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Conjuring the Demon
Not yet published
Expected 13 Feb 26Sometimes, to end a curse, you have to return to where it began.
“Epically brutal and genuinely chilling, this one demands a standing ovation from all horror fans.”—Nick Roberts, author of The Exorcist’s House and Mean Spirited
2024
Howie Burke swore he’d never go back to Newport after the childhood murders that shattered his life. But twenty-five years later, a desperate call from his mother drags him home—and straight into the horrors he thought he left behind.
The town feels wrong the moment he arrives. Old ghosts lurk in the shadows, and something far darker has been growing in his absence. The secrets he and his childhood friends uncovered were only the beginning.
1978
Jessica and Henry Black move to Newport searching for a fresh start. For Jessica, it’s a chance to escape her fanatical upbringing and finally choose her own path—but the town offers a new kind of one built on secrets, sacrifice, and blood.
As the townsfolk take a chilling interest in her, Jessica begins to understand the she isn’t just welcome here.
She’s wanted.
She’s chosen.
She’s necessary.
Two timelines. One curse.
And the only way out… is through the coven that began it.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!
“Epically brutal and genuinely chilling, this one demands a standing ovation from all horror fans.”—Nick Roberts, author of The Exorcist’s House and Mean Spirited
2024
Howie Burke swore he’d never go back to Newport after the childhood murders that shattered his life. But twenty-five years later, a desperate call from his mother drags him home—and straight into the horrors he thought he left behind.
The town feels wrong the moment he arrives. Old ghosts lurk in the shadows, and something far darker has been growing in his absence. The secrets he and his childhood friends uncovered were only the beginning.
1978
Jessica and Henry Black move to Newport searching for a fresh start. For Jessica, it’s a chance to escape her fanatical upbringing and finally choose her own path—but the town offers a new kind of one built on secrets, sacrifice, and blood.
As the townsfolk take a chilling interest in her, Jessica begins to understand the she isn’t just welcome here.
She’s wanted.
She’s chosen.
She’s necessary.
Two timelines. One curse.
And the only way out… is through the coven that began it.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!
- GenresHorror
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 13, 2026
9 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
John Durgin
27 books599 followersJohn Durgin is a proud active HWA member and lifelong horror fan. Growing up in New Hampshire, he discovered Stephen King much younger than most probably should have, reading IT before he reached high school—and knew from that moment on he wanted to write horror. He had his first story accepted in the summer of 2021 in the Beach Bodies anthology through DarkLit Press. His debut novel, The Cursed Among Us was released June 3, 2022, and went on to become an Amazon bestseller. Next up, his sophomore novel titled Inside The Devil’s Nest, released in January of 2023, followed by his debut collection, Sleeping In The Fire in June of 2023. In 2024 he released two more novels, Kosa and Consumed by Evil through Crystal Lake Publishing.
Twitter- @jdurgin1084
Website- www.johndurginauthor.com
Instagram- @durginpencildrawings
TikTok- @johndurgin_author
Twitter- @jdurgin1084
Website- www.johndurginauthor.com
Instagram- @durginpencildrawings
TikTok- @johndurgin_author
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 12, 2026
I loved it so much, I read it 6 times! And that was before even sending it to my editor 😂
January 12, 2026
I can’t believe it’s over! I just finished an ARC of Conjuring the Demon, the third and final installment of The Newport Curse series, and wow, what a finale. We’re thrown right back into the chaos of Newport, meeting new characters while reuniting with familiar faces across two timelines that are years apart. It’s everything I love about this series turned up a notch.
I’ve praised Durgin’s writing before, and he proves it again here. He moves between POVs so seamlessly that the tension never dips. The atmosphere stays creepy, intense, and downright addictive. I was barely into the prologue before I said to myself, "YES, THIS IS GOING TO BE SO GOOD!!!"
No spoilers, but fans of Durgin’s work are in for a treat because there’s some fantastic crossover with Inside the Devil’s Nest that made the experience even more fun. This finale is packed with wild events, demons, cults, and all the supernatural madness you’d hope for in a Newport book.
If you haven’t picked up the first two installments yet, you’ve still got time before this one releases on FRIDAY THE 13TH in February 2026.
I’ve praised Durgin’s writing before, and he proves it again here. He moves between POVs so seamlessly that the tension never dips. The atmosphere stays creepy, intense, and downright addictive. I was barely into the prologue before I said to myself, "YES, THIS IS GOING TO BE SO GOOD!!!"
No spoilers, but fans of Durgin’s work are in for a treat because there’s some fantastic crossover with Inside the Devil’s Nest that made the experience even more fun. This finale is packed with wild events, demons, cults, and all the supernatural madness you’d hope for in a Newport book.
If you haven’t picked up the first two installments yet, you’ve still got time before this one releases on FRIDAY THE 13TH in February 2026.
January 24, 2026
ARC Review
Conjuring The Demon
What a conclusion for Howie, Bethany and everyone fighting to save Newport! This is a classic coming of age story in a way but in this story not everyone makes it! Conjuring starts with Howie 25 years later still struggling with what happened to him, his friends and their town back in middle school and high school. He is floating through life avoiding Newport in fear the coven will return. All the while Howie’s mom has to live where all these bad things happened which is what finally pulls Howie back to Newport. From there things continue to spiral for Howie and others fighting to save Newport and perhaps the world!
I won’t go any further as I don’t want to give anything away. But I keep jumping from book to book as to which John Durgin book is my favorite. It was, of course, The Cursed Among Us, on to Kosa and The Devil’s in the Next Room, Devil’s Nest, The Envelope, which is amazing, but wow Conjuring the Demon brought tears to my eyes. I love possession horror and the struggle between good and evil, and especially like it when there is some gray on who is good and who is evil and the end isn’t wrapped up in a pretty bow. Read all of this series, The Cursed Among Us, Consumed By Evil and this one, but if you want to enjoy this writers journey start from the beginning and work you way through all of his work as some don’t relate but others give you information about settings in this trilogy among other tings. Either way I don’t think you will regret taking the journey!
Conjuring The Demon
What a conclusion for Howie, Bethany and everyone fighting to save Newport! This is a classic coming of age story in a way but in this story not everyone makes it! Conjuring starts with Howie 25 years later still struggling with what happened to him, his friends and their town back in middle school and high school. He is floating through life avoiding Newport in fear the coven will return. All the while Howie’s mom has to live where all these bad things happened which is what finally pulls Howie back to Newport. From there things continue to spiral for Howie and others fighting to save Newport and perhaps the world!
I won’t go any further as I don’t want to give anything away. But I keep jumping from book to book as to which John Durgin book is my favorite. It was, of course, The Cursed Among Us, on to Kosa and The Devil’s in the Next Room, Devil’s Nest, The Envelope, which is amazing, but wow Conjuring the Demon brought tears to my eyes. I love possession horror and the struggle between good and evil, and especially like it when there is some gray on who is good and who is evil and the end isn’t wrapped up in a pretty bow. Read all of this series, The Cursed Among Us, Consumed By Evil and this one, but if you want to enjoy this writers journey start from the beginning and work you way through all of his work as some don’t relate but others give you information about settings in this trilogy among other tings. Either way I don’t think you will regret taking the journey!
January 28, 2026
With this being the conclusion of the series, I can honestly say that these characters became a part of my life. As I delved deeper into this final novel I was reminded of how small towns can hide deep secrets. I grew up in a small town and I remember the rumors that spread amongst us kids. There were stories of haunted places, eerie streets and forests full of secrets. I survived some traumatic events a child and those memories were brought out as I read this novel. I was reminded of how short life really is and to not take advantage of loved ones. Even though this book had many gory, horrific scenes; I still became emotional as I reached the final chapters. Howie was an exceptional human being due to the fact he did whatever it took to save the ones he loved. His ultimate sacrifice saved his hometown from the relentless horror that a demon caused. This book was a treasure for sure.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was so excited to receive this ARC. This is the third and final book in the Newport Curse series. The story follows two different timelines: Howie Burke twenty-five years after the murders of his childhood and Jessica Black in the past after she leaves her strict family and moves to Newport for a fresh start.
If you're like me and thought about Howie long after finishing The Cursed Among Us and Consumed by Evil, make sure you pick this one up on February 13th. Durgin really knows how to write characters. This was the perfect end to the story of the Newport curse.
If you're like me and thought about Howie long after finishing The Cursed Among Us and Consumed by Evil, make sure you pick this one up on February 13th. Durgin really knows how to write characters. This was the perfect end to the story of the Newport curse.
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒈𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟗 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒖𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆, 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔.
This installment brings John Durgin’s masterful trilogy to a close, returning to Newport for one final descent into its history and its horrors. In the present day, Howie Burke is forced back to the town he fled after childhood murders destroyed any sense of safety he once knew. What he finds waiting for him is not closure, but a deeper rot that has been festering for decades. Running parallel is the story of Jessica Black in 1978, who arrives in Newport hoping to escape a controlling past filled with religious ideology, only to discover that the town has plans of its own. What unfolds across both timelines is the slow revelation of a curse rooted in sacrifice, devotion, and a coven that has been shaping lives for generations.
The dual timelines work beautifully, each one enhancing the other. There is a strong sense of nostalgia threaded throughout the book, echoing the emotional core of the first installment even as the characters are separated by both years and experience. The author clearly understands the power of memory in horror, using it to blur the line between past and present until they feel inseparable. Even with time separating the core events, that same sense of childhood fear, loyalty, and loss is still present; now it's just filtered through time and regret.
This conclusion honors everything that came before it and delivers a finale that feels deeply satisfying, even if I wasn’t ready to let it end. Saying goodbye to a series this immersive is bittersweet, especially when the characters feel this real. I loved this book, I loved this series, and I’m going to miss Newport and the people who lived there. For readers who have been here from the beginning, this ending is both devastating and complete. Damn you, Durgin. Thank you for allowing me an early copy and for having me on your ARC team. This one publishes February 13, 2026.
This installment brings John Durgin’s masterful trilogy to a close, returning to Newport for one final descent into its history and its horrors. In the present day, Howie Burke is forced back to the town he fled after childhood murders destroyed any sense of safety he once knew. What he finds waiting for him is not closure, but a deeper rot that has been festering for decades. Running parallel is the story of Jessica Black in 1978, who arrives in Newport hoping to escape a controlling past filled with religious ideology, only to discover that the town has plans of its own. What unfolds across both timelines is the slow revelation of a curse rooted in sacrifice, devotion, and a coven that has been shaping lives for generations.
The dual timelines work beautifully, each one enhancing the other. There is a strong sense of nostalgia threaded throughout the book, echoing the emotional core of the first installment even as the characters are separated by both years and experience. The author clearly understands the power of memory in horror, using it to blur the line between past and present until they feel inseparable. Even with time separating the core events, that same sense of childhood fear, loyalty, and loss is still present; now it's just filtered through time and regret.
This conclusion honors everything that came before it and delivers a finale that feels deeply satisfying, even if I wasn’t ready to let it end. Saying goodbye to a series this immersive is bittersweet, especially when the characters feel this real. I loved this book, I loved this series, and I’m going to miss Newport and the people who lived there. For readers who have been here from the beginning, this ending is both devastating and complete. Damn you, Durgin. Thank you for allowing me an early copy and for having me on your ARC team. This one publishes February 13, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Conjuring the Demon by John Durgin was a really fun horror read. I’ve been waiting for this since it was announced, and before I knew it, I was already done. This time around, Howie returns 25 years later and gets pulled right back into the nightmares he thought he left behind, only to find something even darker and more sinister waiting for him. Some of the same characters return and you’re introduced to some new ones. Jumping between past and present adds a ton of background and clears up a lot of stuff you didn’t even realize you wanted answers to.
Since this is an ARC review, I’m purposely leaving out details. The fun is in discovering these things for yourself. There’s a fun little easter egg in there if you’ve read his other books. IYKYK. And honestly, it turned out amazing. Yeah, I know I’m being vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything.
As with all of John’s books, I highly recommend this one. I do think you should start with the first book in the series—it really is that good. I even went back and reread the first two just to get back into Newport, and they’re still as fun as they were the first time.
Since this is an ARC review, I’m purposely leaving out details. The fun is in discovering these things for yourself. There’s a fun little easter egg in there if you’ve read his other books. IYKYK. And honestly, it turned out amazing. Yeah, I know I’m being vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything.
As with all of John’s books, I highly recommend this one. I do think you should start with the first book in the series—it really is that good. I even went back and reread the first two just to get back into Newport, and they’re still as fun as they were the first time.
February 4, 2026
This is the third and final installment in The Newport Curse series. This series was a wild ride. Howie Burke returns to the town he fled after experiencing a traumatic childhood, only to discover that the town's problems have intensified. Jessica Black arrives in Newport in 1978, seeking freedom from her past, but the town's dark forces pose a horrifying obstacle. Both storylines unveil a sinister cult that has controlled the town's residents through ritualistic practices for decades.
This final book is packed with demons, cults, and all sorts of supernatural elements that you would expect and want to find in a great book. From start to finish, this book completely captured my attention and kept me hooked. Unfortunately, I'm really sad that this series has come to an end.
This final book is packed with demons, cults, and all sorts of supernatural elements that you would expect and want to find in a great book. From start to finish, this book completely captured my attention and kept me hooked. Unfortunately, I'm really sad that this series has come to an end.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What an ending. This trilogy was a wild ride. I fell in love with the first two books and when I had the opportunity to read an ARC of the third and final book, I jumped on it! Durgin wraps up this story in an amazing way. There are no loose ends and the end is the end. The crossing over from "Inside The Devil's Nest" is amazing as well. I love the flashbacks from the past and the present. Following Howie as an adult in present day is also an amazing way to wrap up this story. As much as I wish there would be more, Durgin wraps the Newport story with perfection. Thank you to Crystal Lake Publishing for providing me with an ARC for this amazing book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I took my time reading this because I wasn’t ready for the series to end! The tie in with Inside the Devil’s Nest was so creative and the duel timelines in the story were written seamlessly and never confusing at all. Creepy, atmospheric and very well written. Sad it’s over, but this was the perfect final book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A flawless wait to end an epic trilogy of terror.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thrilling, exciting, scary and downright awesome! A definite must read for anyone who loves horror, and don't we all?
February 1, 2026
After swearing he would never return to Newport, Howie finds himself dragged back to the least happy place on earth by forces he cannot escape. The narrative skillfully weaves between Howie’s return in 2024 and the arrival of Jessica and Henry in 1978. Every page is filled with apprehension and devastation. There’s even some devilish connections to a glowing lake filled with terrors to rend the human mind.
My interest in it did not waver a single time throughout the entire book; every chapter ended in a way that I couldn’t put it down. I also think it's impressive that some of it was so brutal that I had audible reactions to it. The series concludes with an incredible finale that leaves lasting emotional damage (thanks for that haha.)
I feel a series has been done right when the conclusion of a series makes you immediately want to restart the entire thing. This accomplished that, it’s one of the, if not the, best coming-of-age series I've ever read.
This will be released on Friday, the 13th, in February. If you like your horror to be horrific, I could not recommend this one more — and if you haven’t read the first two, you have more than enough time to correct your mistake! Thanks to John Durgin for the ARC, it was a wild ride.
My interest in it did not waver a single time throughout the entire book; every chapter ended in a way that I couldn’t put it down. I also think it's impressive that some of it was so brutal that I had audible reactions to it. The series concludes with an incredible finale that leaves lasting emotional damage (thanks for that haha.)
I feel a series has been done right when the conclusion of a series makes you immediately want to restart the entire thing. This accomplished that, it’s one of the, if not the, best coming-of-age series I've ever read.
This will be released on Friday, the 13th, in February. If you like your horror to be horrific, I could not recommend this one more — and if you haven’t read the first two, you have more than enough time to correct your mistake! Thanks to John Durgin for the ARC, it was a wild ride.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews