Slashtag - Softcover

Cohn, Jon

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798988061908

Publisher: Deadbolt Books, 2023

Synopsis

Lights. Camera. Carnage.

“Everything I want in a horror novel… a fun and scary read with a ton of heart and humor and an incredibly well-realized overall concept.”—Duncan Ralston, Author of Woom and Ghostland
A chilling and original fever dream of a psychological thriller that tests the boundaries of reality and skewers modern culture, from the bestselling, award-winning author of The Island Mother.

Arthur Wilson, one of history’s most prolific serial killers, built and operated the Propitius Hotel from 1905 until 1928, when countless hidden torture rooms and dozens of bodies were discovered on the grounds. He was never found and brought to justice.

Enter Tawny Howlett—a squeaky clean lifestyle influencer who is knee-deep in a social media disaster, and now thousands of her followers want nothing more than to see media empire crumble. To rehab her image, she's agreed to take part in "Slashtag: The Ultimate Horror Experience", along with seven other celebrities, for a three-day live-streamed reality TV show at the ill-fated Propitius.
It turns out that each of the contestants has a secret and the hotel seems to prey on their deepest darkest thoughts, bringing their biggest fears to life in horror-filled manias.
The participants descend into madness, trying to solve the puzzles hidden within the hotel in order to survive, as millions of people unwittingly tune in to watch the gruesome deaths of some of America's top talent, under the guise of supposedly scripted and choreographed scenes.
But to what end? Who will survive the bloodthirst of the Propitius and the sinister forces lurking in its hidden tunnels and backrooms?
You’ll have to tune in to find out. Going LIVE now…

“A ton of fun. Fast paced, well thought out, and mixed with some brutal splatter and great humor. It draws really well from a lot of my favorite horror stories in genres such as slasher, found footage, and even meta pieces like Cabin in the Woods.”—Andrew Najberg, author of Gollitok

“Excellent…a fun read that will keep you guessing. It’s also a satirical warning about reality TV and just how unreal and scripted it can be. This is a fantastic novel with multiple layers but overall it is heaps of fun!”—MJ Mars, author of The Suffering

“Incredibly unique, gripping and well done.”—KC Grifant, author of Melinda West, Monster Gunslinger

“A fun romp with some shockingly poignant satire that cuts like a razor. Cohn has a unique voice that is very exciting to have on the scene.”—Blaine Daigle, author of The Broken Places

About this title

About the Author

Jon Cohn is a horror novelist and professional board game designer. His works include 2024 Indie Book Brawl Quarter-Finalist Slashtag, and the much less popular, but award winning novel The Island Mother. He gets his best ideas from a tarot reader who lives in Hawaii.
 

As a designer, Jon is very excited to finally be able to merge horror books and games together by bringing Ghostland to life as a board game, coming to Kickstarter. He's also designed games like Thanksgiving, co-designed with Eli Roth, Basket Case, and Taboo Horror.

 
Jon lives in San Diego with his supernaturally patient wife Delaney, and their adorable dog, Miss Cordelia Chase.

From the Back Cover

Welcome to Slashtag, the most immersive horror reality competition series in history! Tag along as seven of America's favorite celebrities step into the infamous Propitius Hotel, home to one of the most prolific serial killers in history - Arthur Wilson.

Arthur built and operated the Propitius Hotel from 1905 until 1928 when dozens of bodies were found in his hotel, along with countless hidden torture rooms throughout the hotel. Arthur disappeared, seemingly never to be caught. He then returned - nearly 40 years later - under the guise of a priest leading a congregation of 100 people back to his hotel, where he once again committed mass murder.

Enter Tawny Howlett - a top-tier lifestyle influencer who is in the midst of the crappiest week of her life. Her brand new health drink turned out to be tainted, and now thousands of her followers want nothing more than to see her social media empire crumble. In order to rehabilitate her image, she's agreed to take part in "Slashtag: The Ultimate Horror Experience".

At first it's all fun and games, until the team of seven celebs discover that the ghost is very real, and out for blood. In order to survive the three-day live-streamed event, Tawny and her fellow contestants must band together to try and send the spirit of Arthur Wilson straight to hell.

"I suddenly wish that I were just crazy. A hallucination would mean my brain is broken, which is something I've spent my entire adult life attempting to accept. If we're both seeing this, it means the world is broken in a way my brain is not prepared to confront."


While Tawny has her hands full trying to survive a weekend at the Propitius Hotel, it's up to her younger sister April to work from the outside to try and find a way to save her sister, and uncover the dark truth behind the TV network that continues to air the deaths of some of America's top talent.
Together these seven doomed souls must solve the puzzles hidden within the hotel in order to vanquish the spirit of Arthur Wilson.

Edition details

• Publisher: Deadbolt Books
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798988061908
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 418