Nat Cassidy is a name that’s quickly becoming synonymous with modern horror fiction. With his ability to blend spine-chilling suspense with cutting social commentary, Cassidy has garnered recognition for his work on previous novels such as Mary: An Awakening of Terror and Nestlings. Drawing comparisons to literary greats such as Stephen King and Shirley Jackson, Cassidy has carved out his own distinct voice – one that is darkly humorous, deeply human, and emotionally raw.
With his latest work, When the Wolf Comes Home, releasing this coming April 22, 2025, Cassidy ventures into his most action-packed narrative to date, all while maintaining his signature style of blending suspense with deeper thematic explorations. Drawing inspiration from the mind-expanding ideas in Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven and the gripping intensity of Terminator 2, the novel introduces Jess, a struggling actress who becomes entangled in a terrifying chain of events when she encounters a five-year-old runaway near her apartment. What begins as a seemingly ordinary meeting quickly escalates into a life-or-death chase after a violent confrontation with the boy’s father, plunging Jess and the child into the crosshairs of shadowy pursuers. As the pair flee for their lives, Jess finds herself caught in a nightmarish spiral that unravels the boundaries between trauma, truth, and unspeakable terror.
While When the Wolf Comes Home is being described as a “pop horror thrill ride,” it’s much more than just a fast-paced, action-packed narrative. Beneath the heart-pounding chase scenes and cinematic tension lies a story that is both deeply poignant and relevant to our present moment—a story that forces us to confront how fear shapes our lives, our actions, and our perception of reality.
In an exclusive interview, Cassidy sat down to discuss the book in greater detail. He shared his thoughts on the novel’s unapologetic nods to beloved films and literary classics, his original intention to write a story free from political undertones, and how, despite his best efforts, the book ultimately became as politically charged as his previous works. Cassidy also explained how he crafted a narrative in which “the sky is literally the limit,” yet found it crucial to impose rules within the story’s fantastical world—and reckon with the consequences.
