The Chill - by Scott Carson (Paperback)

About the Book

Far upstate, in New York's ancient forests, a drowned village lays beneath the dark, still waters of the Chilewaukee reservoir. Early in the 20th century, the town was destroyed for the greater good: bringing water to the millions living downstate. Or at least that's what the politicians from Manhattan insisted at the time. The local families, settled there since America's founding, were forced from their land, but some didn't leave... Now, a century later, the repercussions of human arrogance are finally making themselves known. An inspector assigned to oversee the dam, dangerously neglected for decades, witnesses something inexplicable. It turns out that more than the village was left behind in the waters of the Chill when it was abandoned. A dark prophecy remained, too, and the time has come for it to be fulfilled--for sacrifices must be made. And as the dark waters begin to inexorably rise, the demand for a fresh sacrifice emerges from the deep...

Book Synopsis

National Bestseller

A supernatural force--set in motion a century ago--threatens to devastate New York City in this "terrific horror/suspense/disaster novel" that "grips from the first page" (Stephen King).

Far upstate, in New York's ancient forests, a drowned village lays beneath the dark, still waters of the Chilewaukee reservoir. Early in the 20th century, the town was destroyed for the greater good: bringing water to the millions living downstate. Or at least that's what the politicians from Manhattan insisted at the time. The local families, settled there since America's founding, were forced from their land, but some didn't leave...

Now, a century later, the repercussions of human arrogance are finally making themselves known. An inspector assigned to oversee the dam, dangerously neglected for decades, witnesses something inexplicable. It turns out that more than the village was left behind in the waters of the Chill when it was abandoned. A dark prophecy remained, too, and the time has come for it to be fulfilled--for sacrifices must be made. And as the dark waters begin to inexorably rise, the demand for a fresh sacrifice emerges from the deep...

"A must read for fans of eerie, gripping storytelling" (Dean Koontz, #1 New York Times bestselling author), The Chill is "a creepy tale of supernatural terror" (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Review Quotes

"Based on the true history of a drowned town . . . this novel provides an alluring mix of truth and ghost story which will draw interest and keep readers hooked."-- "Library Journal"

"Fans of Stephen King won't want to miss this one."-- "The Real Book Spy"

"Horror has a new name and it's Scott Carson. THE CHILL is an eerie dive into the murky depths of the supernatural. A story that has you looking back over your shoulder on every page."--Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE NIGHT FIRE

"Part old-fashioned horror story, part supernatural thriller, THE CHILL is a breathtaking story of justice--and revenge. Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. Prepare to be chilled."--Rene Denfeld, bestselling author of The Butterfly Girl and The Child Finder

"Reading Scott Carson's THE CHILL gave me shivers like the ones I got when I first read Stephen King's The Shining. Set in a remote town in upstate New York, the novel starts ordinarily enough, with a fractured relationship between father and son, but swiftly cascades into a story about vengeful ghosts and a cataclysm generations in the making . . . The result is a fast-paced, frenzied tale of survival against both natural and supernatural forces that will leave you gasping for air."-- "Bookpage (starred review)"

"Scott Carson's THE CHILL is a hold-your-breath horror thriller, full of mounting dread. Carson weaves classic chills and nuanced characters into a story both compelling and creepy as hell. Don't miss it!"--Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of ARARAT and SNOWBLIND

"Scott Carson's THE CHILL may be the perfect thriller. Great characters. Creeping dread and explosive reveals. Pacing that never lets up. Maybe some of the best conversation with the dead since Stephen King's THE SHINING."--Alma Katsu, author of THE DEEP and THE HUNGER

"The tension of the novel is masterful . . . as the past hauntingly plays with the present."-- "Booklist"

"The year's best spine-tingler is already here. THE CHILL is a good old-fashioned ghost story, meticulously researched and brilliantly executed. If you've ever wished for a cross between 'Chinatown' and 'The Fog, ' Scott Carson has answered your dark prayers..."--John Connolly, internationally bestselling author of THE BOOK OF BONES

"THE CHILL features a clever and chilling premise, and Scott Carson delivers on the promise of it with swift clear prose, well-defined characters, and terrific suspense. This is a must read for fans of eerie, gripping storytelling."--Dean Koontz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE NIGHT WINDOW

"With THE CHILL, Scott Carson has written a spooky, thrilling, and genuinely moving tale of righteous obsession from beyond the grave, with a setting and characters that leap off the page. If you like Stephen King or Joe Hill, you must read Scott Carson."--Nick Petrie, nationally bestselling author of THE WILD ONE and TEAR IT DOWN

"Wow! This is one terrific horror/suspense/disaster novel. Characters you root for and a story that grips from the first page."--Stephen King, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of THE INSTITUTE

The Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2020-- "CrimeReads"

About the Author

Scott Carson is the pseudonym of Michael Koryta, a New York Times bestselling author whose work has been translated into more than twenty languages, adapted into major motion pictures, and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. A former private investigator and reporter, his writing has been praised by Stephen King, Michael Connelly, and Dean Koontz, among many others. Raised in Bloomington, Indiana, he now lives in Indiana and Maine.