{"title":"Brian McAuley","description":"\u003cp\u003eBrian McAuley weaves gripping tales that blend the tension of \u003cstrong\u003ecrime and thriller\u003c\/strong\u003e genres with the eerie elements of \u003cem\u003ehorror and the supernatural\u003c\/em\u003e. His stories draw readers into dark, atmospheric worlds where danger lurks beneath the surface and moral boundaries are constantly tested.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExpect narratives filled with relentless suspense, chilling twists, and complex characters facing both human and otherworldly threats. Whether exploring psychological depth or visceral terror, McAuley’s work holds a magnetic pull for fans seeking thrilling, unsettling reads.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"breathe-in-bleed-out-by-brian-mcauley-9781464238208","title":"Breathe In, Bleed Out","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt's a \u003ci\u003eMidsommar\u003c\/i\u003e night's \u003ci\u003eScream\u003c\/i\u003e in this blood-soaked thriller set at a remote healing retreat from horror author Brian McAuley.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHannah has been running from her demons ever since she emerged from a harrowing wilderness trip without her fiancé. No one knows exactly what happened the day Ben died, and Hannah would like to keep it that way... even if his ghost still haunts her with vivid waking nightmares that are ruining her life. So when her friend group gets an exclusive invitation to a restorative spiritual retreat in Joshua Tree, Hannah reluctantly agrees in search of a fresh start.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDespite her scepticism of the strange Guru Pax and his belief in the supernatural world, Hannah soon finds healing through all the yoga, sound baths, and hot springs offered at the tech-free haven. But this peaceful journey of self-discovery quickly descends into a violent fight for self-preservation when a mysterious killer starts picking off retreat attendees in increasingly gruesome ways. As the body count rises and Hannah's sanity frays, she'll have to confront her dark past and uncover the true nature of a ruthless monster hellbent on killing her vibe for good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46545542775020,"sku":"9781464238208","price":29.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/8776973482709.jpg?v=1749808693"},{"product_id":"curse-of-the-reaper-by-brian-mcauley-9781945863806","title":"Curse of the Reaper","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDecades after playing the titular killer in the 80s horror franchise \u003ci\u003eNight of the Reaper\u003c\/i\u003e, Howard Browning has been reduced to signing autographs for his dwindling fanbase at genre conventions. When the studio announces a series reboot, the ageing thespian is crushed to learn he's being replaced in the iconic role by heartthrob Trevor Mane, a former sitcom child-star who's fresh out of rehab. Trevor is determined to stay sober and revamp his image while Howard refuses to let go of the character he created, setting the stage for a cross-generational clash over the soul of a monster. But as Howard fights to reclaim his legacy, the sinister alter ego consumes his unravelling mind, pushing him to the brink of violence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIs the method actor succumbing to madness, or has the devilish Reaper taken on a life of its own? In his razor-sharp debut novel, film and television writer Brian McAuley melds wicked suspense with dark humour and heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'At times deliriously fun and delightfully gory. Its blood-filled heart, however, is its main characters and their personal struggles. Both actors, in their own ways, strain under the unrelenting pressure of others' expectations. To give the Reaper life, McAuley shares snippets of fictional movie screenplays that show the Reaper is just as deadly and entertaining as Jason or Freddy. This book is a must for fans of the slasher genre, but it also offers a sickle-sharp critique of the expendability of actors fed into the Hollywood machine.'\u003c\/strong\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eCurse of the Reaper\u003c\/i\u003e is the best kind of horror - one that's equal parts psychological nightmare and bone-crunching bloodshed. McAuley's novel is a grim amalgam, retelling the inner-struggle of a modern day Jekyll and Hyde and blending it (on high!) with every great 80's slasher movie ever made. Reaper tackles madness, addiction, the costs of stardom, and the innate servitude of every artist whose soul is chained to the growling, hungry beast within. A wonderful, terrifying, thrilling novel not to be missed.' - Philip Fracassi, author of \u003ci\u003eA Child Alone With Strangers\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘In \u003ci\u003eCurse of the Reaper\u003c\/i\u003e, Brian McAuley carves a grinning spectre from our cultural addictions to fandom and nostalgia, gleefully ripping through the boundaries between method and madness, pure scares and pitch-perfect schlock. With vividly wounded characters and a true fan's eye for the horror show, \u003ci\u003eCurse of the Reaper\u003c\/i\u003e is an unmissable glimpse behind the screen.’ - Gordon B. White, author of \u003ci\u003eRookfield\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAs Summer's Mask Slips and Other Disruptions\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'The purpose of horror is to access the unconscious fears of the reader and exploit them. Brian McAuley does just that in \u003ci\u003eCurse of the Reaper\u003c\/i\u003e. An homage to the horror films of the 80's, he delivers horror in a way that will have you clutching the edge of your seat while whipping through the book until the very end. And I enjoyed every single page of it.' - Tracy Cross, author of \u003ci\u003eRootwork\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Brian McAuley takes Method acting to maniacal meta-horror heights in his Poe-infused slasher \u003ci\u003eCurse of the Reaper\u003c\/i\u003e, which reads like a pitch-perfect riff off of Peter Bogdanovich's \u003ci\u003eTargets\u003c\/i\u003e, a Los Angeles-cast \u003ci\u003eCask of Amontillado\u003c\/i\u003e, and a Jerry Stahl-penned tug-of-war between Boris Karloff and Kane Hodder. Read it.' - Clay McLeod Chapman, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Remaking\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eGhost Eaters\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A love letter to slashers, and a nod to our addictions. To drugs, to fame. To the memories of who we once were.' - Jamie Flanagan, co-writer of Netflix's \u003ci\u003eMidnight Mass\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Haunting of Bly Manor\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'McAuley's \u003ci\u003eCurse of the Reaper\u003c\/i\u003e is a clever and creepy romp through the slasher genre, revelling in how it haunts and delights us, and how the real horror never, really ever ends.' - Kate Maruyama, author of \u003ci\u003eHarrowgate\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eFamily Solstice\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072443138284,"sku":"9781945863806","price":44.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/22362863482880.jpg?v=1765110262"},{"product_id":"curse-of-the-reaper-by-brian-mcauley-9781945863912","title":"Curse of the Reaper","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDecades after playing the titular killer in the 80s horror franchise \u003ci\u003eNight of the Reaper\u003c\/i\u003e, Howard Browning has been reduced to signing autographs for his dwindling fanbase at genre conventions. 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And I enjoyed every single page of it.\u003c\/strong\u003e - Tracy Cross, author of \u003ci\u003eRootwork\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrian McAuley takes Method acting to maniacal meta-horror heights in his Poe-infused slasher \u003ci\u003eCurse of the Reaper\u003c\/i\u003e, which reads like a pitch-perfect riff off of Peter Bogdanovich's \u003ci\u003eTargets\u003c\/i\u003e, a Los Angeles-cast \u003ci\u003eCask of Amontillado\u003c\/i\u003e, and a Jerry Stahl-penned tug-of-war between Boris Karloff and Kane Hodder. Read it.\u003c\/strong\u003e - Clay McLeod Chapman, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Remaking\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eGhost Eaters\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA love letter to slashers, and a nod to our addictions. To drugs, to fame. 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But after learning that their holiday getaway was the site of a horrific crime, this family on the rocks will have to fight for their lives against a legendary killer… because Candy Cain is slashing through the snow with a very long naughty list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eCandy Cain Kills\u003c\/i\u003e is the second book in the Killer VHS Series, hailed as \"the modern-day Goosebumps for Adults\" by \u003ci\u003eHorror Obsessive\u003c\/i\u003e. 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