I love "Monkey's Paw/Be careful of the bargains you strike" stories and this book fills the bill. A story of a lobstering town's desperation and later, greed, and the secrets that lead to the downfall of everyone involved. We know the responsible party right at the outset, but the methodical deaths slowly begin to reveal the one secret that damns them all. This is not just a horror story of gory deaths. It's a statement on how a person's greed and hunger for power will eventually come back to haunt them. In other words, karma is a bitch.
I am a long-time fan of Glenn Rolfe's books. This is one of his best. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys the type of story I mentioned above, and folk horror in general.
My reviews of Rolfe's other works:
About the book
Groves Peak, Maine is home to a dark secret. The successful lobstering community is ready for summer, but a murder at sea changes everything. People are dying in the small coastal town, and the lobstermen are on edge.
Only one man knows the truth. His closet of skeletons is about to open, and no one is safe. Not even his daughter or her best friend. As a supernatural fury, homegrown dangers, and buried secrets coalesce into a series of real-life nightmares, friendships are tested, and heroes will fall. The Siren of Groves Peak reveals the true monsters in us all.
Only one man knows the truth. His closet of skeletons is about to open, and no one is safe. Not even his daughter or her best friend. As a supernatural fury, homegrown dangers, and buried secrets coalesce into a series of real-life nightmares, friendships are tested, and heroes will fall. The Siren of Groves Peak reveals the true monsters in us all.
Advance praise
"Horror hits like a hurricane in this creature-feature masterfully layered with terror, dread, and scares so jarring they just might leave you seasick without ever leaving land." — Nick Medina, author of The Whistler and Indian Burial Ground
"A rising star in the genre. Highly recommended!" — Ronald Malfi, author of December Park and Senseless
"Rolfe is the real deal, folks, and anything he writes is well worth checking out."
– Gord Rollo, author of The Jigsaw Man and The Crucifixion Experiments
"An intense tale reminiscent of classic works by Jack Ketchum or Stephen King"
– Booklist
"Horror hits like a hurricane in this creature-feature masterfully layered with terror, dread, and scares so jarring they just might leave you seasick without ever leaving land." — Nick Medina, author of The Whistler and Indian Burial Ground
"A rising star in the genre. Highly recommended!" — Ronald Malfi, author of December Park and Senseless
"Rolfe is the real deal, folks, and anything he writes is well worth checking out."
– Gord Rollo, author of The Jigsaw Man and The Crucifixion Experiments
"An intense tale reminiscent of classic works by Jack Ketchum or Stephen King"
– Booklist
Releases June 30, 2026
Preorder: Amazon
