Twist of Cain

by Michael J. Stiehl

Play the tape. Pay the price.

Chris Beckwith’s life sucks. His parents’ marriage is crumbling, he hasn’t been out in weeks, and now Donnie, the boy who used to be his closest friend, is dead.

After the funeral, the whispers begin. Donnie made one last mix tape before he died. A tape with something terrible on it. It’s already spreading, passed hand to hand. Played in basements, parked cars, and bedrooms late at night. People say it changes you. People say Donnie left behind something he shouldn't have.

Chris doesn’t believe the rumors, until he starts seeing things he can’t explain. The closer he gets to the truth, the clearer it becomes that the tape demands something from those who listen, and it’s getting what it wants.

Following the tape’s path leads to the biggest party of the year. One night. One reckoning that will leave no one unchanged. To get there, Chris is forced to confront a past he’s spent years trying to bury, and the secrets Donnie was keeping.

Twist of Cain is an occult coming-of-age horror novel about cursed objects, buried guilt, and the terrible price of forbidden knowledge. Perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix’s We Sold Our Souls, Nick Roberts, and slow-burn supernatural horror where the past refuses to stay dead.

Once you play the tape, there’s no rewinding it.

196 pages, ebook

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

Michael J. Stiehl has had a lifelong passion for fiction, in particular horror, comics, adventure and science fiction, and is thrilled to finally be writing some of his own. Michael lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife, two kids and his very silly poodle Jack. When not writing fiction, Michael spends his time riding bikes, camping, reading books, obsessively listening to music and playing D&D with his friends. In short, he hasn’t changed a bit since junior high.

Reviews

[Scare-o-Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Stiehl was kind enough to send me an ARC of this to review.

Our teenage protagonist, Chris, has a best friend, Donnie. After an inciting incident, their friendship falters and they grow apart.

Donnie is known for making mixed tapes of metal music. Shortly after he takes his own life, a rumor begins that he left a final mixed tape related to his death. Chris is doubtful of the tape's existence, but quickly comes to find that not only does the tape exist, but it has a terrifying effect on those who listen to it.

I absolutely loved this! The teenage angst was so palpable! Friendships can feel overwhelmingly intense and tumultuous at that age and I thought that was depicted beautifully.

Chris is facing complex emotions surrounding grief and loss while simultaneously broaching the truth of who his former best friend really was. He also needs to come to terms with his own actions and what responsibilities he has going forward.

This was quite multi-faceted with elements both disturbing and touching. I was fully invested and would definitely recommend it!

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nostalgia fueled heavy metal supernatural story told from the perspective of our main character, Chris. He's a teen who loves heavy metal, and he generally tries to get along with others. He had a best friend named Donny but they had a falling out because Donny got into some dark stuff and started changing.

Unfortunately Donny took his own life. But he left behind something evil, a mixed tape that, when played, changes the people hearing it. Now it's up to Chris and his friends to stop something from happening that could cause a lot of death and destruction.

There are some twists in here so I don't want to say much more about the plot but this book really gives all those 80s vibes. Walkmans abound, rock n' roll is king, and the cliques are all present. Various characters come to life vividly as the author writes about them in a way that you'll probably recognise as realistic. There's teen angst, anger, and complicated relationships which is something we've all experienced at one point.

The narrative is written in first person by Chris and his thoughts and opinions on certain things are sometimes humorous but also realistic as well. He's not perfect nor a hero but he does step up to attempt to stop the carnage that's coming and that makes the reader root for him even harder.

Nostalgic, metal, with an evil mixed tape makes this book one you'll definitely want to read. I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[Ryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE the cursed item trope. The amount of times I've seen Ringu is probably a cause for concern at this point. When I saw this pop up on Netgalley, a rumored cursed cassette tape made by a teenager before his death. You know what? I'm game.

And this was a really fun book. It deals with some heavy subject matter such as grief, coming to terms with who someone really is, and coming-of-age while in a terrible situation. But it's also a nostalgic supernatural horror story filled with so much mystery that it kept me hooked.

If this sounds even a little bit interesting to you, I recommend that you check it out. It's a nostalgic little horror novella that's perfect if you're looking for something new.

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*