Heart-Shaped Box (novel)

A 2007 horror novel by Joe Hill.

Semi-retired rockstar Judas Coyne likes to compliment his dark and edgy persona with a collection of strange and macabre items, most donated by his fans. These include things like a witch's confession, a used hangman's noose, and a genuine Snuff Film (which he only saw once, then locked away forever). One day, he is sent an email directing his attention to the online auction of a dead man's suit, evidently still haunted by the dead man's ghost.

Jude doesn't even think twice before buying it.

Soon enough, the suit is delivered to his place in a heart-shaped box. And what do you know... the ghost reveals himself to be real! Except the dead man, Craddock McDermott, a hypnotist and occultist in life, doesn't like Jude one bit. It turns out Jude unknowingly has a connection with the dead man, and the real ghosts of his past are about to come back with a vengence.

Tropes used in Heart-Shaped Box (novel) include:

Abusive Parents
- Parental Incest
Black Eyes of Evil: Craddock has sinister black shapes covering his eyes, looking like someone marked them out with a pencil. Slightly subverted when Florida reveals it's the only way for ghosts to see the world of the living without being blinded, like Jude is when he sees Heaven.
Collector of the Strange
Complete Monster: It doesn't take long to realize this totally describes Craddock, even while he was still alive.
Cool Car
Dead Little Sister: Florida, Jude's ex, was Craddock's stepdaughter.
- Subverted in that Craddock killed her, but blames Jude for making her realize just what a horrible monster he was, and for giving her a way to resist his mental powers through music.
Deep South: Birthplace of most of the characters, and the location of most of Jude and Georgia's haunted road trip pursued by Craddock.
Distracted From Death: Angus dies on the backseat of Jude's car without Jude noticing at first, with only a few minutes passing between the last time he saw Angus alive and when he realizes the dog finally died.
Do Not Adjust Your Set: One of Craddock's favorite methods of communication, talking through televisions, radios, an electrolarynx, etc.
Driven to Suicide
EBay: Jude buys the dead man's suit from a knockoff site.
Evil-Detecting Dog: Jude's two dogs, Angus and Bon, can detect Craddock's presence, and protect him and Georgia for most of the story. That is, until Craddock eventually kills both of them.
Fingore: A recurring motif, starting when Jude's abusive father broke his fingers.
Ghostly Goals: Type B.
Hell Is That Noise
Jerkass: Jude, especially towards Georgia.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He gets better
Magic Music
The Nicknamer: Jude nicknames all of his girlfriends after their state of origin. He briefly freaks out when it's revealed that Georgia's grandmother's nickname, Bammy, is short for "Alabama".
Our Ghosts Are Different
Secret Keeper: Jude kept the secret about one of his bandmate's homosexuality well after the latter's death.
Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll: Jude is a veteran rocker, but hasn't actually played with his band in a long time.
Shout-Out: Lots of shout outs to Rock and Roll, including the title.
Sociopathic Soldier: A vision of the past reveals Craddock to have been one, using his powers to fuck with a POW's head.
Stage Name: Judas Coyne. His real name is Justin.
Uncanny Valley