Knife of the Hunter (2009 novel)

Knife of the Hunter is the most recent known fictional book by author Gale Riley (née Weathers), released sometime in 2009, which became the basis for the 2010 film, Stab 7 starring Kristen Bell as Ghostface killer, Chloe.

A Woodsboro High student, Kirby Reed is in possession of the DVD format of Stab 7 in 2011.

Description
This 8 ½” x 5 ½” Scream 4 prop paperback novel was made to be placed in the bargain book shelves outside of the Woodsboro bookstore where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) comes to promote her self-help autobiography, Out of Darkness: A True Story of Survival. The actual pages that fill this prop book are from Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The latest in a long line of books surrounding the Ghostface killers, Knife of the Hunter, like all of Gale’s other best-sellers, was adapted into a Stab film, Stab 7. (The knife image on the novel’s cover can also be seen on the side of the Stab DVD box set in Kirby’s house near the end of Scream 4.)

Gale’s first three books (The Woodsboro Murders, College Terror, and Hollywood Horror) are based on true stories that follow the events of Scream 1-3. Jenny Randall refers to this as "the original trilogy".

In the eleven years since Scream 3, no other Ghostface incidents have occurred for her to report on, and in addition to that, Sidney has threatened to sue over the rights to her story, which forced Gale to resort to writing at least two fictional novels (Ghostface Returns, released previously, and most recently as of Scream 4, Knife of the Hunter) to captivate a blood-thirsty audience hungry for more. Now struggling with a serious case of writer’s block, it doesn’t help Gale’s confidence any to see Sidney’s authorial debut making waves in the publishing world, further pushing her out of the spotlight. When new Ghostface murders suddenly begin hitting the town of Woodsboro again, Gale sets out to investigate in the hopes of scaring up some juicy inspiration that’ll put her back on top.

Trivia

 * Non-Canon: Two other book props, Knife of Doom and Clock of Doom were produced by the props department, but are unseen in Scream 4 (2011) and rendered non-canon. **This is likely because the release of Stab 3: Hollywood Horror was delayed (due to the controversy of the previous planned Stab 3: Return to Woodsboro cast dying), thus Gale would release less books within the time frame of Stab 4 onwards.
 * Since Knife of the Hunter is the basis for 2010's Stab 7, it is most likely Ghostface Returns substitutes both Doom books, and is actually the basis for Stabs 4-6.
 * The delayed release is evidenced by Rebecca's dialogue that Dewey and Gale are married for ten years in the third and final chapter of the trilogy.
 * Courteney Cox stated in a Scream 4 interview that Gale has released six books, which aligns with all books presented on-screen.
 * Second known Ghostface book by Gale Weathers released as a married woman. She uses her maiden name as her pen name.

Other books
The order of Gale's published books, as seen on her desk in Scream 4. In overall chronological order:
 * 1) Wrongly Accused (Pre-Ghostface release. Unseen in Scream 4, but mentioned during Scream and Scream 5)
 * 2) The Woodsboro Murders (Most famous book; seen/mentioned in Scream 2, 3 and 4; 1997 book; spawned the Stabfranchise)
 * 3) College Terror (Mentioned in Scream 3; Easter egg on Gale's desk in Scream 4; 1998 book; adapted into Stab 2 released in 1999)
 * 4) Hollywood Horror (Easter egg on Gale's desk; 2000 book; adapted into Stab 3: Hollywood Horror released mid-late 2000s)
 * 5) Ghostface Returns (Fiction; Easter egg on Gale's desk and in Jill's room; released 2000s decade)
 * 6) Knife of the Hunter (Fiction; adapted into Stab 7; Easter egg on Gale's desk; the most recent according to the order on Gale's desk lineup).

Non-Canon Books
These fictional books were created by the props department, but are not seen in Scream 4.
 * Knife of Doom
 * Clock of Doom