The Pet by Charles L. Grant is a quiet, creeping horror that turns the familiar into something terrifying. It begins in a small town where a young boy named Josh starts to sense something strange—something lurking just beyond sight, tied to his family and their secrets. Grant masterfully blends the innocence of childhood with the slow corruption of evil, letting dread seep in through everyday settings: houses, streets, neighbors who no longer seem quite right. As Josh’s visions sharpen, it becomes clear that a supernatural force—something ancient, hungry, and patient—is watching, waiting, and perhaps even shaping his fate. With Grant’s signature subtlety, the horror doesn’t explode but instead builds like a shadow in the corner of your eye, impossible to ignore, and impossible to escape.
