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In Darkness: Diary of an Outsider
“
In Darkness
” is a clever and humorous dark comedy with distinct 80s undertones. Its only aspiration is to tell a story that will keep you company, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. It’s a light read for anyone who wants to be immersed in a tale that winks at old-fashioned storytelling without taking itself too seriously. Definitely not recommended for fans of political correctness!
Bournemouth, in southwest England, one autumn a few years ago. Alex is a thirty-something relic, a boomer at heart who grew up idolizing the 1980s. He is a man who lives in the past, wallowing in his memories, with a moral compass that is as chaotic as his movie quotes and self-referential maxims. If he had his way, he’d gladly spend his entire existence lounging on the couch, listening to music, eating popcorn, and waiting for the next rerun of Happy Days.
His life is turned upside down when he meets Father Robert Arminius Donovan Flannagan, the priest officiating at his father’s funeral. The seemingly mild-mannered and dull reverend is soon revealed to be a representative of the Order of St. Andrew, an ancient organization dedicated to documenting and fighting dark phenomena. Despite their extreme differences in personality and temperament, Father Flannagan becomes not only Alex’s mentor, but also his only friend.
Today, Alex is almost always traveling – in economy class, of course – to places so bleak that just seeing them in photos makes you lose your will to live. Most of the time, he sleeps during the day and is active at night, just like the creatures he hunts. When he’s not working, he spends his days as if he were still 16 years old, juggling between leftover pizza slices and endless Netflix marathons in the company of his cat, Romeo, the only living being he can tolerate for more than a few minutes. He doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, is proudly misanthropic, conveniently haphephobic, superficially chauvinistic, and intermittently sociopathic.
During one of his journeys, Alex unexpectedly decides to break out his pen and paper and document his life in the service of the Order. He chooses to do so by telling the story of his latest case – one that will take him to Bakersville to help Rebecca, a twelve-year-old girl forced to confront an evil whose origin no one seems to be able to explain.
Set against the backdrop of a bucolic provincial town, Alex begins to wander around in a desperate search for clues that will help him unravel the mystery. He has no choice but to engage with a cast of oddball characters who seem to have stepped out of the pages of a classic from the bumbling and elusive retired Inspector Joseph Bell to the small – in every sense of the word – local criminal Angus Macmillan, to the verbose Billy Barber, whom Alex will playfully describe as “my gay friend, expert in matters of the heart, that I didn’t know I needed.”
This authentic outsider’s diary is a semi-serious account of an on-the-road adventure, saturated with British-tinged dark humor, and set during a particularly cold, rainy, and bipolar autumn season, as only the land of Albion can offer.
Bournemouth, in southwest England, one autumn a few years ago. Alex is a thirty-something relic, a boomer at heart who grew up idolizing the 1980s. He is a man who lives in the past, wallowing in his memories, with a moral compass that is as chaotic as his movie quotes and self-referential maxims. If he had his way, he’d gladly spend his entire existence lounging on the couch, listening to music, eating popcorn, and waiting for the next rerun of Happy Days.
His life is turned upside down when he meets Father Robert Arminius Donovan Flannagan, the priest officiating at his father’s funeral. The seemingly mild-mannered and dull reverend is soon revealed to be a representative of the Order of St. Andrew, an ancient organization dedicated to documenting and fighting dark phenomena. Despite their extreme differences in personality and temperament, Father Flannagan becomes not only Alex’s mentor, but also his only friend.
Today, Alex is almost always traveling – in economy class, of course – to places so bleak that just seeing them in photos makes you lose your will to live. Most of the time, he sleeps during the day and is active at night, just like the creatures he hunts. When he’s not working, he spends his days as if he were still 16 years old, juggling between leftover pizza slices and endless Netflix marathons in the company of his cat, Romeo, the only living being he can tolerate for more than a few minutes. He doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, is proudly misanthropic, conveniently haphephobic, superficially chauvinistic, and intermittently sociopathic.
During one of his journeys, Alex unexpectedly decides to break out his pen and paper and document his life in the service of the Order. He chooses to do so by telling the story of his latest case – one that will take him to Bakersville to help Rebecca, a twelve-year-old girl forced to confront an evil whose origin no one seems to be able to explain.
Set against the backdrop of a bucolic provincial town, Alex begins to wander around in a desperate search for clues that will help him unravel the mystery. He has no choice but to engage with a cast of oddball characters who seem to have stepped out of the pages of a classic from the bumbling and elusive retired Inspector Joseph Bell to the small – in every sense of the word – local criminal Angus Macmillan, to the verbose Billy Barber, whom Alex will playfully describe as “my gay friend, expert in matters of the heart, that I didn’t know I needed.”
This authentic outsider’s diary is a semi-serious account of an on-the-road adventure, saturated with British-tinged dark humor, and set during a particularly cold, rainy, and bipolar autumn season, as only the land of Albion can offer.
- GenresHorror
455 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2024
4 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 11, 2025
Alex is a thirty something year old who spends his days camped out on the couch eating take out, watching tv and talking to his cat Romeo. His life seems boring and uneventful until he’s inducted into the Order by his best friend, well only friend, Father Robert Flannagan. Alex then travels the world documenting and fighting dark phenomena wherever the Order seems fit to send him. During this latest journey, Alex decides to break out the pen and paper and document his latest case- that of a twelve-year-old girl being forced to confront an evil whose origin no one can seem to explain. Alex knows he must pull out all the stops to help this young girl before it’s too late.
The premise of this book sounds great, a man fighting crime against things that go bump in the night. This book is very good, we all know I love a good creature feature, this one being no different. The atmospheric writing of this book is on point, it truly feels like you are engulfed in England during a rainstorm in the middle of Autumn. The sarcasm and banter between Alex and literally everyone else in this book are great and makes for a funny read.
While I enjoyed the atmosphere and the dialogue of this book a lot, I wish there had been less dialogue and more of the monsters. Alex’s entire story is that he is a certified monster hunter for the Catholic church. We are talking Vampires, Revenants etc. and yet we see very little of the actual creatures. Much of this book is Alex and company obtaining research regarding who the creature could be. While this book did read like an episode of Supernatural, it was just really long. I think if it was shortened it would have been better because it did feel repetitive at times. My biggest issue with this entire book was when Alex went to visit the family of Carole Lewis, whose own sister describers her as a woman of color, and the author wrote “The place was neglected if not downright disgusting.” The author then continues to write about just how dirty the house and the family was. This being the only people of color in the entire book, it honestly feels gross.
While the book is full of dark humor, sarcasm and searching for creatures, I can’t overlook the length and repetition and overall description of POC in this book.
The premise of this book sounds great, a man fighting crime against things that go bump in the night. This book is very good, we all know I love a good creature feature, this one being no different. The atmospheric writing of this book is on point, it truly feels like you are engulfed in England during a rainstorm in the middle of Autumn. The sarcasm and banter between Alex and literally everyone else in this book are great and makes for a funny read.
While I enjoyed the atmosphere and the dialogue of this book a lot, I wish there had been less dialogue and more of the monsters. Alex’s entire story is that he is a certified monster hunter for the Catholic church. We are talking Vampires, Revenants etc. and yet we see very little of the actual creatures. Much of this book is Alex and company obtaining research regarding who the creature could be. While this book did read like an episode of Supernatural, it was just really long. I think if it was shortened it would have been better because it did feel repetitive at times. My biggest issue with this entire book was when Alex went to visit the family of Carole Lewis, whose own sister describers her as a woman of color, and the author wrote “The place was neglected if not downright disgusting.” The author then continues to write about just how dirty the house and the family was. This being the only people of color in the entire book, it honestly feels gross.
While the book is full of dark humor, sarcasm and searching for creatures, I can’t overlook the length and repetition and overall description of POC in this book.
November 9, 2025
With some of the sharpest sarcasm I’ve read in ages, In Darkness: Diary of an Outsider is a darkly funny supernatural mystery. As a translated work, it’s impressive how effortlessly the wit carries through. It’s biting and genuinely hilarious in moments where it absolutely shouldn’t be.
Told in a conversational tone, the story follows Alex; a rather unpleasant, very morally gray member of The Order, a secret group that deals in graveyards and monster hunting. Alongside Father Robert, (his friend and mentor) Alex finds himself tangled in a supernatural mystery in Bakersville, where young girls have started suffering under strange circumstances. Through his dealings with Rebecca, one of the aforementioned afflicted girls, they piece together what’s happening to this town.
This book is pure grit and grime. It’s dark, it’s dirty, it’s absolutely not politically correct. We’ve got monsters, gallows humor, and characters that leap off the page. I especially loved the dynamic between Alex and Father Robert. Their banter alone could’ve carried a whole book. It’s endearing and laugh out loud funny.
In Darkness is a slow burn mystery told in that classic storytelling way. Because of this, the pacing drags in the middle. I found myself more invested in the early chapters with Alex on the road and digging through graveyards than in the main Bakersville plot. Rebecca’s story just felt a little overlong and wordy, like it could’ve been tightened up. The atmosphere and humor made it easy to keep turning pages, though.
The supernatural elements are another highlight. I enjoyed the revenant concept utilized. It was fun to have this wider scope of baddies over just one kind of monster.
If you like Supernatural, morally gray leads, and dry, dark comedy, this one’s for you. It’s gritty, clever, and surprisingly charming for a story full of monsters and corpses. Alan Risi’s blend of flair and wicked British style humor completely won me over. It’s rare that I actually laugh out loud while reading but this one did it. I’m officially a new fan.
Told in a conversational tone, the story follows Alex; a rather unpleasant, very morally gray member of The Order, a secret group that deals in graveyards and monster hunting. Alongside Father Robert, (his friend and mentor) Alex finds himself tangled in a supernatural mystery in Bakersville, where young girls have started suffering under strange circumstances. Through his dealings with Rebecca, one of the aforementioned afflicted girls, they piece together what’s happening to this town.
This book is pure grit and grime. It’s dark, it’s dirty, it’s absolutely not politically correct. We’ve got monsters, gallows humor, and characters that leap off the page. I especially loved the dynamic between Alex and Father Robert. Their banter alone could’ve carried a whole book. It’s endearing and laugh out loud funny.
In Darkness is a slow burn mystery told in that classic storytelling way. Because of this, the pacing drags in the middle. I found myself more invested in the early chapters with Alex on the road and digging through graveyards than in the main Bakersville plot. Rebecca’s story just felt a little overlong and wordy, like it could’ve been tightened up. The atmosphere and humor made it easy to keep turning pages, though.
The supernatural elements are another highlight. I enjoyed the revenant concept utilized. It was fun to have this wider scope of baddies over just one kind of monster.
If you like Supernatural, morally gray leads, and dry, dark comedy, this one’s for you. It’s gritty, clever, and surprisingly charming for a story full of monsters and corpses. Alan Risi’s blend of flair and wicked British style humor completely won me over. It’s rare that I actually laugh out loud while reading but this one did it. I’m officially a new fan.
January 4, 2026
A Dark, Human, Unforgettable Read.
In Darkness isn’t just a paranormal mystery, it’s a careful descent into what truly scares us. No cheap thrills, no shortcuts; Risi uses the supernatural to explore hidden wounds, unspoken guilt, and truths buried too deep to face. The revenants aren’t simple monsters, but what’s born when pain is left to rot in silence.
At the center stands Alex: sarcastic, exhausted, and painfully human. Not a hero, but someone who keeps walking through the night so it won’t hurt anyone else. His irony is a shield, his solitude a choice, and following him hurts… yet you can’t look away.
Around him, the other characters add weight and depth : Father Robert, spiritual without moralizing; Kate, clear-headed and never victimized; Billy, a breath of light in the dark. And the revenants, drawn with a cruel grace that makes it impossible to see them as mere monsters.
Risi’s writing is cinematic, sensory, precise. He doesn’t shove horror in your face; he lets it breathe, lets it linger. The supernatural becomes a lens through which faith, doubt, injustice, and fragility come into focus.
In Darkness stays with you. You close it slowly, almost carefully, as if something were still breathing between the pages, intense, human, quietly devastating in all the right ways.
In Darkness isn’t just a paranormal mystery, it’s a careful descent into what truly scares us. No cheap thrills, no shortcuts; Risi uses the supernatural to explore hidden wounds, unspoken guilt, and truths buried too deep to face. The revenants aren’t simple monsters, but what’s born when pain is left to rot in silence.
At the center stands Alex: sarcastic, exhausted, and painfully human. Not a hero, but someone who keeps walking through the night so it won’t hurt anyone else. His irony is a shield, his solitude a choice, and following him hurts… yet you can’t look away.
Around him, the other characters add weight and depth : Father Robert, spiritual without moralizing; Kate, clear-headed and never victimized; Billy, a breath of light in the dark. And the revenants, drawn with a cruel grace that makes it impossible to see them as mere monsters.
Risi’s writing is cinematic, sensory, precise. He doesn’t shove horror in your face; he lets it breathe, lets it linger. The supernatural becomes a lens through which faith, doubt, injustice, and fragility come into focus.
In Darkness stays with you. You close it slowly, almost carefully, as if something were still breathing between the pages, intense, human, quietly devastating in all the right ways.
November 10, 2025
I don’t think I have ever read a book like this before but I loved it. I loved the banter between our MC Alex and, well, everyone lol. It added some light and humour in otherwise darker content.
Alex, along with members of the Catholic Church are part of a secret organization called “the order” (how cool) and their main task is hunting revenants. These beings are the “undead,” specifically vampires. They are in a state of unrest, have not moved on due to being out for revenge, and likely but not always it is to do with lineage of the newest victim.
It’s thought provoking- toys with the notion that over time, we have been less inclined to believe or trust in something we can’t physically see.
I found parts of it pulse pounding and others rather slow which is why it wasn’t a 5 star for me.
Alex, along with members of the Catholic Church are part of a secret organization called “the order” (how cool) and their main task is hunting revenants. These beings are the “undead,” specifically vampires. They are in a state of unrest, have not moved on due to being out for revenge, and likely but not always it is to do with lineage of the newest victim.
It’s thought provoking- toys with the notion that over time, we have been less inclined to believe or trust in something we can’t physically see.
I found parts of it pulse pounding and others rather slow which is why it wasn’t a 5 star for me.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews