Pumpkin Seeds

by Tyler Downs

Edward Crane is a private detective who died eleven years ago. But once a year, with the help of his loyal sidekick Sam, Ed’s rotting corpse is reanimated for the last week of October to solve his town’s most devious cases before returning to the grave.

This year, as the pair navigate the supernatural underbelly of Salem in pursuit of a dark entity with a growing body count, Ed and Sam are forced to rely on the haunting visions of a body-swapping ghost for clues to help set things right.

Genres: Horror

211 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2026

About the author

Tyler enjoys writing weird horror stories that tackle traditional tropes in unconventional ways. His debut short story collection, Fifteen Eyes, was published in August of 2025 and nominated for a Haunted Minds Book Club Award, amassing 100,000+ digital page reads in the first six months.

His first novel, Pumpkin Seeds, is scheduled for release in April 2026.

If you're interested in staying up to date on upcoming projects, you can follow Tyler on social media or subscribe to his newsletter on his website (www.tylerdowns.org).

Facebook: Tyler Downs
IG & TikTok: tyler_s_downs

Reviews

[Dead Inside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall an interesting horror novel, just felt it was lacking in character depth, seemed more like a comedy horror. I would definitely read a sequel.

[Emma Rieley-Scrivens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from the author.

I’ve been waiting with anticipation to read another story from Tyler Downs. I read his short story collection, Fifteen Eyes, at the end of last year and I was immediately hooked by this author’s fantastic, original ideas and great writing.

I finished his new book, Pumpkin Seeds, last night and it was as utterly brilliant as I expected. I’ve never read anything like this- so original- which is something pretty rare these days!
Straight from the dedication page my attention was caught and squeezed my heart with a quote that means something to me personally.
Immediately, the setting of Halloween in the 90’s took me back to such a specific sense of childhood nostalgia - I could almost feel the crispness of the October air and the excitement of seeing what costumes the kids in my street had chosen and the naughtiness of knocking on strangers doors. Salem, where the book is set, became such a real, tangible place that I too felt like i was there.
The characters came to life and jumped off the page for me playing their parts in perfect detail in my mind and I loved them. I loved their flaws and humanness and how those elements played so well into the plot with how they made decisions, mistakes and spoke about love & grief. So many times that humanness made me connect and relate to the characters and it was great example of why I read horror.
Chapters 10 and 14 transported me to some personal experiences of my own and -no spoilers -but the contents of those chapters truly creeped me out and made my heart race!!
The whole story and the ending was perfect!!

All in all I enjoyed my time so much with these characters in their world. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from this book and I didn’t want to. I can’t wait to read it again in spooky season and if Tyler Downs ever wants to take us all back there with another book set in this world - I’m there! In fact I’m there for anything he writes- he has two books out and for me they are both 5 stars!

Check this author out - you’re in for a treat!

Thank you so much for an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Courtney Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Ed, Wren, and Sam as this mix matched trio that get together one week out of the year around Halloween to solve crimes. Three bodies pile up and they are racing against time to find answers. Is it the answers they want?

I absolutely adored this book. It’s funny, downright uncomfy at times, and I can see spin offs or continuations for this story. Tyler Downs is a great story teller and his first official novel, it comes in swinging. Excellent read!

[Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the gifted copy - all opinions are my own.

Pumpkin Seeds is a wildly original, nostalgia-invoking Halloween horror set in 1998 Salem, Massachusetts.

Ed is a corpse that gets reanimated annually in October to solve the town’s most heinous crimes. This year, things go a little differently for Ed and his friend, Sam.

I’m so thrilled that Tyler Downs has authored a longer form work in Pumpkin Seeds. I really enjoy his storytelling and was happy to sit with these characters for a while. They’re believably flawed and intriguing. I particularly liked our main duo’s dynamic, it brought some tenderness to a pretty brutal story.

This story is equal parts imaginative and grisly. It strikes a good balance between a nostalgic Halloween story and outright terror. One of the finer elements to the author’s horror is the use of tension. There’s outright gross out moments but also quieter, dread-inducing scenes. The supernatural elements were classic but not at all corny or trite and it all just… worked.

On top of it all is this captivating mystery. I found myself invested in the story and these characters. I love that this world is open enough to leave possibilities for future stories but stands solidly as its own.

I recommend for fans of Salem vibes, supernatural horror, and downright good storytelling. I’ll read whatever the author puts out next.

[Mieke Janssens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun read. The story is a bit weird—in a good way—and it's a real page-turner. This unique detective story about demons and the undead really pulls you in and delivers a surprising twist along the way. The ending hit me right in the feels and was the cherry on top.

[Miranda White · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC

Absolutely adored this novel, Sam and Ed especially, have a special place in my heart ❤️ I cannot wait for more from this author.

After enjoying the authors first published book, a short story collection, (fifteen eyes) I was curious how his first novel would be, would it still be fast paced, genius and funny?
YES!

Horror novel, that’s funny and also pulls at your heart strings, what a combination, what’s not to love !!

Would 1000% recommend

Can’t wait for more people to get their hands on this and read it over Halloween, I will be purchasing the paperback and reading it then again for sure 🎃

[Andrea Boley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! Gave me Constantine vibes, which is one of my favorite movies! Would definitely be a great read for the month of October. But hands down loved it!

[Christopher Dahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a big fan of Tyler Downs’s first publication, Fifteen Eyes, so when I got the chance to read an advance copy of Pumpkin Seeds, I jumped on it.

This book is packed with extremely well-developed characters that I was fully invested in from start to finish. The story mostly takes place around Halloween in the 90s, and Downs absolutely nails the atmosphere. Everything about it screams Halloween. Demons, curses, spells, it’s all here. It felt like a Halloween monster murder mystery horror, and somehow that combination works perfectly.

One of my favorite things was the balance in tone. There were moments of dark humor that genuinely made me laugh, mixed with creepy scenes that gave me actual chills. That blend made the whole experience really fun and hard to put down.

Even before I finished the book, I found myself hoping this wouldn’t be the last time we visit this world. It felt like there was so much more to explore, and I love that Downs even hints at that in the afterword.

Tyler Downs is officially 2 for 2 with me, and I can’t wait to see what he does next in the indie horror scene.

[Rhiannon Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wholly expected to enjoy this book before I ever even cracked it open. What I didn’t expect was becoming absolutely enamored with the characters, the storyline, and learning about the inspiration of this book. As a stranger reading this book, with no bias or knowledge other than Chapter 26, I truly believe she would be proud of you. I could absolutely tell how much thought, intention, and hard work went into the creation of this book.

And honestly, what’s not to love about this book? You’ve got nostalgic 90s vibes, Halloween in Salem, and a paranormal P.I. and his teenaged sidekick solving cases for a week every October. All of the above were an automatic yes for me. I loved the father and son-esque, yet ill fated bond between Ed and Sam. The genuine and unconditional love for each other was a breath of fresh air. Although he had a small part to play, I really enjoyed Isaac. Don’t ask me why because they’re nothing alike, but Isaac’s character reminded me of Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Not the looks, but the character arc. I really hope this reference is understood by anyone who reads this review. If not, please give it a watch, you uncultured swine.

I don’t want to give too much away about the book because I’d rather people read it. It’s that good. It’s my new “tell everyone about it” book. Automatically a new favorite for me, and probably will continue to be for a long time.

P.S. Tyler, if you don’t create a sequel for Pumpkin Seeds, I’m going to give all my votes to Michael/Trevor in the Graveyard Rumble moving forward. I’m making this personal… Here’s to hoping that’ll do the trick.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, this book was weird. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's hugely enjoyable, and ultimately it all makes sense, but still, despite the perfectly clear premise (a dead detective comes back to life once a year and solves bizarre cases with the help of a sidekick and a mysterious spirit), the story has a very strong uncanny valley vibe - it makes its own rules, and colors everything with a sense of absurdity and promise to the point that the familiar feels new, while the unfamiliar is filled with moments of recognition. This makes for a unique reading experience, and much like "Fifteen Eyes" (the author's debut collection), "Pumpkin Seeds" reveals the presence of a captivating new voice on the horror scene!

I especially liked the combination of occult horror with dark fantasy in this book. The world-building and the characters had something of the mythological and the surreal about them, but they quickly grew on me and kept my interest throughout. Set in a strange version of Salem, where the supernatural and the paranormal seem to be accepted as common aspects of reality, the story develops from a crime investigation to a case of demonic possession, and finally derails into an odd confrontation with otherwordly entities begging for further elaboration and detailed explanation. The book is so rich both in ideas and implications that it could easily stand as the first volume of a series, or at least a trilogy!

Perhaps I should also mention the heartbreaking short text that follows the author's afterword. In a couple of pages, Tyler Downs shares a moment of vulnerability, expressing gratitude to his friend Amy, to who he's also dedicated the book. His honesty hit me straight in the feels.

[S.E. Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year at Halloween, murdered private investigator Edward Crane is brought back to life for one week. During that time, Ed and his young partner Sam, along with the spirit of a woman named Wren work together to try and solve mysteries of a supernatural variety in their hometown of Salem, Massachusetts. This premise is complex and unorthodox, and in the hands of another author, it might not have worked. However, in his book "Pumpkin Seeds," author Tyler Downs proves more than capable of navigating this unusual set-up, delivering a worthy successor to his highly enjoyable debut from last year, the short story collection "Fifteen Eyes."

As "Pumpkin Seeds" opens, it's Halloween once again, and Ed embarks on his annual resurrection, charged with uncovering the identity of whoever murdered a trio of family members inside their own home. The case leads them to another family in trouble, a little girl who's gone missing, and a mortuary owner who likewise vanished without a trace. Clues are scarce, and as the body count rises, Ed, Sam, and Wren find themselves in a race against time to unmask a killer.

Downs once again proves he's as an author to watch. "Pumpkin Seeds" contains some genuinely terrifying scenes, as well as a cast of relatable, if not realistically flawed characters. There is gore, but Downs tempers it with the dark, gallows humor that made "Fifteen Eyes" work so well. The ending is unexpected and sets the stage nicely for what could be a fun series of future mysteries involving some of the central cast. Downs has a vivid imagination, and a unique talent for making even the most improbable-sounding plotlines ultimately work, making "Pumpkin Seeds" the perfect Halloween read any time of the year.

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler Downs never disappoints. I was lucky to get an ARC, and I was soooooo excited as I freaking loved Fifteen Eyes.
Full review coming in a bit , I just want to say Tyler is one of my favorite indie authors and I can’t wait to read more books from him. Always a 10/10
What an honor to read this book ! So happy about it!

[Michael Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read something and wondered why it was so good, but couldn’t quite put your finger on it? That’s Tyler’s stories. That’s because Tyler Downs is an incredible storyteller. Pumpkin Seeds (much like his Fifteen Eyes) is strange, uncanny, and completely absorbing.

The story follows Ed Crane, who is reanimated and brought back to life every year around Halloween. His sidekick, Sam (a teen who lost his family) facilitates the process and accompanies him on a mission to solve mysteries and heinous crimes. Wren, a spirit who inhabits the bodies of the living, is also an integral part of the story.

The cast of characters is compelling, and the story is original, suspenseful, and genuinely horrific. I highly recommend Pumpkin Seeds, and not just during the Halloween season!

[Frances Meredith]

Awww, man. When the author said he was giving me Pumpkin Seeds, I thought it was going to be something to plant in a garden but all I got was this ARC! Some people, I swear. He’s lucky that I enjoyed it or I would be very cross.


In all seriousness, this is a delightful book and I think all the reviewers before me do a good job detailing what readers should expect: dark humor, creativity, fun characters, nostalgia for the 1990’s, Halloween, tenderness, cannibalism, etc. Instead of echoing their sentiments, I wanted to do something a little different. With only giving very minor spoilers, I will break down what I think is the heart of this story. That said, I’m no pumpkin-ologist so take what I say with a grain of salt…or pumpkin seed? Moving on.


Ultimately, Pumpkin Seeds is a story about the people who touched our lives.
While Detective Edward Crane is presented as the main character, I would argue the real protagonist is his teenage assistant, Sam Richards. You will find out very early that Sam lost both his parents before he even turned 19. Even with years of separation, the memories still gnaw at his self-worth. That’s why his relationship with Ed is so important. Yeah, they stop supernatural criminals in Salem but Ed is ultimately Sam’s parental figure.


It’s bittersweet.


Sam has someone who truly cares about him. On the surface, it is a tad funny that Ed also happens to be a zombie detective made out of pumpkin guts while being permanently haunted by a ghost (we all know at least one person like that). The surrealness allows readers to be taken along with Sam’s journey while leaving a very important detail in the periphery: Ed is only ‘alive’ for 1 week every October.


Ed only gets snapshots of Sam’s journey into adulthood. He feels guilt that he can’t truly be a permanent fixture in Sam’s life. During their brief time together, Ed tries to give as much sage advice a dead man can. Yet there is something that he misses. Ed will always be with Sam.
While Sam still struggles with self-image, he has come miles from the damage his parents had done. The quantity of time spent with a loved one does not indicate the lasting quality. Loss is an inevitable part of life but that doesn’t mean we lose everything. Sam lives everyday with Ed’s influence over him. We always have ghosts over our shoulder and I am grateful for their company.


If you want a dark romp that delivers both tricks and treats, give Pumpkin Seeds a read. If we’re lucky, Tyler Downs may even give us a sequel or turn this into a series. Lots of reviews and ratings would be a great way to peer-pressure him into doing it!


—-----------
Frances was here <3

[Cris · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Tyler announced his new book Pumpkin Seeds, I was so excited because I loved his short story collection Fifteen Eyes.

This one is a little different, but in a good way.

Imagine 💭

You’re an assistant to an undead detective who requires you to dig him up every year. He has one week to help solve paranormal occurrences in the area before he has to go back into the earth until next year. Not only that, but he also has a ghost living in his head, so to speak.

Sound wild? Well, it is. It’s definitely a unique story, and at first I was a teeny smidge confused, but it wraps you up and takes you on a ride.

I really enjoyed this one and fell in love with Ed, Sam, and Isaac. Wren… I’m a little pissy with her though.

Let me just say that the funeral home scene was fantastic!!! Gave me The Autopsy of Jane Doe vibes!

If you’re looking for a fun, unique story that gives you all the crunchy leaves, cool October air vibes, give this one a go. It’s available on KU too.

Rating: 4.5 piles of pumpkin guts 🎃

And as usual, thank you so much, Tyler, for trusting me with your baby and giving me the opportunity to read and review. 🎃

[Kim Layman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another banger of a novel from Mr Downs. It also had a lot more heart than I anticipated.

Our MC’s for this story are Ed (introduced above), Sam, a young guy who has become Ed’s loyal partner, and Wren, the voice inside Ed’s head who also acts at a partner. She has been dead for some time, but has the ability to inhabit a body every year and “come back to life”.

Stepping into the pages of this book feels like stepping back in time-The cool autumn days, the carefree times associated with Halloween, the explosion of festive cheer embodying the city during the spookiest time of the year. And because Salem is the heart of religious hysteria, supernatural elements are found in the shadows.

But wrapped up in this nostalgia is a murder to solve, and a motive to uncover. Three people murdered, with one missing their head, have started this case. Ed and his team start gathering clues, physical and in the form of visions, to begin piecing the whole story together behind the killings. But as they get deeper into this case, and more victims show up, the stakes become much higher. Ed knows the risks, and he’s determined to take them, if it means stopping the killings, and protecting those he cares about-even if his actions look like a betrayal. He does what he needs to do anyway, and finds out that he really didn’t know the whole story after all. Some people will do whatever it takes to get what they want when they feel like there is no other choice.

I loved this story. It had humor, horror, likable characters, a well-paced plot, and a found family. Also, read the afterward. It’s a heartbreaking but beautiful tribute to an old friend of Tyler’s.

Thank you Tyler for a gifted copy of your book. My opinion is my own.

[SpookyKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward Crane, a former private investigator, comes back from the dead during the last week in October. With the help of Sam, his sidekick, and Wren, the voice in his head, this unlikely trio tries to solve the bizarre crimes that occur in Salem.
I, like many of us, LOVE Halloween. So give me a story set during that time and I'm all for it! But this story didn't beat the holiday to death, it wasn't the focus. It was far more than a Halloween story. It takes place in 1998 and I absolutely loved all the 90s references! We had some love interests, some coming of age, witches, ghosts, cannibalism, the occult... it had it all! Also, there was one part in particular that creeped me out big time! Which is so hard to do nowadays. 🙃
Even with all those elements (and more!), and it being on the shorter side, everything was brilliantly thought out. To me, nothing was mentioned and then discarded, and nothing was overly done. The flow worked so well. It was a satisfying (and open) ending, so I do hope to spend some time with the characters again!!!
Just WOW. I keep hearing everyone say "watch out for Tyler, he is going places." He certainly is.

[Crystal Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and initially intended to read it over a couple of days. But, sometimes life happens and I had to set it aside just after starting it. Fast forward a couple of weeks, I finally got time to sit down and pick the book back up. And I devoured it in one sitting. Now it’s 4 am and I’m laying in the dark with tears streaming down my face, reeling for more. As a debut novel, Downs hit it out of the park. This book is just the right combination of setting, characters, plot twists and creep factor. Can I just say Chapter 14!?! One of my favorite chapters from any horror book. It scared the crap right out of me. I have full belief this will quickly become a Halloween season cult classic, reread over and over again. After his first book, Fifteen Eyes and now Pumpkin Seeds, I think Downs has solidified his position as a top up and coming horror author. Can’t wait for more from him! And Tyler, YES PLEASE ON THE SEQUEL!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5/5) "No town was better than Salem at breathing life into legends."

Every year, (deceased) private detective Edward Crane comes back to life for exactly one week before Halloween to solve bizarre crimes in Salem. This year, a family is found massacred in what appears to be an occult murder – a ritual to summon something far more dangerous than they've ever dealt with. 

The first half of this novel is pure Goosebumps nostalgia: an entertaining 90s crime-solving buddy comedy featuring a zombie private eye, his teenage sidekick, and a disembodied ghostly voice. Lured into a false sense of security, a Scooby-Doo adventure, the creeping horror swiftly escalates into a horrifying betrayal as the truth behind Salem's history is revealed. 

Yet, as the murders and mutilations and disappearances ramp up in Salem, the ending somehow manages to keep hope alive for one more adventure, one more wild ride. What a fantastic read – I'll have to experience it again this Halloween.

[Davyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was gifted to me by Tyler Downs.i want to say it’s an ARC but i can’t remember what it was posted as. I promised an honest review and here we go! The beginning had me, but I’m not sure what it was but the book couldn’t keep hold of me. I didn’t feel compelled to read it as fervently as I expected to. I don’t know if it’s because this was my third possession type book but I just couldn’t seem to focus. The story felt a bit disjointed- I was confused as to whether the family that was found decapitated was the same family that Becca was part of. But it wasn’t. By just over 60% the book had my full attention and I finished it in one sitting. This was a unique story. By the end I wanted to know more about Wren and even Issac and also the stories of Ed and Wren, so I’m going to guess that this may have a sequel which I’ll be looking forward to. I can’t say this is a 4⭐️ but definitely high 3! Thanks Tyler!! Will always look out for your new releases

Post edit thoughts -

I happened to go back to the book- and read the for Amy chapter and was brought to tears. Beautiful thoughts. I look forward to more from you Tyler .

[iLLeducation39 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to begin?!?! This has been an amazing experience, I am genuinely sad to finish the story because I could hang out with Ed, Sam, Wren & Isaac for another 200 pages.
This novel read like a combination of Stephen King & Elmore Leonard writing. Well paced, tight plot that moved along, great characters and fantastic horror imagery that read like a movie. The scene with Becca in her bedroom hearing voices from the closet will live in my head rent free.
Many thanks to Tyler Downs for providing me a copy of the ARC! I feel honored and privileged 🎃👻💯🙏
Once this book is available for purchase I’ll buy several copies for friends and family. After reading Fifteen Eyes & Pumpkin Seeds, I’m looking forward to his next book!
- Robert

[Rachelreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pumpkin Seeds…what a unique and unexpected book. I flew through this. It was very fast paced and almost like a detective noir type of book but with horror, and I guess occult type of elements in it. And when I say detective I mean a corpse that gets reanimated every year to solve crimes 😅 how interesting right?! What I wasn’t expecting was how much heart this book had. I found myself tearing up a few times actually. There’s a few trigger warnings here. One scene in particular was a bit hard for me to read as a mom. That’s all I’ll say there. A few times the story felt a little rushed maybe but that’s maybe my only complaint. I love to see these unique stories being published. You can tell he really put a lot into this and I had a great time reading it.

[Daniel Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man… this one was such a unique ride 🎃 🔥

You really just have to go with the flow and let the story take you where it wants, and honestly? It was absolutely worth it. For my first read by this author, I came away seriously impressed. The storytelling here felt fresh, immersive, and so well done.

One of the biggest standouts was how vividly each scene was written. The descriptions pulled me right in and made it so easy to picture everything unfolding like I was there myself. That kind of writing is what makes a truly great storyteller.

If you’re looking for something different, engaging, and incredibly well told, this one is definitely worth picking up. Overall, an excellent read and now I’m absolutely ready for more. 📚🔥

[Malakai Bridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read!

I first found this author with his anthology 'Fifteen Eyes' and loved every word of it. Pumpkin Seeds is a darkly charming horror read centered around the ever spooky town of Salem during Halloween, and the things that go hump in the night. It's got gore, it's got humor, and it's got heart. It's a little kooky at times, particularly when a character named Isaac is introduced (please write more about Isaac, he's the best). I would really love to see more works from this author in this universe, support this indie author so he can expand.

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Tyler's second book and I have to say this one was another banger. It's set around Halloween in Salem, but has its own taste to it, which I grew to enjoy. The 90s references were a nice touch as well. The best part though was the characters popping out. I honestly thought in Pumpkin Seeds, the characters were even better than in his first book, Fifteen Eyes, which I also urge you to check out. I'm enjoying the voice that Tyler is developing and I look forward to reading his next story.

[Edward Diggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is the cover art amazing but the story was one heck of a ride!!! I enjoyed this book from start to finish the nostalgia was top notch, and I also appreciated the dedication story at the end of the book giving us a deeper look into the history of the author. I know you read these reviews Tyler and I just want to say thank you for an amazing book can’t wait for a sequel and thanks for one heck of an adventure! I wish you nothing but the best in all your future writing endeavors

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional writing

This story is so weird, but the way that it's written, it's so believable; you don't question it at all.
It's a little gross and scary but not *that* gross and scary that it would keep most folks from enjoying this. It's just so unique and I loved every second of it. Seriously amazing writing, 5 stars, no question.

[Jamie LeGuier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler Downs has such a fresh, strange take on horror that I just can’t get enough of. I have my fingers crossed for a sequel!

[Spooky Loz Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come!

[Kyrie Orledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was genuinely so good.
I need more!
So beautifully written, I felt like I was transported to Salem with Ed, Wren and Sam.
If you like spooky, supernatural reads, this one is for you!