The Master of Horror returns to Chapters for a very special All Hallows’ Eve talk, Q&A and book signing.

Last year, Darren Shan came to Chapters and took us completely by surprise.

We knew his readers loved him. We expected a good crowd. What followed was one of the most extraordinary days we have ever had in the bookshop.

More than 100 readers came. One travelled from Germany. People arrived carrying battered childhood copies, pristine collections, international editions and, in several cases, actual suitcases of books. They spoke about discovering Cirque du Freak as children, about the series that made them readers and about characters and stories that had remained with them for decades.

The event was supposed to finish at 3pm. At 5.45pm, Darren was still signing, still smiling and still giving every person in front of him his full attention.

It was proper fandom: joyful, emotional, gloriously obsessive and entirely unforgettable.

Now the Limerick half-vampire is returning to Chapters, and there could hardly be a more appropriate date.

Join us on All Hallows’ Eve for a very special event with Darren Shan, the internationally bestselling author of The Saga of Darren Shan, The Demonata, Zom-B, The Saga of Larten Crepsley and many more deliciously dark books.

Darren will talk about his extraordinary writing life, the enduring world of Cirque du Freak and the generations of reluctant and devoted readers who have found their way into books through his stories. The talk will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.

The timing is particularly bloody good: HarperCollins has just released handsome new matching editions of The Vampire’s Assistant and Tunnels of Blood, books two and three in The Saga of Darren Shan, following last year’s 25th-anniversary edition of Cirque du Freak.

Some writers acquire readers. Darren Shan inspires allegiance. Last year showed us the depth of that relationship in a way none of us was prepared for. This time, we know exactly what is coming.

Well… we think we do.

Darren Shan Returns to Chapters

Date: Saturday, 31st October 2026

Time: 12pm

Venue: Chapters Bookstore, Ivy Exchange, Parnell Street, Dublin 1 D01 P8C2

Format: Author talk, audience Q&A and book signing

Tickets: €10, include a choice of one book from the trilogy

Description supplied by the event organiser.