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Lurker
Meg and Harry have retreated to a remote cottage on the northeast coast of England to recuperate from the mental and physical stress of losing their baby. While exploring the ancient coastal landscape, Meg chances upon eighteenth-century quarry mines reclaimed by nature. But birds and butterflies aren't all she finds.
When a young woman goes missing, Meg must try to make sense of her many bizarre experiences: muddy handprints on the walls, savage dreams, and a visit from a stranger who may not be what she seems.
And something else is lurking nearby, something that adapts and feeds on grief. And Meg may not be able to stop it…
When a young woman goes missing, Meg must try to make sense of her many bizarre experiences: muddy handprints on the walls, savage dreams, and a visit from a stranger who may not be what she seems.
And something else is lurking nearby, something that adapts and feeds on grief. And Meg may not be able to stop it…
- GenresHorror
56 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 17, 2013
This was a strange, bleak story.
A couple moves to the shore, after suffering through a terrible tragedy. They are trying to start anew and where else better to do that than by the sea?
Meg's husband regularly leaves her to her own devices while he works hard to support the household. Something he never lets her forget. Meg decides to spend this time exploring her new surroundings, which happen to include some old mines.
As Meg begins poking around her new neighborhood, things start to happen. Strange noises, strange feelings, strange visions coming out of nowhere. Not to mention the strange handprints all over the back of the house near her bedroom window.
Were these things actually happening or were they signs of the already deteriorating mental state of Meg? You will have to read this and see for yourself.
Overall, this was an atmospheric read with a gothic, Lovecraftian feel to it. I enjoyed it and I think you would too. Recommended!
A couple moves to the shore, after suffering through a terrible tragedy. They are trying to start anew and where else better to do that than by the sea?
Meg's husband regularly leaves her to her own devices while he works hard to support the household. Something he never lets her forget. Meg decides to spend this time exploring her new surroundings, which happen to include some old mines.
As Meg begins poking around her new neighborhood, things start to happen. Strange noises, strange feelings, strange visions coming out of nowhere. Not to mention the strange handprints all over the back of the house near her bedroom window.
Were these things actually happening or were they signs of the already deteriorating mental state of Meg? You will have to read this and see for yourself.
Overall, this was an atmospheric read with a gothic, Lovecraftian feel to it. I enjoyed it and I think you would too. Recommended!
November 17, 2013
Lurker is set on the North East coast of England near to Whitby, Meg and Harry have recently moved into a coastal cottage, more to escape the tragedy of losing their first baby than a holiday home, a fresh start for them both. Meg has given up her job to recover and Harry now has to add a substantial travel time onto his working day, often staying in the city after long days at work.
Her trust wanes as she begins to suspect her husband is having an affair coupled with his selfish resentment that she has given up her job and Meg suddenly feels all alone when she least needs it.
Exploring the area Meg ventures down the Sandsend cliff path, unsettled by her feelings at an old railway tunnel she research’s the now blocked tunnels and finds an old book that tells of horrifying occurrences in the mines. The book unlocks the door to her psychosis and she starts to see things, terrifying things, is it real or is she losing her grip on reality.
The story is very much about Meg and the stressful events that have led her to this place, witness the deterioration of her frail mind as she teeters on the brink of insanity or can it all really exist, you decide!
I did like the authors style and have Conjure House on my to read pile. This novella is an enjoyable read and recommended for those who like a good creepy psychological horror.
Her trust wanes as she begins to suspect her husband is having an affair coupled with his selfish resentment that she has given up her job and Meg suddenly feels all alone when she least needs it.
Exploring the area Meg ventures down the Sandsend cliff path, unsettled by her feelings at an old railway tunnel she research’s the now blocked tunnels and finds an old book that tells of horrifying occurrences in the mines. The book unlocks the door to her psychosis and she starts to see things, terrifying things, is it real or is she losing her grip on reality.
The story is very much about Meg and the stressful events that have led her to this place, witness the deterioration of her frail mind as she teeters on the brink of insanity or can it all really exist, you decide!
I did like the authors style and have Conjure House on my to read pile. This novella is an enjoyable read and recommended for those who like a good creepy psychological horror.
November 13, 2013
This novella really packed a physchological punch!
Meg and Harry move to the countryside after a devastating (to Meg, at any rate) loss. While Meg mentally battles to keep her depression at bay, events begin happening around her that she simply can not explain away. After exploring an old mine opening, she has the feeling that "something" just isn't quite right around her.
Between dealing with her husband's increasingly condescending attitude towards her, a suspected affair, and research into the old mines dealing with a horror straight from Lovecraft's own imagination, Meg's ability to move on is quite a feat. This was a very raw, emotional tale that left images of an incredible horror that won't leave my imagination. The ending packed a great punch, and left me eagerly awaiting more from Gary Fry!
Oh, and if the ground starts rumbling under you…..better get moving!
Another fantastic novella from the Dark Fuse line-up. Highly recommended!
Meg and Harry move to the countryside after a devastating (to Meg, at any rate) loss. While Meg mentally battles to keep her depression at bay, events begin happening around her that she simply can not explain away. After exploring an old mine opening, she has the feeling that "something" just isn't quite right around her.
Between dealing with her husband's increasingly condescending attitude towards her, a suspected affair, and research into the old mines dealing with a horror straight from Lovecraft's own imagination, Meg's ability to move on is quite a feat. This was a very raw, emotional tale that left images of an incredible horror that won't leave my imagination. The ending packed a great punch, and left me eagerly awaiting more from Gary Fry!
Oh, and if the ground starts rumbling under you…..better get moving!
Another fantastic novella from the Dark Fuse line-up. Highly recommended!
December 8, 2013
Meg and Harry have moved away from the city for a quieter life to try to deal with the death of their baby. Meg is left along most of the time as Harry must still commute to his city job to support them, something he constantly reminds her of.
As she settles into her new surroundings she begins to explore the area around her cottage and comes across an abandoned mine, something about the mine unsettles her as well as strange sounds being heard at night and mysterious handprints appearing under her bedroom window. She does some research into the mine and soon realises that something ancient has been awoken.
I found Meg to be a really engaging character, the story is told through her and as it progresses you begin to wonder what is real and what may be a product of Meg's grief. I really liked the authors writing, it flows beautifully and keeps drawing you in to the story, my one gripe would be that I wasn't really sold on the 'something ancient', it just didn't gel for me with the story.
This is an unsettling read and well worth picking up to sample the writing skills of Mr Fry. Recommended.
As she settles into her new surroundings she begins to explore the area around her cottage and comes across an abandoned mine, something about the mine unsettles her as well as strange sounds being heard at night and mysterious handprints appearing under her bedroom window. She does some research into the mine and soon realises that something ancient has been awoken.
I found Meg to be a really engaging character, the story is told through her and as it progresses you begin to wonder what is real and what may be a product of Meg's grief. I really liked the authors writing, it flows beautifully and keeps drawing you in to the story, my one gripe would be that I wasn't really sold on the 'something ancient', it just didn't gel for me with the story.
This is an unsettling read and well worth picking up to sample the writing skills of Mr Fry. Recommended.
February 6, 2016
What I did enjoy about this book was the very English feel, the raw northeast coastline which was a great setting for a somewhat disturbing tale involving Meg and Harry...escaping from the big city to a special little bolthole on the coast. As the story develops we learn that all is not well with Meg and Harry, they have a sadness from the past and Harry is keeping a secret into the future. If we add to this mix a frightening evil stretching back to the historical miners of the 19th century then the result is an enjoyable read and a pleasant way to spend a dark winter evening in the hands of a great storyteller......
December 27, 2013
I enjoyed reading this novella and exploring the setting in which it took place. The story was captivating and eerie. I felt for the woman who had gone through a hardship and her struggle with understanding her husband who wasn't very sympathetic. I think there were some twists and turns and i felt that descriptions were very Lovecraft; very surreal and creepy. However, i just felt like there was something more i wanted from this novella. Maybe it was too short for me, or maybe i wanted to know more about the lurker and felt a little cheated. I don't know, but I did enjoy it and would like to read more from this author.
October 9, 2013
An ebook novella from
DarkFuse
, Lurker (2013) is a Lovecraftian story in the tradition of Ramsey Campbell; elegantly understated, intensely atmospheric and superbly horrific. Set in Whitby on the Yorkshire coast, the story follows Meg, a woman who has just moved into the area after suffering a tragic miscarriage. While her husband works long hours in the city, Meg is free to roam her new environs.
And roam she does. Discovering the entrance to an abandoned mine, she unknowingly attracts the attention of the titular lurker. The next day, the wall of her house outside her bedroom window is decorated with muddy handprints. A girl is reported to have gone missing near the mine, and Meg thinks she glimpses something in the background of the newspaper photo. A dodgy pamphlet found in the library purports to explain it all, but its talk of some immortal creature from beyond the stars that cut off miners' hands and heads so it could use them as tools is just crazytalk, right? And all the while Meg is also tormented by suspicions of her husband's possible infidelity.
Is it all in her mind? There's a strong psychological aspect to the story, giving room for interpretations. And it's only Meg who seems to be aware of the creature, not at all unlike the poor narrator of Guy de Maupassant's classic story Le Horla. All the events in Lurker are seen and experienced through Meg's perspective, and who knows how twisted that might be, after all the stress and insecurity the character's been through.
That, however, doesn't stop the story from going the tentacular full monty in the glorious finale; imagined or not, it's all about pure, unadulterated horror of the cosmic variety, blasting away what little sanity poor Meg may have left at that point. As a horror story, Lurker delivers the goods, regardless of the interpretation. Highly recommended.
Read all my reviews at mikareadshorrorfiction.wordpress.com
And roam she does. Discovering the entrance to an abandoned mine, she unknowingly attracts the attention of the titular lurker. The next day, the wall of her house outside her bedroom window is decorated with muddy handprints. A girl is reported to have gone missing near the mine, and Meg thinks she glimpses something in the background of the newspaper photo. A dodgy pamphlet found in the library purports to explain it all, but its talk of some immortal creature from beyond the stars that cut off miners' hands and heads so it could use them as tools is just crazytalk, right? And all the while Meg is also tormented by suspicions of her husband's possible infidelity.
Is it all in her mind? There's a strong psychological aspect to the story, giving room for interpretations. And it's only Meg who seems to be aware of the creature, not at all unlike the poor narrator of Guy de Maupassant's classic story Le Horla. All the events in Lurker are seen and experienced through Meg's perspective, and who knows how twisted that might be, after all the stress and insecurity the character's been through.
That, however, doesn't stop the story from going the tentacular full monty in the glorious finale; imagined or not, it's all about pure, unadulterated horror of the cosmic variety, blasting away what little sanity poor Meg may have left at that point. As a horror story, Lurker delivers the goods, regardless of the interpretation. Highly recommended.
Read all my reviews at mikareadshorrorfiction.wordpress.com
October 21, 2013
Coming November 12th From Dark Fuse
Thank you kindly to the author and Dark Fuse for the copy via netgalley.
Meg and Harry have retreated to a remote cottage on the northeast coast of England to recuperate from the mental and physical stress of losing their baby. While exploring the ancient coastal landscape, Meg chances upon eighteenth-century quarry mines reclaimed by nature. But birds and butterflies aren’t all she finds.
Oh my word. A short but incredibly creepy tale this, it actually did send shivers up the old spine (and my spine is fairly old these days!) and had me jumping at shadows…hey what else exactly can you ask for from a dark and twisty tale?
So, Meg has suffered a trauma and this comes through brilliantly here – how much of what she is experiencing is in her head and how much is real? After finding the entrance to an abandoned mine strange things start occurring, and something lurks within…
Muddy handprints. Disappearing children. Meg’s own demons. All add up to an intriguing premise and heck, one of the most heart pounding conclusions to a book that I have read this year.
For a shorter story this packs a hell of a punch – a psychological horror thriller (yes I know I’m mixing it up there but you get ALL of that and then some here) that plays on insecurities and perception and that little child in all of us that still believes there IS a monster in the closet..
Cleverly done, intense and also a whole lot of fun, grab yourself a copy of this, lock the doors, switch all the lights on, have your axe proof duvet to hand and enjoy…
Happy Reading Folks!
Thank you kindly to the author and Dark Fuse for the copy via netgalley.
Meg and Harry have retreated to a remote cottage on the northeast coast of England to recuperate from the mental and physical stress of losing their baby. While exploring the ancient coastal landscape, Meg chances upon eighteenth-century quarry mines reclaimed by nature. But birds and butterflies aren’t all she finds.
Oh my word. A short but incredibly creepy tale this, it actually did send shivers up the old spine (and my spine is fairly old these days!) and had me jumping at shadows…hey what else exactly can you ask for from a dark and twisty tale?
So, Meg has suffered a trauma and this comes through brilliantly here – how much of what she is experiencing is in her head and how much is real? After finding the entrance to an abandoned mine strange things start occurring, and something lurks within…
Muddy handprints. Disappearing children. Meg’s own demons. All add up to an intriguing premise and heck, one of the most heart pounding conclusions to a book that I have read this year.
For a shorter story this packs a hell of a punch – a psychological horror thriller (yes I know I’m mixing it up there but you get ALL of that and then some here) that plays on insecurities and perception and that little child in all of us that still believes there IS a monster in the closet..
Cleverly done, intense and also a whole lot of fun, grab yourself a copy of this, lock the doors, switch all the lights on, have your axe proof duvet to hand and enjoy…
Happy Reading Folks!
December 12, 2013
This is my second novella by Mr. Fry and very different from “Emergence.” Where “Emergence” was sort of Jamesian (at least in terms of the ambiguity of the supernatural aspects) and drew its interest from the interior emotional landscape of the characters, “Lurker” is in your face horror. Rip your face off horror is even more apt. Greatly enjoyed both novellas and will be following Mr. Fry’s career and wonder what the next book will be like.
I hate to give away plots so I rarely discuss them but I can give a few details without harming the enjoyment. Basically the Mr. and Mrs. have gone through some tough, emotional times and have tried what could be called a “geographical solution.” Move somewhere without the memories. However people can change along with environments and Meg is now suspicious that her husband Harry is having an affair. She gets a clear case of tunnel vision, focusing on her husband, even though signs around her are mounting that concerns about marital infidelity is distracting her from something much more sinister and dangerous that is happening around her. Creepy stuff, folks. Fans of Lovecraft and writers of his ilk will eat this one up. I sure did. It is the combination of the worldly and the otherworldly that did it for me in this one.
Congratulations again to Mr. Fry and to Darkfuse, who introduced me to this writer and turned out yet another great novella. I just renewed my membership.
I hate to give away plots so I rarely discuss them but I can give a few details without harming the enjoyment. Basically the Mr. and Mrs. have gone through some tough, emotional times and have tried what could be called a “geographical solution.” Move somewhere without the memories. However people can change along with environments and Meg is now suspicious that her husband Harry is having an affair. She gets a clear case of tunnel vision, focusing on her husband, even though signs around her are mounting that concerns about marital infidelity is distracting her from something much more sinister and dangerous that is happening around her. Creepy stuff, folks. Fans of Lovecraft and writers of his ilk will eat this one up. I sure did. It is the combination of the worldly and the otherworldly that did it for me in this one.
Congratulations again to Mr. Fry and to Darkfuse, who introduced me to this writer and turned out yet another great novella. I just renewed my membership.
November 12, 2013
Meg’s life has been rough lately. She suffered the loss of a child and is struggling to hold it together. Her husband is cheating on his corporate expense report and on Meg. Not a nice guy. Fortunately for Meg there is justice living in the old abandoned mine…Ok, maybe not justice, but there is an ancient evil creature that has risen and is going to take care of business. Is Meg’s mind playing tricks and her depression getting the best of her or is there really something deep in the mine that has finally surfaced?
A very good novella from DarkFuse. Gary Fry weaves a tale of grief, betrayal and horror that leaves us to wonder what is true or imagined and what was the real outcome of the story. Sometimes that doesn’t work for me, but Gary pulls it off in this one and I enjoyed thinking up scenarios for the ending. Very well done.
A very good novella from DarkFuse. Gary Fry weaves a tale of grief, betrayal and horror that leaves us to wonder what is true or imagined and what was the real outcome of the story. Sometimes that doesn’t work for me, but Gary pulls it off in this one and I enjoyed thinking up scenarios for the ending. Very well done.
July 30, 2014
Meg and Harry suffer the greatest loss of all and move to the countryside so Meg can try to recover. She struggles to keep her sanity as her loss haunts her and she starts experiencing strange phenomena. At first, she passes it off as neighborhood kids playing pranks and hallucinations but when she discovers a booklet in the library about the area, things start to fall into place for her.
This is my second time to read a book by Gary Fry and he is quickly becoming a favorite author. He excels at doling out the creepy factor without overdoing it while creating characters that you love and feel for (Meg) and those that you outright despise (Harry - read the story, you'll agree). Fry did an excellent job with an original monster here (the thing with the hands creeps me out!) and I look forward to more of his work. Recommended!
This is my second time to read a book by Gary Fry and he is quickly becoming a favorite author. He excels at doling out the creepy factor without overdoing it while creating characters that you love and feel for (Meg) and those that you outright despise (Harry - read the story, you'll agree). Fry did an excellent job with an original monster here (the thing with the hands creeps me out!) and I look forward to more of his work. Recommended!
October 6, 2016
What a weird read.
Meg and her husband have different ways of dealing with the loss of their baby.
But guess what? I did not care. Why? No light was shined on how loving and tender this couple was before the tragedy. If anything, Meg went on to describe her husband as standoff-ish unless he was getting some.
Meg is losing her mind or is she? I'm going to say, yes. If she isn't then this story really went off the rails because the beasties seemed to be "showing" her things she pretty much knew were happening.
Of course we can go the other way and say she is not losing her mind, but then why did they not do the same to Meg?
Again, I didn't really care. These characters were so bland, like crackers with no salt. Just a dried up piece of cardboard that made this story hard to swallow.
2 cardboard cut-outs
Meg and her husband have different ways of dealing with the loss of their baby.
But guess what? I did not care. Why? No light was shined on how loving and tender this couple was before the tragedy. If anything, Meg went on to describe her husband as standoff-ish unless he was getting some.
Meg is losing her mind or is she? I'm going to say, yes. If she isn't then this story really went off the rails because the beasties seemed to be "showing" her things she pretty much knew were happening.
Of course we can go the other way and say she is not losing her mind, but then why did they not do the same to Meg?
Again, I didn't really care. These characters were so bland, like crackers with no salt. Just a dried up piece of cardboard that made this story hard to swallow.
2 cardboard cut-outs
November 16, 2013
Gary Fry treads similar territory in Lurker that he visited in his fantastic Novel `The Conjuring House' also published by Dark Fuse. A move to the Moors, an imbalanced relationship and a missing child. Only this time it's a miscarriage. This novella also journeys into the realm of cosmic horror, though with its feet firmly planted down to earth.
The author tricks you into believing you're simply following a plot, stitching together clues and trying to understand the importance of the backstory. What he's really doing is reaching into your mind with tentacles of fear that wriggle and scratch when you turn out the lights. Fry has the ability to set ancient monsters abroad in your imagination with terrifying precision.
We're never sure if the protagonist Meg is still cloistered in the suffering of loss or if the terrible things she witnesses are real. The gnawing fears that reside in the hollow her baby left behind are soon filled with much darker events than a fragile lifestyle. But when a visit to a shale mine rattles unseen monsters beneath the earth and the ghost of a missing girl appears on a cliff we know we're in for scary ride. It slaloms through poles of a midlife crisis lament and dogmatic observation. This book is about cuts in many ways, political, personal and rational.
You'll have to discover for yourself whether something corporal is reaping the harvest of destruction in Lurker by taking a stroll along Gary Fry's landscape of terror.
Read full review at http://thehorrificallyhorrifyinghorro...
The author tricks you into believing you're simply following a plot, stitching together clues and trying to understand the importance of the backstory. What he's really doing is reaching into your mind with tentacles of fear that wriggle and scratch when you turn out the lights. Fry has the ability to set ancient monsters abroad in your imagination with terrifying precision.
We're never sure if the protagonist Meg is still cloistered in the suffering of loss or if the terrible things she witnesses are real. The gnawing fears that reside in the hollow her baby left behind are soon filled with much darker events than a fragile lifestyle. But when a visit to a shale mine rattles unseen monsters beneath the earth and the ghost of a missing girl appears on a cliff we know we're in for scary ride. It slaloms through poles of a midlife crisis lament and dogmatic observation. This book is about cuts in many ways, political, personal and rational.
You'll have to discover for yourself whether something corporal is reaping the harvest of destruction in Lurker by taking a stroll along Gary Fry's landscape of terror.
Read full review at http://thehorrificallyhorrifyinghorro...
February 13, 2014
This is the story of Meg and Harry. Meg has had a breakdown following the loss of their baby. They have moved to the coast to get away from all the memories and to allow Meg to recuperate. Harry still commutes to work and often leaves Meg alone for extended periods of time. Things start to get creepy, and Meg begins to see things. Handprints on the house, bad nightmares and something lurking in the cliffs all play on Meg's fragile psyche.
I liked this, but I didn't love it as much as others of Gary's I have read. It was ultimately a sad story and was quite stark in places. I enjoyed the build up to the end, and the tension crackled in the second half of the book. I truly felt for Meg being left alone so soon after her tragedy, and how fragile her mind seemed to become. Somehow though this just didn't seem to flow as well as others I have read, that being said it was an enjoyable story that I would still recommend.
I liked this, but I didn't love it as much as others of Gary's I have read. It was ultimately a sad story and was quite stark in places. I enjoyed the build up to the end, and the tension crackled in the second half of the book. I truly felt for Meg being left alone so soon after her tragedy, and how fragile her mind seemed to become. Somehow though this just didn't seem to flow as well as others I have read, that being said it was an enjoyable story that I would still recommend.
November 15, 2013
This novella from Darkfuse starts out with a couple (Meg & Harry) who lose a child and decide to move to the England countryside to start over. When the husband is at work Meg starts seeing and hearing things. Not sure what's real, she decides to do some research on the town and old abandoned mine. Then things start to escalate. The story had that creepy Lovecraft feel to it. A good quick read, enjoyed the story a lot. I gave it 4 stars.
March 3, 2014
Nobody can write about the psychological impact of fear better than Gary Fry. The fact that he has a PhD in psychology may account for a large portion of this skill, but his ability to turn out grab-you-at-the-throat fiction at the same time is probably due to whopping imagination that transcends his education.
Lurker, the second work of his that I have read, is a prime example. This novella concerns a wife, Meg, and husband, Harry, still reeling from the loss of their baby. They’ve moved from the city to a cottage on the northeast coast of England to flee the unpleasant memories related to the loss. This is true for Meg at least. Her grief is overwhelming, and while she has made progress in therapy, she is still troubled by intrusive thoughts and images regarding everything in her life. The descriptions of her hanging on to normalcy by repressing every thought that is the least bit threatening or out of character for her life and her relationship with Harry are both painfully touching and very troubling. You know that this thin wall she has built to maintain her mental health is going to crash down at some point.
Harry, on the other hand, is an unsympathetic jerk. He is more concerned with padding his business accounts and firing employees who are ‘disposable’ than meeting his wife’s emotional needs. His sole contribution to the relationship is the willingness to commute two hours each way so his wife can heal by the coast.
Of course, moving is not a good idea while struggling with a tremendous loss. Since Meg has no social supports in her new environment, she has to play hostess to the thoughts and images in her head. She begins to explore the cliffs and neighboring areas and fines an abandoned quarry mine. Troubling thoughts about whether Harry is having an affair transition into thoughts that maybe something horrible is alive in the mine… some kind of monster capable of severing heads and limbs of unwitting people and adapting its tentacles to assume the shape of the heads and hands of its victims. This is one cool monster.
Meg’s imagination starts running away with her. She sees a missing young woman who may or may not have been devoured by the monster, the town children may or may not be part of the monster, a lost traveler may or may not be the women with whom Harry is having an affair.
This is a tightly constructed novella. The sense of paranoia and descent into madness is very believable. Likewise, the sense of terror and impending doom grabs you and won’t let you go. Is Meg losing her mind? Is the monster real? What is reality? Who knows? But the ride towards the bizarre conclusion is well worth the confusion. Highly recommended.
Lurker, the second work of his that I have read, is a prime example. This novella concerns a wife, Meg, and husband, Harry, still reeling from the loss of their baby. They’ve moved from the city to a cottage on the northeast coast of England to flee the unpleasant memories related to the loss. This is true for Meg at least. Her grief is overwhelming, and while she has made progress in therapy, she is still troubled by intrusive thoughts and images regarding everything in her life. The descriptions of her hanging on to normalcy by repressing every thought that is the least bit threatening or out of character for her life and her relationship with Harry are both painfully touching and very troubling. You know that this thin wall she has built to maintain her mental health is going to crash down at some point.
Harry, on the other hand, is an unsympathetic jerk. He is more concerned with padding his business accounts and firing employees who are ‘disposable’ than meeting his wife’s emotional needs. His sole contribution to the relationship is the willingness to commute two hours each way so his wife can heal by the coast.
Of course, moving is not a good idea while struggling with a tremendous loss. Since Meg has no social supports in her new environment, she has to play hostess to the thoughts and images in her head. She begins to explore the cliffs and neighboring areas and fines an abandoned quarry mine. Troubling thoughts about whether Harry is having an affair transition into thoughts that maybe something horrible is alive in the mine… some kind of monster capable of severing heads and limbs of unwitting people and adapting its tentacles to assume the shape of the heads and hands of its victims. This is one cool monster.
Meg’s imagination starts running away with her. She sees a missing young woman who may or may not have been devoured by the monster, the town children may or may not be part of the monster, a lost traveler may or may not be the women with whom Harry is having an affair.
This is a tightly constructed novella. The sense of paranoia and descent into madness is very believable. Likewise, the sense of terror and impending doom grabs you and won’t let you go. Is Meg losing her mind? Is the monster real? What is reality? Who knows? But the ride towards the bizarre conclusion is well worth the confusion. Highly recommended.
November 21, 2013
This novella has gathered such praise from my fellow horror aficionados, that it seems almost wrong to rate it low, but it didn't do a thing for me. I expected to like it, but it read so flatly, the language seemed mechanical like with some very odd word choices as if inserted at random by a prolific synonym finder. The main characters were neither likable nor sympathetic, trapped in a terrible marriage in a middle of nowhere, the husband takes to escaping into his work and the wife to escaping out of her mind. The creature was a decent concept, but seemed heavily inspired/borrowed from a recent series of particularly disgusting movies. The story was atmospheric, but unengaging and slow, much reminiscent of Ramsey Campbell's literary misses. Glad I got to check it out, but wish I liked it more. At least it was a short read.
November 25, 2013
Meg and Harry have moved to a quiet coastal town. It is lonely, cold, and sad... just like their marriage. Meg has quit her job and spends long days by herself.
Thank you NetGalley and Dark Fuse Press for this title.
What I liked most about this novella was the steady build of fear, paranoia, and panic. The atmosphere surrounds meg and closes in on her. So creepy and well done.
At times it was a little slow, but the details were all a part of the story. Is it truly happening? Is it Meg's imagination? What the heck is outside her window!?
A great short piece. I will definitely look for more by this author. His writing gave me the creeps!
Thank you NetGalley and Dark Fuse Press for this title.
What I liked most about this novella was the steady build of fear, paranoia, and panic. The atmosphere surrounds meg and closes in on her. So creepy and well done.
At times it was a little slow, but the details were all a part of the story. Is it truly happening? Is it Meg's imagination? What the heck is outside her window!?
A great short piece. I will definitely look for more by this author. His writing gave me the creeps!
November 18, 2015
I love Gary Fry's novellas. They are the perfect length for this wonderful author to present his tale. Lurker had my attention first with that creepy cover and the story was equally creepy. Highly recommended.
October 21, 2013
Another great book by DarkFuse
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/lurker... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/lurker... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
November 20, 2013
Good book, but I enjoyed the last half the most.
December 12, 2013
Meg and Harry have retreated to a remote cottage on the northeast coast of England to recuperate from the mental and physical stress of losing their baby. While exploring the ancient coastal landscape, Meg chances upon eighteenth-century quarry mines reclaimed by nature. But birds and butterflies aren't all she finds.
When a young woman goes missing, Meg must try to make sense of her many bizarre experiences: muddy handprints on the walls, savage dreams, and a visit from a stranger who may not be what she seems.
And something else is lurking nearby, something that adapts and feeds on grief. And Meg may not be able to stop it…
Until the last couple of years I was more familiar with Gary Fry’s work at his independent press, Gray Friar Press, but since of late he seems on the role with his writing as well I, as an admirer of his contribution to publishing, felt only natural to dive into his fiction too. And for a while there is plenty to choose from, if we are looking over the last two years we can see that Gary Fry published a collection of short stories, three novellas and a novel, while for the next two years he is due to release another collection, three more novellas and two new novels. And the freshest of the already released fiction bearing the signature of Gary Fry is “Lurker”, a novella published by DarkFuse.
After losing their baby, at Meg’s desire, she and her husband, Harry, move to a remote propriety on the northeast coast of England. But this seems to be the only common thing they share after the loss of their baby. Harry is mostly away because of the job he still has in their former city while Meg is left to cope with the grief on her own. Meg’s solitude is accentuated by the remoteness of her new location, on her walks she is as solitary as she is at home. But if Meg shares the solitude with the landscape, the area’s peacefulness and calm isn’t match by her interior turmoil. Eaten by sorrow Meg becomes troubled by the old quarry mine she discovers on one walk and the references she finds to it in an obscure booklet from the local library.
Gary Fry meticulously explores the entire range of Meg’s emotions and follows carefully each new turn her train for thoughts takes. Every little stress Meg suffers, each of the new things finding their way into her tormented feelings seem to have a catastrophic effect on the mind. But Gary Fry doesn’t reveal the complete truth to the reader, he masterfully blurs the boundary between what is real and what is not, between the events surrounding Meg in her new life and location and the things her mind conceives because of grief and isolation.
However, “Lurker” is not the exclusive ground of psychological horror, there are moments of tension, supernatural elements and grotesque images creeping in. There are things just outside the reader’s grasp making their presence felt. But as in the case of the thin veil separating reality and imaginary Gary Fry manages to reach a perfect balance between psychological and visual terror. None takes central stage while each has its role to play, together leaving behind a deep sense of uncertainty. There is something to be found for all lovers of horror in Gary Fry’s “Lurker”, both the visceral terror and the subtle, thought provoking one have something to say.
When a young woman goes missing, Meg must try to make sense of her many bizarre experiences: muddy handprints on the walls, savage dreams, and a visit from a stranger who may not be what she seems.
And something else is lurking nearby, something that adapts and feeds on grief. And Meg may not be able to stop it…
Until the last couple of years I was more familiar with Gary Fry’s work at his independent press, Gray Friar Press, but since of late he seems on the role with his writing as well I, as an admirer of his contribution to publishing, felt only natural to dive into his fiction too. And for a while there is plenty to choose from, if we are looking over the last two years we can see that Gary Fry published a collection of short stories, three novellas and a novel, while for the next two years he is due to release another collection, three more novellas and two new novels. And the freshest of the already released fiction bearing the signature of Gary Fry is “Lurker”, a novella published by DarkFuse.
After losing their baby, at Meg’s desire, she and her husband, Harry, move to a remote propriety on the northeast coast of England. But this seems to be the only common thing they share after the loss of their baby. Harry is mostly away because of the job he still has in their former city while Meg is left to cope with the grief on her own. Meg’s solitude is accentuated by the remoteness of her new location, on her walks she is as solitary as she is at home. But if Meg shares the solitude with the landscape, the area’s peacefulness and calm isn’t match by her interior turmoil. Eaten by sorrow Meg becomes troubled by the old quarry mine she discovers on one walk and the references she finds to it in an obscure booklet from the local library.
Gary Fry meticulously explores the entire range of Meg’s emotions and follows carefully each new turn her train for thoughts takes. Every little stress Meg suffers, each of the new things finding their way into her tormented feelings seem to have a catastrophic effect on the mind. But Gary Fry doesn’t reveal the complete truth to the reader, he masterfully blurs the boundary between what is real and what is not, between the events surrounding Meg in her new life and location and the things her mind conceives because of grief and isolation.
However, “Lurker” is not the exclusive ground of psychological horror, there are moments of tension, supernatural elements and grotesque images creeping in. There are things just outside the reader’s grasp making their presence felt. But as in the case of the thin veil separating reality and imaginary Gary Fry manages to reach a perfect balance between psychological and visual terror. None takes central stage while each has its role to play, together leaving behind a deep sense of uncertainty. There is something to be found for all lovers of horror in Gary Fry’s “Lurker”, both the visceral terror and the subtle, thought provoking one have something to say.
November 20, 2013
For a man as active as he is in the UK horror scene, it’s truly remarkable that I don’t think I’ve ever read anything by Gary Fry before. He seems to be everywhere at the moment, almost unavoidable.
It’s not likely to change in the near future, as Fry launches what looks like some sort of dastardly plan for transatlantic domination, with a nine book (nine book) deal with stateside publisher DarkFuse.
I’m always in favour of horror getting a louder shout, and the kind of reviews Gary has been getting have left me intrigued for a while now. Anyone who the great Ramsey Campbell himself describes as “a master” is clearly not messing around with this stuff.
With his novella Lurker, Fry looks set to kick off a new and prolific phase of his writing career, so let’s open up the bonnet and see what we have here, shall we?
Lurker centres around Meg, a forty-something woman recently moved to the north Yorkshire coast after a stillborn baby. Her husband Harry is distant emotionally and geographically– working in west Yorkshire for part of the week. Exploring her new home, Meg comes to notice something stalking the coastal landscape, connecting stories of missing people with local legends of a creature unearthed by overzealous mining.
The first thing I have to say about Lurker, is just how easy reading it is. Its short length, coupled with its fast, almost compulsive pace it’s quite comfortable to read in one sitting. This is, I think, an under-appreciated feature in fiction. It’s easy to forget that fiction is an entertainment medium, so to come away from Lurker with a distinct feeling of being entertained means to me that Fry has hit the mark.
He also didn’t over-explain. The creature he created — I won’t even call it “lurker” — is a suggestion and a series of images, a few potent facets enough to create an idea which creeps through the consciousness of the reader as easily as it does across the Yorkshire cliffs.
So too, Lurker shows a deep eathing in its location. Fry is clearly intimately familiar with this stretch of the North Yorkshire coast, and there is a presiding sense of local mythology running through the story, adding to the believability and making the horror more present, more real.
The only real criticism of it that I have is the counterpoint to the readability I praised before. It is a short novella, and both the story and Fry’s writing could have sustained it longer. A full novel would, I feel, have given the space for further explanation of Meg’s depression and allowed her rising suspicion of Harry — and the creeping horror of the creature which accompanies it — to have blossomed more slowly and with a more sinister pace.
But faced with Lurker the novella, I can’t hold that too strongly against it. Whatever length, this is a solid, enjoyable piece of writing. Monster horror has a tendency to lapse into the camp or trite, which might explain why Fry chose to set such a fierce pace, but the deftness of touch that he displays keeps it keen and focused. If the nine Gary Fry books to come from DarkFuse are of the same quality as Lurker, then they really have struck upon a sure winner.
It’s not likely to change in the near future, as Fry launches what looks like some sort of dastardly plan for transatlantic domination, with a nine book (nine book) deal with stateside publisher DarkFuse.
I’m always in favour of horror getting a louder shout, and the kind of reviews Gary has been getting have left me intrigued for a while now. Anyone who the great Ramsey Campbell himself describes as “a master” is clearly not messing around with this stuff.
With his novella Lurker, Fry looks set to kick off a new and prolific phase of his writing career, so let’s open up the bonnet and see what we have here, shall we?
Lurker centres around Meg, a forty-something woman recently moved to the north Yorkshire coast after a stillborn baby. Her husband Harry is distant emotionally and geographically– working in west Yorkshire for part of the week. Exploring her new home, Meg comes to notice something stalking the coastal landscape, connecting stories of missing people with local legends of a creature unearthed by overzealous mining.
The first thing I have to say about Lurker, is just how easy reading it is. Its short length, coupled with its fast, almost compulsive pace it’s quite comfortable to read in one sitting. This is, I think, an under-appreciated feature in fiction. It’s easy to forget that fiction is an entertainment medium, so to come away from Lurker with a distinct feeling of being entertained means to me that Fry has hit the mark.
He also didn’t over-explain. The creature he created — I won’t even call it “lurker” — is a suggestion and a series of images, a few potent facets enough to create an idea which creeps through the consciousness of the reader as easily as it does across the Yorkshire cliffs.
So too, Lurker shows a deep eathing in its location. Fry is clearly intimately familiar with this stretch of the North Yorkshire coast, and there is a presiding sense of local mythology running through the story, adding to the believability and making the horror more present, more real.
The only real criticism of it that I have is the counterpoint to the readability I praised before. It is a short novella, and both the story and Fry’s writing could have sustained it longer. A full novel would, I feel, have given the space for further explanation of Meg’s depression and allowed her rising suspicion of Harry — and the creeping horror of the creature which accompanies it — to have blossomed more slowly and with a more sinister pace.
But faced with Lurker the novella, I can’t hold that too strongly against it. Whatever length, this is a solid, enjoyable piece of writing. Monster horror has a tendency to lapse into the camp or trite, which might explain why Fry chose to set such a fierce pace, but the deftness of touch that he displays keeps it keen and focused. If the nine Gary Fry books to come from DarkFuse are of the same quality as Lurker, then they really have struck upon a sure winner.
November 14, 2013
Book review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
After losing their baby, Meg and Harry move to a remote cottage on the northeast coast of England. This marks the start of Lurker, a novel that gets progressively darker and more threatening with every turned page.
Meg starts to explore the nearby area, and she stumbles onto a deserted eighteenth-century quarry mine where she hears eerie noises. With her husband often not getting home until late, Meg spends countless hours on her own in the cottage, which is fine at first, but when she starts feeling like something followed her from those mines, she wishes Harry would come home more often.
Muddy handprints appear on the side of the cottage, with no explanation. Strange noises keep Meg from sleeping through the night. And the real question is: what is real, and what only exists inside her mind?
We don’t really get to know Harry. He’s in and out of the picture so often that he doesn’t get the time to develop a full personality. Meg however, we get to know really well and it soon becomes clear her sanity may not always be crystal clear. That’s what makes this book intriguing. The monsters are unique and original, and their descriptions made my heart pound in my chest. The author definitely has a way with words, and with describing things vividly. However, the real question “is it real or is it all in her mind” is what really brings out the best of this book.
The final event can be interpreted in different ways, each way equally horrific. What was the author’s true intention, or how should it all play out according to the author? I’m not sure I want to know – I thought the different possibilities ending was quite satisfying as it is.
A delightful, spine-chilling, quick read, ideal for a dreary winter night.
After losing their baby, Meg and Harry move to a remote cottage on the northeast coast of England. This marks the start of Lurker, a novel that gets progressively darker and more threatening with every turned page.
Meg starts to explore the nearby area, and she stumbles onto a deserted eighteenth-century quarry mine where she hears eerie noises. With her husband often not getting home until late, Meg spends countless hours on her own in the cottage, which is fine at first, but when she starts feeling like something followed her from those mines, she wishes Harry would come home more often.
Muddy handprints appear on the side of the cottage, with no explanation. Strange noises keep Meg from sleeping through the night. And the real question is: what is real, and what only exists inside her mind?
We don’t really get to know Harry. He’s in and out of the picture so often that he doesn’t get the time to develop a full personality. Meg however, we get to know really well and it soon becomes clear her sanity may not always be crystal clear. That’s what makes this book intriguing. The monsters are unique and original, and their descriptions made my heart pound in my chest. The author definitely has a way with words, and with describing things vividly. However, the real question “is it real or is it all in her mind” is what really brings out the best of this book.
The final event can be interpreted in different ways, each way equally horrific. What was the author’s true intention, or how should it all play out according to the author? I’m not sure I want to know – I thought the different possibilities ending was quite satisfying as it is.
A delightful, spine-chilling, quick read, ideal for a dreary winter night.
December 10, 2013
Creepy
3.5 stars
After a miscarriage Meg and her husband Harry move to a quiet cottage to help Meg heal from her devastating loss. Harry works long hours and is gone most of the time leaving Meg on her own in a delusional and paranoid state. She sees monstrous beings and hears strange noises on the surrounding land of the cottage and just seems to be losing her mind more and more. What are these things that a lurking around every turn. Are they real? Are they here to harm? or Are they here to show her what has been staring her right in the face all along?
3.5 stars
After a miscarriage Meg and her husband Harry move to a quiet cottage to help Meg heal from her devastating loss. Harry works long hours and is gone most of the time leaving Meg on her own in a delusional and paranoid state. She sees monstrous beings and hears strange noises on the surrounding land of the cottage and just seems to be losing her mind more and more. What are these things that a lurking around every turn. Are they real? Are they here to harm? or Are they here to show her what has been staring her right in the face all along?
December 20, 2013
Gary Fry's The Lurker is a psychological horror story that slowly creeps into your senses. Although I didn't care too much for the characters, I was hooked for most of the story. Nicely detailed locations and innovative descriptions of the "lurker" were some of the highlights for me.
I found a few elements too convenient for my taste and some of the coincidences felt forced. A character's delusional and paranoid state of mind has been done more effectively by horror author T.M. Wright. But this was a decent read and I would be interested in reading more by Gary Fry.
I found a few elements too convenient for my taste and some of the coincidences felt forced. A character's delusional and paranoid state of mind has been done more effectively by horror author T.M. Wright. But this was a decent read and I would be interested in reading more by Gary Fry.
August 14, 2016
The characters were unlikeable and this feeling didn't change throughout the book. Their actions and thoughts also were not believable. I wasn't crazy about the way the writer made each chapter drag out, in true Stephen King style. It took a lot of time to get to the action and, while I had toughed it out thinking that the main body of the book was a tense build up, I was disappointed with the ending.
January 26, 2014
Interesting good story.The writer did a good job describing the place
where the tale is setted and the state of the main protagonist,Meg.It´s
a story about solitude,sorrow and mental fragility with an unexpected en-
ding.Recommended.
where the tale is setted and the state of the main protagonist,Meg.It´s
a story about solitude,sorrow and mental fragility with an unexpected en-
ding.Recommended.
August 3, 2014
This is the 2nd Gary Fry novella that I have read. Lurker is a fast, easy read with long tentacled creepy images that let the reader decide which twisted and psychological ending is most appropriate to the story.
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