Killed by a Serial Killer

Trey Deibel’s Killed by a Serial Killer is a horror novelette that blends mystery and thriller elements into a compact narrative. The story follows Troy and Blake, two adventurous teenagers who enter an abandoned insane asylum seeking proof of lost spirits. Their search leads them to the hideout of a serial killer, resulting in their deaths. As spirits trapped within the asylum walls, they must determine if they can move on and identify the entity keeping them confined. Deibel, the author and publisher, presents this work as a 2022 Global Book Award Winner for Self-Published Authors in the Mystery/Crime Fiction category. The novella draws on gothic traditions of haunted locations and supernatural investigation. It appeals to readers who enjoy short, intense horror stories with a mystery component. Those seeking complex character development or lengthy epics may find this format too brief. The narrative focuses on the immediate aftermath of death and the mechanics of spiritual entrapment. The book is organized as a continuous novelette rather than a collection of essays or a traditional novel with extensive chapters. It relies on the premise of post-mortem consciousness to drive its plot. Deibel uses the setting of the asylum to create a claustrophobic atmosphere for his protagonists. The story does not offer historical analysis or academic commentary on the genre. It remains focused on the fictional experience of Troy and Blake. Readers interested in self-published crime fiction awards will find this entry notable. The text avoids supernatural exposition, instead showing the characters' struggle directly.