A just-married gay couple is thrust into a fight for survival after encountering homophobia and religious extremism while on a road trip through the American South. A fucked-up horror story of love and hatred.
Published in 2022 by HellBound Books, “South of the Mason-Dixon” is the second novel written by Sam Kench. The book is available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook. Kench also wrote “South of the Mason-Dixon” as a screenplay, which earned an 8-overall on The Black List and was featured on the 2024 Dead List, curating the industry’s best unproduced horror scripts
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Praise for South of the Mason-Dixon
- “The finale made my jaw drop! The best horror novel I’ve read in years, it pulls no punches.” —Preston “Phat Samurai Guy” Downey (Critic)
- “Sam Kench hits a horror home run with his sophomore novel. This could easily sit among the Stephen King canon — except it goes one step further by offering a blood-curdling commentary on contemporary bigotry and the frightening current wave of Christian nationalism. It doesn’t require a great leap of imagination to extrapolate the actions of some real-life lunatics and end up inside this uniquely American nightmare.” —Jeff Jackson (Writer/director of Daemon_9, Frankenstein: the Musical)
- “Sam Kench’s ‘South of the Mason-Dixon’ is a dark exploration of religious terror and cult brutality deep within the rural confines of the American South. It’s a wicked journey full of twists and turns that build to a shocking climax you’ll never see coming.” —Chad Michael Ward (Writer/Director of Strange Blood, Black Kiss Stigmata)
- “An eerie look into society that feels uncomfortably relevant today. Sam Kench creates characters you fall in love with only to put them in peril and a world that is as terrifying as it is mesmerizing. South of the Mason-Dixon starts with a bang, and the momentum keeps going, you won’t want to put it down. —Marissa Pistone (Star of Cruel Will, 4/20 Massacre)
- “South of the Mason-Dixon went well beyond what I could imagine at the outset, taking the reader on a journey that is both shockingly horrific and deeply affecting. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” —Jennifer Grand (Writer of “The Beast of Bedburg,” “The Executioner’s Son”)
- “Hot damn, this book was amazing. It got crazy right out of the gate and did not stop.” —It’s a Good Read Reviews
- “This book was insane… truly terrifying. The story was suspenseful and with every twist it just got darker and more brutal.” —What the __ Did I Just Read
- “The term nail-biter is an understatment for this truly captivating horror beauty of a book that packs a serious punch and delivers a strong message. … It will scare the hell out of you.” —Undead Dad Reads
- “Hooollly shit… one of the most intense books I’ve ever read” —Reads with Bee
- “Shows the ugliest, most hateful side of humanity. It also shows how much love humans can possess. It’s brutal, it’s important… not to mention it’s extremely well written. I’d recommend to any horror lover” —Dani Rodriguez (critic)
- “A f*cked up masterpiece. You sure as f*ck won’t forget about it… I can’t really remember the last time I read something so well written. You’re basically watching a movie.” —Mims is Reading
- “Sam Kench has a knack for characters… [they] truly come to life with little touches that make them that much more human. … The storyline was tightly woven and made it so I couldn’t put it down. Kench is a master at building dread and tension within their narrative and you honestly cannot be sure what will happen next.” —What You Tolkien About
- “Chilling in its portrayal of homophobia, but also a glorious horror story that explores how far a person’s body and soul can be pushed for survival” —Reads With Java
- “The pace and tension make this a great read that has you turning pages all night! The action never stops and keeps you on your toes, guessing until the very end! Highly recommend for horror fans! … One of the best horrors I’ve read in a long, long time!” —Bookish Life
- “It takes you on a wild ride and completely goes off the rails by the end. I was very invested in these characters and I never knew what was coming next.” —The Book Gardener
- “This is a thrilling, scary, captivating horror story. I could not put this one down!!…So damn powerfull and so damn scary! Absolutely loved it!” — Kealyn Reads
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