Jack Pendleton sets October release for fourth Professor Spectre thriller

Jack Pendleton’s fourth Professor Spectre novel, The Curse of Castle Dracula and Professor Spectre, is set for release Oct. 10, 2026. The upstate New York supernatural thriller follows Dalton Peck into a cursed carnival dark ride renovation that turns deadly.

Why it matters: - The fourth Professor Spectre book expands a homegrown upstate New York horror series built around psychological suspense, eerie atmosphere and fast-paced action. - The new release raises the stakes for Dalton Peck, the series’ reluctant paranormal investigator, with a story that mixes a historic attraction, a buried true-crime past and a deadly supernatural curse.

What happened: - Jack Pendleton will release The Curse of Castle Dracula and Professor Spectre on Oct. 10, 2026. - The book is the fourth installment in the Professor Spectre supernatural thriller series. - The story sends Dalton Peck back into action after self-imposed isolation. - Old friend Alex Hargraves recruits Dalton to help renovate a historic carnival dark ride called Castle Dracula. - The renovation turns into a nightmare after Dalton and Alex uncover a horrific true-crime history tied to the ride.

The details: - A series of sudden, mysterious deaths follows the installation. - The deaths deepen suspicion around the project and draw law enforcement attention to Dalton. - A malevolent force awakens as Castle Dracula’s past is uncovered. - Dalton’s alter ego, Professor Spectre, must try to stop the bloodshed and break the curse before Dalton and Alex are killed. - The Professor Spectre novels are set in upstate New York. - The book is listed as a supernatural thriller and paranormal mystery. - Review copies, interviews and feature articles are available on request.

Between the lines: - Pendleton is both the author and cover illustrator, which gives the series a tightly controlled visual and narrative identity. - Pendleton draws on his experiences as a hiker and explorer of abandoned places, along with an interest in forgotten history, to shape the books’ atmosphere. - The series leans on regional settings and neglected landmarks to make the horror feel grounded and familiar before turning supernatural.

What's next: - The book arrives Oct. 10, 2026. - Readers, reviewers and media outlets can request digital ARC copies and interviews ahead of release. - The launch adds a new chapter to the ongoing Professor Spectre series, with the next conflict centered on the Castle Dracula curse.

The bottom line: - Pendleton is betting the series’ blend of local history and paranormal danger will keep readers coming back as Professor Spectre faces his most dangerous case yet.