🩸 Horror Fiction

Negative Images

✍️ Rebecca Schier-Akamelu
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$17.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A widow fights a spectral husband and societal extremism in this modern horror novel.

Anita Walsh loses her husband suddenly, only to face his Negative Image as a tormentor. This ghost uses their past to destroy her life systematically. Schier-Akamelu introduces a world where the dead prey on the living through intimate memories. The plot shifts from personal survival to societal crisis as an extremist exploits fear of NIs. Anita allies with another victim to combat both the ghost and the rising radical movement. The story examines how grief can be weaponized by both spirits and people in power.

Key Themes
grief and loss spectral haunting societal isolation
Literary Context

This 2025 release from Rising Action addresses contemporary anxieties about sudden death and community fragmentation. It reflects current cultural fears regarding mental health, extremism, and the blurring lines between personal trauma and public safety crises in modern American society.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Stephen King · Paul Tremblay · Kirsty Logan
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Rising Action 📅 2025 📖 268 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781998076215

📝 Description: Negative Images

Rebecca Schier-Akamelu presents a chilling exploration of grief in Negative Images, published by Rising Action. The narrative follows Anita Walsh as she confronts the Negative Image phenomenon, where deceased loved ones prey on their survivors. This spectral entity weaponizes shared memories to dismantle friendships, careers, and self-worth. Schier-Akamelu grounds this supernatural horror in the raw reality of sudden loss, offering a psychological depth that resonates with readers who appreciate character-driven terror over jump scares. The story expands beyond personal tragedy to examine societal collapse. As the Negative Image threat grows, a charismatic extremist proposes isolating the haunted from the unafflicted. This political thriller element adds urgency to Anita’s quest to sever her ghostly bonds. She teams with another victim to stop the community breakdown caused by fear and radicalization. The book suits those interested in modern gothic fiction that blends supernatural horror with social commentary. It may not appeal to readers seeking lighthearted escapism or traditional haunted house tales without emotional stakes. Schier-Akamelu’s background allows her to weave intimate family dynamics with broader societal fears. The narrative structure moves from personal haunting to public crisis, ensuring the horror feels both immediate and inevitable. This approach distinguishes the work from generic ghost stories by focusing on the erosion of trust and identity. Readers who enjoy complex protagonists facing impossible choices will find this compelling.

💎 Our verdict on Negative Images

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Schier-Akamelu delivers a chilling exploration of grief where deceased loved ones prey on survivors through intimate memories. The novel successfully grounds supernatural horror in the raw reality of sudden loss, offering psychological depth that resonates with readers valuing character-driven terror over simple jump scares. By expanding into societal collapse and radicalization, the story adds urgency to Anita’s personal quest. This approach ensures the horror feels immediate and inevitable. It suits fans of modern gothic fiction who appreciate social commentary woven into supernatural narratives. The book excels in examining how grief is weaponized by both spirits and political figures, making it a strong choice for those seeking emotional stakes and complex thematic layers rather than lighthearted escapism or traditional haunted house tropes without substance.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate character-driven terror will find this novel compelling for its psychological depth and exploration of weaponized grief. It appeals to those interested in how personal loss intersects with societal collapse, offering a nuanced look at radicalization fueled by fear. The narrative’s shift from intimate haunting to public crisis provides urgency for fans of political thriller elements within horror. Those seeking emotional stakes over traditional jump scares will value the raw reality of sudden loss portrayed here. It is ideal for readers who enjoy examining how spirits and people in power exploit vulnerability, making it a resonant choice for those who prefer horror that examines human dynamics alongside supernatural threats.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Schier-Akamelu delivers a chilling exploration of grief where deceased loved ones prey on survivors through intimate memories. The novel successfully grounds supernatural horror in the raw reality of sudden loss, offering psychological depth that resonates with readers valuing character-driven terror over simple jump scares. By expanding into societal collapse and radicalization, the story adds urgency to Anita’s personal quest. This approach ensures the horror feels immediate and inevitable. It suits fans of modern gothic fiction who appreciate social commentary woven into supernatural narratives. The book excels in examining how grief is weaponized by both spirits and political figures, making it a strong choice for those seeking emotional stakes and complex thematic layers rather than lighthearted escapism or traditional haunted house tropes without substance.

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