The fictional town of Enigma Springs, Ohio, is the setting in many of Travis VanHoose’s works. This small town is surrounded by mystery and filled with unspeakable horrors.
This Access Guide will provide you with all the information you need about the community, its locations, mythology, and the townspeople. All details are listed in alphabetical order by the first letter of each character and location. Please note that there are ample spoilers throughout this guide.
All books are listed in order by publication date.
Enigma Springs is briefly mentioned as the original hometown of Willard Mileman. His family operated the most popular butcher’s shop in the town. After the passing of Willard’s parents, he sold the family farm and moved to Albastor, Kentucky, the central setting in Seeing Red.
The Entirety of Dead Boy takes place in Enigma Springs.
It is mentioned that Eliza, the mother of Caleb Horst, met her husband, Carl, at a truck stop outside of Enigma Springs.
Local bar where Emmett Perry used to work. Gareth Longe, Emmett’s roommate, still works there as a bouncer.
[MENTIONS: Dead Boy]
Residents on this street include Emmett Perry, Danny Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Levi, and Shirley. This street connects with Grattis Drive.
[MENTIONS: Dead Boy]
Runs adjacent to Cauley Place and is where the ghost of a child on a bike named Danny appeared to multiple residents. It was on this corner that he was struck by a car in a hit-and-run. Danny’s grandmother still resides on the street.
[MENTIONS: Dead Boy]
This street is mentioned in the book Dead Boy and is said to be a terrible place to live. It is surrounded by mystery and bloodshed.
[MENTIONS: Dead Boy]
- Albert Mileman: Was the father of Willard Mileman. He ran the most successful butcher shop in Enigma Springs before his death. [Seeing Red]
- Billy Smith: Best friend of Danny. Lives in a house directly behind Emmett Perry, with his parents. [Dead Boy]
- Bobby Franks: Drinking buddy and friend to Emmett Perry. Has four children with four different women. [Dead Boy]
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- Danny: Rides a red Huffy with a banana seat up and down Grattis Drive. Danny was six years old when he died in a hit-and-run accident while spending the summer with his grandparents (Martin and Millie). Danny’s mother was away dealing with her pill and alcohol addiction when he was killed. His father was never in the picture. Danny reached out to a new arrival on Cauley Place, Emmett Perry, and revealed that he was poisoned by the previous homeowner who resided in 217 Cauley Place before his death. [Dead Boy]
- Emmett Perry: Worked as a bartender for several years. Received an inheritance and purchased a house at 217 Cauley Place. Emmett is a recovering alcoholic who also had a cocaine addiction. He worked at Bert’s Brewery but quit the job in order to get his drinking under control. Emmett met the child of a ghost, who was killed in a hit-and-run, and helped solve his murder. [Dead Boy]
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- Gareth Longe: Works at Bert’s Brewery as a bouncer. Lives with Emmett Perry at 217 Cauley Place. He is tall and muscular, covered in tattoos with the beginnings of a beer gut. He is quick to anger and gets into a lot of fights. Gareth lost both his parents and fiancée within days of each other; all three perished in car accidents. Loves drinking and cocaine. [Dead Boy]
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- Jerry: His daughter originally owned 217 Cauley Place before her death. Jerry sold the house to Emmett Perry. He moved to Florida after selling the house. [Dead Boy]
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- Levi: Neighbor of Emmet Perry. He resides directly across the street from him and has two teenage sons, who are super polite. He recently married a woman named Shirley. They would all hang out and drink. Like Emmett, they too witnessed the ghost of a young boy riding a bike. [Dead Boy]
- Martin: Grandfather of Danny, married to Millie. Lived on Grattis Drive until his passing. Millie believes he died of heartbreak when his grandson died in a hit-and-run. [Dead Boy]
- Millie: Lives on Grattis Drive. Her porch is covered in hundreds of colorful flowers. Her grandson Danny was killed in a hit-and-run on the corner of the street she lives on. Millie would see Danny’s ghost riding his bike up and down the street. He would smile and wave at her. He only spoke to her once. He said: “I’m fine, Grandma… I love you.” [Dead Boy]
- Mr. Rubbish: Rented the land around the Mileman property, which he farmed. He also raised hogs on the property. Mr. Rubbish ended up buying the farm when Willard moved to Albastor. [Seeing Red
- Mr. Smith: Father of Billy Smith. Married to Mrs. Smith. [Dead Boy]
- Mrs. Mileman: Was the wife of Albert Mileman and the mother of Willard Mileman. She made quilts and sold them in town before her death. [Seeing Red]
- Mrs. Smith: Overly protective mother of Billy Smith. Lives in a house behind Emmett Perry. [Dead Boy]
- Nathan Perry: Son of Emmett Perry and Renea. [Dead Boy]
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- Peter: A computer technician who is friends with Emmett Perry. He is a regular at Bert’s Brewery, where he met Emmett before he quit. [Dead Boy]
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- Renea: Mother of Nathan Perry from an unplanned pregnancy with Emmett Perry. She also has an eight-year-old child with another father. [Dead Boy]
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- The Bad Lady: Previously lived at 217 Cauley Place. She was five feet tall with a hunched back. She had long, scraggly, sandy blonde hair. She used an oxygen tank. Her teeth were stained brown. She died in her chair in the living room. She drugged both Danny and Billy Smith, which ultimately led to Danny’s death. [Dead Boy]
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- Willard Mileman: Lived in Enigma Springs when he was a child, but moved to Albastor, Kentucky. Willard’s parents died days apart from one another. His mother succumbed to stomach cancer, and it was believed that his father died of a broken heart. [Seeing Red]
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