The Gut

Name: The Gut
Price: 19.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781774784242

✍️ Brad Dunne

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$19.99

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

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A PI returns to her old haunt to stop an ancient evil hiding in plain sight.

Maria Costa investigates missing persons in a gentrifying district while battling her own demons. Kieran Hynes suspects foul play behind the reported drop in violence. Together they uncover a sinister plot involving disappearances of marginalized workers. The narrative focuses on their reluctant reunion and the supernatural danger lurking in the shadows. Dunne uses the detective genre to explore themes of corruption and hidden evil.

Key Themes

urban decay supernatural mystery detective noir

Literary Context

The Gut reflects contemporary American urban anxieties about gentrification and police reform. Published in 2025 by Engen Books, it engages with modern fears of hidden dangers in supposedly safe spaces. The setting mirrors real-world tensions between political narratives and grassroots realities.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Neil Gaiman · Joe Hill · Charles Bukowski · Stephen King

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Engen Books 📅 2025 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781774784242

📝 Description: The Gut

Brad Dunne presents a gritty urban fantasy in The Gut. Maria Costa works as a private investigator, taking cases for wealthy spouses while drinking heavily between assignments. A new investigation draws her back to The Gut, the dangerous neighborhood she left after quitting police work. Officials claim the area has improved, citing lower crime rates and political praise for its renaissance. However, her former partner Kieran Hynes notices a darker pattern beneath this facade. Local prostitutes and drug dealers are vanishing without a trace. Dunne constructs a narrative where personal history collides with supernatural threat. The story examines the contrast between public perception and hidden reality within a decaying cityscape. Maria must confront her past associations with law enforcement while navigating the moral ambiguity of her current profession. Kieran provides a skeptical counterpoint to the official narrative, pushing Maria to look closer at the disappearances. Their partnership forces them to face an ancient evil that threatens the entire metropolitan area. This novel suits readers who enjoy noir detective stories blended with horror elements. Fans of atmospheric urban fantasy will find value in Dunne’s portrayal of a city hiding monstrous secrets. Those seeking lighthearted escapism or pure historical fiction may find the tone too bleak. The book relies on character dynamics and suspense rather than extensive world-building lore.

💎 Our verdict on The Gut

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Dunne effectively constructs a narrative where personal history collides with supernatural threat, creating a tense and immersive experience. The portrayal of a city hiding monstrous secrets is atmospheric and compelling, drawing readers into the moral ambiguity of the protagonist's world. By utilizing the detective genre to explore themes of corruption, the author delivers a story that feels both grounded and eerie. The reluctant reunion between Maria and Kieran adds emotional weight to the unfolding mystery. This novel suits fans of urban fantasy who enjoy complex character dynamics and a bleak tone. It avoids lightheartedness, instead offering a serious examination of hidden evils lurking in plain sight within gentrifying districts.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the atmospheric tension of noir detective stories blended with horror elements will find this novel compelling. It offers a unique exploration of corruption and hidden evil within a decaying cityscape, appealing to those interested in the contrast between public perception and harsh reality. Fans of psychological depth and moral ambiguity in protagonists will enjoy Maria Costa’s journey as she confronts her past while battling an ancient threat. The book is ideal for audiences seeking a bleak, intense narrative that examines societal issues through a supernatural lens, rather than those looking for lighthearted escapism or historical fiction.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Dunne effectively constructs a narrative where personal history collides with supernatural threat, creating a tense and immersive experience. The portrayal of a city hiding monstrous secrets is atmospheric and compelling, drawing readers into the moral ambiguity of the protagonist's world. By utilizing the detective genre to explore themes of corruption, the author delivers a story that feels both grounded and eerie. The reluctant reunion between Maria and Kieran adds emotional weight to the unfolding mystery. This novel suits fans of urban fantasy who enjoy complex character dynamics and a bleak tone. It avoids lightheartedness, instead offering a serious examination of hidden evils lurking in plain sight within gentrifying districts.