Afflicted: Hex Hollow

Afflicted: Book 4 – Hex Hollow is a historical psychological thriller set in 1928 rural Pennsylvania, inspired by the real Rehmeyer’s Hollow hex murder. It follows Dr. Conrad Masters, a rationalist psychologist and World War I veteran, who travels to an isolated Pennsylvania Dutch community to investigate what appears to be a “nervous affliction” affecting a local farmer. What begins as a medical inquiry quickly evolves into a complex web of fear, superstition, and manipulation.
The community is gripped by escalating reports of cursed livestock, strange markings, and unexplained disturbances. Locals attribute these events to hexes and powwow magic, while Masters searches for rational explanations rooted in psychology, environmental causes, and human intent. As he interviews families, he uncovers deep-seated feuds over land, generational resentment, and economic strain brought on by the looming Great Depression.
The situation intensifies as accusations spread, testimonies are coerced, and fear transforms suspicion into certainty. Masters discovers that many of the “supernatural” signs are deliberately fabricated, part of a calculated effort by certain individuals to exploit belief for personal gain—particularly land seizure and revenge. However, the truth proves difficult to impose on a community that increasingly prefers narrative over evidence.
As paranoia crescendos into violence, culminating in murder, Masters finds himself both investigator and target. With the help of unlikely allies, he exposes the conspiracy behind the hysteria. Yet even as justice is partially restored, the damage lingers.
The novel ultimately explores how fear, when fueled by desperation and belief, can override reason. It presents a chilling reflection on how modern societies remain vulnerable to the same forces that once drove witch hunts—forces that adapt rather than disappear.