Brother - by Ania Ahlborn (Paperback)

About the Book

Deep in the heart of Appalachia stands a crooked farmhouse miles from any road. The Morrows keep to themselves, and it's served them well so far. When girls go missing off the side of the highway, the cops don't knock on their door. Which is a good thing, seeing what's buried in the Morrows' backyard. But nineteen-year-old Michael Morrow isn't like the rest of his family. He doesn't take pleasure in the screams that echo through the trees. Michael pines for normalcy, and he's sure that someday he'll see the world beyond West Virginia. When he meets Alice, a pretty girl working at a record shop in the small nearby town of Dahlia, he's immediately smitten. For a moment, he nearly forgets about the monster he's become. But his brother, Rebel, is all too eager to remind Michael of his place.

Book Synopsis

From bestselling author Ania Ahlborn comes this #HorrorBookTok sensation and novel of terror...the unforgettable story of a young man determined to break from his family's unconventional--and deeply disturbing--traditions.

Deep in the heart of Appalachia stands a crooked farmhouse miles from any road. The Morrows keep to themselves, and it's served them well so far. When girls go missing off the side of the highway, the cops don't knock on their door. Which is a good thing, seeing as to what's buried in the Morrows' backyard.

But nineteen-year-old Michael Morrow isn't like the rest of his family. He doesn't take pleasure in the screams that echo through the trees. Michael pines for normalcy, and he's sure that someday he'll see the world beyond West Virginia. When he meets Alice, a pretty girl working at a record shop in the small nearby town of Dahlia, he's immediately smitten. For a moment, he almost forgets about the monster he's become. But his brother, Rebel, is all too eager to remind Michael of his place...

Review Quotes

"[A] visceral, nihilistic thriller....Ahlborn's impressive writing and expert exploration of the psychological effects of systemic abuse elevate what could have been the literary equivalent of a slasher flick, and the twist in the final act is jaw-dropping. This relentlessly grim tale is definitely not for the squeamish, but it's nearly impossible to put down." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Ania Ahlborn is a great storyteller who spins an atmosphere of dread literally from the first page." --Jeff Somers, acclaimed author of We Are Not Good People

"Ania Ahlborn is horror's next superstar." --Richard Chizmar, New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Boogeyman and Memorials

"This story of brotherly love/hate will crush you to the core...Brother delivers horror on all fronts...The writing is so good, so precision perfect. that Brother may be this year's sleeper novel, certainly of the Gone Girl caliber, that deserves all the praise and accolades it will definitely receive...An instant classic...This is one book you need to get in your hands as soon as possible." --This is Horror

Praise for the haunting works of
ANIA AHLBORN

THE UNSEEN
"Plenty of unexpected twists and turns. This is the perfect page-turner that is brimming with darkness." --Variety

"Ania Ahlborn is in top form with The Unseen. A tapestry of mounting horror and otherworldly suspense, Ahlborn knows how to turn that screw to keep her readers constantly on edge, proving once more that she is a writer who has mastered the art of the creeping dread. This unsettling gem comes highly recommended." --Ronald Malfi, bestselling author of Senseless and Small Town Horror

"The trauma of motherhood and ever-shifting family dynamics are at the heart of this terrifying narrative. Combining the uncomfortable truths of grief with tense, speculative horror, The Unseen is chilling, unsettling, and absolutely riveting." --Tanya Pell, author of Her Wicked Roots and Cicada

"An intense masterclass in the unexpected, the uncomfortable, and the unforeseen, Ahlborn's latest novel proves once again that she's a virtuoso of the craft and Queen of the unsettling. Put it on your TBR immediately." --Gemma Amor, Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award nominated author of Dear Laura, Full Immersion, and Itch!

WITHIN THESE WALLS
"Terrifyingly sad...Within These Walls creeps under your skin, and stays there. It's insidious....The book's atmosphere is distinctly damp, clammy, overcast, and it isn't all the Washington weather: its characters' souls are gray, dimmed by failure. Ahlborn is awfully good on the insecurities that plague both aging writers...and oversensitive young girls...which leave them vulnerable to those who...know how to get into their heads. So grim." --The New York Times Book Review

"Cruel, bone-chilling, and destined to become a classic, Within These Walls is worth the sleep it will cost you. Some of the most promising horror I've encountered in years." --Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author

"A monstrous Russian nesting doll of a book, holding secrets within secrets; the plot barrels headlong towards one of the most shocking climaxes you're ever likely to read. This one's going to wreck you." --Nick Cutter, national bestselling author of The Troop and The Dorians

THE DEVIL CREPT IN
"A beautiful and deftly wrought horror story . . . prose that elegantly evokes tension . . . rich . . . readers will be engrossed and thrilled right through to the chewy final twist." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

SEED
"Great horror--a dark, fearless, unflinching blast of suburban spookiness that reminded me of early Stephen King. It's easily the best debut novel--in any genre--that I've read in years." --Blake Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter

About the Author

Ania Ahlborn is the bestselling author of the horror works Brother, If You See Her, The Devil Crept In, Within These Walls, The Bird Eater, The Shuddering, The Neighbors, and Seed, the thrillers Good and Joyful Things and Dark Across the Bay, the novella collection Apart in the Dark, and the novellas Palmetto, I Call Upon Thee, and The Pretty Ones. Born in Ciechanów, Poland, she now lives with her family in North Carolina. Visit her at AniaAhlborn.com or follow the author on Facebook (@Ania.Ahlborn.Author) and Instagram (@AniaAhlborn).