Dead Socials

by Jeff Hill

Disgraced reporter Jed Hollingsworth returns to his hometown of Sarah Falls to document the story of the worst school shooting in the history of the country. Except it’s the people who didn’t survive he’s interviewing, in preference to those who did. For he’s got no qualms asking the dead to tell their stories.

And when a friend reaches out from beyond the grave via social media, Jed knows there’s more to the story than he could have ever imagined. What dark secrets could possibly link this small town in the Midwest to a haunted mansion in upstate New York where every inhabitant has taken their own lives? This is a scoop to die for.

Dead Socials is a supernatural thriller that explores the world of mass media hysteria. Sometimes the most dangerous weapon is a cell phone. And the only thing more terrifying than ghosts are the people who killed them.

Genres: Horror

186 pages, Hardcover

Published August 4, 2024

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the ghosts in this. Had a lot of weird dreams about this book so it was good it got under my skin.

[Kevin Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I know the author and I have a personalized copy of the book. I visit in-laws in Lincoln, Ne twice a year and speak with the author whenever the opportunity presents itself.

While reading this book I was having a hard time trying to find the words to describe the storyline. Mystery? Check. Horror? Yes. Social issues? Definitely. This book has a lot going for it. About a quarter of a way into the book I believe the author found the storyline and writing style that he was wanting to engage the readers with. I found myself staying up a little later each night to read “just one more chapter.”

[Bryceton Trew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was outside of my normal reading genre and due to that, I took a different approach to reading. Rather than focusing in on the plot, I focused on the writing structure. What I can say is that this book is has phenomenal timing. There is a beautiful flow to it. Excluding the short flight I started the book on, I completed it in two sittings. The layout of the book made it very easy to get immersed and while my goal was to focus on the structure, due to the magnetism created from the writing, I got pulled in and actually appreciated and enjoyed the plot.

While I don’t have many literary comparisons, a couple of similarities to movies I’ve seen are the mind twisting thrill and shock value of ‘Shutter Island’, and the continuous guessing nature brought about while watching ‘Split’ for the first time.

Overall exceptional work from J. Hill.

[Denise Keierleber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've got to give it 5 stars because it's stuck in my head. I need to reread it in a few weeks or months.

[Mark Schumacher]

Great first book by a great guy.

A heavy topic mixed with dark humor and unique story telling, this is a fun read.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What breaks a human? What turns them into a monster? What keeps them grieving, haunting the rest of us? Jed Hollingsworth, the protagonist of this gripping story, is going to find out. Not because he wants to, but because he’s the only one who can.

There’s a terrible mystery at the heart of the book and it keeps the reader riveted with a twisted timeline that turns on itself until the puzzle is solved. In this book, everyone is haunted by the past, the living and the dead, and only Jed has the means to untie the knots and allow life and death to move forward. It’s a terrifying ride. By the time you’re done, you’ll be seeing ghosts around every corner.

Jeff Hill has given us the horror book we earned. He wakes the dead and allows them to confront us. In addition to being a thrilling read, Dead Socials reaches down deep, digs up the ghosts of our culture and lets them out to haunt us. The intertwining narratives of violence are compelling and poignant—and feel all too real. An exceptional and timely read.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic debut novel from author Jeff Hill! A fast paced supernatural thriller with a subtext of social commentary we all need to listen to. Once I started reading it I could not put it down. This book is at times funny, at times heart warming, and generally bone chilling. You will never see the twist coming...I know I didn't.

[Jeremy Eads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited since the summer of 2018 to get the rest of this book. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely. Jeff does a masterful job tackling a difficult subject with both grace and sympathy. The end gets a bit weird but hang in there as everything gets tied up neatly. I give Dead Socials five big, big stars.