The black rock stood within itself, brooding and implacable. It waited as it always had. A missing A trio of mismatched mercenaries—Micah Shughrue, Minerva Atwater, and Ebenzer Elkins, colloquially known as "the Englishman" — are hired by Ellen Bellhaven for a deceptively simple check in on her nephew, who may have been taken against his will to a remote New Mexico backwoods settlement called Little Heaven, where a clandestine religious cult holds sway. A terrifying But shortly after they arrive, things begin to turn ominous. There are stirrings in the woods and over the treetops. And above it all looms the brooding shape of a monolith known as the Black Rock, around which nothing will grow. A cosmic But once the mercenaries infiltrate the cult, they can't get back out. Something is keeping everyone at Little Heaven. And its power is growing . . . Old-school horror meets modern-day storytelling in this unforgettable novel by the bestselling author of THE TROOP.
Author
Hello Everybody! I've been asked to set this up by The Powers That Be, and I'm more than happy to, although I can't really say much about myself seeing as Nick Cutter doesn't exactly exist—he's a pen name. A cool, tough pen name! Your mileage will vary on whether you agree, but that was the thinking. Horror writers should have crisp, punchy names. Stephen King. Clive Barker. Nick Cutter. Not that I'm putting myself in their league, no way no how, but I'm just saying that was the idea behind the name. Personally, I wanted to be known as Lemondrop Pennyfeather, but that suggested nom de plume was cruelly stricken down. Aaaanywhoo, I've written this book, The Troop. Do you like horror books? Do you like Boy Scouts (not in a weird, Canteen-Boyish way, but in a nostalgic way)? Do you like seeing said Boy Scouts confront a vicious enemy on an isolated Island off the coast of Prince Edward Island? If you said yes to one or more of these questions, you may enjoy this book. As for me: I've written a few other books under another name (the one my parents gave me). A few story collections, a few novels. One of them even got turned into a movie. I've written for magazines and newspapers, too. I cobble together a living with my pen, is what I'm trying to say—by hook or by crook. It's a lean living sometimes, but it's by and large an enjoyable one. I live in Toronto with my fiancée and our baby boy, Nick ... so, yeah, the pen name is a little bit of an honorific for my son, too; we'll see, in time, if he thinks that was such a hot idea! If you have any questions or want to know more, please shoot me a question. I'm pretty good about responding. Yrs, Nick Cutter (but not really)
