NIGHT OF MADNESS by Ryan Douglass ~ Spotlight

Teen influencers compete in a horror movie–themed overnight competition, only to realize the real test is staying alive in this chilling, blood-soaked horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Taking of Jake Livingston and the production company behind Clown in a Cornfield.

NIGHT OF MADNESS

BY RYAN DOUGLASS

Simon Pulse and Temple Hill Entertainment are thrilled to publish NIGHT OF MADNESS by Ryan Douglass (available now; ages 14+). Stephen King meets Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in this spine-tingling horror novel about rooting yourself in what really matters and what is truly worth validating—community, friendship, and self-love—despite a world that prioritizes going viral and twisting ourselves into knots to be seen.

Mara is a horror buff whose only fond memories of her dad are bonding over movies by Jack Stanley—the producer of the eighties. Stanley’s campy slasher movies may have kept Mara’s fraught parental relationship on life support and gained a cult following, but the man himself has faded from the public eye...until he announces a contest centered around Asylum, his most terrifying film. Five teen influencers will be invited to spend the night on the fully constructed set; whoever sticks it out until morning wins a hundred thousand dollars.

Stuck in a dead-end job, Mara seriously needs that cash. She may not be a famous influencer, but there has to be a way to manufacture an online presence that will capture Stanley’s attention. With the help of her brother and best friend, Mara finds some creative solutions to her dilemma and lands herself onto the roster of the lucky chosen few by way of her engaging authenticity.

When Mara and the other contestants arrive on set, it’s a horror fan’s dream being immersed in the asylum setting, but as the night wears on, they realize the danger is more than movie magic...They’re not there to win or lose but to live or die. As Mara fights to survive, she discovers an inner ruthlessness she didn’t know she had. Just how far will she go to see the sunrise—and will she still recognize herself by the end?

Purchase Night of Madness from:

Amazon | Hardcover | BAM | Barnes & Noble | Google Books | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads

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“I love writing stories with high entertainment value that also deal with timely issues,” Douglass told Young Adult Books Central. “The idea of how far we’re willing to go to be seen in an era obsessed with social media fame felt like a great engine for a modern horror story. So, the book pays homage to the dark, tournament-style media I grew up with, but sets it alongside influencer culture and how performative the online landscape can feel.”

RYAN DOUGLASS is the author of young adult horror novel The Taking of Jake Livingston, a New York Times bestseller and an ALA Rainbow Book List Pick; The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay, a reimagining of The Great Gatsby set in 1920s Harlem; and Night of Madness, a collaboration with the company behind Off-Campus, Twilight and The Fault in Our Stars. His work explores the ways young people fight to survive in hostile worlds. He lives in Atlanta with his dog and spends his free time baking ambitious desserts and scoping out true crime documentaries.

Photo credit: J. Monroe

Places to find Ryan Douglass:

Goodreads | Instagram | Threads | Amazon Author Page

MEET RYAN DOUGLASS THIS FALL

Saturday, October 3
Decatur Book Festival
Downtown Decatur, GA

Saturday, October 10
St. Louis Teen Book Festival
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch
St. Louis, MO

“A thrilling fun house mirror of a tale that will keep readers on the edges of their seats.”
– Kirkus Reviews

“The competition’s high-stakes challenges are exciting, and the gradually unfolding mystery is nail-biting.” – Publishers Weekly

“With a chilling atmosphere, slasher vibes, unexpected twists, and a heroine forced to discover just how far she’s willing to go to make it through the night, Ryan Douglass delivers a thrilling horror read for fans of locked-room mysteries and cinematic scares ... This is one horror release you won’t want to miss.” – YA Shelf