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Seeds of Doom
Budding film-maker Jermaine is at his great-great uncle’s Dead Yard, a service for the deceased that lasts the entire night. There’s music, tons of people and lots of food, so when Jermaine spots a plate of patties – his favourite snack – he digs in immediately. But upon taking a bite he finds himself in big trouble.
Turns out that at a Dead Yard, a table is set up under a tent with food for the departed loved one. No one is allowed to eat from it before midnight, which is believed to be the time when the spirit passes through.
Jermaine wishes he knew that before 22:53! Now he’s got the angry spirit of his Uncle Carl in his life. ALL. THE. TIME. But that isn’t the only creepy happening in town. Kids are suffering from a mysterious illness that sounds A LOT like the Jamaican ghost tales his great gran has told him. With cursed cassava seeds in the house and a strange being lurking in the neighbourhood too, Jermaine and Carl will have to work together to keep the people they care about safe.
The first in a spook-tastic new series, perfect for fans of GOOSEBUMPS, HIDE AND SEEKER and DREAD WOOD.
Turns out that at a Dead Yard, a table is set up under a tent with food for the departed loved one. No one is allowed to eat from it before midnight, which is believed to be the time when the spirit passes through.
Jermaine wishes he knew that before 22:53! Now he’s got the angry spirit of his Uncle Carl in his life. ALL. THE. TIME. But that isn’t the only creepy happening in town. Kids are suffering from a mysterious illness that sounds A LOT like the Jamaican ghost tales his great gran has told him. With cursed cassava seeds in the house and a strange being lurking in the neighbourhood too, Jermaine and Carl will have to work together to keep the people they care about safe.
The first in a spook-tastic new series, perfect for fans of GOOSEBUMPS, HIDE AND SEEKER and DREAD WOOD.
208 pages, Paperback
Published September 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 14, 2025
Pupil 4:
The setting, used by PJ Killburn, isn’t just a backdrop: it’s alive, hostile, and hungry. The “dead yard” carries more personality than some human characters in other novels. The visual descriptions are almost cinematic: grotesque seed-pods, contorted bodies, soil turning to something that breathes. You can see the horror long after reading. The structure oscillates between slow dread and explosive revelation. PJ Killburn understands exactly when to pull back and when to let horror bloom violently.
Pupil 5:
Not many books genuinely keep me awake, but the imagery of the final act haunted me well into the early hours. It’s the kind of horror that stays under your skin. Beyond the scares, this book is emotionally punishing. Themes of grief, generational trauma, and survival hit with surprising tenderness. Killburn critiques rural isolation, climate apathy, and how communities can rot from within. The horror grows from harsh truths rather than cheap shocks. The violence is unsettling but never gratuitous. Killburn shows restraint, every grotesque moment has narrative weight. The recurring seed motif symbolises guilt, suppressed truth, and inevitable consequence. Killburn’s symbolism enriches rather than overshadows the story.
Pupil 6:
The book’s climax explodes into fast-paced, apocalyptic horror. It’s easy to imagine as a film scene, flaring torches, collapsing barns, and bodies sprouting impossible growths. Even at its darkest moments, the story remains rooted in character. Fear matters more when you care about who’s at risk and Killburn ensures you do. Killburn’s language is almost lyrical before plunging into grotesquery. The contrast makes the horror more shocking. Crackling leaves, long shadows, and chilly winds. This book feels like October. Perfect for a dark evening with rain against the window. Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom stands out as a modern British horror masterpiece—fresh, feral, and unforgettable. Killburn has planted something dark that will grow in your mind long after. A perfect autumn read.
The setting, used by PJ Killburn, isn’t just a backdrop: it’s alive, hostile, and hungry. The “dead yard” carries more personality than some human characters in other novels. The visual descriptions are almost cinematic: grotesque seed-pods, contorted bodies, soil turning to something that breathes. You can see the horror long after reading. The structure oscillates between slow dread and explosive revelation. PJ Killburn understands exactly when to pull back and when to let horror bloom violently.
Pupil 5:
Not many books genuinely keep me awake, but the imagery of the final act haunted me well into the early hours. It’s the kind of horror that stays under your skin. Beyond the scares, this book is emotionally punishing. Themes of grief, generational trauma, and survival hit with surprising tenderness. Killburn critiques rural isolation, climate apathy, and how communities can rot from within. The horror grows from harsh truths rather than cheap shocks. The violence is unsettling but never gratuitous. Killburn shows restraint, every grotesque moment has narrative weight. The recurring seed motif symbolises guilt, suppressed truth, and inevitable consequence. Killburn’s symbolism enriches rather than overshadows the story.
Pupil 6:
The book’s climax explodes into fast-paced, apocalyptic horror. It’s easy to imagine as a film scene, flaring torches, collapsing barns, and bodies sprouting impossible growths. Even at its darkest moments, the story remains rooted in character. Fear matters more when you care about who’s at risk and Killburn ensures you do. Killburn’s language is almost lyrical before plunging into grotesquery. The contrast makes the horror more shocking. Crackling leaves, long shadows, and chilly winds. This book feels like October. Perfect for a dark evening with rain against the window. Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom stands out as a modern British horror masterpiece—fresh, feral, and unforgettable. Killburn has planted something dark that will grow in your mind long after. A perfect autumn read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2025
Light-hearted young horror, partly in Jamaican British patois, with a young kid interrupting the dead. He wanted something like that for his home-made movies, but when he goes to a distant relative's nine night, or dead yard – the culmination of an extended wake – he goofs, and from then on is haunted by the ghost of the deceased, and nobody else can see or believe in any evidence of that. Although when the full story is revealed, a simple haunting is child's play…
This proved lively, and decently based on what I can only assume is authentic Caribbean folklore. Certainly the book could do with a quick glossary for people unaware of 'duppies' and all the other creations here. That aside the drama is very evident, the kids involved pleasantly conveyed, and the action pretty strong for this kind of book. I'd see it worthy of four stars, while those of a different community, happy to see more representation of their culture, could quite easily think that low.
This proved lively, and decently based on what I can only assume is authentic Caribbean folklore. Certainly the book could do with a quick glossary for people unaware of 'duppies' and all the other creations here. That aside the drama is very evident, the kids involved pleasantly conveyed, and the action pretty strong for this kind of book. I'd see it worthy of four stars, while those of a different community, happy to see more representation of their culture, could quite easily think that low.
September 4, 2025
The main character is Black Jamaican-British and this is steeped in Jamaican culture. I loved it! I could see my family and my culture in it so much, and all the mythology around duppies (ghosts) too. 10/10 in terms of representation and how it blended in with the story.
The great uncle to child relationship was really lovely. And I liked the big extended family vibes.
As this is set in West London it felt like familiar stomping ground in terms of the setting. Which was another win for me.
The plot was creative and fun, and it was spooky while still being suitable for the age audience as well. Very balanced! While things were resolved a bit too easily for me, I'm sure child readers will still have a good time.
This has black and white illustrations which were nice to see.
I would happily read the sequel!
The great uncle to child relationship was really lovely. And I liked the big extended family vibes.
As this is set in West London it felt like familiar stomping ground in terms of the setting. Which was another win for me.
The plot was creative and fun, and it was spooky while still being suitable for the age audience as well. Very balanced! While things were resolved a bit too easily for me, I'm sure child readers will still have a good time.
This has black and white illustrations which were nice to see.
I would happily read the sequel!
November 20, 2025
‘Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom’ by P.J. Killburn is a short, comedy horror book inspired by Caribbean mythology. Jermaine is at a memorial celebration called a Dead Yard for his Great-Uncle Carl. Traditionally, no one is allowed to eat before midnight but when Jermaine takes a bite of his favourite patties, he stops his Uncle's spirit from passing over and meets the ghost of Uncle Carl. But that's not the only strange thing going on - children in the neighbourhood are mysteriously falling ill, a sinister character has taken a pouch of cursed Cassava seeds and then there are the terrifying stories of the Ole Higue. Jermaine and Uncle Carl must team up to save the children, unmask the Ole Higue and help Carl to finally move on.
The Jamaican folk tales referred to in the book are both fascinating and terrifying - definitely not for the squeamish. I really enjoyed learning about a culture I don't know much about. Dead Yard is a fantastically fun, fast-paced and spine-chillingly creepy read - perfect for fans of Jennifer Killick.
This book also received unanimous five star reviews from my Year 5 Book Club. At the end of book club, two boys who exclusively read graphic novels said that Dead Yard had inspired them to read other types of books. Another student wrote, ‘I liked the fact it had Jamaican things in it - it made me feel happy.’
The Jamaican folk tales referred to in the book are both fascinating and terrifying - definitely not for the squeamish. I really enjoyed learning about a culture I don't know much about. Dead Yard is a fantastically fun, fast-paced and spine-chillingly creepy read - perfect for fans of Jennifer Killick.
This book also received unanimous five star reviews from my Year 5 Book Club. At the end of book club, two boys who exclusively read graphic novels said that Dead Yard had inspired them to read other types of books. Another student wrote, ‘I liked the fact it had Jamaican things in it - it made me feel happy.’
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews