The Sleepy Hollow Incident: Book Two

by P.D. Alleva

In the dead of winter, Sleepy Hollow becomes a crucible of blood, desire, and damnation.




Marc Saduj thought surrendering his soul would save Lori Francon. Instead, it delivered him into the hands of the Man in Black—a demon whose torture chamber fuels a cosmic gateway to hell itself. Trapped between waking nightmares and the cemetery ether, Marc drifts further from the man he once was, his heart chained to darkness.




Far from the blood-soaked snow, Lori tries to rebuild her shattered life on Long Island. But grief is a relentless phantom. Haunted by Marc’s memory, manipulated by her mother, and entangled in uneasy alliances, Lori cannot shake the feeling that her fate remains tethered to his. Even in comfort and privilege, shadows press closer, hinting that the past is not done with her.




As medieval tortures erupt beneath the snow-drenched woods, Detective Carver races to untangle the blood-soaked trail. A young boy haunted by visions of his dead mother glimpses horrors no child should see. And each new sacrifice brings the celestial alignment closer, thinning the veil between this world and Xibalba.




The portal is opening. The demon’s army is stirring.




Equal parts gothic romance and unflinching horror, The Sleepy Hollow Book Two is a fever dream of forbidden love, infernal bargains, and cosmic terror. Perfect for fans of Anne Rice, Shirley Jackson, and The Haunting of Hill House, this haunting continuation how far will you go to save the one you love—when their soul may already belong to hell?

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Paranormal

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

PD Alleva writes thrillers. Whether those thrillers are Sci-Fi Fantasy’s about Alien Vampires attempting to subjugate the human race, or steeped in a haunting mystery, or an urban paranormal fantasy, PD always provides readers with a profound, entertaining, and satisfying reader experience, in a new genre he has coined as alternative fiction. His novels blend mystery, conspiracy, psychology, and action with the supernatural, horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Alternative fiction is PD's attempt at describing what readers uncover in any one of his books, a new discovery towards mainstream storytelling. He's been writing since childhood, creating and developing stories with brash and impactful concepts he describes are metaphors for the shifting energies that exist in the universe. PD lives inside of his own universe, working diligently on the Sci-Fi/Fantasy series, The Rose Vol. II, the urban paranormal fantasy series, Girl on a Mission, and Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect, PD’s upcoming horror novel.

To receive the latest updates, sales, beta reading opportunities, book fairs, and giveaways, join PD’s mailing list: http://eepurl.com/gxKH7P

Reviews

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich]

4.5 stars

The Sleepy Hollow Incident by P.D. Alleva is the second in the four book series.    It's a paranormal/horror/romance/gothic novel set in the legendary Sleepy Hollow....but with a whole new spin.  I consider it more horror than any of the above.

Let me thank the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 
First....be aware that these books must be read in order, and you will have to read them all.  The story just continues from one book to the next.  It's a four-book series.  That being said, PD Alleva can really write.  His prose is wonderful.  His world building ability is really evident in this series. 

Also be warned, there's a little more gore in this one....okay, a lot more gore in this one.  That doesn't bother me, but it may some.  Remember what I said about his prose?  Alleva's gruesome imagination shines on these pages.

Where the last book concentrated on the love story between Marc and Lori, this book lays the groundwork for the future books.  It alludes a little to the town's history,  but it definitely provides information about the portal and the reason for the sacrifices.

The book is again looking at good vs evil, but at this point, the good doesn't look like it stands much of a chance.  Suspense continues to build, and I worry for Carver, as well as for John.  Well, that being said, I guess worrying about Marc and Lori is inevitable....then there is humanity as a whole.

Overall, this book is another atmospheric tale, filled with blood, gore, and a lot of evil.  It's a dark and eerie tale.

Remember to read the first book in this series before this one.  If horror is in your blood, It will be worth your while!

Anyway, until next time ...


For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis, author information and a favorite quotation or two from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Peggy Baldwin]

This is book 2 of the series and it is even more frightening then book 1 when barbaric sacrifices are being made and Marc is very confused and Lori is searching for Marc. Another page turner for sure .


.

[Phyllis Bernstein]

This is book 2 in the series (make sure to read the first book first). This continues Marc’s story after he sold his soul to save his live, Lori. Meanwhile Lori tries rebuilding her life but continues to feel a connection to Marc. In the meantime, Lori has people undermining her. More gore, blood and supernatural happenings than in the first in the series

[Sherry Fundin]

And the pendulum dipped closer,the blade swiping empty air, ready to strike.

That is only the beginning of the diabolically, horrifically, grotesque tortures that will be heaped upon the captives and let loose on humanity, if evil wins.

John, a bright, young boy, lives near the abandoned house, but he insists it is no longer abandoned and there is a vampire burning dead bodies. Captain Carver is convinced that he saw something, so he investigates. Lori feels Marc needs her help and is returning to Sleepy Hollow. As they draw together, Wren and The Man In Black are making plans of their own. Marc is caught between good and evil, and I wonder if he can survive. I mean, look at the cover. He looks pretty bad to me. LOL

Book II picks up where Book I left off. The series needs to be read in order. Each book delves deeper into the evil that surrounds Sleepy Hollow. Can good conquer evil? The anticipation levels rise as I get deeper and deeper into the series.

The portal is opening and the demon horde feels the veil between worlds thinning.

How far will you go to save the one you love?

On to Book III of The Sleepy Hollow Incident by P D Alleva.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

[Robin Ginther-Venneri]

The Sleepy Hollow Incident: Part Three & Four: A Gothic Tale of Horror, Romance & Fantasy!
Book 2 of 4: The Sleepy Hollow Incident
By P.D. Alleva
Publisher: Chamber Door Publishing, LLC
Publication Date: October 28, 2025
ASIN: B0DLPG8JMF
Triggers: Medieval torture, demonic possession, blood-soaked snow, grief, and cosmic horror that refuses to stay in the grave.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating: 💀💀💀 (if you’re squeamish, maybe don’t eat before reading)

What Did I Just Walk Into?
Oh, just your standard love story where boy sells his soul to a demon, girl ends up trapped by manipulative family ties, and an ancient entity starts torturing innocents to pry open a portal to Xibalba. You know, romance.

Marc is spiraling deeper into the Man in Black’s hellscape dungeon while Lori tries to rebuild her life on Long Island under her mother’s suffocating control. Detective Carver is still chasing down a trail of grotesque medieval-style murders, and even kids in town are seeing visions no child should. Torture isn’t just a detail here—it’s basically the demolition crew tearing open the walls between worlds.

By the time the sacrifices mount and the veil thins, you’re left wondering if Marc and Lori are star-crossed lovers or just pawns being shuffled toward damnation.

Here’s What Slapped:
The gore dialed up to eleven. If Book One made you uneasy, Book Two throws you into the meat grinder.

Detective Carver: the poor guy just wants to solve murders, not trip over portals to hell.

The prose: lush, dread-soaked, and relentless in atmosphere.

That tension: the push-pull between love, grief, and cosmic doom keeps the pages burning.

What Could’ve Been Better:
Marc spends a little too much time unraveling and not quite enough fighting back. I get it—being possessed by an ancient demon is rough—but come on, man, at least try to keep your soul in one piece.

Lori’s storyline feels like it’s stuck on repeat while the basement is literally opening to hell. I wanted more fire from her to match the chaos brewing beneath the snow.

Some torture scenes linger just long enough to make you wish for a fast-forward button—not because they aren’t well written, but because your stomach might tap out before your eyes do.

And poor Detective Carver deserves a break. Someone get this man a vacation before the next body drops.

Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Gothic horror that bathes every page in blood and shadows
Demonic bargains with zero fine print (and zero happy endings)
Cosmic horror portals that should absolutely stay closed
Star-crossed love stories cursed from page one

Book Series Order:
The Sleepy Hollow Incident: Part One & Two: A Gothic Tale of Horror, Romance & Fantasy!
Book 1 of 4: The Sleepy Hollow Incident
The Sleepy Hollow Incident: Book Two (Parts Three & Four): A Gothic Tale!
Book 2 of 4: The Sleepy Hollow Incident
The Sleepy Hollow Incident: Book Three (Parts Five & Six): A Gothic Tale!
Book 3 of 4: The Sleepy Hollow Incident
The Sleepy Hollow Incident: Book Four (Parts Seven, Eight & Nine): A Gothic Tale!
Book 4 of 4: The Sleepy Hollow Incident

Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review

[Nancy (The Avid Reader)]

After losing Lori, Marc has drifted into a very dark place that has caused him to revert to his past and his old ways. Marc is searching for Lori; all he wants is to be back together with the one he loves the most. Marc traded his soul for the life of the one he holds most dear to his heart, and now he is paying for it in more ways than one.

Lori is also in a dark place after she and Marc split up. But Lori is in a different kind of dark place than Marc, even if it is for the same reasons in some ways. Lori is having nightmares about Marc, or are they truly nightmares? Maybe they are more real than she knows. Lori is trying to leave the past in the past, where it belongs, but that is easier said than done, right?

When Lori learns about the things Marc is doing, she wants to rush back to him and try to save him for all his monsters or himself. She is still very much in love with him and wants to do what she can to help him. She wants to help him leave the past behind and help bring him to the light, a better, happier place.

After a series of distressing nightmares about her friend Marc, Lori decides to return and rescue him. However, she wakes up in a hospital, restrained to the bed. The doctors believe she attempted suicide, but Lori knows this is not the case and suspects her mother tried to harm her. Lori realizes she must carefully navigate the situation, saying what the doctors want to hear to be released.

Meanwhile, Detective Carver visits Jerry Hardwood in prison, where he speaks ominously about sacrifices to open portals to Hell and a master who demands hearts. Elsewhere, Wren, John, and Marc are working to open a portal to the underworld, which, if successful, would have devastating consequences for life on Earth, as demons and monsters await their chance to cross over.

The Sleepy Hollow Incident is a dark, foreboding, and unsettling world that one would not wish to inhabit, yet the vivid descriptions make the reader feel as if they are truly experiencing it.

[Sharron Joy Reads]

A four book series soaked in blood and eternal damnation. Epic storytelling and world building, incredible characterisation and grotesquely gothic in feel. This is a story of good versus evil, it has sacrificial love, a creepy house in the woods, a small town’s horrific past, dark occult practices, hidden family secrets, demons, witches, ghosts and a literal portal to hell! It is brutal and gruesome but epic in its scope. The whole series will be out and published by the end of December 2025 but part two is unleashed on 28th October.

Book Two - Marc is now trapped after offering his soul to the man in black to save Lori. The demon uses the torture of innocents to open the doorway to the hell dimension and the demons are champing at the bit to be unleashed. As he struggles to escape the clutches of this ancient abomination, Lori is back in her childhood home but haunted by her love for Marc as her mother controls her every move. Something is very wrong and she feels the evil coming for her.

Detective Carver is still on the trail of the killer whose methods are brutal and akin to the inquisition, torturous and blood soaked. As the sacrifices mount up the gateway to Xibalba, the hell dimension is opening and it seems nothing can prevent it.

Unflinching horror that is raw and visceral, the story just keeps getting better and the tension is palpable here as the three main characters fight but seem to have no hope of escaping their destinies. Mind control, manipulation and mayhem are inflicted on the people of Sleepy Hollow and very few are unaffected by the horrors.

[Jim Donohue]

With Book Two, Mr. Alleva has picked up right where Book One left off and he has amped up the horror big time At the risk of spoiling, I won't discuss much of the plot, except to say that Mark is paying the price for his decisions, and the price is quite terrible. Lori's dreams of Mark (but, ARE they dreams?) show him suffering and in great danger, and though they're split up, her love for him still burns and she longs to return to Sleepy Hollow to save him from his demons. The cliffhanger is a banger!!
PD Alleva has written a runaway train of a serialized novel! All you can do is hold on to your seat because at this point, there's no way out. Only thing is, once you start this, you'll want to ride this to the very end of the line

[Angel Medina]

Book two of The Sleepy Hollow Incident picks up from the first book. I have to warn you that you must read book one before reading this one, so hop onto it. PD Alleva is one of my favorite writers and this series is one of the reasons why. His prose is excellent and it drives you into the story. Just like book one, this one continues the romantic subplot while mixing in good old fashioned horror.

All I can say is, bring on the next book in the series! I know this review is short and sweet, but you should read for yourself to see the goodness.

[MAXINEMUSTREADD]

Book Two: It is starting to ramp up A LOT. The side characters are becoming very prominent in the story and the body horror is intense!! Some of the best I have ever read personally. Proceed with caution if you can’t stomach insane torture methods! Me? I ATE IT UP!!

I could feel the storyline building up to the climax and I read this
one in two sittings!!

I immediately grabbed the next book when I finished!!

[Kayla Frederick]

Book 2 in the Sleepy Hollow Incident series kicks off with a bang and doesn’t let up. Marc is reeling from the cost of giving up his soul to the Man in Black, desperate to see Lori again, but with each new sacrifice, that hope slips further away. Meanwhile, Lori is trapped in a personal Hell of her mother’s making, and Detective Carter is closing in on the truth, putting himself in grave danger as he uncovers more than he bargained for.

I love the depth of the development of the characters. The descriptions, especially the gorier scenes, were very descriptive and well done. And that cliffhanger? It’ll have you scrambling for the next book. This series knows how to keep you hooked.

[Erica Fields]

This book blew me away, I loved it! Torture, lots of blood...Wren & his master are so brutial! The portal is getting closer to opening. I'm looking forward to book 3!

[Paul]

so many twists!!

[Sam]

This book is shocking and twisted in the best way. At time I found myself screwing my face up in shock but not being able put the book down. I had to know what happened next. Every time I thought it couldn't get more tense, it ramps up. Great series!

[Renee]

Ahhh I see you came to join me for book 2. It's even more gruesome than the first. It will get it's hooks in you and you will be laye for work or life in general he he

[Josette Thomas]

Pt. 3-living between the cemetery and the old mansion has sure added to the trauma Marc experiences everyday since the accident. The lengths other black man’ went to in order to set up the world’s end was mind boggling. The anguish felt by Marc and Lori felt bleeds through each page of the book. The reader has now discovered that Marc was just part of a bigger plan. He has doubts about his ‘guardians’ help. He is beginning to realize he is a pawn but not to what degree he has become involved. As with all good vs. evil stories; the ‘good ones’ are beginning to receive intuition that more is going on than meets the eye. The torture scenes are gruesome and are beginning to weaken the portal walls. Lori and Marc are also beginning to realize something is wrong about their lives. The influences of the evil are so involved with trying to release demon on earth that clarity is beginning to notice something was wrong.

Pt. 4-The torture has ramped up so that the portal will weaken more to allow the demons through. This part 4 is something else. I have never had torture scenes so well described. I feel terrible for these people. I think Marc finds it easier to ignore what is going on rather than confront the issues going on. I hope Marc and Lori can discover the deception given to them. I also am wondering if there will be any help coming to John, Carver and the humans on earth.

[Charlene (Char) ❤︎ ❀˖° ❤︎]

𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 🦇🕯️𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞! 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

This story picks up right after the accident that forever changes Lori and Marc's lives. They each try to move on with their separate lives, but there’s an unbreakable bond between them that ties them together. After Marc makes a deal with the mysterious man in black, he faces the weight of that decision every single day. Unfortunately, he’s starting to crumble under the harsh reality of his situation. Meanwhile, Lori, back with her overbearing mother, is also realizing that some past issues need to be confronted.

I absolutely love the multiple points of view in this book; it kept me on the edge of my seat! The way information unfolds adds so much depth to the story. There were moments of gore and graphic scenes that made me gasp more times than I can count. I really appreciate the slow build-up of tension. I’m totally hooked on this series and can’t wait to dive into the next two books!

If you’re on the hunt for a fast-paced retelling of Sleepy Hollow that’s filled with a constant sense of dread and the feeling that time is slipping away, you should definitely check this book out!

[Iseult Murphy]

The series continues and intensifies with everything getting even more demonic. I don't see a happy ending for any of the characters at this rate!

Marc has sold his soul to save the woman he loves, but now he has lost Lori as well as his humanity. The scenes concerning the Man in Black and his hallucinations/trips to hell are terrifying and so well described.

Detective Carver is investigating some gruesome murders. I really like this guy. He's smart and has his eyes open.

Meanwhile, Lori is haunted and manipulated and worried about Marc despite what her mother has told her. It feels like Marc and Lori haven't been freely making their own decisions in this whole game. Have they been used to bring about opening a portal to hell?

The author increases the stakes and horror in this installment. I can't wait to read what happens next!

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Lily]

This opened with a dark and chilling scene, and the horror only continues to unfold from there, so buckle up, because this is a dark and wild ride. You do need to read book one, a lot of important groundwork is laid in it, but I promise it’s worth it! This can get a bit gorey, just a heads-up before diving in, but it just adds to the overall darkness and creepy factor of the series. That said, this installment finds Marc in deeper with the demons, and Lori drawn back to Sleepy Hollow, while still tangled up in more mundane concerns of this world. Watching the psychological horror aspect of Marc starting to unravel a bit not only kept me hooked but was definitely causing more chills than the cooler temperatures. The story has excellent pacing, and I cannot wait to dive into book three. Perfect for horror lovers!

[Mary Urban]

The plot thickens and the apocalypse nears. In a way, it's refreshing to read about evil that is simply… evil. No ulterior motives. Evil just because. For the hell of it—pun intended. However, we all know what evil does...
Even if gore is not my jam, the story kept me turning pages while trying not to get attached to any character, even if it's hard. I have the feeling that the story will not end well for the good guys. Also, since I have a soft spot for villains, I miss Wren's background. I would have loved to know what led him to be the way he is. If that means I would have read 5,000 more words about that particular Renfield, so be it. I'm doomed anyway.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debbie Viscosi]

Lori and Marc were in an awful accident while returning home to Sleepy Hollow. Marc awakens in the hospital to learn that Lori’s mother is at Lori’s bedside and has taken charge of her care. Lori is unconscious, and her mother has barred Marc from seeing her. Marc is devastated. Lori’s mother makes it clear that she will be taking Lori back to her childhood home, and further contact by Marc is unwelcome. Marc tries to focus on his healing but is unable to walk away from Lori. Since awakening, Marc has been hearing a voice. This voice tells Marc that Lori will die unless Marc makes a bargain with it. Marc would do anything for Lori…

A horrific series of murders, people hearing voices, and an abandoned home with a portal to hell have upped the scare factor. The sense of forboding is extreme. Marc and Lori are wrapped up in the evil that is gaining strength in Sleep Hollow. Is there a possibility that the impending evil can be stopped? Good and evil are about to have an epic battle. This second book moves us closer to the evil that is gaining strength in Sleepy Hollow.

[K.L. Patrick]

This book is the perfect follow up to the first, some questions are awnsered  while others are not. This world is vivid and confusing at points. You never know whats going to happen Marc. He is lost in a delirium of some sort as the man in black works towards bring back the master.

Everything seems unconnected, but we are getting closer and closer to the plots slamming together.

It reminds me in ways of the uncertainty I felt reading Shutter Island. What is true and what isn't? And where will it all reach its tipping point. I cannot wait for the third book. Easy five stars once again.

[Caryn Larsen]

The continuation of Book One just gets more in depth and scarier. The descriptions in the book really leave you you wanting more.

[Stacy Ziems]

The imagination of this author knows no bounds. This is a true continuation of the first book with no recap, you just dive into the story immediately! On to book 3!!!

[John Bitsko]

This was an excellent continuation to the series. I zipped through this book, i couldn't put it down. Definitely recommended!

[Nicole Burns]

Story is getting better with every book. Getting a bit more twisted etc. I love that.
Love thus series so far. I highly recommend this book

[Chiara Cooper]

Book 2 continues strong and we get to see Marc’s development, but also the power and level of evil he’s now a slave to.

I was already engrossed in this plot, but now I’m totally invested! The author’s descriptions and language to describe the horrors and the changes in the characters are remarkable and the pages flow easily.
The violence is depicted so vividly, perfectly showing the level of madness about to be unleashed onto the town and its residents! I was flinching at times and thankful that I wasn't a character in the book!

Can’t wait to see Marc’s fate and Lori’s too, but I’m also looking forward to seeing how Carver progresses with this unexplainable and scary case.

Thanks to the author for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

[Brandon Wilson]

Title: The Sleepy Hollow Incident Book 2
Author P.D. Alleva
Rating: 5 Stars
Genre: Horror

Release day for book 2 in what is just a wonderful, serialized novel!
This book is an excellent second installment in this episodic story. PD Alleva has amazing prose, and that is one of the main things that draws me into this story. His words flow seamlessly, and he is able to create such dread throughout his book.

Book two, or parts 3 & 4, are even bloodier and more gruesome than the previous installment, and if this continues to track, book three is probably going to be extremely gory, and I am here for it. We are really starting to see Marc Saduj lose his sanity as the Man in Black slowly takes him over. All the while, Lori Francon is dealing with heartache as she comes to terms with the fading relationship with Marc.

This book is equal parts horror, grief, and thriller, and each turn of the page brings you closer and closer to evil itself.

If you are looking for a perfect Halloween read, books 1 and 2 are now available.

[Robin]

Thank you PD for an advanced copy of this book!

The second book expands on the first book well. It has a lot of great twists and turns, getting more gruesome and bringing the side characters in more. However, this series, to me, is hard to get into, especially since it was hard for me to get into the first book. If you love lots and lots of descriptive prose and fewer scenes and if you enjoyed the first book, you'll love this book. But for me personally, I prefer his older books, my favorite being The Rose.

He's taking a different approach with this series, and it isn't working for me so far, but it could work great for someone else. Either way, he's a great horror writer to support.