The Devil’s Dance

by Brett McKay

Chase Gray hasn’t seen his daughter, Oakley, in two years. When he picks her up for a long-overdue getaway, the fourteen-year-old isn’t keen on spending a week with her estranged father. Only one day into the road trip, their fragile reunion is interrupted when Oakley is kidnapped during a stop at a grocery store.

Tocho, a radical outcast of his tribe, is driven by visions of an ancient ritual. He believes the sacrifice of a young innocent girl under the Blood Moon will resurrect his dead ancestors. When he spots Oakley while robbing a store, he’s convinced she’s the one he needs.

Racing against time to track down his missing daughter, Chase teams up with his FBI friend, Miles, along with a ragtag group of volunteers. As supernatural forces rise and ancient spirits stir, Chase must battle not just monsters and madmen but the guilt of a past he can’t change to avoid losing his daughter forever.

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2025

About the author

When Brett McKay is not conjuring demons and bloodthirsty psychopaths to put on paper, he sells landscaping. He loves all types of music, but hard rock and heavy metal fuel him the most. He enjoys the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and curling up in front of a good movie with his wife and a bucket of popcorn.

Brett lives in Utah with his wife and two sons. Fall is his favorite time of year because he gets to decorate his house for Halloween much too early for his neighbors.

His short story, Ol' Betsy, was the winner of 2018's Seattle Crypticon. He is also an active member of The International Thriller Writers.

https://twitter.com/BrettMcKay8

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/brett...

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
The Devil’s Dance is a gripping thriller that is unputdownable as this high stakes action tale takes you through a tangled web of twists. I was engrossed right the way through. The cleverly woven plot is full of intensity and suspense that is palpable.
Chase’s daughter has been targeted by a Native American fanatical cult and a psychopathic man who believe she is the one needed for a satanic ritual to bring about a resurrection. Chase and friends, a local deputy, Kenny, and FBI agent, Miles, are on a desperate chase and running out of time to save her from these crazy people before she is sacrificed.
This supernatural thriller had me on the edge of my seat hoping against hope that they would make it in time.
This story also explores deeper emotional themes of a man and his demons and that of family dynamics and a fragile relationship between father and daughter and the complexities of a mostly absentee father trying to assuage his guilt and of a man who wants to make amends with his estranged daughter. But has he left it too late?

This has something for anyone who loves this genre.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

'Her Sacrifice Will Unleash Hell...'
The Devil’s Dance by Brett McKay is back in his wheelhouse, delivering another gripping supernatural thriller.
The story follows Chase Gray, as he embarks on a desperate mission to rescue his estranged 14-year-old daughter, Oakley, after she is kidnapped by a member of a bizarre tribal cult. The stakes are high, and Mr. McKay turns up the dial on the tension, action, and raw emotion.
Chase is not just a heroic MMC; he’s a flawed, deeply human character who is grappling with guilt, regret, and all the complexities that come with fatherhood. His relationship with Oakley is both heartbreaking and yet still hopeful, adding a layer of emotion into the suspenseful dynamic.
I did find the story quite thought-provoking and intriguing, however, at times, the intensity of the plot felt slightly overwhelming, and I felt that a few moments could have benefited from a bit more ‘breathing room’. Also, there were some parts that were a little ‘wordy’, which interrupted the flow a little and drew me out of the story. But, thankfully these issues didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.
Happy Reading…

[Santana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil’s Dance is a fast, tense supernatural thriller that kept me hooked from the first chapter.

Chase’s teenage daughter, Oakley, is kidnapped by an indigenous cult that believes she’s needed for a dangerous ritual. From there, it’s a frantic race against the clock as Chase and a small group of men try to save her before it’s too late.

The story mixes high stakes action with a lot of emotion. Chase isn’t a perfect dad. He’s dealing with guilt, regret, and the fear that he’s already wasted too much time with his daughter. That strained relationship adds a layer of heartbreak beneath all the chaos.

The book is packed with suspense, creepy supernatural elements, and twists that hit hard. It did get a little wordy here and there, and a few scenes felt like they could have slowed down for a breath, but none of that took away from how gripping it was.

Overall, this gave me major “Taken” vibes but with dark magic and a seriously twisted villain. If you love thrillers with cults, chases, and a desperate parent fighting like hell, this one delivers.

[Kerry carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gripping supernatural thriller. I loved the authors attention to detail. He really brought to life the history Native American tribes. This is a fast paced story with flawed characters, supernatural beings, history and also an insight into what can happen when something is taken to the extreme.
In this story we find Chase Gray and his daughter Oakley. When they are at a store Oakley gets kidnapped by a group of people who claim to follow the traditions of their ancestors. Now it is a race against time to save Oakley from the fate of being a sacrifice. Can Chase and his FBI friends find her before it's too late? With supernatural forces working against them will they be able to find her? And is the stories that the kidnapper tells his people true? Will their ancestors rise and become an army?

This is a story filled with danger and people fighting demons, supernatural ones and demons in their pasts. The authors characters are so well developed and multi layered that I found myself getting lost in their lives, emotions and feelings. I was gripped from the first page.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil’s Dance is a tense, supernatural-tinged thriller that leans hard into parental terror: the fear of losing a child and being helpless to stop it.
Chace Gray hasn’t seen his fourteen-year-old daughter, Oakley, in two years. Their long-overdue road trip is already emotionally fragile when, during a routine stop at a grocery store, Oakley is kidnapped. The abductor is an outcast obsessed with an ancient ritual tied to a Blood Moon; As Chase teams up with his FBI friend to hunt for Oakley. But as the hunt gets under, old spirits will stir and the line between human and the monstrous blurs. This is my first book from McKay and I am so glad I picked this one up. I love a good horror novel, and this one hit the nail on the head for me. A definitive page-turner, with fast-paced thrills and enough high tension to keep you turning pages until the very end. If you are looking for a dark, twisty read that grips you tightly from beginning to end, then this is the book for you.

[Heidi Eich Woodring · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devils Dance by Brett McKay is a great written book about that had me booked from the very beginning. Chase, after not seeing Oakley, his daughter, for a few years they are together again for a long overdue road trip. When a stop at a store, leads to Oakley getting kidnapped. Chase teams up with a friend from the FBI and a group of people to find her. The kidnapper believes that he must sacrifice a young girl that is ancestors will come back to life. It is a race against time and blood moon to save her.
This book, was WOW. The characters, the story line, the twists, and turns really made this a top notch read. While the race to save his daughter it’s also a race to not let demons into the world. So, we are given the suspense of Oakley and the demons. This is my first book by this author and it will not be the last. As someone new to horror and paranormal suspense, I highly recommend.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil's Dance is my first book by Brett McKay, but it certainly won't be the last! This book had me hooked from beginning to end. The vivid world-building transports the reader into a parallel world full of demons, shape shifters, and monstrous human beings. Chase Gray, along with his team of friends and acquaintances, must track a self-proclaimed chief and shaman who kidnapped Chase’s 14-year-old daughter, Oakley. The characters are realistically flawed and relatable. There are many elements to this story, but they work so well together that the story flows smoothly and made me forget about the world around me. The estranged father-daughter relationship between Chase and Oakley is at once heartbreaking and oddly heart-warming; Chase will not give up on saving Oakley. This tense supernatural kidnapping is full of suspense, action, emotions, and plenty of twists and turns. I definitely recommend The Devil's Dance by Brett McKay!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping thriller horror story which is perfect for a Halloween read. Oakley hasn’t seen her estranged father for two years and isn’t looking forward to their week long road trip together. Chase Gray’s reunion with his daughter doesn’t last long when she is kidnapped at a grocery store. Oakley is kidnapped by Tocho, a radical outcast of his tribe who has had visions of an ancient ritual. He believes he needs to sacrifice a young innocent girl under the Blood Moon to resurrect his dead ancestors. Chase along with Miles his FBI friend and a group of volunteers race to track down Oakley. As supernatural forces rise and ancient spirits stir Chase finds himself battling more than madmen and monsters, as the guilt of his past haunts him. The descriptive narrative brought both the characters and settings vividly to life, making me feel fully immersed in the story. The fast paced storyline with its mix of family drama, ancient rituals and supernatural forces kept me hooked throughout.

[Charlisa Wahtomy-Alba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oakley and her dad, Chase, haven't seen each other for two years. It is decided that they would be taking a week long road trip to bond. Oakley isn't too thrilled about being with her estranged father. A side stop to grab some essentials finds Oakley come up missing. She has been taken by a man, Tocho, that is the outcast of his tribe. He is obsessed with an ancient ritual of sacrificing an innocent young girl under the Blood Mood. He believes it will resurrect his long deceased ancestors. Chase calls up his FBI friend, Miles, to help him find his daughter. Together with an outfit of volunteers they are racing against time to save Oakley. Will they make it in time? This was the first book I have read by this author and I have to say I enjoyed their writing style. The subject matter in this book isn't what I would normally pick up but the synopsis intrigued me. I am glad I took a chance and I look forward to reading more work from this author.

[Heidi Sturgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the cover freaked me a little but it didn’t hold me back from settling in to read ( with the light on ) 😂

Chase hasn’t seen his daughter Oakley in a while so I can understand both are little nervous for their road trip ….

They make a stop at a grocery store and Oakley is kidnapped and my heart is literally in my throat and the guy that took her is a little unwired 🙈

On the bright side he’s got a friend in the FBI that helps him but they’re in a race against time 🙈and nature as well because everything depends on the moon literally , the guy that took her believes that if he sacrifices her he’ll bring ancestors back to life 🤷‍♀️

I even made tea with sugar for my shattered nerves and I usually don’t drink sugar so that tells you my state of mind . I was on the edge of my seat and I kept looking for the boogeyman and hearing strange noises so my mind was all over the place 🙈😂


A nerve racking read 😉

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this story. This is a new author for me in which I enjoyed their creative details that made the plot come to life on every page. I also enjoyed how the author pulled me in from the start and kept me engaged to the end. I found that the characters are realistic and connectable which added to my enjoyment of this story. This is a story about Chase and his missing daughter. He teams up with a friend and others to find her. This is a story that is a race against time as well as facing the past to save someone you love. This is a story you don’t want to miss. I enjoyed watching the growth of the plot throughout which made the story easy to read. This is a fast paced, hard to put down story that is engaging and just a great story. I look forward to seeing more from this author. I highly recommend this story.

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars
The Devil’s Dance By Brett McKay

The Devil’s Dance is a gripping thriller that will have you turning the pages till the end. This is an intense read with plenty of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat. This is a new author to me and they definitely have a new fan. I absolutely couldn’t put this down,everything around faded away as my heart raced while reading this book. We follow along with Chase has he desperately trues to find his daughter who has been kidnapped by a member of a tribal cult. Chase will stop at nothing until his daughter is safe. He may be an estranged father and may not have a good relationship with his daughter because of that but he’s gonna try and make things right or is he to late? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next.

[Kerry Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the first one that I have read by this author and I was intrigued by it the moment I read the description. I didn’t know what to expect when I went into it, I just knew that I had to see what was going to happen. I was instantly pulled into this story. there is so much going on – the dynamics between the characters, the terror as Oakley is taken and the excitement and stress as the chase is on to find her.
I loved all the little twists and turns the author threw into this book. The book had a darker side to it than I was expecting but, for me, that just made it even more exciting to read as it meant I could never quite tell what the author would do next. This whole book was thrilling to read from start to finish and I will definitely be checking out more from this author in the future.

[Jennifer Reimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me on a roller-coaster of a ride and on the edge of my seat. I was pulled in right from the beginning and this book wouldn’t let me go till I was done. It was very engaging with the suspense and thrill. This is about a father that needs to find his daughter. She was taken by a Native American Fanatical cult and a man that believes she is the one her needs for a ritual to bring about a resurrection. The twists and turns and the building of the plot was intense. Everything was so well done and written that its very easy to relate to the characters and the connection to this story. it was fast paced and so hard to put down till the end.

[Helen Sucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chase Gray & his 14-year-old daughter, Oakley, haven’t seen each other in two years, and the reunion is not going well…. When they embark on the start of what is supposed to be a week-long camping road trip, Oakley is abruptly kidnapped during a store robbery by Tocho, an outcast of the Pauti tribe, who is driven by strange visions and rituals of blood sacrifice. Chase must track down Oakley and Tocho before it is too late, battling strange supernatural forces - as well as the demons of his own past - along the way.

Plot twists, suspense and drama will keep you drawn into this page-turner until the very end!

[Katie Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil’s Dance is a gripping, intense thriller that pulls you into a dark world of crime, secrets, and high-stakes danger. The story follows a resourceful protagonist navigating a web of betrayal and suspense, where every decision could mean life or death. McKay’s writing is sharp and cinematic, keeping the tension tight and the plot moving at a brisk pace. The characters feel real and layered, and the twists hit just when you least expect them. It’s a thrilling, page-turning ride that fans of suspense and action will really enjoy.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil’s Dance is a very intense thriller, that follows Chase Gray; a dad who is trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter. When his daughter is abducted by a radical outcast from an ancient tribe; Chase is against the clock to save his daughter.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, and at times is very dark. There were a few times I felt is lagged a bit, but I was very surprised by the end. This is not a genre I generally read, but I will read more from this author, and I recommend this book.

[Brandy L Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Devil’s Dance" by Brett McKay is one of those books you just can’t put down. From the first page, it pulls you right into a whirlwind of suspense and twists that keep you guessing. The characters feel real, with flaws and motives that make you root for—or against—them. McKay’s writing is sharp and fast-paced, making it super easy to get lost in the story. If you’re into thrillers with plenty of surprises and a dark edge, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

[Finley K. James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wild ride. Fast-paced and action-packed, "The Devil's Dance" kept me on the edge of my seat through every page. The relationship between Chase and his daughter Oakley was beautifully written, and every character was realistic in their flaws. There was clearly a lot of research that went into writing this story, which brought another depth to the narrative. I will admit that there were some parts that were tough to read, but the book drew me in despite that.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captures your attention from the first few chapters and keeps you guessing until the very end. It gives you a look into the mind of people being driven by evil forces while also showing a father’s love and determination in finding and protecting his kid. Theres so many emotional roller coasters in this. The author really does well in interweaving all of these characters together but they are also solid on their own. If you love James Patterson books you will love this one.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is about to spend some time with his estranged daughter but it is not going to go the way he expected. She is kidnapped by a man who believes if he uses her as a sacrifice to bring back his ancestors. He joins forces with his friend to try to get her back so follow their fight to save her
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and fast paced action read

[Felicia Belcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was some deep, heart-pounding action! Such a beautiful world within our world that was built, and of course it had to be home to the evil. A great thriller with multiple unforeseen turns. Great men sacrificed everything, others will never mentally recover. Some destinies intertwine in the most unconvenient and yet profound ways!

[Finn Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devils Dance by Brett McKay is an absolute sucker punch to the attention span, you will be sucked into this from start to finish. I was so excited when i picked this up, i loved the cover, the blurb, all of it. Brett did NOT disappoint me in the slightest! Fast paced, action-packed, nail biting suspense, what more could you ask for??

[Karen Sebeika · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great read loved the cat and mouse chase between the native American group and chases team was sorry ionela didn't t make it as well as some of the rescusers the supernatural elements were great

[Kimmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a fantastic read!! The Devil's Dance hooked me in from the first chapter and didn't let me go until the end. It's one of those books you want to read in one sitting but you don't want it to end! First time reading Brett McKay but it won't be the last!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline, great characters, thrilling,suspenseful, this book will have you turning page after page, engaging from beginning to end. First time reading this author, highly recommend.