Books by Larry W. Duke
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Larry W. Duke is a Nashville-based author, music producer, and multimedia storyteller whose work bridges the realms of history, horror, and the supernatural. A graduate of Mt. Juliet High School and Middle Tennessee State University, Duke studied Music Performance, Mass Media, and Computer Science—an eclectic mix that fuels his richly layered narratives. His career spans roles in software development, network security, and classified information management, experiences that lend authenticity and depth to his writing.
Duke's non-fiction series, The Central State Psychiatric Hospital Series, delves into the chilling history and haunting tales of a once-prominent mental institution in Middle Tennessee. For fiction enthusiasts, his Hollow Manor Mysteries series offers thrilling supernatural adventures, beginning with cursed musical instruments and an abandoned mansion filled with dark secrets. Whether you're a fan of historical analysis or spine-tingling fiction, Larry W. Duke's diverse body of work promises to captivate and intrigue.
His professional filmography can be found on IMDb.com.
The Hollow Manor Mysteries (Fiction)
THE ECHOES OF THE CURSED KEYS
Book 1 in The Hollow Manor Mysteries - 2024
A forgotten inheritance. A haunted melody. A curse waiting to be unraveled.
When struggling musician Xander Pelcher receives an unexpected inheritance-Hollow Manor, a sprawling Victorian estate steeped in mystery-he believes it's the fresh start he desperately needs. But as soon as he steps through its decaying halls, he realizes that the house is more than just a relic of the past. It is alive with whispers, secrets woven into its walls, and a piano that plays melodies from another time-melodies that seem to know him.
Drawn deeper into the mansion's dark history, Xander discovers the cursed legacy of the Hollow family, a lineage marked by betrayal, obsession, and a ritual long unfinished. As the music begins to possess him, blurring the line between genius and madness, Xander must confront the spirits that haunt the house-before he becomes just another echo in the cursed symphony.
A spellbinding gothic thriller filled with atmospheric chills, Echoes of the Cursed Keys will keep you turning pages late into the night, questioning where the music ends and the nightmare begins.
404 Pages
THE DEVIL'S TRUMPET
Book 2 in The Hollow Manor Mysteries - 2025
Xander never wanted to return to Hollow Manor, but life's circumstances have chained him to the haunting, decaying estate. His quiet hope for a peaceful existence with Myra crumbles as the house, once a refuge, becomes a prison. After surviving the horrors of a cursed piano, the shadows of past terrors have not loosened their grip-if anything, they're closing in.
When Xander receives a mysterious trumpet from an unearthly figure, the stakes grow even higher. This instrument, both a gift and a curse, pulls Xander deeper into the mansion's twisted history, stirring dark forces that refuse to be ignored. As they face ghostly apparitions, sinister devils, and cryptic symbols, Xander and Myra must unravel the sinister melody that binds their fate to the mansion's cursed past.
In a race against time and terror, can they discover the truth behind the trumpet before it claims their souls? Or will Hollow Manor's malevolent power drag them into its eternal darkness?
The Devil's Trumpet will keep you on the edge of your seat, as secrets are uncovered and a terrifying crescendo of horror awaits. If you think you've survived the worst, you haven't seen anything yet.
558 Pages
THE TIMELESS VIOLIN
Book 3 in The Hollow Manor Mysteries - 2025
When a strange package arrives at Xander's aging apartment, he and Myra are thrust into a supernatural mystery tied to an ancient violin strung with dark energy. What begins as an eerie vibration soon unravels into a full-blown nightmare: portals ripping through time, demons clawing their way into reality, and a house that pulses with sentient dread. From haunted pasts to apocalyptic futures, the couple is hurled across fractured timelines where myth, memory, and music collide.
As they uncover the violin's infernal origins-and the secret society sworn to keep its power in check-they must unite with old allies and reluctant survivors to seal rifts before all of existence unravels. But the violin demands more than answers. It wants obedience. It wants blood. And it may be the key to either salvation... or extinction.
In a crescendo of horror, heart, and time-twisting suspense, The Timeless Violin draws readers into a high-stakes symphony of otherworldly battles, haunted music, and one terrifying question: Can you silence a song that was never meant to be heard?
620 Pages
The Central State Psychiatric Hospital Series (Non-Fiction)
CENTRAL STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
History, Memories, and Stories 2023 - 2024
Step into the haunting yet compelling history of Central State Psychiatric Hospital, a cornerstone in Tennessee's mental health care evolution. Larry W. Duke masterfully chronicles the institution's 150-year journey, from its origins shaped by reformers like Dorothea Dix to its complex legacy of treatment, tragedy, and transformation.
This meticulously researched book explores the early struggles to establish humane care for the mentally ill, the innovative yet controversial practices that defined psychiatric treatment, and the personal stories of patients and caregivers who lived through the hospital's history. From the architectural grandeur of its asylum-style buildings to the hidden tragedies of lobotomies, fires, and deinstitutionalization, this volume uncovers the layered and often untold narratives of mental health care in America.
Rich with archival photographs, personal accounts, and historical analysis, Central State Psychiatric Hospital: History, Memories, and Stories sheds light on the humanity, challenges, and resilience at the heart of mental health reform. It is a must-read for historians, medical professionals, and anyone fascinated by the intricate tapestry of America's social and medical history.
304 Pages
THE GHOSTS OF CENTRAL STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
Step into the chilling corridors of history with The Ghosts of Central State Psychiatric Hospital by Larry W. Duke, an enthralling exploration of one of Tennessee's most enigmatic institutions. At the crossroads of historical narrative and supernatural intrigue, this book delves deep into the untold stories of Central State Psychiatric Hospital, a place that has long captivated imaginations with its shadowed past and ghostly legends.
From its founding in the 19th century as a sanctuary for the mentally ill to its transformation into a symbol of societal neglect, the hospital's history unfolds as a tapestry of compassion, reform, and controversy. Duke meticulously examines the evolution of mental health care, revealing the harrowing realities of lobotomies, electroconvulsive therapy, and experimental treatments that defined the institution's dark legacy. Interwoven with these historical accounts are chilling, firsthand stories of ghostly encounters shared by former patients, staff, and local residents, bringing the spectral echoes of the hospital's past vividly to life.
Drawing on extensive research, archival documents, and personal testimonies, The Ghosts of Central State Psychiatric Hospital blends factual history with the spine-tingling tales of the paranormal. Each page invites readers to confront the blurred line between the seen and unseen, from the mysterious surgeon in the shadows to the haunting whispers that echo through its long-abandoned wards.
Whether you are a history enthusiast, a paranormal investigator, or simply someone drawn to the macabre, this book offers a compelling journey into the haunted legacy of Central State Psychiatric Hospital. Prepare to uncover stories that refuse to be forgotten-accounts of resilience, tragedy, and the inexplicable.
284 Pages
DUKE FAMILY HISTORY
Volumes 1 and 2
Haplogroup I(M170) Group 2
Explore the rich tapestry of one family's enduring legacy in Duke Family History: Haplogroup I(M170) Group 2. This meticulously researched two-volume work by Larry W. Duke delves into centuries of history, weaving together genealogy, genetics, and the compelling personal stories of the Duke family.
From the early days of the Duke ancestors' arrival in 17th-century Virginia to the far-reaching branches of descendants across the United States, this book offers a unique window into the life and times of a family that contributed to shaping the fabric of American society. With an emphasis on Haplogroup I(M170) genetics, Larry Duke skillfully uncovers the shared lineage and migration patterns of the family, connecting them to broader historical events, including the voyages of early settlers and the challenges of Colonial America.
This extraordinary family saga includes:
The Duke family's ancestral journey from Europe to the American colonies, their challenges, triumphs, and contributions to history.
Insights into the Duke Family DNA Project, unraveling generations of connections and offering clarity on diverse Duke lineages.
Vivid storytelling, including harrowing accounts of survival, pivotal relationships, and the intimate struggles of individual family members.
Richly detailed and deeply personal, this book is a celebration of heritage, resilience, and the threads of humanity that bind us across generations.
Whether you're a genealogy enthusiast, a history buff, or part of the extended Duke family, this is a book that will resonate and inspire.
Embark on a journey through time and memory, and discover the incredible story of the Dukes. Their story is more than history-it is a legacy.
746 Pages
BEYOND GENESIS
The Forgotten Books of Faith
For centuries, ancient texts have remained hidden from mainstream theology, their wisdom locked away in the original Greek and Hebrew. Beyond Genesis: The Forgotten Books of Faith brings these lost scriptures to life, presenting them in today's English and dialect so that readers of all ages can experience their depth and meaning.
From the mystical Odes of Solomon to the wisdom-laden passages of Ecclesiasticus, and the dramatic visions of Esdras, this collection unveils sacred writings once revered but later excluded from traditional canons. Carefully translated from their original languages and then adapted into modern, accessible English, these texts offer fresh insights into divine justice, human struggles, and apocalyptic prophecy.
What was deemed too controversial, too mystical, or too radical for inclusion in the Bible? What truths were left behind as history shaped the faith we know today? Whether you are a scholar, a seeker, or simply someone curious about the hidden depths of spiritual history, Beyond Genesis will take you on a journey through the lost voices of faith-challenging, inspiring, and thought-provoking.
Step beyond what you thought you knew. The forgotten books are waiting.
594 Pages
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