the Devil and Elijah Corey

by t.s poppleton

Elijah Corey is doing his best to live with the silence his son left behind when a strange teenager taps on his car window and speaks his name. The boy looks lost, but his eyes glow with something otherworldly, and he somehow knows things Elijah has never told another soul. When the boy claims to be the devil and says Elijah's son sent him, the grieving father agrees to drive him through the night toward Houston.

As miles of highway slip away, Elijah is pulled into a story about a fearless Irish girl, a dangerous magic, and a night that changed the world. Every chapter of the boy's tale feels connected to Elijah's own loss, and the closer they get to their destination, the more Elijah wonders what truth waits for him at the end of the road. This is a story of grief, strange miracles, and the terrifying comfort of being told you are not as alone as you think

269 pages, Hardcover

Published November 24, 2025

Reviews

[Helene Poppleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found so much meaning in this short novel! Here are a few of the elements I loved:

- It's a beautiful window into navigating life as an autistic person. With several of my most cherished people on the autism spectrum I always love a story that shows how neurodivergent people work. In our world they are labeled weird at best and at worst, big jerks. I love that we're telling more and more stories to change that.

- I loved the quiet invitation to think about belief and choice and consequences. As we work through our own experiences, deciding whom to believe is a human right and I've found it valuable to reflect on that periodically through my life.

- And most of all, I love Journey! I'm so glad his story is out there for the world to know.

[Sari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil and Elijah Corey is a book that invites you to think deeply, challenge belief systems, and ask uncomfortable questions. Through a personal and thought-provoking story, Travis Poppleton explores grief, belief, and the stories we tell ourselves about what happens after death. This book resists easy answers and leans into ambiguity in a way that feels intentional and meaningful. A remarkable story worth reading.

[Jennifer Bledsoe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I mistakenly read this (for free, so I guess I can’t complain) when someone recommended The Devil and Elijah Muhammad, which I eventually did read. Both were equally disappointing.