Ten writers are selected for a summer-long writing retreat with the most celebrated and reclusive author in the world. Their host is the legendary Roderick Wells. Handsome, enigmatic, and fiendishly talented, Wells promises to teach his pupils about writing, about magic, about the untapped potential that each of them possesses. Most of all, he plans to teach them about the darkness in their hearts.
The writers think they are signing up for a chance at riches and literary prestige. But they are really entering the twisted imagination of a deranged genius, a lethal contest pitting them against one another in a struggle for their sanity and their lives. They have entered into Roderick Wells's most brilliant and horrible creation.
The Dark Game. FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
About the Author
Jonathan Janz is the author of more that fifteen novels and numerous shorter works. Since debuting in 2012, Jonathan's work has been lauded by Booklist, Publishers Weekly, The Library Journal, and many others. He lives in West Lafayette, Indiana. Jonathan Janz grew up between a dark forest and a graveyard, which explains everything.
Industry Reviews
"One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade. Janz is one of my new favorites." -- Brian Keene
"Mr. Janz has a fine eye for the layers of personality and character usually hidden from the world." -- The Haunted Reading Room
"Equal parts Lord of the Flies mixed with The Girl on the Train with a cast of unreliable and shifty personalities, this novel belongs with the best thrillers on the bookshelf and should be on yours, stat." -- A.E Siraki
"Full of wicked imagery and precision placed scare tactics, The Dark Game doesn't disappoint on the spooky scale." -- Just a Guy Who Liked to Read
"Dark, violent, and twisted, The Dark Game blends horror with a character study to disturbing effect." -- John M. Murray Foreword Reviews
"In his latest pulp horror gem, Janz channels early Stephen King to twist the story of a secluded writers' retreat into something unique and thought-provoking." -- Booklist
"The Dark Game is a book I would highly recommend and sits high on my list of favorite reads this year." -- The Scary Reviews
"This novel is a treat for horror fans, yes, but it will have wider appeal as it manages to both scare and comment on the joy of reading. Many will be drawn into this fast-paced thriller, readers who love the pulp horror of Brian Keene, the dark twists of Sarah Pinborough, or the terrifying and emotional storytelling of Paul Tremblay." -- Booklist Online
"The game he plays may be dark, but his writing shines brightest in the shadows." -- Kendall Reviews
"The Dark Game is a creepy and fast-paced read with excellent characterization" -- Little Miss Zombie
"...fast-paced, gory and psychologically horrifying" -- The Most Sublime
"In THE DARK GAME Janz showcases this ability to virtually bring his characters to life." -- Horror After Dark
"...incredible whirlwind of nightmarish suspense..." -- Howling Libraries
"If you love horror stories featuring plenty of characters and plenty of gruesome moments, I definitely recommend checking this book out." -- Tara's Book Addiction
"If you enjoy reading books with eeriness and suspense, then pick up this book." -- Terror Tree
"Jonathan Janz may be rising above the "rising star" of horror status with several highly regarded novels under his belt. The Dark Game is another great novel to add to his list." -- Real Dead Review
"I'm sure we've all heard authors explain how, often as they write a character will take over the story and will take it in directions the author never intended. Well, The Dark Game is this idea on acid." -- Frank Michaels Errington
"The end result is a story showcasing an author at the top of his own dark game." -- High fever Books
"Janz spins a nasty little tale of psychological and supernatural horror" -- Reclusive Reads
"If someone told you this is actually a novel Stephen King had written and forgotten about [...] this is without a doubt the end result of that long-winded metaphor." -- Splattergeist
"Janz's writing has a way of pulling rabbits out of hats with his plots that fit well within the confines of his story" -- Lit Podcast
