Saint's Blood (first edition)

A deranged family attempts to harvest the blood of a professor in this voice-driven darkly comic philosophical horror novella. Saint’s Blood is a metaphor for the way mega-corporations and political polarization suck the blood and will out of people.

Adjunct college instructor Richie Mallory is kicking off his end of the semester bender when he’s confronted with any professor’s nightmares: the family of a student he failed show up at his favorite bar. The gigantic Oakleys drug him and after a brief struggle, take him back to their family farmhouse. Once they sober him up, they harvest his blood wearing the masks of ex-Republican presidents. Over time Richie ascertains that the Oakley brothers believe that because his Great-Uncle was a Catholic saint, his blood has magical properties that could cure Job—his former student and their brother—of cancer.

While their mother is on a cross country trip, the seemingly insurmountable Oakleys are left to their own devices, and plan to use, dismember, and discard Richie before she gets back. He’s bruised, anemic, and tied to a chair for 23 hours a day scrabbling madly toward any hope of escape.

Misery meets the Goonies as Richie tries to survive. Saint’s Blood is equal parts hilarious and horrific as Richie tries to figure out what’s happening. Is there actually magic in his blood? Can he get away before the Oakleys have drained him dry? What will be left of him if he does?

"Miracles do happen in Ryan Bradley's dark and unrelenting Saint's Blood, but be warned, they come at no small price. Saint's Blood is an impressive debut. I enjoyed it and I'm excited to see what Ryan Bradley writes next." -Owen King, author of Double Feature.

"Combining suspense, violence, social commentary, and pure insanity, Rich will have to endure more than most to even think about surviving this kidnapping... DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS ONE! I’m telling you.

OFFICIALLY ON MY 2022 TOP TEN LIST!" -Christina Pfeiffer