Indigent: A Literary Horror Novel

Briana N. Cox writes a literary horror novel set in Leigh Pierce Estates, an apartment complex in gentrifying Atlanta. The building houses working poor tenants, including families, immigrants, students, and elderly residents. When a family of squatters arrives in the basement, they bring a deadly parasite that begins to consume the community. Live-in handyman Xavier is the first to notice the disappearances. A chance encounter with the culprit leaves him infected, pulling him into a surreal nightmare of starvation and consumption. Cox, known for her debut work, explores themes of class struggle and health care through this parasitic terror. The narrative follows Xavier as he succumbs to his infection and joins the squatting family. This group harbors dark secrets and darker appetites, trapped in a cycle of indigency and codependency. The story examines the cost of survival for those disregarded by society. It appeals to readers who enjoy the works of Tananarive Due and Erin E. Adams. Those seeking traditional ghost stories or fast-paced action thrillers may find this slow-burn psychological horror unsuitable. The novel intertwines acid-bath class struggle with bodily horror. Cox uses the parasite as a metaphor for systemic neglect. The plot moves from the initial chaos of the squatters' arrival to Xavier's internal degradation. It concludes with the characters confronting their shared fate in a world that has abandoned them.