don’t eat the pie
In DON'T EAT THE PIE, readers are transported to the hauntingly picturesque Camillia Island, where gothic horror meets family drama, unraveling the sinister secrets behind a mother and daughter's summer that promises to be as unsettling as it is compelling for fans of Shirley Jackson and Daphne du Maurier.
Newlywed Sam has always wanted to be a part of a normal happy family.
When her mother-in-law falls ill, Sam dutifully moves her family to Edenic Camillia Island to care for her. The island residents, namely the older women, welcome Sam and her daughter Emma with open arms, endless cocktails, and plenty of superstition.
It seems perfect until it’s not. The house next to her mother-in-law’s is creepy—not only that, it’s where Ben’s first wife died.
Sam’s teen daughter Emma isn’t interested in spending the summer in Camillia. It gets even worse when Emma starts to see things—knowing that there are ghosts trying to warn her of something, but what?
Despite Emma’s pleas, Sam doesn’t want to rock the boat with her new family. Emma won’t pretend nothing is happening, especially as the messages become more grim and frequent. What secrets are buried on Camillia Island? And why are all the residents keen on keeping them quiet?
praise for don’t eat the pie
“Don't Eat the Pie by Monique Asher is unnerving, panicked, claustrophobic and disorienting. Right when you think you've found your footing, the bottom opens and you're plunged into a pit of disquiet. Deliciously eerie.” -- Cynthia Pelayo, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Forgotten Sisters.
"Don’t Eat the Pie is gothic horror at its most deliciously twisted. It’s weird and wild and so deeply unnerving that I couldn’t help but devour it and keep going back for more." -- Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot
“Asher’s Don’t Eat the Pie is the unholy offspring of Suspiria and Gilmore Girls, a wickedly entertaining supernatural tale with an unforgettable mother-daughter combo at its heart.” -- Patrick Barb, author of Pre-Approved for Haunting and Other Stories
"Don’t Eat the Pie is a dark rollercoaster whose twists and turns will leave you breathless, not letting up until the very last page. Asher creates the perfect balance of family drama, occult intrigue, and unrelenting tension in this horror/thriller that is sure to haunt you long after you finish reading. I’m not easily surprised, but this novel had me gasping aloud, as well as squealing with joy, at the delicious twists multiple times. Beside the thrills, Asher’s depiction of the central relationship between mother and daughter pulled at my heartstrings. I know I’ll be gifting this book to all the readers in my life." -- Emma E. Murray, author of Crushing Snails
"Don't Eat the Pie is an extremely assured debut about the destructive power of family ties, false community and the prison that familial duty can build around us, presented in a narrative riddled with sinister secrets, morbid visions, odd neighbours, shifty behaviour and, of course...pie. I loved it." -- Gemma Amor author of The Folly
the red knot
On a tiny, isolated island off the southern Alaskan coast, three girls have vanished without a trace, and Audra’s close friend—the island’s therapist—has been found murdered. A recent storm has severed all communication with the outside world, leaving Audra, the town's lead detective, trapped and at the head of a very personal case.
Her lead suspect, Valorie, the daughter of a notorious cult leader and the town's outcast, was discovered blood-covered and dazed at the crime scene. Valorie’s memory is a gaping void, a dark well hiding traumatic secrets, including the truth about the teenage kidnappings that haunt the island.
As Audra digs deeper into the town's twisted history, it becomes clear other murders on the island, dating back decades, might be connected. The clock is ticking for the missing girls, and every clue leads Audra to question even those she's known her whole life.
Valorie must confront the horrors of her past while Audra’s investigation becomes a descent into madness. On this cursed island, the line between neighbor and nightmare blurs, revealing that true horror often wears a familiar face.
praise for the red knot
"The Red Knot is a missing persons flyer stapled straight onto your psyche, where Monique Asher offers a reward for any information leading to the whereabouts of the reader's sanity. Spoiler: There's no getting it back once you finish this gritty, twisty, true-crimey cult cosmic shocker of a novel."
-- Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Wake Up and Open Your Eyes
"Fast-paced and full of unsettling and shocking twists, The Red Knot had me holding my breath and audibly gasping at every turn. With a beautifully eerie setting, flawed but relatable characters, and several twists you will definitely not see coming, everyone will be picking up this perfect mix of thriller, mystery, and horror." -- Emma E. Murray, author of Crushing Snails
“A crafty thriller that leaves you questioning if you can ever truly escape your past. Smart and chilling, Asher’s The Red Knot keeps you twisting in the wind to the last page.” -- Tanya Pell author of her wicked roots
photo credits: katrina soucy + Elaine Buckner