A Dark Holiday

She writes about killers. He kills. This December, they'll meet.

Celeste Sterling came home to the Adirondacks with writer's block and daddy issues.

She'll leave with blood on her hands and a monster's ring on her finger.

Between now and then? Twenty-three days of being hunted by a man who makes her fictional villains look like choir boys. A man who collects deer skulls like love letters. Who knows every filthy word she's ever written—including the ones she deleted.

Welcome to a small town where everyone's keeping secrets, Daddy's gun won't save you, and the local serial killer has been waiting two years for his favorite author to come home.

Celeste thought she understood darkness. After all, she's made millions writing it.

But there's a difference between typing "he's dangerous" and having danger learn your daily routine. Between writing "touch her and die" and watching him make that promise literal.

Between creating a monster and realizing one already exists.