The Ghosts We Left Behind: A Velkwood Discussion

Return to the neighborhood that never lets its dead go.
Join The Rockville Horror Book Club for a dark, atmospheric discussion of The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste, a chilling suburban ghost story where the past is sealed off—but never silent.

Twenty years ago, an entire block of homes vanished behind a mysterious veil, trapping its residents as ghosts and leaving behind only three survivors. Since then, the Velkwood Vicinity has become an object of obsession: whispered about in occult circles, sensationalized in documentaries, and picked apart by theorists desperate for answers. None have succeeded. The truth remains locked inside the neighborhood… waiting.

When one of the survivors is drawn back to Velkwood, long-buried memories begin to stir. What really happened that night? What was lost, what was abandoned, and what still lingers inside the veil? As the story unfolds, grief, guilt, and fractured friendships rise to the surface, blurring the line between the living and the dead.

Our discussion will dig into the novel’s eerie atmosphere, unsettling mystery, and emotional undercurrent—exploring themes of survival, trauma, and the quiet horror of returning to the place that shaped you. Expect thoughtful conversation, uneasy questions, and plenty of space to linger in the shadows of Velkwood.

Event Details

• Where: Rockville Memorial Library — Medium Meeting Room 2nd Floor
• When: February 24, 2026
• Time: 6:30–7:30 PM
• What to Bring: Your copy of The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste

If you enjoy slow-burn dread, haunted suburbs, and stories that creep under your skin rather than jump out at you, this is the night to come back… if you dare. 👻📚