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Night of the Long Knives
Night of the Long Knives is the thrilling and horrifying new novel from the author of Heavy Oceans, Midas, and Burn the Plans (one of Esquire’s Best Horror Books of 2022).
After enduring a personal tragedy, Andy Ferris loses himself in making videos that explore the history behind local hauntings—videos that grab the attention of a wealthy eccentric with an obsession for collecting objects that belonged to famous killers. Hired by this man to locate a particular weapon, Ferris finds himself entangled in a mystery that spans history and drags him through a museum of death, a doomsday cult, an underground bunker, and brings him face to face with a serial killer as he unravels the truth behind an insidious conspiracy. Tyler Jones blends horror and true crime in a story about loss, redemption, and the hidden threads of the world that pull us ever closer toward an inevitable end.
Praise for NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES:
“A cosmic conspiracy thriller that terrifies like no other...effortlessly blends mind-bending paranoia with supernatural intrigue, grounding it all in a hearty gallop of grief.”
—Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother
“An addictive, deeply compelling exploration of pain, loss, guilt, and the darkest corners of the human psyche. It never shies away from asking difficult questions, and has the courage to look its messy answers right in the eye. I loved it.”
—Shaun Hamill, author of A Cosmology of Monesters and The Dissonance
“Tyler Jones goes bold...goes daring. A dangerous book...a story that does not wallow in the sentimentality of grief, but carves its own path, and where it ends, well, God help us all.”
—Ronald Malfi, author of Come With Me and Small Town Horror
“Tyler Jones masterfully intertwines apocalyptic cults, cursed objects, and demonic entities with the everyday human perils of grief, love, and rage. This is a powerful novel about tragic endings, the raw pain of renewal, and one man’s heartbreaking search for redemption in a world on the brink of chaos.”
—Philip Fracassi, author of Sarafina
"A powerful tale of grief and terror that proves that memories have the power to haunt us as strongly as any ghost. Wrapped in layers of supernatural suspense, this mesmerizing mystery further demonstrates why Tyler Jones is a writer to watch."
—Ian Rogers, author of Family
"Night of the Long Knives draws you deep into its sticky web of grief, addiction, and true crime—and then the real terror begins. Tyler Jones weaves biblical violence and modern-day tragedy into a tale that rushes headlong up a ladder to the cosmic. Equal parts thoughtful and thrilling, this book tugs at the universe’s hidden threads, pulling things perhaps best left hidden out into the light."
—Andy Marino, author of It Rides a Pale Horse
After enduring a personal tragedy, Andy Ferris loses himself in making videos that explore the history behind local hauntings—videos that grab the attention of a wealthy eccentric with an obsession for collecting objects that belonged to famous killers. Hired by this man to locate a particular weapon, Ferris finds himself entangled in a mystery that spans history and drags him through a museum of death, a doomsday cult, an underground bunker, and brings him face to face with a serial killer as he unravels the truth behind an insidious conspiracy. Tyler Jones blends horror and true crime in a story about loss, redemption, and the hidden threads of the world that pull us ever closer toward an inevitable end.
Praise for NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES:
“A cosmic conspiracy thriller that terrifies like no other...effortlessly blends mind-bending paranoia with supernatural intrigue, grounding it all in a hearty gallop of grief.”
—Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother
“An addictive, deeply compelling exploration of pain, loss, guilt, and the darkest corners of the human psyche. It never shies away from asking difficult questions, and has the courage to look its messy answers right in the eye. I loved it.”
—Shaun Hamill, author of A Cosmology of Monesters and The Dissonance
“Tyler Jones goes bold...goes daring. A dangerous book...a story that does not wallow in the sentimentality of grief, but carves its own path, and where it ends, well, God help us all.”
—Ronald Malfi, author of Come With Me and Small Town Horror
“Tyler Jones masterfully intertwines apocalyptic cults, cursed objects, and demonic entities with the everyday human perils of grief, love, and rage. This is a powerful novel about tragic endings, the raw pain of renewal, and one man’s heartbreaking search for redemption in a world on the brink of chaos.”
—Philip Fracassi, author of Sarafina
"A powerful tale of grief and terror that proves that memories have the power to haunt us as strongly as any ghost. Wrapped in layers of supernatural suspense, this mesmerizing mystery further demonstrates why Tyler Jones is a writer to watch."
—Ian Rogers, author of Family
"Night of the Long Knives draws you deep into its sticky web of grief, addiction, and true crime—and then the real terror begins. Tyler Jones weaves biblical violence and modern-day tragedy into a tale that rushes headlong up a ladder to the cosmic. Equal parts thoughtful and thrilling, this book tugs at the universe’s hidden threads, pulling things perhaps best left hidden out into the light."
—Andy Marino, author of It Rides a Pale Horse
Hardcover
Published December 1, 2024
1 person is currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Tyler Jones
23 books196 followersTyler Jones is the author of CRITERIUM, THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROOM, ALMOST RUTH, BURN THE PLANS, TURN UP THE SUN, HEAVY OCEANS, MIDAS, and LONGSIGHT M40.
His upcoming books include:
DEPTH CHARGE (Shortwave Publishing)
NIGHT OF THE GLASS KNIVES (Shortwave Publishing)
GO (Clash Books)
His work has appeared in the anthologies BURNT TONGUES (edited by Chuck Palahniuk), ONE THING WAS CERTAIN, 101 PROOF HORROR, CAMPFIRE MACABRE, PARANORMAL CONTACT and in Dark Moon Digest, Coffin Bell, Aphotic Realm, Cemetery Dance, LitReactor, and The NoSleep Podcast.
He lives in Portland, Oregon.
He is represented by Elizabeth Copps at Copps Literary Agency and Alec Frankel at IAG for Film/TV.
His upcoming books include:
DEPTH CHARGE (Shortwave Publishing)
NIGHT OF THE GLASS KNIVES (Shortwave Publishing)
GO (Clash Books)
His work has appeared in the anthologies BURNT TONGUES (edited by Chuck Palahniuk), ONE THING WAS CERTAIN, 101 PROOF HORROR, CAMPFIRE MACABRE, PARANORMAL CONTACT and in Dark Moon Digest, Coffin Bell, Aphotic Realm, Cemetery Dance, LitReactor, and The NoSleep Podcast.
He lives in Portland, Oregon.
He is represented by Elizabeth Copps at Copps Literary Agency and Alec Frankel at IAG for Film/TV.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 24, 2024
Night of the Long Knives is a brilliant mashup of grief horror, true crime, and conspiracy thriller. Tyler Jones is a very talented writer and with this novel he creates a propulsive story about a man, Ferris, who grapples with the loss of his wife and young daughter in a horrific tragedy by becoming obsessed with mass casualty events and other real life killings.
He is eventually contacted by a rich collector of items and weapons involved in tragedies throughout history to find a knife used by a notorious serial killer. Let’s just say things get bananas after that.
The ending of this novel will stick with me for a long time. I won’t say anything about it because it’s best you discover it for yourself.
Night of the Long Knives is a thrilling novel about grief, making sense of the senseless, and the dangers of obsession.
Night of the Long Knives is out in December from Earthling Publications as a special edition signed by Tyler Jones & Ronald Malfi (who wrote the introduction) and numbered hardcover. You can pre-order a copy from Earthling’s website.
Huge thank you to Paul Miller at Earthling for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
He is eventually contacted by a rich collector of items and weapons involved in tragedies throughout history to find a knife used by a notorious serial killer. Let’s just say things get bananas after that.
The ending of this novel will stick with me for a long time. I won’t say anything about it because it’s best you discover it for yourself.
Night of the Long Knives is a thrilling novel about grief, making sense of the senseless, and the dangers of obsession.
Night of the Long Knives is out in December from Earthling Publications as a special edition signed by Tyler Jones & Ronald Malfi (who wrote the introduction) and numbered hardcover. You can pre-order a copy from Earthling’s website.
Huge thank you to Paul Miller at Earthling for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2024
ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5
Night Of The Long Knives by Tyler Jones
Thanks to Paul Miller at Earthling Publications for providing the ARC
I recently heard a term called ‘grief horror’. This book represents that to a tee. Tyler Jones seems to be a dab hand at making you feel sad while the events and horrors of the story take place around you. The main character, Andy Ferris, spends his life trying to make sense of a tragedy that strikes him down early on. This journey takes him down dark paths as he unravels the mystery of a conspiracy that is beyond anyone’s comprehension. This is a story about personal loss, depression, the importance of human connection and most of all, how we deal with grief. This is a horror book first and foremost. There is blood to be spilled and things that go bump in the night. Happenings that’ll have you leaving the bedside light on so you can go to sleep. But it is the parallel of the characters, the hope they have, that makes this a beautiful story. I really appreciated the showing of male emotions and struggles in our real world of macho men and tough guys. There is also a thread of hope that weaves it way through story. It’ll have you guessing until the end. Tyler’s prose has a great rhythm to it and you’ll find yourself flying through the pages. Night Of The Long Knives is a must own for any horror fan who likes nuance and beauty alongside their murder and mayhem.
Night Of The Long Knives by Tyler Jones
Thanks to Paul Miller at Earthling Publications for providing the ARC
I recently heard a term called ‘grief horror’. This book represents that to a tee. Tyler Jones seems to be a dab hand at making you feel sad while the events and horrors of the story take place around you. The main character, Andy Ferris, spends his life trying to make sense of a tragedy that strikes him down early on. This journey takes him down dark paths as he unravels the mystery of a conspiracy that is beyond anyone’s comprehension. This is a story about personal loss, depression, the importance of human connection and most of all, how we deal with grief. This is a horror book first and foremost. There is blood to be spilled and things that go bump in the night. Happenings that’ll have you leaving the bedside light on so you can go to sleep. But it is the parallel of the characters, the hope they have, that makes this a beautiful story. I really appreciated the showing of male emotions and struggles in our real world of macho men and tough guys. There is also a thread of hope that weaves it way through story. It’ll have you guessing until the end. Tyler’s prose has a great rhythm to it and you’ll find yourself flying through the pages. Night Of The Long Knives is a must own for any horror fan who likes nuance and beauty alongside their murder and mayhem.
September 21, 2024
The problem with being a horror lit fan is that it sometimes feels like you are reading a lot of the same stuff, book after book, as you try to whittle down your growing TBR list. The industry seems to take on themes at times. All the bestselling books are the ones that fully jumped on the current theme bandwagon. If you're lucky, you might find unique spins on the same old tropes but not much more.
BUT every once in a while comes along a book that's so fresh, so smart and daring, that it makes you easily purge the previous mindless stories from your brain so you can be at the mercy of the author and fully absorb everything they are throwing at you.
Night of the Long Knives by Tyler Jones IS THAT BOOK.
This book is genre-bending. Some have tried to label it grief horror, and while the label fits at the start of the book, it turns into something else completely by the end. This isn't bad; grief is an excellent conduit to the dark recesses of human psyche to aid in processing untimely events and trauma. And sometimes the grief is so painful, so dark, that the person battling it is willing to compromise just about any ideal they upheld prior to grief taking hold.
In NOTLK, grief comes along and kicks down the front door in the first few chapters, setting the stage for Jones to take readers onto a dangerous quest.
After learning that his whole world was turned upside down, Andy Ferris channels his anger and grief into creating videos of his investigations of senseless crimes and unsolved mysteries. His new focus in life is to make 'sense of the senseless', hoping one day to unravel the thread connecting the most heinous of crimes. Along the way, a fan reaches out asking him to document what happened to her family. Andy accepts the invitation to meet and soon finds himself immersed in the world of aristocratic collectors of art and artifacts of the strange and mysterious. He is tasked with locating a specific weapon from an infamous serial murderer, a knife, and will be rewarded handsomely for accepting the task. Andy realizes this is a way he can continue to fund his video-making and agrees to find the lost weapon. What seems like an reasonable quest and investigation, soon turns into something much bigger than anyone could imagine. Jones guides readers down dark pathways into the human mind, and in parallel, society as a whole.
This book had me entertained and guessing to the end. So much so that I've found myself recommending Night of the Long Knives more than any other book lately.
One tip I'd give future readers: DO NOT SKIP THE INTRO! Ronald Malfi gave more than a cookie cutter intro. He wrote his own short story about the emotional adventure as he consumed NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES. His story made me even more excited to dive into what he called "a dangerous book". He was right, and it was a satiating main course to devour.
NOTE: The edition I reviewed is the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC). The first edition will available September 2024 through Earthling Press.
BUT every once in a while comes along a book that's so fresh, so smart and daring, that it makes you easily purge the previous mindless stories from your brain so you can be at the mercy of the author and fully absorb everything they are throwing at you.
Night of the Long Knives by Tyler Jones IS THAT BOOK.
This book is genre-bending. Some have tried to label it grief horror, and while the label fits at the start of the book, it turns into something else completely by the end. This isn't bad; grief is an excellent conduit to the dark recesses of human psyche to aid in processing untimely events and trauma. And sometimes the grief is so painful, so dark, that the person battling it is willing to compromise just about any ideal they upheld prior to grief taking hold.
In NOTLK, grief comes along and kicks down the front door in the first few chapters, setting the stage for Jones to take readers onto a dangerous quest.
After learning that his whole world was turned upside down, Andy Ferris channels his anger and grief into creating videos of his investigations of senseless crimes and unsolved mysteries. His new focus in life is to make 'sense of the senseless', hoping one day to unravel the thread connecting the most heinous of crimes. Along the way, a fan reaches out asking him to document what happened to her family. Andy accepts the invitation to meet and soon finds himself immersed in the world of aristocratic collectors of art and artifacts of the strange and mysterious. He is tasked with locating a specific weapon from an infamous serial murderer, a knife, and will be rewarded handsomely for accepting the task. Andy realizes this is a way he can continue to fund his video-making and agrees to find the lost weapon. What seems like an reasonable quest and investigation, soon turns into something much bigger than anyone could imagine. Jones guides readers down dark pathways into the human mind, and in parallel, society as a whole.
This book had me entertained and guessing to the end. So much so that I've found myself recommending Night of the Long Knives more than any other book lately.
One tip I'd give future readers: DO NOT SKIP THE INTRO! Ronald Malfi gave more than a cookie cutter intro. He wrote his own short story about the emotional adventure as he consumed NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES. His story made me even more excited to dive into what he called "a dangerous book". He was right, and it was a satiating main course to devour.
NOTE: The edition I reviewed is the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC). The first edition will available September 2024 through Earthling Press.
December 10, 2024
Thank you to Earthling Pub for sending an ARC my way!
While this is my first venture into Tyler Jones’s writing, I can assure you that it will not be the last. A rather impressive novel, Night of the Long Knives is a fusion of fictional true crime tones with a splash of larger scale chaos mixed with raw notes of grief horror. Andy Ferris has lost his family. And as a result, he has begun to search for sense in the senseless through investigating mass casualty events and other uncanny deaths. This attracts the attention of a wealthy collector who specialized in artifacts utilized in the course of these dark demises. Andy is soon tasked with locating the knife of a serial killer, a task that seems insular enough but turns out to have catastrophic consequences.
Tyler Jones’s writing is notably impressive, juggling an atmosphere of existential dread with personal, raw grief. Andy’s obsession with understanding why death happens in these violent ways opens doors to a darkness that is unanticipated. It may sound cliche, but the quote about staring into the abyss and the abyss staring back proves to have merit through this novel. How long looking into these matters is too long? And how far do you go?
These are questions that Jones wrestles with through Andy’s character and circumstances, writing a bleak novel to unpack these implications. There is an investigative component that increases an overall sense of propulsion while still operating within the confines of grief. As events unfold, it’s clear to see there is much more at play than expected with ideas of conspiracy running rampant. Night of the Long Knives is a very bleak, very wild, and very compelling novel that details the darkest parts of humanity. The closest thing I can comp this novel to is Richard Chizmar’s Chasing the Boogeyman and Fincher’s Fight Club, a fusion of personal crime matched with larger scale violence.
While this is my first venture into Tyler Jones’s writing, I can assure you that it will not be the last. A rather impressive novel, Night of the Long Knives is a fusion of fictional true crime tones with a splash of larger scale chaos mixed with raw notes of grief horror. Andy Ferris has lost his family. And as a result, he has begun to search for sense in the senseless through investigating mass casualty events and other uncanny deaths. This attracts the attention of a wealthy collector who specialized in artifacts utilized in the course of these dark demises. Andy is soon tasked with locating the knife of a serial killer, a task that seems insular enough but turns out to have catastrophic consequences.
Tyler Jones’s writing is notably impressive, juggling an atmosphere of existential dread with personal, raw grief. Andy’s obsession with understanding why death happens in these violent ways opens doors to a darkness that is unanticipated. It may sound cliche, but the quote about staring into the abyss and the abyss staring back proves to have merit through this novel. How long looking into these matters is too long? And how far do you go?
These are questions that Jones wrestles with through Andy’s character and circumstances, writing a bleak novel to unpack these implications. There is an investigative component that increases an overall sense of propulsion while still operating within the confines of grief. As events unfold, it’s clear to see there is much more at play than expected with ideas of conspiracy running rampant. Night of the Long Knives is a very bleak, very wild, and very compelling novel that details the darkest parts of humanity. The closest thing I can comp this novel to is Richard Chizmar’s Chasing the Boogeyman and Fincher’s Fight Club, a fusion of personal crime matched with larger scale violence.
August 31, 2024
Grieving the death of his wife and daughter in a tragic incident, Andy Ferris sets out to make sense of the senseless by documenting paranormal activity, mass casualty events, and similar phenomena. He is then hired by a wealthy collector of the macabre to find a specific object. Through this journey, Ferris confronts grief, anger, deceit, guilt, and much more. Tyler Jones once again proves himself a master of grief horror, meticulously placing every word with the precision of a surgeon.
January 1, 2025
Night of the Long Knives is a tale on grief, addiction, and the horrors that visit us when the silence is loudest. Jones juggles conspiracy theories, cults, serial killers and more in this superb example of his writing craft. Earthling Pub NEVER misses.
March 22, 2025
"Night of the Long Knives" by Tyler Jones is an absolute triumph. This gripping narrative not only delves into the dark corners of the human psyche but also beautifully explores the theme of learning to move on from past traumas. The character development is profound, particularly with the protagonist, Andy. Despite his flaws and demons, I found myself rooting for him every step of the way.
The writing is a remarkable blend of beauty and accessibility—it's not often you come across prose that is both beautifully crafted and easy to read. Jones has a unique talent for weaving intricate details into the story without losing the reader's engagement. The short chapters create a sense of urgency that propelled me through the book, making it nearly impossible to put down.
There were moments that reminded me of "Silence of the Lambs," with its chilling atmosphere and psychological depth. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and while I never would have guessed the ending, I did find a few subtle hints that made perfect sense in retrospect.
Earthling Publications absolutely crushed the presentation on this one, they are a premier publisher and Paul Miller always finds remarkable stories to introduce to his loyal readers.
Tyler Jones continues to confirm his place as an auto-buy author for me. His ability to craft a compelling narrative that resonates on multiple levels is truly impressive. If you're a fan of horror, true crime and character-driven stories, "Night of the Long Knives" is a must-read. Highly recommended!
The writing is a remarkable blend of beauty and accessibility—it's not often you come across prose that is both beautifully crafted and easy to read. Jones has a unique talent for weaving intricate details into the story without losing the reader's engagement. The short chapters create a sense of urgency that propelled me through the book, making it nearly impossible to put down.
There were moments that reminded me of "Silence of the Lambs," with its chilling atmosphere and psychological depth. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and while I never would have guessed the ending, I did find a few subtle hints that made perfect sense in retrospect.
Earthling Publications absolutely crushed the presentation on this one, they are a premier publisher and Paul Miller always finds remarkable stories to introduce to his loyal readers.
Tyler Jones continues to confirm his place as an auto-buy author for me. His ability to craft a compelling narrative that resonates on multiple levels is truly impressive. If you're a fan of horror, true crime and character-driven stories, "Night of the Long Knives" is a must-read. Highly recommended!
February 24, 2025
This book messed me up. From its onset, there is an overall sense of dread that slowly and effectively builds page after page. I love how this book pushes forward without wasted interruptions or unnecessary flashbacks— always a respectable word economy. We immediately understand our main character, Ferris, is in for a wild ride. Not a long book by any means, coming in at just over 300 pages, but Mr. Jones has made it feel epic in content. It’s been a long while since a novel has granted me such a strong emotional connection to the main character. I can tell you all about what happened in the book, but I think it’s more important to share how it made me feel. This is more than just some random horror story. It’s about pain, and love, and the faith we put into people and ideals; about all the things we hold dear, and how asking the right and/or wrong questions can radically create or destroy all of our carefully constructed sensibilities. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
July 17, 2025
Let me just say, I was excited to get into this finally because NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES sounded amazing when it was first announced by Earthling Publications, and I had already enjoyed another of the author's books.
I wasn't ready.
Guys, this book is one of those "only comes around once every so often" kind of novels. It's heavy, it's twisty, and it's bleak, but it also is about finding purpose in loss. I seriously hope this book gets a trade release in the near future, because all of you need to experience Ferris's journey.
I wasn't ready.
Guys, this book is one of those "only comes around once every so often" kind of novels. It's heavy, it's twisty, and it's bleak, but it also is about finding purpose in loss. I seriously hope this book gets a trade release in the near future, because all of you need to experience Ferris's journey.
December 8, 2024
From the unexpected opening notes to the chaotic coda, Night of the Long Knives is a story that fires on all cylinders and leaves not an ounce of fuel behind in the tank. Part mystery, part horror and all story, this is some of Jones' strongest writing yet.
January 22, 2025
This is my first Tyler Jones novel, and I loved it! Tyler has a unique voice, a natural raconteur. I can’t wait to dig into the rest of his bibliography, and I’m excited for what the future holds for this talented writer.
February 11, 2025
I really enjoyed this book it was dark had great characters and had me unsure what was going to happen next. A great read and much different then I expected. If you enjoy Tyler's work I highly recommend this book.
January 28, 2025
Another great one from Tyler Jones! Very interesting story.
February 23, 2025
What a build Up, great Idea, great writing. Never expected eher that would lead. Thanks.
March 24, 2025
I have never read this author before, but this on is excellent. Well worth reading.
March 19, 2025
Tyler Jones is coming for you. And he’s bringing a deadly arsenal to insure you don’t leave unscathed. Maimed, at best. But still breathing—in between rasping gasps—to make sure you knew he was here. NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES is his weapon of choice.
First, just look at this book! The full bleed cover art from Vincent Chong is striking and detailed and the interior images really do the story and crucial plot points justice. It’s another clear winner from Earthling Publications, an indie press bringing it with every new title.
If you typically like to skip a book’s introduction to get right into the story, don’t. Ronald Malfi’s intro is a must read as it lights the fuse to this novel. In it, Malfi recounts in excruciating detail a devastating personal experience from his past, laid bare for us all.
But it’s Jones’ story from there. It’s the story of Andy Ferris. Husband; father; brother. A senseless tragedy in Ferris’ life blows apart his world and it resonates in every aspect of his subsequent daily routine. How can you put it behind you when your whole world is leveled? Ferris decides to film documentary videos trying to make sense out of the senseless investigating alleged unexplained phenomena, looking for the rational in irrational situations. And he becomes pretty good at it. So good, people take notice.
Ferris is approached by a wealthy businessman (who will be familiar to Jones readers) looking for some special help. He wants Ferris to find a murder weapon used by a serial killer to add to his morbid collection of similar weapons. And he’s paying well. Ferris takes the job and sets out on the quest and off we go.
Jones pulls out all the stops, incorporating doomsday cults, serial killers, secret cabals, and even threads of biblical lore and old gods to tell his tale. Through it all, Ferris is still reminded of the hole in his soul. What he ultimately finds, with the help of an open minded rabbi, is beyond apocryphal and he’s left with no simple answers. The decisions he must make carry consequences on a massive scale.
I really enjoyed how Jones started out the story with a specific, personal anguish only to end it with cataclysmic repercussions. Small scale trauma ratchets up exponentially throughout the book as the stakes grow ever bigger, propelling the narrative forward. It’s an arms race of grief leaving scars as jagged reminders.
I can’t really put this story in any one genre and it certainly has elements of everything from true crime to horror to mystery, all the while Jones is lobbing every weapon in his literary armory at you, yet maintaining a tightly woven focus. Jones pulls on all the cosmic threads to spin a harrowing tale.
Reminiscent of Lovecraft, Bradbury, and Lehane rolled into one, NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES will stay with you well after those long knives have pierced your soul.
5 out of 5 Jungian stars
First, just look at this book! The full bleed cover art from Vincent Chong is striking and detailed and the interior images really do the story and crucial plot points justice. It’s another clear winner from Earthling Publications, an indie press bringing it with every new title.
If you typically like to skip a book’s introduction to get right into the story, don’t. Ronald Malfi’s intro is a must read as it lights the fuse to this novel. In it, Malfi recounts in excruciating detail a devastating personal experience from his past, laid bare for us all.
But it’s Jones’ story from there. It’s the story of Andy Ferris. Husband; father; brother. A senseless tragedy in Ferris’ life blows apart his world and it resonates in every aspect of his subsequent daily routine. How can you put it behind you when your whole world is leveled? Ferris decides to film documentary videos trying to make sense out of the senseless investigating alleged unexplained phenomena, looking for the rational in irrational situations. And he becomes pretty good at it. So good, people take notice.
Ferris is approached by a wealthy businessman (who will be familiar to Jones readers) looking for some special help. He wants Ferris to find a murder weapon used by a serial killer to add to his morbid collection of similar weapons. And he’s paying well. Ferris takes the job and sets out on the quest and off we go.
Jones pulls out all the stops, incorporating doomsday cults, serial killers, secret cabals, and even threads of biblical lore and old gods to tell his tale. Through it all, Ferris is still reminded of the hole in his soul. What he ultimately finds, with the help of an open minded rabbi, is beyond apocryphal and he’s left with no simple answers. The decisions he must make carry consequences on a massive scale.
I really enjoyed how Jones started out the story with a specific, personal anguish only to end it with cataclysmic repercussions. Small scale trauma ratchets up exponentially throughout the book as the stakes grow ever bigger, propelling the narrative forward. It’s an arms race of grief leaving scars as jagged reminders.
I can’t really put this story in any one genre and it certainly has elements of everything from true crime to horror to mystery, all the while Jones is lobbing every weapon in his literary armory at you, yet maintaining a tightly woven focus. Jones pulls on all the cosmic threads to spin a harrowing tale.
Reminiscent of Lovecraft, Bradbury, and Lehane rolled into one, NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES will stay with you well after those long knives have pierced your soul.
5 out of 5 Jungian stars
October 5, 2024
Holy crap. Tyler Jones truly is the king of grief horror. This one hits you right in the feels and never lets go.
Like much of Jones' work, this novel is one you have to experience to fully grasp—it pulls you through the pages with relentless intensity. The story of Andy, a man who endures so much, leaves you rooting for him, aching for him to find some kind of happiness. Will he? Well, you’ll just have to read it to find out.
The ending is unforgettable, making this an easy five-star read. Earthling Publications has delivered yet another gem, solidifying their reputation as a publisher that never misses. Loved it!
Like much of Jones' work, this novel is one you have to experience to fully grasp—it pulls you through the pages with relentless intensity. The story of Andy, a man who endures so much, leaves you rooting for him, aching for him to find some kind of happiness. Will he? Well, you’ll just have to read it to find out.
The ending is unforgettable, making this an easy five-star read. Earthling Publications has delivered yet another gem, solidifying their reputation as a publisher that never misses. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews