A young child’s fate is at stake in a deadly battle between his deceased parents in this gripping and profoundly original psychological thriller, perfect for fans of What Have You Done and Middle of the Night.
“Rosch has artfully flipped the story of every parent’s worst fear. With tension that burns like sudden fire, What the Dead Can Do is a heart-wrenchingly turbulent thriller that asks us to confront our deepest fears about love and loyalty.” – Elle Nash, author of Deliver Me
“An instant favorite. What the Dead Can Do is a bold novel that mines genuine emotion and thoughtfulness from a multilevel nightmare.” – Johnny Compton, author of Devils Kill Devils
“How do you heal from the loss of your child, of your family, of your own life? Peter Rosch tackles these questions in a compellingly original and beautiful way. But what starts as a brilliant spin grows into a vortex of grief and love that will pull you into its depths. His characters are messy and real, his take on the afterlife haunting and heartfelt and at times horrifying. I got mad, I cheered, I held my breath and white-knuckled through the end. What the Dead Can Do will possess you from its first page and not let go until it’s good and ready…” – KC Jones, author of Black Tide and White Line Fever
A decade ago, the pure power of parental love hit award-winning NYC advertising creative director Peter Rosch in ways he couldn’t have imagined—and as a former alcoholic/addict, he’d seen and lived through so much. The adoration for his son juxtaposed with his demons birthed a wildly original psychological horror debut, WHAT THE DEAD CAN DO (Crooked Lane Books; August 26, 2025).
When a commercial flight crashes, all 184 people on board perish—with the singular exception of a two-year-old boy named Ethan, who’s entrusted to family friends Matthew and Nicole per his late parents’ wishes. From the afterlife, Ethan’s parents, Tag and Amanda, watch helplessly as Nicole’s secret addictions, the family’s financial struggles, and the public’s fascination with their story ignite events that threaten their son’s welfare. Soon, Amanda’s grief turns into an insidious obsession: Ethan belongs with herand no one else, and she sets out to reunite with her son by any means possible—including killing Ethan herself. After Amanda learns how to possess the living, only Tag stands in her way. He must protect his child, even if the consequences of his actions mean he may never see his wife or son again.
To celebrate the release of this dark, psychological, speculative thriller tinged with horror, we have gathered the best of the best book influencers to share reviews, excerpts, and features — AND book giveaways! — beginning in August and continuing throughout September. We hope you will follow along!
Tuesday, August 26: STACY 40 PAGES
Tuesday, August 26: ALYMA VERINO READS
Wednesday, August 27: BOOKS AND BIEWERS
Wednesday, August 27: BOOK GIRL BROWN REVIEWS
Thursday, August 28: FULL OF LIT
Thursday, August 28: WE BREAK FOR BOOKS
Friday, August 29: PAGES AND PUPS
Monday, September 1: KIM READS AND READS
Tuesday, September 2: SARAH’S BOOKISH REVIEWS
Tuesday, September 2: KERA’S ALWAYS READING
Wednesday, September 3: DIVE INTO A GOOD BOOK
Wednesday, September 3: SPEEDREADSTAGRAM
Thursday, September 4: BOOKED WITH JULIA
Friday, September 5: BRIANA’S BEST READS
Monday, September 8: LOVE MY BOOKS 2020
Tuesday, September 9: ELSIE LOVES LIT
Wednesday, September 10: GYM GIRL READS
Thursday, September 11: DANISH MUSTARD READS
Friday, September 12: NURSE BOOKIE
Saturday, September 13: MEOWSKINS BOOKSKINS
Monday, September 15: FISH GIRL LOVES BOOKS
Monday, September 15: JUST ANOTHER MOTHER WITH BOOKS
Tuesday, September 16: SHELLEY’S BOOK CORNER
Wednesday, September 17: LEXIJAVA
Wednesday, September 17: ATHENA NO ONE ASKED YOU
Thursday, September 18: DREAMING IN PAGES
Thursday, September 18: GRAYCIOUSLY GREY READER
Friday, September 19: CHAI TEA AND BOOKS ARE ALL I NEED
Monday, September 22: BOOKS AND COFFEE MX
Tuesday, September 23: ENJOYING BOOKS AGAIN
Wednesday, September 24: SUSPENSE IS THRILLING ME
Thursday, September 25: NISSA THE BOOKWORM
Friday, September 26: CANDICE READS
