Trolling Lures

Name: Trolling Lures
Price: 10.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781521338742

✍️ Steve Vernon

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$10.99

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

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A man contemplating suicide is confronted by a dead woman and a Troll on a country road.

Vernon uses the isolated setting of a car to create tension. The dead woman acts as a catalyst for Hillman's crisis, forcing him to question his existence. Coyote appears to challenge this despair, introducing the Troll as a counterpoint. This dynamic creates a unique horror experience that blends psychological struggle with mythological interference. The story does not rely on external threats but on the internal and supernatural dialogue occurring within the vehicle. It offers a compact look at how mythical beings might intervene in modern despair.

Key Themes

suicide contemplation dead woman goading Coyote intervention

Literary Context

Published independently in 2017, this work sits within the contemporary horror genre. It draws on Native American folklore figures like Coyote and blends them with modern supernatural fiction. The story reflects a period where indie publishers released niche horror exploring mythological themes alongside psychological distress.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Clive Barker · Poppy Z. Brite · Shirley Jackson

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 Independently Published 📅 2017 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781521338742

📝 Description: Trolling Lures

Steve Vernon presents a dark narrative in Trolling Lures that follows Hillman during a drive down a country road. He contemplates suicide while a dead woman in his back seat goads him with questions about the point of living and his own identity. The story shifts when Coyote intervenes, bringing a Troll into the mix to answer those existential queries. The book draws on supernatural fiction traditions where the dead interact with the living. Vernon structures the tale around this tense car ride, using dialogue and internal monologue to explore themes of despair and otherworldly intervention. The narrative relies on the presence of Coyote and the Troll to drive the plot forward rather than traditional horror tropes like gore or jump scares. This work suits readers who enjoy psychological horror mixed with supernatural elements. It appeals to those interested in stories where mythical figures like Coyote play active roles in human crises. Readers seeking straightforward action or historical gothic settings may find it less engaging. The text remains focused on the immediate interaction between Hillman and these entities.

💎 Our verdict on Trolling Lures

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Steve Vernon crafts a tense, isolated atmosphere within a car, using dialogue and internal monologue to explore deep themes of despair. The narrative effectively subverts traditional horror tropes by relying on supernatural intervention rather than jump scares or gore. The dynamic between Hillman, the dead woman, and Coyote creates a unique psychological struggle. This approach suits readers who prefer intellectual and mythological engagement over visceral shock. The compact structure keeps the focus tight on the immediate interaction with entities, offering a thoughtful look at how mythical beings might address modern existential crises without resorting to cliché.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate psychological horror mixed with supernatural elements will find this work compelling, particularly those interested in how mythical figures intervene in human crises. The book offers a unique exploration of despair and existential questioning through the lens of otherworldly interference. It is ideal for fans of dark fantasy and ghost stories who enjoy internal dialogue over external action. Those seeking straightforward gore or historical gothic settings may find less appeal, but enthusiasts of compact, tension-driven narratives involving Coyote and trolls will gain a distinct reading experience focused on identity and the point of living.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Steve Vernon crafts a tense, isolated atmosphere within a car, using dialogue and internal monologue to explore deep themes of despair. The narrative effectively subverts traditional horror tropes by relying on supernatural intervention rather than jump scares or gore. The dynamic between Hillman, the dead woman, and Coyote creates a unique psychological struggle. This approach suits readers who prefer intellectual and mythological engagement over visceral shock. The compact structure keeps the focus tight on the immediate interaction with entities, offering a thoughtful look at how mythical beings might address modern existential crises without resorting to cliché.