Curse of the Reaper

Scream meets The Shining in this page-turning horror tale about an aging actor haunted by the slasher movie villain he brought to life.

Decades after playing the titular killer in the 80s horror franchise Night of the Reaper, Howard Browning has been reduced to signing autographs for his dwindling fanbase at genre conventions. When the studio announces a series reboot, the aging thespian is crushed to learn he's being replaced in the iconic role by heartthrob Trevor Mane, a former sitcom child-star who's fresh out of rehab. Trevor is determined to stay sober and revamp his image while Howard refuses to let go of the character he created, setting the stage for a cross-generational clash over the soul of a monster. But as Howard fights to reclaim his legacy, the sinister alter ego consumes his unraveling mind, pushing him to the brink of violence. Is the method actor succumbing to madness or has the devilish Reaper taken on a life of its own?

In his razor-sharp debut novel, film and television writer Brian McAuley melds wicked suspense with dark humor and heart. Curse of the Reaper is a tightly plotted thriller that walks the tightrope between the psychological and the supernatural, while characters struggling with addiction and identity bring to light the harrowing cost of Hollywood fame.

Author: Brian McAuley
Publisher: Talos
Published: 10/28/2025
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.61lbs
Size: 8.90h x 5.91w x 1.02d
ISBN: 9781945863912

About the Author
Brian McAuley's debut novel, Curse of the Reaper, was named one of the Best Horror Books of 2022 by Esquire. His holiday slasher novella, Candy Cain Kills, earned praise from Kirkus Reviews for its "sublimely drawn characters," some of whom survived for the sequel, Candy Cain Kills Again: The Second Slaying. His next novel, Breathe In, Bleed Out, is out now from Poisoned Pen Press. As a WGA screenwriter, Brian has written everything from family sitcoms (Fuller House) to horror films (Dismissed). He teaches as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Screenwriting at ASU's Sidney Poitier New American Film School. Connect with him on social media @BrianMcWriter.