Gamebook Friday: The Kingsport Metamorphosis - Rave Reviews!

The Kingsport Metamorphosis, my third Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebook, has been out for over five months now, but I only came across these reviews the other day.

The Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub loved it:

"I’m pretty sure I say this every time, but this might be my favorite Investigators Gamebook to date." 

And here's what they had to say about the series in general:

"I truly love the Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebooks. Part Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, part table-top roleplaying game, these books are just flat-out fun. The Kingsport Metamorphosis continues in this vein, bringing hours of entertainment and tons of creativity."

And here's what Luna Gauthier had to say over on Cosmic Circus:

"I would definitely say that I returned to this one more times than any of the other Investigators Gamebooks that I’ve read so far. The re-readability makes The Kingsport Metamorphosis the best installment of the Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebooks to date and worth picking up."

You can purchase your copy of The Kingsport Metamorphosis here.

Gamebook Friday: Gamebooks Update

I have just updated the Gamebooks page on my blog. It hadn't been updated since December 2018, at which time I had only had 20 gamebooks published. The total currently stands at 30, with two more already written and waiting to be published.

There are so many ACE Gamebooks now* that I am considering producing a leaflet for events to give out to people, with summaries of what each one is about, unusual rules, and total number of sections.

I have so far written gamebooks for 12 different series or IPs, but the three that are currently on the writing desk, as it were, are...

ACE Gamebooks

Classic works of literature or well-known legends reimagined with a gamebook twist. To find out more, click the image below.

Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebooks

Interactive adventures set within the Arkham Horror universe of the 1920s, inspired by the cosmic insanity of H P Lovecraft. To find out more, click the image below.

Warcradle Gamebooks

A news series set within the Dystopian Age setting of Warcralde Studios' games. Expect James Bond-esque derring-do within a souped up late 19th century. The first book in the series is called Valiant. To find out more, click the cover image below.

* I am currently writing the tenth. 

Gamebook Gifts that can still arrive in time for Father's Day!

It's Father's Day this Sunday, 21st June 2026. If you're still not sure what to get the important Dad, or Dads, in your life*, you could still order one of these gamebook titles to arrive in time for Sunday.

You could even place a Late Pledge to 100 Aker Wood and dedicate it to your Father/Father figure.

* Or if, like me, you buy your own Father's Day gifts. :-p

Gamebook Friday: JG at UK Games Expo 2006

I am attending the UK Games Expo this weekend, at the NEC just outside Birmingham, from Friday 29th - Sunday 31st May 2026.

You will find me in Hall 2, sharing Stand 2-359 with Sir Ian Livingstone.

Click to enlarge.

I will have copies of all the ACE Gamebooks currently in print for sale, including
Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu: What Dreams May Come, and the 5th anniversary collector's hardback of Dracula: Curse of the Vampire.

I will also have all three of my Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebooks for sale, but primarily The Kingsport Metamorphosis, which was published earlier this year.

Wayland Games will also be in attendance - in Hall 2, at Stand 2-502 - and will have copies of my Valiant gamebook for sale, which you can then bring to Stand 2-359 to be signed.

If you are attending the UK Games Expo this year, I look forward to seeing you over the course of the weekend.

Gamebook Friday: JG at Play Bologna

I will be attending PLAY: Festival del Gioco in Bologna this weekend. I will be arriving in Italy on Friday and hope to be able to pop in briefly that evening. However, I will be at the event all day Saturday, signing books at the Raven Distribution stand as well as taking part in these two events:

4pm - The Lone Wolf Award

5pm - Green's Mind: Descent Into Horror

I will also be at the Raven Distribtion stand on Sunday, signing books - specifically the new Italian editions of The Darkness Over Arkham and Neverland: Here Be Monsters! - although I hope to get the chance to have a look at Bologna as well.

So, if you're going to be at PLAY: Festival del Gioco, do stop the Raven Distribution stand and say, "Ciao!"

Gamebook Friday: ACE Gamebooks at UK Games Expo 2026

Four weeks today, I will be attending the UK Games Expo at the NEC in Birmingham*. You will find me sharing Stand 2-359 with Sir Ian Livingstone.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the UK Games Expo. Checking back on my blog**, my first visit was in 2010, the fith year it had been on, when it was still in Edgbaston. Since that time, I have only missed two years - 2020, when it wasn't on, and 2021, when it returned after Covid but clashed with my son's birthday.

On sale at this year's UK Games Expo for the first time will be Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu: What Dreams May Come.

I will also have copies of The Kingsport Metamorphosis, my third Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebook, with me.

So, if you are visiting the Expo this year, please do stop by Stand 2-359 and say hello.

* Which means that three weeks today I will be travelling to Italy, ready for Play: Bologna.

** I knew I kept this up for a reason.

Gamebook Friday: L'Oscurità su Arkham

This arrived at my home today...

L'Oscurità su Arkham (published by Vincent Books*) is the Italian language edition of the first Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebook, The Darkness Over Arkham, and a very nice hardback it is too.

It also means that The Darkness Over Arkham is now available in four different languages - English, Spanish, Hungarian, and Italian.

As you can see, L'Oscurità su Arkham varies from the other editions in that is has new cover art. And while the book does not feature any full page illustrations, Vincent Books have commissioned some adventure-specific fillers, including the ones shown below.

Recently, I was interviewed by Riccardo Scaringi for the Il Gioco In Tavolo podcast. During the course of our discussion we talked about Fighting Fantasy as well as exploring the world of Arkham Horror through gamebooks, which you can watch below.

Make sure you pop back tomorrow, because it will be new book day - again!

* Who have also published Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland and The Wicked Wizard of Oz in Italian.

Gamebook Friday: Words in Watchet Literary Festival

Tomorrow, Saturday 21st February 2026, you will find me at the Words in Watchet Literary Festival. 

At 11:30am, I will be giving a talk about Writing Fantasy Gamebooks, and signing copies of my books afterwards, at the East Quay Creator Space, Harbour Road.

You can find out more and book your ticket (although entry to FREE) here.

So, if you're in the area and would like to find out how I turn a story idea into an interactive gamebook, like Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu: What Dreams May Come, or how I plotted the latest Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebook, The Kingsport Metamorphosis, why not pop along?

 

Tie-in Tuesday: Arkham Horror Investigators

With the release of The Kingsport Metamorphosis, the official Arkham Horror website has shared the downloadable Investigator character sheets for the Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebooks series.

Remember, the USP of this series is that you can play through any adventure as any Investigator.

So, those currently available to download from ArkhamHorror.com are...

The Kingsport Metamorphosis
Jacqueline Fine, the Psychic
Lucius Galloway, the Dreamer
Lola Hayes, the Actress

The Tides of Innsmouth
Silas Marsh, the Sailor
Kōhaku Narukami, the Folklorist
Marion Tavares, the Trawler

The Darkness Over Arkham
Agnes Baker, the Waitress
Nathaniel Cho, the Boxer
Rex Murphy, the Reporter

Bonus Investigators
George Barnaby, the Lawyer
Stella Clarke, the Letter Carrier
Skids O'Toole, the Ex-Con
Amanda Sharpe, the Student
Sister Mary, the Nun (released to mark the publication of The Kingsport Metamorphosis)

These are the 14 Investigators available to download from ArkhamHorror.com.

However, there are two more Investigators available - Jenny Barnes the Dilettante, and Joe Diamond the Private Investigator - whose character sheets can be found in the graphic novel The Terror at the End of Time.

So, I think you will agree, the Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebooks offer endless replayability, and any Investigators that might be released in the future will also be compatible with any existing adventure in the series.

How's that for variety?

Gamebook Friday: The Kingsport Metamorphosis and other Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebooks

The Kingsport Metamorphosis, my latest Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebook, was published on Tuesday and I recieved a copy of it on Thursday.

The Kingsport Metamorphosis, with cover art by Joshua Cairós.

I have had one AHIG published each year since 2024, meaning there are now three in print*.

It struck me the other day that back in 1995, I had three Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks in print and this felt like a real achievement. In fact, when Curse of the Mummy was published, I only had three books published in total.

The Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebooks have come out over the same period of time, but today I am a full time writer and other titles have also been written and published during the last three years, including YOU ARE THE HERO: An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, and the ACE Gamebook Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu: What Dreams May Come.

êêêêê
"If gamebooks be the food of love, play on."

Antony Johnston, author of Can You Solve The Murder?

Even though The Kingsport Metamorphosis is my 86th published book (not including reprints and omnibuses), I still get excited when I get to hold a copy of one of my books for the first time. I am particularly keen to give The Kingsport Metamorphosis a read myself, to see if I succeeded in what I set out to do with this adventure.

If you have ordered The Kingsport Metamorphosis, or any of my other Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebooks - such as The Darkness Over Arkham, or The Tides of Innsmouth - when you've had the chance to give them a read/playthrough, please do post a review online.

* Three and a half if you include The Magpie and the Bat.

The Kingsport Metamorphosis - new Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebook out now!

New book day! The Kingsport Metamorphosis, my third Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebook, is published today by Aconyte Books.

As with the other books in the series, The Kingsport Metamorphosis includes three Investigators with whom you can play through the adventure*. They are...

Jacqueline Fine
The Psychic

When Jacqueline's supernatural senses pull her towards the fog-bound streets of Kingsport, with a peculiar letter in her hand, she understands that she has no choice but to follow where they lead.

Lola Hayes
The Actress

When a letter arrives from one Elijah Harcourt inviting Lola to visit his home in Kingsport, she decides it might be nice to have a break from performing. But, as she comes to the coast, she can’t help wondering if she is about to take on the most important role of her life.

Lucius Galloway
The Poet

The mists of Kingsport have haunted Lucius's work since before he ever set foot in the town. Now he walks its alleyways, and if the truth of his visions awaits him here, he will meet it, whether it brings triumph or ruin.

Featuring another fantastic cover by Joshua Cairós, The Kingsport Metamorphosis is a classic country house murder mystery... only it isn't!

To find out more, pick up your copy of The Kingsport Metamorphosis today!

In other news, the Italian edition of The Darkness Over Arkham - L'Oscurità su Arkham - the first Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebook, is out now from Vincent Books.

* Although you can play as any Investigator whose stats have been published in another Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebook or online.