There Used to Be People Here, Kennedy Cole
There Used to Be People Here, Kennedy Cole
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There Used to Be People Here

Author: Kennedy Cole

Narrator: Kennedy Cole

Unabridged: TBD

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 11/03/2026


Synopsis

In 1970s Mississippi, a Black detective and his temporary partner are assigned to a case that shifts from murder to paranormal conspiracy with life-altering repercussions.

Wenton, Mississippi: A man enters the bathroom of a local gay bar and doesn't come back out. Instead he's found cold, on the floor, and facing the wall. And no one seems to know how this happened.

Samuel Barkley is Wenton's only Black detective. Assigned to the case, Samuel's one goal is to keep his head down with eyes on moving up in the police ranks. But it's not easy with Harvey, a new, temporary partner who Samuel can't seem to like...or hate. Nor with the cold, questioning eyes and fake smiles from those in town. Persistent. Judging. Wrong. Samuel is reaching his breaking point.

As his investigation leads him to a curious plane crash cover-up, Samuel's placid existence is turned on its head. Because what crashed in Wenton isn't a plane. There are others here. They like it here. And if Samuel can't stop them, they will find a way to stay.

With shades of The X-Files and S. A. Cosby, There Used to Be People Here deftly explores race, queerness, and existing as other in a society that demonizes everything different.

About The Author

Kennedy Cole is a speculative author with a BFA in Creative Writing and a Certificate in Publishing. Born in North Carolina, she lives by the beach with her partner and enjoys playing games, puzzling, sipping matcha, and collecting tattoos. Her creative portfolio includes an array of published fiction, poetry, and nonfiction with Oakland Arts Review, Carolina Muse, Second Story Journal, and others. There Used to Be People Here is her first novel.


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Quotes

Praise for There Used to Be People Here

"A taut, well-crafted debut! Each page crackles with tension. A great, must-read work!"
Jason Mott, bestselling author of Hell of a Book

"At once a small-town mystery steeped in terrors both uncanny and distressingly human, and an exploration into otherness in the American south, Kennedy Cole’s powerful debut is as provocative as it is haunting, as touching as it is terrifying. There Used to Be People Here is an unforgettable novel of horror and history."
—Nick Medina, author of Savage Lake

“Dark and tense from the first page, There Used to Be People Here is a fast-paced ride that's brimming with atmosphere. Small-town vibes and otherworldly weirdness create layers of unease. Add a main character who faces one conflict after another, and the result is this highly memorable sci-fi horror story. Kennedy Cole's thrilling debut kept me guessing until the very end.”
Del Sandeen, author of These Walls Remember

"An exciting new voice in speculative fiction, Kennedy Cole’s There Used to Be People Here is for anyone who knows what it means to keep your guard up and your head down in a small town, where anyone—and everyone—might be watching. A twisty, gritty, GTO-driving thrill ride that’s also full of heart, this book kept me guessing—and rooting for Sam and Harvey—until the very last page."
Melissa Faliveno, author of Hemlock