"The Curse of the Reaper" by Brian McAuley is a gripping tale set in a small, isolated village in Ireland. The story revolves around a sinister curse that has plagued the village for generations. The main character, Sean O'Donnell, is an ordinary villager who becomes entangled in the curse's dark web. As the story unfolds, we learn that the curse is rooted in an ancient legend about a reaper who was wronged by the villagers many years ago. This reaper seeks revenge by haunting the village and bringing death upon its inhabitants. Sean, driven by his curiosity and desire to protect his loved ones, embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind the curse.
Sean, driven by his curiosity and desire to protect his loved ones, embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind the curse. Along the way, he encounters eerie supernatural occurrences and faces many terrifying obstacles. With the help of a wise old woman, known as Granny Maggie, and mysterious clues left behind by his ancestors, Sean uncovers the secrets of the curse.
Curse of the Reaper: A Novel (Hardcover)
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.
About the Author
Brian McAuley is a WGA screenwriter who has worked on everything from family sitcoms to horror films. He received his MFA in Screenwriting from Columbia University and he teaches at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles, where he currently resides. Curse of the Reaper is his first novel.
Praise For…
In Praise of CURSE OF THE REAPER
"McAuley excels at balancing the psychological against the supernatural, but he’s even better at satirizing the Hollywood machine. The author puts his experience of the screenwriting game to good use in a biting commentary on horror fandom, franchise culture, and thespian hubris. You’re never sure whether to root for Howard as a bastion of standards in a degraded creative industry or to pity him as a man whose self-regard is at odds with his body of work. Curse of the Reaper is a very funny book with some of the best “bad scriptwriting” ever committed to page. But when McAuley turns to horror in earnest, he goes hard." Esquire (Best Horror Novels of 2022)
"At times deliriously fun and delightfully gory. Its blood-filled heart, however, is its main characters and their personal struggles. Both actors, in their own ways, strain under the unrelenting pressure of others’ expectations. To give the Reaper life, McAuley shares snippets of fictional movie screenplays that show the Reaper is just as deadly and entertaining as Jason or Freddy. This book is a must for fans of the slasher genre, but it also offers a sickle-sharp critique of the expendability of actors fed into the Hollywood machine." — Library Journal
“Curse of the Reaper is the best kind of horror—one that’s equal parts psychological nightmare and bone-crunching bloodshed. McAuley’s novel is a grim amalgam, retelling the inner-struggle of a modern day Jekyll and Hyde and blending it (on high!) with every great 80’s slasher movie ever made. Reaper tackles madness, addiction, the costs of stardom, and the innate servitude of every artist whose soul is chained to the growling, hungry beast within. A wonderful, terrifying, thrilling novel not to be missed.”—Philip Fracassi, author of A Child Alone With Strangers
“In Curse of the Reaper, Brian McAuley carves a grinning specter from our cultural addictions to fandom and nostalgia, gleefully ripping through the boundaries between method and madness, pure scares and pitch-perfect schlock. With vividly wounded characters and a true fan’s eye for the horror show, Curse of the Reaper is an unmissable glimpse behind the screen.”—Gordon B. White, author of Rookfield and As Summer’s Mask Slips and Other Disruptions
“The purpose of horror is to access the unconscious fears of the reader and exploit them. Brian McAuley does just that in Curse of the Reaper. An homage to the horror films of the 80's, he delivers horror in a way that will have you clutching the edge of your seat while whipping through the book until the very end. And I enjoyed every single page of it.”—Tracy Cross, author of Rootwork
“Brian McAuley takes Method acting to maniacal meta-horror heights in his Poe-infused slasher Curse of the Reaper, which reads like a pitch-perfect riff off of Peter Bogdanovich’s Targets, a Los Angeles-cast Cask of Amontillado, and a Jerry Stahl-penned tug-of-war between Boris Karloff and Kane Hodder. Read it.” — Clay McLeod Chapman, author of The Remaking and Ghost Eaters
“A love letter to slashers, and a nod to our addictions. To drugs, to fame. To the memories of who we once were.” —Jamie Flanagan, co-writer of Netflix’s Midnight Mas s and The Haunting of Bly Mano r
“McAuley's Curse of the Reaper is a clever and creepy romp through the slasher genre, reveling in how it haunts and delights us, and how the real horror never, really ever ends.” — Kate Maruyama, author of Harrowgate and Family Solstice
- Fiction / Horror
- Fiction / Thrillers / Supernatural
- Fiction / Noir
- Fiction / Psychological
Curse of the Reaper is now available. Get your copy right here and check out this exclusive excerpt below.
As the story reaches its climax, Sean discovers that he must confront the reaper himself to break the curse. The final showdown between Sean and the reaper is an intense battle of wills, testing Sean's bravery and determination. Through his courage and resourcefulness, Sean manages to outsmart the reaper and lift the curse from the village. "The Curse of the Reaper" is a captivating novel that explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the power of community. Brian McAuley's vivid descriptions and atmospheric storytelling create a spine-chilling atmosphere, immersing the reader in the darkness and mystery of the curse. The novel also highlights the importance of facing one's fears and the strength that can be found in unity. Overall, "The Curse of the Reaper" is a thrilling supernatural tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. It serves as a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming darkness, there is always hope for redemption and the possibility of breaking free from the burdens of the past..
Reviews for "Tremors of the Reaper: The Ripple Effect of Brian McAkley's Curse"
1. John Smith - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really disappointed with "Curse of the reaper brian mcakley". The storyline was all over the place and the characters were poorly developed. The whole concept of the curse felt forced and there were too many unnecessary plot twists that didn't add anything to the story. The writing was also subpar, with awkward dialogue and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I found the book to be confusing and unsatisfying.
2. Emily Johnson - ★★☆☆☆
"Curse of the reaper brian mcakley" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was extremely slow, and it took forever for the story to get interesting. The author seemed to focus more on describing trivial details rather than moving the plot forward. Additionally, the characters lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. The ending felt rushed and didn't provide a satisfying resolution. Overall, I was left unimpressed with this book.
3. Sarah Thompson - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "Curse of the reaper brian mcakley," but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The writing style was inconsistent, and the dialogue felt unnatural. The author introduced too many side characters that added unnecessary complexity to the story without contributing much to the overall plot. The descriptions were excessive, bogging down the pacing. While the premise had potential, the execution fell short, leaving me underwhelmed.
4. Michael Davis - ★☆☆☆☆
"Curse of the reaper brian mcakley" was a complete disappointment. The plot lacked originality and was filled with clichés that made it predictable and uninteresting. The characters were one-dimensional, and I couldn't relate to any of them. The writing style was uninspiring, with repetitive phrases and awkward sentence structure. Overall, I found this book to be a waste of time and would not recommend it to others.