Over the last ten or so years, most of my reading has been comics and graphic novels, but in the past six months, I’ve shifted back to reading more novels. One of the authors who made that transition easy is Christopher Charlton. I first discovered his work through his incredible horror-noir comic Black of Heart, and when I started diving back into novels, I knew I had to check out his books.
In my Books Purchased in 2024 post, I mentioned picking up Welcome to Dahmerville and Absent Stars, but I decided to start with Dahmerville first since I tend to gravitate more toward horror over sci-fi.
A 90s-Inspired Horror Story That Feels Like Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Welcome to Dahmerville is a YA horror/serial killer story that, when finished, comes together like the perfect episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark?. The book follows Dodd, our main character, along with his best friend and dog, Fox, as they move to a new town with his mom after her divorce from his father. They leave New York City for Dahmerville, where his mother has taken a job working on a campaign to attract (or maybe lure?) people to the town. We also get an awesome cast of characters including new friends, new enemies and new enemies who become friends, that really builds on an amazing world, and story that keep you engaged until the end.
The horror elements blend perfectly with a fun, campy tone and are packed with 90s nostalgia, making this a perfect read for both millennials and younger audiences. Charlton has a way with words that will really paint a picture of everything in this story. One of my favorite details is that Charlton includes an explanation of the chapter titles at the end, referencing songs, movies, TV shows, and other media from the era that helped inspire the chapter names. If you’re not familiar with 90s pop culture, this list would be a great starting point, and a fun look at some of the pop culture from the times.
Should You Read Welcome to Dahmerville?
While this book might not be for everyone, if you enjoy 90’s nostalgia, campy horror, or serial killer stories, it absolutely belongs on your to-read list. And if you’re usually not into horror but like the other two elements, this book is lighthearted and fun enough that it won’t scare you away.
Charlton has mentioned the possibility of revisiting this world, and I couldn’t be more excited. Welcome to Dahmerville was one of my favorite reads in February, and I highly recommend checking it out. Plus, supporting indie and self-published authors like Charlton is always a great move!
What are you currently reading? Do you have any indie book recommendations? Let me know—I’d love to check them out!
And if you are interested in checking out him, below are a few of his links.
Website: https://www.charltonwrites.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/charltonwrites/
Cole Talks Books 
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