The Devil's Playground

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Set in 1920s Hollywood, this thrilling tale revolves around the making of a terrifying silent film and the search for its rumored sole surviving copy. Mary Rourke, a Hollywood fixer, is urgently summoned to the home of Norma Carlton, a prominent silent film star. Norma is involved in a secret project, a horror film titled The Devil's Playground, said to have cursed its cast and crew. When Mary discovers Norma's lifeless body, she begins to question the dark rumors surrounding the film. Fast forward to 1967, where journalist Paul Conway, a film enthusiast, pursues a tantalizing lead about the existence of a single copy of The Devil's Playground, a coveted find for film historians. Aware of the film's troubled history and tragic fate, he embarks on a quest to uncover its secrets. This richly researched narrative explores the Golden Age of Hollywood, revealing an industry steeped in deception, fabricated identities, and the relentless pursuit of fame. As Mary navigates the treacherous landscape of egos and distractions, she uncovers a truth more sinister than she could have imagined, making this one of Craig Russell's most compelling works to date.