A second printing of the limited edition was announced by Subterranean Press on April 14, 2007, and released in May 2007. The limited signed and numbered 200 copies and 15 lettered copies are sought after by Joe Hill book collectors. Subterranean Press published the advance edition of 500 copies and they sold out within days, long before publication. Hill received a great deal of attention with the publication of Heart-Shaped Box. After surviving the horrendous ordeal, Jude and Georgia eventually marry. In the end, Craddock is vanquished, freeing Jude and Georgia from his curse, and Jessica is sent to jail. Later, a dying Craddock hexed the suit and arranged for Jessica to sell it to Jude.Īfter a series of gory battles between Jude and Craddock, Georgia finds a way to contact Florida beyond the grave for help fighting her stepfather's ghost. When Florida threatened to turn in Craddock and her elder sister Jessica to the police, they killed her and staged her death as a suicide. Jude and Georgia discover that Florida had been hypnotised and molested by her stepfather, Craddock McDermott. The dogs save them several times, but the ghost eventually kills them. Jude and Georgia take the dogs with them while fleeing south. The ghost's intent is to separate Jude from his two dogs, Angus and Bon, who, as familiars, can protect their owners from the dead. Jude flees his house with his current girlfriend, Georgia, with the ghost in hot pursuit. The ghost holds Jude responsible for Florida's death and wants revenge. Jude finds out that the ghost was the stepfather of a groupie, Florida, whom Jude lived with for a few months and who had later committed suicide.

His assistant, Danny Wooten, kills himself, but not before contacting the woman who sent the suit. Various odd occurrences cause Jude to realize that the ghost is deadly and is out to kill him and those around him. Jude cannot pass up this creepy opportunity. Jude is informed by Jessica Price, the dead man's daughter, that the old man's spirit is attached to the suit, such that Jude is effectively buying himself a ghost.

The titles of the novel and its four sections are all those of rock songs: ' Heart-Shaped Box' by Nirvana, ' Black Dog' by Led Zeppelin, ' Ride On' by AC/DC, ' Hurt' by Nine Inch Nails, and ' Alive' by Pearl Jam.Īging rock star Judas Coyne spends his retirement collecting morbid memorabilia, including a witch's confession, a real snuff film and, after being sent an email directly about the item online, a dead man's funeral suit. The book was published on Februby William Morrow. Heart-Shaped Box ( 2007) is the debut horror novel of author Joe Hill.

Heart shaped box by joe hill