The Copper Man

Dark Earth Rising

by Debra Castaneda

“The horrible figure from the Prestwich Tunnel hovered there. Not a ghost. Something between a badly disfigured man and a monster. There was a limit to what the human mind could comprehend, and the ghastly thing standing before her was beyond that limit.”

In 1985, the Copper Man killed Leah Shaw’s twin brother, Liam, in the mining town of Tribulation Gulch. Three decades later, Leah is an environmental reporter back in her Wyoming hometown, covering the reopening of the copper mine.

But when people literally drop dead around her, Leah can’t believe it’s the work of the Copper Man. After all, he’s dead…right?

Except Leah can’t stop seeing shadows, and creepy copper nuggets are showing up everywhere. Workers say the mine is haunted, and the words “I CURSE THIS PLACE” are appearing all over the mine—the very words the Copper Man scrawled on a bridge before jumping to his death.

Has the Copper Man come back for Leah, aiming to finish what he started 35 years ago? Is Leah’s young daughter in danger? And what other secrets are waiting for her among the dusty hills of Tribulation Gulch?

A gripping tale of revenge with a compelling cast of characters. From the author of The Root Witch and The Devil’s Shallows comes the latest Dark Earth Rising novel.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Paranormal, Horror Thriller, Supernatural, Family, Environment

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2023

About the author

Debra Castaneda is an award-winning author of urban fantasy and dark fiction based on the central coast of California.

Her works include Barely Magic, the first book in the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries series of urban fantasy novels; The Spore Queen, The Devil’s Shallows, The Root Witch, The Copper Man, Circus at Devil’s Landing, and A Dark and Rising Tide, which comprise the Dark Earth Rising series of standalone novels, and The Monsters of Chavez Ravine, an International Latino Book Awards gold medal winner.

Debra loves writing character-driven stories about people who experience scary or magical things, and how they react when confronted with the unexpected. She’s committed to representing Latinas and Latinos in her books.

For inspiration, she draws from her experience as a TV and radio journalist, and as a third-generation Mexican American

Debra now lives on the central coast of California with her husband. She enjoys rediscovering the Mexican dishes of her childhood and texting her two daughters about her latest binge-watch.

~Subscribe to her newsletter for the occasional giveaway and the latest news at www.debracastaneda.com;
~Stay in touch with her at: @castanedawrites on Facebook & @castanedawrites on Instagram .

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third novel by Debra Castaneda and I'm convinced she can't write a bad one. The pace was quick and full of tension from beginning to end. There were a few subplots that felt unnecessary in the end but overall a fantastic and enjoyable read.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Debra Castaneda has provided her fans with a thrilling novel. The Copper Man is a fast-paced story that takes us on a journey to a small mining town in Wyoming. Environmental reporter, Leah Shaw, has returned to her home town, Tribulation Gulch, with her 6-year-old daughter to cover the reopening of the copper mine that was closed three decades earlier. The reopening of the mine has divided the community. Not only are there environmental concerns, but also strange events are occurring that are bringing up memories from 1985 when a serial killer targeted the children of the original mining executives. The Copper Man murdered six children, including Leah Shaw’s twin brother, however he committed suicide before he was captured by the authorities. Fast forward to today when people at the mine are meeting very untimely deaths, many are concerned that The Copper Man has returned.

Ms. Castaneda has provided the perfect trifecta: relatable characters, a stunning setting and a terrifying plot. I appreciated her use of a strong female lead and had her deal with real-life struggles: balancing a family and career, rekindling a former romance, family issues, career choices, protecting her child, etc. We were also able to connect with the secondary characters in a way that brought them to life on the pages. The small-town setting was skillfully written. I have lived in small towns most of my life and know first-hand that life is different there, regardless of the location. Lastly, I appreciated the horror/supernatural aspect of the novel. I loved that we, the readers, were always kept on our toes never knowing what was would happened next. I was never sure if The Copper Man was someone new or if the previous Copper Man had returned from the dead. You will need to read this one to find out!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release February 28, 2023

Author Debra Castaneda has such a comfortable approach in her novels. Even when there is Horror (and there will be), endangered characters (you know it), fatalities (past or present), she weaves her characters in such an endearing fashion that reading of them seems like putting on a second (perhaps more appealing) skin. It's not uncommon to say characters seem like friends to readers; I think her characters are closer: they seem like aspects or extensions of ourselves. I even found myself relating to the life and tribulations of the Villain in THE COPPER MAN [prior to his crimes] because Author Castaneda made him relatable! Even the characters with whom I had strong disagreement I could still understand.

Now for the Horror: it doesn't always have to come as Slasher Film jump scares. Sometimes it creeps in on little cat feet like fog [or here, on little sheep hooves]. But don't worry, there will be jump scares too! Perhaps best of all is the Implacability of the Horror: you can run (not), you can hide (not), it's still gonna get you. Environmentalists will approve the view of the mining conglomerate's corporate villainy in terms of unconcern for human safety and environmental protection. I know I did!

Do yourself a favor and snatch this one up, hot off the presses! Then go pick up her other titles too: turn off the phone, don't answer the door, fall into Reading!

[Pam Baddeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leah, environmental reporter, returns to her home town with her six-year-0ld daughter on an assignment about the copper mine which is reopening after being closed for many years. The townsfolk have an ambivalent attitude because the mine offers employment, but it also could contaminate the local river. There is a spilling's reservoir left over from the original workings, that needs to be made safe but the company are evasive about dealing with it.

Leah has personal trauma in her background: her brother was murdered when they were both children, snatched by a murderer nicknamed the Copper Man, who killed children of prominent people at the mine. Her mother still lives in the town and has preserved her dead son's room as a shrine. However she is devoted to Leah's daughter and the child loves her grandma. Leah has a difficult relationship with her and in the course of the book it becomes clear why that is.

Disturbing things start happening at the mine, then serious accidents begin and escalate. This aspect provides the horror element of the book. Leah is present at quite a few and starts to acquire the reputation of a Jonah. Meanwhile, she starts getting back with her college sweetheart, a senior engineer at the mine. Both are divorced with children - he has twins - and the growing romance forms another thread. Both start to be menaced by a seemingly supernatural source, and the concern begins to grow that the Copper Man has returned. But his agenda is unclear.

On the whole I enjoyed the story, but a certain subplot concerning Leah's childhood didn't quite work for me. I kept thinking she ought to point out this fact to the Copper Man as it would have perhaps have stopped him targeting her and her daughter. The end section was a bit lacking in cohesion also. Overall I would rate this at 3 stars.

[Ruby Dosier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good! Dark and Rising Tide is definitely still my favorite from this author, but this book was interesting enough that it held my attention, and I was able to finish it relatively quickly. I'm only docking stars because it was a little slow at some points and I feel like it wasn't exciting enough to capture my attention until the last quarter.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You to Debra Castaneda for a copy of this book for a review and the opportunity to read such a nuanced and horrifying tale.

There are a few places that are inherently spooky and cause most humans to shudder in the darkness, hopelessness and isolation. Old sanatoriums/hospitals, dark and unfamiliar woods and abandoned mines.

Copper Man takes place in a town that once had a thriving copper mining community. The copper lines are re opening and some are thrilled, some not so much. Throw in an ex mine worker/killer of children and it gets even more frightening.

I loved the desperation of the characters in this story. I’m a single mom if one daughter and I could feel the tension of the main character trying to keep her daughter safe. But she and her daughter have become targeted by the Copper Man. He’s relentless in his pursuit of ages old revenge. There really didn’t seem to be a way out for them, which is where my dread and tension continued to mount.

I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read by this author and will continue to pick them up. She’s an automatic read for me. ☺️

[Jessica (Read book. Repeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find this review and all my others over at Read Book. Repeat

I received a copy of this book from the author via Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

In 1985, Leah Shaw's brother Liam was among the murdered children who were victims of The Copper Man in her home town of Tribulation Gulch. Liam was the last. Now, three decades later, Leah is an environmental reporter who has been sent back to her home town to cover the re-opening of the copper mine there. From the moment she arrives back to town, she's seeing shadows, and copper nuggets keep turning up in places they shouldn't be. Leah brushes it all off as subconscious grief from being home again, after all, The Copper Man is dead. He died in 1985. When people start getting hurt around Leah in strange circumstances, she starts to question whether The Copper Man is really gone, or if he's come back to get the one that got away...

When I saw that Castaneda had another book up for request on Booksirens, I clicked so freaking fast. I first stumbled upon Castaneda late last year when I came upon her book The Root Witch on Booksirens. I thoroughly enjoyed that one and I loved that it was a different urban legend that I hadn't heard of before. I did have an idea about what the creature was based on, as there's a particular photo that keeps popping up on my social media channels every now and then. And honestly, once I read the synopsis for The Root Witch, that photo was the first thing that came to mind. So when I saw this one up for request, I clicked that button so hard I nearly broke my mouse.

This book sees us in a tiny rural town in Wyoming where the copper mine that used to be the lifeblood of the town is now being reopened. When Leah heads back to report on it, as much as she doesn't want to, that's when she starts hearing things around town and from the mine workers about accidents that have been happening. Team that with the fact that people keep getting hurt or dying around Leah while she's there, and the strange happenings and graffiti that the workers are finding on the walls of the mine tunnels, and you've got for one mysterious and creepy read. I loved that this story was based around a mine, I have claustrophobia, so I'm always keen to read books that really put you in that setting because it really helps set the tone for the uncomfortable and oppressive atmosphere that I love from a good horror novel. There were several moments in this story where I got the full creep vibe, goosebumps and hair raising on the back of my neck. These are the physical responses I live for with these kinds of books. Really being able to drop the reader into a situation that has that anxiety and fear bubbling to the surface is a gift and Castaneda has it in spades. Even through simple things such as the strange shadow that Leah thinks she sees up on the walkway as she drives through the claustrophobic one lane tunnel to get to town. It's the little details that can really make or break a horror novel, and Castaneda is amazing at really putting those little details in.

The story itself was intriguing, we know who the copper man is and we know that there's a 99.9% chance that the goings on in Tribulation Gulch are due to his vengeful spirit coming back to finish what he started thirty years ago, so there's no real mystery there. There is a bit of mystery surrounding the why, though I feel like we never really got the answer to that, unless it went right over my head which is highly possible, the story is left open ended though for us to do with that what we will. Which isn't a bad thing as I feel that sometimes stories like this one can be quite hard to solidly end without leaving the reader feeling a bit let down. So leaving it open ended was definitely a good choice, I feel. There was a slow build as the strange occurrences happened throughout the story, but the pacing never felt like it was too slow. I feel like it worked well as a slow build of trepidation before there was the kind of bigger showdown at the end. I do feel that the ending was a little lackluster though, there was a great build up to a huge reveal and confrontation, and while there were some big things that did occur, I still felt like it wasn't what I was hoping for and it all seemed over a little too quickly for me. This didn't make the story terrible by any means, but it's the main reason as to why I couldn't rate 5 stars for this one. The added little subplot that was thrown in, to do with Leah and a revelation that she has after being given some information was unexpected, and it did add another layer to the character relationships and dynamics, but it just seemed a little left field to me. I'm not sure whether there was a deeper point to that plot line or not, or whether it was just to bolster the character relationships a bit. It worked well for that, definitely, and it did explain the reasons behind certain things.

All in all, this was another fantastic read from Castaneda and I cannot wait to see what she does next. A creepy tale of a haunting that proves that sometimes the past really does come back to bite you, even if it's not in the way that you expect. Castaneda is fantastic at writing an atmospheric novel that really drops you right into the center of her chosen locales and the story itself, allowing the reader to feel exactly what the protagonist is. If you love an entertaining horror, give it a go!
The characters were well written and enjoyable to follow on their journey. Leah was a great character and I love that her insecurities surrounding her being taller and bigger than most other reporters was shown on page. Showing a characters issues and flaw and insecurities can really help endear them to me as it gives them a bigger sense of being real which always drags me into a story more. Mig was a good character, but at times I feel like he was a little too confident in his approach to Leah. I understand they had history, but he was quite forward which irked me a little, he was still written as a caring, nice and sweet character, so I feel like maybe he was using that confidence as a smoke screen to hide the fact that he really wasn't that confident at all. If that's the case, again, things like that really make a character three dimensional to where they jump right off the page. Castaneda is fantastic at righting a real character that it feels like you could walk out onto the street and walk right into. Showing the grief and the pain that Leah's mother still felt over the loss of her son was a stroke of brilliance, it really highlighted the fact that there's no time limit on grief, and that while time makes things a little easier, it doesn't make it better or fix it. You'll always have that sense of loss and you'll always miss that person.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding... Debra Castaneda's new entry in her thematically grouped Dark Earth Rising books, 'The Copper Man,' although a standalone novel, continues her impressive, complex take on urban legends; this time, it's about the ghost of The Copper Man, a murderer of children, who (almost) hung himself decades ago, but has returned to exact his revenge. The protagonist of the story is Leah, who lost her twin brother to the Copper Man when they were little. Leah returns to her home town, where the local mine is reopening, to cover the story, and, in the course of more and more strange happenings, she finds herself at the center of The Copper Man's murderous attention. Castaneda's down-to-earth mentality shines once again in the telling of the story: a strong, smart, woman, Leah is surely not perfect; in fact, she carries a lot of baggage since she was a child, about her body and her parents. Still, she's determined to move forward and deal professionally with her job as a journalist and make a career of it. At the same time, Leah is a mother - she has a small girl, Harper; she's a daughter - we see a lot of her mom, Patricia, a wonderful figure of 2020s small town mentality, yet she’s also a flawed character, who drives most of the story in the background. I loved how Castaneda brings real concerns, actual worries into the story: family problems, romantic entanglements, difficult career choices - all the day-to-day concerns of a woman in a demanding and unjust world, are there. How Castaneda manages to combine all this with horror, real, suspenseful, creepy, horror, is beyond me: everything is balanced and nothing sticks out as forced or artificial, no tricks to bring the story to a desired end. On the contrary, the story ends in the right way: life goes on and is both sweet and nasty. Finally, being Greek in origin, I confess I was delighted to see (once again) references to Greek cuisine, described correctly, and a Greek old man who tended to his goats to make feta (the Greek cheese!) and actually acted like an old goat herder. If Castaneda got these details right, I can only imagine the hard work that went into getting the particulars of a mine’s reopening correct. Well done! And a big thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Finishing The Copper Man was bittersweet because it means I'm out of Dark Earth Rising books 😭 I became enamored with these six books this year, and I really tried to pace myself, but here I am 😅 I'll have to work on the three book Chavez Ravine series next.

Journalist Leah Shaw and her young daughter return to Leah's hometown in Wyoming to cover a story about a controversial copper mine reopening after many years. In order to get to town, Leah must go through the narrow Prestwich tunnel, also known as the Prestwich Squeeze, by the locals. Weird things start happening in the tunnel immediately, and they seem to keep happening in different capacities, all of which Leah was involved in. Leah can no longer believe that her long buried childhood experience with The Copper Man is unrelated. 35 years ago, he abducted and murdered 5 children, including Leah's twin brother, but she got away. The Copper Man committed suicide, though, so he's supposed to be dead. Or is he?

This book was packed with a lot of action and tension. I love Debra's imperfect but good characters. Her monsters are very creative, and The Copper Man was no exception. I also love the environmental elements she includes in all of her books. Basically, f*ck with mother nature, and you eventually get the horns. In this case, it was about tailings ponds that are full of toxic byproducts from mining. Wyoming has seismic activity, and the concern was that a big enough earthquake could cause a breach that would pollute the Tribulation River, which also brings life to the community.

I hope there will be more Dark Earth Rising books!

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the story set in the fictional town of Tribulation Gulch, Wyoming there’s lots going on: urban legends of The Copper Man, a controversial mine reopening, and a series of deadly and tragic “accidents”.

Leah, a single mom who grew up in the Gulch, has recently returned to report on the environmental impacts of the mine. She has her young daughter in tow who appears to have caught the eye of a supernatural monster.

Things are not as they appear however, and things deeply buried in the mine and the characters’ personal lives come to light.

This was certainly an intense and engaging story that captivates the reader.

A few things felt incomplete to me however:
- As an environmental reporter you’d think the entity would try to help Leah expose the crimes of the mine. Instead it targets her?
- I felt like the story was heading one way, with George maybe having been framed or not actually guilty, but then the story changes. It didn’t make sense to me how he could hurt children after losing his own child, and The Goat Man felt he wasn’t that type of a person.

I also wasn’t a fan of the comments made to Leah and her inner self-talk about her weight and denying herself foods that she wants to enjoy. She literally shares she is starving after a salad the night, but then goes with a veggie omelette when she really wants the bacon. I didn’t feel this was necessary at all to add to the story.

Thank you to BookSirens and the Author for a copy!

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really got to commit to getting caught up on my Debra reading, every book I have picked up from her has been more than just a book, it’s been a well built, terrifying world adventure, and this one was just as wild.

A book about how, going back home isn’t always the best idea, or at least that’s how I feel about it ha.
Leah, omg it’s one thing when it’s just you, but your daughter to worry about as well?
Now both might be in the Copper Man’s sights and people are dropping deal all around her, she has to think, does this have something to do with the past, or is this even more and something worse.

Leah has to figure it out quick, before her daughter ends up a victim like her twin brother all those years ago, and how do you fight the past, and possibly the supernatural??

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copper nuggets

Leah goes home to Tribulation Gulch for work. She hasn't been back for a long time. Her brother was kidnapped when they where children after his death the killer died also. Now the mine is reopening strange things are happening. Who is Leah seeing? Can the Copper man be stopped? Great character's spellbinding story.

[Ziggy Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I CURSE THIS PLACE.

3 ¾ stars. "The Copper Man" by Debra Castaneda was my second book by this author and if two books can be called sufficient to spot a trend, then I'm going for it. Like "The Spore Queen", I found that the author's inventiveness to be very strong. Both of these intelligent stories develop an intense feeling of dread if not absolute horror - with "Copper Man" being much more severe in that regard. Castaneda is also quite adept at creating believable and sympathetic characters even if some of them don't last very long in terms of living long enough to make it from one chapter to the next. And though I'm not ready to label either of these books with any kind of "eco-fiction" tag, the way she incorporates key concerns about nature and the environment in these stories is also a key positive aspect.

A shadow lurking in the open closet … resolved into the hideous shape of The Copper Man.

However, in both cases, I found myself wishing that the author had pushed things just a little bit farther. And that's at the risk with "Copper Man" of winding up creating an extremely scary and even much more gory book, which I felt might be out of the author's comfort zone. Whereas the deaths and damage we do witness are definitely not pleasant, I just can't help but feel like there was potential for a lot more carnage and especially terror to be expressed. A few times we were almost there, but the real terror or environmental damage was over too quickly to truly register that gut-wrenching kind of shock that might have been.

The pond was even uglier than she’d imagined.

Heck, even spending a little more time underground would have had me having nightmares for days ("The whole place reminded her of the twisted corridors of a spaceship in an Alien movie.") and that's noting I live in an area that once relied almost exclusively on mining to recover economically from WWII. The number of stories of accidents, illnesses (they mined potassium here, which tends to naturally occur with asbestos), and more have affected just about every family that's been here for more than 3 generations, which the local graveyards prove only too well.

Its face … gave the impression of dark holes for eyes and melting, stretched skin.

Getting back though to Wyoming and the business of ripping copper out of the earth, an example, or "setting" if you will, where I felt like things were spot on was using the tunnel to ramp up things. This tunnel of course led into or out of the small town of Tribulation Gulch, population two thousand, as a gateway to and from the fear and hauntings we kept witnessing. I know from driving through hundreds of such tunnels - even those with plenty of room to negotiate like the Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland (over 10 ½ miles by car and 35 miles by train) or the convenient-yet-unbelievably-claustrophic Chunnel train (over 23 miles underwater!) - that these cause all kinds of cringey feelings to race through you body, even with the best of traffic. In fact, it's often the really short ones with sharper curves and creepier lights that cause the worst optical effects (drive to the Zurich airport some time, it's not fun)! So this was a very key and very poignant part of the story.

Whatever is going on in your head, tell it to fuck off.

And yes, the ways that so many innocent (+/-) people were killed in this story was also very unnerving… including the definitely innocent children murdered back in 1985 at the hand of the Copper Man and the ones that die here, perhaps also by the same demented soul (trying to de-spoil some of this!). Unlike the first set, who all had their throats cut, here people falling often from significant heights only to be squashed, banged up, or impaled in gruesome ways was the way things went. Then again, I wondered mightily what about the other "sightings" or even "hauntings" we had in the book! For instance, what happened to our departing "guests" towards the end at their respective hotels was somewhat creepy, sure. But when Mig says he witnessed the Copper Man actually step through the walls in his house, I wanted, well, to have experienced that firsthand. A lot more A+ scares like this would have been great, particularly as we got a bit repetitive in parts especially about the big, bad (and dumb as hell) company we were up against!

The force of her fall had thrust her body down on the points of several pickaxes…

There were other instances and characters that I expected more from as well. What went on at Gimme's house being a very obvious example, where we never really faced what wound up happening in Liam's old room what with the red sludge all over the walls and floor. Also, did Gimme really just have the flu that one time? Her whole episode there was at best anti-climatic and didn't seem to fit into what was happening to, well, everyone around them! It wasn't flu season, it was "scary ghost who stabs us all to death season"! And finally, I have to steadfastly believe that we could have had more "interaction" if you will with the Goat Man and his flock versus just a brief encounter that, yes, provided information but no real oomph to the overall feeling that I wanted from this story. Seems like the old coot had earned it…

Revenge is what he was after, pure and simple, but that don’t justify what he did.

So in conclusion… Overall, I felt like the story was well-written and -executed (a few missing quotation marks never left those of us with OCD-tendencies all that bruised). The characters we meet are all very convincing and for the most part sympathetic. I also thought the author "layered" parts of this story extremely well where especially the big reveal about Leah's, um, origin (is that sufficiently non-spoiler-y enough?) was a big kicker. OK, having her old high school squeeze there (that was Mig that I mentioned earlier) was a bit contrived and occasionally caused a few eyerolls ("He had nice wrists. They were strangely sexy."). But in the end, it wound up working pretty well, especially giving us an opportunity to have the three kids in the story without turning this into a big country version of "It" along the way. But I definitely liked this one better than the "Mushroom Lady" even though I think both could have used more convincing endings!

[Bookish_Spren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for my gifted copy @Debra Castaneda in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book from the very first chapter!!! This is my third book that I read by Debra and they keep getting better!!! I love how atmospheric and creepy her stories are! I love how she writes Mysteries mix with Folk Horror.

The Copper Man takes place in Tribulation Gulch, a remote western town in Wyoming. Leah Shaw a reporter returns to her hometown after being gone for years to cover the reopening of a copper mine.

It is painful for Leah to return since this was where her twin brother was murdered by the serial killer called The Copper Man!!

This book kept me guessing the whole time!! I highly recommend it and also her other two books in Dark Earth Rising series: The Devil’s Shallow and The Root Witch!

Rating: 4.5 Stars rounding up to 5!

[Tara Losacano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great read! When an old mine reopens, Leah, an environmental reporter makes her way back to her home town to cover the story. But when strange, horrific deaths start surrounding the mine and the people connected to it, it reminds the townspeople of the child murderer from years ago, The Copper Man. Is he haunting the reopened mine? Is he back for more revenge? And why does Leah seem to be present for each of these deaths? This book was full of dread and suspense and was such an easy read, the story flowing smoothly. Debra Castaneda is quickly becoming a favorite folk horror author of mine. 4/5 skulls for The Copper Man 💀

[Shawna Mathieu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as others

I really like this author's work, which is why this one disappointed me. I'm sure the adoption subplot was meant to make the conflict between Leah and her mom worse, but felt shoehorned in. Leah's mom never apologizes for the way she treated her. And for a relationship that Leah said burned brightly but faded into friendship, she reacquainted herself with Mig (who seemed very pushy) and marries him in the space of a couple months?

The story was OK, but the issues with Leah kept me from really getting into it.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book number 23 for 2023.

This book is part of the "Dark Earth Rising Novels," by Debra Castandeda, and is the newest in the series. These are standalone novels, so nothing is missed by not having read the other two, which I have not.

The Copper Man is a good horror story (I think that is where it should fall) about events surrounding a serial killer at a copper mine in a fictional town in Wyoming, called Tribulation Gulch. I love the name of the town.

Leah Shaw, a journalist, has returned to her home town to cover the reopening of the Prestwich Mine Company's copper mine. She is divorced, and has a young daughter named Harper. She stays with her mother while she is in town. The relationship between Leah and her mother is tense, to say the least.

The book is very close to five stars, for me, but not quite. In fact, on the Bookly app, I gave it 4.5. Goodreads doesn't allow half-stars. As I take the star rating descriptions literally, I "really liked it," but it was just short of "amazing."

The characters were good, and the author made me have feelings toward them. In fact, one of the notes that I made, shortly after meeting Leah's mother, Patricia, said, "I hate Leah's mother." And I really did. All the way through the book, she was just one of those over-bearing people that nobody likes. Even when confronted about a really important plot point (a bombshell that happens at roughly 45% through the book), she denies any responsibility for her actions. I just can't tolerate people like that.

The children in the book were adorable. Harper is a spunky little girl, and really fun. And when Leah meets an old school mate, Miguel, he has a couple of kids, and they and Harper eventually become friends.

The horror aspect of the story comes into play when some weird things begin happening around the mine. More is learned about the serial killer and his motivation surrounding his actions in years gone by (when Leah was a child, her brother was killed by the man). He had come to be known as The Copper Man, because of his involvement with the mine.

I love that the author kept me guessing, for the most of the book, whether the events were supernatural or not. At some point, I thought I had figured something out, but that theory was quickly quashed. I had, in fact, no clue. The possibility remained that what was going on was actually ghostly, or that someone human was behind the events. People were dying in freak accidents, sometimes acting as if they had seen a ghost. A dark, shadowy figure was seen multiple times. Was it human? Was it a ghost? Or was it a monster?

The reader is definitely kept guessing throughout.

And then there is the horrific, single-lane, Prestwich Tunnel. That piece of the tale is, in my opinion, brilliant. I might have nightmares about that, myself.

I will confess that there was a brief moment when I thought this might be an environmental diatribe, but it did not turn out to be that. Environmental issues were certainly addressed, but that was not the theme. I'll leave the readers to discover that for themselves, as well as the nature of the strange events that were happening.

It's a really good story, and held my interest all the way to the end. But watch out for those copper nuggets! You never know where they might turn up.

I received an advance review copy for free, from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[A Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating 3.5

Leah grew up in a small copper mining town in Wyoming that had been terrorized by a serial killer in the 1980s. Known as the Copper Man, he left little copper nuggets with each of his victims. The mine closed not long after but is now in the process of reopening. As an environmental reporter, Leah goes back to her childhood home to cover the story of the mine. But she learns that accidents have been plaguing the area, some of which are fatal. She also starts to see suspicious things in the shadows and finding copper nuggets. Has the Copper Man come back to Tribulation Gulch, or is something darker happening?

The author built up tension and suspense slowly but steadily, and the reveals were well timed. I enjoyed the descriptions of the harsh landscape and how that added to the overall feel of the book. The author’s writing style was also enjoyable overall. There were a few errors so this work could use another round of editing. I did feel that the ending was a little lackluster and left me wanting more from it after the big build up that occurred. I expected a bit more from it all.

There were a few things that I felt lacked explanation relating to motivations of the antagonists, but they were relatively minor and didn’t detract much from my enjoyment. I enjoyed that Leah was strong and capable yet still flawed, and how those aspects of her were depicted. The rekindling of an old romance added another layer of interest to the characters and their lives. There was a subplot that I felt added depth to Leah’s character but felt random – it seemed like it was supposed to tie-in to the bigger plot somehow but never did. This made it feel like it didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the book.

You might enjoy this if you like smalltown dynamics, second-chance romances, and creepy supernatural hauntings. While this is the third book in a series (I didn’t realize that when I requested it!) it can still be read as a standalone. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series! My thanks to BookSirens and the author for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Raaven💖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you again Debra for sending an ebook me your newest book! I’m really enjoying the dark rising series. I now need to read the first book.

Leah is returning to her hometown with her 6 year old daughter Harper. A tragedy as a child has soured her childhood memories of the place they grew up. Her twin brother was kidnapped and murdered by the notorious serial killer “the copper man” on the Fourth of July. The Copper Man then hung himself after murdering 5 children. The reopening of the mine in town has been a media circus and Leah was called to cover the story as a reporter. She Mets up with Mig, an ex boyfriend of hers she dated in high school who is also divorced. As the bodies start piling up around Leah, everyone has their suspicions the ghost of The Copper Man has returned to finish his revenge.

Some of the parts in the story didn’t work too well for me. There’s a side plot of Leah learning some life changing news and it seems like more of an inconvenience. It also keeps getting pushed to the side like it didn’t matter in the wrong run. Leah’s mother Patricia deserved to be held accountable and that just doesn’t happen. I really liked the idea of a ghost serial killer still out for revenge, but this one’s motives felt off. It was heavily implied that he was just a normal guy and I was hoping that there would be a twist where he wasn’t the actual killer and an innocent guy had committed suicide and the real killer was running around. I also thought that Mig and Leah’s relationship was so rushed. They had dated in high school and they probably trauma bonded, but three months felt like such a short time for me.

I really like how Debra works journalism into her books. I don’t know anything about reporting or mines and this book goes into great detail about both which can be both interesting and overwhelming. I feel like I learned a lot here. Thanks again and I look forward to there being more dark rising books!

[Erica Summers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Copper Man was an interesting read. It certainly kept my attention, though I had to deduct points for an ending that was not very satisfying in comparison to the rest and a lot of family issues that seemed like they would have some sort of importance later on but didn't. If it were a series that ties a bow around those things in a later book, I'd certainly take the time to read it. The build up, however, was very strong and attention-grabbing and the setting was amazing. This book is set a few hours from my home town in Wyoming (which is why it jumped to the top of my reading list when it was released) so I knew the general area and harsh Wyoming conditions well. The author certainly did the location justice. Debra's writing style was excellent. Very polished and certainly a huge step above a lot of the horror novels I read (many being self-published and riddled with spelling and grammar errors). It was certainly a fun read and if you're into horror that is spooky and unsettling without much gore, this would be a great fit for you. If you like paranormal tales and old legends, this is one to check out and give a shot. If not for the ending that left me feeling like there wasn't a lot of resolution, and a family drama loose ends that never got tied up, I'd have given it 5 stars. I will certainly give the author's other books a read since I really did love her writing style.

[S. Policar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really good ghost story. The world and character building are some of the best I've read this year. And I wanted to give it Five Paws, however, for all the focus on The Copper Man throughout the entire book, the last 50 pages left me disappointed. There was such a build up through the entire book, then the climax fell very short of that build up and felt rushed and thrown together. The ending seemed a moot point, as did all the info dumping on Leah's life that weren't relevant to the story but were such a focus that it felt like it should have some impact other than the nothing it actually did. And if Leah's history was important, we never learn the connection. I would say it's because this is part of a series, but because these books are listed as stand alones it's hard believe all the loose ends and holes in this story will be answered in one of the others.

It does make a good ghost story though, with almost every chapter having a horror element to it. The legend of The Copper Man is believable enough to be based in an actual urban legend (I couldn't find anything close to it though lol).

For this reason I give this book 3 of 5 Paws. It's rare to find a book that holds attention like this one did, even it left me disappointed. I'll absolutely be looking into this series.

[Vix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favourite story from Debra (so far)! Considering I especially enjoyed the others in the Dark Rising collection, that's saying something. However, it's always more difficult to review a book you loved rather than one you didn't.

Plot - Strong and very much in tune with the blurb. I loved the constant suspense and the sightings dotted through the story. I do wish there was slightly more time spent down the mine though.

Writing Style - Love the style; a great mix of beautiful scenery, creepy horror, and intertwined characters.

Characters - I liked the two main characters and how they interacted with each other, watching it build over time. I wasn't keen on Leah's mum, but then that's just how she's written - Leah has far more patience than I ever would.

Believability - It all felt realistic to me, the horror elements were done well. Two main things that stuck with me were travelling down the mine shaft into the depths and being in the narrow tunnel - in the dark.

Pace - I sped through this and the pace builds as the book progresses.

Ending - I liked the ending, though always want more. I did feel there were a couple of unfinished bits, but that didn't detract from the main plot.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Copper Man is part of her Dark Earth Rising eco horror series. This time, Debra takes us to Tribulation Gulch, a small mining town in Wyoming, where a serial killer who targeted children 30 years ago terrorized the community. With the copper mine set to reopen, journalist Leah Shaw reluctantly returns to her hometown to cover the story. Being back brings overwhelming memories of her twin brother, Liam, the last victim of The Copper Man. Amidst the controversial reopening, mysterious and deadly events begin to plague Tribulation Gulch once again. Hushed conversations and strange graffiti suggest that The Copper Man has returned. But that can’t be possible, as he jumped to his death after killing Liam. Now,
Leah has to figure out what’s really going on to keep those she loves safe before it’s too late.

This was another fantastic installment of eco horror! Debra’s character development is always on point, and I love the way she writes strong, smart female main characters. Leah was a force of nature but was all the more relatable because she also had insecurities and vulnerabilities she had to face down. The mystery surrounding the mine and the legend of The Copper Man kept me turning pages until I finished the book, as I couldn’t put it down.

[Ralph Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This eARC was provided to me from Booksirens.com in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is the third book I have been able to read by this author, and I have really enjoyed them all. Castaneda does a wonderful job telling a story based on local urban legends/lore, that are borderline horror stories.
I am not sure where to go with this review. There is a slow story start as the author has to reveal our characters, their purpose, and what the actual "lore" that is going on. Within pages I am interested as things just start to happen almost immediately. I don't want to reveal too much.... There is an old flame that has 'come home' and our MC hooks up. Family issues come to head, and end up in a nice way by the end of the story. There are references to mining industrialization and procedures that I did not know/understand, but was able to figure out the good/bad based on content. I am guessing the author did a good job on the background of that information.
Overall I enjoyed the book immensely and am always looking forward to more of these types of stories from this author.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed my time in Tribulation Gulch! A wonderful mixed genre story, part folk horror, part true crime mystery. Blended perfectly into a fast paced read with wonderful characters and some very nerve-wracking moments. Our MC Leah is returning to her hometown of Tribulation Gulch as an environmental journalist covering the re-opening of a copper mine. The small town (I love a good small-town horror) has split opinions on the mining starting back up. While it's good for the town in one way, bringing jobs and money back to the area, the environmental issues are a problem for some of the townsfolk. This town has a troubled history, many years ago a serial killer dubbed The Copper Man kidnapped and murdered 5 children, one of them being Leah's twin brother Liam. When people start being killed in mysterious ways, some people start wondering if The Copper Man has returned.

Well written, wonderfully paced, The Copper Man will keep you guessing, and keep you scared, from start to finish. Highly recommend!

[Casey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leah, an environmental journalist, returns to her hometown to cover the re-opening of a copper mine that she and her family won't soon forget. A total of 5 children were killed, Leah's twin brother included, during the peak of the mine in 1985 by the infamous "Copper Man."
The towns darkest tragedy resurfaces in this supernatural and environmentally charged horror!

This was not a "standard horror" novel by any means, and in my opinion the scares built steadily through out the story line and were based in atmosphere over any shock value, leaving an ultimately eerie climb throughout the plot. Likable characters, missing children, budding relationships, and plenty of mysterious deaths...

This book primarily reminded me of the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery with secondary supernatural elements, which makes for an enjoyable read if you are looking for something outside your standard horror sub-genres I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Divya | Stellar Cup of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Copper Man is the second book I have read by author Debra Castaneda.

The story takes us to a small mining town Tribulation Gulch in Wyoming. Leah Shaw returns to her hometown with her daughter Harper. She is on an assignment to report on the reopening of the town's copper mine after 35 years.

The mine was cursed by The Copper Man, who killed children in the town three decades ago. Strange events start happening around Leah, and copper nuggets begin to appear around her randomly. Are these coincidences, or is the Copper Man back from the dead to get his revenge?
This book has fantastic character detailing and great suspense build-up. I loved that the author kept me guessing whether the events were supernatural or not.

I have previously read 'The Root Witch' from her Dark Earth Rising series. They are all standalone books, so they can be enjoyed in any order. If you are looking for a spooky read, The Copper Man is highly recommended.

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun eco-horror read about an environmental reporter who investigates a mine in a small town. It starts off simple enough until she starts to see copper nuggets appear in her mother's house. It's a sign that the copper man is still around. From there, it turns into a story of revenge, family baggage, and corporate greed.

Once I got to the middle of the book, I couldn't stop reading. I needed to know what would happen to Leah and her family once she found out the true nature of The Copper Man. This combines characters that are constructed well and a thrilling plot. It was not one I could predict easily. While this one reads more like a thriller, the supernatural aspect added some flavor. I mean, after all, I would be terrified of a man haunting a mine.

Overall, a fun supernatural thriller/horror that you won't be able to predict. I haven't read a good book based on a mine, this hit the spot for me for that trope. Well done!

[Terry and dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have butterflies in my stomach.
This book wrapped around me right from the start. The characters are so vivid, little Harper, Leah, Mig, and the rest, all became part of my imaginary book family. The descriptions of the mine, tailing pond, and underground, were creepy. The Copper man is a tale of companies just out to make money, the environmental repercussions, revenge, murder, some good paranormal scares and love. I can't think of a book that took me to another place as fast as this one. I have loved this authors other books (The Devil's Shallows and The Root Witch in particular), but this one maybe the best of them all because I connected to the characters. It is such an easy read, Debra Castaneda is a great storyteller. I am so glad and honored to have an arc of this story. Thank you. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have ever read by Debra Castaneda so I did not no what to expect other than the book description which I found intriguing. I liked this book and the writing style. it probably sounds silly and contradictory but I can’t really think of a better way to explain it although definitely a horror and a couple of times I definitely got the sense of feeling claustrophobic I also found this book to be a cosy read lol it was a very atmospheric read I felt like I could of been walking around the town of Tribulation Gulch which seemed like a lovely place to live If you did not need to use the Prestwich tunnel and everything else was not going lol I also liked the main characters and the interactions between them.

I received an advance review copy for free, from booksirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.