Black Days

Jackson Ellis presents Black Days, a narrative centered on Daniel Fassett, a Vermont resident who survives a vehicle crash into the Mad River on Christmas Eve 1992. The story follows his subsequent four-month coma and the financial ruin that leaves him depressed and near retirement. To survive the winter, he collaborates with Dr. William Butcher, a local semi-retired physician, to hibernate in a homemade casket within a backyard maple sugarhouse. As word of this procedure spreads, individuals from across the country seek Daniel and Dr. Butcher for similar escapes from their woes. The arrangement involves significant monetary exchanges but introduces severe ethical dilemmas. Ellis, known for his work in horror and supernatural fiction, structures the plot around the consequences of this secrecy breaking down. The narrative examines how death and deception disrupt Daniel's life when strangers arrive seeking oblivion. This title suits readers interested in gothic tales of isolation and moral ambiguity set against a late twentieth-century backdrop. It may not appeal to those preferring fast-paced action or clear-cut resolutions, as the story focuses on psychological tension and complex ethical questions without easy answers.