A Box Full of Darkness

“From the book’s chillingly creepy setting, which previously appeared in The Sun Down Motel (2020), to a nerve-jangling plot that effectively borrows from a mix of genres to the writing itself, which shimmers with a dazzlingly sharp sense of wit, everything about St. James’ latest is done to perfection.”-Booklist (starred review)

Simone St. James, the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel, returns with her scariest, most shocking novel yet in this pulse-pounding story about siblings who return to the house they fled 18 years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request: Come home.


Strange things happen in Fell, New York. A mysterious drowning at the town’s roadside motel. The unexplained death of a young girl whose body is left by the railroad tracks. For the Esmie siblings—Violet, Vail, and Dodie—the final straw was the shocking disappearance of their little brother. It started as a normal game of hide-and-seek. The three closed their eyes and counted to ten while Ben went to hide. But this time, they never found their brother—he was gone and the ongoing search efforts turned up no clues.

As their parents grew increasingly distant, Violet, Vail, and Dodie were each haunted by visions and frightening events that made them leave town and never look back. Violet still sees dead people—spirits who remind her of Sister, the menacing presence that terrorized her for years.

And now after two decades running from their past, it’s time for a homecoming. Because Ben is back, and he’s ready to lead them to the answers they’ve longed for and long feared. If the ghosts of Fell don’t get to them first.

A Box Full of Darkness is another propulsive thriller from the author of The Broken Girls and The Book of Cold Cases, a surprising horror story from a writer who is “particularly gifted at doling out twists” (The New York Times).

BUY THE BOOK

Published Jan 20, 2026

Average rating: 7.08

39 RATINGS

|

Join a book club that is reading A Box Full of Darkness!

It Was A Dark & Stormy Book Club

Do you enjoy a dark, twisty thriller, things thst go bump in the night, real life detectives chasing down elusive killers? Come in, come in! 

Community Reviews

Sue Dix
Mar 14, 2026
10/10 stars
Simone St. James never disappoints. She always scares the bejeebers out of me, but the stories go so much deeper. This novel has everything. Dysfunctional family (understatement), possession (can you say all encompassing?), massive mystery, ghosts aplenty, a compelling narrative, and that ending made me smile all the way through. More please!
juli1357
Mar 19, 2026
6/10 stars
This was my first time reading a book by Simone St. James. It was better than expected. I thought the author did an especially nice job with character development. I look forward to reading more of her work.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.