SUBURBAN HELL

A lite-horror-comedy about a group of women whose cul-de-sac gets a new neighbor: a demon. It's for readers of My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix, The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, The Return by Rachel Harrison, and Witch Please by Ann Aguirre.

None of this would have happened if it wasn't for the She Shed. What starts as a fun escape turns into a suburban nightmare for four best friends in the Chicago 'burbs.

Amy Foster considers herself lucky. After she left the city and went full minivan, she found her place quickly with neighbors Liz, Jess, and Melissa, together snarking the "Mom Mafia" from the outskirts of the PTA mom crowd. So, one night during their monthly wine get-together, the newfound crew concoct a plan for a clubhouse She Shed in Liz's backyard the perfect space for just them, no spouses or kids allowed.

But the night after they christen the space with a ceremonial drink, things start to feel.off. What they didn't expect was for Liz's little home improvement project to release a demonic force that turns their quiet suburban enclave into something out of a nightmare. And that's before the Homeowners' Association gets wind of it.

Just as Liz is turned into a creepy doll face overnight, cases of haunting activity around the neighborhood intensify, and even the calmest moms can't justify the strange burn marks, self-moving dolls, and horrible smells surrounding their possessed friend, Liz. Together, Amy, Jess, and Melissa must fight back the evil spirit to save Liz and the neighborhood.before the suburbs go completely to hell. But at least they don't have to deal with the PTA, right?

HORROR, BUT MAKE IT FUNNY: Horror is on the rise in fiction, film, and popular culture, and this premise is a clever take on the demonic possession subgenre, paying homage to classics like The Exorcist and The Evil Dead while also poking fun at the trope with laugh-out-loud insights about contemporary life. Suburban Hell is a must-read for fans of dark comedy shows like Dead to Me and Santa Clarita Diet, as well as readers who are flocking to The Ex Hex or who loved the movie Practical Magic.

Maureen Kilmer graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and three children. She does not have a She Shed, and thankfully has not had to battle the forces of darkness (unless going to Costco on a Saturday counts). Suburban Hell is her horror debut.