The Way It Haunted Him (Paperback)

Laura R. Samotin

ISBN 10: 1835412319 / ISBN 13: 9781835412312

Published by Titan Books Ltd, London, 2026

About this Item

Paperback. Guilt. Grief. Obsession. Michael Stein arrives at the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies battered and broken, blaming himself for the tragic accident that took his boyfriends life. He is haunted by his guilt and grief, but is determined to repent while at Institute by completing his boyfriends research into demonic entities. But instead of being welcomed by the archivist, Michael is met by Jacob Schechterthe archivists enigmatic, brooding grandson, who has inherited the Institute after his grandfathers death. As Michael explores the archive, delving into cryptic texts and whispered histories, shadows from the past begin to seep into the present. Tormented by demons both real and imagined, Michaels grief warps into something far darkeran intoxicating, yet increasingly toxic obsession with Jacob, whose own secrets threaten to destroy them both. Now, Michael must confront the terrible truth behind his boyfriends deathand his obsession with Jacobbefore the darkness they awaken in each other claims more than just their love, and consumes them entirely. A twisted, claustrophobic descent into obsession and the dark side of love from the acclaimed author of The Sins on Their Bones. A terrifying and powerful dark academia novel about Jewish folklore, grief, and other things locked in the archives. Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Tori Bovalino and Sunyi Dean. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781835412312

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Way It Haunted Him (Paperback)
• Publisher: Titan Books Ltd, London
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1835412319
• ISBN 13: 9781835412312
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

A terrifying and claustrophobic queer dark academia horror set in a demon-infested archive about trauma, grief and the lengths we will go to for love.

Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher and Tori Bovalino.

GUILT. GRIEF. OBSESSION.

Michael Stein arrives at the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies battered and broken, blaming himself for the tragic accident that took his boyfriend’s life. He is haunted by his guilt and grief, but is determined to repent by completing his boyfriend’s research into demonic entities.

But instead of being welcomed by the archivist, Michael is met by Jacob Schechter—the archivist’s enigmatic, brooding grandson, who has inherited the Institute after his grandfather’s death. As Michael explores the archive, delving into cryptic texts and whispered histories, shadows from the past begin to seep into the present. Tormented by demons both real and imagined, Michael’s grief warps into something far darker—an intoxicating, yet increasingly toxic obsession with Jacob, whose own secrets threaten to destroy them both.

Now, Michael must confront the terrible truth behind his boyfriend’s death—and his obsession with Jacob—before the darkness they awaken in each other claims more than just their love, and consumes them entirely.

About the Author

Laura R. Samotin has a PhD in international relations and enjoys using her academic background on military tactics, power politics, and leadership to enliven and inform her creative writing. Her adult fiction is grounded in Jewish myth, mysticism, and her Eastern European Jewish heritage.

She served as a 2021 #DVMentor mentor and a 2021-2022 WriteMentor Summer Program mentor, and also runs the website Query101 to help authors on their writing journey. She lives with her spouse, and when she’s not researching or writing, she relishes her role as a full-time cat servant.