David Connor's Blog

Hi friends.

It’s been a slower journey than I originally expected, but the story is really beginning to pick up. The mystery is getting deeper, the horror is creeping further into Haven's Peak, and all those early pieces I’ve been putting into place are starting to come together.

There’s still a long road ahead with 39 chapters left to write, but I’m excited about where the story is going. Lawrence Grimes has already found himself dealing with a case unlike anything he expected when he arrived in Havens Peak, and things are only going to get darker from here.

Thank you to everyone following along while I work on Book Two. 13 down, 39 to go!

Back to Havens Peak.

There are places in America where the mountains feel older than memory.

Places where people lock their doors before sunset.
Places where church bells echo too far through the valleys.
Places where stories stop sounding like stories after dark.

I’m excited to officially announce that Book Two of The Lawrence Grimes Novels: The Witch of Havens Peak is now in full development.

After surviving the horrors hidden beneath the desert town of Cinder, Detective Lawrence Grimes is heading somewhere colder, older, and far more isolated.

This time, the investigation leads him deep into the Appalachian Mountains to the small town of Havens Peak, Virginia, a place consumed by fear after children begin vanishing from their homes without explanation.

No forced entry.
No witnesses.
Only whispers.

The locals blame something they call The Witch of Havens Peak.

Some believe it’s a demon.
Some believe it’s a cryptid buried in mountain folklore.
Others think the town itself is hiding something much more human.

As panic spreads and faith twists into paranoia, Grimes finds himself trapped between folklore, religion, and a growing sense that the mountains are watching him.

This novel will lean heavily into:

- Psychological horror
- Appalachian folklore
- Missing persons mystery
- Religious paranoia
- Small-town dread
- Slow-burn supernatural horror
- Detective noir atmosphere

If Book One explored what the government was willing to hide, Book Two asks a far more dangerous question:

What happens when an entire town wants to believe the monster is real?

And yes… Motley returns.

This book will be darker, colder, and far more atmospheric than the first novel. Havens Peak is a place built on isolation, fear, and belief, and I cannot wait to bring readers into it.

Thank you to everyone who has supported The Lawrence Grimes Novels so far. Seeing people connect with these stories has meant more to me than I can properly put into words.

More updates, previews, and behind-the-scenes development posts will be coming soon.

Until then:

Keep your curtains closed at night.

— David W. Connor

I’m excited to officially announce that The Lawrence Grimes Novels – Book One: CINDER will be released on March 21st, 2026.

This book has been months in the making, and I can’t wait to finally share it with readers.

CINDER will be available worldwide on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Pre-orders open February 26th, 2026

CINDER is the beginning of the Lawrence Grimes series — a dark mystery set in a desert town where perfection hides something far more sinister beneath the surface.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey so far. Your encouragement means more than you know.

March 21st is coming.

After countless late nights, endless cups of hot coco, and more rewrites than I can count, I can finally say it:

The manuscript writing and editing for The Lawrence Grimes Novels – Book One: CINDER is complete.

This story has lived in my head for a long time. It followed me through quiet moments, long nights, and that strange space between obsession and love that every writer knows too well. CINDER is dark, unsettling, and deeply personal—a descent into a desert town that smiles too much, hides too well, and burns anyone who digs too deep.

Detective Lawrence Grimes’ journey begins here. What starts as a fresh transfer quickly becomes something far more sinister, and once the truth begins to surface, there’s no turning back. Some places don’t want to be saved. Some secrets demand blood.

And now… It’s ready.

The official release date will be announced TOMORROW — 2/26/2026.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, and believed in this story while it was still just words on a page. This is only the beginning.

The road ahead is dark.
The town is waiting.
Welcome to Cinder.
"The Best Place to Live"

— David Connor

I wanted to share a quick update and a genuine thank you.

The Tenth Mark recently reached #104 on Amazon’s Slasher Horror Bestseller list. It’s a paid category, which means this spot was earned entirely through readers choosing to pick up the book, and that means more to me than any number ever could.

This story was written as a love letter to gritty, old-school slasher horror. No shortcuts, no gimmicks, just a dark, mean story meant for readers who enjoy horror that doesn’t pull its punches.

If you’ve read the book, reviewed it, recommended it, or even just added it to your shelf, thank you. That kind of support is what keeps indie horror alive.

I’m grateful you took a chance on The Tenth Mark.

I’m excited to finally share some news I’ve been holding onto for a while.

In the next few weeks, I’ll be revealing the official cover for my upcoming novel, Cinder, the first book in The Lawrence Grimes Novels.

Cinder is a dark, slow-burning crime thriller/horror set in 1984, following Detective Lawrence Grimes after a transfer from Detroit to a desert town that proudly calls itself “the best place to live.” On the surface, Cinder looks perfect, too perfect. But beneath the manicured lawns and friendly smiles lies something deeply wrong, something the town is desperate to keep buried.

If you enjoy:

1. Small-town mysteries with a dark edge
2. Psychological tension and creeping horror
3. 1980s settings and noir-inspired detectives
4. Stories where the setting itself feels like a character

…then Cinder might be right up your alley.

I’ll be sharing the cover reveal here soon, along with more details about the release. Thank you to everyone who’s followed, added the book to their shelves, or shown interest so far. It genuinely means a lot.

Stay tuned. Cinder is almost ready to show its face.

Book One: Cinder

I’m thrilled to officially announce here on Goodreads my upcoming series — The Lawrence Grimes Novels, a psychological horror-mystery series set in 1984 that follows a Detroit detective’s descent into the secrets of a desert town that should never have existed.

The first entry, Cinder: A Lawrence Grimes Novel, is deep in development and shaping into something I’m truly proud of. The story follows Detective Lawrence Grimes, recently transferred from Detroit to the small Nevada town of Cinder — a place that prides itself on being “the best place to live.” But beneath its perfect lawns and forced smiles, something far darker waits.

Current Progress
Word Count: 70,501
Chapters Completed: 24 out of 47

If you love small-town horror, mystery, and psychological descent, this is one to keep an eye on. I’ll be sharing more updates in the coming months.

Thanks to everyone who’s followed my work and supported me through this project. The road to Cinder is long, but we’re getting closer every day.

Stay tuned — and don’t trust the welcome signs.

— David W. Connor