Sour Candy

“Four months to the day he first encountered the boy at Walmart, the last of Phil Pendleton's teeth fell out.”

At first glance, Phil Pendleton and his son Adam are just an ordinary father and son, no different from any other. They take walks in the park together, visit county fairs, museums, and zoos, and eat together overlooking the lake. Some might say the father is a little too accommodating given the lack of discipline when the child loses his temper in public. Some might say he spoils his son by allowing him to eat candy whenever he wants and set his own bedtimes. Some might say that such leniency is starting to take its toll on the father, given how his health has declined.

What no one knows is that Phil is a prisoner, and that up until a few weeks ago and a chance encounter at a grocery store, he had never seen the child before in his life.

A new novella from the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of THE TURTLE BOY and KIN.

Praise for Kealan Patrick Burke

“one of the most clever and original talents in contemporary horror “
— Booklist

“A newcomer worth watching.”
— Publisher's Weekly

“one of the best writers in horror fiction today.”
— Jonathan Maberry, New York Times
bestselling author of ROT & RUIN and PATIENT ZERO
“Reminiscent of Stephen King”
— The Green Man Review
“a true master of his art”
— Zonacrypt