Vietnam War veteran-turned-bartender Duane Minor and his teenage niece Julia seek revenge on biker John Varley, who dismembered their family. Reigning since 1931, the mysterious figure is none other than a vampire, who has “a face like a cloud when photographed”. Julia, who voluntarily became a vampire at the age of thirteen, tirelessly hunts down the murderer with the help of her uncle, who trades his blood for information. A mix of the Coen brothers' “True Grit” and Joel Schumacher's “Lost Boys”.
An absolutely brilliant book, Rosson's best to date, both because it strikes the right balance between dark humor and drama, but also because it makes us question our attachment to the antagonist, capable of love.
A review of this book was broadcast on French radio on April 13th, in the show "Mauvais Genres", as a way to make French people aware of Rosson's work and great upcoming title.

What do you get if you take The Lost Boys, wind the clock back 10 years, and pile on the gore? You get Coffin Moon.

Rosson’s writing and character development was utterly enthralling, dealing with some difficult themes of PTSD and grief yet handled remarkably delicately for a horror book.

Our main character Duane is a Vietnam vet, enveloped in anger and self-loathing, who is thrown into the midst of utter carnage when he crosses paths with John Varley, a mysterious and dangerous man who seems to leave a bloody trail of destruction wherever he goes. And when Varley strikes against Duane’s family in an act of gruesome retaliation — Duane and his niece Julia, united in grief, head out to get vengeance.

This was in equal parts: compelling, brutal, and tragic. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

Not my usual style of book however I was very interested! I feel like the start of the book was abit slow but it did end up picking up towards the end. Great writing and the characters in the book have you captivated!! This was my first read by Keith Rosson and won’t be the last!!

Thank you to Black Crow Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Coffin Moon was an incredible story, beautifully written and captivating. This is the first novel I’ve read by Keith Rosson, but I will definitely be reading the Fever House duology soon.

I loved the setting of the book, the characters and the time period. Coffin Moon is the best vampire novel I have read so far in my reading journey, and it was absolutely everything I wanted from a story like this (unlike other disappointments - I’m looking at you Salems Lot 👀).

This book had a bit of everything, from horror to comedy to heartbreak. Minor and Julia’s story was great, and the character development from both of them had me feeling quite emotional at points. Varley was an excellent villain, very scary but with depth to his character.

I’m struggling to find the right words to describe how much I truly loved this book, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to have read this as an ARC. This could possibly be up there for my favourite book of 2025! I will definitely be purchasing this book for my fiancé as I think he will love it.

Beautiful prose and a tragic but satisfying story. Couldn't put this down - read in two days. Will highly recommend and would love to see this adapted.

Another classic dark thriller from Keith Rosson. Combining Near Dark with The Road, Coffin Moon is based in Rosson's home town of Portland in the 70's, with a Vietnam vet rebuilding his life with his family, living above his in-laws bar.

Haunted by PTSD, Duane Minor is soon pulled into a murderous cycle of events that brings him and his adopted daughter ever closer.

Rosson's writing jumps off the page, with characters you will invest in.

You'll speed through this book, just don't walk into the sunrise! When's the film adaptation?

After delivering an apocalyptic and chaotic journey with Fever House and The Devil By Name, Keith Rosson returns with Coffin Moon—a bloody, violent vampire revenge tale that pushes boundaries and is everything you'd expect from his twisted mind.

It’s the winter of 1975, and Duane Minor, back home in Portland, Oregon, after a tour in Vietnam, is struggling to quell his anger and keep his drinking in check, keep his young marriage intact, and keep the nightmares away. Things get even more complicated when his thirteen-year-old niece, Julia, is sent across the country to live with Duane and his wife, Heidi, after a tragedy. But slowly, carefully, guided by Heidi’s love and patience, the three of them are building a family.

Then Minor crosses the wrong man: John Varley, a criminal with a bloody history and a trail of bodies behind him. Varley, who sleeps during the day beneath loose drifts of earth and grows teeth in the light of the moon. In an act of brutal retaliation, Varley kills Heidi, leaving Minor broken with guilt and Julia filled with rage. The two of them are left united by only one thing: the desire for vengeance.

As their quest brings them into the dark orbit of immortal, undead children, silver bullet casters, and the bevy of broken men drawn to Varley’s ferocity, Minor and Julia follow his path of destruction from the gritty alleyways of 1970s Portland to the desolate highways of the Northwest and the snow-lashed plains of North Dakota—only to have Varley turn his vicious power back on them. Who will prevail, who will survive, and what remains of our humanity when our thirst for revenge trumps everything else?

Keith Rosson delivers yet another dark, intense, and horrific novel with Coffin Moon, but this is far more than just a vampiric tale. Rosson also explores trauma and grief, giving us a story that is both haunting and profound. In a book that truly feels like a Rosson novel, Coffin Moon combines grit with a sweeping story, resulting in an unforgettable experience.

As this brutal story unfolds, we meet a unique cast of characters, including Duane Minor, his niece Julia, and antagonist John Varley. Each character is fully developed, with great backstories that seamlessly integrate without messing with the story's pacing. Rosson pulls you into their lives and doesn't allow you to let go.

Coffin Moon is intense and horrific journey from start to finish with really never a dull moment. The novel blends a raw, gritty story with moments of deep emotion, while exploring revenge and family. Rosson balances these elements, pulling us in with the emotional weight before plunging us into scenes of blood and violence. Each page turns into a extraordinary experience, keeping me hooked until the very end.

As previously mentioned, Coffin Moon is far more than just a dark vampire tale, I mean don't be mistaken—vampires are at its core. In the past, I steered clear of vampire stories, but not anymore. Recently, I've found myself drawn to books like Liz Kerin's Night's Edge (and First Light), Rachael Harrison's So Thirsty, and C.J. Tudor's The Gathering. Now, Coffin Moon joins alongside these incredible novels, breathing new life into the genre. These novels go beyond what might be expected in a vampire story, elevating characters, atmospheres, and settings a whole new level.

Keith Rosson delivers an unexpected, brutal, emotional vampiric tale that you can really sink my teeth into with Coffin Moon. The author, that should be a household name for horror fans by now, had me hooked from start to finish in a genre that is growing on me each and every new book I read. Coffin Moon is yet another must read from one of the best authors in horror.

This didn't really work for me, the premise sounded so cool and I love the cover, but the story just didn't really do anything for me. The writing was great, very unique and captivating, but the first half was super slow and honestly boring to me. It focused more on the characters than the horror, which I hadn't expected from the blurb and honestly didn't care about that much. However there were some really good horror sequences which I enjoyed and the second half was definitely more interesting, but it just wasn't really my type of book.

Coffin Moon is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go—even after you’ve finished it. Set in the gritty winter of 1975, it follows Duane Minor, a Vietnam vet trying to hold his life together in Portland. He’s got the nightmares, the anger, the drinking—all the scars of war that won’t fade. But things get even harder when his niece, Julia, comes to live with him and his wife, Heidi. Slowly, they start to feel like a real family… until everything goes to hell.

Enter John Varley—a monster in every sense of the word. A criminal, a killer, and something… unnatural. When Duane crosses him, Varley destroys everything they’ve built, leaving Duane shattered and Julia burning with rage. What follows is a revenge story like no other, taking them from the dark streets of Portland to the frozen wastelands of North Dakota. Along the way, they meet immortal children, silver bullet slingers, and other lost souls drawn to Varley’s darkness.

This book is so much more than just a vampire thriller. Yeah, there’s blood—lots of it—and moments so intense you’ll flinch. But at its core, it’s about grief, trauma, and what happens when revenge takes over your life. Duane is one of those characters you ache for—broken but trying, flawed but so damn human. Julia’s transformation from a grieving kid to a force of vengeance is just as gripping. Together, they make you feel every punch, every loss, every desperate choice.

The writing is razor-sharp, pulling you in from the first page. There’s a scene in a children’s museum that’s straight out of a nightmare—the kind that sticks with you. And even the smallest characters get moments that hit hard, like a perfect line tossed into a dirty bathroom floor. It’s the kind of detail that makes the world feel real, even when things get wild.

Keith Rosson doesn’t just write horror—he writes people. You’ll love them, yell at them, and miss them when the book’s over. The pacing is flawless, balancing brutal action with quiet, gut-wrenching moments. And the ending? No spoilers, but it’s the kind that lingers, making you stare at the last page like, Damn.

If you’re into Stephen King, Joe Hill, or stories that mix horror with heart, this is your next obsession. Coffin Moon isn’t just scary—it’s sad, beautiful, and impossible to forget. One of the best books I’ve read this year, hands down. Five stars, a million stars, whatever—just read it.

Despite having read the blurb before requesting the book, I did not expect most of the plot points in this book.
Suffering from PTSD, we have Duane, who is a Vietnam veteran.
Enter vampire.
A personal tragedy and the quest of taking revenge - enter a wild story world with broken characters, supernatural.
Horror-thriller with a unique angle and several interesting layers and themes.
I liked Duane, Heidi and Julia as well as some of my least expected side characters.
Rosson’s writing is great too.
4.5 stars.

I devoured this book.

It’s truly exceptional, and I can’t wait to recommend it to everyone I know.

From the very first page, the writing had its fangs in me. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so completely immersed in another world.

The characters are incredibly compelling—ones you can’t help but root for. And the villain? You’ll find yourself wanting to know everything about them. (A John Varley spinoff? I’d be first in line to buy it)

The pacing is perfect—fast enough to keep you rotting on the edge of your seat, yet thoughtful enough to leave a lasting impact.

Packed with blood and gore, there were a few moments where I literally squinted and grimaced. But beyond the intense moments, the book’s sweeping narrative delves into a wide spectrum of trauma and grief. It explores how people navigate the world after being irreparably changed, and that’s what will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

I’m hoping for a sequel!

In Coffin Moon, set in the winter of 1975, Duane Minor returns home to Portland, Oregon, after serving in Vietnam. Struggling with anger, guilt, and the haunting memories of war, Duane is also grappling with the tension of keeping his young marriage intact and his drinking under control. His life becomes more complicated when his thirteen-year-old niece, Julia, is sent to live with him and his wife, Heidi. Despite the strain, Duane, Heidi, and Julia begin to form a fragile family, with Heidi’s love and patience guiding them through.

But Duane’s life takes a dark turn when he crosses paths with John Varley, a dangerous criminal with a bloody past and an unnatural power—he sleeps beneath the earth by day and grows deadly teeth by night. In a brutal act of vengeance, Varley kills Heidi, leaving Duane devastated and Julia consumed by rage. With only revenge to unite them, Duane and Julia embark on a perilous journey to track down Varley, moving from the gritty streets of Portland to the desolate highways of North Dakota, encountering undead children, silver bullet casters, and other men drawn to Varley’s terrifying power.

Keith Rosson’s gripping book is more than a supernatural thriller about vampires—it is an exploration of family, revenge, grief, and the devastating effects of vengeance. Duane is a character you cannot help but root for—one of the most sympathetic figures in recent memory. His emotional journey, paired with Julia’s transformation from a grieving niece to a relentless seeker of justice, makes Coffin Moon a powerful, heart-wrenching read.

Rosson’s storytelling is masterful, keeping readers on edge with suspense and delivering a truly satisfying payoff. Coffin Moon is a perfect mix of horror, drama, and emotional depth, leaving a lasting impact long after the final page is turned.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I loved the premise of this, but unfortunately it was a DNF for me. The writing is excellent but it's just too gritty and raw for my mood right now (mostly due to the world being as it is!). I've no doubt it'll find its audience, as the setup seemed great - like a more vengeful 'Near Dark' - and I'll likely return to it in future. Will update a public review if I do and finish. Many thanks and apologies.

After a series of life changing events, Duane and Heidi seek their revenge in this vampire horror story.

The pace was good, and the story was well thought out.

Set in the 70s following(during?) the Vietnam war, a string of disappearances and murders might be more connected than originally thought.

How far would you go for vengeance?

SYNOPSIS:

Set (mostly) in 1970s Portland, Coffin Moon follows barkeep Duane Minor, a Vietnam vet struggling with PTSD nightmares.

Those nightmares bleed into his days when a gang of bikers force their way into his establishment, led by a hulking vampire named John Varley.

Worse, Duane has an adopted teenage niece to care for, and Varley’s more brutal than your average bloodsucker…

RELEASE DATE: September 9, 2025 (but you can pre-order now)

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

REVIEW:

This one will pull your heart from your chest, play your arteries like a harp, then tear out your throat too, just for the fun of it.

What I’m saying is: Coffin Moon is good. Really, really good. Amazing, in fact.

It’s Stephen King at his best good. It has Uncle Stevie’s sense of place, his emotional intelligence, and - most of all - his villainous brilliance at immersing his readers in simple, straightforward, abject terror.

Example: There’s a sequence in here, in a Children’s Museum, that feels like one of those ‘70s paperback covers come to life. You know the ones. The scary ones.

There’s another moment, where a very minor character, a one-scene character, is handed one of the best metaphors in the book, on a dirty bathroom floor. Utterly meaningless in the grand scheme of the plot, beautiful for no reason.

You will live with these characters, you will love them, you will scream at them to make different choices. You’ll experience a profound sense of sadness when you reach the back cover, and you’ll press your hand against it, because that’s what you do when you want to remember something.

I give Coffin Moon a universe of stars. [five, if you’re being pedantic]