📖 Overview
Rick Hautala (1949-2013) was an American horror and suspense author who wrote over 30 novels and numerous short stories throughout his career. He gained recognition in the horror genre during the 1980s horror fiction boom, publishing many of his works under both his own name and the pseudonym A.J. Matthews.
His best-known works include "Moondeath" (1980), "Night Stone" (1986), and "The Mountain King" (1996). Hautala's writing often incorporated elements of supernatural horror while maintaining strong psychological elements, frequently setting his stories in his native Maine.
The Horror Writers Association awarded Hautala the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, recognizing his significant contributions to the horror genre over more than three decades. His work in horror earned him the nickname "The Master of Maine Terror" among readers and fellow authors.
His short fiction appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines, and he also wrote screenplays and collaborated on projects for television and film. Hautala's final novel, "The Demon's Wife," was published posthumously in 2013.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Hautala's ability to build suspense through atmospheric descriptions of Maine settings and gradual character development. Many reviews highlight his skill at combining supernatural elements with psychological horror, particularly in "Night Stone" and "Little Brothers."
Fans note his straightforward writing style and authentic character dialogue. Several Amazon reviewers mention his talent for making mundane situations feel increasingly menacing. A Goodreads reviewer called "Moondeath" a "slow-burning horror story that gets under your skin."
Common criticisms include slow pacing in the first half of his novels and occasionally predictable plot resolutions. Some readers find his descriptive passages too lengthy. Multiple reviews mention that his later works feel formulaic compared to his earlier novels.
Average ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 3.6/5 (across all works)
Amazon: 3.8/5 (across all works)
"Night Stone": 4.1/5 on Goodreads (his highest-rated novel)
"Moondeath": 3.9/5 on Amazon
"The Mountain King": 3.5/5 on Goodreads
📚 Books by Rick Hautala
Dead Voices
A mother and her young daughter move to rural Maine and encounter malevolent spirits in their new home.
Cold Whisper A woman discovers she can hear the thoughts of others, leading her into a dangerous confrontation with a killer who shares her ability.
The Mountain King Hikers in the White Mountains face an ancient evil that has awakened in the wilderness.
Twilight Time A small Maine town faces supernatural horror when time itself begins to break down.
Little Brothers A man returns to his childhood home to confront creatures that killed his brother years ago.
Ghost Light A lighthouse keeper discovers that the beacon he maintains may be attracting something other than ships.
The Wildman A creature from Native American legend terrorizes modern-day campers in the Maine woods.
Dark Silence A deaf woman must survive in the woods while being pursued by a supernatural entity.
Beyond the Shroud A grieving widower attempts to contact his dead wife through dangerous supernatural means.
Night Stone A couple's renovation of an old house awakens an ancient evil tied to strange stones on the property.
Cold Whisper A woman discovers she can hear the thoughts of others, leading her into a dangerous confrontation with a killer who shares her ability.
The Mountain King Hikers in the White Mountains face an ancient evil that has awakened in the wilderness.
Twilight Time A small Maine town faces supernatural horror when time itself begins to break down.
Little Brothers A man returns to his childhood home to confront creatures that killed his brother years ago.
Ghost Light A lighthouse keeper discovers that the beacon he maintains may be attracting something other than ships.
The Wildman A creature from Native American legend terrorizes modern-day campers in the Maine woods.
Dark Silence A deaf woman must survive in the woods while being pursued by a supernatural entity.
Beyond the Shroud A grieving widower attempts to contact his dead wife through dangerous supernatural means.
Night Stone A couple's renovation of an old house awakens an ancient evil tied to strange stones on the property.
👥 Similar authors
Stephen King writes horror set in Maine with supernatural elements and small-town characters. His work shares Hautala's New England settings and focus on everyday people confronting dark forces.
Charles L. Grant specialized in quiet horror stories featuring psychological tension rather than gore. His Oxrun Station series has similarities to Hautala's Dark Woods series in its recurring small-town setting.
Ronald Kelly creates horror fiction centered in rural settings with blue-collar characters facing supernatural threats. His work parallels Hautala's approach to writing accessible horror grounded in recognizable locations.
John Saul focuses on horror involving families and children in peril, often in isolated communities. His novels share Hautala's interest in domestic horror and threats to ordinary people.
Graham Masterton writes supernatural horror incorporating folklore and mythology into modern settings. His blend of traditional horror elements with contemporary scenarios mirrors techniques used in Hautala's work.
Charles L. Grant specialized in quiet horror stories featuring psychological tension rather than gore. His Oxrun Station series has similarities to Hautala's Dark Woods series in its recurring small-town setting.
Ronald Kelly creates horror fiction centered in rural settings with blue-collar characters facing supernatural threats. His work parallels Hautala's approach to writing accessible horror grounded in recognizable locations.
John Saul focuses on horror involving families and children in peril, often in isolated communities. His novels share Hautala's interest in domestic horror and threats to ordinary people.
Graham Masterton writes supernatural horror incorporating folklore and mythology into modern settings. His blend of traditional horror elements with contemporary scenarios mirrors techniques used in Hautala's work.