🩸 Horror Fiction

The Blade This Time

✍️ Jon Bassoff
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$39.95
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:

Quiet Places: A Novella of Cosmic Folk Horror ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Jasper Bark
Quiet Places: A Novella of Cosmic Folk Horror
$11.99
81
The Beast Above ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Michael C Lockett
The Beast Above
$8.00
78
The Only Thing We Have To Fear ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Matt Rushing
The Only Thing We Have To Fear
$15.00
78
Killer Cadaver ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Denise Lee
Killer Cadaver
$16.99
78
Passing Death: Tales of the Supernatural ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Don D'Ammassa
Passing Death: Tales of the Supernatural
$12.95
78
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

An amnesiac inherits a dead artist's life and deadly secrets in New York.

The narrative follows a man with no memory of his past who finds himself in the depths of New York’s underground. He rises to the surface and takes over Max Leider’s abandoned apartment. By wearing Leider’s clothes and using his art supplies, he slowly becomes the artist. The paintings depict a woman hidden behind curtains, hinting at dark secrets. As he fully transforms into Max Leider, he uncovers horrifying realities about both the creator and himself. This story relies on psychological tension rather than external threats.

Key Themes
Amnesia and identity Artistic obsession Psychological horror
Literary Context

Published in 2022 by Blackstone Publishing, this work sits within the contemporary horror fiction tradition. It draws on the gothic atmosphere of abandoned urban spaces in New York City. The narrative engages with themes of artistic legacy and personal transformation common in supernatural fiction.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Thomas Harris · Patricia Highsmith · Shirley Jackson · Daphne du Maurier
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Blackstone Publishing 📅 2022 🌐 English 📔 Compact Disc ISBN: 9798212023511

📝 Description: The Blade This Time

Jon Bassoff delivers a psychological horror narrative centered on an amnesiac man who awakens in the abandoned subway stations of New York City. He carries only blood-stained cash and a deck of playing cards. After reaching the surface, he secures a cheap apartment formerly inhabited by Max Leider, an enigmatic artist who left behind books, clothes, letters, and paintings of a mysterious woman behind curtains. The protagonist adopts Leider’s identity, wearing his garments and completing his unfinished canvases. This transformation blurs the line between observer and subject as he inherits Leider’s obsessions. The story explores the terrifying truths hidden within the artist’s legacy and the protagonist’s own psyche. Bassoff is an award-winning author known for mastering the horror genre. This book suits readers who enjoy identity-based thrillers and gothic atmospheres. It may not appeal to those seeking traditional monster-driven plots or fast-paced action sequences.

💎 Our verdict on The Blade This Time

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Jon Bassoff crafts a compelling psychological horror narrative centered on an amnesiac man who inherits the life of artist Max Leider. The book excels in building atmospheric tension through the protagonist’s gradual adoption of Leider’s identity, clothes, and artistic obsessions. The depiction of paintings featuring a hidden woman adds layers of mystery without resorting to cheap scares. This approach suits readers who value internal conflict and gothic ambiance over fast-paced action or traditional horror tropes. While it may not appeal to those seeking external threats or quick resolutions, the story’s focus on psychological depth and the terrifying truths of legacy makes it a strong choice for fans of character-driven suspense and eerie, introspective storytelling.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy identity-based thrillers and gothic atmospheres will find this narrative deeply engaging. The story offers a slow-burning exploration of psychological tension, appealing to those who prefer character-driven horror over monster-driven plots. It is ideal for individuals interested in the complexities of memory, art, and the self. By focusing on the protagonist's transformation into Max Leider, the book provides a unique look at how one can inhabit another’s life and secrets. Those who appreciate subtle, unsettling narratives that rely on mood and implication rather than action will gain significant satisfaction from this immersive experience.

⭐ 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

Jon Bassoff crafts a compelling psychological horror narrative centered on an amnesiac man who inherits the life of artist Max Leider. The book excels in building atmospheric tension through the protagonist’s gradual adoption of Leider’s identity, clothes, and artistic obsessions. The depiction of paintings featuring a hidden woman adds layers of mystery without resorting to cheap scares. This approach suits readers who value internal conflict and gothic ambiance over fast-paced action or traditional horror tropes. While it may not appeal to those seeking external threats or quick resolutions, the story’s focus on psychological depth and the terrifying truths of legacy makes it a strong choice for fans of character-driven suspense and eerie, introspective storytelling.

✍️ More books by this author Jon Bassoff

Corrosion
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Jon Bassoff
Corrosion
$19.99
86
Read →
Corrosion
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Jon Bassoff
Corrosion
$29.99
86
Read →
The Memory Ward
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Jon Bassoff
The Memory Ward
$35.95
86
Read →
The Memory Ward
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jon Bassoff
The Memory Ward
$19.99
81
Read →
The Memory Ward
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jon Bassoff
The Memory Ward
$28.99
78
Read →
The Memory Ward
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jon Bassoff
The Memory Ward
$39.95
78
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Blackstone Publishing

Halloween Kills: The Official Movie Novelization
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Tim Waggoner
Halloween Kills: The Official Movie Novelization
$39.95
81
Read →
Out of Time
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Mather
Out of Time
$45.95
78
Read →
Midnight Mass
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
F Paul Wilson
Midnight Mass
$49.95
86
Read →
Secret Santa
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Andrew Shaffer
Secret Santa
$39.95
78
Read →
Bone Harvest
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
James Brogden
Bone Harvest
$55.95
81
Read →
56 Days
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Catherine Ryan Howard
56 Days
$45.95
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Corrosion ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Jon Bassoff
Corrosion
$39.95
86
Read →
The Drive-Thru Crematorium ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Jon Bassoff
The Drive-Thru Crematorium
$29.95
86
Read →
The Uninhabited House ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Mrs J H Charlotte Riddell
The Uninhabited House
$39.95
86
Read →
Whisper Down the Lane ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Clay McLeod Chapman
Whisper Down the Lane
$39.95
86
Read →
Don't Move ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
James S Murray
Don't Move
$39.95
86
Read →
Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist