The Seething

by Ben Monroe

“Midsummer meets The Mist in The Seething, a slow-burn tale of creeping terror and a pressure cooker of a novel from horror’s rising star Ben Monroe. Not your usual summer vacation by the lake, The Seething is irresistibly ominous.”
—Lee Murray, four-time Bram Stoker Award®-winner and author of Monster Stories

A family's relocation looked like a chance to relax and regroup—but as they settle into their new home, teenage Kimmie Barnes’ special senses make her the target of something primordial, evil, and utterly malign.

Darkness…

Golden Oaks, California is a sleepy town on the shores of Oro Lake, and the residents have no idea what horrors lurk below the glittering waters.

Beneath the waves…

One by one, as people begin to disappear, the once quiet town is soon in the grips of a waking nightmare. An unimaginable horror consuming everything before it.

Hungry…

All while echoes of an ancient evil spread out like malignant spider webs, like dead hands reaching, grasping…

SEETHING…

Genres: Horror

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 23, 2023

About the author

Ben Monroe has spent most of his life in Northern California, where he lives in the East Bay Area with his wife and two children. He is the author of In the Belly of the Beast and Other Tales of Cthulhu Wars, the Seething (coming in 2023 from Brigids Gate Press), the graphic novel Planet Apocalypse, and short stories in several anthologies.
When not writing about slimy lake monsters, cosmic horrors, or other malevolent entities, Ben spends time with his family, reads a lot, works a perfectly normal day job, builds models of classic monsters, and enjoys hiking and running in the East Bay hills.
You can find more information about him and his work at www.benmonroe.com

Reviews

[Matty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was a bit slow at the start but after about 100 pages or so things start to pick up after Gabe, Laurie, and their daughter Kimmie get settled in at Golden Oaks, their families cabin on the edge of Oro Lake. It’s a small town with a strange environmental history that sets the stage for a supernatural creature feature with a Lovecraftion vibe. It is very well written, characters are all enjoyable, and gets intense as the lake monster comes to life with its power and connection to Kimmie. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

[Melina Lobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Seething is a horror novel written by Ben Monroe that is bound to unsettle those with a fear of water. Reminiscent of authors like Stephen King, this book gradually builds up to a gritty and terrifying climax, instilling a deep sense of unease regarding lakes and bodies of water in general (fortunately, I do not reside near a large body of water).

The story follows a classic horror trope of a seemingly peaceful location with an underlying malevolence. It appears that small towns are always the ones to fall victim to such dark forces, despite their outward tranquillity.

Monroe's writing style excels in creating an eerie and vivid atmosphere, which often left me feeling unsettled. Despite my usual inclination to avoid extremely frightening books, I found myself engrossed in the author's storytelling prowess, eagerly perched on the edge of my seat as the narrative unfolded. Admittedly, there were times when I had to pause my reading to ensure a good night's sleep, as certain passages had truly frightened me. Nevertheless, I'm pleased to have persevered until the end.

One minor critique I have is that the book could have benefited from a slightly faster pace. However, overall, it was a fantastic read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to fellow fans of horror novels.

🐾

Rated 8.5/10
Melina L.

[Catherine McCarthy]

One of the markers of a great tale for me is when I find myself making very few notes as I read. The Seething did exactly that. From beginning to end, this novel was a ride! I guess one of the most flattering things I can say is that each time I went back to it I looked forward to picking it up again. With elements of Hitchcock's The Birds and Langan's The Fisherman, I was immersed in the setting, loved the characters, experienced some heartbreaking moments, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

[Sarah Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far every book I have read from Brigid's Gate Press has been a big hit with me, and The Seething by Ben Monroe is no exception.

What drew me in straightaway was Ben Monroe's natural gift for story telling. I love horror tales set in small out of the way towns hiding its secrets. This book starts off slow but boy does it finish on a high! I had great fun reading this and can't wait to read more from Ben Monroe and Brigid's Gate Press.

Gabe relocates his wife and daughter to the small sleepy town of Golden Oaks where he grew up to give themselves a chance for a happy life. With the beautiful Lake Oro on their doorstep life is serene away from the hustle and bustle, but will they have their happy ending?

[Kim Napolitano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, all I can say is wow! I’ll make this review short and sweet as anything really can spoil this creature feature. Gabe and his family move into his late father’s home with lakeside views and access. His father’s disappearance has never been solved (we know why already though) by this point. And the police are investigating other new developments as well. While Gabe and his family ponder a permanent stay at the house, their gifted daughter is about to become, well, something else after an ill fated accident at the lake.

The book is fun mayhem and quickly paced. There are a few genres tangled up in here and that’s a good thing! My only very small complaint is it appears to rush the ending but maybe there can be a book 2? Grab a copy and have fun horror readers!

[Emilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Golden Oaks, California is a peaceful and quiet little town. But an ancient evil lurks in the nearby lake, and one summer, it emerges to consume everything in its path.

This was a slow burn. The action really doesn’t pick up until about halfway through. Due to the pacing, I had quite a bit of trouble sticking with the story, but I am glad I did. I enjoyed the world building and characterization. When the body horror and gore starts, it really grabs you by the throat.

All in all, this was a solid read if you enjoy the more cosmic/beyond human comprehension side of the horror genre. Thanks to BookSirens for providing me with a review copy.

[Terry and dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golden Oaks is a place with some problems. It’s a decent town that I enjoyed getting to know, but the lake is a little creepy. It’s the perfect setting for a disgusting entity to make its move. Good characters and a little drama, make this a riveting story that I didn’t want to put down. Until it was over I mean, then I was happy to put it down so I could write a review telling you it was good. Oh, and I have always liked ravens. Smart birds.

[John Bitsko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book..it had me hooked from the beginning, it is a well crafted story with interesting characters and good character development. highly recommended!

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just felt this was a very slow burn read and couldn’t stay focussed during the slow parts.

Thank you to BookSirens & the author for a copy. I may try this one again when I have a bit more time on my hands and can enjoy a character driven, longer book.

[Janessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Brigids Gate Press and Netgalley for a Ebook review copy.

I am happy to say I really loved this one! It would be a great summer read. The creature is so cool and unique. The vibes of it for some reason reminded me of Stephen King's story "The Raft", but it was truly its own creature. And the crows were such an awesome addition to how things fit together! Normally I don't love when authors a randomly compared to Stephen King, but I think the author really did have a style where the small town horror and each of its characters came to life.

I agree with other reviews that it is quite a slow burn story, but there is plenty of action and horror dispersed throughout that I was never bored. The author did a great job bringing that sticky, hot feeling of summer into the book.

The one thing I will say is that I wish we had gotten more history of the town and how this creature came to be--there is very little explanation of things and more backstory would have been cool. Also, sometimes things could get a little TOO descriptive when it came to random moments--- like at one point, we get a whole paragraph to describe a character making some Keurig coffee that just felt unnecessary. But mostly I just really loved reading this book!

[Michael Latiolais · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. A nice little romp through Lovecraft country by way of Northern California. I hope to run into the author at some point, and I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.

[linzs_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book it gave me Steven King vibes! So eerie and spooky, but gory and horror esque! Maybe a bit on the long side but overall enjoyable. Thank you netgalley for letting me read this!

[Mercy N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Barnes' wife of forty years had died, leaving him to live alone in the house where he raised his family. Mike decided to go fishing on Oro Lake one day. He didn't make it home because something in the water dragged him in. This mysterious disappearance remained unsolved. Gabe Barnes, Mike's son, moved into Mike's Golden Oaks home with his wife Laurie and daughter Kimmie Barnes. Kimmie was on the verge of drowning at Oro Lake when she was rescued by a man. Kimmie has unusual intuitions and hunches that turn out to be correct. Kimmie is unique, making her a target. What lurks in Oro Lake's water? What inconceivable event will occur next? Ben Monroe unravels more in The Seething.

First and foremost, I adore the premise of this book. Something was in the water, but what was it? This unseen force did not stop with Mike's disappearance; it also came for Kimmie. This heightened the entire tale and provided another adrenaline rush to the novel. As you read this book, you'll have such a crazy exhilaration. It began as a calm ride, similar to a rollercoaster, before things got crazy.

I really like this book's quick character development and how straightforward Monroe was in his narration. He didn't ramble on and on about the characters' pasts; instead, Monroe managed to quickly provide background information while the characters addressed the events at hand. The characters appeared to be leading unique lives, much like in the movies, thanks to the writing style that was used. Every character exhibited a realistic response to events and feelings.

Monroe swept up the reader in a tornado of feelings. In the book's first pages, the author managed to make me feel sorry for Mike, his loss, and the loneliness he would surely experience without anyone else home. Suddenly, instead of feeling sorry for Mike, I was concerned for his safety and well-being while he was on the lake. The book's different scenes left me with a persistent sense of ambiguity, which I adore. That increased the suspense of the book.

I like so many aspects of the book that it's difficult for me to pick a favorite. However, one of my favorite parts of this novel was the author's amazing portrayal of Northern California. I found nothing disagreeable about this book, and it exceeded my expectations for horror and thriller novels. Furthermore, I found no errors in this work, indicating that it was exceptionally edited. Therefore, I rate The Seething 5 out of 5 stars. Because of the variety of scenarios and themes discussed in this book, I recommend it to horror and thriller enthusiasts.

[🥀 Rose 🥀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty solid read for the spooky season. I love all things that give me lovercraftian vibes and do love to support indie authors as well.

The pros for this is a good setting. I love creepy lakes and isolation settings in the woods. This gives an author lots of fuel for imagination and can take you to great, dark places. I, personally, don’t swim in lakes. Why? I hate the feeling of bursting up against sticks and stuff beneath me. Too dark and gloomy below. This plays on those feelings nicely. I do wish there was more play in the woods and that they were utilized more in the story. The ravens were a nice touch however.

The cons: well, the characters fell a bit short for me. First of all, I felt the parents in this story had some bizarre reactions to some things happening around them and they didn’t feel that in tune with their daughter. I also like a bit of antagonistic behaviors within families, more realistic. These guys were rosy cheeked in my opinion. Some repeat or dialogue and the use of the word “caul” too much as a description for what seemed like everything. I read alot so I tend to get nit picky about something’s . And for creeps sake, authors! Stop using the line “I didn’t realize the breath I was holding” it’s getting way out of hand! Just stop it! lol!

The ending felt a bit rushed to conclude and there really wasn’t an explanation for what the entity was or the way of it. I don’t always need they if the journey is amazing.

Overall, for an indie writer, I think this author did very well. I look forward to picking up more of his work.

[Bats · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free ebook copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Positives first: the plot itself is mostly fine, the characters are mostly fine. I really liked the subversion with the ravens. The book has content warnings listed at the back, which I appreciate.

But the pacing is just so painfully slow. You know how in like monster/slasher movies you have the opening bits that are a bit slower, when they're trying to investigate it like a normal crime and they don't really know what's going on yet? Then people figure things out and the pacing cranks up? This book is permanently locked into the pace of those opening bits. Any time action happens and you expect the book to finally ramp up, it pulls back. Even over thirty chapters in to this forty-chapter book, the pace is still throttled. It's agonizing.

There's also this constant question of "should we move here?" which I quite frankly do not understand. Like, by the characters own admission they have been having a terrible vacation. Drownings, near-drownings, assaulted by hostile locals, people going missing, but hey should we stay here forever? It's even more frustrating because it contributes to the pacing problems. Things will actually be happening but we have to stop and have the same conversation we keep having over and over again that goes nowhere and I don't even know why we're having this conversation in the first place.

If you like or don't mind slow books, sure, go for it. It just wasn't for me.

[Amanda Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Seething" grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until the very last, breathless moment.  The Barnes family's relocation to Golden Oaks initially feels like a welcome respite, a chance for a fresh start.  However, author Ben Monroe masterfully weaves a sense of unease that quickly escalates into full-blown terror.  Teenage Kimmie's unique "special senses" are a brilliant narrative device, immediately setting her apart and making her a compelling protagonist. 

The true genius of "The Seething" lies in its ability to tap into our most primal fears. The descriptions of the ancient evil are chillingly evocative, painting a picture of something truly monstrous and utterly malign.  The way the horror unfolds, slowly consuming the town like a creeping shadow, is expertly paced.  The author's use of language is superb, creating a dark and atmospheric mood that perfectly complements the story's chilling themes.  The echoes of ancient evil, the feeling of "dead hands reaching, grasping," are not just metaphors; they become tangible threats that had me checking over my shoulder long after I finished reading.

"The Seething" is more than just a horror novel; it's a masterclass in suspense.  It's a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page, leaving you with a lingering sense of dread and a healthy respect for the things that lurk beneath the surface.  Highly recommended for fans of truly terrifying fiction!

[Shubham Lakhina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Seething" by Ben Monroe is a spine-chilling and relentless journey into the heart of terror. The Barnes family's decision to relocate and find solace in Golden Oaks, California, takes a dark and sinister turn as their teenage daughter, Kimmie, becomes the unwitting target of something ancient, malevolent, and unfathomably evil.

Monroe's storytelling grabs hold of your imagination and doesn't let go, crafting a tale that evokes a palpable sense of dread and anticipation. The serene town of Golden Oaks is gradually consumed by an unimaginable horror lurking beneath the seemingly peaceful waters of Oro Lake.

As people vanish one by one, the narrative plunges the reader into a waking nightmare. Monroe skillfully unravels a story where ancient evil resurfaces, like a sinister web weaving its deadly threads throughout the town, and where malevolence boils and festers, seething just beneath the surface.

"The Seething" is a gripping and relentless horror novel that will have you on the edge of your seat, gripped by the chilling narrative and the insidious evil lurking in the shadows. Ben Monroe's narrative prowess ensures that this book is a must-read for fans of horror and suspense, leaving you haunted by the echoes of an ancient evil long after you've turned the final page.

[Romuald Dzemo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Seething by Ben Monroe is a captivating story for fans of horror, but there is far more than horror in this wonderfully written tale set in Golden Oaks. It is a resort town that is the busiest during the summer when people come around from the Northern Parts of California to enjoy the mountain lake nearby. The family of Kimmie Barnes, a teenager, moves to Golden Oaks, and for them, it should be a wonderful, new beginning until evil focuses on Kimmie Barnes.

People start disappearing and what once was a peaceful, quiet town, becomes a place of horror. Beneath the lake, something evil is reaching out for people and consuming them. Can Kimmie's special senses be at the center of the wake of an ancient evil and can the family be protected as the danger grows stronger?

This is one of those books you read and find yourself waking up at night afraid and being startled by your own shadows. The creepiness fills every page. Ben Monroe's plotting is deft, the writing is crisp and gorgeous and the characters are believable. The author writes characters with emotions that are real, putting them into situations that are tense and allowing their fears to manifest.

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small town, a new start, and an ancient slithering horror living in the lake.

When a family decides to visit a family home in a small town, they begin thinking it's a place they might move to permanently. Their fifteen year old daughter, Kimmie, is conflicted but it's a chance for a fresh start away from a big city.

This will soon turn into a nightmarish hellscape as a black creature begins brutally killing people in and around the lake and, as we'll find out, the dead might be the lucky ones.

When Kimmie is attacked in the water but rescued, something has stayed with her and inside her. A part of this creatures essence. And it slowly starts taking her over leading to horrifying events.

This novel has a lot of the good horror stuff I like: small town horror, alien-like ancient creatures, bloody kills, and some twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. From the first chapter you know this is going to be a terror filled story and it doesn't disappoint. I highly recommend it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential but ultimately left me feeling a little underwhelmed. The author's style was proficient but a little awkward. And I was distracted by a lot of typos and missing or extra words in the text, making me question the editorial process. The characters were, overall, likable if a bit one-dimensional. The main character/villain, Kimmie, seemed a bit reductive and derivative. The plot was well-conceived but the execution and climax were not what I'd hoped from all the build up. I didn't really find it scary. I wanted to like this book more so I'm giving it a generous 4 stars and looking forward to finding out how this author develops in his next books.

[Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Seething has a promising premise, and starts off well. It lays out an intriguing story, but unfortunately was too slow paced for the majority, with all the 'action' we've been waiting for crammed into the end. I felt Kimmie's connection wasn't explored deep enough and I had to go back and reread the end, convinced I'd missed something, because THAT couldn't possibly be it?? I've since been in a huge reading slump and not managed to pick up anything since. For me, this is a case of good premise, but poor execution, and really would've benefited from a faster pace to keep up the tension. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Hailey Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was so refreshing and different for the horror genre. I can tell you that I won’t be swimming in a lake anytime soon… this novel was a slow burn but it kept me interested the whole way through. It ended with a fantastic payoff! I loved all of characters you followed throughout and how you weren’t sure who would end up how. The multiple perspectives meshed wonderfully. There were descriptive parts that I pictured so vividly that they gave me the creeps. I can’t wait for this to come out officially and will be buying a physical copy for my shelf!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Beware of what lurks in the lake".
A riveting, suspenseful and dark supernatural horror that had me enthralled from start to finish.
Gabe, his wife Laurie and daughter Kimmie all go to his childhood home for a mini holiday with Gabe hoping to relocate there after the holiday. However, there is a malevolent force in the lake that is doing things to the local residents and won't stop until it gets to escape....

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is basically all my greatest fears come to life. I'm already scared of the water, and this story just confirms all my fears are legitimate. I'll stick to the land thank you very much. Excellent writing, it completely sucked me in right from the beginning. Now excuse me while I watch some Disney movies for the next few days with the lights on.

[Yvette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the type of horror story that I usually look for, I prefer ghost stories and supernatural horror.
Still, well written, good build up of the tension.
3 stars, but again, this is due to my personal preference than a judgement of the book or the writer.

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You Ben Monroe
and BookSirens for gifting me an advanced copy for an honest review.

I can relate to this story as I live off a Lake and the closes Movie theater is 25 miles away.
Love when the First Chapter draws the reader in right away like this book does. A Big part of the story takes place on a Lake. This is a must read for any horror reader it will take you on a wild ride of terror and fear.

This book as strong elements of Stephen King's the Raft, Irving H. Millgate's The Blob, The Ruins by
Scott Smith, and George Romero's Land of the Dead


Indigenous Folklore
Supernatural
Cosmic Horror

Triggers Galore

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

This book was so atmospheric and held a powerful hold on the reader as the narrative progressed. The action and horror pick up immediately, taking readers into an emotional and well-developed character arc that instantly gets torn asunder. The imagery played well into the author’s writing to not only bring the terror of the novel to life, but the rich setting as well, bringing this beautiful and serene Northern California locale to life on the page and serving as the perfect juxtaposition to this ugly, chaotic monstrosity lurking underneath the town itself.

The terror of the novel comes to life perfectly by having the right balance of world-building and dynamic character development. The connection this small family has together and the tight-knit community of the town play against the alienating nature of this evil seeping out into the lives of these people, and the mythos behind this monstrous energy and its seething hatred for the people within the town helped elevate the horrors that slowly began to crawl their way onto the page.

The Verdict

Harrowing, gripping, and entertaining, author Ben Monroe’s “The Seething” is a must-read horror thriller. The book felt like a Lovecraftian horror novel meets Dean Koontz’s “Phantoms” meets Stephen King’s It. The twists and turns in the narrative and the explosive final chapters will have the reader’s hearts pumping and serves as the perfect jumping-off point in the horror genre to send readers into spring.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘I swear something under the water gabbed me’ - A great horror novel

California author Ben Monroe writes horror fiction the stem from ‘an interest in the notion of what might happen when ordinary people are thrust into unusual circumstances, and come ace to face with the strange and unsettling.’ He is an active member of the Horror Writers’ Association. THE SEETIHING is his third novel to date, a novel of a family vacation that goes from bad to worse. The opening chapter follows widower Mike Barnes, living alone in Golden Oaks, CA, a village by Oro Lake, his wife deceased, and his son Gabe and wife Laurie and daughter Kimmie having moved away, and on a fishing excursion out to an offshore island he discovers a mysterious space, and having lost his boat and desperate for help, he eventually drowns. Three years later, when Gabe, Laurie and Kimberly (Kimmie) return to Golden Oaks to consider living in Mike’s old home, things are mysterious: Kimmie had a dream related to Mike’s demise, opening the floodgates for strange events that extend to the entire village.

Extraordinarily well developed characters and creative, imaginative situations and mysterious occurrences make this a novel that is almost impossible to put down until the last page. Very highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Seething by Ben Monroe is an interesting novel. It instantly pulls me in further to the plot. The characters are quite intriguing as well. A men whose wife died and left me in a sort of depression goes missing from town. He drowns in the water or was pulled down by something. Then, later same thing almost happens to his granddaughter. Another man saw the incident and saved her life. But no one but the granddaughter knows something out there pulled her under water. There is this sense of dread, danger, and suspense that hangs over me. The more I read, the more questions I had. The danger increases as the mystery surrounding the horror spikes with every page. The was an almost deadly encounter after the first death. I love how Ben Monroe keeps me on the edge of my seat guessing what is next. His writing is superb. I definitely recommend this so all horror, suspense, and thriller fans. I will be adding Ben Monroe to my lists of favorite writers.

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Francesca Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I just finished an advanced copy of The Seething by Ben Monroe and I am blown away! Monroe has managed to seamlessly intertwine a number of beloved horror tropes into a complex, page-turning, horror-inducing, plot and character driven story that takes place in an eerie mountain town surrounded by a mysterious lake.

Monroe's storytelling is vivid and visceral. I felt my heart-rate jump up a few ticks as the tension built and continued to build right from page one. Definitely worth a read if you like sitting around a campfire and sharing spooky stories.

I don't know that I'll ever feel comfortable swimming in a lake again.