Deal

Name: Deal
Price: 11.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781914021428

✍️ R P Howley

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$11.99

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A former finance star accepts a supernatural deal at his old office to save his family.

Dane Creed loses everything in the corporate world until an anonymous invitation offers redemption. He returns to McKinley & Shaw for a single night to prove his worth. The building feels wrong, with humming lights and living art. Executives offer a chance to fix his life, but the price involves his soul. Howley uses the setting of a modern skyscraper to explore themes of greed and despair. The story does not rely on ancient curses but on immediate, personal stakes. Dane must choose between his past failures and a terrifying future. The narrative avoids traditional jump scares, focusing instead on the creeping realization that the corporate world has become a literal hell.

Key Themes

Faustian bargain corporate horror loss of soul

Literary Context

This 2026 release from Devil's Rock Publishing sits within the contemporary American horror market. It reflects current anxieties about financial instability and corporate power. The work updates the gothic tradition by placing supernatural elements in a modern skyscraper rather than an old castle.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · Stephen King's 'The Long Walk' · Neil Gaiman's dark fantasy · modern psychological horror

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Devil's Rock Publishing 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781914021428

📝 Description: Deal

R P Howley presents a modern gothic tale centered on Dane Creed, a former corporate finance professional whose life has collapsed under financial ruin. The narrative begins with an unmarked, hand-delivered letter that invites him to McKinley & Shaw, the towering skyscraper where he once worked. This setting serves as the primary stage for the unfolding horror, transforming a familiar corporate environment into something sinister and unnatural. The story draws on traditions of Faustian bargains and supernatural fiction, blending them with the anxieties of modern economic instability. Howley, known for his work in horror and gothic genres, structures the plot around a single night where Dane must prove his worth to reclaim his lost status. The text describes executives who may not be human and paintings that come alive, creating an atmosphere of dread within the glass-walled offices. The narrative focuses on the immediate consequences of accepting such a deal, emphasizing the loss of one's soul rather than just physical death. This book suits readers who enjoy psychological horror rooted in professional settings and those interested in contemporary interpretations of classic devil deals. It may not appeal to those seeking traditional haunted house narratives or historical gothic fiction set in older periods. The story remains tightly focused on Dane’s personal struggle and the eerie, humming environment of the corporate tower.

💎 Our verdict on Deal

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Howley effectively transforms the sterile environment of a skyscraper into a vessel for dread, proving that horror thrives in the mundane when stripped of its humanity. The narrative excels in building atmosphere through subtle details like humming lights and living art, creating a sense of unease that permeates every glass-walled office. This approach suits readers who prefer creeping psychological terror over visceral gore, offering a sophisticated critique of capitalist despair. While it may disappoint those seeking traditional haunted house tropes or historical settings, it rewards those willing to engage with its thematic weight. The story’s strength lies in its restraint, avoiding clichés to focus on the terrifying implications of a Faustian bargain in the age of financial ruin.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a fresh take on supernatural horror will find this title compelling, as it replaces ancient curses with the immediate, visceral dread of corporate failure. It appeals to those who appreciate psychological depth over jump scares, offering a narrative where the real terror stems from the realization that professional ambition has become a literal hell. The book is ideal for fans of gothic fiction who enjoy seeing familiar settings transformed into sinister landscapes. By focusing on personal stakes and the loss of one's soul rather than physical death, it provides a haunting exploration of greed. Those interested in contemporary interpretations of devil deals will gain from its tight focus on Dane’s struggle, making it a resonant choice for anyone worried about the cost of success in the modern world.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Howley effectively transforms the sterile environment of a skyscraper into a vessel for dread, proving that horror thrives in the mundane when stripped of its humanity. The narrative excels in building atmosphere through subtle details like humming lights and living art, creating a sense of unease that permeates every glass-walled office. This approach suits readers who prefer creeping psychological terror over visceral gore, offering a sophisticated critique of capitalist despair. While it may disappoint those seeking traditional haunted house tropes or historical settings, it rewards those willing to engage with its thematic weight. The story’s strength lies in its restraint, avoiding clichés to focus on the terrifying implications of a Faustian bargain in the age of financial ruin.