The Devil in Silver

Victor LaValle's "The Devil in Silver" plunges readers into the unsettling world of New Hyde Hospital's psychiatric ward, where Pepper, a man unjustly committed, quickly discovers the true horror isn't just the system. On his inaugural night, he's assaulted by a grotesque creature – an old man with a bison's head – a terrifying reality that staff dismiss as delusion, but which fellow patients confirm as the 'devil' that haunts the institution after sundown. Facing this shared nightmare, Pepper forges an alliance with three other inmates, banding together in a desperate, thrilling plot to confront and eradicate the monster stalking their asylum. This novel masterfully blends suspense, dark humor, and supernatural horror with profound social commentary, exploring themes of friendship, sanity, and the courage needed to face both external terrors and the personal demons within.