The Unknown

by P.D. Appleton

Lately, Cassie Olivas has been having nightmares of a mysterious man. One who reeks of evil and makes her wake up screaming. In her dreams, he has taken up residency in an abandoned house nearby and has threatened everything she knows. When someone suddenly does move into the house, the lines between her nightmares and reality begin to blur.

Cassie also has a secret she cannot reveal. She has the unfortunate gift of seeing visions of the past, as well as possible future events. Sometimes by touch, sometimes through dreams. The kicker: she never knows when they will happen, if they are real, and has no control over them.

Add a runaway father, an overworked mother, and sleep deprivation, the pressures of Cassie's everyday life and her nightmares begin to challenge her sanity. Can she expose the man with murderous intent without giving away her secret? And what if she's wrong? What she doesn't need is one more oddity in her life but finds it in the form of a little old lady rumored to be a witch.

330 pages, Paperback

Published February 16, 2026

Reviews

[Chrystal Campbell]

I thought this book was beautifully written and really fun to read! It had a lot of references to my hometown, which was quite a treat. It was very spooky but not too scary. I loved the character development, the story really built on itself and I just have the feeling the Unknown is just the beginning! While the story wrapped up nicely, I wanted more and suspected there was even more to come for Cassie Olivas and her crew. and while I don’t see reference to a sequel, I’ll be eagerly waiting for it! The characters had real substance, from Cassie’s Hispanic roots to her severed relationship with her father, themes weren’t just touched on but explored, giving real depth to the story and characters. I loved Del and loved the sweetness his friendship brought to Cassie’s story. I also loved Brunhilde and hope this isn’t the last I see her. This book has intensity but is done in a way that is not heavy. Highly recommend, this could be your next beach read or something to satisfy your spooky cravings during the fall season.

[Reader]

This book has a lot going for it. It has a great storyline. It has suspense. It has friendships. It has humor. It has a lot of detail about the town it all happens in so that you can picture everything perfectly as you’re reading it, including some of the strange neighbors.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book enough to keep you wondering what’s going on.
It’s a great read. Well written.

[Geri Daley]

I found this book very entertaining. It kept me involved and wanting to know what was going to happen next. There is twist and turns that i did not see coming. It’s an easy read! Highly recommend