Marla - by Jonathan Janz (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From beloved horror author Jonathan Janz, Marla is a slow-burn, full-throttle horror novel about the families we inherit, the guilt we carry, and the terrible gravity of a gaze you can't forget. The hardcover edition includes a foiled cover, gorgeous sprayed edges, and an exclusive, never-before-published prequel story.

Turn the page--if you dare.

Every small town has ghosts. King's Branch has Marla.

A reclusive young woman who lives with her mother in a creepy Gothic house, Marla Gorman is the stuff of urban legends. Some believe she's a prisoner. Others claim she's a witch.

The evening of the first murder, Detective Carl Lancaster sees Marla leering at him from her bedroom window. He sees her again at the exact moment a second man is killed. And though Marla was nowhere near either murder site, Carl is convinced she's connected to the crimes.

To Carl, Marla is a menace. To social worker Annie Frost, Marla bears a bizarre connection to her past. To Dylan Ellison, a struggling college student, Marla might be the companion for whom he's been longing.

But none of them understands Marla's true nature. She's about to plunge them--and everyone in King's Branch--into an unspeakable nightmare and teach them the true meaning of terror.

Review Quotes

"Marla charges hard out of the gate and never stops moving until its final pages. Janz's tale is propulsive and sometimes gut-wrenching, yet ultimately shot through with a strain of tenderness and heart that I didn't see coming."

--Nick Cutter, author of The Troop "Nick Cutter, author of The Troop"

"Marla is brutal, eerie, and compelling. Janz has created a work that feels like modern and classic horror all wrapped into one. Just make sure you open the first page early enough in the day, because once you start reading, you're not going to be able to stop, and you don't want to be all alone in the dark, late at night, with Marla."

--Brian Freeman, New York Times bestselling author of the Jonathan Stride series "Brian Freeman, New York Times bestselling author of the Jonathan Stride series"

"Marla was limited to five hundred copies in 2022, selling out a month before release and garnering critical acclaim. Ever since, [Janz] has waited for a big publisher to give him and Marla a full chance."

--Lafayette Journal & Courier "Lafayette Journal & Courier"

"Marla was worth the wait...There's few horror contemporaries that plumb the depths of gothic horror half as well as Janz."

--FanFiAddict "FanFiAddict"

"A dynamic, heartbreaking, heroic, and terrifying horror thriller!...Highly recommended!"

--Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author, on Veil "Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author, on Veil"

"A profound sense of supernatural creepiness permeates this superb, blood-chilling horror novel from Janz. Fans of Stephen King's Castle Rock books will be hooked."

--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

"An instantly compelling, instantly unshakable nightmare."

--Nat Cassidy, USA Today bestselling author of Mary, on Veil "Nat Cassidy, USA Today bestselling author of Mary, on Veil"

"Don't get too attached to anyone...there is no holding back on who dies, which is hard because Janz has a talent for endearing us to the characters."

--Castle Macabre blog "Castle Macabre blog"

"I loved Marla. It's a novel about fear, about what scares us as individuals, in our hearts, as well as what scares us collectively, in a community. Jonathan Janz is so scary I have to read him during the day."

--Caroline Kepnes, New York Times bestselling author of You "Caroline Kepnes, New York Times bestselling author of You"

"Janz is an elite writer...This book was achingly perfect."

--Steve Stred, author of Churn the Soil and Mastodon, on Veil "Steve Stred, author of Churn the Soil and Mastodon, on Veil"

"Jonathan Janz is one of the few horror writers working today who can truly unnerve his readers. Marla is a grippingly suspenseful story, full of brutality, tantalizing mystery, and sacrifice. From the very first sentence, Janz puts us on edge, and it doesn't let up until the final page, where I was a quivering wreck and struggling for breath. There is an unsettling eeriness that permeates each line, ensuring that every page is bleached in torment and beguiling prose. Marla showcases one of the genre's most chilling voices. Janz has crafted a nightmare of a book!"

--Ross Jeffery, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Only the Stains Remain "Ross Jeffery, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Only the Stains Remain"

"Modern gothic nightmare...An instantly unputdownable masterpiece that perfectly channels an eerie, small-town Stephen King vibe. Genre icons warn it is far too terrifying to read after dark, packed with brutal tension, monstrous secrets, and a surprisingly heartbreaking core."

--Cinema Chords "Cinema Chords"

"Pitch-perfect tension and suspense. This is a real Halloween story that is best enjoyed during the spooky season."

--Sadie Hartmann (Mother Horror), Bram Stoker Award-winning author of 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered "Sadie Hartmann (Mother Horror), Bram Stoker Award-winning author of 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered"

"When this story reached that final crest, that downhill slope was like rolling down the huge hill of the roller coaster with no brakes. Be prepared!"

--The Voracious Gnome blog "The Voracious Gnome blog"