Grin, D. W. Gillespie
Grin, D. W. Gillespie
List: $20.00 | Sale: $14.00
Club: $10.00

Grin

Author: D. W. Gillespie

Narrator: Jeff Ebner

Unabridged: 7 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/26/2025

Synopsis

Full of chills and twists, a twelve-year-old boy is thrilled that he'll get to play endless games at his family’s arcade, but soon realizes he’s in the fight of his life when he’s forced to save himself and his possessed Uncle from a sinister video game.

Danny is spending a week with his Uncle Bill who runs a massive retro arcade called PixelWorks. His only plan is to play as many games as possible from open to close, but he wasn’t expecting to find the Holy Grail of arcade collectors, a gruesome looking game titled Grin.

Anyone who plays the game becomes surprisingly violent, and soon with the help of his friend Jodi and a knowledgeable videogame streamer, Danny realizes that Grin holds the soul of a dead serial killer.

Soon, the killer makes the jump into Bill’s body, and it’s up to Danny to figure out a way to stop him for good.

About The Author

Born and raised in Middle Tennessee, D.W. Gillespie wrote his first short story in second grade. It involved (unsurprisingly) monsters wreaking havoc on some unsuspecting victim. Some things never change. He began writing seriously after taking a creative writing class in college, and he’s written steadily ever since. He lives in Tennessee with his wife and two kids, and on dark nights, you might find them huddled around a campfire sharing spooky tales.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Chad on March 26, 2025

ARC Review* D.W. Gillespie's Grin is a thrilling middle-grade dive into the world of retro arcade games mixed with psychological horror. Set in the nostalgic world of PixelWorks, a massive retro arcade, the story follows Danny as he is spending a week with his Uncle Bill. Danny uncovers the dark sec......more

Goodreads review by Jeremy on March 19, 2025

Prepare to GRIN and bear it! DW Gillespie's Grin delivers a spine-chilling, sensational middle-grade horror novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows Danny, a young boy who spends a week visiting his Uncle Bill, the owner of a quirky free-to-play arcade. Danny anticip......more

Goodreads review by Jamie on July 29, 2025

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC to me for this book! As a hardcore gamer, twelve-year-old Danny is thrilled to be spending a week during the summer with his Uncle Bill at his old-school arcade, PixelWorks. It's going to be a week of nonstop gaming, snack bar food and fun with Bill, who,......more

Goodreads review by TacoFan on September 07, 2025

it's actually a really good and creepy middle school horror. it reminded me of another book I read, Polybius. It does get a little silly with the reveal on why the game is messed up, but overall, it's really good for the targeted age group.......more

Goodreads review by Kimberly on September 25, 2025

This is my second book I have read by this author and I have really enjoyed them both. I am really looking forward to more books coming out in the future by D.W. Gillespie.......more

Quotes

"A compulsively readable “follow you home” horror novel, recommended for gamers and fans of K.R. Alexander."—School Library Journal

"This high-octane narrative is an excellent choice for readers who are ready for something with real bite."—Kirkus Reviews

"Perfect for budding horror fans that like Five Nights at Freddy’s and Stranger Things."—Bloody Disgusting

"Clever, twisty, and full of chills!"—Lindsay Currie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Delta Games series

"Give this to any kid who loves video games and they're guaranteed to come away loving books, too. It's that good."—Josh Roberts, author of The Witches of Willow Cove

"Will leave readers, gamers, and streamers gasping and grinning"—Ally Russel, author of It Came From the Trees

"Grin gave me literal nightmares. Danny is the realistic hero we all hope we'd be, and his friends are the support we all need to keep the darkness at bay."—Darcy Marks, author of Grounded For All Eternity

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