The Horror Beneath

by C.P. Webster

"England, The estate of Marchley Howe holds a deep and primordial secret. After realtor Clive Wingood finally sells it to an eccentric German author, Marchley Howe's new owner goes missing. Clive then finds himself unraveling the truth about what ancient horrors slumber deep within the earth's bowels.

188 pages, Paperback

Published February 23, 2023

About the author

I was born in the 1960s and grew up in the north of England. When I was a teenager my family emigrated to South Africa. I completed my schooling there and after leaving school I began studying computer programming, dropped out and then worked as a stocks control clerk in a factory.

During these politically tumultuous years in South Africa, I wondered what to do with my life. I enjoyed writing and some of the fantasy and sci-fi stories I wrote were ultimately published in genre magazines. I also wrote a great deal of poetry (some of which was also published).

At the end of the 80s I became an art student and began to learn about the processes, history, creative practices and possibilities of photography. In 1990 I graduated with a distinction. In the same year I got a job as a photographer's assistant in Johannesburg and moved into a flat in the city with my wife. We lived in Jo'burg for just over a year before I was invited to teach photography as a part-timer at my alma mater. In 1991 my wife and I had our first child.

I worked as a teacher in London for two years in the mid 90s, then, in 1996 I was appointed Lecturer in Fine Art at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Returning to fiction was inspired by my return to ‘Albion’ and a reacquaintance with what was for me the deep mythic earth of my homeland. When I moved to west Wales my career took precedence for some time and I became more involved in establishing myself as a visual artist and exhibiting internationally.

As a result of my academic work, some years passed before I decided to revisit fiction.

As a reader, I have long been interested in a broad range of writing from fiction to fantasy/science fiction, apocalyptic and dystopian fiction. Writers of particular interest have been J. M. Coetzee (in particular his novel 'Life and Times of Michael K'), Alan Paton, Alan Garner, John Wyndham, Michael Moorcock, John Christopher, Ursula Le Guin, Robert Westall, H. P. Lovecraft, and Susan Cooper amongst many, many others.

Reviews

[Jake Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Horror beneath is a tense and atmospheric horror set in 1978. Following the death of his business partner, Estate Agent Clive Wingwood is tasked with finding a buyer for Marchley Howe, an old and empty house set on an isolated estate in England. An impossible sale, Clive strikes luck when picky buyer, Konstantin von Hallerstein quickly agrees to purchase the Estate. It soon becomes clear that something isn’t quite ‘right’ at Marchley Howe. Within a week of the sale, the Police are investigating the disappearance of Konstantin and Clive has received a mysterious letter in the post, warning him not to return to the Estate.

I found this story mysterious. It flowed well and kept me engaged. For me, the real plot lays with the setting. CP Webster gives us an insight in to the history of Marchley Howe via historical texts. The contrast between the beauty of the estate and the going ons within the house evoke a strong sense of mystery. Clive seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, sucked in to a series of events he doesn’t particularly want involvement in. His scepticism and reluctance created a strong sense of foreboding. The story was wrapped up well with an explosive and action packed finale.

I found the character building lacking. I wasn’t rooting for Clive. While I felt his sense of trepidation and obvious anxiety, I felt more could have been done to develop this character in to one I wanted to know more about.

I appreciated the fast pace and short length of this story. An easy read, I’d likely read more from this author.

[Kit Alban · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the novel 'Albion', I've been anticipating a new release from C P Webster and this does not disappoint! Set in 70s England, this gem of a creepy tale not only takes the reader on a dark and unforgettable journey into the macabre but also does so with real historical panache. The characters are realistically developed, the main protagonists play off one another beautifully and the tale culminates in a thrilling finale that certainly does not disappoint. A must-read for all lovers of folk horror and cosmic terror, we need to support great indie fiction like this, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Superb!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book randomly popped up as a recommendation on my Amazon last year and I decided to give it a try. I’ll admit that the story seemed interesting, but the cover was what initially grabbed my attention. I loved this book! Great pacing and held my attention the whole way through. If you’re a fan of cosmic horror, pick this up!

[WhitePillMedia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the pacing of this book and the slow buildup to the horror. Clive was a good character for me and I enjoyed all the backstory revolving around Marchley Howe. The ending with them descending down to confront the monster was great. I did wish that Clive was somewhat more active in the middle, but I really enjoyed the book.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

[Jodie Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really solid haunted house story but the author could benefit greatly from more editing. The biggest example is all the quotation marks constantly popping up around random words throughout the book. They didn't make sense and were a distraction. Again, the story itself was entertaining but needed some technical work .