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Fiend

Author Alma Katsu
Hardcover
$30.00 US
Penguin Adult HC/TR | G.P. Putnam's Sons
6"W x 9"H | 15 oz | 12 per carton
On sale Sep 16, 2025 | 256 Pages | 9780593714348
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Historical horror maven Alma Katsu turns her talents to the modern world for the first time, in this terrifying tale about an all-powerful family with an ancient evil under its thumb.

Imagine if the Sackler family had a demon at their beck and call.

The Berisha family runs one of the largest import-export companies in the world, and they’ve always been lucky. Their rivals suffer strokes. Inconvenient buildings catch on fire. Earthquakes swallow up manufacturing plants, destroying harmful evidence. Things always seem to work out for the Berishas. They’re blessed.

At least that is what Zef, the patriarch, has always told his three children. And each of them knows their place in the family—Dardan, as the only male heir, must prepare to take over as keeper of the Berisha secrets, Maris’s most powerful contribution, much to her dismay, will be to marry strategically, and Nora’s job, as the youngest, is to just stay out of the way. But when things stop going as planned, and the family blessing starts looking more like a curse, the Berishas begin to splinter, each hatching their own secret scheme. They didn’t get to be one of the richest families in the world without spilling a little blood, but this time, it might be their own.
“[O]ozing with dread . . . Katsu presents a fast-paced story that will unite her fans across genres.” —Library Journal

"An absolutely wicked delight! Fiend ruined several nights’ sleep for me, which is the highest praise I can give a book. Damn you, Alma Katsu, please write another novel as quickly as possible. I’m bereft to be done with this one." —Kelly Link, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Book of Love

“Succession meets Supernatural in this tale of greed and family dysfunction. Alma Katsu ventures into contemporary horror with panache.” —Silvia Moreno-Garcia author of Mexican Gothic

"If you liked Succession but think it would have been a lot more fun with a 1,000 year old demon, then Alma Katsu's Fiend has got you covered." —Grady Hendrix, author of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

"Fiend by Alma Katsu is a dark, cutthroat family drama of high-stakes wealth, unchecked ambition, and supernatural temptation, perfect for fans of Succession and The Fall of the House of Usher. I was transfixed by this modern Gothic masterpiece from one of my favorite voices in horror." —Sadie Hartmann, Bram Stoker Award winning author of 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered

"A wickedly entertaining, dread-laced modern fable. Fiend is an unforgettable thrill ride that shocks and moves in equal measure. Magnificent." —Rachel Harrison, author of Play Nice

“Every family has skeletons in the closet—some have something far more evil. Alma Katsu has created a modern-day fable of greed and power, a story we think we know, and turned it inside out with a wicked blend of horror and suspense.” —Jennifer McMahon, New York Times bestselling author of My Darling Girl and The Winter People

“Alma Katsu has staked her claim as one of the top names in both contemporary horror and twisty thrillers! With Fiend, she delivers a devilishly cunning, supernatural Succession that brings all her skills to bear! This one will unite Katsu’s readers, and earn her plenty more! Don’t miss it!” —Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Birds and Road of Bones

"A mesmerizing tale, twisting generational wealth together with family trauma. . . greed is the plan and the monsters are everywhere." —Karen Joy Fowler, author of Booth

"A family empire, a battle for ascendancy among the siblings, Fiend has the betrayal and intrigue of Succession with an added supernatural surprise. I tore through this book, a horror story about greed and power. Alma Katsu spins a great story, an amorality tale." —Victor LaValle, author of Lone Women
© Suzette Niess
Alma Katsu is the award-winning author of eight novels, most recently Red London, The Fervor, and Red Widow. Prior to the publication of her first novel, she had a thirty-five-year career as a senior intelligence analyst for several U.S. agencies, including the CIA and NSA, as well as RAND, the global policy think tank. Katsu is a graduate of the masters writing program at the Johns Hopkins University and received her bachelors degree from Brandeis University. She lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband, where she is a consultant to government and private industry on future trends and analytic methods. View titles by Alma Katsu

About

Historical horror maven Alma Katsu turns her talents to the modern world for the first time, in this terrifying tale about an all-powerful family with an ancient evil under its thumb.

Imagine if the Sackler family had a demon at their beck and call.

The Berisha family runs one of the largest import-export companies in the world, and they’ve always been lucky. Their rivals suffer strokes. Inconvenient buildings catch on fire. Earthquakes swallow up manufacturing plants, destroying harmful evidence. Things always seem to work out for the Berishas. They’re blessed.

At least that is what Zef, the patriarch, has always told his three children. And each of them knows their place in the family—Dardan, as the only male heir, must prepare to take over as keeper of the Berisha secrets, Maris’s most powerful contribution, much to her dismay, will be to marry strategically, and Nora’s job, as the youngest, is to just stay out of the way. But when things stop going as planned, and the family blessing starts looking more like a curse, the Berishas begin to splinter, each hatching their own secret scheme. They didn’t get to be one of the richest families in the world without spilling a little blood, but this time, it might be their own.

Praise

“[O]ozing with dread . . . Katsu presents a fast-paced story that will unite her fans across genres.” —Library Journal

"An absolutely wicked delight! Fiend ruined several nights’ sleep for me, which is the highest praise I can give a book. Damn you, Alma Katsu, please write another novel as quickly as possible. I’m bereft to be done with this one." —Kelly Link, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Book of Love

“Succession meets Supernatural in this tale of greed and family dysfunction. Alma Katsu ventures into contemporary horror with panache.” —Silvia Moreno-Garcia author of Mexican Gothic

"If you liked Succession but think it would have been a lot more fun with a 1,000 year old demon, then Alma Katsu's Fiend has got you covered." —Grady Hendrix, author of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

"Fiend by Alma Katsu is a dark, cutthroat family drama of high-stakes wealth, unchecked ambition, and supernatural temptation, perfect for fans of Succession and The Fall of the House of Usher. I was transfixed by this modern Gothic masterpiece from one of my favorite voices in horror." —Sadie Hartmann, Bram Stoker Award winning author of 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered

"A wickedly entertaining, dread-laced modern fable. Fiend is an unforgettable thrill ride that shocks and moves in equal measure. Magnificent." —Rachel Harrison, author of Play Nice

“Every family has skeletons in the closet—some have something far more evil. Alma Katsu has created a modern-day fable of greed and power, a story we think we know, and turned it inside out with a wicked blend of horror and suspense.” —Jennifer McMahon, New York Times bestselling author of My Darling Girl and The Winter People

“Alma Katsu has staked her claim as one of the top names in both contemporary horror and twisty thrillers! With Fiend, she delivers a devilishly cunning, supernatural Succession that brings all her skills to bear! This one will unite Katsu’s readers, and earn her plenty more! Don’t miss it!” —Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Birds and Road of Bones

"A mesmerizing tale, twisting generational wealth together with family trauma. . . greed is the plan and the monsters are everywhere." —Karen Joy Fowler, author of Booth

"A family empire, a battle for ascendancy among the siblings, Fiend has the betrayal and intrigue of Succession with an added supernatural surprise. I tore through this book, a horror story about greed and power. Alma Katsu spins a great story, an amorality tale." —Victor LaValle, author of Lone Women

Author

© Suzette Niess
Alma Katsu is the award-winning author of eight novels, most recently Red London, The Fervor, and Red Widow. Prior to the publication of her first novel, she had a thirty-five-year career as a senior intelligence analyst for several U.S. agencies, including the CIA and NSA, as well as RAND, the global policy think tank. Katsu is a graduate of the masters writing program at the Johns Hopkins University and received her bachelors degree from Brandeis University. She lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband, where she is a consultant to government and private industry on future trends and analytic methods. View titles by Alma Katsu

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