First published 2001
Dwight wakes to a sweltering August morning in 1963 Grandville. Mysterious fliers have appeared overnight announcing The Traveling Vampire Show, featuring Valeria, a captive vampire who will drink audience blood at midnight. Dwight and his friends Rusty and Slim desperately want to attend, but multiple barriers block their way. They're only sixteen, below the eighteen-year admission limit. Their parents expect them home before the midnight start time. Worst of all, the performance takes place at Janks Field, a cursed location their families have strictly forbidden them to visit. Unable to see the actual show, the trio decides to hike to Janks Field during daylight hours. They hope to watch the crew prepare and maybe catch a glimpse of the beautiful vampire herself. Dwight narrates their adventure as three friends venture into dangerous territory, driven by curiosity and teenage rebellion. Their day becomes a test of friendship, loyalty, and courage when they discover that some boundaries exist for good reasons.
Genres: adventure, coming-of-age, horror, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: coming-of-age, forbidden-love, teenage-rebellion
Setting: Grandville, Janks Field
Period: 1963
400 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Dorchester Pub Co Inc
Content warnings: violence