I’LL QUIT WHEN I’M DEAD by Luke Smitherd (OSD: 10/14/25; ISBN: 9780316579568) marks Mulholland’s bold expansion into edgier, more visceral territory – while still staying rooted in deeply human struggles. In Smitherd’s horror novel, two very different but equally desperate people attempt to turn their lives around– only to face nightmarish consequences if they fail.
With the eerie, cultish atmosphere of Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel mixed with the dizzying twists of the likes of Riley Sager or Grady Hendrix, Smitherd crafts a mind-bending tale that asks the chilling question: How far will you go?
Following a public downfall, musician Johnny Blake retreats to a remote cottage to detox from painkillers – only to discover another tenant, lurking in the attic. The creature offers a terrifying Faustian bargain: stay clean or be consumed. Meanwhile, reeling from a bad breakup and struggling with self-confidence, Madison stumbles into a mysterious, all-female fitness boot camp run by an intense ex-military trainer Ellie Fellows. The course is characterized by grueling reps and minimal contact with the outside world, and as Madison quickly learns, dangerous motivational methods.
As their stories unfold and collide, Madison and Johnny come to understand the danger of putting their trust in the wrong hands. . .
Believe me when I tell you I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I read this, piecing together the puzzle Smitherd had laid out like a crazed conspiracist! Just when I thought I had figured out where this was going, the story flipped on its head.
But this novel isn’t just a thrilling ride, it’s a trenchant examination of our culture and Smitherd thoughtfully digs into timely themes such as our obsession with self-improvement, the dark side of wellness culture, and the isolation felt in mental health struggles.
