The Dead Take the A Train
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4.2 • 51 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Bestselling authors Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey have teamed up to deliver a dark new story with magic, monsters, and mayhem, perfect for fans of unhinged eldritch horror.
Julie is a coked-up, burnt-out thirty-year-old whose only retirement plan is dying early. She’s been trying to establish herself in the NYC magic scene, and she’ll work the most gruesome gigs, exorcize the nastiest demons, and make deals with the cruelest gods to claw her way to the top. But nothing can prepare her for the toughest job yet: when her best friend, Sarah, shows up at her door in need of help. Keeping Sarah safe becomes top priority.
Julie is desperate for a quick fix to break the dead-end grind and save her friend. But her power grab sets off a deadly chain of events that puts Sarah – and the entire world - directly in the path of annihilation.
The first explosive adventure in the Carrion City Duology, The Dead Take the A Train fuses Cassandra Khaw’s cosmic horror and Richard Kadrey’s gritty fantasy into a full-throttle thrill ride straight into New York’s magical underbelly.
A 2024 Dragon Awards for Best Horror Novel nominee!
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Laugh and shudder at this gruesome urban fantasy collaboration between Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey. If there’s a stubborn ghost in your hotel or a demon ruining your bachelorette party, chaotic but effective magic operative Julie Crews is the woman to call. Even her credit-stealing ex, Tyler, relies on her to handle the dirtiest jobs his upscale firm assigns him. But when Tyler tricks Julie into buying a forged spell book, she accidentally summons a gleefully murderous eldritch horror that will bring about the end of days—if Julie can’t stop it. Julie is a classic underdog investigator, lacking funds and social polish but always able to concoct a wild last-minute plan or rely on her strange but helpful friends to come to her aid. If you love a noir-fantasy mashup (or if you’re a fan of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series!), don’t miss this delightfully fun splatterfest.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This deliciously down and dirty urban fantasy, the first in the Carrion City duology from Bram Stoker Award winner Khaw (The Salt Grows Heavy) and bestseller Kadrey (the Sandman Slim series), follows Julie Crews, an alcoholic freelance magician, as she navigates New York City's seedy supernatural underbelly. Julie's struggling to make ends meet performing exorcisms and other paranormal odd jobs for the city's upper crust when her best friend (and longtime crush), Sarah, turns up on her doorstep, fleeing an abusive husband and badly in need of a place to stay. To protect Sarah and bail herself out of her dead-end career grind, Julie summons an archangel of justice hoping they'll help balance the books in her favor—but everything comes with a price, and when the archangel proves to have murderous impulses, Julie must fight to keep Sarah, herself, and the entire mortal realm safe. Khaw's and Kadrey's styles are a perfect match throughout, melding Kadrey's knack for punchy action sequences and Khaw's talent for gorgeous descriptions as they maneuver their enormously fun cast through a filthily rendered New York. Fans of urban fantasy, neo-noir, and pulp horror won't want to miss this raucous adventure.
Customer Reviews
Dark Novel of an Alternate New York!
“The Dead Take the A Train” is a horror novel by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey. It takes place in an alternate New York, where dark beings and eldritch horrors mingle with humanity. In this city, Julie Crews barely makes a living exorcising spirits and sending demons back to where they came from. Her life is a mess, and she’s in the process of drinking and drugging herself to death.
One day, her old crush Sara shows up at her door seeking a place of safety. She needs a place to hide from her abusive husband. Julie is having problems with her ex too. He has been using her for odd jobs that his law firm needs done, but things have gotten worse. She wouldn’t work for him at all if she wasn’t so desperate for cash.
This book is disturbing on many levels. There is a great deal of blood and gore, but the real horror is the people who choose power and lose their humanity in the process. This novel is the first in a series called Carrion City. The next volume is titled “A Demon in the Bronx.”
The Eyes Have it
Liked it. You got mucus, tendrils, eyeballs with teeth, filmy phlegm and did I mention mucus? And then you got some really weird stuff. Full disclosure: I can only compare this related to Kadreys’ work as I’m not familiar with anything by Khaw. This was an excellent read, leaving me ready for the next book. Wish there was a bit of a back story on the magic and how it all came to be. Nice work you two.