Loonies

Name: Loonies
Price: 18.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781942712176

✍️ Gregory Bastianelli

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$18.95

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

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A locked trunk in Smokey Hollow triggers a chain of grisly murders linked to a vanished asylum.

Bastianelli uses the setting of Smokey Hollow to explore themes of isolation and inherited trauma. The plot hinges on the connection between the steamer trunk and the historical murders, creating a puzzle that Brian must solve with limited help. The inclusion of the Somnambulist and the Knackerman adds layers of surreal horror to the standard detective structure. The author draws on the tradition of gothic fiction by placing ordinary events in an increasingly unnatural context. The narrative does not rely on supernatural explanations but rather on the psychological weight of the past. This approach creates a sense of dread that permeates every interaction Brian has with the town's residents.

Key Themes

locked steamer trunk Smokey Hollow murders mental asylum fire

Literary Context

The story is set in Smokey Hollow, a quiet American town. It references events from fifty years prior to the present timeline. The narrative draws on the tradition of small-town mystery and gothic horror, focusing on local legends and hidden histories within a US community.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · H.P. Lovecraft · Thomas Harris · Shirley Jackson

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 JournalStone 📅 2015 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781942712176

📝 Description: Loonies

Gregory Bastianelli’s novel centers on Brian Keays, who relocates to Smokey Hollow and uncovers a locked steamer trunk in his attic. This discovery coincides with a suspicious fire at a local mental asylum that leaves no trace of its former inhabitants. The narrative follows Brian as he investigates grisly murders where victims wear pillowcases over their heads, linking them to an unsolved series from fifty years prior. His search for answers is guided by anonymous notes and a cast of eccentric figures. These include a ventriloquist firefighter whose dummy holds secrets, a Somnambulist carrying clues in his pockets, and a Knackerman who disposes of animal carcasses while guarding mysterious containers. The story weaves through these strange characters to reveal the trunk’s dark contents. This work appeals to readers who enjoy supernatural fiction with a focus on small-town mysteries and gothic atmosphere. It suits those interested in psychological horror involving isolated communities and hidden histories. Readers seeking fast-paced action or contemporary thriller elements may find the slow-burn investigation less engaging. The book relies on atmospheric tension and character-driven mystery rather than explicit gore or high-octane sequences. Bastianelli constructs a narrative where death is pervasive, yet solutions remain elusive until the final revelations.

💎 Our verdict on Loonies

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Bastianelli constructs a compelling narrative where death is pervasive yet solutions remain elusive until the end. The author excels at weaving strange characters, such as a ventriloquist firefighter and a Knackerman, into a standard detective structure to create layers of surreal horror. The focus on psychological weight over supernatural explanations creates a unique sense of dread that permeates every interaction. This approach makes the book particularly suitable for those interested in gothic fiction and small-town mysteries. While it lacks explicit gore or high-octane sequences, the atmospheric tension is masterfully maintained. The slow-burn investigation allows for deep exploration of inherited trauma, making it a strong choice for fans of psychological horror who value character depth and eerie settings over rapid plot progression.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric tension and character-driven mysteries will find this book rewarding. It suits those interested in psychological horror involving isolated communities and hidden histories, offering a slow-burn investigation that prioritizes dread over action. The narrative appeals to fans of gothic fiction who enjoy ordinary events placed in increasingly unnatural contexts. Those seeking a puzzle linked to historical murders and surreal elements like the Somnambulist will engage with the unique cast of eccentric figures. However, readers expecting fast-paced contemporary thriller elements may find the pace less engaging. The book offers deep immersion into a pervasive sense of death and elusive solutions, rewarding patience with a final revelation that ties together the trunk’s dark contents and the town's secrets.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Bastianelli constructs a compelling narrative where death is pervasive yet solutions remain elusive until the end. The author excels at weaving strange characters, such as a ventriloquist firefighter and a Knackerman, into a standard detective structure to create layers of surreal horror. The focus on psychological weight over supernatural explanations creates a unique sense of dread that permeates every interaction. This approach makes the book particularly suitable for those interested in gothic fiction and small-town mysteries. While it lacks explicit gore or high-octane sequences, the atmospheric tension is masterfully maintained. The slow-burn investigation allows for deep exploration of inherited trauma, making it a strong choice for fans of psychological horror who value character depth and eerie settings over rapid plot progression.