The Vein - by Steph Nelson (Paperback)

About the Book

It's 1989 and failed detective Syl Dixon has returned to her childhood home in Idaho to sell the old place she grew up in. But when a shriveled corpse is discovered inside an old silver mine, she is unexpectedly asked to help investigate

Book Synopsis

When a shriveled body turns up in an old silver mine, failed detective Syl Dixon gets pulled into the investigation. But the strange case is even more sinister than she imagined. And the dying town of Pate, Idaho is full of secrets that don't want to be uncovered. People go missing all the time. Strange howls echo from the woods. Eerie portraits hang like shrines outside homes. But nobody-including the local sheriff-seems to care. The deeper Syl digs, the more she realizes she's facing a malicious darkness that has plagued Pate for over a century. Can Syl rid the town of this evil before it swallows everything in its path, including her?

Review Quotes

"The Vein is a hair-raising joyride of a horror novel that's somehow both terrifying and tender. Dawn Winton is the protagonist I've been waiting for, the desolate mining-town setting is creepy as hell, and Steph's writing absolutely crackles. I loved this book." -Noelle Ihli, author of Ask for Andrea

"Steph Nelson's first novel is a chilling and tightly controlled exploration of trauma, grief, and yearning. Enter Pate, Idaho, at your own risk. There's something very wrong here."-Christi Nogle, author of the Bram Stoker Award-winning first novel Beulah

"I freaking loved this book. The Vein contains a vastly complex and intriguing web of characters similar to works like 'Salem's Lot. This town feels vibrant and alive, the woods breathe upon the page, and the chapters just fly by. I was truly addicted to this book." -Sam Rebelein, author of Edenville

"Steph Nelson has offered us a narrative that is viciously addictive, with complex familial dynamics, where the allure of danger beckons the reader to its dark web." -Ai Jiang, Nebula Award-nominated author of Linghun

"Rich with atmospheric dread, The Vein's mysteries run deep, burning from the first page to the last. Nelson fully inhabits her complex characters, deftly weaving their stories together across generations to create a glorious tapestry of secrets and lies." -R. L. Meza, author of Our Love Will Devour Us

"Nelson expertly intertwines multiple timelines to weave a story that is equal parts mystery, cosmic horror, and folk horror, and one hundred percent steeped in dread." -Angela Sylvaine, author of Frost Bite

"An expertly paced and detailed thriller, grounded in authenticity and infused with a sense of the unknown. Great characters, believable setting, and a richly woven history. Highly recommend." -S. P. Miskowski, author of The Skillute Cycle

"The Vein is a stunning debut that digs deep into the hidden past of Pate, Idaho, and the secrets of its compellingly flawed families...a treasure for fans of mature dark fiction." -Gordon B. White, Shirley Jackson and Bram Stoker Awards finalist

"The Vein is a horror thriller that is pacy, atmospheric, and heart-wrenching. Nelson weaves local lore and intricate plotting in a literary voice similar to C. J. Cooke's, but entirely her own. Certainly an author to watch." -Eliane Boey, author of Other Minds

"Steph Nelson weaves past and present nightmares together to create a tale as rich and layered as any vein of silver. Below the civilized exterior of Pate, Idaho, generations of greed and grief fester." -Drew Huff, author of Free Burn

"Nelson's small-town terror tale drills deep for a cross-generational look at characters who can't let go of loved ones, and secrets that refuse to stay hidden. An engrossing read." -Patrick Barb, author of Pre-Approved for Haunting

"A chilling, masterful, and deeply moving story about a strange small town haunted by its past. This astonishing debut is one you won"t forget." -Faith Gardner, author of Violet Is Nowhere

"Steph Nelson's ability to draw in the reader with a perfect mix of horror, noir, and Americana is only surpassed by her knack for wrapping up a tale with a truly satisfying ending." -Brian Rosten, Editor of The Maul Magazine