Publication Date: October 24, 2023
In Scarburn County, Tennessee there is a small mountain community called Black Rock, known for its unusual and prevalent blight that affects all vegetation . . .
When an unexpected death forces Christopher “Kit” McNeil to return to his small hometown in the Tennessee mountains after eighteen years, he must confront his past and a secret he’s kept since he was twelve.
A talented guitarist with a history of bad choices and even worse luck, Kit soon reunites with an old friend and learns about recent disappearances and mysterious deaths in the area. They begin to wonder if it’s connected to what they witnessed in the woods when they were kids and if a creepy local family is involved. Stranger still, almost half of their high school graduating class has died.
When more shredded bodies begin appearing, Kit becomes a suspect. But what he discovers is even more frightening—evil has set its sights on him and his friends and it won’t stop until it gets what it needs.
Can Kit and his friends band together in time to stop this ancient evil? Or will a new reign of terror that the Cherokee once called Uyaga be unleashed to roam the earth once more?
After 18 years, Kit returns to his hometown with his dreams of becoming a musician in tatters on top of the recent death of his mother. Yet the place he left behind has become even more cursed.
With a Blighted Touch by J. Todd Kingrea is the result of a collision between a horror story and the refrain from a country song. The main character, who has a nagging drug habit, runs into his childhood best friend, who later reveals that 42% of their graduating class has died.
This sparks childhood memories that evolved into current-day nightmares for Kit of a bicycle ride being chased by shapes intent on shredding his skin. When Kit becomes the focus of investigations into the murder of local residents, he starts connecting clues that ultimately lead to a confrontation with an evil Indian monster who lives in a pit.
From a troubled relationship with his abusive father and a blight spreading across the land, the community is less than welcoming. Although horror stories, by definition, can take readers to unexplainable places, some areas within the storyline needed some polish to improve the flow, such as the section from the monster’s perspective.
The ending, however, provides plenty of chills by leaving readers to wonder what will happen next. With a Blighted Touch features troubled characters tangled up in a cursed community.
BHC Press has published the first two books in my post-apocalyptic epic fantasy Deiparian Saga, “The Witchfinder” (which was nominated for the Pushcart Prize) and “The Crimson Fathers.” The final installment, “Bane of the Witch,” is slated for release in 2024. If you’re interested you can find out more on my author’s page at https://www.bhcpress.com/Author_J_Todd_Kingrea.html. I am a member of the Horror Writers Association and write Blu ray reviews for “Screem” magazine. I have also written short stories and game material for the “Call of Cthulhu” role-playing game.
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Thank you, Amy! So glad you enjoyed it! I really appreciate you taking the time to read and review it. Pleasant dreams!
This looks like a greatspooky novel. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
I’m looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.