Into the Gray

From the Bram Stoker Award–nominated author of Crossroads comes a terrifying and heartbreaking novella written in the bestselling traditions of Paul Tremblay and Nat Cassidy, in which a mother overwhelmed by grief and guilt must find a way to protect her young son from the horrific entity bent on possessing him for its own.

After the death of her husband, Grace is barely holding herself together as she struggles to care for her young son, Matty. But when a sinister presence known only as the Gray Lady begins stalking them, feeding on Grace's deepest fears and failures, motherhood becomes a waking nightmare. As Matty slips into a mysterious coma, Grace discovers the horrifying truth: part of her son has been stolen into a bleak, haunted realm where guilt takes physical form and every regret becomes a monster.

To save the child she loves more than life itself, Grace must descend into the Gray—a surreal landscape populated by the darkest manifestations of self-doubt, sacrifice, and impossible expectations. There, she must confront not only the creature hunting her family, but the relentless voice telling her she was never really good enough.

Heartbreaking, deeply unsettling, and emotionally resonant, Into the Gray is a haunting exploration of motherhood, grief, and resilience that blends supernatural dread with profound emotional truth. Perfect for fans of Paul Tremblay and Rachel Harrison, this is Laurel Hightower's most powerful work yet.