Brent McGregor's Blog

Welcome, and thanks for joining me, Brent McGregor, horror author and devotee of the dark unknown. Today, I’m setting sail into one of my favourite horror subgenres: nautical (or marine-themed) horror. This is the realm of the deep—stories steeped in saltwater dread, shipwrecks, isolation, and the unrelenting vastness of the ocean. Rather than comparing or ranking these books, this guide is meant to help you navigate the waters—to point you toward ten unforgettable reads that will make you think twice before stepping onto a boat… or maybe even into the bath.

1. Jaws by Peter Benchley

The quintessential marine horror novel—the one that made an entire generation afraid to go back in the water. Benchley’s Jaws is more than a killer-shark thriller; it’s a primal tale about nature’s indifference, human arrogance, and the thin line between hunter and prey. Even decades later, it bites deep.

2. The Fisherman by John Langan

A haunting, literary descent into grief and cosmic dread. Two widowers find solace in fishing—until they cast their lines into a cursed stretch of river that connects to something ancient and unfathomable. Langan’s The Fisherman is a slow-burn Lovecraftian masterpiece that captures both sorrow and sea-born terror.

3. The Terror by Dan Simmons

Part historical fiction, part supernatural horror, Simmons reimagines Captain Franklin’s doomed Arctic expedition. Ice, hunger, madness—and something else—stalks the crew through endless winter. Equal parts claustrophobic and epic, The Terror captures humanity’s fragility against the merciless sea and sky.

4. The Deep by Nick Cutter

From the author of The Troop, this claustrophobic deep-sea horror follows a crew descending into the Mariana Trench to investigate a strange substance called “Ambrosia.” What they find below is beyond science—and sanity. Cutter mixes psychological terror with body horror, all under crushing pressure miles beneath the surface.

5. The Deep by Alma Katsu

Not to be confused with Cutter’s novel, Katsu’s The Deep blends historical fiction and supernatural dread aboard the Titanic. Ghosts of guilt, grief, and something darker stalk the doomed ship. It’s a beautifully eerie tale of love, loss, and haunting on the high seas.

6. Lure by Tim McGregor

This one’s for fans of folklore and the siren’s song. Lure weaves myth and maritime menace into a modern coastal setting, exploring how temptation and obsession can pull a person under as surely as the tide. McGregor’s prose hums with an eerie stillness—until the storm hits.

7. Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

While not strictly horror, Kraus’s Whalefall is a harrowing survival story with a psychological edge sharp enough to cut. Trapped inside the belly of a whale, a diver faces both suffocating darkness and the ghosts of his past. It’s a visceral, existential plunge into grief, forgiveness, and the monstrous beauty of nature.

8. Duma Key by Stephen King

Set on a lonely stretch of Florida’s coast, Duma Key is a tale of artistic creation, trauma, and haunting forces that rise like a tide. Though not purely nautical horror, its isolation, seaside atmosphere, and creeping supernatural influence will stay with you like sand that won’t wash off.

9. From Below by Darcy Coates

Coates takes readers aboard a deep-sea expedition to document a sunken wreck—but what they find is no ghost ship. As the crew explores, something ancient stirs in the dark. From Below delivers creeping tension, eerie underwater imagery, and the suffocating terror of being trapped far beneath the surface.

10. Sphere by Michael Crichton

A team of scientists discovers a mysterious alien sphere on the ocean floor—and soon, reality begins to fracture around them. Equal parts psychological thriller and sci-fi horror, Sphere probes what happens when humanity’s curiosity dives too deep. The ocean isn’t the only thing that hides monsters.

Final Thoughts

The ocean has always been a mirror—reflecting our fears, our obsessions, and our insignificance in the face of the unknown. These stories remind us that the sea is both cradle and crypt, teeming with life—and death.

Thanks for reading this far. If you love tales of the deep, dark, and deadly, you might enjoy my own novel —

BLOOD TIDE by Brent McGregor

Struggling restaurant server Dani Kowalski yearns for escape from her loveless marriage and haunting memories. Her world flips when she meets the brooding stranger Eric Gilman—but what starts as passion quickly turns deadly. Meanwhile, Detective Frank Hagen investigates a string of grisly murders that hint the killer stalking the city may not be entirely human. Terror has come to Fort Lauderdale, and it will eat you alive.

Here it is! We put together a little video from our spooky road trip to Beechworth for AsylumFest 2025. Three horror writers—Brent McGregor, Jeff Clulow, and Alister Hodge—walk into a haunted asylum… what could possibly go wrong?

Books were sold, scares were shared, and we had an absolute blast! Check it out

Great news! I’m thrilled to share that my short story “The Yellow Raincoat” will be published in the upcoming 20th edition of Midnight Echo—the official magazine of the Australasian Horror Writers Association (AHWA), edited by the brilliant Marty Young. I say magazine but with so many entries it is, for all intents and purposes, an anthology.

This very special anniversary issue features a stunning cover by David Schembri, and I’m honoured to be part of it.

“The Yellow Raincoat” is a haunting ghost story set in rural Australia, following a runaway who stumbles into something far more terrifying than isolation…

The magazine will be officially launched this weekend at Conflux in Canberra (3–6 October)—if you’re attending, keep an eye out!

Stay tuned for more details — and in the meantime, feast your eyes on this eerie and beautiful cover.

Psst! My newly published horror short story collection, STRANGE MURMURINGS, is available now on pre-order (launching on the September 26th). Pre-order links in comments! Blurb and more info here: https://brentmcgregor.com/…/strange-murmurings-short…/

By ebook from Amazon Aust: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FQBZT6NX

Buy paperback from Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0645340073/

Buy ebook from Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FQBZT6NX

Buy paperback from Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0645340073/

Buy ebook from Amazon USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQBZT6NX

Buy paperback from Amazon USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645340073/

I’m so excited to finally share the cover of my upcoming horror novel, ‘BLOOD TIDE’! What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!  Pre-order links in comments! You can read an excerpt here: https://brentmcgregor.com/book/blood-tide/ #horror #horrorbooks #bookcoverreveal #kindle #newrealease #bloodtide

Pre-order from Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FMPTNYT7

Pre-order from Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMPTNYT7

Pre-order from Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FMPTNYT7

I’ve been getting back into reading lately. Finding time around work and family stuff is always a challenge, though. But I think it’s important to make time. Reading can be a great form of escapism. Despite the pull of Netflix and other streaming services, I’ve managed to make a dent in my ever growing TBR list. Here are several books I’ve read recently and really enjoyed:

The Underhistory, By Kaaron Warren

THE UNDERSHISTORY is the latest novel by multi-award winning, Australian master of horror, Kaaron Warren. It is gorgeously written, lush and immersive, and represents the culmination (so far) of a thirty-year career for the veteran storyteller. Follow Pera Sinclair, the sole survivor of a decades, old tragedy, as she guides guests on a haunted house tour of her home. It is a house full of memories and history. An underhistory. We as readers explore the house, just as the characters do, room by room, and the story (description) draws us in. But things go awry when an unexpected group of men arrive. And they are dangerous men. Read with confidence. This is an excellent book! Thoroughly researched. A real labour of love. Released by Viper Books (UK), the book is beautifully formatted with an evocative cover, reminiscent of wallpaper. Looks great on the shelf. Something tells me this book has staying power and will haunt the shelves of readers for a while to come.

The Ruins, By Scott Smith

What a trip this book was. Loads of fun. Scott Smith’s THE RUINS is frequently listed on the Top/ Best Lists for the horror genre, and it’s not difficult to see why. First of all, it’s a brilliant concept. The book follows a rag-tag group of college-aged, tourists, as they holiday in Mexico, and later decide to go exploring a remote, Mayan, archaeological dig-site, on a whim. As you do (one of their group, the German, has lost his brother—who’s gone off chasing some girl at the dig). But they all end up in a dire situation. There’s something in the jungle, surrounding the dig site. Something insidious, that wants in. It wants to get them! Second of all, it’s packed full of suspense and will have you on the edge of your seat. A real page turner! Stephen King had this to say about the book back then, “Simply the best suspense novel of this year—hell, of the 1990s.” I’m inclined to agree with the King.

Floating Staircase, By Ronald Malfi

FLOATING STAIRCASE is a solid ghost story slash supernatural-mystery. It follows Travis Glasgow, and his wife, Jodie, as they move into their first house in Westlake Maryland. Only the house and the lake hold a dark secret— it might have something to do with that rotting, staircase rising from its depths. The story is filled with believable characters and creepy description. Travis is conflicted with feelings of guilt over his part in losing his younger brother in an accident, years earlier. We are left wondering Which was the more haunted, the house, or Travis’s past? This was my first introduction to Ronald Malfi and I was not disappointed. He is a capable and versatile writer, with over 28 books to his name. I can see him quickly becoming one of my favourites.

Strange Weather, By Joe Hill

What’s better than a good novel, you might ask? Well…try four! Strange weather is the 2017 book by American author, Joe Hill–author of other great titles such as 20th Century Ghosts (2002), Horns (2010), and NOS4A2 (2013). It consists of 4 short novellas, each superbly written by the master story teller. There’s “Snapshot” in which a boy uncovers the rout cause of his elderly neighbour’s dementia. There’s “Loaded” a crime story and exploration into Americas love affair with guns. There’s “Aloft” in which a sky diver jumps from an aeroplane only to land, stranded, on a solid cloud. This is the standout story for me. Simply a brilliant, highly intriguing concept for a story. “Rain” is the last in the quartet, and tells the story of a strange weather phenomenon. The excrement well and truly hits the proverbial fan here, when, deadly, shards of dagger-like crystals fall from the sky in place of rain drops. As per usual, with a Hill story, it’s the ensemble of rag-tag characters and how they deal with the situation at hand that really makes it. Hill has a distinct literary voice and writes character driven plots. I mean seriously. He really knocks it out of the park with this one. Well worth the read.

Blacktongue Thief, By Christopher Buehlman

Blacktongue Thief is the 2021 fantasy novel by Christopher Buehlman. And what a novel it is. Did someone say instant classic? Told in his own inimitable style, Buehlman details the story of Kinch Na Shannack, thief, and low-ranking member of the Takers Guild, as he journeys with Galva, an Ispanthian knight and handmaiden of the goddess of death, on a mission of great import, that just might make a difference to the balance of power and the fate of their world. But where do his loyalties really lie? With the valiant knight, his travel companion; or the secret clandestine guild he’s found himself indebted to? It’s quite the moral conundrum. Set in a highly original world with goblin wars and stag-sized battle ravens; a rich geography, with place names such as Holt, Gallardia, Ispanthia, and Oustrim; a unique magic system; and fascinating characters, it’s easy to see why the book has enjoyed the popularity it has. I didn’t want to put it down! A real page turner. Buehlman goes into such depth in fleshing out his characters, and the specifics of his world, and you get so invested, by the end, you never want to leave. The book is masterclass on the iceberg principle of writing, revealing a portion of the story but not going into full detail, suggesting enough for the reader to wonder and try to fill in the blanks. I recommend it. Well worth reading and re-reading. (I also look forward to the newly released prequel, The Daughters’ War.)

I was super thrilled to be the winner of the 3rd annual Maydayhills Ghost Story Competition at Asylumfest. I won for my story ‘The Yellow Raincoat.’ The competition took place, at night, on the grounds of the Beechworth Asylym, one of Australia’s most iconic haunted locations. It’s a really cool trophy, as you can see from the photo, designed by Dale Bamford. It now sits on the shelf above my writing desk to further inspire me as I write. I was thrilled to be a part of the competition, and thanks to everyone involved!

An author interview with yours truly, where I talk about writing, routine, and upcoming projects.
Thanks to the wonderful Pauline Yates for shining the spotlight.

https://paulineyates.com/2024/06/27/author-spotlight-brent-mcgregor/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1l9_z-gKMkomtj5h8aNxSpjhp5NGu4yHYgazh6EJ6cCkQHI0nPChg2Vbc_aem_uFPLaZU8m_ackUh0Zl-kzw

COVER REVEAL!! Excited to reveal the cover for the 2nd book in my short story series, Strange Murmurings. 4 chilling horror stories delving into the supernatural and the weird. Available June 22nd, but you can pre-order now on Amazon.

Preorder here: https://brentmcgregor.com/book/strange-murmurings-vol-2/

Hello, all ye faithful readers and fellow horror fans. It’s been a while since I’ve written one of these posts and you’re probably wondering what I’ve been up to. Well, not a lot has changed. I’m still working on the draft2 of my novel (codename ‘Project Green’), while turning out short stories now and then. I promise I’m making progress! Although, I admit this time last year I did grossly underestimate the scope of work still left to do. I’ve been reassessing the overall plot and direction of my burgeoning story, while adding additional chapters, sub plots, characters. My once trim novel is shaping up to be a hefty tome. Yikes! Nothing wrong with that More story and world to get lost in. I like a book that can double as a doorstop. It mightn’t stay in its current extended form. Could be I’ll cut all the extended parts and repetition, cut 20-30%, then add 10%. We’ll see. It’s a process. I’m having fun, though. My characters seem to have taken on a life of their own. Like little wind up dolls I turn the key and they end up tramping and chattering all over the place; surprising me in unexpected ways with their choices, taking things in new directions, and presenting story opportunities not previously considered. Amidst intermittent bouts of imposter syndrome I experience moments of clarity, I have glimpses of the final form the book will take, and that’s what drives me on towards the finish line, keeping me motivated. I’ve redoubled my efforts. I’m wearing my war paint. At the present rate I hope to publish by the end of this year, 2024.