🩸 Horror Fiction

Summer of the Monsters

✍️ David Sodergren
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$45.95
Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

Blood Rite ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Sassy Girl
Blood Rite
$24.99
81
Black Widow; A Collection Of Science-Fiction & Horror Shorts ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Brandea Debusk McGill
Black Widow; A Collection Of Science-Fiction & Horror Shorts
$8.94
78
Hellena's Fury: Hell Hath No Fury Like Hellena's Fury! ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Gregory Coleman
Hellena's Fury: Hell Hath No Fury Like Hellena's Fury!
$16.95
81
Into The Hole ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Ian Thompson
Into The Hole
$6.50
78
Those Who Go Forth into the Empty Place of Gods ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Doug Rinaldi
Those Who Go Forth into the Empty Place of Gods
$8.00
78
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A coming-of-age horror story set in a Scottish village plagued by terrifying entities.

Lucy Brannigan moves to Helsbridge with her father, leaving behind a life defined by financial struggle and social isolation. In this remote Scottish setting, she encounters strange scarecrows and hears terrifying screams at night. Sodergren uses these elements to build a narrative about confronting the unknown. The story tracks Lucy's shift from skepticism to a shocking realization about the nature of reality. As death becomes frequent, the boundary between myth and truth dissolves for the young protagonist.

Key Themes
supernatural horror coming-of-age trauma isolated rural life
Literary Context

The narrative is set in the small Scottish town of Helsbridge. It draws on gothic traditions of isolated farmhouses and thick woodland. The story reflects contemporary concerns about economic desperation and family displacement, framing them within a classic horror structure.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Gothic fiction enthusiasts · Fans of psychological horror
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Tantor Audio 📅 2025 🌐 English 📔 MP3 CD ISBN: 9798228662391

📝 Description: Summer of the Monsters

Sixteen-year-old Lucy Brannigan abandons her belief that monsters are fictional after relocating to an isolated farmhouse in Helsbridge with her father. The family arrives broke and desperate, viewing this remote Scottish town as their final opportunity for survival. Lucy finds herself surrounded by thick woodland and devoid of friends, questioning why previous residents abandoned their belongings behind. Her unease deepens when she notices dozens of scarecrows encircling the new home. Nightly horrifying screams jolt her from sleep, prompting inquiries into the source of these disturbances. David Sodergren, known for Maggie's Grave and The Haar, crafts a narrative that blends tender coming-of-age elements with brutal horror. The plot follows Lucy as she uncovers the dark secret of Helsbridge while bodies accumulate and blood flows in rivers. This discovery alters her life permanently. The story examines themes of isolation, sudden trauma, and the collapse of childhood innocence against a backdrop of supernatural terror. Readers seeking gentle romance or lighthearted adventure should look elsewhere. This title suits those who appreciate mature themes and savage storytelling. It appeals to fans of gothic fiction where psychological dread meets visceral horror. The narrative does not offer easy resolutions or safe havens for its protagonist.

💎 Our verdict on Summer of the Monsters

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Sodergren crafts a narrative that effectively blends tender coming-of-age elements with brutal horror, creating a compelling atmosphere of dread. The story tracks Lucy's shift from skepticism to a shocking realization as death becomes frequent and the boundary between myth and truth dissolves. The depiction of thick woodland and terrifying entities builds significant tension. This title suits readers who appreciate mature themes and savage storytelling over gentle romance. It appeals strongly to fans of gothic fiction where psychological dread meets visceral horror. While it does not offer easy resolutions, it provides a powerful examination of isolation and trauma against a backdrop of supernatural terror.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate mature themes and savage storytelling will find this title compelling. It is ideal for those seeking a narrative that blends tender coming-of-age elements with brutal horror. The book appeals to fans of gothic fiction where psychological dread meets visceral terror. Those interested in stories about isolation, sudden trauma, and the collapse of childhood innocence will gain from its exploration of these concepts. It offers no easy resolutions or safe havens, providing a stark, unflinching look at confronting the unknown. This is not for those seeking gentle romance or lighthearted adventure, but rather for readers ready to engage with a shocking realization about the nature of reality.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Sodergren crafts a narrative that effectively blends tender coming-of-age elements with brutal horror, creating a compelling atmosphere of dread. The story tracks Lucy's shift from skepticism to a shocking realization as death becomes frequent and the boundary between myth and truth dissolves. The depiction of thick woodland and terrifying entities builds significant tension. This title suits readers who appreciate mature themes and savage storytelling over gentle romance. It appeals strongly to fans of gothic fiction where psychological dread meets visceral horror. While it does not offer easy resolutions, it provides a powerful examination of isolation and trauma against a backdrop of supernatural terror.

✍️ More books by this author David Sodergren

Night Shoot
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Sodergren
Night Shoot
$39.99
81
Read →
Maggie's Grave
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Sodergren
Maggie's Grave
$39.99
78
Read →
Maggie's Grave
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Sodergren
Maggie's Grave
$45.95
78
Read →
Night Shoot
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Sodergren
Night Shoot
$45.95
81
Read →
The Suffering (David Sodergren)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Sodergren
The Suffering (David Sodergren)
$15.99
81
Read →
The Forgotten Island
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Sodergren
The Forgotten Island
$15.99
78
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Tantor Audio

Bathwater Blues
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Abe Moss
Bathwater Blues
$55.99
86
Read →
Dreams in Black Static: Eight Stories
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Ambrose Ibsen
Dreams in Black Static: Eight Stories
$45.99
81
Read →
The Numbing
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Flint Maxwell
The Numbing
$35.99
81
Read →
The Messy Man
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Chris Sorensen
The Messy Man
$39.99
78
Read →
Night of the Mannequins
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Stephen Graham Jones
Night of the Mannequins
$32.99
81
Read →
Cursed by Death: A Graveminder Novel
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Melissa Marr
Cursed by Death: A Graveminder Novel
$45.99
79
Read →

You might also like

See more →
The Haar: A Horror Novel ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
David Sodergren
The Haar: A Horror Novel
$45.95
81
Read →
Summer of the Monsters ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
David Sodergren
Summer of the Monsters
$39.99
81
Read →
Woodworm ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Layla Martinez
Woodworm
$45.95
86
Read →
Providence Girls: A Sapphic Horror Romance ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Morgan Dante
Providence Girls: A Sapphic Horror Romance
$45.95
86
Read →
Not a Speck of Light: Stories ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Laird Barron
Not a Speck of Light: Stories
$45.95
86
Read →
Direct Descendant ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Tanya Huff
Direct Descendant
$45.95
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist