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The Dunnie
Praise for Keith Thomas’
"Keith Thomas has a handle on the mechanisms of fear and the tradition of the terror tale that makes him a salient voice in the genre today." – Guillermo del Toro, filmmaker
“Taut, riveting… I wanted to read it all over again once I turned the last page.” – James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of Kingdom of Bones
“Truly unforgettable…” – Suspense Magazine
“Thomas maintains the believability of his tightly coiled plot throughout.” – Publishers Weekly
_______________________________________
From the writer/director of the critically acclaimed film THE VIGIL and director of the "Pickman's Model" episode of Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (now on Netflix) comes a terrifying debut novella.
_______________________________________
Over a long fall weekend, Asher, twelve, travels with his mother, Beth, to his beloved grandfather (Pa)'s house—a wild place stuffed with rare books, strange art, and collected curiosities. With Pa’s dementia worsening, Beth and her sister, Zoe, plan to move him into a nursing home—this visit is to break the news and pack the house up.
While Asher adores his doting grandfather, Beth recalls her dad as a very different a belittling man with a hair-trigger temper. Though Beth had been frightened of her father her whole childhood, he changed, seemingly overnight, ten years earlier into the affable man Asher now loves spending time with.
But Pa’s increasing forgetfulness masks a much more unsettling his anger didn’t just vanish; it was “excised” in an arcane ritual that birthed the horrifying creature he’s locked away in the depths of his home— the Dunnie . And now, with Pa’s memory failing, the Dunnie won't remain contained . . .
"Keith Thomas has a handle on the mechanisms of fear and the tradition of the terror tale that makes him a salient voice in the genre today." – Guillermo del Toro, filmmaker
“Taut, riveting… I wanted to read it all over again once I turned the last page.” – James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of Kingdom of Bones
“Truly unforgettable…” – Suspense Magazine
“Thomas maintains the believability of his tightly coiled plot throughout.” – Publishers Weekly
_______________________________________
From the writer/director of the critically acclaimed film THE VIGIL and director of the "Pickman's Model" episode of Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (now on Netflix) comes a terrifying debut novella.
_______________________________________
Over a long fall weekend, Asher, twelve, travels with his mother, Beth, to his beloved grandfather (Pa)'s house—a wild place stuffed with rare books, strange art, and collected curiosities. With Pa’s dementia worsening, Beth and her sister, Zoe, plan to move him into a nursing home—this visit is to break the news and pack the house up.
While Asher adores his doting grandfather, Beth recalls her dad as a very different a belittling man with a hair-trigger temper. Though Beth had been frightened of her father her whole childhood, he changed, seemingly overnight, ten years earlier into the affable man Asher now loves spending time with.
But Pa’s increasing forgetfulness masks a much more unsettling his anger didn’t just vanish; it was “excised” in an arcane ritual that birthed the horrifying creature he’s locked away in the depths of his home— the Dunnie . And now, with Pa’s memory failing, the Dunnie won't remain contained . . .
150 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2022
11 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Keith Thomas
77 books54 followersSir Keith Thomas was born in 1933 and educated at Barry County Grammar School and Balliol College, Oxford, where he read Modern History. He has spent all his academic career in Oxford, as a senior scholar of St. Antony's (1955), a Prize Fellow of All Souls (1955-57), Fellow and Tutor of St John's (1957-85), Reader (1978-85), ad hominem Professor (1986) and President of Corpus Christi (1986-2000). He returned to All Souls as a Distinguished Fellow (2001-15). He is now an Honorary Fellow of All Souls, Balliol, Corpus Christi and St John's. Elected FBA in 1979, he was President of the British Academy (1993-97). He is a member of the Academia Europaea, a Founding Member of the Learned Society of Wales, a Foreign Hon. Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and an Hon. Member of the Japan Academy. He has held visiting appointments at Princeton, Stanford, Columbia and Louisiana State Universities. He has published essays on many different aspects of the social and cultural history of early modern England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 28, 2024
A Marvel!
The Dunnie is a marvelous book. The author is Keith Thomas. He is a new author for me, and I love him because I love The Dunnie.
I’ve had this book for several months, now, but I’ve just decided to read it. And am I glad I did.
During his young married life, Pa is a nasty, violent terror. His wife and two daughters hate him. And he is filled with anger, rage and hatred towards them.
But he is getting on in years and he is tired of being hated and hateful, so he decides to put an end to it.
He asks his friend Goat to help him with his wish for a personality change, and help him become a nicer person.
This is how and why the Dunnie is created. All of his old anger and frustration and rage are poured into the Dunnie.
The old Pa, now a grandfather, is a kind, loving and caring man and his grandson, Asher, adores him.
But with old age comes forgetfulness and other old age habits and moods. And with Pa experiencing these things, it becomes harder to keep his hold on the Dunnie.
As Pa slips back into his past, the Dunnie is beginning to take over the present.
Five marvelous stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Dunnie is a marvelous book. The author is Keith Thomas. He is a new author for me, and I love him because I love The Dunnie.
I’ve had this book for several months, now, but I’ve just decided to read it. And am I glad I did.
During his young married life, Pa is a nasty, violent terror. His wife and two daughters hate him. And he is filled with anger, rage and hatred towards them.
But he is getting on in years and he is tired of being hated and hateful, so he decides to put an end to it.
He asks his friend Goat to help him with his wish for a personality change, and help him become a nicer person.
This is how and why the Dunnie is created. All of his old anger and frustration and rage are poured into the Dunnie.
The old Pa, now a grandfather, is a kind, loving and caring man and his grandson, Asher, adores him.
But with old age comes forgetfulness and other old age habits and moods. And with Pa experiencing these things, it becomes harder to keep his hold on the Dunnie.
As Pa slips back into his past, the Dunnie is beginning to take over the present.
Five marvelous stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 27, 2022
Twelve year old Asher has been going through some difficult times lately especially at school where he seems to be frequently getting into trouble and now is at risk for expulsion. Asher's mom and his aunt Zoe are going to meet up at his grandfather's house to begin a cleaning process as the old man has early stages of dementia and he needs to be moved to a home that deals with the progressive disease. Asher is looking forward to seeing his loving grandpa (Pa) and the large home that is filled with oddities and collections of many different and strange curiosities that are a wonderment to a boy but not of interest to the women. The first night Asher hears many strange noises and sounds similar to breathing coming from the vents in his bedroom but he knows the furnace is an ancient structure although it doesn't help his overactive imagination quiet down especially when he's under the covers in his bed. Pa sometimes says things that don't make any sense about the house and a creature that he must look after but Asher knows that must be the dementia talking or is it? The next night Asher sees something that he can't put into words but he knows the family must get away from the house immediately until he talks to an old friend (Goat) of Pa's who tells him a story about a creature called "The Dunnie" and the connection with his grandfather. This man named Goat is a creepy, sinister character who doesn't seem trustworthy but he seems to have a lot of information about Pa and this "Dunnie" so Asher makes a bargain with Goat to help all his family. Are the stories that Pa and Goat told him real or is Asher just a regular kid with a wicked, overactive imagination?
Wow! What a great creepy, spooky and atmospheric story this was. The author 'Keith Thomas' is a new writer for me but I'm definitely looking into his other works. Mr. Thomas wrote a modern story filled with Scottish/English folklore that was wonderfully embedded into a haunting, eerie and so so scary nightmare that will give any reader the shivers. Although the book is centered around a twelve year-old it is definitely not for children. All the elements for a good horror story were there and the book never had a dull or slow moment. This book was the perfect length not too short where one can't connect to the characters and backstory but also not where a book is long, rambling and repetitive. This was just a well-done and very spooky folklore style, little treasure that I highly recommend to all horror lovers!
I want to thank the publisher "Night Platform Book Company" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novella and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 1/2 DELICiOUSLY DEMENTED" 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!
Wow! What a great creepy, spooky and atmospheric story this was. The author 'Keith Thomas' is a new writer for me but I'm definitely looking into his other works. Mr. Thomas wrote a modern story filled with Scottish/English folklore that was wonderfully embedded into a haunting, eerie and so so scary nightmare that will give any reader the shivers. Although the book is centered around a twelve year-old it is definitely not for children. All the elements for a good horror story were there and the book never had a dull or slow moment. This book was the perfect length not too short where one can't connect to the characters and backstory but also not where a book is long, rambling and repetitive. This was just a well-done and very spooky folklore style, little treasure that I highly recommend to all horror lovers!
I want to thank the publisher "Night Platform Book Company" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novella and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 1/2 DELICiOUSLY DEMENTED" 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!
December 11, 2022
The Dunnie by Keith Thomas is a book I intended to read and review much closer to Halloween (which was also its publication date). Unfortunately, I got sidetracked with life and a few other books I absolutely wanted to read. As usual, so many books, so little time. But now that I've finally read it, I have nothing but praise for this novella!
The Dunnie is a very quick read, packed full of things that make a horror book great: suspense, gore, creepy creatures, mysterious characters, and yes - even a disturbing cover that draws you right into the pages of the book! The story centers around a family with a history of abuse (trigger warning here). Young Asher has been troubled and his mom thinks some time with his grandfather will do him some good. They make a trip to the small town where strange and disturbing events start happening as soon as Asher steps foot outside of the car.
The pace of the book was great. I didn't experience a slow moment at all. The characters were developed well enough for me to care about what happened to them. And here's something that is annoying when it's glossed over - the monster was well explained - its origin, the way it looks and moves, etc. And it was plenty creepy!
There were a few things I wish were elaborated upon a little further. If they had been, this might have been a full novel rather than a novella. I won't go into them here because it will spoil some of the story. But that little bit extra in the story could have taken my rating from four stars to five.
There's a promise of more stories along this theme in the future. I'm keeping Keith Thomas on my radar so I can read them as soon as they're available - I enjoyed this book that much! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Night Platform Book Company, for the electronic review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Dunnie is a very quick read, packed full of things that make a horror book great: suspense, gore, creepy creatures, mysterious characters, and yes - even a disturbing cover that draws you right into the pages of the book! The story centers around a family with a history of abuse (trigger warning here). Young Asher has been troubled and his mom thinks some time with his grandfather will do him some good. They make a trip to the small town where strange and disturbing events start happening as soon as Asher steps foot outside of the car.
The pace of the book was great. I didn't experience a slow moment at all. The characters were developed well enough for me to care about what happened to them. And here's something that is annoying when it's glossed over - the monster was well explained - its origin, the way it looks and moves, etc. And it was plenty creepy!
There were a few things I wish were elaborated upon a little further. If they had been, this might have been a full novel rather than a novella. I won't go into them here because it will spoil some of the story. But that little bit extra in the story could have taken my rating from four stars to five.
There's a promise of more stories along this theme in the future. I'm keeping Keith Thomas on my radar so I can read them as soon as they're available - I enjoyed this book that much! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Night Platform Book Company, for the electronic review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 11, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy!
The Dunnie is Keith Thomas' debut novella. At 3:30 am on a November morning, Mary Schwob Arceneaux gets woken up by a loud noise. Seeing her husband, Franklin, isn't in bed, she goes downstairs to investigate. From inside the library, Mary hears Franklin talking to someone. Seconds later, she hears the sound of someone being sick and decides to knock on the door. The man who opens it isn't her husband, but a local witch - Terry "Goat" Pratt. He assures her everything is alright, shoves her out of the way, scratches her cheek in the process, and slams the door shut. Before Goat shut the door, Mary thought she saw a black figure next to one of the bookcases. Could she be imagining things?
Flashforward to 14 years later, we are introduced to one of Mary and Franklin's daughters, Beth, and her son Asher. They are on their way to Franklin's place for a visit. He has lived alone for years, and Beth and her sister Zoe think they should put him in a nursing home. Through Beth and Asher's conversation, we learn about Asher's troubles at school and Beth's anxiety about meeting her father. When they arrive at Franklin's house, Asher notices how his grandpa has changed due to his illness. The two of them engage in conversation, and Franklin casually asks Asher if he can hear breathing noises. They fall into complete silence, and the sounds of ragged breathing become louder. Franklin tells Asher that the Dunnie lives in the vents. Beth walks into the room, breaking the tension and ending the conversation. Franklin's mood shifts entirely, and he is his cheerful self again. At first, Asher thinks grandpa is only joking with him, but soon, he will be face to face with the monster.
The Dunnie is an interesting take on English-Scottish folklore. According to Thomas' afterword, dunnies can take many alternative forms: "the terrifying ghost of a 13th-century raider, a shape-changing plough-horse, a devious imp". Thomas admitted that he had to change up the monster to make it scarier in the eyes of modern readers. I think he did a good job.
The writing is the novella's strongest suit. It is descriptive and perfectly sets the overall creepy, condensed mood of the story, but not too much that it clogs the plot progression. The dunnie's descriptions were my favorite parts. "The thing shoved under the bookcase was squished so tight, so crammed in there, that its true shape and size were impossible to glean. Yet the more Asher stared at the Dunnie, the more it sunk deeper into the shadows. There was a sudden flash of wet eyes, a nail, a tooth, and then a sweep of tangled hair before it reversed back into the vent."
The characters are solid. The three main characters get enough backstories, making them feel realistic, but I struggled to care about them. I found it hard to emotionally connect to the story. About halfway into the story, Zoe and her partner Faith show up at Franklin's house. The two of them served almost no purpose in the story. Their arrival is pointless, as they are completely underdeveloped and don't do much to push the plot. That part could've been avoided or further expanded. As much as I enjoyed the story, nothing stood out to me in particular. The Dunnie is a typical monster horror with hints of family issues, verbal abuse, and grief. Horror is a great genre to explore those and other heavy topics with carefully crafted metaphors and analogies, but I think the Dunnie fell a bit short. I understand that not every novel needs to be "deep" and tackle delicate topics, some only serve to scare or shock, but it is my preference. This is not exactly my type of horror, although it is a fun and gripping story.
The Dunnie is Keith Thomas' debut novella. At 3:30 am on a November morning, Mary Schwob Arceneaux gets woken up by a loud noise. Seeing her husband, Franklin, isn't in bed, she goes downstairs to investigate. From inside the library, Mary hears Franklin talking to someone. Seconds later, she hears the sound of someone being sick and decides to knock on the door. The man who opens it isn't her husband, but a local witch - Terry "Goat" Pratt. He assures her everything is alright, shoves her out of the way, scratches her cheek in the process, and slams the door shut. Before Goat shut the door, Mary thought she saw a black figure next to one of the bookcases. Could she be imagining things?
Flashforward to 14 years later, we are introduced to one of Mary and Franklin's daughters, Beth, and her son Asher. They are on their way to Franklin's place for a visit. He has lived alone for years, and Beth and her sister Zoe think they should put him in a nursing home. Through Beth and Asher's conversation, we learn about Asher's troubles at school and Beth's anxiety about meeting her father. When they arrive at Franklin's house, Asher notices how his grandpa has changed due to his illness. The two of them engage in conversation, and Franklin casually asks Asher if he can hear breathing noises. They fall into complete silence, and the sounds of ragged breathing become louder. Franklin tells Asher that the Dunnie lives in the vents. Beth walks into the room, breaking the tension and ending the conversation. Franklin's mood shifts entirely, and he is his cheerful self again. At first, Asher thinks grandpa is only joking with him, but soon, he will be face to face with the monster.
The Dunnie is an interesting take on English-Scottish folklore. According to Thomas' afterword, dunnies can take many alternative forms: "the terrifying ghost of a 13th-century raider, a shape-changing plough-horse, a devious imp". Thomas admitted that he had to change up the monster to make it scarier in the eyes of modern readers. I think he did a good job.
The writing is the novella's strongest suit. It is descriptive and perfectly sets the overall creepy, condensed mood of the story, but not too much that it clogs the plot progression. The dunnie's descriptions were my favorite parts. "The thing shoved under the bookcase was squished so tight, so crammed in there, that its true shape and size were impossible to glean. Yet the more Asher stared at the Dunnie, the more it sunk deeper into the shadows. There was a sudden flash of wet eyes, a nail, a tooth, and then a sweep of tangled hair before it reversed back into the vent."
The characters are solid. The three main characters get enough backstories, making them feel realistic, but I struggled to care about them. I found it hard to emotionally connect to the story. About halfway into the story, Zoe and her partner Faith show up at Franklin's house. The two of them served almost no purpose in the story. Their arrival is pointless, as they are completely underdeveloped and don't do much to push the plot. That part could've been avoided or further expanded. As much as I enjoyed the story, nothing stood out to me in particular. The Dunnie is a typical monster horror with hints of family issues, verbal abuse, and grief. Horror is a great genre to explore those and other heavy topics with carefully crafted metaphors and analogies, but I think the Dunnie fell a bit short. I understand that not every novel needs to be "deep" and tackle delicate topics, some only serve to scare or shock, but it is my preference. This is not exactly my type of horror, although it is a fun and gripping story.
June 19, 2023
A spooky little folk horror novella that features a young lad trying to save his grandpa and family from the Dunnie, a supernatural creature created by the vomit of all of the anger and nastiness of Pa in his earlier years. There's a strange cunning man appropriately named Goat, a ritual known as the Chundering that produces our wee little Dunnie, and lots and lots of arcane symbols drawn everywhere and on everything. I thought this was a fun book, with sufficient spookiness and one gory scene to whet my appetite. I also appreciated that "to chunder" is a slang term for "to vomit" in Australian English, and a dunnie is also the loo. So, there's that lovely bit of toilet humor for the eternal juvenile within me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2022
[Blurb goes here]
This is the debut Novella from Keith Thomas. You might not be familiar with the author, so just a couple of tidbits: He's the writer/director of the film "The Vigil", 91% fresh, audience score 51%, on Rotten Tomatoes. He's also credited as director of the "Pickman's Model" episode from "Gulliermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities" (now on Netflix), one of the great episodes in Del Toro's anthology. With these credentials, it's hard to look away from this book.
The Dunnie is loosely based in English-Scottish lore.
Asher, a problematic boy (twelve), travels with his mom to his grandfathers house. His 'Pa', as he calls him, used to be an ill tempered man, age and the apparent wisdom that comes with it, changed him. Unfortunately, he's starting to suffer from dementia. His two daughters agree that he has to go to a retirement home. While lucid, Pa tells his grandson that he can't leave his house, he has to stay there to feed the Dunnie. His grandson thinks that this is all part of his onset dementia and ignores him...that is, until he listens to a ragged breathing coming from the vents inside his grandfather's home.
When trying to feed the Dunnie with a sheep, Pa gets stopped by his daughter. He argues with Asher that it's been two weeks since he last feed the creature. That's when everything goes sideways.
The author crafts a compelling and eerie tale. No if and buts there. While Asher, his mom and Pa get a wonderful treatment and are perfectly fleshed out, this is not the case for the rest of the cast. Those are underdeveloped: one put into the situation, solely to get hurt by the creature. Funny how, as soon as that character makes an entrance, you'll know what awaits.
The writing is great. The atmosphere gets into scary territory, and fast! I mean, the Dunnie alone is terrifying! I truly recommend this one to horror fans, you won't be disappointed!
Thank you for the advanced copy!
This is the debut Novella from Keith Thomas. You might not be familiar with the author, so just a couple of tidbits: He's the writer/director of the film "The Vigil", 91% fresh, audience score 51%, on Rotten Tomatoes. He's also credited as director of the "Pickman's Model" episode from "Gulliermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities" (now on Netflix), one of the great episodes in Del Toro's anthology. With these credentials, it's hard to look away from this book.
The Dunnie is loosely based in English-Scottish lore.
Asher, a problematic boy (twelve), travels with his mom to his grandfathers house. His 'Pa', as he calls him, used to be an ill tempered man, age and the apparent wisdom that comes with it, changed him. Unfortunately, he's starting to suffer from dementia. His two daughters agree that he has to go to a retirement home. While lucid, Pa tells his grandson that he can't leave his house, he has to stay there to feed the Dunnie. His grandson thinks that this is all part of his onset dementia and ignores him...that is, until he listens to a ragged breathing coming from the vents inside his grandfather's home.
When trying to feed the Dunnie with a sheep, Pa gets stopped by his daughter. He argues with Asher that it's been two weeks since he last feed the creature. That's when everything goes sideways.
The author crafts a compelling and eerie tale. No if and buts there. While Asher, his mom and Pa get a wonderful treatment and are perfectly fleshed out, this is not the case for the rest of the cast. Those are underdeveloped: one put into the situation, solely to get hurt by the creature. Funny how, as soon as that character makes an entrance, you'll know what awaits.
The writing is great. The atmosphere gets into scary territory, and fast! I mean, the Dunnie alone is terrifying! I truly recommend this one to horror fans, you won't be disappointed!
Thank you for the advanced copy!
December 25, 2022
This was GREAT! Very spooky but super short. Can't wait for more!!!
December 22, 2022
This horror novella gets to the point quickly and it does so like a chainsaw chewing through bone. The author delivers a chilling breath taking story about a monster but a monster that exists in a way I've never read before.
I was completely drawn into the story and this mystery the boy has to figure out before it's too late. Goat was such an intriguing yet despicable character that loomed large every time he was on the page.
I was thrilled that this is going to be a series of books! I couldn't get enough of the tension in this book and am definitely looking forward to reading the rest when they release.
I was completely drawn into the story and this mystery the boy has to figure out before it's too late. Goat was such an intriguing yet despicable character that loomed large every time he was on the page.
I was thrilled that this is going to be a series of books! I couldn't get enough of the tension in this book and am definitely looking forward to reading the rest when they release.
November 28, 2022
Rating: 3.5/5
No conozco mucho del folklore inglés/escocés, pero este libro hace un gran trabajo simplificándolo para los lectores que no están familiarizados con él. En mi opinión, eso y la atmósfera del libro son sus puntos más fuertes.
Es atrapante y francamente espeluznante. Con un ritmo rápido, te absorbe de una manera increíble y para cuando te das cuenta, ya lo terminaste.
En cierto modo me recordó un poco a Insomnia, más que nada por el manejo de la demencia y las imágenes que visualizaba todo el tiempo en mi mente mientras leía.
La caracterización de los personajes no me encantó. En este tipo de historias, fácilmente se puede caer en el error común de centrarse en la trama y olvidar un poco el desarrollo de los personajes y creo que sucedió aquí. Aunque es comprensible debido a lo corto que es el libro.
Me emociona saber que va a ser parte de una serie y espero que el autor explote mucho mejor a los personajes en futuros trabajos.
Muy recomendado si te gusta el terror ligero.
Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, & Night Platform Book Company for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
No conozco mucho del folklore inglés/escocés, pero este libro hace un gran trabajo simplificándolo para los lectores que no están familiarizados con él. En mi opinión, eso y la atmósfera del libro son sus puntos más fuertes.
Es atrapante y francamente espeluznante. Con un ritmo rápido, te absorbe de una manera increíble y para cuando te das cuenta, ya lo terminaste.
En cierto modo me recordó un poco a Insomnia, más que nada por el manejo de la demencia y las imágenes que visualizaba todo el tiempo en mi mente mientras leía.
La caracterización de los personajes no me encantó. En este tipo de historias, fácilmente se puede caer en el error común de centrarse en la trama y olvidar un poco el desarrollo de los personajes y creo que sucedió aquí. Aunque es comprensible debido a lo corto que es el libro.
Me emociona saber que va a ser parte de una serie y espero que el autor explote mucho mejor a los personajes en futuros trabajos.
Muy recomendado si te gusta el terror ligero.
Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, & Night Platform Book Company for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 22, 2022
A fast paced story centred on a boy coming of age, his grandfather who is fading with dementia, and a mythical monster who can no longer be contained.
I loved that the author incorporated folklore & magic into this story. The deer skeleton was creepy and I wondered about it’s story as well.
Despite the trials this family goes through, it was nice to see they mostly get justice in the end (except Mary didn’t really get any). It was seriously freaky when the Dunnie was moving through the vents and Asher kept hearing her nails & her breathing.
The author indicated that this will likely turn into a series, chronicling Yellow Fern and/or Goat! Excited to see what comes next 😊
Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, & Night Platform Book Company for a copy!
I loved that the author incorporated folklore & magic into this story. The deer skeleton was creepy and I wondered about it’s story as well.
Despite the trials this family goes through, it was nice to see they mostly get justice in the end (except Mary didn’t really get any). It was seriously freaky when the Dunnie was moving through the vents and Asher kept hearing her nails & her breathing.
The author indicated that this will likely turn into a series, chronicling Yellow Fern and/or Goat! Excited to see what comes next 😊
Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, & Night Platform Book Company for a copy!
November 16, 2022
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Asher is a twelve year-old boy, who visits his grandfather along with his mum. Grandpa was an angry man, having hurt his daughter (actually, he has two) in the past. Nowadays, he's suffering from dementia and his character has mellowed into a rather easy-going old man. Asher finds him different than he remembers, and slowly he realizes that something bizarre is going on in the house. Enter the Dunnie, a strange entity living in the vents of the house. Asher meets Goat, something of a local shaman or warlock; Goat explains what's been going on with Asher's Grandpa and from then on, the story gets creepier and creepier, until it all blows up into a classic American movie-type horror, with chases, sacrifices, and great emotional tension.
The Dunnie is a strange book to review. According to the author's afterword, it belongs to a new series of novellas of his, based on English-Scottish lore, all taking place in the same town. Perhaps this is why a lot remains unexplained and does not feel like a fully realized story. It felt like an episode. On the other hand, 'The Dunnie' works fine as a folk horror tale, with interesting characters, a spooky setting, and an intriguing threat. Some more flashbacks would have fleshed out better the relationship of the father with his daughters (there's only one flashback, unrelated), since it plays such a large role in the actions of the father; as it is, I confess I didn't really get a deep sense of the tension among them, nor did I understand what was the big deal. To be frank, the father did act and appear rather ordinary (the dementia excepted), and his involvement with the supernatural felt out of character. Additionally, we only meet one figure from the town (the mysterious Goat), which turns the place into a movie setting.
However, the writing is great, cinematic, taking care of all the features of a story to be enjoyed by a horror fan. I read the entire thing in a couple of hours.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of 'The Dunnie', giving me the chance to post an honest review.
Asher is a twelve year-old boy, who visits his grandfather along with his mum. Grandpa was an angry man, having hurt his daughter (actually, he has two) in the past. Nowadays, he's suffering from dementia and his character has mellowed into a rather easy-going old man. Asher finds him different than he remembers, and slowly he realizes that something bizarre is going on in the house. Enter the Dunnie, a strange entity living in the vents of the house. Asher meets Goat, something of a local shaman or warlock; Goat explains what's been going on with Asher's Grandpa and from then on, the story gets creepier and creepier, until it all blows up into a classic American movie-type horror, with chases, sacrifices, and great emotional tension.
The Dunnie is a strange book to review. According to the author's afterword, it belongs to a new series of novellas of his, based on English-Scottish lore, all taking place in the same town. Perhaps this is why a lot remains unexplained and does not feel like a fully realized story. It felt like an episode. On the other hand, 'The Dunnie' works fine as a folk horror tale, with interesting characters, a spooky setting, and an intriguing threat. Some more flashbacks would have fleshed out better the relationship of the father with his daughters (there's only one flashback, unrelated), since it plays such a large role in the actions of the father; as it is, I confess I didn't really get a deep sense of the tension among them, nor did I understand what was the big deal. To be frank, the father did act and appear rather ordinary (the dementia excepted), and his involvement with the supernatural felt out of character. Additionally, we only meet one figure from the town (the mysterious Goat), which turns the place into a movie setting.
However, the writing is great, cinematic, taking care of all the features of a story to be enjoyed by a horror fan. I read the entire thing in a couple of hours.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of 'The Dunnie', giving me the chance to post an honest review.
November 21, 2022
As a husband and father “Pa” was a hostile, verbally abusive, angry jerk. His wife and daughters didn’t know that he hated this constant anger within him and wanted to be rid of it. The local weirdo “Goat” offers a quick fix and Pa takes it. Pa….you should’ve gone to Anger Management classes and therapy instead.
Years later dementia is setting in and his daughters and grandson, Asher, come to transition Pa to assisted living. Pa has indeed been a nicer person all these years, but his anger has never completely left him. It has become “The Dunnie”, it is more dangerous and monstrous than ever and it is hungry!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Dunnie. The last 25% or so was a “real edge of your seat” page turner. Asher really comes into his own as a young teen and Pa’s best ally, for he’s only known the kind Pa. Several times I wanted to crawl into the pages, grab Asher, and yell “go buy a flashlight that runs on batteries, jeez!” I generally steer clear of series’, but with this author I’d definitely sign up for Yellow Fern Chronicles or The Books of Goat and I’m looking forward to viewing the “Pickman’s Model” episode Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, The Vigil and Firestarter. I look forward to reading more from Keith Thomas. There’s just a tease of The Mutter….I don’t see this available yet, but dang it…I want it! Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to read and review #TheDunnie. It’s always exciting to discover an author, and in this case a filmmaker too, who is new to me. I’m seriously looking forward to #TheMutter by #KeithThomas
Years later dementia is setting in and his daughters and grandson, Asher, come to transition Pa to assisted living. Pa has indeed been a nicer person all these years, but his anger has never completely left him. It has become “The Dunnie”, it is more dangerous and monstrous than ever and it is hungry!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Dunnie. The last 25% or so was a “real edge of your seat” page turner. Asher really comes into his own as a young teen and Pa’s best ally, for he’s only known the kind Pa. Several times I wanted to crawl into the pages, grab Asher, and yell “go buy a flashlight that runs on batteries, jeez!” I generally steer clear of series’, but with this author I’d definitely sign up for Yellow Fern Chronicles or The Books of Goat and I’m looking forward to viewing the “Pickman’s Model” episode Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, The Vigil and Firestarter. I look forward to reading more from Keith Thomas. There’s just a tease of The Mutter….I don’t see this available yet, but dang it…I want it! Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to read and review #TheDunnie. It’s always exciting to discover an author, and in this case a filmmaker too, who is new to me. I’m seriously looking forward to #TheMutter by #KeithThomas
February 27, 2023
This book hit the spot for me. For a horror novella, the length of the book (145 pages) didn't take away from characters, action, or the thrill. I love how Keith Thomas used folklore and magic to create the Dunnie and his imagining of it's physical appearance.
The MC Asher is struggling with behavior and school, so his mom Beth brings him along to Pa's house. Pa has been diagnosed with dementia and Beth and her sister are going to start sorting the house and move him into a care facility.
Asher soons find out there is a monster in the house and has the responsibility thrust onto him to help his grandpa kill it.
A part of the story I found thoughtful was Asher coming to terms with the Dementia, that he will be saying goodbye to the grandpa he knew. He ponders the disease, how it progresses, and how it must feel for the person with it. The dementia plays into the story as Pa will sporadically forget about the Dunnie lurking in the house.
If you enjoy folklore, monsters, and horror anthologies (like Masters of Horror or Cabinet of Curiosities) you would enjoy this novella.
*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher Night Platform Book Company. I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
The MC Asher is struggling with behavior and school, so his mom Beth brings him along to Pa's house. Pa has been diagnosed with dementia and Beth and her sister are going to start sorting the house and move him into a care facility.
Asher soons find out there is a monster in the house and has the responsibility thrust onto him to help his grandpa kill it.
A part of the story I found thoughtful was Asher coming to terms with the Dementia, that he will be saying goodbye to the grandpa he knew. He ponders the disease, how it progresses, and how it must feel for the person with it. The dementia plays into the story as Pa will sporadically forget about the Dunnie lurking in the house.
If you enjoy folklore, monsters, and horror anthologies (like Masters of Horror or Cabinet of Curiosities) you would enjoy this novella.
*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher Night Platform Book Company. I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
April 28, 2023
Rating: 2.75 leaves out of 5
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 2.5/5
Story: 3/5
Writing: 2.75/5
Horror: 3/5
Genre: Horror/Mythology/Fantasy
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Yes
Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Loved
Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.
When I started this book I didn't think I would really like it. The writing wasn't it and the characters weren't giving to me what I wanted but as I kept reading I found myself wanting to read more. I stayed up late last night to read and if I hadn't had a headache I would have finished it.
I didn't like Pa and I took a huge problem with the mom taking him over there so much that he knew him well. But they explained some thing on what happened after the beginning. There were times when I was a bit confused but it all smoothed out as I read more.
For horror? I am rating it a bit high because I was scared to go to bed a bit. That is a win in my book!
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 2.5/5
Story: 3/5
Writing: 2.75/5
Horror: 3/5
Genre: Horror/Mythology/Fantasy
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Yes
Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Loved
Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.
When I started this book I didn't think I would really like it. The writing wasn't it and the characters weren't giving to me what I wanted but as I kept reading I found myself wanting to read more. I stayed up late last night to read and if I hadn't had a headache I would have finished it.
I didn't like Pa and I took a huge problem with the mom taking him over there so much that he knew him well. But they explained some thing on what happened after the beginning. There were times when I was a bit confused but it all smoothed out as I read more.
For horror? I am rating it a bit high because I was scared to go to bed a bit. That is a win in my book!
July 14, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book.
I enjoyed this book more than I was expecting to. There were parts that had me wanting to read with the light on and wondering what else would happen. I found the pacing to be perfect as there was just enough going on to keep you wanting to read more.
If you are a fan of creepy creatures lurking about...pick up this book.
I enjoyed this book more than I was expecting to. There were parts that had me wanting to read with the light on and wondering what else would happen. I found the pacing to be perfect as there was just enough going on to keep you wanting to read more.
If you are a fan of creepy creatures lurking about...pick up this book.
April 22, 2023
This was an interesting story. I really like how the author describes Dunnie. I had never heard of such a character. I like the main character of the story, the grandson. This was a good horror book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
March 21, 2023
“That moment with no words, without any thought - an instant of awe - that’s how we use our soul.”
I’ve always been interested in stories surrounding folklore, and this book is precisely that. I really enjoyed how the author wrote from Scottish mythology but put his own, unique twist on the creature. The being we’re introduced to is very different and much more terrifying than the original lore. Its origin, a detail commonly overlooked in horror, was also well explained. The Dunnie itself was one of my favorite aspects. For a novel with a mere 150 pages, this was paced perfectly. Often, shorter books lack depth and fail to accomplish a well written story. That can’t be said of this book. I didn’t experience a dull moment and this had all the elements of a good horror story. I also thought the writing was good, it flowed nicely and was easy to read. The dialogue was realistic, but I did forget Asher was only 12. Most of his conversations sounded rather mature and would’ve made more sense coming from someone in their late teens.
The atmosphere created within this book was great. I was able to vividly imagine each situation and if I closed my eyes, I could picture everything. This immensely added to my overall reading experience. That being said, I wish the author would’ve elaborated on the dynamic between Beth, her sister Zoe and their father. It’s established that their relationship was strained because he was an angry and abusive man, but how the sisters feel about him was never explored. I didn’t feel a sense of tension between them. I also thought Zoe was included as simply an afterthought. She and her girlfriend were truly only introduced to be targets of the Dunnie. That is my one complaint, as I do feel deeper characterization would’ve added to the story. If you’re like me and find folklore fascinating, I highly recommend you read this. I liked this book and will be continuing the series. Given the author’s background in directing, I’d love to see this and his future novels adapted to the screen.
I appreciate Keith Thomas, Night Platform Book Company and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
I’ve always been interested in stories surrounding folklore, and this book is precisely that. I really enjoyed how the author wrote from Scottish mythology but put his own, unique twist on the creature. The being we’re introduced to is very different and much more terrifying than the original lore. Its origin, a detail commonly overlooked in horror, was also well explained. The Dunnie itself was one of my favorite aspects. For a novel with a mere 150 pages, this was paced perfectly. Often, shorter books lack depth and fail to accomplish a well written story. That can’t be said of this book. I didn’t experience a dull moment and this had all the elements of a good horror story. I also thought the writing was good, it flowed nicely and was easy to read. The dialogue was realistic, but I did forget Asher was only 12. Most of his conversations sounded rather mature and would’ve made more sense coming from someone in their late teens.
The atmosphere created within this book was great. I was able to vividly imagine each situation and if I closed my eyes, I could picture everything. This immensely added to my overall reading experience. That being said, I wish the author would’ve elaborated on the dynamic between Beth, her sister Zoe and their father. It’s established that their relationship was strained because he was an angry and abusive man, but how the sisters feel about him was never explored. I didn’t feel a sense of tension between them. I also thought Zoe was included as simply an afterthought. She and her girlfriend were truly only introduced to be targets of the Dunnie. That is my one complaint, as I do feel deeper characterization would’ve added to the story. If you’re like me and find folklore fascinating, I highly recommend you read this. I liked this book and will be continuing the series. Given the author’s background in directing, I’d love to see this and his future novels adapted to the screen.
I appreciate Keith Thomas, Night Platform Book Company and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
March 23, 2023
Read Full & Detailed review: https://cynthology.blogspot.com/2023/...
The Dunnie, a horrible and beastly creature, supposedly based on English-Scottish folklore, is a creature that personifies our worst habits. While the book makes for good reading as a tale of horror, it misses out on a deeper characterisation of Asher, his days at school, and his grief and rebelliousness.
Mary Schwob Arceneaux wakes up in the middle of one night in 2008 to discover that Frank, her husband, a man who has abused and belittled her for 24 years, is not in bed. When she goes looking for him in his favourite room, the library, she finds him engaged in a bizarre ritual with Terry ‘Goat’ Pratt, a man she detests as much as she detests Frank.
Fourteen years later, Frank has dementia and is losing control. His daughters, Zoe, with partner Faith, and Beth, with her 12-year-old son Asher, have returned home to help put his affairs in order.
Asher’s school has threatened to expel him over various infractions. Beth hopes that spending time with his grandfather and playing in the woods around their home will help calm him, and save him from inheriting the rage of his grandfather, once an abusive brute who mysteriously turned benevolent around the time of Asher’s birth.
Lonely and despised by his family, Frank underwent an occult practice to rid himself of his anger. The anger was expelled from his body and took the shape of an evil creature, the Dunnie, that needed to feed on small animals to stay alive.
Now the Dunnie has grown and her anger has increased and Asher's grandfather can no longer control the creature. Will Asher succeed in keeping his family safe?
In the best traditions of the horror genre, we are moved to care for Asher, who is hurting and misunderstood. In the same vein, Beth disregards Asher when he sounds the voice of alarm
Asher gets into trouble at school. He is unable to process his grief in the wake of his father’s death. We are not told who his father is, or how he died, which is a big omission in the family’s back story. Clearly it’s important, since Asher is unable to cope at school.
Since so much of the story hinges on Frank’s anger issues and his belittling of his wife and children, it would have been great to actually see that angry display of rage, set against the vision of the lovely grandfather that Asher knows. Both these significant personality changes are only told to us, never shown.
Also, Mary is missing from the present-day events. We learn much later that she has died. Again, an omission. Since she was the one to bear witness to the strange ritual that changes Frank, she should have been around to experience this difficult time.
Mary had the makings of a good character.
In fact, after Mary’s death, none of the living female characters are strong enough. It is only the men who make things happen, including Frank, Asher, Goat, the strawman.
Apparently Frank attaches as little importance to women. Why else would he burden a 12-year-old boy with information about the Dunnie? Such a serious matter should have been shared with his two adult daughters and yet when Asher asks him why he won’t tell his mom and aunt Zoe and the police, Frank says the police would not believe him. He has nothing to say about Beth and Zoe.
Ironically, the Dunnie, the beast of a monster goes by the pronouns she and her.
I liked the writing, especially the bits about the house and Goat’s house and the strawman. In fact, I found the strawman scarier than the Dunnie.
The Dunnie was a great horror novel, but I would have liked it to go beyond. The issues relating to anger, grief, domestic abuse, dementia, even the soul and its significance, remain unaddressed.
Stories need to be dangerous, Pa tells Asher. This one certainly is.
The Dunnie, a horrible and beastly creature, supposedly based on English-Scottish folklore, is a creature that personifies our worst habits. While the book makes for good reading as a tale of horror, it misses out on a deeper characterisation of Asher, his days at school, and his grief and rebelliousness.
Mary Schwob Arceneaux wakes up in the middle of one night in 2008 to discover that Frank, her husband, a man who has abused and belittled her for 24 years, is not in bed. When she goes looking for him in his favourite room, the library, she finds him engaged in a bizarre ritual with Terry ‘Goat’ Pratt, a man she detests as much as she detests Frank.
Fourteen years later, Frank has dementia and is losing control. His daughters, Zoe, with partner Faith, and Beth, with her 12-year-old son Asher, have returned home to help put his affairs in order.
Asher’s school has threatened to expel him over various infractions. Beth hopes that spending time with his grandfather and playing in the woods around their home will help calm him, and save him from inheriting the rage of his grandfather, once an abusive brute who mysteriously turned benevolent around the time of Asher’s birth.
Lonely and despised by his family, Frank underwent an occult practice to rid himself of his anger. The anger was expelled from his body and took the shape of an evil creature, the Dunnie, that needed to feed on small animals to stay alive.
Now the Dunnie has grown and her anger has increased and Asher's grandfather can no longer control the creature. Will Asher succeed in keeping his family safe?
In the best traditions of the horror genre, we are moved to care for Asher, who is hurting and misunderstood. In the same vein, Beth disregards Asher when he sounds the voice of alarm
Asher gets into trouble at school. He is unable to process his grief in the wake of his father’s death. We are not told who his father is, or how he died, which is a big omission in the family’s back story. Clearly it’s important, since Asher is unable to cope at school.
Since so much of the story hinges on Frank’s anger issues and his belittling of his wife and children, it would have been great to actually see that angry display of rage, set against the vision of the lovely grandfather that Asher knows. Both these significant personality changes are only told to us, never shown.
Also, Mary is missing from the present-day events. We learn much later that she has died. Again, an omission. Since she was the one to bear witness to the strange ritual that changes Frank, she should have been around to experience this difficult time.
Mary had the makings of a good character.
In fact, after Mary’s death, none of the living female characters are strong enough. It is only the men who make things happen, including Frank, Asher, Goat, the strawman.
Apparently Frank attaches as little importance to women. Why else would he burden a 12-year-old boy with information about the Dunnie? Such a serious matter should have been shared with his two adult daughters and yet when Asher asks him why he won’t tell his mom and aunt Zoe and the police, Frank says the police would not believe him. He has nothing to say about Beth and Zoe.
Ironically, the Dunnie, the beast of a monster goes by the pronouns she and her.
I liked the writing, especially the bits about the house and Goat’s house and the strawman. In fact, I found the strawman scarier than the Dunnie.
The Dunnie was a great horror novel, but I would have liked it to go beyond. The issues relating to anger, grief, domestic abuse, dementia, even the soul and its significance, remain unaddressed.
Stories need to be dangerous, Pa tells Asher. This one certainly is.
February 25, 2023
4 stars
Published: 10/31/22
**ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
#NetGalley #TheDunnie
**Note to publisher/editors. At 86% when Faith is being dragged down the front steps, it says "her feet" which is not possible at that time.**
Basics
genre: horror, novella
setting: ancestral home in a small town
themes: generational trauma, inherited rage, family
Characters
Frank: abusive husband turned mellow grandfather
Beth: Frank's younger daughter, Asher's mom
Asher (mMC): Beth's son, middle school aged
Zoe: Frank's older daughter
Faith: Zoe's girlfriend
Terry/"Goat": Frank's creepy friend
Mary: Frank's deceased wife
Pros
+ dark rituals & animal sacrifices
+ creature feature
+ gore
+ souls removed through sinking hands into skulls
+ removal of emotions creates physical, horrific form
+ the house is a cabinet of curiosities, with animal heads, creepy paintings, bones, books, and everything macabre built into its insides
+ creeping atmospheric vibes
+ heavy breathing in the vents reminds me of how you can hear Australian possums gasping outside at night. Scared the sh*t out of me when we first moved to Australia.
+ LGBT rep: f/f
Cons
- that freaky deaky cover giving me nightmare fuel (which is appropriate for the book, I just hate it personally)
Comp Recs: Strangled by Marie Ann (some entity in the house structure)
TW: emotional and verbal abuse, dementia, gore
Published: 10/31/22
**ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
#NetGalley #TheDunnie
**Note to publisher/editors. At 86% when Faith is being dragged down the front steps, it says "her feet" which is not possible at that time.**
Basics
genre: horror, novella
setting: ancestral home in a small town
themes: generational trauma, inherited rage, family
Characters
Frank: abusive husband turned mellow grandfather
Beth: Frank's younger daughter, Asher's mom
Asher (mMC): Beth's son, middle school aged
Zoe: Frank's older daughter
Faith: Zoe's girlfriend
Terry/"Goat": Frank's creepy friend
Mary: Frank's deceased wife
Pros
+ dark rituals & animal sacrifices
+ creature feature
+ gore
+ souls removed through sinking hands into skulls
+ removal of emotions creates physical, horrific form
+ the house is a cabinet of curiosities, with animal heads, creepy paintings, bones, books, and everything macabre built into its insides
+ creeping atmospheric vibes
+ heavy breathing in the vents reminds me of how you can hear Australian possums gasping outside at night. Scared the sh*t out of me when we first moved to Australia.
+ LGBT rep: f/f
Cons
- that freaky deaky cover giving me nightmare fuel (which is appropriate for the book, I just hate it personally)
Comp Recs: Strangled by Marie Ann (some entity in the house structure)
TW: emotional and verbal abuse, dementia, gore
May 2, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for allowing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing that interested me in reading this book has definitely got to be the cover. I mean just look at it! (Serious creepy vibes right there, along with the title in general. Just what exactly is a "Dunnie"?) This book was interesting from beginning to end, fast-paced, exciting and the definition of horror. I could also the genre fitting as psychological thriller as well based on the emotional abuse, dementia and all of the emotions the characters feel.
This book fits perfect as a novella, it wasn't too short nor too long, but got its message across clear during the length of the book. I don't think it would have benefitted being longer because it would have had useless dialogue and take away from the story overall. The characters were a bit flat, other than Asher and Pa of course, but there was much time explaining in depth what the Dunnie looks like, what it likes to eat and how it came to be.
Now this book is definitely something I could see being turned into a movie someday. It had the right amount of scare factor, buildup and creepy characters. You never know what could be lurking in the shadows (and in this case, vents) and how you may be afraid of the dark and falling asleep for the rest of your life. Shape shifters creep me out and I would never want to be in the same room as a Dunnie, no thanks!
I will definitely be reading more by Keith Thomas in the future.
The first thing that interested me in reading this book has definitely got to be the cover. I mean just look at it! (Serious creepy vibes right there, along with the title in general. Just what exactly is a "Dunnie"?) This book was interesting from beginning to end, fast-paced, exciting and the definition of horror. I could also the genre fitting as psychological thriller as well based on the emotional abuse, dementia and all of the emotions the characters feel.
This book fits perfect as a novella, it wasn't too short nor too long, but got its message across clear during the length of the book. I don't think it would have benefitted being longer because it would have had useless dialogue and take away from the story overall. The characters were a bit flat, other than Asher and Pa of course, but there was much time explaining in depth what the Dunnie looks like, what it likes to eat and how it came to be.
Now this book is definitely something I could see being turned into a movie someday. It had the right amount of scare factor, buildup and creepy characters. You never know what could be lurking in the shadows (and in this case, vents) and how you may be afraid of the dark and falling asleep for the rest of your life. Shape shifters creep me out and I would never want to be in the same room as a Dunnie, no thanks!
I will definitely be reading more by Keith Thomas in the future.
March 8, 2023
Do you think that your emotions can take a shape? well it can according to The Dunnie.
The Dunnie is based in English-Scottish folklore. Asher, a problematic twelve year old boy travels with his mom to his grandfather’s house. His 'Pa', as he calls him, used to be an ill-tempered man, age changed him - according to his mum and aunt zoe. Unfortunately, he's starting to suffer from dementia. His two daughters agree that he has to go to a retirement home. One day, Pa tells his grandson that he can't leave his house, he has to stay there to feed the Dunnie. His grandson thinks that this is all part of his dementia and ignores him.that is, until he listens to a ragged breathing coming from the vents inside his grandfather's home.
When trying to feed the Dunnie with a sheep, Pa gets stopped by his daughter. He argues with Asher that it's been two weeks since he last feed the creature. That's when everything goes sideways.
The author crafts a compelling and eerie tale. I felt like me too in the Pa’s house and I could hear the breathing. But I wanted to know about this strange Goat guy and what was his business with the scarecrow. But anyway,The writing is great. The atmosphere gets into scary territory, and fast! The Dunnie alone is terrifying! I truly recommend this one to horror fans
The Dunnie is based in English-Scottish folklore. Asher, a problematic twelve year old boy travels with his mom to his grandfather’s house. His 'Pa', as he calls him, used to be an ill-tempered man, age changed him - according to his mum and aunt zoe. Unfortunately, he's starting to suffer from dementia. His two daughters agree that he has to go to a retirement home. One day, Pa tells his grandson that he can't leave his house, he has to stay there to feed the Dunnie. His grandson thinks that this is all part of his dementia and ignores him.that is, until he listens to a ragged breathing coming from the vents inside his grandfather's home.
When trying to feed the Dunnie with a sheep, Pa gets stopped by his daughter. He argues with Asher that it's been two weeks since he last feed the creature. That's when everything goes sideways.
The author crafts a compelling and eerie tale. I felt like me too in the Pa’s house and I could hear the breathing. But I wanted to know about this strange Goat guy and what was his business with the scarecrow. But anyway,The writing is great. The atmosphere gets into scary territory, and fast! The Dunnie alone is terrifying! I truly recommend this one to horror fans
November 24, 2022
As a horror story it wasn't bad but it was somehow lacking something, the start of the story with Mary was way scarier than what came next, the idea of a following series with Goat seems really like a good idea and I say that not with love for the character but he seems scary and mysterious enough to give us a good story.
This one I can’t really recommend for very young audiences, while our main character is a 12 years old, we have some pretty gore parts… like a “foot” of that and I wont say anything else. Hmm Asher our main character is passing a very rough patch in school and I feel he doesn’t know how to connect with his mother since his father died… the grandfather he knows is not the same that his mother and aunt talk about, and in this visit he will get to know a bit better his grandfather true colours…
The story is based in an old English folks tale and that is interesting because it gives us an insight in a legend, and maybe beware of what you wish for, because it may become true…
Thank you NetGalley and Night Platform Book Company for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
This one I can’t really recommend for very young audiences, while our main character is a 12 years old, we have some pretty gore parts… like a “foot” of that and I wont say anything else. Hmm Asher our main character is passing a very rough patch in school and I feel he doesn’t know how to connect with his mother since his father died… the grandfather he knows is not the same that his mother and aunt talk about, and in this visit he will get to know a bit better his grandfather true colours…
The story is based in an old English folks tale and that is interesting because it gives us an insight in a legend, and maybe beware of what you wish for, because it may become true…
Thank you NetGalley and Night Platform Book Company for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
December 10, 2022
Thank you to @netgalley
Keith Thomas and the publishing company.
What an interesting and creepy read. I loved how folklore was included in this story. Well written. Plan on reading his others in the series when they become available!
Synopsis:
Asher, who along with his Mom, Aunt and her girlfriend visit his Pa to help pack up his house and help move him into a nursing home, due to his dementia.
During the night, Asher keeps hearing breathing and nails scraping inside the heat vents.
His grandfather explains to him it's the Dunnie. Asher at this point is frightened of what this could be. When he asks his Pa at another time, he becomes confused and tells him it's probably just a possum.
As time goes on Asher learns more about what the Dunnie is from his Pa and a local, nicknamed "Goat". The Dunnie had started small and has now become larger, more irritated, very hungry, and on the attack!
Will Asher, Pa, and the rest of the family get away or will the Dunnie get what she wants?
Grab a copy and find out
Keith Thomas and the publishing company.
What an interesting and creepy read. I loved how folklore was included in this story. Well written. Plan on reading his others in the series when they become available!
Synopsis:
Asher, who along with his Mom, Aunt and her girlfriend visit his Pa to help pack up his house and help move him into a nursing home, due to his dementia.
During the night, Asher keeps hearing breathing and nails scraping inside the heat vents.
His grandfather explains to him it's the Dunnie. Asher at this point is frightened of what this could be. When he asks his Pa at another time, he becomes confused and tells him it's probably just a possum.
As time goes on Asher learns more about what the Dunnie is from his Pa and a local, nicknamed "Goat". The Dunnie had started small and has now become larger, more irritated, very hungry, and on the attack!
Will Asher, Pa, and the rest of the family get away or will the Dunnie get what she wants?
Grab a copy and find out
June 2, 2023
3.5 rounded up to a four.
When I requested this book from NetGalley, I didn't realize that the author was also the director of a movie I quite enjoyed, The Vigil. This novella is in the same vein as that, and while it definitely had its flaws, it was still a quick and satisfying read.
I'll admit I liked the beginning more than the end. There was a sense of creeping dread that I felt built rather well, with some nicely eerie descriptions. Once the Dunnie fully appears, however, I felt it fall apart a little- it felt less like "adult horror" and more like "children's adventure" to me, with a bit more gore than expected from the latter. I'll fully admit that this is probably due to my own personal tastes; more often than not, I'm a hard sell for a story with a child or teenage protagonist.
The author mentioned in the post-story notes that he plans on writing a collection of stories like this, and I definitely would be interested in checking that out if it comes to fruition.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
When I requested this book from NetGalley, I didn't realize that the author was also the director of a movie I quite enjoyed, The Vigil. This novella is in the same vein as that, and while it definitely had its flaws, it was still a quick and satisfying read.
I'll admit I liked the beginning more than the end. There was a sense of creeping dread that I felt built rather well, with some nicely eerie descriptions. Once the Dunnie fully appears, however, I felt it fall apart a little- it felt less like "adult horror" and more like "children's adventure" to me, with a bit more gore than expected from the latter. I'll fully admit that this is probably due to my own personal tastes; more often than not, I'm a hard sell for a story with a child or teenage protagonist.
The author mentioned in the post-story notes that he plans on writing a collection of stories like this, and I definitely would be interested in checking that out if it comes to fruition.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
March 16, 2023
What if you could completely remove a negative part of your personality? Would you do it? What if it created something horrific that you were forced to live with and care for the rest of your life? That's what Asher and his family are up against when they go to visit his grandfather. Dealing with the onset of dementia, Pa isn't who Asher remembers him to be. But there's also something horrific in the house with him as well.
I really enjoyed this novella. It was a page-turner, and I couldn't wait to find out how it ended. The descriptions of the Donnie were horrific and spine-tingling. I read parts of this at night, and definitely had to pause until the next day because I was getting freaked out. I was really pleased to read that Keith Thomas is planning additional stories based around the same town and character. I finished the story and still wanted to know more about Goat. Who he was, what his story was about. I am really looking forward to reading more work by Keith.
I really enjoyed this novella. It was a page-turner, and I couldn't wait to find out how it ended. The descriptions of the Donnie were horrific and spine-tingling. I read parts of this at night, and definitely had to pause until the next day because I was getting freaked out. I was really pleased to read that Keith Thomas is planning additional stories based around the same town and character. I finished the story and still wanted to know more about Goat. Who he was, what his story was about. I am really looking forward to reading more work by Keith.
July 9, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!
Although I loved it and it is very short, I have given it 3 stars because I expected a little more, the book is not bad at all but I thought it would scare me a little more with the story and with the description of the monster The Dunnie , BUT maybe another person if the monster scares him!
The story is about Asher who is going to visit his grandfather with his mother, but when he gets home he begins to feel and see strange things in addition to the strange behavior of his grandfather, until finally one day he meets The Dunnie and his grandfather begins to explain some things to him.
I highly recommend this book for those people who seek to be scared not only by the monster, but also by things from the past that today can have serious consequences.
I was seeing that there are other books by the author like a kind of series? If so, I would be very interested in reading them.
Although I loved it and it is very short, I have given it 3 stars because I expected a little more, the book is not bad at all but I thought it would scare me a little more with the story and with the description of the monster The Dunnie , BUT maybe another person if the monster scares him!
The story is about Asher who is going to visit his grandfather with his mother, but when he gets home he begins to feel and see strange things in addition to the strange behavior of his grandfather, until finally one day he meets The Dunnie and his grandfather begins to explain some things to him.
I highly recommend this book for those people who seek to be scared not only by the monster, but also by things from the past that today can have serious consequences.
I was seeing that there are other books by the author like a kind of series? If so, I would be very interested in reading them.
November 21, 2023
2.5 Stars
Unfortunately I was really disappointed with this book.
My biggest issue was the writing style. There were a lot of info dumps from the very beginning to the end of the book, the author would insert random information into sentences and they information was never brought up or useful after that.
I struggled to understand why Beth, would move far away from her abusive father and then have a child and bring him around her father so much that the son felt more comfortable in that house than most other places. Another thing was that Asher had a complete 180 in terms of personality, especially in regards to his behaviour towards his mother, and it was very sudden and I felt there was no substantial build up to it.
The horror element was the redeeming quality as I feel it was done quite well and definitely involved a creepy atmosphere.
The ending also felt very rushed and didn't do a good job wrapping up the story in my opinion
Unfortunately I was really disappointed with this book.
My biggest issue was the writing style. There were a lot of info dumps from the very beginning to the end of the book, the author would insert random information into sentences and they information was never brought up or useful after that.
I struggled to understand why Beth, would move far away from her abusive father and then have a child and bring him around her father so much that the son felt more comfortable in that house than most other places. Another thing was that Asher had a complete 180 in terms of personality, especially in regards to his behaviour towards his mother, and it was very sudden and I felt there was no substantial build up to it.
The horror element was the redeeming quality as I feel it was done quite well and definitely involved a creepy atmosphere.
The ending also felt very rushed and didn't do a good job wrapping up the story in my opinion
November 19, 2022
From the director of really decent Cabinet of Curiosities’ Pickman’s Model and a rather abysmal Firefighter remake (and The Vigil – one I haven’t seen), comes this nightmarish tale or rage personified.
Turns out this guy is a multi-media creator, and sure enough, the novella does have a certain cinematic quality to it, in imagery and pacing. But also, it’s fun, and genuinely creepy.
A story of a young boy coming face to face with his grandpa’s nightmarish secret over the course of a short but categorically memorable stay at his house.
Genre-wise this likely falls into folk. The novella is meant to be the first in series of stories based on English-Scottish folklore. Fun concept, and based on this, might be well executed too. Certainly, a nice quick read for genre fans. Thanks Netgalley.
Turns out this guy is a multi-media creator, and sure enough, the novella does have a certain cinematic quality to it, in imagery and pacing. But also, it’s fun, and genuinely creepy.
A story of a young boy coming face to face with his grandpa’s nightmarish secret over the course of a short but categorically memorable stay at his house.
Genre-wise this likely falls into folk. The novella is meant to be the first in series of stories based on English-Scottish folklore. Fun concept, and based on this, might be well executed too. Certainly, a nice quick read for genre fans. Thanks Netgalley.
January 14, 2023
Received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It fills the void for existential folk-lore horror that has you absolutely sure this is a real thing that can get you in the corner of your room while you're reading. It's an interesting take on the English-Scottish tales and gives them an entirely new meaning of creepy.
Our author essentially explores what all horror usually does, and how abuse and trauma can affect our minds, body, and soul. Letting in the wicked and grotesque to scare us into being a new person once it's over. It was a good fast-paced read with intense descriptions of what was happening around our main character.
I'm sure our monster's description could scare quite a few people if they didn't know what they were getting into! I gave it 3 stars but I would actually say more like 3.5 if I was able to rate it that here. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. A lot of the characters are hard to feel for and sometimes it felt a bit pointless with what they're doing. I think that's why I didn't do the full 4.
It fills the void for existential folk-lore horror that has you absolutely sure this is a real thing that can get you in the corner of your room while you're reading. It's an interesting take on the English-Scottish tales and gives them an entirely new meaning of creepy.
Our author essentially explores what all horror usually does, and how abuse and trauma can affect our minds, body, and soul. Letting in the wicked and grotesque to scare us into being a new person once it's over. It was a good fast-paced read with intense descriptions of what was happening around our main character.
I'm sure our monster's description could scare quite a few people if they didn't know what they were getting into! I gave it 3 stars but I would actually say more like 3.5 if I was able to rate it that here. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. A lot of the characters are hard to feel for and sometimes it felt a bit pointless with what they're doing. I think that's why I didn't do the full 4.
March 6, 2023
The Dunnie by Keith Thomas is an horror story that you won't be able to put down. Following Asher, our troubled main character, his grandfather who might be losing himself in his old age, and a mythological creature, you won't see the ending coming. The Dunnie will drag you on a journey in which myths take on true terrifying life as a family tries to overcome their hardships. Oh and one last thing throw in a devilish farm animal that has a pivotal role to play.
I liked this story a lot and the gruesome imagery that Thomas has written brought the Dunnie to life in nightmarish ways. I absolutely will be picking up the next story in this universe and I cannot wait to see the way that Keith Thomas is going to weave some familiar characters into the fold.
Check out this novella, you won't be disappointed!
I liked this story a lot and the gruesome imagery that Thomas has written brought the Dunnie to life in nightmarish ways. I absolutely will be picking up the next story in this universe and I cannot wait to see the way that Keith Thomas is going to weave some familiar characters into the fold.
Check out this novella, you won't be disappointed!
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