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MANIMAL
In the sweltering shadows of 1930s Atlanta, monsters wear many faces– some human, some not.
Jack Quinn is a detective with a badge, a trench coat, and a beast lurking beneath his skin. His partner, August Sullivan, is a reluctant vampire with a preacher’s guilt and a thirst he can’t quite drown. Together, they navigate a city cracking under the weight of corruption, secrets, and something far older than politics.
When a string of gruesome murders rocks Atlanta– victims left heartless and drained, posed like offerings– Quinn and Sullivan are pulled into a case steeped in blood, myth, and madness. All of the victims are vampires. And someone, or something, wants them eradicated.
As tensions rise between a pair of rival mayoral candidates– one preaching acceptance and peace, the other division and bigotry– the detectives join forces with the mysterious Miss Gray, a woman whose knowledge of the arcane might be the only thing standing between Atlanta and the abyss.
In a world where nothing stays buried, and the line between man and monster blurs, Quinn and Sullivan must face the acceptance may be the only path to salvation… but some truths are too wide-mouthed to swallow.
Hard-boiled to the bone, and laced with cosmic dread, this Southern Gothic detective thriller dives deep into identity, monstrosity, and the things that whisper from beyond.
Jack Quinn is a detective with a badge, a trench coat, and a beast lurking beneath his skin. His partner, August Sullivan, is a reluctant vampire with a preacher’s guilt and a thirst he can’t quite drown. Together, they navigate a city cracking under the weight of corruption, secrets, and something far older than politics.
When a string of gruesome murders rocks Atlanta– victims left heartless and drained, posed like offerings– Quinn and Sullivan are pulled into a case steeped in blood, myth, and madness. All of the victims are vampires. And someone, or something, wants them eradicated.
As tensions rise between a pair of rival mayoral candidates– one preaching acceptance and peace, the other division and bigotry– the detectives join forces with the mysterious Miss Gray, a woman whose knowledge of the arcane might be the only thing standing between Atlanta and the abyss.
In a world where nothing stays buried, and the line between man and monster blurs, Quinn and Sullivan must face the acceptance may be the only path to salvation… but some truths are too wide-mouthed to swallow.
Hard-boiled to the bone, and laced with cosmic dread, this Southern Gothic detective thriller dives deep into identity, monstrosity, and the things that whisper from beyond.
Audible Audio
Published July 10, 2026
About the author
A.C. Hessenauer
12 books47 followersA.C. Hessenauer describes herself as a writer of horror, chaos, and madness. Her forthcoming novel, Going to the Six, will be published by Cemetery Dance Publications in June 2026 and was selected for the Cemetery Dance Trade Paperback Book Club alongside works by Jack Ketchum, Bentley Little, and Brian Hodge. The novel will also be released as an audiobook by Simon & Schuster Audio's Simon Maverick imprint in fall 2026.
When she’s not participating in macabre ceremonies dedicated to the eldritch horrors out in the woods, A.C. enjoys spending time with her family. She loves a good horror movie, and of course, getting swallowed whole by a good book.
When she’s not participating in macabre ceremonies dedicated to the eldritch horrors out in the woods, A.C. enjoys spending time with her family. She loves a good horror movie, and of course, getting swallowed whole by a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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March 26, 2026“Justice has teeth, a trenchcoat, and a taste for blood” in A.C. Hessenauer’s novel, Manimal. Supernatural police detectives and a “proper” Cosmic, psychic being investigate a rash of murders committed Cosmic Horror style! I found the banter, the easy relationship, and the inhuman humanity of the lead characters endearing, which added levity and an almost cozy feel despite the ghoulish murder mystery they’re attempting to solve. There’s a ton of action, too, to make this narrative fly. Such fun! I hope to read more of shape-shifting Jack Quinn, former priest turned vampire August Sullivan, and the enigmatic, tentacled Ms. Grey. (hint, hint, A. C. Hessenauer!)
October 22, 2025
The second I saw A.C. Hessenauer post on TikTok the inspiration behind MANIMAL, I knew I had to read it and that I'd love it.
In 1930s Atlanta, Jack Quinn—charming, bloodthirsty werewolf—and his partner August Sullivan—former preacher turned vampire—team up with a psychic to investigate a serial killer targeting vampires.
This book is so much fun. There's a mystery, it's creepy, it's got some twists, but the first word I would use to describe MANIMAL is fun. Jack and August maintain hilarious, witty banter from the start, and keep it up even during more intense moments. The amount of times Jack made me laugh out loud should win him an award. I am praying for a sequel because I love these characters so much, I'm not ready to let them go.
In 1930s Atlanta, Jack Quinn—charming, bloodthirsty werewolf—and his partner August Sullivan—former preacher turned vampire—team up with a psychic to investigate a serial killer targeting vampires.
This book is so much fun. There's a mystery, it's creepy, it's got some twists, but the first word I would use to describe MANIMAL is fun. Jack and August maintain hilarious, witty banter from the start, and keep it up even during more intense moments. The amount of times Jack made me laugh out loud should win him an award. I am praying for a sequel because I love these characters so much, I'm not ready to let them go.
October 15, 2025
I love a dark detective noir story and this one fit the niche perfectly. There was mysterious deaths, multiple suspects and enough hate flying around to keep the reader guessing until the end. I really was entertained by the fact that creatures existed with humans in this dark time of humanity. Some creatures accepted who they were while others felt guilty about their nature. The pace at which this novel traveled was quite quick. I was so involved in this book that time flew by and I was done! I found this sub-genre of horror is going to become a new favorite to read.
February 7, 2026
Imagine series one of True Detective set in a Hellboy world full of magic and monsters. Sound good? Then Manimal is the book for you!
Hessenauer has a great ability to take something that should be pulpy fun and elevate it with her writing to something much more meaningful.
George Romero taught me that horror is the ideal genre for social commentary, and Manimal subscribes to that ideology in spades.
If you want something simple and fun, you got it. You want layers and layers in your horror? It's also here. As it should be.
Add Manimal to your TBR today!
Hessenauer has a great ability to take something that should be pulpy fun and elevate it with her writing to something much more meaningful.
George Romero taught me that horror is the ideal genre for social commentary, and Manimal subscribes to that ideology in spades.
If you want something simple and fun, you got it. You want layers and layers in your horror? It's also here. As it should be.
Add Manimal to your TBR today!
October 10, 2025
Imagine Sherlock Holmes, but replace Sherlock with a charming werewolf, and swap out Watson with a brooding vampire who has a complicated relationship with his bloodlust (oh, and throw in a quick-witted femme fatale with tentacles for legs who can commune with the dead), and you’ve got Manimal.
Vampires have started being ritualistically murdered in a supernatural version of downtown 1930s Atlanta, and it’s up to a pair of detectives to track down the cause.
I think this book does a great job of knowing exactly what it is: a fun, good old-fashioned crime mystery. There’s humor and satire a-plenty. You get an immediate feel for the two MCs and their buddy cop dynamic. And from there, the mounting evidence leads us through the city’s criminal underbelly and an eclectic mix of fun characters, from sleazy restaurant owners to brothels with a wide assortment of interesting clientele.
It’s not all jokes, though. The book does a nice job of blending in the drama and horror elements as needed. It’s got heart. A little romance. Ghastly murder scenes. A dash of political commentary. Mind-melting prophetic visions. All the good stuff. If this sounds up your (grimy, vampire-infested) alley? It most certainly is.
Vampires have started being ritualistically murdered in a supernatural version of downtown 1930s Atlanta, and it’s up to a pair of detectives to track down the cause.
I think this book does a great job of knowing exactly what it is: a fun, good old-fashioned crime mystery. There’s humor and satire a-plenty. You get an immediate feel for the two MCs and their buddy cop dynamic. And from there, the mounting evidence leads us through the city’s criminal underbelly and an eclectic mix of fun characters, from sleazy restaurant owners to brothels with a wide assortment of interesting clientele.
It’s not all jokes, though. The book does a nice job of blending in the drama and horror elements as needed. It’s got heart. A little romance. Ghastly murder scenes. A dash of political commentary. Mind-melting prophetic visions. All the good stuff. If this sounds up your (grimy, vampire-infested) alley? It most certainly is.
May 4, 2026
I've read several books lately that have that classic detective-noir feel to them. It's becoming a horror subgenre I enjoy a great deal, especially when you throw in a splash of humor along the way. "Manimal," by A.C. Hessenauer is a fantastic example of why these elements mix together so well, resulting in a story that's quick-paced, witty, dark, and fun.
In "Manimal," police detectives Jack Quinn and August Sullivan are on the case, trying to find out who's responsible for a series of gruesome murders. In Hessenauer's reimagined Atlanta, where the story is set, the city is populated with humans, werewolves, vampires, and other monstrous entities, leaving Quinn and Sullivan to navigate through a host of colorful characters in their quest for justice. Included among these is the enigmatic and lovely Miss Vivienne Gray, a powerful clairvoyant with a penchant for driving recklessly, and who volunteers to assist the boys in tracking down the killer.
Sullivan is the brains, a former preacher turned reluctant vampire who hates what he's become, stubbornly refuses to feed on humans, and struggles to maintain a semblance of his own fading humanity. When he learns the murderer is targeting vampires in particular, sacrificing them in the name of a mysterious "Many-Legged King" demi-god, he finally begins to feel a sense of affinity for his kind, and a growing determination to stop the slaughter by any means.
Quinn is the brawns, a werewolf with a trigger-quick temper. He's a rip-out-your-throat, ask-questions-later sort of guy, but his instincts as a detective are usually spot on, and his resolve to find the killer is every bit as powerful as his bite.
Together, Sullivan and Quinn are a fantastic team (when they're not bickering with each other, as all good partners do), and the deeper they dive into the mystery surrounding the Many-Legged King and his murderous cult of acolytes, the greater the danger they find -- not just for themselves, but for Miss Gray, as well, as she, too, soon becomes an unwitting target in the killer's crosshairs.
"Manimal" is a fantastic read. Hessenauer takes familiar horror standards like old gods, lycanthropes, and vampires, and makes them uniquely her own, with characters that are as multi-dimensional and complex as they are likable, and a mystery that burns slowly at first, but quickly builds to a rolling boil as the victims and clues pile up. Add to this, the noirish ambience of 1930s pulp fiction a la Dashiell Hammett, (plus the occasional random severed hand thrown in to hilarious effect) and you have a damn near perfect read.
In "Manimal," police detectives Jack Quinn and August Sullivan are on the case, trying to find out who's responsible for a series of gruesome murders. In Hessenauer's reimagined Atlanta, where the story is set, the city is populated with humans, werewolves, vampires, and other monstrous entities, leaving Quinn and Sullivan to navigate through a host of colorful characters in their quest for justice. Included among these is the enigmatic and lovely Miss Vivienne Gray, a powerful clairvoyant with a penchant for driving recklessly, and who volunteers to assist the boys in tracking down the killer.
Sullivan is the brains, a former preacher turned reluctant vampire who hates what he's become, stubbornly refuses to feed on humans, and struggles to maintain a semblance of his own fading humanity. When he learns the murderer is targeting vampires in particular, sacrificing them in the name of a mysterious "Many-Legged King" demi-god, he finally begins to feel a sense of affinity for his kind, and a growing determination to stop the slaughter by any means.
Quinn is the brawns, a werewolf with a trigger-quick temper. He's a rip-out-your-throat, ask-questions-later sort of guy, but his instincts as a detective are usually spot on, and his resolve to find the killer is every bit as powerful as his bite.
Together, Sullivan and Quinn are a fantastic team (when they're not bickering with each other, as all good partners do), and the deeper they dive into the mystery surrounding the Many-Legged King and his murderous cult of acolytes, the greater the danger they find -- not just for themselves, but for Miss Gray, as well, as she, too, soon becomes an unwitting target in the killer's crosshairs.
"Manimal" is a fantastic read. Hessenauer takes familiar horror standards like old gods, lycanthropes, and vampires, and makes them uniquely her own, with characters that are as multi-dimensional and complex as they are likable, and a mystery that burns slowly at first, but quickly builds to a rolling boil as the victims and clues pile up. Add to this, the noirish ambience of 1930s pulp fiction a la Dashiell Hammett, (plus the occasional random severed hand thrown in to hilarious effect) and you have a damn near perfect read.
December 19, 2025
This novel does an impressive job blending classic noir with horror and the supernatural that is seamless. It begins firmly rooted in familiar noir territory: detectives, a case, moral ambiguity and then gradually peels back into something darker, stranger, and more unsettling.
What stood out most to me was how confidently it integrates what feels like a classic detective story with cosmic and supernatural horror. The shift never feels abrupt or gimmicky; instead, the story unfolds organically, allowing the tension to build as the boundaries of reality begin to erode. The surreal elements are used sparingly and effectively, enhancing the atmosphere rather than overwhelming it.
The book also offers one of the more interesting and unique takes on vampire lore I’ve encountered in a long time. In a genre that’s been overdone in my personal opinion in recent years, this interpretation feels fresh and thoughtfully reimagined. Layered on top of that is a political tension that feels relevant, adding weight to the horror.
This is a smart, moody, and ambitious blend of genres that trusts the reader and lingers long after you’re finished.
What stood out most to me was how confidently it integrates what feels like a classic detective story with cosmic and supernatural horror. The shift never feels abrupt or gimmicky; instead, the story unfolds organically, allowing the tension to build as the boundaries of reality begin to erode. The surreal elements are used sparingly and effectively, enhancing the atmosphere rather than overwhelming it.
The book also offers one of the more interesting and unique takes on vampire lore I’ve encountered in a long time. In a genre that’s been overdone in my personal opinion in recent years, this interpretation feels fresh and thoughtfully reimagined. Layered on top of that is a political tension that feels relevant, adding weight to the horror.
This is a smart, moody, and ambitious blend of genres that trusts the reader and lingers long after you’re finished.
January 6, 2026
I became aware of A.C. Hessenauer upon reading her gothic horror novel “Dread House” several months back.
“Manimal” is one or her more recent works. It swaps out the gothic vibe for something closer to the ambience of a Lovecraft tale (though without the ornamental Lovecraft prose—thank god). It’s Atlanta in the 1930s, in a world where vampires and other supernatural creatures are an acknowledged part of life, albeit somewhat hidden from view. In this setting, two detectives, themselves more than human, work to solve a mystery.
I won’t get into the details of the mystery other than to say it reminded me a bit of True Detective Season One.
There’s some great prose here; Hessenauer is an accomplished wielder of words.
I didn’t get into the “world” of this story as much as I did “Dread House”, but its still worth a read. I give it a solid 4 out 5.
“Manimal” is one or her more recent works. It swaps out the gothic vibe for something closer to the ambience of a Lovecraft tale (though without the ornamental Lovecraft prose—thank god). It’s Atlanta in the 1930s, in a world where vampires and other supernatural creatures are an acknowledged part of life, albeit somewhat hidden from view. In this setting, two detectives, themselves more than human, work to solve a mystery.
I won’t get into the details of the mystery other than to say it reminded me a bit of True Detective Season One.
There’s some great prose here; Hessenauer is an accomplished wielder of words.
I didn’t get into the “world” of this story as much as I did “Dread House”, but its still worth a read. I give it a solid 4 out 5.
June 4, 2026
The dynamic between Jack and Sully was amazing. At times, it felt very Holmes-and-Watson-esque, at others, it was like being dropped right back into the middle of a Philip Marlowe noir, albeit with more tentacles and severed hands. And yet, somehow, it was also something entirely its own. I would love to eventually see more from this duo (and of course Miss Gray) but even if this is the only one of their cases we get to tag along with, it's well worth the read.
MANIMAL scratched an itch that I didn't realize I had been ignoring since the last Raymond Chandler book I read and I loved every moment of it!
MANIMAL scratched an itch that I didn't realize I had been ignoring since the last Raymond Chandler book I read and I loved every moment of it!
October 13, 2025
If you're looking for a werewolf, a vampire, and a psychic that all work together then this is the tale to read. A. C. introduces us to Jack and August, two detectives who team up with Miss Grey to stop a string of murders. Along the way they learn of the corruption of the city, a little romance, the beasts that lurk within, and learn to work with one another. This story is laugh out loud in some places, gritty in some, and horrific in others. A great tale that all culminates at the end with a dramatic conclusion. Can't wait to see what is in store next from A. C.
February 28, 2026
I won’t lie. I went into this mostly blind and picked it because I liked the cover so I was a bit confused at first 😂
However, this book was very entertaining. Part detective novel, part gothic horror, and throw in some comedy, this book made a fast and fun read. It dealt with issues with prejudice/bigotry in a way that didn’t feel preachy. The man characters were awesome and watching both go off the rails at different points was pretty great!
I enjoyed this book and you should definitely check it out! It is available on KU!
However, this book was very entertaining. Part detective novel, part gothic horror, and throw in some comedy, this book made a fast and fun read. It dealt with issues with prejudice/bigotry in a way that didn’t feel preachy. The man characters were awesome and watching both go off the rails at different points was pretty great!
I enjoyed this book and you should definitely check it out! It is available on KU!
September 12, 2025
a pair of detectives and a psychic are working together to track down a vampire serial killer.
I love how the book came around in a full circle. The trio of main character have great chemistry together. I’m hoping Hessenauer will expand the universe and create a series on Jack and August. Would highly recommend this book to others.
December 12, 2025
It was an interesting story and I loved the 1930's noir detective setting. A few parts of started to drag on but it was captivating enough to keep me going.
Glad I read it, probably won't read it again.
Glad I read it, probably won't read it again.
April 9, 2026
Yes...Yes Yes. This was so stinky fun. It has murder, werewolves, vampires and tons of suspense. A detective book like no other. If your wanting a mysterious and creepy weekend read this is absolutely it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews