This was soooo goood! As good as the movie itself! Which made me run to go do a rewatch. The writing was great and flowed really well. Thank you for the arc!

this was a great novelization. definitely kept me engaged, i read it in a day! id say watch the movie and read the book, they are both great

This novelization of "Session 9" is a chilling and thrilling read, which feels like a love-letter to the original material. It's just as atmospheric, and maybe more, than the original film, which created a sense of dread that you aren't able to shake off the entire read. The general story can be a bit difficult to follow in the film, but Francis does a great job at making the plot a little more understandable and easy to follow. The imagery is just as chilling here, which made for such a fun and spooky read.

ARC provided by BooksGoSocial in exchange for an honest review.

Session 9 - The Official Novelization by Christian Francis is an unsettling and chilling dive into the psychological horror of the cult-classic film. Based on the screenplay by Brad Anderson and Stephen Gevedon, this novelization offers an even deeper exploration of the eerie, claustrophobic world of the Danvers State Hospital, a place where the line between reality and madness begins to blur.

Francis does a fantastic job capturing the tension and creeping dread that the film is known for. The atmosphere in the novel is thick with unease, and Francis amplifies the scares by exploring the sinister history of the abandoned hospital. The hospital itself feels almost like a character in the book, its dark corridors, decaying walls, and echoing silence contributing to the growing sense of paranoia that permeates every page. There’s a constant feeling of being watched, and as the characters descend further into their own fears and delusions, the novel makes you question what’s real and what’s imagined.

The scares in Session 9 are subtle but incredibly effective. Francis takes his time building the psychological tension, with moments of terror that slowly crawl under your skin. The vivid descriptions of the characters’ deteriorating mental states, the eerie sounds echoing through the hospital, and the hallucinations they begin to experience all serve to heighten the dread. There are moments when the characters’ fears manifest as haunting visions, strange voices, and unnerving occurrences—each one designed to make your heart race and your mind wonder if they are indeed experiencing supernatural horrors or if it’s all in their heads.

The novelization also adds more depth to the characters’ inner turmoil, allowing readers to experience their breakdowns in more visceral detail. Their personal struggles, secrets, and guilt weigh on them heavily as they confront something far worse than the haunting of the hospital—something far darker within themselves. Francis skillfully intertwines their unraveling psyches with the mounting supernatural threats, making every page a suspenseful and terrifying ride.

For fans of the original film, this novelization is a must-read, offering new layers to the psychological and supernatural horrors that left audiences shaken. The scares here are relentless, with a constant undercurrent of tension that will keep you on edge long after you finish the book.

Thank you to Christian Francis, Brad Anderson, Stephen Gevedon, Netgalley, and Echo On publications for this ARC. Overall the story was a thrilling ride from start to finish. I completed the book in less than 24 hours. You could definetly tell it was a book adaptation from a movie, with choppy transitions that would make more sense in film. It really had you rooting for Gordon, and I was so intrigued by the twist ending. There was a lot of meaningful foreshadowing implanted throughout the book.
The only thing that left me pondering (which could be me not paying enough attention to the year Mary Hobbes was admitted), was that she was diagnosed with DID. This diagnosis was changed to be DID in the 1980s. If that lines up with Mary PERF, but with the timeline it seemed off.
Overall it was fast paced, thrilling, enjoyable, and an easy read!
Now i’m off to watch the movie!

This was a lot of fun.

While it seemed a bit overwritten at first, it smoothed into an exciting and readable groove.

I enjoyed this one and would love another in the same vein.

A crew of workman begin a job clearing asbestos from an abandoned mental asylum. They think they have cashed in as it's a well paid job if they finish quickly. The job starts out like any other but things unravel quickly into madness !

This book was dark and eire. A very sinister setting an abandoned asylum over taken by mould and decay so creepy. I was on the edge of my seat reading this and could not put it down ! Would definitely recommend I have never watched the film will now be on the lookout for it.

Thank you to Netgalley, Booksgosocial and Christian Francis for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re a fan of slow-burn psychological horror, Session 9: The Official Novelization takes the unsettling atmosphere of the cult classic film and amplifies it on the page. Christian Francis delivers a chilling expansion of the original story, peeling back the layers of terror to explore the fractured psyches of the characters and the sinister history of Danvers State Hospital.

Francis does an excellent job translating the film’s eerie visuals and creeping dread into prose. The decaying walls of Danvers seem to seep through the pages, and the novel’s atmosphere is oppressive in the best way. What makes this version truly shine is the deeper dive into the characters’ thoughts and motivations, providing fresh insights that even fans of the film will appreciate. Gordon’s spiral into madness feels more raw and tragic, and the subtle tensions among the asbestos-removal crew are even more palpable.

The novelization also brings new layers to the asylum itself. Francis taps into its twisted history, offering chilling glimpses of its haunted past that were only hinted at in the movie. These additions enrich the story without straying too far from the source material, making it a must-read for fans of the film.

That said, the pacing occasionally mirrors the film’s deliberate crawl, which works well for atmosphere but may test the patience of readers who prefer more action-driven horror. Still, this slow unfurling of dread is part of what makes Session 9 so unique—it’s not about jump scares but the creeping realization that something is deeply, deeply wrong.

4 stars for a gripping, faithful adaptation that deepens the story’s psychological and supernatural horrors. Whether you’re revisiting Danvers or experiencing its horrors for the first time, this novelization is an invitation to step inside and lose yourself in the madness. Just make sure you leave the lights on.

1.5

Setting: USA
Rep: n/a

This was shit. Boring, slow, and at times almost nonsensical. The horror was seriously lacking, as was the tension. It's mostly just a bunch of men working and mucking around. How this is rated so highly is beyond me.

Christian Francis's novelization of Session 9 transports Brad Anderson's cult horror film to the page, following an asbestos removal crew through the moldering corridors of Danvers State Hospital. The story tracks the psychological deterioration of Gordon Fleming and his crew as they navigate the asylum's shadow-filled halls, where decades of dark history seep through crumbling walls. The disturbing psychiatric sessions of former patient Mary Hobbes weave through the main narrative, her fractured voices echoing against the backdrop of peeling paint and broken windows. While the novel may not capture every nuance of the film's suffocating atmosphere, Francis keeps a steady hand on the growing tension as the crew descends deeper into the abandoned institution's maze-like passages. The result feels more like a companion piece than a reimagining, preserving the core elements that made Anderson's film so unsettling.

The writing style is a bit choppy, which hurts the reading flow, but the content is certainly interesting and I over all enjoyed the adaption, particularly the last fourth or so.

I have not seen the movie myself so I feel like I was able to read the book as it's own material and I enjoyed the creepy aspects of the tapes, and will definitely be watching the movie now!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. I had never seen the film that this novel came from, but I loved it all the same! I actually really want to see the film now. This was definitely all parts creepy and spooky. The perfect book for any horror lovers.

While I can’t bring myself to watch horror movies, my go-to alternative—my solution, if you will—is horror books. Hand me one, and I’m all in! So, when I came across the novelization of the legendary horror film Session 9, it immediately caught my attention. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but the chills this book gave me were absolutely real.

Five men, an abandoned mental institution, dark basements—what could possibly go wrong? When Gordon and his team finally land a lucrative job offer, they all share the same goal: finish the job in a week and secure a $25,000 bonus. But while their enthusiasm is high, the task proves daunting. Completing a project in one week that would usually take three or four seems like an impossible feat, but no one complains. After all, the money is worth it—or so it seems at first.

As they get to work, something begins to feel off. Gordon is unraveling, Phil is battling substance abuse, Jeff is still inexperienced, Hank is obsessively hunting for anything shiny, and Mike? Mike stumbles upon a box of patient tapes. These recordings reveal sessions between a doctor and a young girl, Mary, who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. As Mike listens to the tapes, a harrowing and terrifying story begins to emerge. But are any of them ready for what’s about to come to light?

When asked, “What makes a great horror story?” I often find it hard to put into words. It’s one of those you’ll know it when you feel it things. And in this case, the book absolutely delivers. Although it’s based on the film, it doesn’t feel like it’s living in the movie’s shadow. In fact, even without having seen the film, I can confidently say the book stands strong on its own. The sheer unease and dread it creates are undeniable.

The descriptions of the institution paint a grim and chilling picture in cold, dark tones that no light—nor the living souls inside—can warm. The endless, shadowy corridors and oppressive basements practically scream danger, yet no one seems to hear. The men catch fleeting glimpses of dark, shifting shapes that appear to be watching them, always moving—sometimes closer, sometimes farther—but the icy dread they exude reaches out to the reader from the pages. And that, in my opinion, is what makes a horror story truly great.

The book is written in a way that mirrors the cinematic experience. While it’s divided into chapters, they feel more like scene breaks than traditional sections, keeping the narrative taut and fast-paced. The story hops between the perspectives of different characters, sometimes moving quickly, sometimes slowing down to build suspense. I particularly enjoyed the moments when multiple eerie events occurred simultaneously in different parts of the institution. It felt like short, alternating camera shots, capturing the growing tension in vivid detail. The pacing and structure were masterfully done, heightening the atmosphere at every turn.

One of the most compelling aspects of the narrative is its restraint. The reader only sees what the characters see—there’s no omniscient narrator giving away secrets. You’re left to interpret the events for yourself, guided only by what unfolds in front of you. It’s just you, the men, and the institution’s dark, suffocating tunnels. Are you ready for this?

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves horror that’s atmospheric, unsettling, and expertly crafted. It’s not just a story—it’s an experience.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and BooksGoSocial, for this fantastic reading experience and for the ARC copy!

Review in Estonian: https://brixieblog.wordpress.com/2024/11/14/session-9-the-official-novelization-christian-francis/

3.00 stars
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TW: Violence, Murder, Mental illness, Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse
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Session 9 is a novelization of the 2001 movie by the same name, I think this is the first time I've ever read a novel based on a movie and not the other way around. In Session 9 we follow a crew as they take a job in an abandoned asylum. The book certainly gives you creepy vibes from the start, there's just something about an abandoned building where you aren't sure what could be lurking in the shadows.

I remember seeing this movie a few years back but didn't remember much, I think that it's written with the expectation that you've seen the film. The first 90% is a lot of buildup and character development (although not the greatest), and then the ball drops and the last 10% is very creepy and entertaining.

Having not remembered much of the movie, I wish some more things would have happened. Perhaps it would have been a great opportunity for the author to flesh out the story and add some more creepy moments. Overall a good read, just wasn't exactly what I was looking for.
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I would like to thank BooksGoSocial. Christian Francis, Brad Anderson, Stephen Gevedon, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book was published on October 4th 2024, get your copy today!

Session 9 is an uncomfortably effective novelization of the fear that permeated Brad Anderson's cult-classic film of 2001, set in the abandoned Danvers State Hospital and detailing a team of asbestos removal workers whose personal tensions and hidden secrets are amplified by the foreboding atmosphere of the decaying institution. What begins as a slow burn of psychological unease ramps up into a thrilling horror tale that will leave readers reeling.

Francis is doing a great job with transferring the eerie tension of the movie into the written version, also expanding on the character's backgrounds and the haunted history of the hospital. The extra depth gives new insights for those who have watched the movie, yet is still not alienating to those who haven't seen the original. The subtle breakdown in trust amongst the crew-Gordon, Phil, Mike, Hank, and Jeff-is done well; this escalates gradually to a breaking point. Such an interplay between psychological aspects and the supernatural creates constant ambiguity: do horrors emanate from inner demons, or are they brought about by external forces?

There is a pervading sense of dread throughout the novel, as Francis brings his atmospheric prose and a keen sense of pace into play. The tension builds up like it would in a pressure cooker, and once the psychological horrors become shocking violence, it is startling and devastating at the same time. The last twists will go well to keep veterans guessing; for its part, it's a nauseatingly brilliant and heartbreaking finale.

For those that have seen the film, the novelization adds another layer of appreciation found within subtle changes and expansions to create a fuller experience. To a newcomer, it's an excellent introduction into this world of Session 9 that's so damn frightening.

Creepy, atmospheric, and unforgettable, Session 9: The Official Novelization is perfect for fans of both psychological and supernatural horror. Return to Danvers State Hospital, or step into its sinister corridors for the very first time. A must-have read come spooky season, get ready for a bingeable, nerve-racking ride that will leave you second-guessing what's real long after the final page.

This was a great read. I really enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and to the author for allowing me early access

I vaguely remember seeing the movie decades ago, so I had high hopes for this one. It definitely had its fair share of creepy moments. Unfortunately it took much too long to gain speed and keep my attention. I kept putting it down, then much later remember I needed to finish it. 90% of the book was setting everything up, for a rush at the end. By then I'd guessed what was really going on with Gordon's family. Everything that happened with the other crew members was rushed. It was a little annoying to invest the time in the setup only to be rewarded with a lightening-speed recount of what happened.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Christian Francis for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

I remember watching Session 9 in the early 2000s. I couldn't remember the exact story, but I remembered the fantastically creepy atmosphere of the abandoned asylum. The book, while written well, doesn't quite manage to capture what made the movie so good. I don't think this is a failing of the writer at all. The story itself without the visuals is kind of lackluster. All in all, a good effort and I enjoyed it enough to give it 3.25 stars

This was not a bad book, but I was also not impressed. I found the story started compelling, but it lost me quite fast, and I had a hard time getting into the book.