Episode Thirteen

From the macabre mind of Bram Stoker Award nominated author Craig DiLouie, Episode Thirteen is a chilling novel of horror and psychological suspense that takes a ghost-hunting reality TV crew into a dark and terrifying world that exists beyond our own.

Fade to Black: Led by husband and wife team Matt and Claire Kirklin, it’s the new hit ghost-hunting reality TV show.

Episode 13 will take their investigative team to the former site of the Paranormal Research Foundation in Virginia. In this brooding, derelict mansion, they hope to use their scientific methods and high-tech gear to crack an infamous haunting while uncovering clues about the bizarre experiments that went on there in the 1970s.

But as Foundation House begins to unravel its mysteries, Matt and Claire discover it wants something in return.

Revealed in broken pieces, in tapes, journals, and correspondence, this is the story of Episode 13—and how an entertaining show about hunting ghosts became a nightmarish documentary of obsession, madness, and human terror.

“The experience is reminiscent of found footage films such as The Blair Witch Project—less like reading a book than following the breadcrumbs left in the wake of a terrifying discovery.” —The Washington Post, “Three New Horror Novels to Sink Your Teeth Into,” here

“The newest from DiLouie follows a found-footage narrative before veering into gloriously mind-bending terror… VERDICT: In this subversion of the classic haunted-house/found-footage story, DiLouie demonstrates his ability to toy with and eventually upend readers’ expectations. What could have been a story full of the typical tropes becomes an unsettling exploration into what lies beyond life, death, and reality itself.” —Library Journal (starred review), complete review here

“With well-developed characters, a swiftly paced narrative, and mounting dread, this new twist on the ghost story will delight horror readers.” —Booklist (American Library Association)

“Craig DiLouie is no stranger to strong writing and intriguing tales… Easily destined to be an award nominee, and hopefully a film (if it’s possible to capture the material well), this is the first highly recommended novel of 2023.” —Cemetery Dance, complete review here

“Wow wow WOW I LOVED this! Absolutely Craig DiLouie’s best and strongest novel so far… Great for found footage fans, for fans of shows like Ghost Adventures, and for fans of cleverly told ghost stories.” —HorrorBound, complete review here

“Ghost hunting crews, haunted mansions, forbidden experiments … Episode Thirteen has it all and then some. A twisting and turning puzzle of unsettling terror, Craig DiLouie has crafted a modern-day classic. It flat-out scared me!” —Richard Chizmar, author of Gwendy’s Button Box and Chasing the Boogeyman

“Absolutely spooky.” —Cape and Castle, listing Episode Thirteen as one of 13 horror novels that would make great streaming adaptations

“If you’ve never read a found footage (found fiction) novel, I can’t think of a better one to start with than Episode Thirteen. It’s a triumphant tale of love, loss, and the afterlife—those souls who are trapped here from fear, and the ones trapped here from anger. Craig DiLouie is a powerhouse of a horror writer who excels in scaring the shit out of you. If you like ghost stories, original horror, some fun references, and a heaping load of ’60s flower power music, then Episode Thirteen is the novel for you.” –Horror Press, complete review here

“Episode Thirteen was a fun and gripping read that’s sure to leave a lasting impression. Craig DiLouie masterfully builds an atmosphere of dread and unease throughout the book while also developing his characters into fully fleshed and relatable figures. I really can’t believe it’s taken me this long to finally read one of his books! If you are a horror fan and you love haunted house stories and don’t mind epistolary novels, I highly recommend picking this up.” —BiblioSanctum, complete review here

“A beautiful Russian doll of a story… Episode Thirteen hooks you, creeps you out, and then it overwhelms you. It’s House of Leaves meets Haunting of Hill House, in all the best possible ways.” —Peter Clines, NYT Bestselling Author of The Broken Room

“One warning only: once you pick up Episode Thirteen, set aside some quality time to read it, and be aware that once you start the book it will be next to impossible to put it down for more than the few moments you will need to catch your breath – because you will need to remember to breathe, trust me…” —Space and Sorcery, complete review here

“An epistolary descent into a living nightmare … well-written and genuinely unsettling. Fans of paranormal documentaries, ghost-hunting shows, and found-footage horror will lose their minds over this one.” —Kealan Patrick Burke, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Kin and Sour Candy

“DiLouie’s tale was completely captivating, and one of those novels you just don’t want to put down, you want to read just a little more, even as some of the ideas and occurrences leave you a little shaken… I loved this one, it was creepy, twists expectations, and delivers a thought-provoking ending that may make you reconsider the whole paranormal realm.” —The Mind Reels, complete review here

“Episode Thirteen is a suspenseful and engaging Rubik’s cube of a novel. The reader has great perverse fun twisting the pieces back and forth, facet after facet, until Craig DiLouie’s grand design stands revealed in all its febrile splendor.” —James Morrow, author of The Last Witchfinder and The Asylum of Dr. Caligari

“DiLouie masterfully subverts everything you expect a haunted house story to be, and I loved every minute of it.” –Books, Bones & Buffy, complete review here

“Episode Thirteen does not go where you think it will… Instead it offers bizarre twists, devious reveals, and unexpected shocks. Deeply satisfying and a hell of a lot of weird fun!” —Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of Patient Zero and Kagen the Damned

“I devoured it. Everything in it is just phenomenal. The characters are dimensional and engaging, the story is well paced and gripping, and the format is unique and fun. I really have no notes. Go read it… I desperately need more horror like this. It’s smart, chilling, and leaves you wanting more.” –Horrorble Book Reviews, complete review here

“This is the first DiLouie novel I’ve read, but it won’t be my last, if he can pump out brilliance like this.” –The Bold Mom, complete review here

“It’s the literary equivalent of a found footage movie, and it works beautifully. Part ghost story, part metaphysical horror, total nightmare—Episode Thirteen is a must read.” —David Moody, author of Hater and the Autumn series

“This book is bursting with creativity… Creepy and trippy, and a fun epistolary tale with some unique storytelling devices, Episode Thirteen is a solid new entry into the found materials genre.” –The Library Ladies, complete review here

“A dark mosaic of reality TV and occult physics, Episode Thirteen reels you in with a found-footage mystery that spirals into a labyrinth of madness. Craig DiLouie dissects his all-too-human characters’ needs and ambitions with clinical precision as we race toward a series of stunningly beautiful—and horrifying—revelations.” —Andy Marino, author of It Rides a Pale Horse and The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess

“A sense of unease permeates every page… The final few pages will send a shiver down your spine… This is a very entertaining book with great pacing and atmosphere. Fans of ghost stories and psychological suspense will enjoy!” –Just Another Damn Book Blog, complete review here

“This book is what would happen if you took Mark Z. Danielewksi’s House of Leaves, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, and Richard Matheson’s Hell House and fed them all into a nuclear reactor. This is a horror novel, but it’s not ‘spooky bumps on the stairs’ horror, it’s more ‘psychological, fever dream, head trip, everything we thought we knew about the universe is false, alone in the dark, haunted by ourselves, oh God what have I gotten myself into’ horror. Which is to say, it’s a story which is disturbing and weird and unsettling, but also incredibly well-written and completely captivating.” –Heather Mills, author of Knock Knock

“DiLouie has a master’s hand at character and story, this novel had a lot of heart in its characters and built to a thrilling, addictive crescendo… Episode 13 is a fantastic, dark, and chilling take on the haunted house story that has me eager to read more from Craig DiLouie.” –SFF World, complete review here

“If you enjoy haunted house horror, found footage, strange scientific/paranormal experiments, and unexplained paranormal discoveries, you will enjoy this book.” –Mother Horror

“It’s one of those trips–a terrifying descent into darkness and madness, where supernatural and metaphysical blend and distort all reality. A classic case of abyss gazing back … pure wow. Nearly impossible to put down, electric ride of a story. Bravo, author.” –Advance the Plot, complete review here

“In this transcendent ghost story for the 21st century, Craig DiLouie charts the mystery where science meets the supernatural then dives in headfirst to deliver a haunted house story so heartbreaking and profoundly unsettling it ranks alongside the classics of the genre.” –James Chambers, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of On the Hierophant Road and On the Night Border

“Easy to read and totally compelling. There’s plenty of atmosphere and the conclusion is not only downright creepy but I would say ripe for adaptation. The writing and pacing are perfect and I galloped to the end like a maniac. If you enjoy psychological hauntings this could be just the thing for you.” –Lynn’s Book Blog, complete review here

“Intensely readable with engaging characters, building tension, big scares, and turn-the-next-page-fast quality that propels the reader to the mind-bending conclusion. Buckle up. Stay safe. Have a blast.” –Philip Fracassi, author of Gothic

“This story goes to places you’ll never expect … I loved how this one started, where it went and how it ended. It was a perfect 1-2-3 punch.” –Steve Stred, author of Mastodon, complete review here

“If you’re a fan of this genre, you will enjoy this one.” –Red Carpet Crash

“This is a solid haunted house story with some very big surprises lurking in store, which makes for a highly entertaining read.” –Forever Lost in Literature, complete review here

“The author masterfully writes … different perspectives throughout the story… The way the hauntings begin promises to send chills and make you keep your light on at night… The ending was freaking awesome.” –Pirate Twinkie Reads, complete review here

“Read Episode Thirteen for the paranormal, the supernatural, the ghouls and ghosts (mainly the ghosts), the LSD, the experiments, the fringe science, the tension, the atmosphere, the darkness and depth of it all… Never hard to read, easier to get immersed in, and one heck of a ride from start to finish.” –A Refuge from Life, complete review here

“Craig DiLouie writes disturbing, strange books that stay with the reader long after finishing the final pages. Episode Thirteen is no exception. Fascinating even when the sense of nearby doom is nearly overwhelming, and what an ending!! Definitely check it out… but maybe check your fear of darkness and closed spaces before you enter.” –Book Shelf Fantasies, complete review here

“I never know exactly what I’ll get when I pick up a Craig DiLouie book. The genres range from science fiction Southern Gothic to near-future civil war and beyond. I prefer to go into his books blind and trust that DiLouie takes me for a wild ride filled with visceral human emotion. He has yet to disappoint, and Episode Thirteen is no exception.” –The Fantasy Inn, complete review here

“Ten stars. Absolutely everything I’m looking for in a book. Pure joy. Pure entertainment. Pure fun… This is going to be a top three book of the year for me.” –Danica Reads, complete review here

“I loved Episode Thirteen for so many reasons!” –Armed with a Book, complete review here

“If you like ghost hunting TV, 70s paranormal experiments, and spooky books that you can debate about with your friends later, then give this one a whirl.” –CravenWild, complete review here

“Episode Thirteen is my first novel by Craig DiLouie and certainly won’t be the last. There’s heartfelt emotion spread throughout this unnerving and thought provoking story that’s about so much more than the secrets held within Foundation House. A wonderful read.” –Kendall Reviews

“The slow, creeping horror of the story and the complex, well-developed characters were highlights of this book. I also really enjoyed the unique structure of the story due to it being an epistolary novel. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys psychological horror and ghost stories, and anyone who reads the horror genre should give this book a shot!” –TeaRexReads, complete review here

“Craig DiLouie writes disturbing, strange books that stay with the reader long after finishing the final pages. Episode Thirteen is no exception. Fascinating even when the sense of nearby doom is nearly overwhelming, and what an ending!!” –Bookshelf Fantasies, complete review here

“Beside being spooky and having me on the edge of my seat, this was just a fun book to read.” –From the Book Reviewer’s Desk, complete review here

“What I loved most about the book was that although it starts out as a ghost story of sorts, it’s really about so much more than ghosts. It’s about—everything, in a way. It’s about what we are made of, what the universe is made of, & our place within it. It’s about how time & space & existence work in ways that are, at times, nearly incomprehensible to our minds.” –Samsara Parchment, complete review here

“This was really fun! I think found footage horror is inherently a visual medium, but it’s cool to see it in book form! Episode Thirteen reads wicked fast, and definitely had me looking over my shoulder at night!” –GrimDark Dad, complete review here

“I read this book in a day because I just could not put it down!” –Pingwing’s Bookshelf, complete review here

“Calling a novel or story ‘fun’ is sometimes viewed as a polite perjorative, but ‘fun’ is the first word think of when it comes to Episode Thirteen… It reminded me of what it was like to burn away a summer afternoon as I did in my teens and twenties, and in many ways fulfilled a promise of fiction I had almost forgotten to expect. This was a book that really hit with me, both as a reader and fan of horror. If the premise appeals, I hope you’ll pick up a copy and give this excellent author some of your time.” –Vogue Horror, complete review here

“I truly enjoyed this book! It restored my love of horror and the found footage genre, which is one of my favorite genres… Overall, if you are looking for a perfect book for the upcoming spooky season, this is the book for you.” –Ravens and Lace, complete review here