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Summerville
Three friends set out to find casks of 150-year-old brandy at the bottom of a South Carolina river, not knowing that they've walked right into the clutches of a growing evil in the ghost town of Summerville.
- GenresHorror
118 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2013
1 person is currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
D.T. Neal
18 books37 followersBorn in Missouri, growing up in Ohio, living for decades in Chicago, and now residing in Pittsburgh, D. T. Neal has always written fiction, but only got really serious about it in the late 90s. He brings a strong Rust Belt perspective to his writing, a kind of "Northern Gothic" aesthetic reflective of his background.
Writing his first novel at 29, he then devoted time to his craft and worked on short stories, occupying a space between genre and literary fiction, with an emphasis on horror, science fiction, and fantasy. He has seen some of his short stories published in “Albedo 1,” Ireland's premier magazine of speculative fiction, and he won second place in their Aeon Award in 2008 for his short story, “Aegis.” He has lived in Chicago since 1993, and is a passionate fan of music, a student of pop culture, an avid photographer and bicycler, and enjoys cooking.
He has published numerous novels, SAAMAANTHAA, THE HAPPENING, and NORM—collectively known as The Wolfshadow Trilogy—CHOSEN, SUCKAGE, and the cosmic folk horror-comedy thriller, THE CURSED EARTH.
He has also published the superhero thriller novel, BRIGHTEYES and the short story collections, THE THING IN YELLOW and SINGULARITIES.
Additionally, he has published three eco horror novellas—“Relict,” “Summerville,” and “The Day of the Nightfish.”
AWARDS:
• 2008 Aeon Award, Second Place for “Aegis”
• 2009 Honorable Mention, “Best Horror of the Year,” edited by Ellen Datlow for “Aegis” and “Rotgut.”
• Runner-up, 2013 Best New Novel by a Chicagoan, Chicago Reader, for “Suckage”
• Shortlisted for the 2012 Aeon Award for “Day of the Nightfish.”
Writing his first novel at 29, he then devoted time to his craft and worked on short stories, occupying a space between genre and literary fiction, with an emphasis on horror, science fiction, and fantasy. He has seen some of his short stories published in “Albedo 1,” Ireland's premier magazine of speculative fiction, and he won second place in their Aeon Award in 2008 for his short story, “Aegis.” He has lived in Chicago since 1993, and is a passionate fan of music, a student of pop culture, an avid photographer and bicycler, and enjoys cooking.
He has published numerous novels, SAAMAANTHAA, THE HAPPENING, and NORM—collectively known as The Wolfshadow Trilogy—CHOSEN, SUCKAGE, and the cosmic folk horror-comedy thriller, THE CURSED EARTH.
He has also published the superhero thriller novel, BRIGHTEYES and the short story collections, THE THING IN YELLOW and SINGULARITIES.
Additionally, he has published three eco horror novellas—“Relict,” “Summerville,” and “The Day of the Nightfish.”
AWARDS:
• 2008 Aeon Award, Second Place for “Aegis”
• 2009 Honorable Mention, “Best Horror of the Year,” edited by Ellen Datlow for “Aegis” and “Rotgut.”
• Runner-up, 2013 Best New Novel by a Chicagoan, Chicago Reader, for “Suckage”
• Shortlisted for the 2012 Aeon Award for “Day of the Nightfish.”
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 28, 2025
Summerville Slept
Waiting... Waiting... Waiting...
SUMMERVILLE
by D.T. Neal...
No spoilers. 5 stars. The old southern town of Summerville, located on one side of the Black River, died in the year 1954...
It was cut off from the rest of civilization by an earthquake, then by a flood a few years back...
And now...
It was in a tangle of thick kudzu-like flowering vines that choked anything in their path...
The only other life remaining there was an enormous wasp nest...
Six college grad students, armed with a treasure map complete with an "X" marking the spot, embarked on an adventure...
They were going to retrieve Civil War era brandy from the silty bottom of the Black River, which sank along with the U.S.S. COTTONMOUTH...
But...
The young people would find more than they bargained for on this trip for...
Summerville had awakened upon their arrival and was waiting, waiting, waiting...
This was an excellent novella about a doomed treasure hunt. What was waiting for the young people in Summerville wasn't only casks of 150 year old brandy but the adventure of their lives.
Never look for treasure in an old southern ghost town!
Waiting... Waiting... Waiting...
SUMMERVILLE
by D.T. Neal...
No spoilers. 5 stars. The old southern town of Summerville, located on one side of the Black River, died in the year 1954...
It was cut off from the rest of civilization by an earthquake, then by a flood a few years back...
And now...
It was in a tangle of thick kudzu-like flowering vines that choked anything in their path...
The only other life remaining there was an enormous wasp nest...
Six college grad students, armed with a treasure map complete with an "X" marking the spot, embarked on an adventure...
They were going to retrieve Civil War era brandy from the silty bottom of the Black River, which sank along with the U.S.S. COTTONMOUTH...
But...
The young people would find more than they bargained for on this trip for...
Summerville had awakened upon their arrival and was waiting, waiting, waiting...
This was an excellent novella about a doomed treasure hunt. What was waiting for the young people in Summerville wasn't only casks of 150 year old brandy but the adventure of their lives.
Never look for treasure in an old southern ghost town!
November 23, 2022
Summerville is a town claimed back by Mother Nature, once evacuated after a flood and a massive fire and now overgrown by vines. Three friends go there on a sort of treasure hunt. But when they get there, they are attacked by angry wasps and cut by plants. They get infected. Seems like Mother Nature would very much like to spread her wings and fly out of her little prison in the middle of nowhere.
A well written and engaging short horror story with a subtle theme that can appeal to a modern audience.
A well written and engaging short horror story with a subtle theme that can appeal to a modern audience.
November 4, 2022
D. T. Neal has a different way of telling a story that sets him apart from other authors I have read. His writing is smooth and expressive. I have not come across an author that can take hold of my passion of reading and bring it up a level. I find myself wanting to read all of Neal’s books, because his writing is on the same volume as what I am looking for in a great book.
Summerville by D. T. Neal is the perfect horror novella. It has witty banter, horror, and human v. nature. It is not a completely tense filled horror story, but it does give you pause to think and consider the outcome after the story ends.
Three friends take a road trip to Summerville in hopes of finding 150 year old brandy. Summerville has a horrible past that it can not escape. What starts out as a fun jaunt to a little town turns into a disastrous and evil end for these three. This story is more than just a group of friends finding evil, it is about mother nature claiming its land.
For fans of Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, I highly recommend reading this novella. For those that want a little bit of eco-horror, you should read this one as well. The rest of you, I can almost guarantee you will find D. T. Neal’s writing is fully engrossing and long after you finish this book, you will still think of the outcome and what has been left to chance.
Summerville by D. T. Neal is the perfect horror novella. It has witty banter, horror, and human v. nature. It is not a completely tense filled horror story, but it does give you pause to think and consider the outcome after the story ends.
Three friends take a road trip to Summerville in hopes of finding 150 year old brandy. Summerville has a horrible past that it can not escape. What starts out as a fun jaunt to a little town turns into a disastrous and evil end for these three. This story is more than just a group of friends finding evil, it is about mother nature claiming its land.
For fans of Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, I highly recommend reading this novella. For those that want a little bit of eco-horror, you should read this one as well. The rest of you, I can almost guarantee you will find D. T. Neal’s writing is fully engrossing and long after you finish this book, you will still think of the outcome and what has been left to chance.
June 1, 2024
Summerville is faster paced than the other work I've read by Neal, but I had similar trouble connecting to the characters in both. I didn't care for the ones here and probably wouldn't have wanted to spend a whole novel with them, but Summerville is a short work, and overall, I enjoyed it. Killer plants are a unique and underutilized subgenre, and I appreciated their use in the story here.
December 2, 2023
Surprising Summer
Quite an enjoyable wee read! Loved the concept and the atmosphere. Not so keen on the characters though. Felt like I’d stumbled into a hybrid of teen horror flick meets The Great Gatsby. A weird combo indeed old chap!
Quite an enjoyable wee read! Loved the concept and the atmosphere. Not so keen on the characters though. Felt like I’d stumbled into a hybrid of teen horror flick meets The Great Gatsby. A weird combo indeed old chap!
December 29, 2022
Yes. Very good. I recommend it. Short, sweet and full of wasps.
May 25, 2020
'A wasp flew down, and Cooper just held out a finger, let the thing land on it, like a bird on a perch. It was going to be a long hot summer. Cooper petted the wasp, ran his old finger down its back, and the thing let him.'
.
.
A car full of friends go on a road trip to find a 150 year old cask of Brandy that has been lost to the years under the waters of a South Carolina river. The ghost town of Summerville sits on banks of this river, the Town has been long abandoned and long forgotten. It has been forgotten for a very good reason. These friends are about to find out why no-one has gone back.
.
.
Summerville by D.T. Neal is one of those books that has to be devoured in a single sitting. The story flows incredibly quickly from the 100 page novella, which could have quite easily been stretched out to double its size. Neal however chooses to leave the story with a somewhat ambiguous ending and it works to his advantage beautifully.
.
.
It's clear from the start that all the characters are fair game and that there is no stand out leading character that will take charge and lead the group to safety. They are all just a bunch of friends that are out of their depth. Really doesn't do anything for the nerves.
.
.
Not many books manage to dig in to the 80's, 90's horror movie feel, Summerville feels like it has jumped straight out of the video section at Blockbusters, sat right next to They Live and Tremors. Its only a matter of time till a steaming service picks this up. Can only hope they do it the justice it deserves.
.
.
Oh and the Cover! Good god its stunning!
.
.
A car full of friends go on a road trip to find a 150 year old cask of Brandy that has been lost to the years under the waters of a South Carolina river. The ghost town of Summerville sits on banks of this river, the Town has been long abandoned and long forgotten. It has been forgotten for a very good reason. These friends are about to find out why no-one has gone back.
.
.
Summerville by D.T. Neal is one of those books that has to be devoured in a single sitting. The story flows incredibly quickly from the 100 page novella, which could have quite easily been stretched out to double its size. Neal however chooses to leave the story with a somewhat ambiguous ending and it works to his advantage beautifully.
.
.
It's clear from the start that all the characters are fair game and that there is no stand out leading character that will take charge and lead the group to safety. They are all just a bunch of friends that are out of their depth. Really doesn't do anything for the nerves.
.
.
Not many books manage to dig in to the 80's, 90's horror movie feel, Summerville feels like it has jumped straight out of the video section at Blockbusters, sat right next to They Live and Tremors. Its only a matter of time till a steaming service picks this up. Can only hope they do it the justice it deserves.
.
.
Oh and the Cover! Good god its stunning!
June 17, 2024
Eccentric lawyer Ethan thinks he's discovered the location of some Civil War-era brandy, sunk to the bottom of the Black River in South Carolina. He convinces his old buddies Kyle and Joshua, as well as a local secretary he's been crushing on named Savannah, to join him on a road trip to locate the brandy. What they find where X marks the spot on Ethan's map is the ghost town of Summerville, abandoned in the 1950s for reasons unknown and now overgrown with vines that produce huge, mysterious, sweet-smelling flowers.
This eco-horror novellette has some effective moments, but the characters were just awful - annoying, one dimensional idiots who make some nonsensical choices. I found it hard to care about any of them. I did enjoy the old harbinger who worked at the Circle K, though. Neal evokes an interesting Southern summer horror atmosphere, and the ending was cool, but ultimately this one didn't work for me. At least it was short.
This eco-horror novellette has some effective moments, but the characters were just awful - annoying, one dimensional idiots who make some nonsensical choices. I found it hard to care about any of them. I did enjoy the old harbinger who worked at the Circle K, though. Neal evokes an interesting Southern summer horror atmosphere, and the ending was cool, but ultimately this one didn't work for me. At least it was short.
June 10, 2025
This would have been served better by long-form fiction, I think. Like many Horror novellas, it suffered from not enough back story as to how or why. The premise was solid and the Southern Gothic dread was present, it just didn't go the whole way.
Plus, wasps or hornets, just not a fan.
Not sure I could've tolerated these characters much longer anyway. Pretentious, obnoxious and silly. The hitchhiker was shaping up okay but. . .
Plus, wasps or hornets, just not a fan.
Not sure I could've tolerated these characters much longer anyway. Pretentious, obnoxious and silly. The hitchhiker was shaping up okay but. . .
October 20, 2020
man, I keep getting suckered by these terrible little novellas with stylish covers. I'm almost embarrassed to have this in my carolina horror tag - everyone talks like the most ridiculous "I do declare" stereotypes, and the word "y'all" was terribly misused. however, because of the bad horror movie charm and somewhat interesting premise - and that gorgeous cover! - this wasn't the worst read.
August 25, 2023
Great story, great setting, short and sweet with some great plant terror. The characters aren't great and I really didn't like the dialogue. The weird, unrealistic dialogue almost pushed this to 3 stars, but all the cool plant/vines/wasp stuff (plus the ending) was still pretty damn good. Still recommended for anyone looking for good plant horror
August 9, 2023
Very well-structured and efficient horror novella.
i got what I wanted which was a fast-paced horror story with some kind of summery vibes to it.
I didn't know a thing about it before starting it and it ended up being a kind of horror I love!
i got what I wanted which was a fast-paced horror story with some kind of summery vibes to it.
I didn't know a thing about it before starting it and it ended up being a kind of horror I love!
June 24, 2018
The book was great and such a great storyline....i was hoping it would be developed more. It felt rushed like the author was rushed to finish it.
April 5, 2019
Too stylistic and not a single likable character in the whole story.
October 17, 2013
I've always had a love/hate relationship with Mother Nature and SUMMERVILLE plays upon those fears contained in that relationship with her quite well. Three friends set out for an adventure, of sorts; for lost treasure, one could say, and find themselves battling for their lives against the totally unforseen and, of course, unexpected, villians of the southern ghost town of Summerville.
Being a novella, this book gets right to the action which conveys apprehension and excitement surrounding their trip into this lost and forgotten town. Trying not too give too much away, I will say that in Summerville, nothing is what it sounds like it should be: a quaint and pleasant place to visit. Disppoointed you will not be in Neal's latest work, but scared, nervous and wanting more? Oh, yes.
Being a novella, this book gets right to the action which conveys apprehension and excitement surrounding their trip into this lost and forgotten town. Trying not too give too much away, I will say that in Summerville, nothing is what it sounds like it should be: a quaint and pleasant place to visit. Disppoointed you will not be in Neal's latest work, but scared, nervous and wanting more? Oh, yes.
September 21, 2013
Another great read from Mr. Neal. This is a great short story that I could not put down. I am not a horror fan, but I will read anything Neal writes. As always, I can't wait for the next story.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews