About Laurelsville

Laurelsville is a rural town just outside Cincinnati, Ohio, home to around 65,000 residents who live amid a rich blend of history, community, and quiet mystery. Created by Matt Heart in 1996 as the setting for his Cold Fever Books series, starting with Dare to Wake the Dead, Laurelsville has grown to feel almost as real to readers as it does to its fictional inhabitants.

The town’s social and economic diversity is reflected in its two high schools, Laurelsville High and Waters High. Laurelsville High caters to the town's wealthier, “preppy” families, while Waters High welcomes students from a wider range of backgrounds. This subtle but significant divide often shapes interactions and lends a touch of tension to the community.

In the heart of Laurelsville, Marty’s Grill is the local diner where residents gather over classic comfort food, their conversations carrying both the gossip and warmth of a close-knit town. Across from Marty’s, the Laurelsville Public Library stands as a community pillar, offering both knowledge and a quiet sanctuary. Nearby, Stormyside Cemetery watches over the town, its aged tombstones marking generations of residents who once called Laurelsville home, adding a hint of lore and melancholy to its atmosphere.

But it’s the warehouse district that truly brings Laurelsville’s complex character to life. This part of town blends fading factories and old warehouses with a drive-in theater, a favorite hangout for the local kids. Here, industrial relics meet youthful energy under the night sky, capturing a timeless scene of rebellion and camaraderie. While the drive-in bustles with laughter and flickering film, the older buildings seem to hold secrets from decades past, their shadows adding an air of mystery.

Adding even more depth to Laurelsville’s lore is the ancient Native American tree reserve, a place of reverence that predates the town itself. Long before the arrival of settlers, Native Americans cared for this land, and the tree reserve serves as a haunting reminder of the area’s origins. To this day, the trees seem to whisper their stories, grounding the town’s modern life in its historical roots and hinting at the deep past.

This rich setting makes Laurelsville feel alive, an indelible part of the Cold Fever universe that holds secrets, stories, and mysteries waiting to be uncovered.