by Mark Haddon
First published 2025
Jamie's world crumbles when Rufus vanishes. The eleven-year-old already faces turmoil at home, and his dog's sudden disappearance drives him to the edge. He begins searching everywhere, calling Rufus's name through empty streets and abandoned lots. But Jamie's hunt takes him into strange territory where the boundaries blur between sleep and consciousness. Dark creatures emerge from shadows, feeding on his growing panic and fear. These monsters lurk not only in the shifting landscape around him but also in the corners of his troubled mind. Jamie realizes he cannot simply find Rufus and return home. He must battle the demons that plague his family and the terrors that live in his own thoughts. His mission to rescue his faithful companion transforms into something far more dangerous. Jamie fights for his sanity as much as for his dog's life.
Genres: mystery, horror, psychological-thriller, dark-fantasy
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: unreliable-narrator
288 pages · Paperback · Vintage
Content warnings: anxiety, depression, mental-illness