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  • The Lesser Dead

The Lesser Dead

by Christopher Buehlman
The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman
Unrated

Shirley Jackson Award nominee 2014.

“As much F. Scott Fitzgerald as Dean Koontz” (#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs), Christopher Buehlman excels in twisting the familiar into newfound dread in his “genre-bending” (California Literary Review) novels. Now the acclaimed author of Those Across the River delivers his most disquieting tale yet...

The secret is, vampires are real and I am one.
The secret is, I’m stealing from you what is most truly yours and I’m not sorry...

New York City in 1978 is a dirty, dangerous place to live. And die. Joey Peacock knows this as well as anybody — he has spent the last forty years as an adolescent vampire, perfecting the routine he now enjoys: womanizing in punk clubs and discotheques, feeding by night, and sleeping by day with others of his kind in the macabre labyrinth under the city’s sidewalks.

The subways are his playground and his highway, shuttling him throughout Manhattan to bleed the unsuspecting in the Sheep Meadow of Central Park or in the backseats of Checker cabs, or even those in their own apartments who are too hypnotized by sitcoms to notice him opening their windows. It’s almost too easy.

Until one night he sees them hunting on his beloved subway. The children with the merry eyes. Vampires, like him... or not like him. Whatever they are, whatever their appearance means, the undead in the tunnels of Manhattan are not as safe as they once were.

And neither are the rest of us.

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Horror
Release date: October 1, 2014

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Christopher Buehlman

Christopher Buehlman

Christopher Buehlman has a unique ability to take the macabre and make it not only thrilling but eerily beautiful. As an author, he has an innate talent for weaving dark, atmospheric tales that grip readers from the first page and refuse to let go. His novels, often a blend of horror, fantasy, and historical fiction, transport readers to worlds where the line between the supernatural and the human condition blurs with unsettling results.

Buehlman’s storytelling journey began in his hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida, where he first began to explore his love for the darker side of fiction. Before he became an author, Buehlman had a varied career, dabbling in everything from acting to writing for TV. But it was his passion for storytelling—specifically for tales that embrace the gothic and the eerie—that led him to focus on his true calling: writing novels that delve into the unknown, the strange, and the terrifying.

Read more ...

His debut novel, Those Across the River, immediately set the tone for what would become a hallmark of his writing style: a blend of the supernatural with a deeply human narrative. The book, set in the small town of Whitbriar, is a haunting story of love, loss, and the horrors that lurk just beyond the veil of normal life. The success of the novel earned Buehlman a devoted fanbase and a reputation for writing with a voice that is as chilling as it is captivating.

As he continued to develop his voice, Buehlman pushed boundaries with his subsequent works, including The Lesser Dead and The Suicide Motor Club. His stories often explore themes of isolation, survival, and the impact of the past on the present, all while maintaining an undeniable element of suspense. Whether it’s a vampire horror tale or a psychological thriller, Buehlman’s ability to create tension and build atmosphere is unmatched.

He also brings a rich historical context to his stories, which gives his works a grounded yet timeless quality. In The Suicide Motor Club, for example, Buehlman takes readers into the dangerous, gritty world of mid-century America, where vampires ride motorcycles and leave a trail of destruction in their wake. This kind of world-building, combined with Buehlman’s knack for dark humor and heartbreaking character development, keeps readers coming back for more.

Through his books, Buehlman has established himself as a force in modern horror, creating stories that are as emotionally resonant as they are terrifying. His books have been praised for their sharp prose, unforgettable characters, and their ability to explore the darker corners of the human experience.

Today, Christopher Buehlman continues to push the boundaries of horror and fantasy, writing stories that don’t just scare, but make you think. His work resonates with readers who crave stories that are as thoughtful as they are terrifying, and with each new release, he continues to carve out his place as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary horror fiction.

When he’s not writing, Buehlman is often found reflecting on the eerie side of life, working on new projects, or just indulging in his love of books and history. His deep respect for the past and his fascination with the unknown inform every page of his novels, making them as immersive as they are unsettling.

Photo: Christopher Buehlman

More books by Christopher Buehlman

The Blacktongue Thief Book 3 (Blacktongue #3)
⧗ 10.00 / 7
The Thrice-Bound Fool (Blacktongue #2)
⧗ 9.84 / 18
The Daughters War (Blacktongue #0.5)
★ 8.00 / 1
The Blacktongue Thief (Blacktongue #1)
★ 8.80 / 5
The Suicide Motor Club
Unrated
The Necromancer's House
Unrated
Between Two Fires
★ 10.00 / 1
Those Across the River
★ 10.00 / 1


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