Books -

I could not be more excited today as the long-awaited publication of EPISODE THIRTEEN, my new horror novel from Hachette, releases to become available in bookstores, libraries, and online sellers everywhere.

You can get the book at Amazon here.

Thank you for reading!

Here’s the synopsis:

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.

Here’s the advance praise for EPISODE THIRTEEN:

“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)

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

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

“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

“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

“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

“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

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

“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

“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

“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

“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

BiblioSanctum recently reviewed EPISODE THIRTEEN coming out January 24, 2023, advising readers, “I highly recommend picking this up.”

A snippet:

“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.”

Check out the complete review here. Thank you for the kind words, BiblioSanctum!

And click here to learn more about my new horror novel published by Hachette.

HorrorBound on EPISODE THIRTEEN: “I Highly Recommend This”

EPISODE THIRTEEN Releases!

BiblioSanctum on EPISODE THIRTEEN: “Masterfully Builds an Atmosphere of Dread”

Books, Bones & Buffy on EPISODE THIRTEEN: “Masterfully Subverts Everything You Expect a Haunted House Story to Be”

CEMETERY DANCE Calls EPISODE THIRTEEN “First Highly Recommended Novel of 2023”

Advance the Plot Calls EPISODE THIRTEEN a “Terrifying Descent Into Darkness and Madness”