This Burdened Clay

“This is some of the best writing I've seen in the genre. Get it!”

“The narrative expertly weaves a tapestry of tension, drawing the reader deeper into an intricate web of increasingly terrifying events that leave a lingering sense of dread.”

“Some of it is hilarious, particularly in the first half, but even as events spiral out of control, there are still plenty of funny notes between the horror.”

Fran Gera is a children’s social worker, capable and dedicated. Her addiction to horror movies is a harmless distraction, her volcanic temper and addiction to opiates, not so much. Two damaged boys are assigned to her caseload. Caleb is rebellious and street-smart, his cousin Blake, creative and lonely.

While Fran navigates her professional and personal life, a phenomenon unfolds. People are spurning the hollow diversions of modern life to join hands, to feel the soil against their naked skin. To commune. Campaigners herald the dawn of a utopian cause, but as the behaviour of its followers becomes increasingly bizarre, talk of sinister origins gains credence.

As events epochal and personal collide, Fran’s world falls apart around her. Aided by a former terrorist and a reprehensible social media edge-lord, she must deliver the boys to a place of safety. Together they are propelled on a journey into loss, self-discovery and unspeakable violence.

No one will be left untouched.