty-two years ago, and it has defined every day of her life since. And she’s not alone. For more than a decade she’s been meeting with five other final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, putting their lives back together, piece by piece. That is until one of the women misses a meeting and Lynnette’s worst fears are realized — someone knows about the group and is determined to take their lives apart again, piece by piece.

But the thing about these final girls is that they have each other now, and no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘A wildly entertaining romp through the conventions of horror’s slasher film subgenre… Hendrix masterfully evokes the paranoid existences of his diverse cast in the aftermath of their traumatic ordeals, and he so explicitly details the massacres and fictional film sagas that grew out of them that readers may believe them to be real. The result is a wonderfully suspenseful and darkly comic novel that cleverly subverts popular culture.Horror fans will be wowed.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Hendrix’s cinematic knowledge is deployed with skill, and it’s not necessary to be a fan of slasher movies to enjoy this very clever, gleefully violent, self-aware deconstruction of the genre.’ — The Guardian

‘This is a must-read for stalk ‘n’ slash fans and another hit from a horror writer at the top of his game.’ — SFX Magazine

‘Hendrix presents yet another thought-provoking, fun, and chilling winner.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘A bloody and grotesque but ultimately entertaining and inspiring take on horror movies, trauma, and self-determination.’ — Kirkus

‘[An] entertaining, fast-paced, and darkly humorous novel that reads like a sequel to a spooky ’80s horror flick.’ — Booklist

‘This is a fine reworking of a genre exercise: pulpy without feeling trashy, conventional without feeling unintelligent, and always geared toward delivering maximum enjoyment. It’s about time we had another good slasher beach read.’ — AV Club

‘Pray for morning, wish for speed, and be as quiet as you can, it doesn’t matter — Grady Hendrix’s THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP already knows where you live and breathe.’ — Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author

‘THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP is funny, scary, and a roaring good time. Grady Hendrix puts his own spin on Final Girls and I loved it. His unique voice should not be missed by those who enjoy horror with a big dose of sarcasm and humor.’ — Stephen Graham Jones

‘THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP is perfect for anyone who loves old slasher movies and, oddly enough, anyone who hates them. Grady Hendrix has somehow crafted both an homage to B-horror schlock and a clever dissection of the genre, all delivered in the form of one long breathless chase punctuated by both unpredictable twists and thoughtful insight.’ — Paul Tremblay, National bestselling author of Survivor Song

‘With THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP Grady Hendrix transforms a horror trope into something bloody original. An incisive examination of society’s obsession with violence against women that simultaneously honors and roasts the slasher genre with equal prowess. Wildly entertaining and clever as hell.’ — Kim Newman, author of Anno Dracula

Zeno represents Grady Hendrix in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s THE DAUGHER OF DOCTOR MOREAU Out Next Week!

Posted on Monday, July 11th, 2022

THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU, the latest masterpiece by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, is out next week in the UK! Due to be published by Jo Fletcher Books, here’s the synopsis…

Carlota Moreau: A young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula, the only daughter of a genius – or a madman.

Montgomery Laughton: A melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol, an outcast who assists Dr Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas with plentiful coffers.

The hybrids: The fruits of the Doctor’s labour, destined to blindly obey their creator while they remain in the shadows, are a motley group of part-human, part-animal monstrosities.

All of them are living in a perfectly balanced and static world which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron – who will, unwittingly, begin a dangerous chain-reaction.

For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle passions may ignite.

The book will also be available in two special, sprayed-edge signed hardcover editions from Waterstones, which is available to pre-order now.

Unsurprisingly, THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU has already been wracking up plenty of glowing reviews…