The Fever Called Living: Tales of Supernatural Horror

by Matthew Trifan

From the vivid imagination of emergency physician Matthew Trifan come ten terrifying tales of supernatural horror. In these stories, a colorful cast of medical professionals must contend with evils beyond their understanding. Trifan takes us on a harrowing journey into the darkness of the human heart, weaving together dark fantasy, cosmic horror, and the occult in this unforgettable collection.A paramedic faces the ghosts of his past in the Mojave Desert.A country doctor confronts a fearsome legend in the Transylvanian woods.A trauma surgeon battles a nightmare cult aboard a cruise ship.A medical student discovers an interdimensional plane of terror in the halls of life and death.
And much more… Fans of Thomas Ligotti, Laird Barron, and Clive Barker have a new home in Trifan's existential nightmare.

320 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastically gruesome and detailed! The way it made me envision the nightmares was exciting and cringy in the best way. A Song for Old Sawbones was my favorite and I cannot wait for more!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously dark, The Fever Called Living will draw you into captivating and original tales full of suspense, shock, and strangeness. Dr Trifan does a masterful job of arousing your senses through his beautifully descriptive writing. And though the stories are short, the characters are developed, unique, and memorable. You’ll be left with a quickened heartbeat, welcomed unease, and a morbid curiosity for what really goes on at your doctor’s office. For non horror fans, don’t let the genre deter you: The Fever Called Living can easily be picked up and put down at your leisure and comfort, and is just the right amount of creepy.

[N.J. Gallegos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection was written by an ER doctor, and the medical accuracy is much appreciated! The stories include the perils of not establishing scene safety; cultists; old-school plague doctors; "angels" hastening the demise of patients; and a longer story about a former trauma surgeon/alcoholic who now mans a cruise ship... unfortunately during a disaster of epic proportions.
I would rank this as a top 10 book of the year and recommend anyone who enjoys horror, the supernatural, medicine, etc to pick this up!

[Jessi Kafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Trifan's debut collection of medical horror stories is gripping from start to finish. Each story draws you in with a unique and convincing voice, leaving you deeply horrified and disturbed. His medical background shines as a strong undercurrent to unify the stories. Great for health care workers and all book lovers looking for a thrilling and spooky page-turner. Just don't read too close to bedtime...

[James Uricheck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deftly combining an eerie sense of gothic horror with the irreverent banality of daily life in medicine, Dr Trifan weaves a fascinating series of supernatural horror vignettes in his debut book “The Fever Called Living”.

I loved every page of this and can’t wait to see what this ascending author comes up with next.

[Rachel Covil]

Great stories-worked with this MD in the ER

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not for everyone. You must be able to handle and enjoy some horror, gore and fantasy! All told, I enjoyed most of the stories.

[T L Oestmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boringly gross. My (limited) taste in horror prefers a good mixture of suspense and surprise.