Heretic

by Jesse Chandler

Silas Graves has spent his life hunting the things that hide in the spaces between faith and fear. A veteran investigator marked by loss and driven by an unshakable sense of duty, he is drawn into a nightmare that stretches far deeper than a simple missing-person case. What begins as a search for answers soon leads to abandoned places, whispered legends, and shadows that seem to move with purpose.

As the boundaries between the physical world and something far older begin to erode, Silas must confront horrors that defy explanation—rituals etched into forgotten stone, symbols stained by generations of blood, and a presence that watches from the darkness with endless patience.

Heretic is a visceral blend of occult horror, supernatural thriller, and cosmic dread—a story of faith tested, evil unveiled, and the terrifying realization that some truths were never meant to be uncovered.

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2026

Reviews

[Ashley’s Relatable Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heretic by Jesslee Chandler is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that is impossible to put down. I could not turn the pages fast enough. I absolutely love Silas and Marcus. They make an epic team. Their dynamic reminds me of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. You follow Silas as he goes after a very nasty occult group that is performing dark and dangerous magic in an attempt to bring literal hell into the world. Silas is a demon hunter. Think if John Wick was a demon-hunter.
The whole book is flawlessly written. The pacing is excellent, and the descriptions are strong without being overly dense. They leave room for the reader to fill in details and become more invested.
Too often there seems to be a fear of going where the story is supposed to go and taking shocking risks. Chandler does not hold back. He put me on edge more than once, and those moments always felt natural rather than forced. There were multiple moments where I was mentally yelling don’t do that, Silas, don’t, oh no! I cannot wait for book two!!

[Kelly Ann Meegan · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

This was a great novel. I felt it was well put together well done on the character building and presentation. I enjoyed it not my normal genre but book clubs afford us new genres we may not otherwise have known about. Well done Jesse Chandler.

[I Middleton · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for supernatural elements, and this book had me hooked. It genuinely felt like I was watching an intense show or movie unfold.

I've read plenty of books where characters come together to unravel a mystery, only for the dialogue or their approach to feel forced or downright corny. That wasn't the case here. The story was well developed, carefully constructed, and the characters' interactions felt natural and believable.

There were a few moments where the dialogue or descriptions felt slightly repetitive, but they were brief and didn't take away from the overall experience.

And let me tell you, there were times I felt like I needed to sit with some holy water while reading. 😂

Overall, a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Jesse Chandler.

[Marcia Santulli senn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read. Not too much "horror". Technical with weaponry but no problem. I look forward to reading the next installment.