The Mister Jack/Summerdale Trilogy

As many of you know, my latest horror novel, Mister Jack: Requiem, wraps up what I've called the Mister Jack/Summerdale Trilogy. Honestly, when I wrote my Halloween horror novelette Mister Jack five years ago, I didn't think I'd eventually complete a trilogy of stories centered around the cantankerous old woman Josie Howard, who lived in the woods outside of town with dozens of feral cats. But I did. Then again, when I wrote my erotic horror novella, Roseblood, I never envisioned writing a trilogy about her either. But as they say, shit happens. Who knows, perhaps I have one more Rose Valentine tale to tell (my editor extraordinaire Erin Al-Mehairi would be delighted), but if so, that's quite a few years away. I've got other spooky stories to tell in the meantime.

Anyway, where were we? Ah, yes, my new horror novel. So the ebook released right before Halloween for Nook and Kindle, and the trade paperback exclusively on BN.com followed a few days later. I'll have bulk copies for sale by tomorrow (as mentioned in a previous blog post, so hit me up if interested). 

Some newer readers to my work may have questions about what order to read this trilogy because MJR is the third book, but it's a prequel novel. While it can be read first, followed by Mister Jack and Night of the Pumpkin God, as the author, I'd recommend reading them in order of publication. Read Mister Jack first, then Night of the Pumpkin God, and finally Mister Jack: Requiem. Without giving away any spoilers, the new book (while a prequel) connects directly to events that unfold in NotPG. The Josie's Prank Night chapbook (originally written for the Books of Horror October Mystery Box in 2023) takes place in the early 1980s, and can be read as a flashback type story. 

Also, I was extremely excited and grateful for another incredible review of MJR from horror book reviewer and editor, Lisa Lee Tone, at Bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com, that posted on Sunday. Here's what she had to say:

"Mister Jack: Requiem by Chris Kosarich is the grim prequel to Kosarich’s intense and brutal Halloween tales Mister Jack and Night of the Pumpkin God. Here, Chris Kosarich takes us back in time to the end of the Great Depression and Prohibition, where the story of Josie Howard began.

This is a complex, suspenseful, and vivid tale of not only Josie and her childhood but also of her mother, the man behind the spectre of Mister Jack, and the dark history of the Howard land. It’s an evocative and chilling story of evils wrought and brought forth by people, of that place where human and supernatural horrors come together. But there’s a disturbing deeper level to this story as well.

Mister Jack: Requiem has powerful subtext. It speaks to hubris, greed, bigotry, megalomania, and how the effects of words and actions spawned from them can echo down through years, decades, centuries. It speaks to the treatment of women throughout history but also to the strength of women via the perseverance, determination, and big heart of Elizabeth Howard. It speaks to the horrors that beget the poisoning of our environment, our society, ourselves.

The combining of history, storyline, and subtext is artfully done, and the characters are engaging and diverse. Scenes of sex and violence may be a bit too intense for some readers, but overall, it’s just on the cusp of extreme horror. This is an engrossing and entertaining story and an impactful read. Fans of Mister Jack and Night of the Pumpkin God will love this captivating backstory."

Wow, right? I was blown away by her lovely, complimentary assessment and totally appreciative of her time and effort in reviewing my work, as always. Thanks so much, Lisa! 🎃🖤🎃🖤🎃