Pay the Piper: A Novel

By Daniel Kraus, George A. Romero and George Romero

A terrifying tale of supernatural horror set in a cursed Louisiana bayou, from the minds of legendary director George Romero and bestselling author Daniel Kraus.

In 2019, while sifting through University of Pittsburgh Library System's George A. Romero Archival Collection, novelist Daniel Kraus turned up a surprise: a half-finished novel called Pay the Piper, a project few had ever heard of. In the years since, Kraus has worked with Romero's estate to bring this unfinished masterwork to light.

Alligator Point, Louisiana, population 141: Young Renée Pontiac has heard stories of "the Piper"--a murderous swamp entity haunting the bayou--her entire life. But now the legend feels horrifically real: children are being taken and gruesomely slain. To resist, Pontiac and the town's desperate denizens will need to acknowledge the sins of their ancestors--the infamous slave traders, the Pirates Lafitte. If they don't . . . it's time to pay the piper.

Perfect for fans of George A. Romero's pioneering horror movies or his previous collaboration with Daniel Kraus, The Living Dead, Pay the Piper is a thrilling taleof dark folklore, grisly murders, and the horrors that manifest when a community must confront its shadowy past. Readers looking for gothic horror books will enjoy the chilling supernatural elements and haunting Southern setting, and anyone who enjoys scary books for adults will appreciatethe chance to dive into this lost work by a celebrated horror icon

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Published Sep 3, 2024

328 pages

Average rating: 6.6

15 RATINGS

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Cantina Book Club

Nov 03, 2025

8/10 stars

Daniel Kraus rises to the challenge with finished George A. Romero’s lost project with Pay the Piper. Kraus writes a compelling horror story that offers commentary on acknowledging our nation’s unfavorable history and treatment of our climate. He impressively stays true to the Cajun dialect and Southern Gothic vibes. All characters – except for Pontiac – are lost causes. Yet they are tasked with saving their town from the frightening and horrific being that demands atonement for the past.

While I always appreciate Kraus’s work and the boundaries he pushes in his work, I could tell that developing this story for the public was one of the hardest things he’s done. It’s a bit slow-paced with moving parts that don’t seem to connect right away. Even so, readers will undoubtedly become invested in the town of Alligator Point and its residents, anxious to see if they will be able to make the right choice and defeat the Piper.

In-depth book review: https://cantinabookclub.com/review/pay-the-piper-by-george-a-romero-daniel-kraus

Podcast interview with Daniel Kraus:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-44-daniel-kraus-pay-the-piper/id1716042267?i=1000667112535
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5r8PXrfm6TadUpwUrnWMRA?si=f517213116844c8b

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