Matthew Costello


Matthew John Costello is an Irish-American writer specializing in the genres of horror, gothic, and science fiction. His articles have appeared in publications including the Los Angeles Times and Sports Illustrated. He has scripted Trilobyte's bestselling CD-ROM interactive dramas The 7th Guest and its sequel The 11th Hour, as well as many other video games.

Career

Costello continued Dana Lombardy's "Gaming" column on Asimov's Science Fiction beginning in April 1986, which renamed to "Neat Stuff" in April 1989 and he continued until June 1990; he also continued Lombardy's "On Gaming" column in Analog Science Fiction and Fact from May 1986 to February 1989.
Along with F. Paul Wilson, Costello created and scripted FTL Newsfeed, which ran daily on the Sci-Fi Channel from 1992 to 1996. In 2005 his novel Beneath Still Waters was adapted into a film by director Brian Yuzna.
Costello also wrote Island of the Skull, an original prequel to Peter Jackson's film, King Kong.
Along with his adult genres, he has created works for children. His works include the book series The Kids of Einstein Elementary, and Magic Everywhere, as well as games including Aladdin's Mathquest, A Cartoon History of the Universe, and two math games based on the hit PBS Kids show Cyberchase. He is the designer of role-playing and board games, including Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu, Batman, Lone Wolf & Cub, and many others.
Recently, Costello worked on Rage, a post-apocalyptic action-adventure game for id Software, and wrote its novelization, as well as a new game for Eidos with Neil Richards and Swedish developer Avalanche Studios.

Books

GenreTitlesYear
Anthology
  • Cat Crimes III, “Where's Mittens?,” Donald I. Fine, Inc., 1992
  • Chilled to the Bone, “Undertow,” Mayfair Games, Inc., 1991
  • Dark Dreams, Matt Costello Horror Writer Profile, Cemetery Dance Publications, 2001
  • Dark Thoughts On Writing: Advice and Commentary from 50 Masters of Fear and Suspense, Underwood Books, 1997
  • David Copperfield's Tales of the Impossible, “The Last Vanish,” HarperCollins, 1995, 1996
  • Day One, “Day One,” Tor Books, 2011
  • Deathport, “Thank You for Your Patience,” Pocket Books, 1993
  • Diagnosis: Terminal, “Friendly Wager,” Tor Books, 1996, 1997
  • Doomslayers: Into the Labyrinth, “Expedition,” White Wolf Publishing, Inc., 1998
  • Dracula: Prince of Darkness, “Deep Sleep,” DAW, 1992
  • Frankenstein: The Monster Wakes, “My Coney Island Baby,” DAW, 1993
  • Future Net, “Someone Who Understands Me,” DAW, 1996
  • Gauntlet 2, “Nonfiction Reviews,” Borderlands Press, 1991
  • Gothic Ghosts, “Unexpected Attraction,” Tor Books, 1997,
  • Great Writers & Kids Write Spooky Stories, “Closet Monsters,” Random House, 1995
  • Hellboy: Odd Jobs, “A Night at the Beach,” Dark Horse Comics, Inc., 1999
  • Horrible Beginnings, “Deep Sleep,” DAW, 2003
  • Hottest Blood, “Abuse,” Pocket Books, 1993
  • Lighthouse Hauntings, “And the Sea Shall Claim Them”, Down East Books, 2002, 2014
  • My Favorite Fantasy Story, An Introduction to “More Spinned Against,” DAW, 2000
  • Mr. October: An Anthology in Memory of Rick Hautala, Volume 1, “A Guy Walks Into a Bar,” Journal/Stone 2013
  • Murder Most Feline: Cunning Tales of Cats and Crime, “Mr. Biggles for the Defense,” Cumberland House, 2001
  • Murder Most Postal: Homicidal Tales that Deliver a Message, ”Someone Who Understands Me,” Cumberland House, 2001
  • Necon XV, “My Coney Island Baby,” Necon Books, 1995
  • Necon XX, ”Unexpected Attraction,” Necon Books, 2000
  • Never Fear – the Tarot, “The Hanged Man,” 13Thirty Books, 2016
  • Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, “Unexpected Attraction,” Necon e-Books, 2017
  • Occasional Demons, “And the Sea Shall Claim Them”, Cemetery Dance Publications, 2010
  • Odd Jobs, “A Night at the Beach,” Dreamscape Media 2020
  • October Dreams, “The Real Darkborn,” Cemetery Dance Publications, 2014
  • Phantoms of the Night, “Unfortunate Obsession,” DAW, 1996
  • Santa Clues, “Must Be Santa!”, Signet, 1993
  • Sea-Cursed: Thirty Terrifying Tales of the Deep, “Deep Sleep,” Barnes & Noble Books
  • Solved, “Shadow,” Carroll & Graff Publisher, Inc., 1991
  • Starfall, “Mind over Matter,” TSR, Inc., 1999
  • The Best of Cemetery Dance, “Vacation,” Cemetery Dance Publications, 1998
  • The Best of Cemetery Dance Volume 2, “Vacation,” New American Library, 2001
  • World of Darkness, Vampire: The Masquerade, “Undercover,” White Wolf, Inc., 1994
  • The Big Book of Necon, “Unexpected Attraction,” Cemetery Dance Publications, 2009
  • The Big Book of Necon, “Unexpected Attraction,” Cemetery Dance Publications, 2011
  • The Dean Koontz Companion, “Films, Television, and Dean Koontz,” Berkeley Books, 1994
  • The Essential Dracula, Commentary and Insights, Penguin Books, 1991
  • The Essential Frankenstein, Commentary and Insights, Penguin Books, 1993
  • The Fantastic Adventures of Robin Hood, “Young Robin,” Signet, 1991
  • The Stories: Five Years of Original Fiction on Tor.com, “Day One,” Tor, 2013
  • The Ultimate Zombie, “Corporate Takeover,” Dell Publishing, 1993
  • Thunder's Shadow, “The Man Who Knew Things,” Thunder's Shadow, 1993
  • Till Death Do Us Part, “Whatever Turns You On,” Berkeley Books, 1999
  • Time Gate: Dangerous Interfaces, “The Murderer,” Simon & Schuster, 1990
  • Uncharted Worlds: Xeno Encounters, “The Last Vanish,” 13Thirty Books, 2016
  • Unfortunate Obsession / School for the Unspeakable? Stellar Audio, 1997
  • Werewolves, “Nick of Time,” DAW, 1995
  • Writing Horror, “Pushing the Horror Button,” Writer's Digest Books, 1997
1991-2017
Chapbook
  • Day One, Tor Books
2011
Children's literature
  • The Kids of Einstein Elementary: The Titanic Cat, Scholastic Books, 2004
  • The Kids of Einstein Elementary: The Last Dinosaur, Scholastic Books, 2004
  • Magic Everywhere, Three Rivers Press, 1999
1999-2004
Comic books
1991-1998
Cozy mystery series: Cherringham Mysteries
  • The Body in the Woods, 2017
  • Murder on the Thames, 2013
  • Mystery at the Manor, 2014
  • Murder by Moonlight, 2014
  • Thick as Thieves, 2014
  • Last Train to London, 2014
  • The Curse of Mabb's Farm, 2014
  • The Body in the Lake, 2014
  • Snowblind,
  • Playing Dead
  • A Deadly Confession, 2014
  • Blade in the Water, 2014
  • Death on a Summer Night, 2014
  • A Lesson in Murder, 2015
  • The Secret of Combe Castle, 2015
  • A Fatal Fall, 2015
  • The Last Puzzle, 2015
  • Final Cut, 2015
  • The Vanishing Tourist, 2015
  • Follow the Money, 2015
  • Ghost of a Chance, 2015
  • Murder Most Wild, 2015
  • The Song Never Dies, 2015
  • Dead in the Water, 2016
  • A Bad Lie, 2016
  • A Death in the Family, 2016
  • Secret Santa, 2016
  • Death on a Moonlit Night, 2017
  • A Dinner to Die For, 2018
  • The Drowned Man, 2018
  • The Gentleman Vanishes, 2018
  • Trail of Lies, 2018
  • Death Trap, 2018
  • Cliffhanger, 2019
  • The Secret of Brimley Manor, 2019
  • Too Many Lies, 2019
  • Murder Under the Sun, 2020
  • Killing Time, 2020
  • Still Dead, 2020
  • Killer Track, 2021
  • Cold Case, 2021
  • No Place to Hide, 2022
  • In the Frame, 2022
  • A Score to Settle, 2022
  • Deadline, 2023
  • Bad Neighbours, 2023
  • In Good Faith, 2024
2013-2024
Cozy mystery series: Mydworth Mysteries
  • A Shot in the Dark, 2019
  • A Little Night Murder, 2019
  • London Calling!, 2019
  • Murder Wore a Mask, 2020
  • Deadly Cargo, 2020
  • Danger in the Air, 2020
  • The Wrong Man, 2021
  • Secrets on the Cote d'Azur, 2021
  • A Distant Voice, 2021
  • City Heat, 2021
  • Fool's Gold, 2022
  • Murder in the Dark, 2022
  • A Deadly Match, 2023
  • Dead of Night, 2023
  • A Fatal Affair, 2023
  • The Lost Man, 2024
2019-2024
Fantasy & science fiction
  • Fates Trick, Tor Books, 1988
  • Revolt on Majipoor, Tor Books, 1987
  • King Kong: The Island of the Skull, Pocket Books, 2005
  • Masque, Warner Books, 1998
  • Mirage, Warner Warner Books, 1996
  • Nowhere, Berkeley Books, 2007
  • Rage, Ballantine, 2011
  • seaQuest DSV: Fire Below, Berkeley Books, 1994
  • Star Road, St. Martin's Press, 2014
  • The Wizard of Tizare, Bantam Books, 1990
  • Time Warrior: Time of the Fox, Penguin Books, 1990
  • Time Warrior #2: Hour of the Scorpion, Penguin Books, 1991
  • Time Warrior #3: Day of the Snake, Penguin Books, 1992
1969-1971
Horror fiction
  • Beneath Still Waters,, Berkeley Books, 1989, re-released in 2007
  • Child's Play 2,, Berkeley Books, 1990
  • Child's Play 3,, Berkeley Books, 1991
  • Doom 3: Maelstrom, Pocket Books, 2009
  • Doom 3: Worlds on Fire, Pocket Books, 2008
  • Darkborn, Berkeley Books, 1992
  • Drowned Night,, Berkeley Books, 2005
  • In Dreams,, Berkeley Books, 2006
  • Midsummer, Berkeley Books, 1990
  • Missing Monday, Berkeley Books, 2004
  • Poltergeist the Legacy: Maelstrom, Ace Books, 2000
  • Sleep Tight. New York: Kensington Pub Corp; Zebra Books, 1987
  • The 7th Guest: A Novel,, Prima Books, 1995
  • Wurm, Berkeley Books, 1991
  • Garden, Twilight Publishing, 1993
  • Vacation, St. Martin's Press, 2011
  • Vacation Limited Edition, Cemetery Dance Publications, 2016
  • Home, Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, 2012
  • Home Limited Edition, Cemetery Dance Publications, 2012
  • Family, 13Thirty Books, 2017
1987-2017
Nonfiction
  • How to Write Science Fiction, Paragon House, 1992
  • How to Write Science Fiction, Marlow & Company, 1995
  • The Greatest Games of All Time, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1991
  • The Greatest Puzzles of All Time, Prentice Hall Press, 1988
  • The Greatest Puzzles of All Time, Dover Books, 1996
1991-1998
Role-playing and board games
  • Alone Against the Dark – 1985, for Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu
  • Final Challenge – Mayfair Games, for D&D, 1984
  • Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Gamebook: Daredevil Guilt by Association– for TSR and Marvel, 1988
  • Jonah Hex – for DC Heroes,1986
  • Lone Wolf and Cub – for Mayfair Games, 1989
  • Sniper Adventure Gamebook: KGB Doublecross, 1987
  • The Stauf Mysteries, 2019
  • Wheel of Destruction – Batman, for DC Heroes, 1985
1984-2018
Suspense
  • Artifact, Tor Books, 2003
  • Homecoming, Berkeley Books, 1992
  • See How She Runs, Berkeley Books, 1994
  • Murder on Demand, Blackstone Press, 2024
1992-2024