March 24th 2026
Pre-Order in Paperback with Dog Eared Books!
Signed paperback pre-orders EXCLUSIVLY at Dog Eared Books!
Books must be ordered through the Mail or In Store Pick Up forms (bookshop.org orders WILL NOT COUNT). In the "Tell us what you'd like to order!" just remembered to put "Haunting the Scavenger by Arlo Blackthorn." Not in San Francisco? Don't worry! Dog Eared Books will ship both domestically and internationally. Order Must be placed between now and release day to qualify (October 31st 2025 - March 23rd 2026).
Monty finds his life in shambles following the sudden death of his mentor, Dr. Giovanni. Searching for work to get back on his feet (and off his friend Mina's living room floor) he finds a groundskeeper listing at the Giovanni Estate, the very location of his professor’s suicide. Now, presented with the opportunity to learn what really happened, Monty takes the job. However, upon arriving at his professor's crumbling Victorian mansion, he finds that its lone inhabitant, Cameron, is a little less than willing to share any details about their late mother.
Ignoring the warning signs, Monty sticks to his guns, even when plagued by whatever is lurking in the woods, the ghosts of regrettable actions, rattling sabers, and his growing yearning for his eccentric employer. Did the doctor really kill herself, or could there have been foul play? What monsters really haunt the shadows of 67 Blackberry Place? Is Mina's girlfriend on to something? And why does Cameron keep looking at Monty like that?
Haunting the Scavenger is a Queer Gothic Horror set in early 2000s upstate NY featuring all the classics such as a big burly "damsel in distress", the illustrious haunted Victorian mansion, vampires, a good dose of horror, steamy make-outs, sword fights, awful women's wrongs, and much more! Boys, blood, and familial trauma!
Content warnings:
- Graphic depictions of death, murder, blood, and gore (this is a horror story after all).
- Graphic descriptions of insects, animals, and animal death (e.g. spiders, flies, snakes, coyotes).
- Mentions of suicide.
- Physical descriptions that may be triggering for those with eating disorders.
- Mentions of disordered eating.
- Graphic depictions of child abuse (including medical torture) and familial abuse.
- Homophobia and misgendering of non-binary characters.
- Violent acts directed at cis women, non-binary people, and queer men.
- Racist behavior and slurs (Arab and Romani).
- Alcohol and tobacco use.
- Explicit depictions of alcoholism.
- Explicit depictions of sex (consensual).
- Depictions of erotic behavior under the influence of alcohol.
Buy in Paperback
Soon - Buy the DRM-Free Special Edition on itch.io