The Sea Hides its Dead: The claustrophobic deep-sea horror full of dark secrets and dangerous truths

YOUR SINS WON’T SAVE YOU.

‘DARK, BONE-CHILLING AND UTTERLY TWISTED’ Deena Helm

Trapped in an underwater cave, a group of academics must face a series of deadly, supernatural trials – each one demanding they confront their darkest sins – in this chilling aquatic cult horror debut from Megan Bontrager.

Grad student Caro has no idea what she wants to do with her life, but when an opportunity arises to act as a research assistant on an anthropological expedition for her professor and lover, Edward Beck, she doesn’t hesitate.

Beck assembles a team of academics and professionals to study the ancient sea-based Cult of the Leviathan, and the expedition descends into the sea caves where the cult are said to have dwelt.

But when the cave entrance collapses, trapping them inside, the expedition will find they are not alone in the darkness. Surrounded by strange artefacts and scattered bones, an ancient trial has been set in motion. One by one, the members of the expedition will be tested and forced to atone for their greatest sin. . . or die.

Praise for The Sea Hides its Dead:

‘A thrilling cosmic horror adventure where the monsters are as much within us as without . . . I was thoroughly obsessed – consider me an acolyte!’ Jennifer Thorne, author of Diavola

‘A captivating, Lovecraftian horror that examines friendships and love and the dark parts of ourselves’ Daisy Pearce, author of Something in the Walls

‘Bontrager’s propulsive novel is a claustrophobic nightmare of wet, squelchy terrors and unflinching truths. Proof that no matter where you go, even in the cavernous depths of a mysterious sea monolith, there you are. You’ll be glad to read this on dry land and wrapped in a warm blanket’ E.L. Chen, author of One Of Us Is Already Dead

‘Dark, bone-chilling, and utterly twisted, The Sea Hides its Dead will drag you into its depths with only a flare to light your way’ Deena Helm, author of Our Cut of Salt

‘A briny tale of cosmic horror at sea and a harrowing dark academic treatise about the cost of obsession and the wages of guilt. Weird, wild, and unpredictable’ Bitter Karella, author of Moonflow

‘Dark academia meets survival horror – with a cosmic twist. Megan Bontrager’s captivating novel is full of psychological tension and heartbreak, along with truly nightmarish body horror’ Ally Wilkes, author of All the White Spaces

‘Cursed sea cults and vengeful angels come together in this blood and brine drenched tale. It’s probably ill-advised to descend into inexplicable caves seeking eldritch horrors, but Bontrager’s atmospheric writing makes the jaunt perilously twisty and terrifyingly entertaining’ Tori Bovalino, author of My Throat an Open Grave

‘Narrow passageways, hellish trials, eldritch horrors and worst of all – terrible academic men. The Sea Hides its Dead sparks the kind of awe and panic that the best horror delivers. Bontrager doesn’t pull any punches’ Hester Steel, author of The Faceless Thing We Adore