Blood, Tension, and Terror Return: Benjamin Rempel’s “Mutate” is Hitting Shelves with a Spine-Chilling Sequel Readers Can’t Put Down
October 31, 2025 | For Immediate Release
Canadian novelist unleashes a relentless, intelligent horror in highly anticipated follow-up to breakout debut “Infect”
Chicken House Press announces the November 15, 2025 launch of Mutate, the visceral sequel from Collingwood author Benjamin Rempel that takes everything readers loved about his debut, Infect, and amplifies the tension to devastating new heights.
After months of inoculating virus-infected townsfolk, Andrew Stone resumes his studies overseas while half-brother, Xavier, and cousin, Evelyn, settle into a new normal. But evil lurks in the shadows. There are whispers the antidote is waning while a frightening mutation is spawning a breed stronger, smarter, and more violent than anything seen before.
For fans of Nick Cutter's bioengineered nightmares and Cherie Dimaline’s survival horror, Rempel delivers a story that refuses to let readers catch their breath. When Xavier and Evelyn lead a hack team of cops to track this new threat to a remote barn, the group is quickly overtaken and plunged into clashes of violence and butchery. As casualties mount, the survivors take refuge in a deserted motel—but sanctuary proves elusive when new dangers emerge.
“Sharp, visceral, with masterful tension, Rempel continues to be an exciting new voice in Canadian Horror,” praises Blank Spaces Magazine, and Mutate proves why. Dripping with suspense, Rempel ratchets up the stakes as Andrew and Xavier begin to lose hope in finding their parents—only to learn a haunting secret about the virus that could lead to a final cure, once and for all.
"A suspenseful read that keeps you on your toes... Rempel delivers on his highly anticipated second novel," says Amber Kuipers, author of When Grey Came to Stay. Jan Ferrigan, writer and playwright, calls it "A visually rich, fast-paced tale... A worthy sequel that will grip you to the very end."
Readers of Rempel's debut, Infect, burned through the book in days—some in mere hours. One Goodreads reviewer declared: "I loved this book!!! I sped through it and read it in 5 hours. It had the perfect amount of suspense... The plot twists were all CRAZY and I never expected them!!! I literally can't wait for the next one!" Another reader on Indigo praised it as "compelling from start to finish... the ending is such a cliff hanger."
That wait is over.
Join Benjamin Rempel for the official launch of Mutate on November 15, 2025, from 12:00–3:00 PM at Coles Books in Heritage Place Mall, Owen Sound, Ontario. The event will feature a short reading, community connection, and signed copies available for purchase. Support Canadian authors and Canadian books—and prepare yourself for a horror experience that will haunt you long after the final page.
About the Author: Benjamin Rempel is a Canadian writer and essayist. Nominated for several literary awards including the Pushcart Prize and the Rising Spirits Writing Award, his work has appeared in The Toronto Star, Our Canada, Streetlight, Blank Spaces, among others. Based on the merits of his debut novel, Infect, he was awarded a 2025 literary grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, Rempel lives in Collingwood, Ontario, with his family. He can be found at benjaminrempel.com.
Mutate is available in paperback and ebook formats through Chicken House Press and major online retailers beginning November 15, 2025.
ISBN trade paperback edition: 978-1-997584-05-6
