Dead Rabbit

by Joseph Murnane

From the award nominated author of It Eats Your Hunger, comes the story of Adam Bell, a young man who accepts a job at Wild Mountain Wolf Sanctuary, a hidden facility in a secluded corner of the New Mexico desert. The work is hard but fulfilling, helping Adam come into his own and take hold of his humanity. However, beneath the earth, The Rabbit Man is awakening, a wretched terror hellbent on stripping that humanity away. Plagued by horrific visions and running out of time, he has a choice to make: fight to survive, or become nothing more than a forgotten Dead Rabbit.

Genres: Horror

129 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2025

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the set-up from the start with Adam being a recovering addict, trying to turn over a new leaf. And he traveled to a big, beautiful animal sanctuary with a rather strange inhabitant that lurked in the shadows. Now, on the surface, I assumed this was just going to be another creature feature, which it wasn't. The Rabbit Man was used strategically, being depicted as more of a folk horror icon as opposed to a straight up giant, killer Bugs Bunny, and that was solid. The story depended on the lore and presence, not just the gore and suspense. There was a good level of depth here on several aspects, giving everything proper context, all partnered up with a great pace and flow throughout. This was my first read from Joseph Murnane, but I had a very good time with this one.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic tale. Not only were the supernatural aspects downright terrifying, the setting was incredible.

As someone who has visited a wolf dog sanctuary before and been involved in animal rescue, it was near and dear to my heart. It brought back vivid memories of the marvellous creatures at the sanctuary I spent time at. Despite what happened with Romeo, having the wolves as characters themselves was unique and wonderful. I also have a dog named Moose and worried about his fate the whole time, I was relieved the main character put his pup’s wellbeing first and foremost.

The complexity of addiction and recovery and healing added additional layers that made this novella feel extremely detailed, well rounded, and insightful. I really can’t say enough good things about this book, it’s a must-read in my opinion.

I’d love to know more about the entity and its history on the land. The Rabbit Man was very disturbing, I liked the idea of a prey creature inverted as a monstrous and mutated predator. I can’t even imagine seeing and trying to fight that nightmare of a being.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Rabbit by Joseph Murnane
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a super interesting and entertaining horror novella! I really enjoyed the different and unique storyline, and since I currently live in New Mexico, I love that most of the story takes place at a Wolf Sanctuary in Western NM.
Adam who is recently sober, decides to apply for a job at a Wolf Sanctuary and to his surprise he gets the position. Once he arrives for his new job, lots of strange things begin to happen. Is there a rabbit man? What is this that Adam is seeing?
This story provides a good amount of creep and gives plenty of strong imagery, which made me make crazy faces throughout the book!!
I like the strong character development that the author uses with the main character Adam. It was intense to watch his changes throughout the story.

Thank you to Joseph Murnane for an audio copy of this fantastic novella. I really enjoyed the narration! For a fairly new author, his writing is excellent!! I can’t wait to read more from him.

🐰*This book is out now and I would definitely grab it for a quick read! * 🐇

[Luci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely write reviews as I am not good at it (Yes, I in fact will say this every time) unless… it’s for an ARC copy OR in this case the book was given to me for free! (Thank you a million times over).

On two separate occasions I was scrolling social media and while the first time it wasn’t THIS book that was recommended but Nick Robert’s recommended another one of this authors books (I have the other book in my library), so when I saw Joseph Murnane giving out a couple copies of this book for free on a second social media scroll, I had to take a shot at getting it (again thank you).

ANYWAYS, this books was nothing short of amazing a lovely tale of a man leaving an undesirable life behind with some WILD twists and turns 🫀

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read It Eats Your Hunger by Joseph and it was great. So I walked into this one with high expectations and wasn't disappointed. The characters here are relatable,

Adam is looking for sobriety and heads to a wolf sanctuary to try to flip his life around. However, he comes to find out his new home isn't free of its own demons. The imagery is strong in this one, which seems to be Joseph's strong point based on what I've read by him.

Also, the handwritten journal entries were a nice touch. This was quite an intense read, which mixes the elements of a man trying to turn his life around and hidden folk secrets in New Mexico. I enjoyed this one. Overall, great read!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is the first I’ve read by this author and I was pleasantly impressed! Great little creepy folk horror story with good characters and even animal characters I grew to love. I’ll be checking out more by Joseph Murnane!

[Lauren Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

So creepy!!!! And had so many amazing animal characters which I loved!!! The journal entries were terrifying! Excellent read!

[Alison Faichney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Murnane. I really enjoyed It Eats Your Hunger last year so this was an easy one from me to jump into. Yet again Murnane crafts relatable, flawed characters and this little novella squeezes so much heart between its pages. The animals portrayed were fantastic and the story is a solid blend of folk and cosmic horror.

In Dead Rabbit we follow Adam who seeks a change following his very recent sobriety. He more or less picks a google listing at random and ends up traveling from NC to NM (US) to volunteer for the winter at a wolf sanctuary. He starts undergoing some strange changes and we’re also given the journal of a former volunteer which helps guide the story and bring this evil entity of The Rabbit Man into the forefront.

I’m pretty confident that the reason Murnane’s characters have such heart is that they’re a direct reflection of himself. He writes what he knows and it enhances the story by giving it that dimensionality that only comes from experience. The story is well paced and a quickie that I knocked out in two sessions. It’s a great novella but would also make a fantastic book if Murnane chose to expand it into something longer. The bones of the story are there and Murnane knocks the atmosphere out of the park. Definitely recommend to my folk/cosmic horror crowd. Small tw for animal harm. While it’s more of the hunting variety, there is one difficult scene that may bother some readers (rabbit related).

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam is a recovering addict with no real life prospects aside from crashing on his friend's couch and helping out at his friend's garage. Thinking it's time he makes a little something more of himself, he applies for a job at a wolf sanctuary in New Mexico. Though things start to work out for him there, little does he know of a history behind the cabin he stays in, one that even the others at the sanctuary know nothing about. First come the dreams of some creature on two legs, then the urges to eat raw, dead animals. But he's not the first to have this happen, to have the Rabbit Man come looking for him.
In the afterword, the author mentions that much of the story (the sanctuary, the people and the critters there, in any case) are based on an actual period of his life. I can't help but think the Rabbit Man and the things that happen to Adam are metaphorical to addiction, as the symptoms and effects of it all sound very similar. While it's described as being cosmic horror, eh, in a very broad sense of the definition I guess it is, but it's not typical cosmic horror, and felt to me more like a different loose take on Native American folklore. Regardless, the writing was well crafted and, while this could have been fleshed out to a much longer story, I found it to be a decent length as is.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve become very selective when it comes to five star ratings, over the last year or so. This is my first five star rating this year. And man does this novella deserve at five of those stars. It’s hard to believe that Joseph Murnane hasn’t been publishing for years after you’ve read something like this. Dead Rabbit comes in a smallish size package, but it’s a story overflowing with emotion. The prose is absolutely stunning and the story itself is compelling and unique.

If you ask around the indie horror community about him, the buzz is that Murnane is something special and definitely someone to keep an eye on. Dead Rabbit certainly helps make that case. If you haven’t picked it up yet, you should. Like, right now.

Five Ghosties, easily. But we’ll use rabbits this time.

🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was and still is a highly anticipated release for me, I LOVED It Eats Your Hunger, so to say I was excited about his is a bit of a understatement.

This was originally going to be a set of short stories ( which duh still looking forward too) but Murnane, listened to the early readers and went with his gut, and decided to split them up, and turn Dead Rabbit into a little novella.

Just like I expected this one is emotional, but I don't just mean sad, I mean terrifying, tense, and a little bit of that old fashioned introspection.

Even though this is a novella, we aren't short on details, that really make this shine, we get to learn about our MC who, isn't the best but absolutely not the worst guy, just a guy who used to do drugs, and knows the horror that can lead too and wants to at least be a little better.

Rabbit Man is a horrifying situation runs this little novella, and I would be lying if I didn't think a few times, is the MC the Rabbit Man?

Is this some cosmic retribution or are second chances really possible?

I need more from Joseph ASAP, I am greedy.

[Lauren Breslin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! I felt so connected to the wolves and animals. I listened to the audio and Tom Jordan was amazing as always. I’m going to listen to it again because I loved the story so much! If you stay after the epilogue, you can read why the author wrote the book- it’s worth hearing!

[Megan Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review (provisional, till the Goodreads page gets shorted out) of the stunning novella "Dead Rabbit," which was supposed to be included in the homonymous collection, but the author (wisely, in my opinion) decided to publish it separately.

"Dead Rabbit" is a beautifully crafted story of second chances, revenge, and self-discovery. It's all happening against the supernatural menace of the Rabbit Man, a monstrous apparition that turns the protagonist's life into a nightmare. Most of the action takes place in a wild animals sanctuary, where wolves, coyotes, the cute fox Romeo, and other dangerous carnivores enjoy a protected life from poachers and hunters. The descriptions of living and working in a sanctuary of this kind are detailed, vivid, and downright fascinating: taking care of the meat to be fed to the animals, and the focus and attention required when approaching the beasts are all given their due in absolutely engrossing detail.

But horror is where "Dead Rabbit" really shines: from the unnatural appetites and the slow spiraling affecting the main character's behavior (a kind-hearted guy who's a former drug addict, though with no illusions about himself), to the relentless pursuit of the Rabbit Man under the night sky in the high desert, it all gels into a super well done story, quirky and dark in equal measure, with its own bizarre and twisty logic.

The ending surprised me a bit; it's neither rushed nor unsatisfying (though it does have ots troublesome moments), but, honestly, I would have been fine if the story took longer to get there. I enjoyed the hints of a vaster background lore behind the Rabbit Man, and would have enjoyed learning more about its nature.

In sum, this is a solid, heartfelt and sincere, take on a kind of horror we all enjoy: the kind where nothing comes easy, every heroic act comes at a cost, and the horror originates in both internal and external sources. Definitely a 5-star read from me!

[Rikki Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely immersed in the setting of this story; nothing spookier than the high desert in winter. However, the best part was absolutely the cast. The characters (both human and animal) are fully fleshed out, even in the short space of a novella, and are all just trying their best (bless them). Such a breath of fresh air!

[Shanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story follows Adam as he accepts a job at Wild Mountain Wolf Sanctuary in the New Mexico desert. During his time there, he learns about who he is and where he wants to be. All white trying to hold onto his humanity. This is a fast-paced, brilliant story that i didn't want to end. I absolutely loved the characters, both human and animal. If you're a fan of folk horror, give this one a read.

[Amber Rosalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just ok. I did not feel captivated by the story. Initially I thought the journal entries were his writings and enjoyed the introduction to Kira. Other than that, there was no "WOW" moment for me. The ending left me guessing there could be another to the series. But it did not leave me wanting more.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph Murnane Pollinger’s follow-up to his debut, It Eats Your Hunger, is another deftly crafted descent into the darkness that resides in all of us. Dead Rabbit, initially the anchor to an upcoming collection of shorts, gets its day in the sun (or rain, given the mood) as a standalone horror novella. And its story is more than deserving and beyond strong enough to hold its own out in the wild.
The story follows Adam, a recovering addict lost in the vastness of the sober world, as he tries to get his life back on track. He accepts a job at a remote wolf sanctuary in the New Mexico mountains, though his newfound peace and purpose do not come easily. Not at all.

Dead Rabbit is a quieter kind of horror than It Eats Your Hunger. It’s more methodically paced, more inexorable in its mounting terror and potential insanity. It takes its time, but it never leaves us bored or allows our minds to wander. Murnane crafts this tale in a way that makes it impossible for us to look away, pointless for us to try and avoid what we all sense, and to a degree know, is coming. It invites us into the world created here, locks the gate behind us, and leaves us to try and find our way out.

Murnane’s understanding of how Wolf conservation sanctuaries work rings true on every page. He leads us through the day-to-day of these places with practiced ease and truly helps us feel like we are also out there helping feed these animals. His passion for nature, for animals, and for conservation bleeds through the page and fills us with a similar love for these places and these animals.

The novella sets the scene for us and lulls us into a sense of peace with the proceedings, but that peace is short-lived for us and for the characters. He creates a new monster and a new take on creatures such as the Wendigo or the Skinwalker, and I couldn’t be more stoked about that (there is a distressing lack of Wendigo horror, as far as I’m concerned.) He builds the legend gradually and gracefully, and before we know it, it’s too late to turn back. For all of us.

Murnane incorporates aspects of epistolary horror here, which I am always a sucker for. The journal entries all clue us in that this is not a normal place and that the horrors unfolding are not new to this region. These entries add another layer of sadness and desperation to the narrative, and while they occasionally took me out of the flow of the overall story, they were never dull. They filled me with an eagerness to return to the main narrative, which speaks to the potency of those entries' horror. Murnane also does a fantastic job taking the “Magic Indian” trope of horror and turning it on its head. I really appreciated the way that was handled and how deftly that entire trope was dismantled and mocked.

I really loved the location/setting of this piece and how vividly Murnane brought it to life. The characters were all well fleshed out and relatable, though RB stole the show for me. A few characters seemed under-utilized or under-developed, the type that in a body-count type horror story would be little more than fodder, but since this is not that kind of story, their inclusion or exclusion makes no difference.

The most compelling aspects of this novella are The Rabbit Man, and the legend Murnane created around that creature. I love the legend and the myth; I love the description of the creature; I love its powers; I love where it lives. I just really enjoyed the meticulous creation of this creature and its legacy. I’m not quite sure how it operates, how it selects who to latch itself onto, how it works, but I think that’s just part of the horror of the whole ordeal. Keeping the readers guessing also means you keep them coming back for more.

This is a quiet horror story. It isn’t slow but methodical and meticulous in its creation and craft. It is not particularly gory or “jump scary,” but it is haunting. It nestles itself in the dark corners of our minds and hearts and makes us look for what could be lurking there. It is an unsettling story that sits with you for a while after you finish it. It’s a dissection of loneliness, both literally and metaphorically, and it's a testament to the untenable victories that revenge grants us. And it all wraps itself up in an effectively creepy and cliffhangerly ending that adds a lot of lore questions as opposed to providing a concise ending to a standalone novella. I will certainly be willing and ready to dance with the Rabbit Man again if he ever decides to return.

4 out of 5 skinned animals from me.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Rabbit by Joseph Murnane is the latest from the author of It Eats Your Hunger, and true to form, this novella packs one helluva emotional gut punch. Joey, I’m mad I’ll never be as good as you. Ya happy now!?! But I digress…
The novella follows Adam, a recovering drug addict, on a cross country journey to Wild Mountain Wolf Sanctuary, a secluded nature preserve in New Mexico. The word is hard, but honest and the distance from civilization makes a great place for Adam to sober up. But despite the picturesque local and the beautiful wolves, Adam can’t shake that something isn’t quite right at the sanctuary.Enter the legend of The Rabbit Man, which harkens to some of my favorite folklore of all time, while still keeping things fresh.
Told from Adam’s perspective, along with journal entries from a young girl, Dead Rabbit is a study in the melding of quiet grief horror. Murnane’s expert attention to detail flawlessly crafts characters so realistic, you think they’re snoring in bed next to you (oh wait, that’s because my husband is also named Adam). In all seriousness, Joseph truly creates a living, breathing world so immersive, its disorienting coming out of it. The creeping dread. The tension sitting on your chest. The scares are not jumpy, but instead stalk you through the desert, wanting your very soul.
A book this good deserves to look beautiful on the outside too. Ruth Anna did the cover, a startling bored moon against a black sky, with white font that draws you in. The star of the show, however, is the formatting. Jyl Glenn, chaotic mastermind that she is, handwrote every single journal entry. The small details like including underlining words and adding small doodles, give the entries an unmatched aura of authenticity, lending credibility to Joseph’s tale. Not since Richard Chizmar’s “Chasing the Boogeyman” have I become so engrossed that I forgot I was reading a work of fiction. The writing is precise and methodical, the characters lifelike, and the story so enthralling, Dead Rabbit will chew you up, rip the flesh from your bones, and leave you dead in the desert, begging for more. Run, don’t walk to grab this. Happy release day Joey.

[Brandon Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review
Author: Joseph Murnane
Narrator: Tom Jordan
Title: Dead Rabbit
Book Rating: 4.5 Stars
Audio Rating: 5 Stars
Horror

This book was so quick, but it was just so satisfying. First, I want to say thank you to Joseph Murnane for an Audible code in exchange for an honest review. This book blew me away and left me wanting more. And I don’t know who this Tom Jordan guy is, but I guess he did alright as a narrator. Just kidding. Tom Jordan is always an instant listen for me, and especially when his A+ voice work meets such a spectacular story like this, it just comes together to make a perfect audio experience.

Adam Bell just accepted a new job at Wild Mountain Wolf Sanctuary. His plan is to start over on his life, and working at a wolf sanctuary seemed like the best way to do it. A few months later, after making friends with both the other workers there, as well as the wildlife, he went hunting with one of his coworkers and awakens something truly evil: The Rabbit Man. Adam soon learns that his new life is at stake, especially when he finds a journal of someone who has previously had an encounter with The Rabbit Man.

As I stated already, this was a quick book, I finished it in 1 day on my commute, but I was left knowing all the characters. One of my only complaints is that I wish I had some more. Some parts felt a little rushed, and I wished that he flushed some more out. But overall, I was really happy with this story. I will be looking into his other work, as well eagerly await anything new that he might put out in the future.

If you are looking for a quick, haunting book to fill out your book challenges, or just want a quick scare that will stay with you, pick up Dead Rabbits by Joseph Murnane. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for many reasons. I live in New Mexico and am familiar with the real life wolf sanctuary that inspired this book. The author mentions my hometown in Arkansas (what a surprise!) and I used to own a pitbull/Lab mix dog. So many things that really resonated with me!

Adam discovers the Wild Mountain Wolf Sanctuary in secluded western New Mexico and thinks it's just the place and work he needs in his new sober state. He quickly falls in love with the area and the animals housed there. But, his newfound peace is shattered by a mysterious entity that seems to be taking over his life. Losing weight, craving raw red meat and seeing things in the dark, Adam thinks he is being stalked by a Skinwalker.

He discovers a journal written by another worker many years ago who had experienced the same types of events. In this journal, the entity is named the Rabbit Man. Adam is determined to either kill the Rabbit Man or die trying.

The author has done a great job of showcasing the beauty of our state and the majestic animals that are found here. There is plenty of emotion and wonderful relationships between the humans and animals and I found myself almost in tears at times. There are also lots of creepy, horrific moments that will set your heart pounding. This author is quickly becoming one of my favorites since both of his books I have read are the type that will stay in my memory for a long time.

The narrator did a great job and his pacing was perfect for the book. My only complaint about the audio is that it is hard to differentiate the journal entries from the rest of the narrative in this format.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.

Joseph Murnane is one of the most exciting new voices in indie horror. The fact that It Eats Your Hunger was a debut astounded me, and so did this sophomore effort. The writing is just so good. I felt like I knew the characters, and I cared for them deeply. Reading a horror novel in which wolves are portrayed in a positive light made my heart so happy. This story may be a tough read for those who dislike animal harm, but it is absolutely worth the rough ride. The ending made me cry, and it also gave me a little bit of hope that I've been sorely needing. Easy 5 stars

[John Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading It Eats Your Hunger and now Dead Rabbit, Joseph is quickly becoming one of my favorite indie horror authors. In Dead Rabbit, his ability to create vivid settings and characters is on full display yet again.

I have been enchanted by the desert ever since I spent a summer in college living with friends out west, and the wolf sanctuary in New Mexico where this book takes place was a pure joy to immerse myself in.

It's pretty freaking creepy at times too! The Rabbit Man is a character I'm gonna remember for a while 😅

Easy 5/5 stars, and I'm already looking forward to whatever Joseph publishes next!

[Sarah Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read that sinks its teeth and claws into you. Dead Rabbit is a unique take on both human, and inhuman monsters. Set against the backdrop of a wolf sanctuary in the desert, Murnane brings his own life experience to the story - which adds an extra layer of uniqueness. In such a short space of time, he creates characters that you care deeply for (both those with fur and those without), and this ensures the stakes are high. This is a must read horror for animal lovers.

[Alexandra Nisneru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murnane has such a poetic way with words, that you'd think even if he writes horror, he'll lul you to sleep with his stories. Wrong! It is afterall horror and beneath his quiet shyness of the words, there lies an evil that you wouldn't expect. Be sure that this story will keep you awake late into the night, for the need of knowing more. It might start slowly, but it packs an incredible punch.
Murnane feels more and more like a seasoned writer and I can't wait to see what he conjures next.

[Lisa Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really interesting story. I liked the character development of Adam, the main character. The setting of the wolf sanctuary was great. I enjoyed all the animals. There was just enough creepiness without going over the top with the Rabbit Man. This was definitely a good read and I look forward to checking out more by Joseph Murnane.

[Caleb Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing that you can tell comes from a gentle soul. There is some heartbreaking honesty in these pages. There is also a truly creative take on the creature feature, that may combine some elements of things you've seen before, but still manages to feel fresh.

[Dale Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. An interesting story with good lore and mystery. I was a bit confused as to what was going on towards the end, but I still enjoyed the journey. The handwritten notes were a nice, unique touch to the book.

[Mel Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overcoming obstacles, perseverance, and resilience. Dead Rabbit is a novelette of the human condition. This was a fast, enjoyable, deep in meaning. The narrator was fantastic!