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Dead Five's Pass
When a new cave is discovered in the Rocky Mountains, no one considered the terrible consequences that would follow.
A volunteer mountain rescuer dealing with the loss of a child, the break-up of a relationship and the grief of a rescue gone wrong, Carise Culey isn't sure she's the right person for the job when she receives an emergency call. A climber is missing, presumed dead, and his girlfriend is found bloodied, beaten and catatonic with fear.
Carise soon realizes the discovery of the cave is worse than anyone could have imagined and learns of another group of teenagers already on their way there. With the onset of harsh winter weather, and the threat of an unknown evil, she reaches out to her ex-boyfriend and fellow rescue volunteer, Marcel, for help.
The two must travel to the cave to save the kids, themselves, and perhaps all of humanity…
Dead Five's Pass is a tense, frightening tale of ancient secrets, high stakes, and dark, dangerous places.
A volunteer mountain rescuer dealing with the loss of a child, the break-up of a relationship and the grief of a rescue gone wrong, Carise Culey isn't sure she's the right person for the job when she receives an emergency call. A climber is missing, presumed dead, and his girlfriend is found bloodied, beaten and catatonic with fear.
Carise soon realizes the discovery of the cave is worse than anyone could have imagined and learns of another group of teenagers already on their way there. With the onset of harsh winter weather, and the threat of an unknown evil, she reaches out to her ex-boyfriend and fellow rescue volunteer, Marcel, for help.
The two must travel to the cave to save the kids, themselves, and perhaps all of humanity…
Dead Five's Pass is a tense, frightening tale of ancient secrets, high stakes, and dark, dangerous places.
269 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2014
About the author
Colin F. Barnes
25 books194 followersColin F. Barnes is a British author of thrillers featuring working-class heroes doing extraordinary things. He is published by 47North, Audible, and Podium. He is represented by Paul Lucas of Janklow & Nesbit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 13, 2014
When a new cave is discovered in Dead Five's Pass, local climbers go looking for it and don't return. Emergency rescue volunteer Carise answers the call and goes to find the boys with her old flame, Marcel. But what does the cave have to do with a bloody and batshit crazy girl that staggered down from the mountains? And what unknown horror lurks in the cave's stygian depths?
I got this from DarkFuse via Netgalley.
Colin Barnes crafts a claustrophobic Lovecraftian tale of horrors from space lurking in the dark places. What's worse than getting stranded in a cave in the mountains with nightfall coming? Getting stranded with a cyclopean horror that drives you mad before it devours you, that's what!
Unlike a lot of HPL influenced tales, I actually cared about the protagonists of Dead Five's Pass. Carise has hit rock bottom after a series of events wrecked her relationship with Marcel and now she's got a drinking problem. Marcel's in an unhappy relationship and can't seem to forget about Carise. Will they rekindle the old romance?
Surprisingly, that's not a big part of the story. The big part of the story is Carise and Marcel discovering what's lurking in the new cave beneath Dead Five's Pass and deciding what to do about it.
Colin F. Barnes' writing does a great job at conveying the feelings of desperation, claustrophobia, and hints of madness as the story goes on. Carise and Marcel are pushed beyond their limits, toward the edges of sanity, as they go up against cultists and the squamous object of their worship.
HPL would be proud. Four out of five stars.
I got this from DarkFuse via Netgalley.
Colin Barnes crafts a claustrophobic Lovecraftian tale of horrors from space lurking in the dark places. What's worse than getting stranded in a cave in the mountains with nightfall coming? Getting stranded with a cyclopean horror that drives you mad before it devours you, that's what!
Unlike a lot of HPL influenced tales, I actually cared about the protagonists of Dead Five's Pass. Carise has hit rock bottom after a series of events wrecked her relationship with Marcel and now she's got a drinking problem. Marcel's in an unhappy relationship and can't seem to forget about Carise. Will they rekindle the old romance?
Surprisingly, that's not a big part of the story. The big part of the story is Carise and Marcel discovering what's lurking in the new cave beneath Dead Five's Pass and deciding what to do about it.
Colin F. Barnes' writing does a great job at conveying the feelings of desperation, claustrophobia, and hints of madness as the story goes on. Carise and Marcel are pushed beyond their limits, toward the edges of sanity, as they go up against cultists and the squamous object of their worship.
HPL would be proud. Four out of five stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2014
4.5 Rating
This was my first read from Colin Barnes and I thoroughly enjoyed it, Dead Fives Pass packs an incredible amount into a novella and I felt like I’d read something a lot more substantial.
A new cave is discovered in Dead Fives Pass, named after the five fang like rocks at the base of the slope and via a mountaineers forum the race is on to explore the discovery. The terror begins almost straight away as the first to reach the cave encounter a malevolent entity, the tension then builds dramatically as another group arrive and everyone’s heading for a place that breeds an intense fear.
The main characters of the story are two of the volunteer rescue service Carise and Marcel, there’s history between these ex-lovers and characterization is excellent as both are hurled into a rescue attempt that turns into something a hell of a lot more dangerous.
Reading on the kindle I always highlight stand out pieces with the note function, which is becoming invaluable as my memory starts to wane, so here’s one of the characters impression of the cave.
‘The atmosphere was charged with malevolence and he felt himself being watched from all around as if those shapes and symbols on the walls were sentient. He couldn’t be sure what was real or imaginary, things shifted in the gloom and he thought he saw robed beings circle the chamber, staying mostly hidden in the enveloping shadows’.
Dead Fives Pass ticked all the boxes for me, characters I was invested in, decent story with an unimaginable adversary, hints of a supernatural horror and a foreboding atmosphere coupled with the appropriate brutality and bloodshed.
Recommended.
This was my first read from Colin Barnes and I thoroughly enjoyed it, Dead Fives Pass packs an incredible amount into a novella and I felt like I’d read something a lot more substantial.
A new cave is discovered in Dead Fives Pass, named after the five fang like rocks at the base of the slope and via a mountaineers forum the race is on to explore the discovery. The terror begins almost straight away as the first to reach the cave encounter a malevolent entity, the tension then builds dramatically as another group arrive and everyone’s heading for a place that breeds an intense fear.
The main characters of the story are two of the volunteer rescue service Carise and Marcel, there’s history between these ex-lovers and characterization is excellent as both are hurled into a rescue attempt that turns into something a hell of a lot more dangerous.
Reading on the kindle I always highlight stand out pieces with the note function, which is becoming invaluable as my memory starts to wane, so here’s one of the characters impression of the cave.
‘The atmosphere was charged with malevolence and he felt himself being watched from all around as if those shapes and symbols on the walls were sentient. He couldn’t be sure what was real or imaginary, things shifted in the gloom and he thought he saw robed beings circle the chamber, staying mostly hidden in the enveloping shadows’.
Dead Fives Pass ticked all the boxes for me, characters I was invested in, decent story with an unimaginable adversary, hints of a supernatural horror and a foreboding atmosphere coupled with the appropriate brutality and bloodshed.
Recommended.
February 7, 2014
4.5 stars.
This was my first read by Colin Barnes, and it was an adrenaline fueled adventure! A "Lovecraftian"-type story, this novella had just the right blend of archaic knowledge blended with creatures that modern man has never seen. I felt that it had an especially strong ending. Where some stories of this kind just come to an abrupt stop, this novella gives enough to the reader to let them continue on, mentally, with the possibilities presented. A great read by an author I'm now eager to read more from!
Recommended!
This was my first read by Colin Barnes, and it was an adrenaline fueled adventure! A "Lovecraftian"-type story, this novella had just the right blend of archaic knowledge blended with creatures that modern man has never seen. I felt that it had an especially strong ending. Where some stories of this kind just come to an abrupt stop, this novella gives enough to the reader to let them continue on, mentally, with the possibilities presented. A great read by an author I'm now eager to read more from!
Recommended!
May 4, 2014
An engaging blend of adventure with Lovecraftian horror, this tale of spelunkers racing to explore a newly discovered cave uncovering an unearthly horror that twists bones as easily as it shreds sanity is sure to please both canon purists and horror fans in general.
June 5, 2015
I've always thought of mountain climbing as a particularly masochistic activity. Barnes threw it some pure sadism on top of that as well. Once some climbing enthusiasts make a discovery they can't resist exploring, it all turns into a snafu of epic proportions. The gore, the ancient secret, the fight for survival. And oh yes, there will be tentacles. As it is occasionally the case, the backstory was more interesting than the actual narrative. Alas, only so many questions can be answered in a short format. The readers learn enough to be intrigued and then it's all wham bam etc. This was a fun read a tad action heavy in the second half, but plenty entertaining. Recommended.
January 26, 2014
This is the second book I've read from Darkfuse's novella series. They continue to be of good quality and pretty straight-ahead horror. Dead Five's Pass by Colin F. Barnes is a great read for the Lovecraft crowd. It is a nice addition to the Cthulhu Mythology and does a good job of combining modern horror and Lovecraftian elements. The ancient ones are stilling reeking havoc, this time in a mountain resort area and it is up to two mountain rescue professionals with a bit of history between them to try to save the world. The author is quite excellent at describing the horror of the ancient ones complete with madness and tentacles. While Barnes certainly has a good grip on this horror sub-genre, the novella also has a firm action-adventure feel as our heroes race against time. The only thing that bothered me was in the relationship between our protagonists. It seems a little too soap operatic for my taste and took away some of the dread. Yet I think most readers will not necessarily agree with me. I still see it as a firm three and a half star read and would like to read more by this author who was previously unknown to me.
June 25, 2014
Carise teams up with her ex-boyfriend, Marcel, to find a climber who may be trying to reach some new caves. His girlfriend has been found bloodied and beaten and in an almost catatonic state. They must find him before someone or something else does.
A very action packed lovecraftian novella that is lots of fun to read. The characters were well fleshed out, flawed but sympathetic they had you rooting for them to escape the cave. Whilst the pacing was fast and furious I thought it lost a little momentum at the end however it was still hugely enjoyable.
This novella has encouraged me to pick up more work from the author and I look forward to reading more from him.
March 13, 2014
I've never really understood the appeal of mountain climbing. It's a mountain. It's steep. I get it. Maybe if there was something up there I wanted I might be enticed into trudging my butt up some snow-capped peak, but all the cool shit is down here among civilization. Climbing a mountain is like hitting a high score on that old Galaga game at the arcade: sure, you did it, but the only people who care are the others playing the game.
Take the poor saps in Dead Five's Pass for instance. A young couple are the first to run afoul of some strange menace near the top of the mountain. It's the kind of terrible fate that seems more fitting for Wall Street executives, not thrill-seeking coeds looking for some neat little geographical anomaly. And that anomaly is attracting quite a few climbers and they're all in trouble if two skilled, albeit psychologically wrecked, rescue workers can't get up there to save them.
Carise and Marcel used to be a dream team in the rescuing department, but that was before Carise suffered a miscarriage, deep depression, alcoholism, and terrible guilt over a stranded boy's death. Now they hardly speak, haven't teamed in years, and Marcel's new lady love, Janis, is incensed with the idea they must team up again to save the young men who have traversed the mountain pass in search of the new cave found via satellite photos. The story of Carise and Marcel might feel a little soap opera at first glance, but it doesn't take long for Barnes to squeeze the humanity out of their circumstances. And this story needed a healthy dose of humanity, because what's up in that mountain is the furthest thing from human.
The style of horror feels akin to The Thing and Phantoms and some of those other horror stories involving terrible monstrosities lurking just beneath the surface of civility. In this instance, the Lovecraftian vibe is clear. Heck, I was surprised there wasn't a direct reference to it. With as many tentacles and mind-warping visages lurking in the shadows, it's a wonder Barnes managed to dodge the obvious. By the end, it doesn't feel like a Lovecraft story, but a Barnes story. And lemme tell ya, that's not too shabby.
I could have used a little more polish on the Marcel/Janis relationship, as it felt a bit perfunctory and left in the lurch once the rescue efforts started getting extra gruesome. Aside from that though, Colin F. Barnes offers one bone-chilling climb up a mountain of madness.
Take the poor saps in Dead Five's Pass for instance. A young couple are the first to run afoul of some strange menace near the top of the mountain. It's the kind of terrible fate that seems more fitting for Wall Street executives, not thrill-seeking coeds looking for some neat little geographical anomaly. And that anomaly is attracting quite a few climbers and they're all in trouble if two skilled, albeit psychologically wrecked, rescue workers can't get up there to save them.
Carise and Marcel used to be a dream team in the rescuing department, but that was before Carise suffered a miscarriage, deep depression, alcoholism, and terrible guilt over a stranded boy's death. Now they hardly speak, haven't teamed in years, and Marcel's new lady love, Janis, is incensed with the idea they must team up again to save the young men who have traversed the mountain pass in search of the new cave found via satellite photos. The story of Carise and Marcel might feel a little soap opera at first glance, but it doesn't take long for Barnes to squeeze the humanity out of their circumstances. And this story needed a healthy dose of humanity, because what's up in that mountain is the furthest thing from human.
The style of horror feels akin to The Thing and Phantoms and some of those other horror stories involving terrible monstrosities lurking just beneath the surface of civility. In this instance, the Lovecraftian vibe is clear. Heck, I was surprised there wasn't a direct reference to it. With as many tentacles and mind-warping visages lurking in the shadows, it's a wonder Barnes managed to dodge the obvious. By the end, it doesn't feel like a Lovecraft story, but a Barnes story. And lemme tell ya, that's not too shabby.
I could have used a little more polish on the Marcel/Janis relationship, as it felt a bit perfunctory and left in the lurch once the rescue efforts started getting extra gruesome. Aside from that though, Colin F. Barnes offers one bone-chilling climb up a mountain of madness.
September 22, 2015
Dead Five's Pass represented something of a challenge to me. On paper, the subject matter was completely up my alley. But I'd never heard of author Colin F Barnes before. Over time, I've learned that a reliable author is worth more than a familiar story-line (consider the proliferation of zombie apocalyptic fiction as an example of what I mean), so I was a little hesitant and found this one never quite forced itself through onto the top of my TBR pile.
Then the Kindle Unlimited program came along. And (at least to me), the type of fiction you're willing to take a chance on, is exactly what we KU subscribers live for...
Dead Five's Pass starts strongly as mountain climbers are lured toward a remote pass, only to fall afoul of something living within the network of caves that honeycomb the mountain. Carise and Marcel are ex-partners with a painful history who are called upon to investigate and rescue said climbers. What they find is intriguingly Lovecraftian in nature, and most certainly a threat to more than just those who happen to climb through The Rockies.
Barnes weaves an interesting mystery through the first half of his novella, ramping up the tension as his two protagonists move to confront the evil he sparingly provides information on. The most effective scenes are those that provide a glimpse of what lives beneath the mountain, and the first run in Carise and Marcel have with said creature. After that, things become a bit more bog standard, even if plot threads (such as Marcel's current relationship) are all but abandoned in the rush to wrap up the main narrative. As such, the story never really came together for me in a wholly satisfying way. Barnes also leaves the reader to deal with a very open ended story, and no guarantee that any further word on the world of Dead Five's Pass is forthcoming.
The writing, however, is mostly very strong and at 108 pages, no-one is going to accuse this breezy read at outstaying its welcome. And though I was hoping for more, I definitely saw enough promise in this one to seek out more from Barnes and hope it won't take quite so long for his next work to sit atop my not insubstantial TBR pile.
3 Blood Painted Sigils for Dead Five's Pass.
Then the Kindle Unlimited program came along. And (at least to me), the type of fiction you're willing to take a chance on, is exactly what we KU subscribers live for...
Dead Five's Pass starts strongly as mountain climbers are lured toward a remote pass, only to fall afoul of something living within the network of caves that honeycomb the mountain. Carise and Marcel are ex-partners with a painful history who are called upon to investigate and rescue said climbers. What they find is intriguingly Lovecraftian in nature, and most certainly a threat to more than just those who happen to climb through The Rockies.
Barnes weaves an interesting mystery through the first half of his novella, ramping up the tension as his two protagonists move to confront the evil he sparingly provides information on. The most effective scenes are those that provide a glimpse of what lives beneath the mountain, and the first run in Carise and Marcel have with said creature. After that, things become a bit more bog standard, even if plot threads (such as Marcel's current relationship) are all but abandoned in the rush to wrap up the main narrative. As such, the story never really came together for me in a wholly satisfying way. Barnes also leaves the reader to deal with a very open ended story, and no guarantee that any further word on the world of Dead Five's Pass is forthcoming.
The writing, however, is mostly very strong and at 108 pages, no-one is going to accuse this breezy read at outstaying its welcome. And though I was hoping for more, I definitely saw enough promise in this one to seek out more from Barnes and hope it won't take quite so long for his next work to sit atop my not insubstantial TBR pile.
3 Blood Painted Sigils for Dead Five's Pass.
February 7, 2014
Dead five's Pass was a very good fast paced read. This is the first book by Colin I have read and it will not be the last. The story is centered around Carise and Marcel who work as volunteer mountain rescuers. The two had a relationship two years prior. They both get the call to go rescue two stuck climbers at the top of Dead Five's Pass. This is where the story gets going. If I had to paint you a picture of this story it would be Lovecrafts take on the movie The Descent. I enjoyed reading this story a lot, I gave it 4 stars.
January 3, 2014
Reviewed originally @Blood,Sweat and Books
Dead Five's Pass is a Novella I went into with only moderate expectations. Sure it sounded good but so had many others with similar premises and those all fell flat. So naturally I was quite surprised when I found myself actually being scared by the unknown presence slaughtering all those poor souls in Dead Five's Pass. Oh, and die they did. This little Novella is certainly Horror filled and not for the weakly stomached. Good for me but might be a little off putting for some.
One of the best parts about this Novella is that it didn't shy away from Character or plot development despite its length. If you like back story this Novella has plenty. Angst ridden romance more your liking? Yup, it has that as well. Action packed sequences that will get your heart pumping? Bingo, included. Dead Five's Pass is a near perfectly packaged full length novel that just so happens to be in Novella form. It's good and it shows with every turn of the page.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the Horror. The story is gore filled but each death serves a purpose to propel the story forward rather than being brutal for no other reason than shock factor. If I could adequately describe the story I'd call it a cross between Aliens, Dante's Peak and Super 8 and even then I'd have to say that it still feels unique all its own.
Final Thoughts
I'm pleased to say that not only were my expectations met but exceeded. Dead Five's Pass is a Novella that I didn't want to end and one I hope continues on in the future. Based on the ending I'm hoping that might come true. If you like Horror than Dead Five's Pass is a Novella you don't want to miss. With that being said, I'll be rating Dead Five's Pass ★★★★.
*Novella copy reviewed through Netgalley. All opinions provided are my own and I was not compensated in any which way for providing them.
Dead Five's Pass is a Novella I went into with only moderate expectations. Sure it sounded good but so had many others with similar premises and those all fell flat. So naturally I was quite surprised when I found myself actually being scared by the unknown presence slaughtering all those poor souls in Dead Five's Pass. Oh, and die they did. This little Novella is certainly Horror filled and not for the weakly stomached. Good for me but might be a little off putting for some.
One of the best parts about this Novella is that it didn't shy away from Character or plot development despite its length. If you like back story this Novella has plenty. Angst ridden romance more your liking? Yup, it has that as well. Action packed sequences that will get your heart pumping? Bingo, included. Dead Five's Pass is a near perfectly packaged full length novel that just so happens to be in Novella form. It's good and it shows with every turn of the page.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the Horror. The story is gore filled but each death serves a purpose to propel the story forward rather than being brutal for no other reason than shock factor. If I could adequately describe the story I'd call it a cross between Aliens, Dante's Peak and Super 8 and even then I'd have to say that it still feels unique all its own.
Final Thoughts
I'm pleased to say that not only were my expectations met but exceeded. Dead Five's Pass is a Novella that I didn't want to end and one I hope continues on in the future. Based on the ending I'm hoping that might come true. If you like Horror than Dead Five's Pass is a Novella you don't want to miss. With that being said, I'll be rating Dead Five's Pass ★★★★.
*Novella copy reviewed through Netgalley. All opinions provided are my own and I was not compensated in any which way for providing them.
February 25, 2014
Another enjoyable novella from Darkfuse, which provides quite a bit of variety in what they publish---everything from dark and introspective literary style dark fiction to quick, fun thrillers.
Enjoyable B-movie monster romp of the Lovecraft variety. Not deep by any means, but fun. Pacing was right on---this one just flew by. If you are wanting something that will provide a fun hour or so, this novella will do quite nicely.
I am a big fan of novellas like this one (monster romps that are well written with full-steam-ahead pacing) and I gave it four stars.
Enjoyable B-movie monster romp of the Lovecraft variety. Not deep by any means, but fun. Pacing was right on---this one just flew by. If you are wanting something that will provide a fun hour or so, this novella will do quite nicely.
I am a big fan of novellas like this one (monster romps that are well written with full-steam-ahead pacing) and I gave it four stars.
March 2, 2014
Book review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
This is my first read by Colin F. Barnes, and it’s definitely far from dissapointing. Dead Five’s Pass is dark, terrible, and harbors a form of cosmic horror creepy enough to startle you in your seat. Very Lovecraftian, with a Cthulhu-like monster threatening the lives of people in a small town. I don’t typically find this type of dark fiction very creepy, but Colin F. Barnes succeeded where plenty of others have failed – Dead Five’s Pass is definitely terrifying, especially when you stop to think about what would happen if this took place in real life.
Carise, our main character, has some dark shadows in her past, most of them related to her relationship with her now ex-boyfriend, Marcel. However, when a distressed call arrives from a group of mountain climbers, Carise needs Marcel’s help if she wants to save those kids.
However, what Carise and Marcel find as they reach the mountain, is something darker than either of them could’ve imagined. Not only are the kids’ lives at stake, but perhaps even the lives of all humanity.
The story doesn’t rank that high in originality, but it offers plenty of fresh elements to make up for that. Carise is a troubled heroine, a failure at many things, and only succesful in a handful of others. This makes her intriguing. Marcel? Hardly as interesting. He’s okay, I suppose, but I found him kind of dull.
For a novella, I was truly impressed by the amount of character development and plot development. Carise at the end of the book barely resembles the Carise we met at the start.
Strong writing, good plot, solid characters, and creepy. What more can you want?
I received a copy from this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first read by Colin F. Barnes, and it’s definitely far from dissapointing. Dead Five’s Pass is dark, terrible, and harbors a form of cosmic horror creepy enough to startle you in your seat. Very Lovecraftian, with a Cthulhu-like monster threatening the lives of people in a small town. I don’t typically find this type of dark fiction very creepy, but Colin F. Barnes succeeded where plenty of others have failed – Dead Five’s Pass is definitely terrifying, especially when you stop to think about what would happen if this took place in real life.
Carise, our main character, has some dark shadows in her past, most of them related to her relationship with her now ex-boyfriend, Marcel. However, when a distressed call arrives from a group of mountain climbers, Carise needs Marcel’s help if she wants to save those kids.
However, what Carise and Marcel find as they reach the mountain, is something darker than either of them could’ve imagined. Not only are the kids’ lives at stake, but perhaps even the lives of all humanity.
The story doesn’t rank that high in originality, but it offers plenty of fresh elements to make up for that. Carise is a troubled heroine, a failure at many things, and only succesful in a handful of others. This makes her intriguing. Marcel? Hardly as interesting. He’s okay, I suppose, but I found him kind of dull.
For a novella, I was truly impressed by the amount of character development and plot development. Carise at the end of the book barely resembles the Carise we met at the start.
Strong writing, good plot, solid characters, and creepy. What more can you want?
I received a copy from this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2014
I'm a sucker for a good snowy scare story. Set up a big nasty and its unwitting victims against a frigid landscape, and I'm in. Thankfully, Dead Five's Pass lived up fully to my expectations and I got exactly what I was looking for. And hey, that cover art? Stunning.
Satellite images have revealed a new cave system along Dead Five's Pass, and a group of college kids from their university climbing club are on a race to be the first there. One couple arrives early, much to their detriment, and discover the terror residing within. One has just enough time to radio in an emergency call before the inevitable, which prompts volunteer rescuers Carise and her estranged lover, Marcel, to set out along the mountain pass to save the climbers.
In short order, author Colin F. Barnes introduces us to the main cast, sets the blood flowing, establishes the unsettling presence of broken minds and eerie glyphs, and the threat of a large, tentacled monster hidden within the cave.
Carise and Marcel are given depth by the shared trauma of her miscarriage two years earlier. Losing their child drove them apart, particularly as Carise grew more despondent and found salvation in booze. My heart went out to them, and Barnes won me over to Carise's side immediately. She's a strong protag to root for!
Barnes manages to escalate the nature of the opposition his mountain rescuers face without making the book feel unbalanced or over-stuffed, and he keeps the pace running smooth. The action is crisp, and the story itself makes for a fun bit of adventure with its cave setting. It's easy to see why this title has earned a 2014 DarkFuse Reader's Choice nomination for best novella. Dead Five's Pass is another strong entry in DarkFuse's lineup and well worth a read.
Satellite images have revealed a new cave system along Dead Five's Pass, and a group of college kids from their university climbing club are on a race to be the first there. One couple arrives early, much to their detriment, and discover the terror residing within. One has just enough time to radio in an emergency call before the inevitable, which prompts volunteer rescuers Carise and her estranged lover, Marcel, to set out along the mountain pass to save the climbers.
In short order, author Colin F. Barnes introduces us to the main cast, sets the blood flowing, establishes the unsettling presence of broken minds and eerie glyphs, and the threat of a large, tentacled monster hidden within the cave.
Carise and Marcel are given depth by the shared trauma of her miscarriage two years earlier. Losing their child drove them apart, particularly as Carise grew more despondent and found salvation in booze. My heart went out to them, and Barnes won me over to Carise's side immediately. She's a strong protag to root for!
Barnes manages to escalate the nature of the opposition his mountain rescuers face without making the book feel unbalanced or over-stuffed, and he keeps the pace running smooth. The action is crisp, and the story itself makes for a fun bit of adventure with its cave setting. It's easy to see why this title has earned a 2014 DarkFuse Reader's Choice nomination for best novella. Dead Five's Pass is another strong entry in DarkFuse's lineup and well worth a read.
September 4, 2016
Colin F. Barnes has skillfully woven a high paced, white-knuckled, free-fall of a horror tale in "Dead Five's Pass" that will wrap it's tentacles around your mind long after the last sentences have been consumed. With a nod to H. P. Lovecraft, Barnes makes this tale of an ancient awakening alien beast in the frigid Canadian wilds all his own, with vivid sensory images and an uncannily multi-faceted peek into the hearts and minds of his characters. This insightful mixture of dynamic emotional tension and high paced action create the perfect recipe for edge-of-your-chair suspense. While our heroes Carise and Marcel use their combined search and rescue skills to attempt to destroy the monstrous beast, they also strive to redeem themselves of a personally tragic past and prevent a potentially tragic future. Full of action, horror, and a full range of expertly wrought emotions, from grief and guilt to tenderness and sacrifice, this intelligent thriller will leave you both satisfied and hungry for more.
April 1, 2014
2 AND 1/2 STARS
Dead Five's Pass by relative newcomer Colin F. Barnes is a fast paced, generally entertaining read. And while it was competently written, the story, unfortunately felt recycled and added nothing new to the Cthulhu-style mythos. Once the premise is set, anyone who has read this type of Lovecraft homage before, will find the story fairly bland and the by-the-numbers encounters and battles rather pedestrian.
The two main protagonists are somewhat interesting because of the their troubled history, but the remaining characters feel too clichéd. My only other big problem with this story is the lack of real atmosphere. The author's narrative is very matter-of-fact and rarely blends his prose with descriptions of any of the five senses that the makes an encounter with the Old Ones so special. Another disappointment was the number of typos my Kindle version had. I was surprised at this, considering Darkfuse usually distributes a thoroughly professional product. A decent read if you are unfamiliar with Lovecraft worlds, but skip it otherwise.
Dead Five's Pass by relative newcomer Colin F. Barnes is a fast paced, generally entertaining read. And while it was competently written, the story, unfortunately felt recycled and added nothing new to the Cthulhu-style mythos. Once the premise is set, anyone who has read this type of Lovecraft homage before, will find the story fairly bland and the by-the-numbers encounters and battles rather pedestrian.
The two main protagonists are somewhat interesting because of the their troubled history, but the remaining characters feel too clichéd. My only other big problem with this story is the lack of real atmosphere. The author's narrative is very matter-of-fact and rarely blends his prose with descriptions of any of the five senses that the makes an encounter with the Old Ones so special. Another disappointment was the number of typos my Kindle version had. I was surprised at this, considering Darkfuse usually distributes a thoroughly professional product. A decent read if you are unfamiliar with Lovecraft worlds, but skip it otherwise.
May 24, 2014
This is the story of Carise, a volunteer mountain rescuer. Her life has turned into an alcoholic mess after a miscarriage and a rescue that went horribly wrong. Persuaded to go on one last rescue with her ex, Marcel, can she curb her drinking and her feelings for him to facilitate the rescue? Before too long it becomes clear this is no ordinary rescue and she will have to rely on Marcel more than ever...
At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this, but it hooked me after the second or third page. The pace was relentless and crackled with tension. The flawed relationship between Carise and Marcel was well played out and their characters shone off the page. The descriptions were vivid and the atmosphere claustrophobic. I liked the nod to Lovcraft with the monster and the ending worked well and wasn't too predictable. I recommend this for a quick but action filled read.
At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this, but it hooked me after the second or third page. The pace was relentless and crackled with tension. The flawed relationship between Carise and Marcel was well played out and their characters shone off the page. The descriptions were vivid and the atmosphere claustrophobic. I liked the nod to Lovcraft with the monster and the ending worked well and wasn't too predictable. I recommend this for a quick but action filled read.
September 10, 2016
This was a good, fast paced, Lovecraftian creature feature from Colin F Barnes. A cave mysteriously appears on a remote mountain top next to several strange, ancient rock formations. Spelunkers are racing to see who can be the first to explore the new realm, but are in for a lot more than they bargained for...something in the cave wants to devour them. Now it's a race to see who can get out alive. It will be up to two mountain rescuers and former lovers to band back together to help save the climbers and just maybe, the entire world in the process.
A solid, creature feature and a quick, easy read splattered with appropriate dollops of blood. I enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more from Mr. Barnes. 3.5+ Stars
A solid, creature feature and a quick, easy read splattered with appropriate dollops of blood. I enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more from Mr. Barnes. 3.5+ Stars
August 20, 2014
When a girl is found bloody, bruised and acting strangely, Carise and her ex Marcel set out to rescue the girl's boyfriend who is still lost in the mountains and possibly dead. Once they get there, they find a new cave that contains something terrifying. Something older than human civilization that is starting to stir and look for food.
Wow this was a fun read! Barnes ramps up the suspense fairly quickly and keeps it going throughout the book while creating a story that was hard to put down. With this book, Barnes has earned a place on my list of authors to read more from. Recommended!
Wow this was a fun read! Barnes ramps up the suspense fairly quickly and keeps it going throughout the book while creating a story that was hard to put down. With this book, Barnes has earned a place on my list of authors to read more from. Recommended!
February 5, 2016
Dead Five's Pass This is a fairly short horror novella about several mountain climbers that are searching for a new cave and end up finding more then they bargained for. I was expecting to really like this because I loved Barnes dystopian book Salt but this one did not impress me. It was a little too unbelievable and it finished with an open ending which I despise. It also hints of more to come but I haven't seen anything yet though and this was written in 2014. I think I'll just stick with his dystopian series since this horror book didn't do much for me.
August 28, 2016
Great fast paced read. This is my first experience with Colin Barnes and I really liked what I read. The story is an action adventure mixed with a bit of horror for good measure. It was hard to put down until I finished it and was pleasantly surprised with the ending. I will be looking for more books by this author.
August 25, 2016
A totally stunning book, a one-stop read for me, perfectly arranged with wonderful Lovecraftian overtones and underpinnings. Extraordinarily scary. Don't read at night!
January 1, 2014
A solid Lovecraftian mythos novella
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/dead-f... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/dead-f... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
February 14, 2014
My review for the book can be found at the link below:
http://massmovement.co.uk/dead-fives-...
http://massmovement.co.uk/dead-fives-...
July 28, 2022
Barnes, Colin - Dead Five’s Pass
When a new cave, hitherto undiscovered, opens up, cavers scramble to see who can explore first.
No one wonders, how did his opening suddenly appear?
Nor does anyone consider whether it is uninhabited.
Brisk novella has strong pulpy roots, and borrows heavily from HPL.
Two characters are granted superficial development. All others are dinner specials … meals.
When a new cave, hitherto undiscovered, opens up, cavers scramble to see who can explore first.
No one wonders, how did his opening suddenly appear?
Nor does anyone consider whether it is uninhabited.
Brisk novella has strong pulpy roots, and borrows heavily from HPL.
Two characters are granted superficial development. All others are dinner specials … meals.
February 18, 2014
I recently read Colin Barnes latest novella, Dead Five’s Pass, and it’s a checklist of everything that gives me a bad case of the heebie-jeebies and the screaming habdabs. It’s got a bit of just about everything that makes my flesh crawl – ancient many-tentacled evil, primal darkness, moments of unexpected violence, claustrophobic spaces, fear of the unknown and even heights. He’s only gone and bundled all these elements together in one convenient location, it’s a veritable who’s who of my various neuroses.
When we first meet Carise she’s broken, slowly coming apart at the seams. She’s crawled into a bottle and is quite happy to stay there for as long as possible. She’s kidding herself though, somewhere deep inside there’s still a spark of the old Carise and she’s seeking redemption. She wants to try to undo past mistakes and reconnect with the world. As the plot unfolds, we get to discover that there are vast reserves of strength that exist within her. They power her forward with a grim, steely determination.
The relationship between Carise and Marcel is well realised. You immediately pick up on the history and depth of feeling that exists between the two. This is a couple who are used to relying on one another and it’s interesting to see how traumatic events have stretched that trust to it’s limit. Both have tried to move on, but when circumstances bring them back together again, all the old feelings resurface. I think the best horror occurs when ordinary people are forced into extraordinary circumstances. Carise and Marcel are just ordinary people, trying to get by, but the force beneath Dead Five’s Pass has other ideas in mind.
Barnes also injects some pitch black humor into the mix. It’s what I like to call the “don’t go to into the cellar” syndrome. Certain characters just can’t help but make bonehead decisions can they? The good news is that they get exactly the sort off send off they deserve. Like when you’re watching a good horror movie and you spot the levels of stupidity displayed by certain characters, it never fails to amaze. Admittedly, as a rule, these do tend to be the most expendable members of the cast. Shall we spend a few hours hiking out of the area, baring in mind we’ve just discovered a horribly mutilated corpse, or shall we go into the exceptionally creepy cave just over there. You know the one, that one over there where the trail of blood is coming from.
I’ve been thinking about this and I reckon if we got The Descent and Cliffhanger together, locked them a cupboard with a bottle of wine and some suitably appropriate mood music then Dead Fives Pass would be the resulting offspring. Creepy, action packed and thoroughly entertaining, I enjoyed it immensely. Barnes knows exactly what elements are required to craft a good yarn and it shows on every page.
I can only conclude from reading this novella that Mr. Barnes has psychic powers and can see directly into the dark innermost recesses of my brain. He then chooses to write his horror based on what he finds there. I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly apologise to him now. I’m sorry Colin, I know it’s not pleasant in there, I can only hope you found plenty of useful ideas.
Dead Five’s Pass is published by Dark Fuse and is available from 16th February 2014.
When we first meet Carise she’s broken, slowly coming apart at the seams. She’s crawled into a bottle and is quite happy to stay there for as long as possible. She’s kidding herself though, somewhere deep inside there’s still a spark of the old Carise and she’s seeking redemption. She wants to try to undo past mistakes and reconnect with the world. As the plot unfolds, we get to discover that there are vast reserves of strength that exist within her. They power her forward with a grim, steely determination.
The relationship between Carise and Marcel is well realised. You immediately pick up on the history and depth of feeling that exists between the two. This is a couple who are used to relying on one another and it’s interesting to see how traumatic events have stretched that trust to it’s limit. Both have tried to move on, but when circumstances bring them back together again, all the old feelings resurface. I think the best horror occurs when ordinary people are forced into extraordinary circumstances. Carise and Marcel are just ordinary people, trying to get by, but the force beneath Dead Five’s Pass has other ideas in mind.
Barnes also injects some pitch black humor into the mix. It’s what I like to call the “don’t go to into the cellar” syndrome. Certain characters just can’t help but make bonehead decisions can they? The good news is that they get exactly the sort off send off they deserve. Like when you’re watching a good horror movie and you spot the levels of stupidity displayed by certain characters, it never fails to amaze. Admittedly, as a rule, these do tend to be the most expendable members of the cast. Shall we spend a few hours hiking out of the area, baring in mind we’ve just discovered a horribly mutilated corpse, or shall we go into the exceptionally creepy cave just over there. You know the one, that one over there where the trail of blood is coming from.
I’ve been thinking about this and I reckon if we got The Descent and Cliffhanger together, locked them a cupboard with a bottle of wine and some suitably appropriate mood music then Dead Fives Pass would be the resulting offspring. Creepy, action packed and thoroughly entertaining, I enjoyed it immensely. Barnes knows exactly what elements are required to craft a good yarn and it shows on every page.
I can only conclude from reading this novella that Mr. Barnes has psychic powers and can see directly into the dark innermost recesses of my brain. He then chooses to write his horror based on what he finds there. I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly apologise to him now. I’m sorry Colin, I know it’s not pleasant in there, I can only hope you found plenty of useful ideas.
Dead Five’s Pass is published by Dark Fuse and is available from 16th February 2014.
October 3, 2014
Dead Five’s Pass by Colin F. Barnes is a wintery tale about a pair of mountain rescuers dispatched to find four young climbers headed to a location where two other young climbers met a gruesome end only a few hours before. The rescuers, Carise and Marcel, find a previously unknown cave filled with strange glowing symbols and housing a beastly presence in the form of tentacles sprouting hooks and spikes that latch on to and yank the unwary to certain death. Rarely does anyone escape the cave alive – and those that do have been damaged in terrifying ways. There is a subplot involving the now-ended romantic relationship between Carise and Marcel – and the unborn baby that they lost. This creates some minor tension between the two which is quickly lost when the pace of the story escalates.
Overall, Dead Five’s Pass is a decent, if not fairly predictable read. The frigid atmosphere of the Canadian Rockies provided a good setting for the bleak story line. The tension is established early and you will be set for the ride. The characterizations are somewhat wooden, but they are serviceable for the plot. The thrills really pick up when Carise and Marcel enter the cave for a second time (see below for a comment about this). The action becomes nonstop and what the couple finds deep within the cave added an extra chill to the read.
The book does have a number of gaffes that gave me pause while reading. First, Carise and Marcel engage in incredibly stupid behavior – namely going into the cave for a second time. I found myself thinking, “Oh, come on” and groaning at the too-often used horror cliché at taking a stupid course of action (at least they didn’t split up while underground). Second, the author struggles with weather continuity. At times, it is snowing, at other times it is not, then the characters are in the midst of a blizzard… and people are flying helicopters in blizzards with no visibility – in the Rockies, no less. Third, Carise and Marcel discuss a theory that the presence of adolescents in the cave has somehow awakened the creature. The young climbers are described as “kids” and teenagers. However, they are also graduate students and medical students. At the very least that would make them in their mid-twenties – young but not teens. These types of things nudged me from the narrative flow and had me wondering what the Darkfuse editors were thinking when they were reading the work.
So, overall, a good read, but not outstanding like other Darkfuse titles.
Overall, Dead Five’s Pass is a decent, if not fairly predictable read. The frigid atmosphere of the Canadian Rockies provided a good setting for the bleak story line. The tension is established early and you will be set for the ride. The characterizations are somewhat wooden, but they are serviceable for the plot. The thrills really pick up when Carise and Marcel enter the cave for a second time (see below for a comment about this). The action becomes nonstop and what the couple finds deep within the cave added an extra chill to the read.
The book does have a number of gaffes that gave me pause while reading. First, Carise and Marcel engage in incredibly stupid behavior – namely going into the cave for a second time. I found myself thinking, “Oh, come on” and groaning at the too-often used horror cliché at taking a stupid course of action (at least they didn’t split up while underground). Second, the author struggles with weather continuity. At times, it is snowing, at other times it is not, then the characters are in the midst of a blizzard… and people are flying helicopters in blizzards with no visibility – in the Rockies, no less. Third, Carise and Marcel discuss a theory that the presence of adolescents in the cave has somehow awakened the creature. The young climbers are described as “kids” and teenagers. However, they are also graduate students and medical students. At the very least that would make them in their mid-twenties – young but not teens. These types of things nudged me from the narrative flow and had me wondering what the Darkfuse editors were thinking when they were reading the work.
So, overall, a good read, but not outstanding like other Darkfuse titles.
May 12, 2014
I went in to this story expecting to know what was going to happen at every turn and just hoping the familiar tale was told in an entertaining way. I think it's safe to say that Barnes took all my expectations and turned them on their heads.
The basic setup should be familiar to fans of horror: people find a new cave in the mountains, people explore cave, terrible things happen in the cave, enter the heroes. And to be fair, the story doesn't diverge greatly from this setup. Instead, what it does is keep introducing insane new details at every turn. As soon as you think you have a handle on what's going on, new information is revealed, seemingly from left field, but is made to fit perfectly with the story in just a few sentences. This constantly builds excitement and tension with barely any slowdown.
I loved the ending, too. It t leaves a lot of room for sequels, either with surviving characters or a new cast entirely, but does not sacrifice a satisfying conclusion to do so. It's a rare author that can pull that off effectively (the fact that I've been saying this about a lot of DarkFuse titles recently just goes to show how keen their eye for talent is).
The basic setup should be familiar to fans of horror: people find a new cave in the mountains, people explore cave, terrible things happen in the cave, enter the heroes. And to be fair, the story doesn't diverge greatly from this setup. Instead, what it does is keep introducing insane new details at every turn. As soon as you think you have a handle on what's going on, new information is revealed, seemingly from left field, but is made to fit perfectly with the story in just a few sentences. This constantly builds excitement and tension with barely any slowdown.
I loved the ending, too. It t leaves a lot of room for sequels, either with surviving characters or a new cast entirely, but does not sacrifice a satisfying conclusion to do so. It's a rare author that can pull that off effectively (the fact that I've been saying this about a lot of DarkFuse titles recently just goes to show how keen their eye for talent is).
June 12, 2014
This is an author I didn't know so this is the first book I read by him and certainly I enjoyed it.This is a story with a big lovecraftian
influence, we can think there is not plenty of originality here and besides this,normally, is not my cup of tea.I'm not a big fan of
these stories, creatures arrived from the outer space, e.t.s, u.f.o.s etc. but in this case I think the author creates a good story.
The rhythm of the narration is fast and I easily was catched into the story,the action never stops and the personal relationship
between the protagonists is well inserted and doesn't affect the good pace of the main story.By the way,the author knows how to
create flesh and bone characters with real background and not mere mannikins, at the end we know the protagonists well and Bar-
nes did a good job here.Recommended novella.
influence, we can think there is not plenty of originality here and besides this,normally, is not my cup of tea.I'm not a big fan of
these stories, creatures arrived from the outer space, e.t.s, u.f.o.s etc. but in this case I think the author creates a good story.
The rhythm of the narration is fast and I easily was catched into the story,the action never stops and the personal relationship
between the protagonists is well inserted and doesn't affect the good pace of the main story.By the way,the author knows how to
create flesh and bone characters with real background and not mere mannikins, at the end we know the protagonists well and Bar-
nes did a good job here.Recommended novella.
March 17, 2016
Spelunking, rock climbing and monsters in the Canadian Rockies add up to horrific fun in this newest release from Darkfuse Publishers. A hidden cave opens and is spotted on satellite bringing adventurous groups up the mountain to explore its depths. A frantic call for help is received and and local search and rescue is dispatched. But they have a history and may not be able to work together. Character driven writing and good fun await you.
Recommended reading!
Recommended reading!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews