Edenville

Author Campbell Martin is struggling to find inspiration for his second novel after his first, The Shattered Man, was a total flop. When he is invited to be the writer-in-residence at Edenville College, he thinks his run of bad luck is finally over, but his girlfriend, Quinn, doesn’t buy it, as she grew up near the weird town of Edenville and is well aware of its ominous history. Cam moves to Edenville nonetheless, but he soon realizes that something is terribly wrong; it appears that Quinn’s suspicions may have been spot-on. Rebelein’s debut novel hops between times, parallel universes, and points of view. It has a strong premise and all the hallmarks of a captivating horror novel—a small town, a conflicted main character, creepy local denizens, and—unexpectedly—sunflowers that stand watch over them all. Amid the horror and the weirdness of Edenville, Rebelein also offers moments of humor that will likely have listeners chuckling. Narrator Charlie Thurston excels at giving voice to Cam, Quinn, and Edenville’s odd and sinister residents. However, with so many variables, the listening experience is occasionally disorienting.