Dead End

I’ll admit, I’m skeptical of necromancer protagonists. Too often, they’re either brooding antiheroes or power fantasies in trench coats, all style and no substance. *Dead End* bucks that trend with a protagonist who’s as weary as he is dangerous. Conor Night isn’t out to save the world; he’s just trying to survive it, and that makes him compelling. Hays’s narration is the icing on the cake—his voice cracks with the weight of centuries, and his delivery of Conor’s dry, exhausted wit is pitch-perfect. The pacing is relentless, though the middle section drags a bit as the plot meanders through a few too many alleyways. And let’s talk about the production: the sound design is immersive, with whispers that slither out of your speakers and a silence so heavy it feels like a third character. My only real critique? The ending feels abrupt, like Forbes hit the finish line and tossed a period on it without so much as a pause. Still, the ride is worth it. If you love horror that burrows under your skin and refuses to let go, *Dead End* is a must-listen.