🩸 Horror Fiction

Hollywood Dead: A Sandman Slim Novel

✍️ Richard Kadrey
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$19.99
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A half-angel detective races against time to survive a demonic pact in Los Angeles.

Kadrey, known for his New York Times bestselling Sandman Slim series, constructs a plot centered on survival and debt. The protagonist James Stark faces a unique predicament: he is not fully alive after his return from Hell. This condition creates immediate tension as he searches for Wormwood's enemies. The narrative structure relies on Stark’s interactions with various supernatural entities and his use of magical artifacts like the Room of Thirteen Doors. The book emphasizes the consequences of past actions and the precarious nature of life in a world governed by evil power brokers.

Key Themes
demonic pacts partial resurrection Los Angeles underworld
Literary Context

Published by Harper Voyager in August 2019, this work continues the long-running Sandman Slim series. It sits within the contemporary urban fantasy genre, blending noir detective tropes with supernatural horror elements specific to the American West.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Charlaine Harris · Jim Butcher · Clive Barker · Poppy Z. Brite
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Harper Voyager 📅 2019 📖 368 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780062474193

📝 Description: Hollywood Dead: A Sandman Slim Novel

Richard Kadrey delivers the tenth installment in his supernatural noir series with Hollywood Dead. The narrative follows James Stark, a half-angel, half-human protagonist who has recently returned from Hell to Los Angeles. His return is conditional, bound by a deal with Wormwood that leaves him only partially alive and racing against a ticking clock. Stark must locate those targeting Wormwood to survive his reanimated state permanently. He utilizes the Room of Thirteen Doors but requires assistance from new allies and familiar faces to succeed in this high-stakes mission. This novel fits squarely within the urban fantasy and horror traditions, appealing to readers who enjoy gritty, fast-paced supernatural thrillers. The story draws on themes of mortality, demonic pacts, and Los Angeles underworld politics. It is suitable for fans of dark, character-driven narratives where the protagonist operates in moral gray areas. Readers seeking light romance or traditional ghost stories may find the tone too intense or the subject matter too focused on violent survival mechanics.

💎 Our verdict on Hollywood Dead: A Sandman Slim Novel

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Richard Kadrey delivers a tense continuation of his supernatural noir series, focusing on James Stark’s desperate struggle for survival after returning from Hell. The narrative effectively utilizes the protagonist’s conditional existence as a catalyst for action, forcing him to navigate Los Angeles's demonic power brokers while bound by a deadly pact. Kadrey excels at building atmosphere through Stark’s interactions with various supernatural entities and his reliance on magical artifacts like the Room of Thirteen Doors. The story emphasizes the heavy cost of past actions, creating a palpable sense of urgency. This work suits readers who appreciate dark, character-driven narratives where moral ambiguity is commonplace. It avoids traditional ghost story tropes in favor of gritty survival mechanics, ensuring a consistent tone that appeals to fans of urban fantasy and horror who enjoy intense, plot-driven experiences.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers drawn to gritty, fast-paced supernatural thrillers will find this installment compelling for its high-stakes survival mechanics. James Stark’s precarious existence as a half-angel racing against a demonic pact creates immediate tension that drives the narrative forward. Fans of dark, character-driven stories where protagonists operate in moral gray areas will appreciate the complex web of consequences stemming from past actions. The book offers an intense exploration of mortality and power dynamics within a world governed by evil entities. Those who enjoy seeing how magical artifacts like the Room of Thirteen Doors function in a dangerous urban landscape will find this engaging. It is not suitable for those seeking light romance or traditional ghost stories, but rather appeals to audiences craving violent survival tactics and intricate underworld politics.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Richard Kadrey delivers a tense continuation of his supernatural noir series, focusing on James Stark’s desperate struggle for survival after returning from Hell. The narrative effectively utilizes the protagonist’s conditional existence as a catalyst for action, forcing him to navigate Los Angeles's demonic power brokers while bound by a deadly pact. Kadrey excels at building atmosphere through Stark’s interactions with various supernatural entities and his reliance on magical artifacts like the Room of Thirteen Doors. The story emphasizes the heavy cost of past actions, creating a palpable sense of urgency. This work suits readers who appreciate dark, character-driven narratives where moral ambiguity is commonplace. It avoids traditional ghost story tropes in favor of gritty survival mechanics, ensuring a consistent tone that appeals to fans of urban fantasy and horror who enjoy intense, plot-driven experiences.

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