After delivering an apocalyptic and chaotic journey with Fever House and The Devil By Name, Keith Rosson returns with Coffin Moon—a bloody, violent vampire revenge tale that pushes boundaries and is everything you’d expect from his twisted mind.
It’s the winter of 1975, and Duane Minor, back home in Portland, Oregon, after a tour in Vietnam, is struggling to quell his anger and keep his drinking in check, keep his young marriage intact, and keep the nightmares away. Things get even more complicated when his thirteen-year-old niece, Julia, is sent across the country to live with Duane and his wife, Heidi, after a tragedy. But slowly, carefully, guided by Heidi’s love and patience, the three of them are building a family.
Then Minor crosses the wrong man: John Varley, a criminal with a bloody history and a trail of bodies behind him. Varley, who sleeps during the day beneath loose drifts of earth and grows teeth in the light of the moon. In an act of brutal retaliation, Varley kills Heidi, leaving Minor broken with guilt and Julia filled with rage. The two of them are left united by only one thing: the desire for vengeance.
As their quest brings them into the dark orbit of immortal, undead children, silver bullet casters, and the bevy of broken men drawn to Varley’s ferocity, Minor and Julia follow his path of destruction from the gritty alleyways of 1970s Portland to the desolate highways of the Northwest and the snow-lashed plains of North Dakota—only to have Varley turn his vicious power back on them. Who will prevail, who will survive, and what remains of our humanity when our thirst for revenge trumps everything else?
Keith Rosson delivers yet another dark, intense, and horrific novel with Coffin Moon, but this is far more than just a vampiric tale. Rosson also explores trauma and grief, giving us a story that is both haunting and profound. In a book that truly feels like a Rosson novel, Coffin Moon combines grit with a sweeping story, resulting in an unforgettable experience.
As this brutal story unfolds, we meet a unique cast of characters, including Duane Minor, his niece Julia, and antagonist John Varley. Each character is fully developed, with great backstories that seamlessly integrate without messing with the story’s pacing. Rosson pulls you into their lives and doesn’t allow you to let go.
Coffin Moon is intense and horrific journey from start to finish with really never a dull moment. The novel blends a raw, gritty story with moments of deep emotion, while exploring revenge and family. Rosson balances these elements, pulling us in with the emotional weight before plunging us into scenes of blood and violence. Each page turns into a extraordinary experience, keeping me hooked until the very end.
As previously mentioned, Coffin Moon is far more than just a dark vampire tale, I mean don’t be mistaken—vampires are at its core. In the past, I steered clear of vampire stories, but not anymore. Recently, I’ve found myself drawn to books like Liz Kerin‘s Night’s Edge (and First Light), Rachael Harrison‘s So Thirsty, and C.J. Tudor‘s The Gathering. Now, Coffin Moon joins alongside these incredible novels, breathing new life into the genre. These novels go beyond what might be expected in a vampire story, elevating characters, atmospheres, and settings a whole new level.
Keith Rosson delivers an unexpected, brutal, emotional vampiric tale that you can really sink my teeth into with Coffin Moon. The author, that should be a household name for horror fans by now, had me hooked from start to finish in a genre that is growing on me each and every new book I read. Coffin Moon is yet another must read from one of the best authors in horror.
Coffin Moon hits bookstores everywhere on September 9, 2025 from Random House. The audiobook is available for pre-order at Libro.fm!
