Black Rain Season

by Kayli Scholz

In this thrilling gay-centric novel, a coming-of-age clairvoyant and a crime-scene technician help each other survive as a serial killer wreaks terror in rural Florida. The unsettling pursuit of identifying the Hillbilly Hammer killer is left up to a group of blue-collar characters who are busy grave-robbing, having affairs, and mourning the death of a popular teenage girl.

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 20, 2024

About the author

Kayli Scholz is the author of Saint Grit, Black Rain Season, the forthcoming novel, Yeehaw Junction, and various short stories.

Reviews

[Shrike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Rain Season is a nostalgic, small-town horror novel. While it's set in 2024, I found much of the plot and dialogue reminiscent of older horror movies. This made for a charmingly anachronistic reading experience.

My favorite aspect of this book is that exact not-quite-familiar feeling it evoked for me. I grew up in Florida and appreciated all the little nods to the local flora and fauna, but the small-town setting and sugar cane burning were new to me. I loved how Scholz used sugar cane smog to set the novel's foreboding mood. 

The plot was fun, but there are some parts that did not work for me. In particular, I noticed that characters start catching on to the killer's true motivations without a clear explanation within the plot. This omniscience did not feel believable to me, even with the characters' supernatural gifts. I also found some of the anachronisms a bit distracting. For instance, social media and the internet play little to no role in this tale while radio is a central fixture. While charming, this choice felt pretty unusual for a story set in the current year.

Thank you so much to Curious Corvid Publishing for the chance to check out an ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

[Jenna White · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick and easy read. Maybe a good palate cleanser.

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There was no wondering who the killer is. We are introduced to him, and then everyone knows who it is. There's no investigation. And then he's made out to be this powerful supernatural being, but then it takes all of two pages to take him out. There were a lot of unnecessary characters. The book is 277 pages, but probably could have easily been under 200.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much. I especially loved the queer representation and how well all the characters meshed together. Will absolutely be recommending it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was awesome! Gave all the nostalgic feels. Very well writing and loved the queer representation!! Definitely recommend

[Sirius . · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viciously exciting and unrepentantly queer while hitting all the nostalgic notes, BLACK RAIN SEASON is a haunting gothic masterpiece and Scholz is a master of Southern horror.