Horror Aficionados discussion

I’m trying to find an old horror paperback I read years and years ago, but I can’t remember title or author.
The book was one of those cheap paperbacks that you used to grab in that rack by the grocery checkout. I remember reading it in the early 90s. The cover caught my eye because it was styled to look like an ancient tome and I cannot for the life of me remember the title. I want to say something like Book of Evil, but I know that’s wrong. I do think the word book was in the title. The basic plot was that a book from a public library was about a woman being terrorized by a bad man named Levi D Santa... such a subtle anagram. If a man read the book, he would have a psychotic break and believe he was Santa. If a woman read it, she would believe she was the victim. The story focuses on a woman who is having delusions and acting as though she’s trapped in the story of the book instead of the real world around her. A detective discovers the connection between her condition and the book and suspects some kind of psychoactive substance coating the pages or in the ink. I won’t spoil the ending in case this sounds like something you’d like to read someday if you haven’t come across it already. Hint: it’s not as straightforward as the detective thinks. I remember really enjoying it even though it was horribly cheesy, and I’d love to track it down again, but since I can’t remember the author or the title that seems unlikely. I wonder if anyboby might have come across the book I’m describing and remember it?

Not sure but it sounds interesting.

i'm sorry, i have no idea.

There is an group here on GR called ‘What’s the name of that book???’ perhaps posting the plot on there would help.
I hope you find the title, it sounds like an interesting read.

Haven't heard of the plot but it does sound like a fun read.

I’ll definitely check What’s the Name of that Book! Cheers!

It’s called The Book of the Damned by DA Fowler (Debra Fowler). There’s also a book review on YouTube by Vintage Horror Book Review. I read this book as a teenager and it scared me so much, I never reread it! But I never forgot it either. Have fun!

You are officially my hero! I’ve been looking for that thing for years!! Thank you!