Blackwater Lights

Blackwater Lights #1

by Michael M. Hughes

Michael M. Hughes’s Blackwater Lights combines the eldritch horror of H. P. Lovecraft with the supernatural thrills of Dean Koontz.   When Ray Simon receives a desperate call from his childhood friend Kevin, begging him to come visit, Ray can’t say no. Kevin promises to clue him in on shocking discoveries he has made about weird, half-forgotten events in their past—events associated with a summer camp near Kevin’s home in the small town of Blackwater, West Virginia.   But when Ray arrives, Kevin is nowhere to be found. So Ray does some investigating of his own, only to find that no records exist of the camp. Yet he is not alone in looking for information. There are Lily, a beautiful redhead with uncanny seductive powers; Crawford, a wealthy collector of art and people; and Micah, the mysterious leader of the Church of the Open Door. All of them are seeking information about the rumored camp. And they are all interested—very interested—in Ray.   Then a midnight encounter with strange floating lights sparks a return of old memories—vivid but fractured images that haunt Ray’s waking hours with intimations of terror and cruelty. Something dreadful happened at that camp long ago. Something was awakened there. Now, with the help of his new friend Ellen, a waitress at the local diner, Ray must navigate a path through madness and murder—a path that leads inexorably to an all-but-forgotten night in his childhood . . . and to a future of unimaginable horror.Praise for Blackwater Lights  “Disturbing, surreal, and spooky as hell, Blackwater Lights is a brilliantly written debut, marking Michael M. Hughes as a talent to watch.”—Tim Lebbon, author of Coldbrook and the Toxic City trilogy“Blackwater Lights is a paranoid thrill-ride that deftly combines mystery, sci-fi, and horror elements into a modern-day conspiracy tale. An impressive debut that builds to a satisfying, action-filled conclusion.”—Cemetery Dance magazine“Blackwater Lights has action, adventure, sex, love, designer drugs, and violent death, all woven into a globe-spanning paranormal conspiracy. I mean, really, what’s not to like? Consider this my official request for a sequel.”—F. Paul Wilson, author of the Repairman Jack novels and The Adversary Cycle   “A harrowing and riveting thrill ride. Hughes is a welcome addition to the dark-fiction ranks.”—Scott Nicholson, author of The Red Church

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Fiction, Lovecraftian, Thriller, Paranormal, Suspense

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Michael M. Hughes is an author, speaker, magical thinker, and activist. He is the creator of the internationally viral “Spell to Bind Donald Trump and All Those Who Abet Him,” the largest magical working in history. He speaks on politics, magic, pop culture, psychedelics, the paranormal, and tarot. Michael lives in Baltimore with his wife, two daughters, and a rabbit named Toby Turnipseed. You can sign up for his newsletter at http://michaelmhughes.com.

His newest book is MAGIC FOR THE RESISTANCE: RITUALS AND SPELLS FOR CHANGE, which was published by Llewellyn Worldwide in Sept. 2018.

His debut novel, BLACKWATER LIGHTS, was published by Hydra, an imprint of Random House, in 2013. WITCH LIGHTS, the sequel, was published in 2014, and the final book in the trilogy, DEMON LIGHTS, was published in 2017.

Reviews

[-Bookish Gal- · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ever read a book so bad it momentarily blinded you and then somehow made you feel as if you had bloody spots dance before your eyes? I just did - the worst book of my life to date. Honestly I can't for the life of me fathom how can crap such as this even get published really.

Set in a town called Blackwater this book deals with an experience that Ray, the book' hero went through as a child and for some reason can't remember what it was, though it affects his whole personality and in extension his life.

Recently dumped for being the dumb looser that he is, Ray tries to find closure to the biggest mystery of his life. A call from his childhood buddy Kevin, who went through the same thing acts as a catalyst for him as he packs his bags and gets ready to know the truth .

And it is from this point on that shit hits fan.

Ray on his arrival comes across strange characters, has some pretty weird experiences and for half of the book just sits on his ass waiting for his friend to disclose the big secret. And yeah in between the waiting he crosses paths with the richest guy in town Crawford and his business associate Lily, who are interested in him because he is the last piece of the dumb puzzle that is the mystery of this book.
Also for a brief breather bumps the uglies with the town' local diner' waitress Emma.

Coming across as a Sci-fi book in the beginning how the hell does it even cross territories and delve into paranormal, voodoo or some other shit is beyond me. Really I am not making this up, the CIA, NSA - Russian & American governments trying to one up each other to gain the powers of the occult is just about the most bizarre thing I have ever read. This book makes freaking twilight & fifty shades seem like literary masterpieces. And that's saying something.

I have come across fanfictions better written than this piece of crap.

Over halfway through this book and I just wanted to scream at someone.

I dint care what the hell the big mystery was, if Ray was kidnapped by aliens and made to watch endless reruns of Kardashians or if he had to listen the whining of every Twihard gal .

I couldn't give a damn if Santa himself abducted him, tied him down and made him listen to endless Justin Bieber tracks. Frankly if it had helped speed up the slow death that is this book I would have had someone shoot Ray in the first 3 pages itself.

The plot never escalates and by the time it does I had lost the will to live or at the least read this awful book. The character of Ray doesn't connect at all - he certainly is the most boring protagonist I have ever encountered.

Definitely the worst book of 2013 in my list. Never in my prior experience on Goodreads have I ever wished for a negative rating system as I have for this book.

I had to endure this torture because Netgalley provided me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining Lovecraftian tale. Started a little slowly and things happened a little predictably. But when it started moving along the suspense was well done. I wish there were a little more description of the otherwordly forces, but all in all it was an entertaining read.

[Jacqueline Patricks]

I received this from Netgalley for r2r and it's a DNF for me.

Therefore, I've refrained from adding a star rating because I don't believe in rating a book I can't finish, but I also agreed to give an opinion. So, I will at least explain why I stopped reading. Three chapters or so in and it reads like a Scy-Fy channel grade B movie without all the pesky entertainment. The horror setup is bland and cliched, no creep factor at all. Yawn. I'm not hooked and couldn't care less about the MC or his mystery. Can't even remember his name actually.

Childhood trauma--check.

Redundant narration about childhood trauma mystery--check.

Strange phone call from childhood friend who shared trauma--check.

Missing friend upon arrival to childhood town--check.

MC not anxious about missing friend because friend 'left a note'--check.

Naked woman shows up in the middle of the night while friend is still missing--check.

Bizarro cops acting in cliched conspiracy manner while suddenly arriving to collect woman--check.

MC calm about cops arriving without him calling because 'they'd been looking for her' even though it's in the middle of nowhere--check.

Seriously, Eddie Murphy said it best during his stand up routine about haunted houses. (paraphrased)

Wife: "This sure is a beautiful house."

Ghost: "GET OUT!"

Eddie: "Sure is, baby, too bad we can't stay!"

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since I read a book that kept me up all night. Hughes’ Blackwater Lights not only deprived me of much-needed sleep, but has been haunting me since I finished the book. For me, the mark of a Really Good Book is the ability of the author not only to weave an interesting and compelling tale, but to fill that tale with characters so real they could be your friends and neighbors. I quickly became “friends” with the characters. I rooted for them throughout the book. I felt their pain. I felt their happiness. Blackwater Lights is chock full of suspense, and it starts on page one and doesn’t end until the last. Even then, you’re left wanting more. Blackwater Lights is about real people who find themselves in an unreal, terrifying situation. What happens when you have nowhere to turn, no one to help you? When you find yourself in a dire, incomprehensible situation? What would you do in that circumstance? That’s what I’ve been asking myself since I started the book. Read it yourself and see how you might react.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It didn’t grab me right away but the second half was one wild ride. Pretty good horror in my opinion. Probably a 3.5 star rating from me but I am not going to round up anymore. I think I am too generous 😉 If you are looking for a quick shocking read, this is a pretty good one.

[Ionia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this book is not going to be loved by all and I get that. I think you have to have a certain type of personality to really enjoy this book. If you like dark humour, are okay with things being just a bit twisted and some kinkiness doesn't offend your senses too much, then you will likely enjoy this book. I certainly did.

So, right away--here is what I initially loved:

Ray is a great MC. He comes across as relatively innocent, he is a school teacher and isn't setting out to look for trouble, rather just to seek answers to some events that happened to him long ago that he has not made peace with. His mysterious back story intrigued me and made me want to find out more.

As the story progressed, I began to get more interested in why the citizens of the town were acting so strange and who might or might not be involved with the cover-up of activity that was going on.

There are some very graphic scenes in this book, but they were handled well in my opinion and I thought it was all integral to the plot, so for me it wasn't a problem. The main character has a certain charm about him that makes you want to support him. His attitude is good and gets him out of some tight situations.

I liked that the source of the lights stayed a mystery until nearly the end of the book and thought the ending was pretty action-packed and fantastic. I love it when you reach the end of a book and feel like all the build up to the final events was worth it.

Overall, this was a fun read with a lot going on and one that I would recommend to other horror genre lovers. I enjoyed that it was not the same thing that I have seen a hundred times before. Credit for great characters and originality. Michael M. Hughes is certainly an author to keep an eye on. I look forward to seeing where he goes next.

This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and provided through Netgalley.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from 2013
A very, very terrifying book, suffused with that feeling one gets of danger too near-at-hand, of approaching perils too insurmountable. You won't forget it--so don't.miss it!

May 15 2017:
Review of BLACKWATER LIGHTS
by Michael Hughes
{Blackwater Lights #1}

A horror-thriller that is especially electrifying because of the implacability of its horror, both human, and inhuman, BLACKWATER LIGHTS is the first of a trilogy. Set in a seemingly unassuming tiny, almost backward (or frozen in time) isolated community in the mountains of West Virginia, the novel focuses on a forty-something school teacher, Ray Simon of Baltimore. The experiences he and his childhood friend Kevin endured at a “camp for gifted children” outside Blackwater, West Virginia, in the seventies, were so horrendous and outre that both had blocked all memory. At the end of the school term, Kevin, now a wealthy porn magnate, begs Ray to visit and to help Kevin, who claims nightly disturbing nightmares. Ray travels there against his better judgment, and events prove he should have heeded his intution.
What the boys experienced at that “camp” is almost beyond belief, abusive, traumatizing, and nearly world-ending. Now an incredibly wealthy “philanthropist” wants to summon those memories, and to summon something from beyond.

[Bryan Winchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book by virtue of the author writing a very good piece about the TV show "True Detective" on iO9. The premise of the story with its cults and conspiracies shared some similarities with that great show, but it doesn't quite follow through on its promise. It is still a pretty good and quick read but it never really had me care enough about the characters. In other words, plot over characterization. All that said, I would be willing to read his next book since this is a debut novel and writers often grow a lot between their first and second book.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this awhile back and consider it on the list of my most enjoyed books of 2017. It is a great start to a new series and to compare the series to a cross between H.P. Lovecraft's world and Dean Koontz is accurate in my opinion. This is the first book in the series and the ending might not seem up to par but then again, it is a trilogy.

[Dannie *migraine in 5..4..3..* · Rating 1 out of 5]

When one writes, one should consider someone might know the areas in which the author mentions. First of all a Corolla can handle the mountains fine. There is Blackwater Falls here, but it's not even in the same county as Elkins. The school name is one in Australia. Granted fictitious locations aren't too bad, but it breaks me out of a story when I can literally pin point the areas to throw the entire demographic out the window. The "hurry here to find out what I can't say over the phone because you are the only one I can talk to" section prior to the location issues wasn't even interesting.

Editing in what I got through was okay, but I found a few word choices to be odd. Precocious talent in computer programming? I'm having difficulty with the image of premature talent in such an area.

The author's comment about the waitress' "drawl" in her speech confused me as well. I'm farther south, and people have to ask me where I'm from because I don't have a southern accent like people expect. The area in the book is near Maryland, and that part of the state, doesn't sound all that different than Maryland.

Didn't get past the second chapter. The only reason I made it through it was the kid, who seems about 10, talking about his book. Sad part is, this book is written the same as the kid talking about his book.

Maybe I have a bit of a stronger aversion than most due to knowing the rep that the state gets tied in with lack of research to know the area. Either way, I can't read the book. The story that talks about the background of how the story was written states the author was in Ocean City, Maryland. It wasn't even near the area in the book. Not even similar in setting.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit that this genre of book is not my usual read. I am so glad that Blackwater Lights found its way into my hands. I didn't know what to expect and I was surprised that I was hooked on page one. It's well paced, detailed, full of atmosphere and creepiness, and with believable characters. Characters I cared about, and characters I wanted dead. I visited a similar West Virginia town twice that was very much like Blackwater and Mr. Hughes sure evoked memories of the place, fortunately those memories are not like the main character's memories of his childhood in BW! I started reading the book a second time to pick up on details and nuances I am sure I missed the first time. Well worth my time.

[Douglas Wynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blackwater Lights is an impressive debut novel that sets the stage for what is sure to be a thrilling series. Hughes has a gift for language that sweeps you right along into a harrowing tale of international conspiracy, paranormal mystery, and occult horror. Frighteningly plausible with its echoes of covert programs like MK-ULTRA, which combined brainwashing with psychedelic drugs, Blackwater Lights is seething at the seams with creepy possibilities guaranteed to delight fans of The X-Files and True Detective. Blending cosmic and personal dread with the tension of an action thriller is no easy task, but Hughes delivers and resolves this first installment with enough intrigue to put the sequel high on my reading list.

[Douglas Milewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy urban legend, the esoteric, conspiracy theories, and that train wreck of hypocrisy that is America, you will find this book a trip. Proper America pretends that all these things aren't there, yet there they are anyway, waiting in line behind you while you buy coffee, weirder than anything that the author can make up. So if you think you're having a bad day, or even a bad life, take a read. And if your life is good, take a read anyway.

For myself, I found the work outside of my pleasure zone. It just wasn't a good fit for me.

[Kyle Pike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Very hard to put down. Genre really isn't my thing but it was such a gripping, well written story I found it to be very enjoyable. Great character development, felt a lot of connection with the protagonist Ray, and empathy for the love interest Ellen. Not as predictable as one would assume given the subject matter. Definitely recommend this to anyone with even a passing interest in thrillers.

[Petra Be · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a complete waste of time. The first half is just a repetitive bore, the second half isn't much better. I willed the book to disappear from my ebook reader so I didn't have to read it. Unfortunately it didn't disappear so I had to crawl through all the gore, drugs and American-action-movie crap.
No way am I reading the sequels. Life's too short.

[James Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a real page turner. I am typically more of a sci-fi reader, but this one grabbed my interest from the get go. Definitely a great, quick read for a trip or vacation. It will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Enjoy!

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vom Einband und Klappentext habe ich mir jetzt nicht unbedingt eine derbe Horrorgeschichte versprochen, doch zumindest einen spannenden Thriller. Das Buch startet auch recht interessant. Ray ist ein interessanter Charakter, der jedoch in der ganzen Geschichte recht blass bleibt und mit dem ich nicht so recht mitfiebern konnte, da ich zu wenig von ihm als Person, als auch von seiner Familie erfuhr. Sein Bestreben, die Wahrheit über das Camp zu erfahren, ging zum größten teil an mir vorbei.

Der Geschichte hätten mehr Seiten definitiv gut getan, denn es fehlte an ausgefeilten Charakteren. Das Buch war als Spannungsroman okay, empfehlen könnte ich es aber nicht unbedingt. Jedenfalls nicht für diejenigen, die Horror erwarten.

Mein Fazit
Nicht wirklich langweilig, aber auch nicht spannend genug, um es nochmal lesen zu wollen. Für Horror-Fans eher nicht geeignet.

[Jan Mcclung-short · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blackwater lights is a book that doesn't reach out and grab you at first but the more you read the more you are pulled in. I couldn't quit after the first few chapters. I don't normally read paranormal/horror. I don't mind paranormal but I don't care for horror. This book was a light horror. I generally will not read that type of book because I am a wimp. This book kept me on the edge all the time. I really didn't know what to expect or think. Things kept happening that were weird and very strange. I had to keep reading. I really liked the main characters even if the reason that he went to West Virginia to Blackwater was weird and that I wouldn't have went. It didn't seem like the tie between the main character (Ray) and his supposed best friend (Kevin) weren't that close. But none the less Ray goes. He meets the town people. Nothing to weird until the tie becomes clear why Kevin needed him there was because of a camp they were taken to when they were young and the weird dreams they had for numerous years. The camp was a rouse for the children at the camp to be a conduit to the accoult to take the partcipants to another realm of power. Kevin and Ray never really discussed it with anyone but each other. The characters are tight and well thought out. They are strong. The plot of the book is very well put together after the characters are in Blackwater WV. The ending is such that if he wants to add another book he can. But it is a very real ending....not unlike it would be if this had happened to any of us. Tight well thought out book with great characters.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well....some things I liked and some I didn't. Ray was a great protagonist - school teacher, fresh out of a relationship, and trying to do right by coming to the aid of his childhood friend. I liked Ray, but he seemed a little too gullible at times. Kevin is desperate for Ray to come visit and has new information about a childhood trauma they both experienced, but when Ray arrives, Kevin is gone for several days, leaving a note telling him he'll return as soon as possible. And Ray just....accepts this. Some of Ray's other actions I also questioned, but don't want to give any spoilers.

The setting added to the mystery - small, secluded town in WV, a house in the mountains with no neighbors, and colorful characters whose trustworthiness is questionable. Growing up in WV, I could identify with some aspects of the story and think I may have met some of these characters before.

There were some pretty graphic scenes in this book, but I felt like they were essential to the plot and not for shock value. The final 50+ pages were especially gripping and several times I found myself thinking, 'Well, there's no way Ray is getting out of this situation.'

This was a quick read and the writing flowed well, but if you're not a horror or darker thriller fan, maybe just looking to try something new, this may not be the book for you.

This review is based on a digital copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Meigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ray Simon is a school teacher who lives a very normal life in Baltimore. He gets a cryptic call from his childhood friend, Kevin, saying that he needs Ray to come to Blackwater because he has "evidence" that will explain "everything". Kevin and Ray went to summer camp in 1971 or 1972 and it was a traumatic experience for them both, something that still haunts Ray to this day. Ray relents to his friends request, not knowing that by doing so, his life will never be the same again.

Hughes did a great job with the characters. In the town of Blackwater, Ray meets many people. Some are good, some not so much, and it was quite interesting as a reader not knowing who Ray could actually trust. I also liked the mystery of the "summer camp". Ray tries unsuccessfully to gain information on the camp, but keeps coming up empty. Nobody recalls said camp and the town's history books have zero information on the camp.

The ending was OK. I would have preferred a much different ending for Ray, but at least there was a little bit of happiness to it.

I recommend this book if you are a fan of Sci-fi, cults, unexplained phenomena, conspiracy, blackmail, and general wackos (and boy, were there plenty of those!).

**I received this eARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ray’s best friend, Kevin, calls with dire warnings about what happened at summer camp. Kevin sounds half panicked and explains that what happened that summer has resurfaced. Inexplicably, Kevin has become an internet porn king and lives in the area where all these creepy summer camp things happened. Ray goes to meet him. Ray arrives, Kevin has been called away. Ray starts poking around and asking questions on his own. Two factions, both involved with the summer camp, find out he’s there and both want him. Ray starts remembering more about that summer. Up to this point, enough facts are sprinkled through the story (who doesn’t remember stories about telekinesis, spoon bending and ESP during the Cold War?) that you end up half believing it’s a true story. Layers and layers, both invented and fact-based, all combine for a read-it-with-the-lights-on story. It’s a race to the finish, to see who survives and how Ray gets out of it alive. Pretty darned good read. Only quibble is the over-the-top villain reveal at the end which tried to make it creepier but only jarred. Received free copy for review.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: The author is a friend of mine.

Call of Cthulhu meets 'Salem's Lot meets Dashiell Hammet about sums it up. A faced paced supernatural thriller complete with honorable good guys, really evil bad guys, and a few conflicted folks in the middle. The plot is somewhat predictable, but, honestly, what isn't nowadays in this genre? I actually prefer a unique rendering of a well known story to the overly contrived surprise twist that seems to be in vogue lately across all genres. Anyways, it's a quick read, especially once you get to the climax, which makes it a great beach book. The protagonist, Ray, is pretty sympathetic (possibly even overly so, as his whining can be a little much) but the antagonists in the form of Crawford and Lily are so downright repugnant that it doesn't take long for you to get past Ray's shortfalls and cheer him on, especially once he "man's up" during the climax. I look forward to reading the rumoured sequel!

[Jennifer Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ray answers the call of his old friend, Kevin, to return to Blackwater where the mysterious events of their childhood are happening again, he is thrown topsy-turvy into a dangerous and dark world where no one he cares about is safe. Ray is soon drawn into a conspiracy of powerful men who will stop at nothing to unlock the secrets Ray and other children experienced: the Blackwater Lights. There are heavy paranormal and mystical references that make for intriguing reading.

As he tries to unravel the mystery and begins to question his own sanity, Ray learns just how high the stakes can be raised and that he may have to pay a price that will change his life forever.

The story is interesting and very well paced—it doesn't lag and keeps you on the edge of your seat to learn the secret of the lights.

[David Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced, tightly-constructed horror novel. If you like Fortean phenomena, creepy reclusive zillionaires, snake-handlers, repressed childhood memories, and sinister conspiracies (and who doesn't?) this one's for you. It's a quick read and is set in a small town over about a week or so, which hurries the pace along and keeps the scale intimate. Although the climactic scene could have used a little more polish and the main character could have been a little more engaging (everyone keeps saying he's "special" but I didn't really see it) the book has enough twists and turns that I didn't see what was coming and genuinely did not know who was going to live or die. A strong first novel (I think?) and I'm looking forward to more from Mr. Hughes.

[Susan Koch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely engrossing. I love a good thriller and Blackwater Lights delivers – taking a great story and melding it with supernatural and occult elements so convincing that they become real. Hoping for a sequel!

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Michael Hughes!!! You just rocked my world! A world I can actually half way relate to and believe in but scared the crap out of me! So many nice touches! Wow!!!! I'm ready for your next book... NOW!

[Rudy Eisenzopf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blackwater Lights is a supernatural-horror-suspense-thriller-mystery-Lovecraftian boocchanalia. I recommend this book, especially to those who are a fan of the genre, and to those who are just looking to escape the daily grind.

[L. Soren Mobley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like I was there. Hughes slam dunks it with the dialogue and realism throughout the novel. The book actually makes you feel intoxicated at times (in a good way). Exciting and a page turner. I eagerly await the next book in the trilogy.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, full of crazy events that will keep you wanting to read the next chapter way in the night. The professional reviews on amazon were right on.

I am looking forward to the next book.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect length Sci-Fi/Horror novel....and set in my home state, West Virginia! Loved it!