Scratch

Christopher Hines presents a narrative centered on Brooklyn Mercer, whose infidelity with an unknown man in the Oregon woods initiates a sequence of terrifying events. She returns home carrying a hidden infection that transforms her husband, Nathan, a respected news anchor, into a figure losing time and waking in mud and blood. As his sanity unravels, he approaches the truth while becoming something monstrous. The story expands to Salem, where Detective Calloway investigates rising animal attacks that mask a deeper war between predators hiding in plain sight. The plot intertwines Brooklyn’s secret affair with Nathan’s physical and mental deterioration against the backdrop of an approaching full moon. This visceral thriller examines obsession and transformation, blurring the line between human and monster. Readers who enjoy slow-burn psychological horror will find this work compelling. Fans of titles like The Wolf Among Us, The Invisible Man, and You will likely appreciate its cinematic tone. Those seeking lighthearted entertainment or clear moral distinctions may find the descent into madness unsettling. The narrative relies on tension rather than explicit gore to build dread. Hines structures the plot around the collision of personal betrayal and supernatural horror. The book suits audiences familiar with modern gothic traditions where domestic spaces become sites of terror. It does not appeal to readers who prefer fast-paced action or clear resolutions. The ending leaves the city in a state of unresolved conflict.