GIRL IN THE CREEK by Wendy N. Wagner
9781250908643
7/15/25
Tor Nightfire
Fiction / Horror
GIRL IN THE CREEK by Wendy N. Wagner is a uniquely horrifying story that merges true crime, horror, and the complexities of humanity’s environmental devastation.
In a Pacific Northwest town shadowed by the vast and mysterious Mt. Hood National Forest, disappearances are disturbingly common. Five years ago, Erin’s brother, Bryan, vanished there and was believed deceased. His is just one of many unsolved missing-person cases that haunt the community.
Unbeknownst to the residents, a sentient fungus known as the Strangeness has been quietly infiltrating the local ecosystem for years. This pervasive organism spreads, learns, and takes over bodies, creating a network of living creatures both animal and human. And when Erin discovers the corpse of a local woman in a creek, she unknowingly puts herself in the crosshairs of very powerful forces—both earthly and supernatural.
Throughout the story Wagner expertly crafts multiple compelling perspectives. We gain insight not only through Erin’s eyes, experiencing the unfolding horror firsthand, but also through the eeire consciousness of the Strangeness itself, providing a glimpse into its nature and motivations. More than just a scary story, GIRL IN THE CREEK is a haunting experience that lingers, capturing the anxiety of the climate crisis.
For readers who enjoy intelligent thrills, ecological themes, and a lingering sense of unease, this novel offers a truly unforgettable and deeply unsettling reading experience. This pulse-pounding eco-horror will appeal to fans of Jeff VanderMeer and T. Kingfisher.
“A tightly written master class in horror, this is a short, well-paced novel where every detail matters.”—Library Journal, starred
“There’s no one out there writing quite like Wendy N. Wagner. Her fiction is always the perfect combination of horror and heart. With glittering prose, an unforgettable protagonist, and too many spores to count, Girl in the Creek will haunt you and break your heart in equal measure. A fantastic achievement.”—Gwendolyn Kiste, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of THE HAUNTING OF VELKWOOD
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