“Old-schoolhorror.“―StephenKingTheExorcistmeetsLordoftheFlies,bywayofMidnightMass,inBoysintheValley,abrilliantcoming-of-agetalefromaward-winningauthorPhilipFracassi.AnEsquireBestHorrorBookof2023!“Asublimelychillingstory.“--LibraryJournal,STARREDreviewSt.Vincent’sOrphanageforBoys.Earlytwentiethcentury,inaremotevalleyinPennsylvania.Here,underthewatchfuleyesofseveralpriests,thirtyboyswork,learn,andworship.PeterBarlow,orphanedasachildbyagruesomemurder,hasmadeanewlifehere.Asheapproachesadulthood,hehasfriends,afuture...afamily.Then,lateonestormynight,agroupofmenarriveattheirdoor,oneofwhomisbadlywounded,occultsymbolscarvedintohisflesh.Hisdeathreleasesanancientevilthatspreadslikesickness,infectingSt.Vincent’sandthechildrenwithin.Soon,boysbeginactingdifferently,forminggroups.Takingsides.Othersturnupdead.NowPeterandthosedeartohimmustchoosesidesoftheirown,eachofthemknowingtheirlives--andperhapstheireternalsouls--areatrisk.
