The beauty of Heinous Souls lies in how Selk takes this very real human conflict and weaves it into a supernatural narrative. Family drama in itself is often unsettling because of its relatability—most people can understand the discomfort of living with a toxic family member or the toll that emotional abuse takes on a person’s well-being. But in Heinous Souls, this already intense psychological pressure is amplified by unexplained, eerie occurrences that suggest the family’s dysfunction isn’t just a product of their behavior—it’s something that has stirred up forces far beyond their control.

This book stands out because the supernatural elements don’t feel like an afterthought or a gimmick added to a standard family drama. Instead, they feel like a natural extension of the trauma the characters are enduring. The strange noises, unsettling presences, and the constant sense of being watched are all rooted in the family’s dysfunction. These supernatural occurrences don’t exist outside the family’s emotional turmoil—they reflect the unresolved anger, jealousy, and fear that haunt these characters.

For example, the eerie noises and strange occurrences around the house aren’t just creepy set pieces—they represent the emotional decay happening within the family. The tension between Sebastian and Archie is palpable, with Archie’s cruel insults and manipulative behavior constantly gnawing at Sebastian’s psyche. This verbal abuse becomes a form of psychic torment, with the house itself seeming to echo these toxic emotions. In a sense, the home becomes a character in its own right—a decaying, oppressive presence that mirrors the emotional decay within the family unit.

Heinous Souls

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Random snippets from Heinous Souls

April's heart raced. "What's that?" she inquired, panic creeping into her tone.

"I heard it, too," Sebastian said, attempting to remain cool. "It's probably just the air conditioning kicking on."

Just then, the TV turned off.

“What the fuck, Sebastian!” April shouted, her fear quickly turning to anger, “that’s not funny!”

“I didn’t do anything,” Sebastian stammered, confusion etched on his face, “are you sitting on the remote?”

“No!” April shot back, “it’s right here on the table!” April grabbed the remote, her hands trembling slightly, and turned the movie back on.

"That was strange," Sebastian whispered, attempting to shake his increasing unease.

Just as they were settling in, the lights in the house began to flicker violently. The kitchen echoed with the sound of dishes crashing in the sink and cupboard doors slamming shut in a frenzied pattern. April yelled, her voice breaking through the chaos. The TV flickered on and off, and deep, evil laughter echoed through the walls.

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, everything was silent. The house sank into an unsettling silence. April and Sebastian clung to each other on the couch, their hearts hammering together.

Heinous Souls: Dire Straits

Coming February 2026

Heinous Souls: Dire Straits drags readers into a haunting where despair breeds demons and grief becomes its own form of damnation. Some spirits want revenge, others just want company.

Not every ghost hides in the dark, some wear the faces we love.

When Connor and his stepmother, Amanda, move into a decaying apartment on the edge of town, they hope to escape their past. Instead, they awaken something ancient. Something patient. Something hungry. At first, it’s only whispers in the night, cold air, cabinet doors swinging open on their own. But soon the thing in the dark begins to touch, to twist, to possess. And it feeds on everything they’ve already lost.

In Heinous Souls: Dire Straits, sixteen-year-old Connor is trapped in a decaying world of poverty, neglect, and fear. After losing both parents, he lives with his unstable stepmother, Amanda, a woman whose grief has curdled into anger, addiction, and despair. Their crumbling apartment becomes a prison of tension and buried trauma…

What begins as the ordinary cruelty of a broken home soon unravels into something far more sinister. Doors open on their own. Shadows breathe. A malevolent force slips between walls and flesh, blurring the line between possession and madness. As Connor struggles to understand what’s real, Amanda spirals into chaos, her body and mind becoming battlegrounds for horrors unseen.

Through haunting realism and graphic psychological dread, Heinous Souls: Dire Straits exposes the fragility of innocence, the corrosion of grief, and the evil that festers in silence. Every secret, every sin, every whispered moan in the dark pulls Connor deeper into a nightmare that feels disturbingly human… and undeniably demonic.

Nicholas Selk's storytelling pulls you into a world of chilling suspense and psychological tension. The twists and eerie encounters kept me on edge from start to finish. A gripping read that will haunt you long after you've turned the last page.

Fiction Author

Emily Rogers

★★★★★

Testimonials and Feedback

★★★★★

Nicholas Selk crafts a haunting atmosphere filled with jealousy, betrayal, and eerie hauntings. His vivid descriptions of twisted relationships and paranormal forces make this a must-read for horror fans.

Fiction Author

Samantha Lee

★★★★★

From the disturbing dynamics of the couple's relationship to the spine-tingling supernatural events, Nicholas Selk masterfully blends horror and drama. This story is raw, dark, and impossible to put down.

Fiction Author

James Bryant