The ghost that ate us The tragic true story of the burger city poltergeist

On June 1, 2017, six people were killed at Burger City #8 at Exit 269 off I-80 in Iowa. Books and movies were produced about the massacre. Was Kit Bryant a murderer, or were they all the victims of an evil poltergeist? Best-selling author Kraus (The Living Dead, 2020) sets out to write the definitive true-crime account, visiting the charred remains of the crime scene, interviewing survivors, who have all experienced considerable weight loss, and Bryant himself, plagued by uncontrolled weight gain, incarcerated in a high-security mental-health facility. Crisscrossing miles, following leads, battling COVID restrictions, supporting his findings with research, documentation, and footnotes, Kraus recounts his exhaustive work. Except none of it happened. The entire book--the crime, the YouTube videos, the intimately detailed humans at the center of this immersive story of relentlessly escalating dread--is a work of fiction. The verisimilitude is disorienting, forcing the reader to question everything on the page, their own memories, and at times, their sanity. Add to this anxiety-rich meal an ending so creepy it will induce a full-body shiver. For fans of titles as varied as I'll Be Gone In the Dark, by Michelle McNamara (2018) or Reprieve, by James Han Mattson (2021).

Kraus's (cowriter with Guillermo del Toro of The Shape of Water and Trollhunters) hilarious, creative, and horrifying novel confronts many issues--addiction, brain drain, the encroachment of corporations on small businesses--that cause the death of small towns. On June 1, 2017, six people were murdered at the Burger City franchise in Jonny, Iowa, following a months-long investigation of paranormal activity ("the Burger City Poltergeist") at the restaurant. Kraus has thoroughly investigated the Burger City Poltergeist, providing the only account of the events as told by the survivors. Full of interviews, articles, and footnotes, this account attempts to uncover the reality of one of the most gruesome events in history. Kirby Heybourne provides excellent narration, adding a sense of mystery and intrigue to the story, reminiscent of true-crime documentaries. VERDICT A must-add for horror collections. Fans of Grady Hendrix novels and We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry will love this new mockumentary-style novel.--Elyssa Everling