Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The #1 New York Times bestselling author of World War Z is back with ā€œthe Bigfoot thriller you didn’t know you needed in your life, and one of the greatest horror novels I’ve ever readā€ (Blake Crouch, author of Dark Matter and Recursion).
 
FINALIST FOR THE LOCUS AWARD

As the ash and chaos from Mount Rainier’s eruption swirled and finally settled, the story of the Greenloop massacre has passed unnoticed, unexamined . . . until now. The journals of resident Kate Holland, recovered from the town’s bloody wreckage, capture a tale too harrowing—and too earth-shattering in its implications—to be forgotten. In these pages, Max Brooks brings Kate’s extraordinary account to light for the first time, faithfully reproducing her words alongside his own extensive investigations into the massacre and the legendary beasts behind it. Kate’s is a tale of unexpected strength and resilience, of humanity’s defiance in the face of a terrible predator’s gaze, and, inevitably, of savagery and death.

Yet it is also far more than that.

Because if what Kate Holland saw in those days is real, then we must accept the impossible. We must accept that the creature known as Bigfoot walks among us—and that it is a beast of terrible strength and ferocity.

Part survival narrative, part bloody horror tale, part scientific journey into the boundaries between truth and fiction, this is a Bigfoot story as only Max Brooks could chronicle it—and like none you’ve ever read before.

Praise for Devolution

ā€œDelightful . . . [A] tale of supernatural mayhem that fans of King and Crichton alike will enjoy.ā€ā€”Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

ā€œThe story is told in such a compelling manner that horror fans will want to believe and, perhaps, take the warning to heart.ā€ā€”Booklist (starred review)

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Published Feb 9, 2021

304 pages

Average rating: 7.74

92 RATINGS

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Federal Way Book Club

We're a friendly group of people who like to discuss books in a relaxed atmosphere while eating food. We read both fiction and nonfiction and variety is encouraged. Most of us joined this group to read books we might not have otherwise picked up by ourselves (and to meet people of course!). We meet in person, and therefore can only accept members who live in the Seattle/Tacoma area.

Books & Brews

Books & Brews is an evening adult book club from the Trussville Public Library where you can share your thoughts about this month's book while enjoying delicious food and drinks at Ferus Artisan Ales. It meets on the second Monday of every month at 7:15 PM in the event room at Ferus. 

Community Reviews

juli1357
Jan 07, 2026
10/10 stars
DEVOLUTION: A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF THE RAINIER SASQUATCH MASSACRE by Max Brooks. I wasn't expecting much from this book, given that Sasquatch/Bigfoot has never been a strong interest of mine. Boy, was I wrong! I enjoyed it just as much as Brooks' earlier novel WORLD WAR Z. While reading the book, there were numerous times that I had to stop to research if what I was reading was true, and often it was. I've gone from being a Bigfoot/Sasquatch skeptic to wanting to know more...
Sandyjb
Dec 25, 2024
8/10 stars
😳😳😳
desiree anderson
Sep 29, 2024
8/10 stars
This book is written beautifully. So much so that at times I actually believed these were true events and not fiction. The characters become people you actually care for and at times absolutely hate which is good. The open ending leaves the reader to decide for themselves what they believe actually happened.
Codeliusthe2nd
Sep 04, 2024
8/10 stars
This was honestly such a wild ride. I didn’t think I’d like the journal entries, but I actually really dug it with this story. I wish there was more closure with the ending, but other than that, I was completely on board for this bonkers read.
Book.Girl71
Aug 23, 2024
6/10 stars
3.5⭐

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