A Place No One Should Go

by D.L. Havlin

Havlin, D. L.

120 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2011

About the author

DL Havlin is an eclectic author whose novels, novellas, and short stories mirror his rich, varied background. He has packed three lifetimes of experiences into one brim full existence. An avid lover of the outdoors and sports enthusiast, his passion for fishing, hunting and camping are frequently included in his writing. A deep love for nature and especially wild Florida often furnish settings for his work, but his travels make places such as Kiev, Singapore, London, New York Modena, or Saxonhausen backgrounds for his stories as well. His unique combination of a vivid imagination and his ability to weave intricate plot lines, seasoned by his life-time exposure to fascinating story possibilities and his knowledge of human nature, provides the heart-felt, enjoyable reading his novels provide. He answers, “Why do you write?” by saying, “To entertain-that’s first, but to provoke thought is a close second. I firmly believe both are done through the heart, for the mind is seldom opened until it is emotionally conditioned to respond.”

Reviews

[L.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Article first published as Book Review:A Place No One Should Go by D L Havlin on Blogcritics.

Is evil a person or a state of mind? Can evil affect the very ground where it resided. Does evil have the power to move at will? In A Place No One Should Go by D.L. Havlin we follow a family into the Florida wilderness for a holiday camping trip and get just a glimpse of that answer, and a bit more.

The father and leader of the expedition is Ben Callison. Not always a nice guy, he nevertheless insists on family time when it comes to their camping outings. Having always gone to the same place, he has heard from another friend of a place just a bit further that might have much better results for fishing. However, he is warned that he probably should not camp there.

His friend has recently died under strange circumstances, and Ben loves a challenge. In fact he thinks he may just know better. The place more than likely has even more treasure and his friend probably just wanted to keep it for himself. As the trip progresses and Ben and his family go further into the wilderness we begin to get an inkling of who Ben really is. He is controlling, and he is not a very nice man. But he will have his way regardless of what the rest of his family wants.

Setting up camp, they find some wonderful fishing and actually begin to have a good time, but when a visitor, an Indian man that suggests that they should move on to somewhere else to camp once they have done fishing, the family is understandably concerned. They are startled, as the man seems to come from nowhere. In his mind, Ben believes he is right and he refuses to move on. He is in fact more convinced than ever. He believes the only reason he is being warned off is so that this man can then move in and enjoy the rewards of the excellent fishing and game.

As evening falls, Ben only now begins to get a glimpse of something not being right. His family in their tents, he is alone at the fire when he begins to see things. These strange and unnatural things make no sense. Fearing he has had too much to drink, he finally calls it a night, but uneasiness follows. Can Ben brush aside the strange things he remembers, and why does he feel so uneasy? Even as he and his family head back home, the uneasiness follows. Is there something following him, what was the real reason behind his friends death?

Ben and his family are somewhat typical as families go. What Havlin has added is just the small amount of inner evil and feeling of superiority to Ben. Just the bit of anger and a little you owe me attitude. He has done a wonderful job of setting the stage for a background to explain the evil that seems to lurk in the wilderness. His stories are strange and unsettling and you can visualize the fear. The family seems to do the best they can, having been around Ben their entire lives they are used to this controlling nature. However, they still feel just a bit of fear around him. He is just not a nice man.
If you enjoy horror and strange happenings in your reading this would be the book for you. It is small and compact but carries a big punch. The fear begins to engage quite early and weaves throughout the story, setting the stage for the bizarre and yet somewhat inevitable ending. This is a book best read during daylight, or if you are an evening reader, turn on the lights and lock the doors, it keeps you uneasy throughout the telling.
This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

[Larry B Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family canoe/camping trip, an ancient Indian mound, and a mix of historical facts and you have everything you need for a great scare. D.L. Havlin has put it all together in his novel “A Place No One Should Go.” The excitement begins with page one and never lets up.

The storyline is well developed and easy to follow. It is believable which increases the scare factor. If you like to jump at the bump in the night you will enjoy this read.

I found the main characters very believable. These are people you can meet every day. It is easy to identify with them and follow their story.

I recommend this book for a mature reader.

[Nancy Buscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The exquisite emerald colored cover is the most beautiful book cover I've seen in recent years, and it draws you to open the pages to see inside. "Each tick of the clock added a grain of sand to the growing dull weight of apprehension," and thus lays the stones on the path that takes you to 'A Place No One Should Go' by DL Havlin. Read it, if you dare.

[D.L. Havlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/24/2020 Douglas Dillon reviewed “A Place No One Should Go”
Really Spooky Stuff! Don’t read this book UNLESS you are prepared to be freaked out. I write paranormal fiction but Havlin’s story gave me the creeps. The man truly brings you face-to-face with evil and…