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Crone
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26A haunting, fearsome story of a father searching for his missing daughter and finding darkness—both human and not—at every turn, from the author of the “exciting, suspenseful, horrifying” (Stephen King) Fever House
Eli Lamp is a broken man. An ex-detective, ex-addict, and long-grieving father whose daughter, Hannah, disappeared a decade before, Eli decimated his old life investigating her abduction and is now indebted to the Crooked Wheel, a local drug gang, as an enforcer. He lives in a rundown trailer at the edge of the woods, where he keeps Hannah’s room in pristine condition and tries to make it through one day at a time.
But when the son of the Crooked Wheel’s boss is found viciously murdered in a crime scene that doesn’t seem to add up, Eli receives a new order: Find out who the killer is and your debt to the Wheel is clear forever. You’re free. This pursuit brings him into the orbit of Avery Bryant, Hannah’s best friend and the last person to see her before she went missing. Soon, Eli and Avery are entwined in a hunt for answers that spans decades, stretches the realm of possibility, and brings churning to the surface a conspiracy linking not only these current tragedies, but the buried sorrows of Eli’s past.
And though none of them dare say the word "witch," at least not out loud, something lurks in the woods, bent-backed and black-eyed, clawed and vengeful, looming ever closer. . . .
Eli Lamp is a broken man. An ex-detective, ex-addict, and long-grieving father whose daughter, Hannah, disappeared a decade before, Eli decimated his old life investigating her abduction and is now indebted to the Crooked Wheel, a local drug gang, as an enforcer. He lives in a rundown trailer at the edge of the woods, where he keeps Hannah’s room in pristine condition and tries to make it through one day at a time.
But when the son of the Crooked Wheel’s boss is found viciously murdered in a crime scene that doesn’t seem to add up, Eli receives a new order: Find out who the killer is and your debt to the Wheel is clear forever. You’re free. This pursuit brings him into the orbit of Avery Bryant, Hannah’s best friend and the last person to see her before she went missing. Soon, Eli and Avery are entwined in a hunt for answers that spans decades, stretches the realm of possibility, and brings churning to the surface a conspiracy linking not only these current tragedies, but the buried sorrows of Eli’s past.
And though none of them dare say the word "witch," at least not out loud, something lurks in the woods, bent-backed and black-eyed, clawed and vengeful, looming ever closer. . . .
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 16, 2026
HOLY 😱😱😱😱! That was a killer read! I’m emotionally wrecked inside. I’m speechless, so, just let me catch my breath a minute here.
😭😭😭😭😭
Oh, and guess what? You don’t really need a synopsis when it comes to this author. Nope. You just read it! If you loved Coffin Moon, it’s pretty much a guarantee that you’ll be obsessed with Crone!
Rosson has a style to his writing that has grit and a whole lot of heart. He allows the reader to feel a connection to his characters and gets you feeling all kinds of sh**!
Imagine part Sons of Anarchy, a creature feature, grief horror, and stir that up with some diabolical witchery. I was hooked from page one! I couldn’t get my eyes to read fast enough.
Crone is addictive and brutal while pulling at your heartstrings. I didn’t want it to end and neither will you! And let me clarify this is the third horror novel I’ve ever weeped over. 😭 Get ready folks, this stunner of a novel will hold you hostage.
5 GLORIOUS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Out 9/26
Thank you to Random House, NetGalley, and Keith Rosson for the gifted copy.
😭😭😭😭😭
Oh, and guess what? You don’t really need a synopsis when it comes to this author. Nope. You just read it! If you loved Coffin Moon, it’s pretty much a guarantee that you’ll be obsessed with Crone!
Rosson has a style to his writing that has grit and a whole lot of heart. He allows the reader to feel a connection to his characters and gets you feeling all kinds of sh**!
Imagine part Sons of Anarchy, a creature feature, grief horror, and stir that up with some diabolical witchery. I was hooked from page one! I couldn’t get my eyes to read fast enough.
Crone is addictive and brutal while pulling at your heartstrings. I didn’t want it to end and neither will you! And let me clarify this is the third horror novel I’ve ever weeped over. 😭 Get ready folks, this stunner of a novel will hold you hostage.
5 GLORIOUS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Out 9/26
Thank you to Random House, NetGalley, and Keith Rosson for the gifted copy.
March 16, 2026
5⭐️ I loved Keith Rosson’s last book Coffin Moon and was so excited to receive an arc of Crone! It is Amazing! Horror at its best!!! I was hooked right away and could not put it down! It’s fast paced, emotional, tragic, tense, creepy and gorey.
The story starts with the disappearance of 15 year old Hannah. Her drug addicted dad Eli a former cop, gets clean and dedicates himself to looking for her. After an incident with a motorcycle gang he becomes indebted to Dave Novak their leader.
Some creepy things begin to happen starting with the brutal murder of Dave’s son Anton.
Who is the supernatural force behind the murder? How far will Eli go after years pass to find Hannah? This story is dark and has some really bloody scenes, but it is a story of love and redemption and about as perfect of a horror story as I’ve read!
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishers, and Keith Rosson for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The story starts with the disappearance of 15 year old Hannah. Her drug addicted dad Eli a former cop, gets clean and dedicates himself to looking for her. After an incident with a motorcycle gang he becomes indebted to Dave Novak their leader.
Some creepy things begin to happen starting with the brutal murder of Dave’s son Anton.
Who is the supernatural force behind the murder? How far will Eli go after years pass to find Hannah? This story is dark and has some really bloody scenes, but it is a story of love and redemption and about as perfect of a horror story as I’ve read!
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishers, and Keith Rosson for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Want to Read
April 19, 2026I'm a happy girl. Thank you so, so much, Random House, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 and I'm thrilled to have it!!!
This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 and I'm thrilled to have it!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars
✨✨✨Gritty crime + Horror✨✨✨
This is my second book by Keith Rosson and to be honest, I had a difficult time getting into this one. I was intrigued by the plot but at the same time some of it just felt a bit weighed down.
There was a lot going on with drug addiction and poverty which I found was written very well and engaging. However, it did seem like some of the plot really did drag. Don’t get me wrong, the writing is very well done and sets the atmosphere wonderfully. The portrayal of addiction seemed especially well done. It was all just a bit slow paced for me.
The meat of the story reads as gritty crime detective and closer towards the end of the book was when we really got to the Crone stuff. Which I loved, but just seemed very drawn out to get to that point. Also, I was expecting more witch horror than crime. The last like 1/3 was spectacular and that ending I LOVED!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released September 22, 2026.
✨✨✨Gritty crime + Horror✨✨✨
This is my second book by Keith Rosson and to be honest, I had a difficult time getting into this one. I was intrigued by the plot but at the same time some of it just felt a bit weighed down.
There was a lot going on with drug addiction and poverty which I found was written very well and engaging. However, it did seem like some of the plot really did drag. Don’t get me wrong, the writing is very well done and sets the atmosphere wonderfully. The portrayal of addiction seemed especially well done. It was all just a bit slow paced for me.
The meat of the story reads as gritty crime detective and closer towards the end of the book was when we really got to the Crone stuff. Which I loved, but just seemed very drawn out to get to that point. Also, I was expecting more witch horror than crime. The last like 1/3 was spectacular and that ending I LOVED!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released September 22, 2026.
Want to Read
March 7, 2026author of one of my favorite books last year: Coffin Moon!
super excited for this one! Pub date: 9/2026
super excited for this one! Pub date: 9/2026
April 15, 2026
This is for the girls who have ✨daddy issues✨
Picture it.. missing teen, devastated dad, biker gangs, small town worthless cops, witchcraft, and a sprinkle of little details from the Rosson multiverse.
That’s it. That’s the review. Oh, and I cried.
Picture it.. missing teen, devastated dad, biker gangs, small town worthless cops, witchcraft, and a sprinkle of little details from the Rosson multiverse.
That’s it. That’s the review. Oh, and I cried.
March 26, 2026
Crone is a fast moving, constantly evolving story. I really loved how the crone was introduced into the story and her characteristics!
There are so many twists that really add to the story.
There are a lot of characters to follow, but the author made it easy to not get confused.
This is a great read for 2026!
There are so many twists that really add to the story.
There are a lot of characters to follow, but the author made it easy to not get confused.
This is a great read for 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to the publisher, Random House, and Netgalley for this ARC for review.
If you’re a fan of a slow burn read, then Keith Rosson may not be the author for you. His writing is a conflagration. It’s forest fire raging on high winds. It’s breathless, brutal, and breakneck. His newest novel "Crone" is no exception. I couldn’t put it down.
"Crone" begins with the disappearance of Hannah, a teenage girl with severely limited eyesight. Her disappearance unravels the lives of those around her and years later ignites a nightmarish descent into chaos. Years after her disappearance, we follow her father’s desperate search for answers and her best friend’s return to the town that broke her. What follows is an unpredictable blend of crime noir, supernatural tension, and small-town drama.
Rosson’s gritty portrayals of violent crime and drug use are balanced by his ethereal and stunning imagery. His prose is eloquent and demanding. It moves seamlessly from the biker clubhouse to the mossy, old world forests of the PNW. The characters in this novel, both human and supernatural, are powerfully written. They are nuanced, flawed, and utterly relatable. You can’t help but be drawn in by them. And, in some cases, devastated by them as well. It takes an incredibly gifted writer to make a reader feel for characters the way that Rosson does. He’s particularly talented at creating the downtrodden underdog that pulls at the heartstrings. However, unlike many authors, Rosson has no qualms about keeping that character downtrodden. He excels at stories that don’t give everyone a happy ending.
"Crone" doesn’t pull punches. It lands each strike with devastating precision. And, just when you think you have it figured out, it jags to the left and leaves you breathless and stunned. This book revels in its own desperation and brutality.
To say that I am a fan of Keith Rosson is an understatement, I’ve intensely enjoyed every book I’ve read from him. Crone may well hold the title of favorite book of the year for me. You simply can’t go wrong with a Keith Rosson novel.
If you’re a fan of a slow burn read, then Keith Rosson may not be the author for you. His writing is a conflagration. It’s forest fire raging on high winds. It’s breathless, brutal, and breakneck. His newest novel "Crone" is no exception. I couldn’t put it down.
"Crone" begins with the disappearance of Hannah, a teenage girl with severely limited eyesight. Her disappearance unravels the lives of those around her and years later ignites a nightmarish descent into chaos. Years after her disappearance, we follow her father’s desperate search for answers and her best friend’s return to the town that broke her. What follows is an unpredictable blend of crime noir, supernatural tension, and small-town drama.
Rosson’s gritty portrayals of violent crime and drug use are balanced by his ethereal and stunning imagery. His prose is eloquent and demanding. It moves seamlessly from the biker clubhouse to the mossy, old world forests of the PNW. The characters in this novel, both human and supernatural, are powerfully written. They are nuanced, flawed, and utterly relatable. You can’t help but be drawn in by them. And, in some cases, devastated by them as well. It takes an incredibly gifted writer to make a reader feel for characters the way that Rosson does. He’s particularly talented at creating the downtrodden underdog that pulls at the heartstrings. However, unlike many authors, Rosson has no qualms about keeping that character downtrodden. He excels at stories that don’t give everyone a happy ending.
"Crone" doesn’t pull punches. It lands each strike with devastating precision. And, just when you think you have it figured out, it jags to the left and leaves you breathless and stunned. This book revels in its own desperation and brutality.
To say that I am a fan of Keith Rosson is an understatement, I’ve intensely enjoyed every book I’ve read from him. Crone may well hold the title of favorite book of the year for me. You simply can’t go wrong with a Keith Rosson novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One of the advantages of being a professional book person is advanced reader copies (ARCS) of soon-to-be published titles. There are certain authors that I often search for ad nauseum, including John Darnielle and Agustina Bazterrica, and Keith Rosson. I first read his book of short stories, "Folk Songs for Trauma Surgeons" years ago, and was blown away by the originality and creativity. Since then, he's published one excellent horror novel after another. This newest title, "Crone," is to be published in September of 2026, and yes, the universe blessed me with an ARC.
Long story short - I loved it. Could not put it down. A week-long compulsion. Rosson stirs together a local crime element, small town living, charged and recognizable familial relationships, teenage friendship, local lore, and creatures (the otherworldly that are perhaps more worldly than even us), with terror, shades of grey, suspense, and sorrow. It's the perfect combination of prose and story; his observations concerning minute details of small and great happenings are skillful, creating a story that grabs you by the many fibers of your being. Distilled down, it's about a raucous teenager, her friend, her parents, drugs, and treading water (treading so much) to stay afloat in a small town where so much is against you. And there's a witch. The Crone. She's scary, she's compassionate, she has fish hooked teeth, she's often covered in blood, and she'll fuck you up. I love her.
Rosson's character creation and the subsequent depictions of the transmundane is an unwonted gift. As of writing this, I closed the cover on my eReader last night and the ghost of an ache in my chest remains palpable. I miss so many of the characters, as so many are both good and bad, ugly and stunning.
In the meantime before the publication of "Crone," I highly recommend "Fever House" and it's sequel, "Devil by Name," and "Coffin Moon."
Long story short - I loved it. Could not put it down. A week-long compulsion. Rosson stirs together a local crime element, small town living, charged and recognizable familial relationships, teenage friendship, local lore, and creatures (the otherworldly that are perhaps more worldly than even us), with terror, shades of grey, suspense, and sorrow. It's the perfect combination of prose and story; his observations concerning minute details of small and great happenings are skillful, creating a story that grabs you by the many fibers of your being. Distilled down, it's about a raucous teenager, her friend, her parents, drugs, and treading water (treading so much) to stay afloat in a small town where so much is against you. And there's a witch. The Crone. She's scary, she's compassionate, she has fish hooked teeth, she's often covered in blood, and she'll fuck you up. I love her.
Rosson's character creation and the subsequent depictions of the transmundane is an unwonted gift. As of writing this, I closed the cover on my eReader last night and the ghost of an ache in my chest remains palpable. I miss so many of the characters, as so many are both good and bad, ugly and stunning.
In the meantime before the publication of "Crone," I highly recommend "Fever House" and it's sequel, "Devil by Name," and "Coffin Moon."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You know how horror books tend to start off all sunshine and rainbows, to provide the reader with a foundation of normalcy so the upcoming descent into madness and chaos hits harder? Crone instead drops us into trenches, and all you can think is, oh god what could possibly make this situation worse. And oh boy, it gets worse.
"Hannah was past telling shit to anyone anymore. Hannah had gotten in the wrong van, and she was bones in the ground, and story time was long over".
One part creature feature, one part cold case crime thriller, entwined with graphic violence. Crone explores guilt, grief, corruption, addiction, the complexity of love. The portrayal of addiction in particular felt authentic, nuanced and appropriately grim. The mystery is slowly stitched together through multiple intersecting POVs, I never quite knew what was going to happen next and was genuinely shocked by some of the twists. As I have come to expect from Rosson, he does amazing character work. He embraces the inherent complexity of human nature, his characters are flawed and messy. This was something I also loved about Coffin Moon, you feel empathy for the "bad guys", they aren't just flat boogieman.
"How that guilt could form around you like a skin, like armor but with all the sharp edges turned inward, cutting you every time you moved, until you finally just got numb from it as a way of staying alive"
While I did really enjoy this book, the pacing is a bit odd. For being under 400 pages it felt like I was reading this forever. A lot of plot is reserved for the final quarter, so the middle felt very slow, almost repetitive at times. So much of the world building in regards to the titular Crone is also limited to the tail end of the book, which left me wanting more.
* Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review *
"Hannah was past telling shit to anyone anymore. Hannah had gotten in the wrong van, and she was bones in the ground, and story time was long over".
One part creature feature, one part cold case crime thriller, entwined with graphic violence. Crone explores guilt, grief, corruption, addiction, the complexity of love. The portrayal of addiction in particular felt authentic, nuanced and appropriately grim. The mystery is slowly stitched together through multiple intersecting POVs, I never quite knew what was going to happen next and was genuinely shocked by some of the twists. As I have come to expect from Rosson, he does amazing character work. He embraces the inherent complexity of human nature, his characters are flawed and messy. This was something I also loved about Coffin Moon, you feel empathy for the "bad guys", they aren't just flat boogieman.
"How that guilt could form around you like a skin, like armor but with all the sharp edges turned inward, cutting you every time you moved, until you finally just got numb from it as a way of staying alive"
While I did really enjoy this book, the pacing is a bit odd. For being under 400 pages it felt like I was reading this forever. A lot of plot is reserved for the final quarter, so the middle felt very slow, almost repetitive at times. So much of the world building in regards to the titular Crone is also limited to the tail end of the book, which left me wanting more.
* Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review *
April 16, 2026
Eli Lamp is an ex-cop and ex-junkie who is mourning the disappearance of his daughter, Hannah, thirteen years prior. Nowadays, Eli serves Dave Novak, head of the local biker gang/drug syndicate, by doing the man’s dirty work. When one of Novak’s sons is brutally killed and the details don’t make sense, Eli and Hannah’s childhood friend Avery start down a path of brutality that could ultimately lead them to what happened to Hannah all those years ago.
Coffin Moon was one of my top 5 favorite reads last year, so I was over the moon to be approved to read Crone early! Witches and crime? Count me tf in. Here are some thoughts I had while reading Crone:
-The setting and gore in this novel are written so well. Gnarly, but not just for the sake of it. The dreary PNW also works so atmospherically - really ups the creepy factor.
-Storylines surrounding drugs - even as secondary plot - just don’t grab or hold my attention, and they never have in any media. I was really hoping that as the story moved on we’d get less and less Dave Novak, but unfortunately he and his henchmen are always at the forefront.
-Avoiding spoilers, I was desperate for more witchy content. We’re teased throughout and it’s definitely there, but always seems to either play second fiddle or is abruptly put to rest/moved on from.
-I needed more Hannah throughout the book, whether in flashback or otherwise. I wanted to see more of how she interacted with Eli and Avery. I feel like the ending would pack an even bigger punch if we had that background.
Overall, in my opinion, too much time was spent on characters and storylines that I didn’t care about and too few pages were used to explore what I was really here to read about. This made the pacing feel off, and I went from feverishly reading to just having to get through certain sections.
As always from Rosson, this book is full of extremely well-written prose. However, I was expecting a different book than what Crone turned out to be, and it wasn’t always to my great interest. Overall, I give it a 3.5/5.
Coffin Moon was one of my top 5 favorite reads last year, so I was over the moon to be approved to read Crone early! Witches and crime? Count me tf in. Here are some thoughts I had while reading Crone:
-The setting and gore in this novel are written so well. Gnarly, but not just for the sake of it. The dreary PNW also works so atmospherically - really ups the creepy factor.
-Storylines surrounding drugs - even as secondary plot - just don’t grab or hold my attention, and they never have in any media. I was really hoping that as the story moved on we’d get less and less Dave Novak, but unfortunately he and his henchmen are always at the forefront.
-Avoiding spoilers, I was desperate for more witchy content. We’re teased throughout and it’s definitely there, but always seems to either play second fiddle or is abruptly put to rest/moved on from.
-I needed more Hannah throughout the book, whether in flashback or otherwise. I wanted to see more of how she interacted with Eli and Avery. I feel like the ending would pack an even bigger punch if we had that background.
Overall, in my opinion, too much time was spent on characters and storylines that I didn’t care about and too few pages were used to explore what I was really here to read about. This made the pacing feel off, and I went from feverishly reading to just having to get through certain sections.
As always from Rosson, this book is full of extremely well-written prose. However, I was expecting a different book than what Crone turned out to be, and it wasn’t always to my great interest. Overall, I give it a 3.5/5.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Keith Rosson’s Crone is a tightly woven, emotionally resonant horror that balances small-town grit with just the right whisper of the supernatural. Snappy, propulsive chapters move between multiple perspectives—chiefly Eli and Avery, with a few others—giving the narrative both immediacy and a layered intimacy. The shifting viewpoints let Rosson explore community dynamics, addiction, and crime from different angles while steadily tightening the dread.
The town itself feels lived-in: a compact setting where secrets fester, addictions claw at daily life, and crimes reverberate through everyone’s relationships. Rosson knows how to root horror in ordinary human pain, and that grounding makes the supernatural elements land harder. The witch in Crone is handled particularly well—familiar mythic beats are twisted into something fresh, uncanny, and distinctly Rosson. He’s adept at taking genres and themes readers think they know and reshaping them into work that feels original and personal.
Tone-wise, Crone sits squarely in that rare sweet spot between natural and supernatural horrors. Rosson doles out both in measured doses so neither overwhelms the other; human nastiness and frailty remain as chilling as the otherworldly. There’s a clear emotional core—horror with heart—that keeps the story from slipping into mere spectacle.
Is it his best? Coffin Moon remains a high bar, and while Crone may not unseat it for you, it’s certainly in the same league for me: inventive, affecting, and unmistakably Keith Rosson. Fans of character-driven, small-town horror with a deft supernatural touch will find a lot to love here. I certainly loved it!
This one arrives on 9/22/2026. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
The town itself feels lived-in: a compact setting where secrets fester, addictions claw at daily life, and crimes reverberate through everyone’s relationships. Rosson knows how to root horror in ordinary human pain, and that grounding makes the supernatural elements land harder. The witch in Crone is handled particularly well—familiar mythic beats are twisted into something fresh, uncanny, and distinctly Rosson. He’s adept at taking genres and themes readers think they know and reshaping them into work that feels original and personal.
Tone-wise, Crone sits squarely in that rare sweet spot between natural and supernatural horrors. Rosson doles out both in measured doses so neither overwhelms the other; human nastiness and frailty remain as chilling as the otherworldly. There’s a clear emotional core—horror with heart—that keeps the story from slipping into mere spectacle.
Is it his best? Coffin Moon remains a high bar, and while Crone may not unseat it for you, it’s certainly in the same league for me: inventive, affecting, and unmistakably Keith Rosson. Fans of character-driven, small-town horror with a deft supernatural touch will find a lot to love here. I certainly loved it!
This one arrives on 9/22/2026. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Keith really smashed it with this one.
As a parent, this is pure nightmare fuel for me.
So a young blind girl, Hannah, is taken into a van when walking home and her friend fails to stop it and she goes missing...
Thirteen years later, we follow her father Eli a broken former police officer and recovering addict still haunted by her disappearance and still trying to look for answers. Whilst looking for his daughter strange and supernatural things start to happen.
I have to say the structure for this book is excellent and the is spot on throughout. I was never bored; every page felt important.
Rosson doesn’t shy away from the ugliness either. The people, the town, the woods, the crime, the biker gangs, drug use it's all there and all really felt lived in.
The depiction of drug use is really unpleasant and pretty gory which surprised me. The crime, drug use and missing daughter really helped this supernatural story also reinforce the book’s bleak tone that I felt. But that doesn't stop the genuine emotional moments scattered in the book too.
There’s a brief detour that stands out as one of my favourite sections that I actually messaged Rosson about as I liked it so much. It's tense, unsettling, and pretty scary and gory. It's incredibly well done. There’s also a subtle callback that fans of Rosson's past work that you may appreciate without giving anything away.
Crone comes full circle in a way that really hits the mark it's also pretty darn sad. This is only my second Rosson book, but back to back great reads of his work has definitely made me a fan.
Thank you to NetGalley and Black Crow Books for an early eARC for a review.
As a parent, this is pure nightmare fuel for me.
So a young blind girl, Hannah, is taken into a van when walking home and her friend fails to stop it and she goes missing...
Thirteen years later, we follow her father Eli a broken former police officer and recovering addict still haunted by her disappearance and still trying to look for answers. Whilst looking for his daughter strange and supernatural things start to happen.
I have to say the structure for this book is excellent and the is spot on throughout. I was never bored; every page felt important.
Rosson doesn’t shy away from the ugliness either. The people, the town, the woods, the crime, the biker gangs, drug use it's all there and all really felt lived in.
The depiction of drug use is really unpleasant and pretty gory which surprised me. The crime, drug use and missing daughter really helped this supernatural story also reinforce the book’s bleak tone that I felt. But that doesn't stop the genuine emotional moments scattered in the book too.
There’s a brief detour that stands out as one of my favourite sections that I actually messaged Rosson about as I liked it so much. It's tense, unsettling, and pretty scary and gory. It's incredibly well done. There’s also a subtle callback that fans of Rosson's past work that you may appreciate without giving anything away.
Crone comes full circle in a way that really hits the mark it's also pretty darn sad. This is only my second Rosson book, but back to back great reads of his work has definitely made me a fan.
Thank you to NetGalley and Black Crow Books for an early eARC for a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have a lot of favorite horror authors, but I’m pretty sure Keith Rosson is my Absolute Favorite. Like, you cannot go wrong with him. I just know I’ll be in for a “fun,” dark, propulsive ride. But there will also be these deep, quiet moments.
As I read this, I realized I’ve come to think of him as the S.A. Cosby of horror writers. The vibe is gritty and grimy and dirtbaggy (and I mean that as a compliment). Punk rock, trailer parks, blue collar, dive bars, drugs, cops, dirty cops, motorcycle clubs… and then you get the horror elements as a bonus.
Eli is a bit like Duane from Coffin Moon or an S.A. Cosby protagonist… deep down a good dude who just had bad shit happen… flawed but sympathetic. He’s a recovering addict and former cop, and his daughter disappeared 13 years ago. And he’s working for a drug dealing MC now (the same one from Coffin Moon!).
I love the whole Rosson Vibe and so this was another great one. Ugh it’s so good. And it just gets, like, more sad but more beautiful as it goes on. Rosson kills me because his work can be both things: extremely violent and hauntingly beautiful. (And I mean extremely violent — loved those scenes, they were insane!)
The last paragraph is a thing of beauty. Everything in the book has led to that and it’s just utterly perfect. So I won’t quote it here, but here’s one of the many lines that stood out to me: “It pressed its hand to the thudding highway of blood at his throat.” Ugh, Keith Rosson, the writer you are….
I know I’ll be re-reading this one.
As I read this, I realized I’ve come to think of him as the S.A. Cosby of horror writers. The vibe is gritty and grimy and dirtbaggy (and I mean that as a compliment). Punk rock, trailer parks, blue collar, dive bars, drugs, cops, dirty cops, motorcycle clubs… and then you get the horror elements as a bonus.
Eli is a bit like Duane from Coffin Moon or an S.A. Cosby protagonist… deep down a good dude who just had bad shit happen… flawed but sympathetic. He’s a recovering addict and former cop, and his daughter disappeared 13 years ago. And he’s working for a drug dealing MC now (the same one from Coffin Moon!).
I love the whole Rosson Vibe and so this was another great one. Ugh it’s so good. And it just gets, like, more sad but more beautiful as it goes on. Rosson kills me because his work can be both things: extremely violent and hauntingly beautiful. (And I mean extremely violent — loved those scenes, they were insane!)
The last paragraph is a thing of beauty. Everything in the book has led to that and it’s just utterly perfect. So I won’t quote it here, but here’s one of the many lines that stood out to me: “It pressed its hand to the thudding highway of blood at his throat.” Ugh, Keith Rosson, the writer you are….
I know I’ll be re-reading this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Everything in Crone fits impressively together like an intricate, fleshed-out, dark little puzzle.
Eli Lamp has come even more undone after his daughter Hannah’s disappearance. Even though he’s no longer addicted to wire, he’s up to his neck in the Crooked Wheel’s dirty business. And Hannah’s best friend, Avery, is not faring much better in Arcata, CA, and soon returns to her coastal hometown after a disturbing dream about her old friend.
What follows is a lot of drug-dealing violence, glimpses into the past, genuine creepiness, building horror, a crone, of course, and such a complete picture of the Oregon coast you can almost feel the dreary dampness in the room with you.
As a Portlander, it’s always fun to crack open a Rosson novel and figure out where things are supposed to be taking place—in this case, I'm guessing around Newport. There are also some fun familiar elements in here besides the Crooked Wheel club that was introduced in Coffin Moon. (Shout out to my favorite fictional TV show about a food item.)
All in all, this was an excellent and engaging read that I plan to get a hard copy of as soon as it becomes available. Crone was hard to put down, and it’s impossible to stop thinking about now that I’ve finished it. The story is tragic for sure, but not so much that I don't want to jump right into a re-read soon.
Thanks so much to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!
Eli Lamp has come even more undone after his daughter Hannah’s disappearance. Even though he’s no longer addicted to wire, he’s up to his neck in the Crooked Wheel’s dirty business. And Hannah’s best friend, Avery, is not faring much better in Arcata, CA, and soon returns to her coastal hometown after a disturbing dream about her old friend.
What follows is a lot of drug-dealing violence, glimpses into the past, genuine creepiness, building horror, a crone, of course, and such a complete picture of the Oregon coast you can almost feel the dreary dampness in the room with you.
As a Portlander, it’s always fun to crack open a Rosson novel and figure out where things are supposed to be taking place—in this case, I'm guessing around Newport. There are also some fun familiar elements in here besides the Crooked Wheel club that was introduced in Coffin Moon. (Shout out to my favorite fictional TV show about a food item.)
All in all, this was an excellent and engaging read that I plan to get a hard copy of as soon as it becomes available. Crone was hard to put down, and it’s impossible to stop thinking about now that I’ve finished it. The story is tragic for sure, but not so much that I don't want to jump right into a re-read soon.
Thanks so much to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Rosson hit my radar with the gloriously batshit crazy 'Fever House', as well as the sequel 'The Devil By Name'. These were - without question - two of the most enjoyable horror novels I have read in a long time. And then 'Coffin Moon' came along and cemented the fact that Rosson knows how to write fast, hard, and compelling horror.
With 'Crone' the dark manic energy of those earlier works remain - chock full of blood, drugs, violence, and bad men doing bad things. Set in the Pacific Northwest the story kicks off with a teenage girl literally snatched off a dark road into a darker van - and how thirteen years later her disappearance has impacted many, many lives. Oh, and then there's a brutally dismembered body AND there's also something unnatural in the woods, too.
There is a gut-punch urgency to the violence that takes place, much of it linked - however tangentially or not - to the addictive drug known as 'wire' that seems to touch the lives of all the characters in some way. With a murky bleakness that is palpable the body count rises as Rosson builds to a bloody climax that hit me in ways I wasn't necessarily expecting from a horror novel. I might have even had a goosebump or two.
Bonus points for a few blink-and-you-miss-them references to some of Rosson's other novels.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
Thanks to Penguin/Random House for the advance copy of this September 2026 release!
With 'Crone' the dark manic energy of those earlier works remain - chock full of blood, drugs, violence, and bad men doing bad things. Set in the Pacific Northwest the story kicks off with a teenage girl literally snatched off a dark road into a darker van - and how thirteen years later her disappearance has impacted many, many lives. Oh, and then there's a brutally dismembered body AND there's also something unnatural in the woods, too.
There is a gut-punch urgency to the violence that takes place, much of it linked - however tangentially or not - to the addictive drug known as 'wire' that seems to touch the lives of all the characters in some way. With a murky bleakness that is palpable the body count rises as Rosson builds to a bloody climax that hit me in ways I wasn't necessarily expecting from a horror novel. I might have even had a goosebump or two.
Bonus points for a few blink-and-you-miss-them references to some of Rosson's other novels.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
Thanks to Penguin/Random House for the advance copy of this September 2026 release!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating 4.25
Crone blends gritty crime, emotional trauma, and slow-burn supernatural horror, creating a story where the past and present collide, and nothing is quite what it seems.
What stood out for me was the emotional weight and the lingering atmosphere. Eli and Avery aren’t just plot vehicles, they feel authentically damaged. Eli’s grief and addiction are portrayed realistically, never glamorized, and Avery carries quiet but convincing trauma. The horror resonates because it’s rooted in real emotional pain, not just monsters. I also appreciated the blend of crime mystery with supernatural elements: the detective framework drives the story forward, while the hints of the uncanny destabilize it in a satisfying way.
Rosson avoids over-explaining the horror, leaving ambiguity that makes the story more disturbing, though some readers might find it frustrating. While some story elements like a missing child, troubled detective, and haunted woods aren’t entirely original, what makes the book feel fresh is the execution, not the premise.
Overall, Crone works best as a slow-burn, atmospheric novel. It lingers under your skin, not with flashy scares, but through mood, tension, and emotional resonance. If you enjoy dark, character-driven stories that mix psychological depth with supernatural hints, this is a book worth reading.
Crone blends gritty crime, emotional trauma, and slow-burn supernatural horror, creating a story where the past and present collide, and nothing is quite what it seems.
What stood out for me was the emotional weight and the lingering atmosphere. Eli and Avery aren’t just plot vehicles, they feel authentically damaged. Eli’s grief and addiction are portrayed realistically, never glamorized, and Avery carries quiet but convincing trauma. The horror resonates because it’s rooted in real emotional pain, not just monsters. I also appreciated the blend of crime mystery with supernatural elements: the detective framework drives the story forward, while the hints of the uncanny destabilize it in a satisfying way.
Rosson avoids over-explaining the horror, leaving ambiguity that makes the story more disturbing, though some readers might find it frustrating. While some story elements like a missing child, troubled detective, and haunted woods aren’t entirely original, what makes the book feel fresh is the execution, not the premise.
Overall, Crone works best as a slow-burn, atmospheric novel. It lingers under your skin, not with flashy scares, but through mood, tension, and emotional resonance. If you enjoy dark, character-driven stories that mix psychological depth with supernatural hints, this is a book worth reading.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
holy moly he's done it again!
i'm going to be honest...i did not fully read the synopsis before diving into Crone simply because i know no matter what the story is about, Keith Rosson is going to deliver.
this story follows Eli Lamp, an ex cop & recovered drug addict, as he continues his search for his daughter, Hannah, who went missing 13 years ago. there's a lot to unpack in Crone...drug abuse, gang violence, supernatural elements & dare i say some much deserved payback toward the end
Keith takes his time with Crone, giving us a chance to really connect to the grief & guilt Eli/Avery feel. every character felt real & every single one of them is messed up in their own twisted way. i don't know how he does it, but the way he writes his characters makes you feel for even the bad guys. there's some sensitive topics that he handles with care, he gives just enough details to paint a picture without getting too graphic.
it's bleak, it's gritty, it's bloody, but it's also emotional. it's so moody making it a perfect rainy day read. i don't know what magic he sprinkles into his books but his ability to write horror with heart is honestly unmatched. don't get me wrong...it's no Coffin Moon, but it is a close second. i can't wait to see what he does next!
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
i'm going to be honest...i did not fully read the synopsis before diving into Crone simply because i know no matter what the story is about, Keith Rosson is going to deliver.
this story follows Eli Lamp, an ex cop & recovered drug addict, as he continues his search for his daughter, Hannah, who went missing 13 years ago. there's a lot to unpack in Crone...drug abuse, gang violence, supernatural elements & dare i say some much deserved payback toward the end
Keith takes his time with Crone, giving us a chance to really connect to the grief & guilt Eli/Avery feel. every character felt real & every single one of them is messed up in their own twisted way. i don't know how he does it, but the way he writes his characters makes you feel for even the bad guys. there's some sensitive topics that he handles with care, he gives just enough details to paint a picture without getting too graphic.
it's bleak, it's gritty, it's bloody, but it's also emotional. it's so moody making it a perfect rainy day read. i don't know what magic he sprinkles into his books but his ability to write horror with heart is honestly unmatched. don't get me wrong...it's no Coffin Moon, but it is a close second. i can't wait to see what he does next!
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
April 18, 2026
When it comes to reading, there’s not much better than a book you can’t put down. Flying through the pages, eager to experience what’s next, but also not ready for it to end. That’s been my experience with each book I’ve read from Keith Rosson, and I need to devour every word he’s written.
I’m rusty with reviews and was surprisingly blessed with a review copy of CRONE, courtesy of Netgalley and Random House. Just when I thought I couldn’t love Rosson’s writing more than I did with Coffin Moon, I was proven wrong with Crone.
Rosson’s characters come alive and it’s impossible not to become entrenched in their world. He writes some of the best stories featuring flawed, human characters. Crone has excellent pacing, plot, and atmosphere. I’ve never been to the pacific northwest but I was transported to the environment in this novel.
Rosson is a front runner among authors writing heartfelt horror, and just like in Coffin Moon, with Crone, he shines a light on the horror of humanity with the perfect balance of the supernatural.
I laughed, cried, and felt the tension as I followed this story. I’d file this under “grief horror with grit” and cannot wait to see what this author does next. In the meantime I’ll be snagging copies of his previous work to tide me over.
I’m rusty with reviews and was surprisingly blessed with a review copy of CRONE, courtesy of Netgalley and Random House. Just when I thought I couldn’t love Rosson’s writing more than I did with Coffin Moon, I was proven wrong with Crone.
Rosson’s characters come alive and it’s impossible not to become entrenched in their world. He writes some of the best stories featuring flawed, human characters. Crone has excellent pacing, plot, and atmosphere. I’ve never been to the pacific northwest but I was transported to the environment in this novel.
Rosson is a front runner among authors writing heartfelt horror, and just like in Coffin Moon, with Crone, he shines a light on the horror of humanity with the perfect balance of the supernatural.
I laughed, cried, and felt the tension as I followed this story. I’d file this under “grief horror with grit” and cannot wait to see what this author does next. In the meantime I’ll be snagging copies of his previous work to tide me over.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one dark book. You might have thought Coffin Moon was pretty bleak, but it’s cakes and rainbows compared to this. Barely anyone here is what you might call nice or likeable. Indeed, it’s part of the darkness is that perhaps they might have been in other worlds and other circumstances, but that just isn’t an option here. The excellent rock band New Model Army have a lyric that runs “once you touch the poison, you poison everything you touch”, and that could be a foundational text for this book. It’s world of horror, of clawing desperation that you can’t get out of, of being trapped in a vortex of bad drugs, bad people and horrific ultra violence. And yet despite all that, I enjoyed reading it. It’s unbelievably fast paced, and Rosson keeps the pages flipping as you race towards the unavoidable tragedy of the climax. It may be grim but it’s incredibly compulsive.
(If you’re someone who doesn’t read author afterwords, you should probably make an exception here. The few pages at the end of the story give it context and help you understand some of the pain and suffering in the book)
(If you’re someone who doesn’t read author afterwords, you should probably make an exception here. The few pages at the end of the story give it context and help you understand some of the pain and suffering in the book)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eli Lamp is already a man hollowed by grief before the story even starts. An ex-detective, an ex-addict, a father stuck in the echo of a daughter who never came home.
That weight sits on every page. Nothing about him is clean or easy, and the book doesn't try to fix him
What pulled me in most was how this blends crime with something older and harder to name. You think you're getting a gritty investigation tied to the Crooked Wheel, but the deeper Eli and Avery dig, the more the story shifts. It stretches into folklore,
There are threads here that feel connected to a larger world, little mentions that hint at other stories or books. It adds an extra layer without taking away from this one.
The atmosphere is thick. This one made me feel so much.. The grief feels heavier than the violence, and that's saying something.
Pacing can drag a bit in the middle, and if you're looking for straight horror or a fast-moving thriller, this might not hit the way you expect. It's slower, more deliberate, and leans into mood over action.
But if you like your horror tangled with grief, memory, and something ancient creeping just out of sight, this works.
That weight sits on every page. Nothing about him is clean or easy, and the book doesn't try to fix him
What pulled me in most was how this blends crime with something older and harder to name. You think you're getting a gritty investigation tied to the Crooked Wheel, but the deeper Eli and Avery dig, the more the story shifts. It stretches into folklore,
There are threads here that feel connected to a larger world, little mentions that hint at other stories or books. It adds an extra layer without taking away from this one.
The atmosphere is thick. This one made me feel so much.. The grief feels heavier than the violence, and that's saying something.
Pacing can drag a bit in the middle, and if you're looking for straight horror or a fast-moving thriller, this might not hit the way you expect. It's slower, more deliberate, and leans into mood over action.
But if you like your horror tangled with grief, memory, and something ancient creeping just out of sight, this works.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Crone is the type of novel you don't read but devour. It's filled with characters who are so deeply and violently flawed that you feel any of them is just one decision away from a horrific fate. In fact, you'll be right because unexpected brutality and murder happens in here when you least expect it and to the least likely of characters at times. This book will keep you on your toes.
It's about a missing teenage girl, the effects her disappearance has on her father and the deep dark secrets which surround a biker gang with a chokehold on the drug scene. But really, it's more than the sum of its parts. There are pieces of a bigger puzzle which, over the course of the book, connects the various character arcs. And yes, there is an actual crone, terrifying and vicious, to contend with as well.
This is an action filled, emotionally fraught, and horrifying novel that you'll want to absolutely devour. I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
It's about a missing teenage girl, the effects her disappearance has on her father and the deep dark secrets which surround a biker gang with a chokehold on the drug scene. But really, it's more than the sum of its parts. There are pieces of a bigger puzzle which, over the course of the book, connects the various character arcs. And yes, there is an actual crone, terrifying and vicious, to contend with as well.
This is an action filled, emotionally fraught, and horrifying novel that you'll want to absolutely devour. I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Keith Rosson does it again!
I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy (ARC, technically an eARC) via Netgalley of Keith Rosson's next novel 'Crone'.
This is my fourth Keith Rosson book, who I discovered with Coffin Moon which was followed almost immediately by his Fever House duology.
Rosson has cooked up a gritty, heart-rending story of grief, love, and vengeance, with razor sharp prose that will hit with fiends old and new.
Rosson plays with the witch trope in 'crone', yet the real horror is often in what men are capable of doing for power and money. I really enjoyed the titular "monster" in this book - my expectations were subverted in part, with its feminine rage but also compassion.
The prose and dialogue are excellent, the atmosphere is bleak yet there is light, and the Crone is fierce. Rosson is one my favourite contemporary writers and this book continues to reaffirm this. Inject this right beneath my nails (IYKYK).
I'm super miserly with my ratings so this is a high rating for me, on par with Coffin Moon and The Devil By Name (FYI I rated Fever House a 4.5).
I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy (ARC, technically an eARC) via Netgalley of Keith Rosson's next novel 'Crone'.
This is my fourth Keith Rosson book, who I discovered with Coffin Moon which was followed almost immediately by his Fever House duology.
Rosson has cooked up a gritty, heart-rending story of grief, love, and vengeance, with razor sharp prose that will hit with fiends old and new.
Rosson plays with the witch trope in 'crone', yet the real horror is often in what men are capable of doing for power and money. I really enjoyed the titular "monster" in this book - my expectations were subverted in part, with its feminine rage but also compassion.
The prose and dialogue are excellent, the atmosphere is bleak yet there is light, and the Crone is fierce. Rosson is one my favourite contemporary writers and this book continues to reaffirm this. Inject this right beneath my nails (IYKYK).
I'm super miserly with my ratings so this is a high rating for me, on par with Coffin Moon and The Devil By Name (FYI I rated Fever House a 4.5).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:
This was 100% how I thought this was going to be written, true Rosson fashion. I am OBSESSED with this book. Gore, creeps and eerie tones looming over you, sadness you feel to your core, dread at some points, the storyline is so deep and well written, I felt these characters emotions along the way. This was very unique and I would love to be able to read this for the first time again, I'm pretty certain that it's at the top of my 2026 books this year. This book wrecked me by the end, and you WILL be thinking about this for a while after reading it. Also, did I mention that there are biker gangs and witches in this book too???! If you're looking for a dark bloody read that will have you sat until the very last page, pick this one up!
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Mystery, Witches, Fast Paced, Horror, Creepy, Eerie, Gore, Edge Of The Seat Sitter
Thank you NetGalley, Random House, & Keith Rosson for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Releasing on September 22, 2026!
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:
This was 100% how I thought this was going to be written, true Rosson fashion. I am OBSESSED with this book. Gore, creeps and eerie tones looming over you, sadness you feel to your core, dread at some points, the storyline is so deep and well written, I felt these characters emotions along the way. This was very unique and I would love to be able to read this for the first time again, I'm pretty certain that it's at the top of my 2026 books this year. This book wrecked me by the end, and you WILL be thinking about this for a while after reading it. Also, did I mention that there are biker gangs and witches in this book too???! If you're looking for a dark bloody read that will have you sat until the very last page, pick this one up!
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Mystery, Witches, Fast Paced, Horror, Creepy, Eerie, Gore, Edge Of The Seat Sitter
Thank you NetGalley, Random House, & Keith Rosson for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Releasing on September 22, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Last year i read Coffin Moon and thought it was one of the best books ive ever read. after that i told myself i needed more Rosson books asap. So i then read Fever House and it was another amazing book, very unique and full of action.
Now, 2026 brings us Crone! Wow what a ride this one is. Really glad i got to read this one early and it didnt disappoint. Eli was such an awesome character and his story was full of tragedy and then his struggles trying to overcome the devastation he faced. other characters in the book were equally interesting, we had awesome villians and the way Rosson brought it all around was amazing.
thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this. everyone get out and get this one preordered, you will not want to miss it.
Now, 2026 brings us Crone! Wow what a ride this one is. Really glad i got to read this one early and it didnt disappoint. Eli was such an awesome character and his story was full of tragedy and then his struggles trying to overcome the devastation he faced. other characters in the book were equally interesting, we had awesome villians and the way Rosson brought it all around was amazing.
thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this. everyone get out and get this one preordered, you will not want to miss it.
March 31, 2026
Keith Rosson’s unflinching ability to create brutal and bleak worlds that move at 100mph is something that should see him rise to the top of the horror writing genre.
Crone is the fourth book I’ve read of his, after the Fever House duology and Coffin Moon, and I think Crone is my favourite.
As a father, it drives into the fears of not being able to protect your child. The horror of not knowing what happened after the disappearance of the main character’s daughter, and the brutal nature of how his life turned paints a grim but fascinating tale.
I had previously described reading a Keith Rosson book as like being punched in the face for a few hundred pages, I’d now add the twist of a knife in the gut to that analogy in the best possible way.
Crone is the fourth book I’ve read of his, after the Fever House duology and Coffin Moon, and I think Crone is my favourite.
As a father, it drives into the fears of not being able to protect your child. The horror of not knowing what happened after the disappearance of the main character’s daughter, and the brutal nature of how his life turned paints a grim but fascinating tale.
I had previously described reading a Keith Rosson book as like being punched in the face for a few hundred pages, I’d now add the twist of a knife in the gut to that analogy in the best possible way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC for review. To be published September 22, 2026.
4 stars
The author wrote last year’s very popular COFFIN MOON (which I haven’t read) so I was looking forward to giving him a try and this gritty story of a disgraced former addict, former cop, his long-missing daughter and a town run by a drug lord was not my usual thing, but the book was a good one.
Evil comes in many forms in this story, and salvation isn’t always in the found in the ways one might expect. We don’t even see the big, bad of the title until halfway through the book, so it’s a fun bit of build-up and there’s plenty of dark to be had besides. This isn’t a light read…and sometimes salvation is hard to come by. We humans seldom make things easy on ourselves.
4 stars
The author wrote last year’s very popular COFFIN MOON (which I haven’t read) so I was looking forward to giving him a try and this gritty story of a disgraced former addict, former cop, his long-missing daughter and a town run by a drug lord was not my usual thing, but the book was a good one.
Evil comes in many forms in this story, and salvation isn’t always in the found in the ways one might expect. We don’t even see the big, bad of the title until halfway through the book, so it’s a fun bit of build-up and there’s plenty of dark to be had besides. This isn’t a light read…and sometimes salvation is hard to come by. We humans seldom make things easy on ourselves.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 1/2 solid stars for this atmospheric, dark, compelling novel. This is my second Keith Rosson book after Coffin Moon, and both feature deeply flawed protagonists with addiction issues who deal with tremendous loss. Both deliver supernatural-tinged violence and a healthy dose of gory vengeance. Crone takes the reader into a bleak landscape of poverty and drug addiction and shows us that when it comes to horror, the human monsters are often the scariest. While the level of gore and the unrelenting darkness might not be for me, I appreciate the story told here and was thoroughly invested.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is my 4th Rosson book. I have adored every one, until this one. I just couldn't get into it and found it harder to follow being more withdrawn from the narrative. Part of it was the subject matter, this is mostly drugs and addiction and the hierarchy of that. Though, some of the drug use and its after effects was a bit grotesque in and of itself. There was much less witch than expected until much closer to the end of this book. If there had been more balance to that I think I'd have personally been more engaged. There are several characters and that slowed the pace down for me. But, that's just me. If this sounds like your jam and you're a Rosson fan, give her a go. You may love it!
April 11, 2026
Keith Rosson is a master storyteller who intertwines grit with heart to create incredible characters in unputdownable stories. Crone, like Coffin Moon and the Fever House duology follows in this vein. I found the characters and the dark and gritty story mesmerizing. Crone feels like Sons of Anarchy blended with a witch story and it works beautifully. As a fellow Portlander, I am always thrilled to see a local author thrive and Keith Rosson deserves every accolade for his body of work. He is a must read author for me and I highly recommend Crone
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley following providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley following providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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