Heart-Shaped Box

“Wild, mesmerizing, perversely witty….A Valentine from hell.”
—Janet Maslin, New York Times

The publication of Joe Hill’s beautifully textured, deliciously scary debut novel Heart-Shaped Box was greeted with the sort of overwhelming critical acclaim that is rare for a work of skin-crawling supernatural terror. It was cited as a Best Book of the Year by Atlanta magazine, the Tampa Tribune, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and the Village Voice, to name but a few. Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling Neil Gaiman of The Sandman, The Graveyard Book, and Anansi Boys fame calls Joe Hill’s story of a jaded rock star haunted by a ghost he purchased on the internet, “relentless, gripping, powerful.” Open this Heart-Shaped Box from two-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Hill if you dare and see what all the well-deserved hoopla is about.

Aging death-metal rock legend Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre: a cookbook for cannibals...a used hangman's noose...a snuff film. But nothing he possesses is as unique or as dreadful as his latest purchase in this chilling gothic horror novel: a one-of-a-kind curiosity bought off the Internet that arrives at his door in a black heart-shaped box...a musty dead man's suit still inhabited by the spirit of its late owner. And now everywhere Judas Coyne goes, the old man is there—watching, waiting, dangling a razor blade on a chain from his bony hand.

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Published Dec 22, 2009

400 pages

Average rating: 6.88

153 RATINGS

Community Reviews

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The.readrose

Jan 28, 2026

2/10 stars

DNF
I was so hyped to read this book, I mean come on, Joe Hill is the son of legendary Stephen King AND it was blurbed by Neil Gaiman! I'm just not sure if I didn't enjoy this book because I can't relate to the emo rocker façade, or what. I might give this book other shot, but i the meantime I'm selling my copy back to Half-Priced Books. If I have the desire to pick it up then I'll check it out from the library. Until then, toodle-oo.

brockitt

Apr 25, 2026

Fun read; here’s a “try not to die” adventure but make it ghostly. Nice and creepy, good touches of sweetness.

Mat_Sterner

Feb 12, 2026

3/10 stars

It had a lot of potential, but fell short for me in exploring the topics it used as it's main themes and ended up feeling shallow and forgettable. Pacing was too slow to excuse this lack of depth on the metal and schtick music-scenes and the character arc felt like it both betrayed those subcultures without committing to any substantial change for the characters either. The ghost was genuinely creepy, but not enough was made of it all for anything to really stand out besides the inclusion of a bunch of shock-factor items that merely stayed as shock-factor alone...

Allisgator

Jun 09, 2025

4/10 stars

This is not a poorly written book. The beginning was rough - I felt like there was too much happening too quickly, and it was hard for me to find my interest and compel myself to keep reading.

The real issue for me became the topics discussed in the book. While I'm aware that part of the definition of horror is repulsion, I guess I generally apply it to things like body horror or grotesque monsters as opposed to forced masturbation, snuff films, and child molestation. These are horrifying topics, but they are not generally for me.

All that being said, I have to agree with everyone else. A lot of the verbal description in this book is quite good and had me cringing in my seat. So if the previously mentioned topics are up your alley, I can recommend Heart-Shaped Box to you.

Happy_Nat

Aug 19, 2024

9/10 stars

My first Joe Hill’s novel and didn’t disappoint. If you have a great imagination, that book can be scary at times. I really enjoyed it, easy read and very interesting storyline. The author clearly inherited his father’s writing skills. The only negative I have is that story is lacking refined details and ending was a bit flat for me. Otherwise, it’s a must-read story 👍