I had been meaning to post this for a bit, but initially I thought I’d wait until more people had read the book and…I don’t know if that’ll happen? (I’m used to sales dropping off book to book but whew, this has only a couple of ratings everywhere, so I dunno.) And then I also never remember to post it until like Sunday night.

Anyway. In case someone exists who both reads the books and these posts: some of this book’s soundtrack crosses over with the previous one.

Rachel Bloom – “You Stupid Bitch“
Waverly’s theme song in this one (and the end of the last one–I forgot to put it with SATY’s soundtrack post). When Meadow is calling her a stupid bitch who ruined everything, this is what she’s singing.

Chase Eagleson – “Don’t Dream It’s Over“
If you read “The Assistants” over at Patreon, Meadow was singing this one to her at the end so it’s on ADaDH’s soundtrack.

2WEI – “Hurt” (cover)

Alison Krauss & Union Station – “It Doesn’t Matter“
“It doesn’t matter what I want / It doesn’t matter what I need / If you’ve made up your mind to go / I won’t beg you to stay”

Linda Ronstadt – “Long Long Time“
The ultimate yearning song. The isolated vocals version was on my list.
“‘Cause I’ve done everything I know / To try and make you mine / And I think I’m gonna love you / For a long long time”

(Side note: I cannot think about the lyrics without hearing Meadow countering it, from the book: “…the last time I listened to this song, she pointed out the flaws in identifying with it, such as doing everything to make him mine except not lying to him, being a normal human being who doesn’t obsess about murder, dressing like an adult, telling him I like him…”

NerdOut feat Ben Schuller – “Running Up that Hill” (cover)
Yes, this was also on the last book–for the scene I dubbed The Reckoning, and in ADaDH it was on for The Reckoning Redux (Chapter: Thunder in Our Hearts). Usually I link to YouTube but the version there has the voice overs from Stranger Things–on Apple Music (which I have) or Spotify (linked to there), you can hear just the song itself.
“You don’t wanna hurt me / But see how deep the bullet lies / Unaware I’m tearin’ you asunder / Oh, there is thunder in our hearts”

Janis Joplin – “Piece of My Heart“
Everyone should know Waverly continued her little brother’s education by following up later with the Erma Franklin version.

Janis Joplin – “Ball and Chain (Live at McMahon Stadium)“
I actually pulled out my vinyl when the characters did to get this scene–I’d anticipated “Piece of My Heart” would be the song, but it turned out to be this one Waverly really connected with.
“Love’s got a hold on me, baby / Feels just like a ball and chain / Now, love’s just draggin’ me down, baby, yeah / Feels like a ball and chain / I hope there’s someone out there who could tell me / Why the man I love wanna leave me in so much pain“

Ethel Cain – “Sun Bleached Flies“
Waverly’s depression-montage-song. Of course I got it from here which is my favourite video that I watch on rotation even though it makes me sad.
“If it’s meant to be then it’ll be” and “I can’t let go when something’s broken / It’s all I know and it’s all I want now”

Poets of the Fall – “Anger’s Remorse“

Chase Eagleson and Sierra Eagleson – “I Miss You” (cover)

Danger Mouse & Karen O – “Drown“
“When the tide pulls us away / Not the one you need to save / All the lies, they were coming true with you“

Disasterpeace – “Anyone“
I had a couple of pieces from the It Follows soundtrack for the scenes with Waverly in the basement–just really unnerving and tense instrumentals.

Disasterpeace – “Linger“

Damien Rice – “I Don’t Want to Change You”
This really unlocked what was originally going to be the final chapter (of course if you’ve read it, you know there were like three more after that) and understanding that particular character’s perspective. I adore this song (also include any acoustic version which is always my preference).

Bonus from the hardcover:

Madonna – “Masterpiece“
Teen Waverly, talked more about that here.

Katie Gavin – “Like a Prayer” (cover)
IYKYK

I pulled some piano covers for the restaurant scene in Like a Prayer. There was Heart’s “Alone“. If you read “Annika” at Patreon, you might put together why he got a little quiet during “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing“. And finally Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” for the proposal.

The new book is out on Tuesday.

Look, I’m Canadian–I did not realize, when I set the date, when the US election was, or that I’d be stuck in this place of having to advertise a new release at a time when it seems tacky to do so while still needing to pay rent, and if this book tanks entirely, well, that’s not unexpected given the circumstances. But here we are.

It is, like much of what I write, very heavy on the rage factor–particularly female rage. And while I completely understand why many gravitate toward low-stakes “cozy” (god I have come to hate that word) stuff, that’s never been me. My comfort place is horror and thrillers for a reason–I need catharsis, I need release. I could go into deeper thoughts on the subject–I have many–but this is a soundtrack post.

If this book was a game, it would be a “walking sim”. It was heavily influenced by games like Firewatch and The Suicide of Rachel Foster, so you’ll find those soundtracks on heavy rotation here.

I’m going to just separate the songs by the days in the book, it’s roughly in order of the the scenes (usually my soundtracks are, btw), which I guess might be spoilery though hopefully minimally.

Day One

I’ll link to the full Firewatch soundtrack here because it’s all in one link on YouTube. There’s a good mix of mournful/bittersweet and a little foreboding, which matches a lot of the early part of the book (the book takes place over five days; the situation…escalates). I also like to think of the park ranger in his tower with track 2, “Stay in Your Tower and Watch”.

Federico Landini – “The Timberline“
Exploring the lodge.

Federico Landini – “Awareness Pt 2“
Maya’s childhood room/manager’s suite.

Federico Landini – “The Blanket“
Awaking in the night.

Day Two

Federico Landini – “Dream On“

Federico Landini – “Low Lights“
The crawlspace.

The Newton Brothers – “Echoes of Viola“
A child’s mural.

Angelo Badalamenti – “Final Elevator“
Just before waking alone.

Shusaku Uchiyama – “Wandering in the Dark“
Searching the lodge for Holly.

Day Three

Frederico Landini – “The Investigation“

Akira Yamaoka – “Voices“

Akira Yamaoka feat. Mary Elizabeth McGlynn – “Waiting For You“
I had the Heaven’s Night LIVE concert on a lot as well. Maya is named after MEG (whose voice I absolutely adore); even though this song is not precisely Maya’s POV, it’s on here.

Federico Landini – “Bad Weather“
The workshop.

Akira Yamaoka feat. Mary Elizabeth McGlynn – “Cradle of Forest“
In the forest.
“When you think you’re really alone//Feel the eyes of someone looking in on you”

Akira Yamaoka feat. Mary Elizabeth McGlynn – “I Want Love (Studio Mix)“

Akira Yamaoka – “The Love That Was Lost“

The Newton Brothers – “Love Story“
Watching the northern lights.

Day Four

Federico Landini – “The Tent“
Answering the radio.

Federico Landini – “The Detachment“

Federico Landini – “Mannequin Maddess“
The…altercation in the second-floor hallway with the broken staircase.

Akira Yamaoka feat. Mary Elizabeth McGlynn – “You’re Not Here“

Federico Landini – “Awareness Part 1“
The fire lookout tower.

Angelo Badalamenti – “The Sacrifice“
Leaving the fire lookout tower through the snow.

Federico Landini – “False Notes“
The attic.

Akira Yamaoka – “You Can’t Save Everyone, Butterfly“
The contents of the trunk in the attic.

Akira Yamaoka – “Theme of Laura (reprise)“
Theme for the woman who built a cabin etc

Federico Landini – “Whispers“
There’s a spot toward the end where Maya is said to be singing to herself, the song is “Moon River” (from Breakfast at Tiffany’s) but in this haunting, minor key kind of way. I don’t have a link to that song the way I hear it but this is the vibe (mixed with the vibe of the song below).

Lana del Rey – “Once Upon a Dream“

Day Five

Federico Landini – “The Hollows“

Federico Landini – “Awareness Pt 3“
A visitor.

Federico Landini – “Running Away“
A confrontation in the penultimate chapter.

The Newton Brothers – “It’s You, It’s Me, It’s Us“

Wojciech Kilar – “Love Remembered“
This and the following were the end of the book.

Wojciech Kilar – “Love Eternal“

The Taiga Ridge Murders will be available everywhere on Tuesday, including in paperback and hardcover–the links are live yet, but I’m linking here anyway since very few people read the soundtrack posts and someone is probably more likely to see it after the book is already out.

Kindle | Kobo | Nook | iBooks | Payhip | Paperback | Hardcover

The print is very lovely.

Find the full Soundtrack Sunday overview here.

I think I solved the problem for why some emails weren’t going out from the blog as well as my feedback form (I had to upgrade the PHP). ICYMI: I had a new release, the new hardcovers arrived, and everything else has been a mess. If I did not solve the problem, oh well, no one is going to get this outside of whoever clicks on social media. 🙃

My release day nearly two weeks ago was incredibly shitty, even accounting for how demoralizing publishing is in general. I had a few posts drafted here with updates about how things have been, but they sounded like whining so I haven’t posted them. Just insert Barbie here, cheerfully saying, “I’m definitely not thinking about death anymore!” (It’s fine, I’m fine, just a lot going on, and April is always terrible.)

Anyway, usual caveat–I listen to a lot of the same songs on repeat for this series, so check out the playlists for The Killing Beach, A Wild Kind of Darkness, and there are other series songs on the overview.

Zayde Wolfe – “Save Tonight (cover)“
This is probably the dark trailer theme song for the whole book for me.

Agnes Obel – “Riverside“
Waverly goes through Madison’s room/any scenes reflecting on the ghosts of dead girls in this book.
“Oh my god I see how everything is torn in the river deep//And I don’t know why I go the way//Down by the riverside”

Kirsty Bows – “Crawling (cover)“
I kind of hear this as Madison’s theme, even though she’s not in the actual book.

Alanis Morissette – “Perfect (acoustic)“
I think it should be painfully obvious why Waverly doesn’t get along with her mom (Rachael), but while her mothers aren’t quite this bad, this is what I hear with the household she grew up in, and certainly her little brother feels this way.
“We love you//just the way you are//if you’re perfect”

Ashley Johnson – “Take On Me (cover)“
Ashley Johnson has a beautiful voice–and I really admire how she can sing in character, keeping Ellie’s rougher, tentative voice for her TLoU songs (including “Wayfaring Stranger”, live). So this very quiet, gentle version of “Take On Me” was on repeat a few times in Alone at Night. Specifically the chapters putting the bed together, talking about the past case, etc.
“We’re talking away//I don’t know what I’m to say//I’ll say it anyway//Today is another day to find you//Shyin’ away//Oh, I’ll be comin’ for your love, okay”

Otis Redding – “For Your Precious Love“
Technically this was the song playing for the characters in that scene, though, lol.

Jessica Curry – “Mandus“

Sarah Brightman – “He Doesn’t See Me“
If anyone knows a more melancholy/darker/acoustic version of this, that’s more Waverly, hmu (I love SB, this is on the soundtrack for the lyrics). This is when she oversees someone seemingly on a date.
“When he passes me by, he’s a ray of light//Like the first drop of sun from the sky//And I know he’s a king who deserves a queen//But I’m not a queen, and he doesn’t see me”

Billie Marten – “In for the Kill“
I don’t know if I can specifically point to a scene for this one, although it gave me vibes of Waverly’s frustration and disappointment, and also in the latter part of the book when she’s watching him risk himself for the case.
“I hang my hopes out on the line//Will they be ready for you in time” and “I’m hoping you’ll understand//Now let go of my hand“

Sierra Eagleson – “A Case of You (cover)“
There are a lot of quiet moments in this book I love–one of them, without spoilers, is when Waverly finds her apartment very full of guests, and there’s a scene where they’re sitting on the floor and she confesses the maternal gene skipping her, and the different perspective she’s given on it.
“Oh, you’re in my blood like holy wine//You taste so bitter and so sweet//Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling//And I would still be on my feet”

Angelo Badalamenti – “Twin Peaks Theme (Instrumental)“
There’s a scene in this book that is 100% an Agent Cooper Moment, I don’t care that it’s blatant–I literally heard this song playing as I was typing despite not listening to anything at the time, and even the editor commented “He’s so dreamy.” (What is an ACM? When the theme kicks in while Cooper is kind as he declines Audrey’s advances, or one of the only great things that came out of The Return for me was the “I am the FBI” scene.)
“…there are vows we make, obviously, as part of our duties. But I made an oath myself to uphold certain values. One is to be in service not only to my community but to the world around me. Another is to never hold myself above anyone, victim, witness, or accused, and to afford each person I meet with the dignity everyone is owed from their very basic humanity. But the final one, perhaps the most relevant here”—he turns and looks at me—“is that the job is never above what is right. And if ever the job comes into conflict with what I believe is right, then my choice, while perhaps not easy, is clear and I will know the steps to take. I am not making a great sacrifice here. Even if it affects my case. Even as it most certainly affects my job prospects. There is right and there is wrong. What we’re doing is right.”

James Marshall – “Just You“
Last chapter/epilogue song. (Also, James has always been cool.)

Alone at Night is now available everywhere.