Kentucky Veteran Pens Supernatural Thriller 'Six Bullets, Seven Kills'

Adam Willman's debut novel explores the thin line between sanity and survival in a small Kentucky town.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Adam Willman, a Kentucky National Guard veteran and NBC warfare specialist, has channeled his experiences confronting invisible threats into his debut supernatural thriller novel, 'Six Bullets, Seven Kills'. The book follows John Kesser, whose encounter with something that shouldn't exist sends his life spiraling into chaos, and those who refuse to abandon him even as the evidence suggests he's lost his grip on reality.

Why it matters

Willman's novel taps into growing reader demand for unflinching, unfiltered adult horror that explores deeper questions about fear, endurance, and the fragility of the human mind when confronted with the incomprehensible. The book's small-town setting and generational secrets also reflect broader themes about how communities can harbor truths that shatter long-held beliefs.

The details

Set in the fictional town of Hollow Pass, Kentucky, 'Six Bullets, Seven Kills' follows John Kesser, whose encounter with something supernatural on a storm-ravaged night sends his life into chaos. The novel combines visceral supernatural terror with psychological dread, as Kesser and those close to him must confront the possibility that the impossible has become real. Willman's military background as an NBC warfare specialist lends a sense of tactical precision to the storytelling, grounding even the most fantastical elements in a visceral reality.

  • Willman's debut novel 'Six Bullets, Seven Kills' was published on February 27, 2026.

The players

Adam Willman

A Kentucky native and former Kentucky National Guard member who served as a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) warfare specialist. Willman has channeled his experiences confronting invisible threats into his debut supernatural thriller novel, 'Six Bullets, Seven Kills'.

John Kesser

The protagonist of 'Six Bullets, Seven Kills', whose encounter with something supernatural on a storm-ravaged night sends his life into chaos.

Hollow Pass

A fictional coal mining town in Kentucky founded in 1866, where the novel is set. The town and its generational secrets play a central role in the story.

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What’s next

Willman has announced plans for a book tour to promote 'Six Bullets, Seven Kills' in the coming months, with stops in Louisville, Lexington, and other Kentucky cities.

The takeaway

With 'Six Bullets, Seven Kills', Adam Willman has delivered a supernatural thriller that respects its adult audience, combining visceral horror with deeper explorations of fear, resilience, and the fragility of the human mind. The book's small-town setting and generational secrets also reflect broader themes about how communities can harbor truths that shatter long-held beliefs.