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Annie Jackson Mysteries #2
The Torments
'A tense, creepy page-turner' Ian Rankin, New Statesman
Hiding from the world in her little white cottage on the shores of a loch, Annie Jackson is fighting to come to terms with the world of the murmurs, a curse that has haunted female members of her family for centuries.
While she is within the ancient, heavy stone of the old dwelling, the voices merely buzz, but the moment she steps outside the door they clamour to torment her all over again, bringing with them shocking visions of imminent deaths.
Into this oasis comes her adoptive mother, Mandy McEvoy, begging for Annie's help. Mandy's nephew Damien has gone missing, after dropping off his four-year old son at his mother's home.
Unable to refuse, but terrified to leave her sanctuary, Annie, with the help of her brother Lewis, is drawn in to a secretive, seductive world that will have her question everything she holds dear, while Lewis' life may be changed forever…
The second book in the critically acclaimed Annie Jackson Mysteries series, The Torments is both a contemporary gothic thriller and a spellbinding mystery that deeps deep into a past that should, perhaps, remain undisturbed…
Hiding from the world in her little white cottage on the shores of a loch, Annie Jackson is fighting to come to terms with the world of the murmurs, a curse that has haunted female members of her family for centuries.
While she is within the ancient, heavy stone of the old dwelling, the voices merely buzz, but the moment she steps outside the door they clamour to torment her all over again, bringing with them shocking visions of imminent deaths.
Into this oasis comes her adoptive mother, Mandy McEvoy, begging for Annie's help. Mandy's nephew Damien has gone missing, after dropping off his four-year old son at his mother's home.
Unable to refuse, but terrified to leave her sanctuary, Annie, with the help of her brother Lewis, is drawn in to a secretive, seductive world that will have her question everything she holds dear, while Lewis' life may be changed forever…
The second book in the critically acclaimed Annie Jackson Mysteries series, The Torments is both a contemporary gothic thriller and a spellbinding mystery that deeps deep into a past that should, perhaps, remain undisturbed…
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2024
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90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 9, 2024
This is the second book in Annie Jackson series, but it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.
Annie Jackson lives in a secluded spot in the Scottish countryside. She’s trying to escape ‘the murmurs’, the family curse, affecting only the female members. When Annie looks at someone, she can predict their death if it’s imminent.
Mandy, Annie’s adoptive mother, informs her that her nephew (and Annie’s cousin), Damien, has gone missing.
The police aren’t taking his case seriously, because of Damien’s past: an ex convict who served time in prison for an assault. Chrissie, Damien’s mother, insists that her son was a reformed character after the birth of his son, Bodie. When it came to his son, Damien never broke his promise.
Annie and Liam, her twin brother, dig deep into Damien’s past and present. What will they uncover?
I loved this story!
I really enjoyed the dual timeline, which goes way back to 1958, where we meet Ben and Sylvia. I had no idea how these two characters were linked to the story, but they were both despicable creatures.
I was also intrigued by the legend of the fey evil being Baobhan Sith. Annie was mesmerised by this house on the hill and its occupant, Gaia, the woman in green. I was trying to piece it all together!
This book has many layers: intrigue, the occult, dark magic, and a ghastly, historic secret.
I definitely recommend it!
Annie Jackson lives in a secluded spot in the Scottish countryside. She’s trying to escape ‘the murmurs’, the family curse, affecting only the female members. When Annie looks at someone, she can predict their death if it’s imminent.
Mandy, Annie’s adoptive mother, informs her that her nephew (and Annie’s cousin), Damien, has gone missing.
The police aren’t taking his case seriously, because of Damien’s past: an ex convict who served time in prison for an assault. Chrissie, Damien’s mother, insists that her son was a reformed character after the birth of his son, Bodie. When it came to his son, Damien never broke his promise.
Annie and Liam, her twin brother, dig deep into Damien’s past and present. What will they uncover?
I loved this story!
I really enjoyed the dual timeline, which goes way back to 1958, where we meet Ben and Sylvia. I had no idea how these two characters were linked to the story, but they were both despicable creatures.
I was also intrigued by the legend of the fey evil being Baobhan Sith. Annie was mesmerised by this house on the hill and its occupant, Gaia, the woman in green. I was trying to piece it all together!
This book has many layers: intrigue, the occult, dark magic, and a ghastly, historic secret.
I definitely recommend it!
October 5, 2024
The Torments is the second book in the Annie Jackson mystery series and is just as tense and disturbing, if not more so, than the Murmurs.
Set in the highlands of Scotland, this story begins with Annie Jackson living in a remote cottage following previous events. It is here she feels safest; the murmurs settling down. It’s when she leaves her sanctuary that she has the awful visions and the murmurs and voices are at their worst. An encounter with a young lad leads to tragedy and Annie is the target of angry locals. When she is asked to help find a missing relative, despite her misgivings, the chance to get away forces her decision.
This second outing for Annie and her twin brother Lewis is a chilling and atmospheric story told over changing timelines from various perspectives. Both the historical and the present feature some exceptionally disturbed individuals with events coming to a dramatic and suspenseful conclusion which had me holding my breath.
You can enjoy this story without having read the first book as some of the backstory is included but you would be missing out big time by not reading in order. I couldn’t help feeling for Annie and her distress as her ‘curse’ controls her life and she struggles to deal with the notoriety and public attention. Her brother Lewis is her protector and the relationship between them has grown into one of support and understanding. Malone’s writing is excellent, even though I had my suspicions I was still caught out by the unexpected. The plot is chilling with great characterisation that shows the evil that people are capable of. The prologue featuring the cloven hoofed legend of Baobhan Sith gave me the shivers.
I found this a dark and at times a challenging read – more so because I feared what the consequences would be for the Jacksons. Some people would stop at nothing in their quest for power and the history of witchcraft and legends are very much at the forefront of this psychological thriller. Highly recommended and another great read from an author who never disappoints.
Set in the highlands of Scotland, this story begins with Annie Jackson living in a remote cottage following previous events. It is here she feels safest; the murmurs settling down. It’s when she leaves her sanctuary that she has the awful visions and the murmurs and voices are at their worst. An encounter with a young lad leads to tragedy and Annie is the target of angry locals. When she is asked to help find a missing relative, despite her misgivings, the chance to get away forces her decision.
This second outing for Annie and her twin brother Lewis is a chilling and atmospheric story told over changing timelines from various perspectives. Both the historical and the present feature some exceptionally disturbed individuals with events coming to a dramatic and suspenseful conclusion which had me holding my breath.
You can enjoy this story without having read the first book as some of the backstory is included but you would be missing out big time by not reading in order. I couldn’t help feeling for Annie and her distress as her ‘curse’ controls her life and she struggles to deal with the notoriety and public attention. Her brother Lewis is her protector and the relationship between them has grown into one of support and understanding. Malone’s writing is excellent, even though I had my suspicions I was still caught out by the unexpected. The plot is chilling with great characterisation that shows the evil that people are capable of. The prologue featuring the cloven hoofed legend of Baobhan Sith gave me the shivers.
I found this a dark and at times a challenging read – more so because I feared what the consequences would be for the Jacksons. Some people would stop at nothing in their quest for power and the history of witchcraft and legends are very much at the forefront of this psychological thriller. Highly recommended and another great read from an author who never disappoints.
September 8, 2024
Michael J Malone has written another creepy, tense novel in his brilliant Annie Jackson series. I loved the first book, so I was desperate to get to The Torments as soon as I got my hands on my copy. In the last book, Annie Jackson was just coming to terms with the “gift” she has, which some members of her family see as a curse. She has the ability to predict how a person will be killed, and this makes her a fascinating character. In this book, Annie is asked by her adoptive mother, Mandy, to help find her missing nephew, Damien, and Annie knows she can’t refuse. But there are locals who want to drive Annie out of town and they will go to any length possible to make sure she leaves.
There are some really intense scenes in this book, particularly the ones close to the beginning, when there are people who have real intent on driving Annie out of town. They feel she could’ve used her gift to help prevent the death of a young man. I really felt for Annie in these scenes, particularly as it feels as though she is being targeted for something that wasn’t her fault. Annie throws herself into trying to find out what happened to Damien which helps to provide her with a distraction, along with her brother, Lewis. Michael J Malone increases the intrigue, particularly with past scenes told from the point of view of a woman called Sylvia.
I found the chapters told from Sylvia’s point of view really interesting and mysterious, and they add to the chilling atmosphere of the book. I wasn’t sure how they would connect to events in the present, but Michael J Malone does an absolutely brilliant job of bringing the different strands together. As it becomes clear what this part of the novel means, the darkness in the story intensifies, and I really felt fearful for Annie, as she gets closer to understanding what is really going on. Michael J Malone builds everything into an intense and satisfying finale that kept my eyes glued to the page.
If you’re looking for an addictive thriller, particularly with Halloween just around the corner, you need to read this series. I’ve no doubt that The Torments is going to be in my top ten reads of this year. I really enjoyed it.
There are some really intense scenes in this book, particularly the ones close to the beginning, when there are people who have real intent on driving Annie out of town. They feel she could’ve used her gift to help prevent the death of a young man. I really felt for Annie in these scenes, particularly as it feels as though she is being targeted for something that wasn’t her fault. Annie throws herself into trying to find out what happened to Damien which helps to provide her with a distraction, along with her brother, Lewis. Michael J Malone increases the intrigue, particularly with past scenes told from the point of view of a woman called Sylvia.
I found the chapters told from Sylvia’s point of view really interesting and mysterious, and they add to the chilling atmosphere of the book. I wasn’t sure how they would connect to events in the present, but Michael J Malone does an absolutely brilliant job of bringing the different strands together. As it becomes clear what this part of the novel means, the darkness in the story intensifies, and I really felt fearful for Annie, as she gets closer to understanding what is really going on. Michael J Malone builds everything into an intense and satisfying finale that kept my eyes glued to the page.
If you’re looking for an addictive thriller, particularly with Halloween just around the corner, you need to read this series. I’ve no doubt that The Torments is going to be in my top ten reads of this year. I really enjoyed it.
May 25, 2025
Annie Jackson is a semi-hermit living in a cottage in a remote area of Scotland, sustaining herself financially by a part-time job in a local cafe. This brings her in contact with a young man and triggers her 'gift' if it can be called that: the ability to see that people are soon going to die. She makes a half-hearted attempt to warn him but doesn't pursue it, having been disbelieved in the past. When the car accident she foresaw happens, she is then targeted by people angry that she didn't do more.
Meanwhile, her other psychic problem - of hearing constant murmuring and hostile voices - is toned down when in the cottage, and her twin brother Lewis, who comes to support her, works out that the old stone built into the cottage, but originating in the original settlement higher up the hill, is dampening it. A workaround is therefore for Annie to carry a loose fragment he prises off. The backstory of what happened the previous year, when Annie found human remains and was nearly murdered by the perpetrator, is worked into the story. I realised after reading that this is book two in a series.
The twins adoptive mother asks them to help her sister whose son has recently gone missing. Their investigation soon begins drawing them into danger with local people who have power and influence. Unexpected help comes from a policewoman, but she is soon threatened with suspension.
Meanwhile, another thread of the story follows the upbringing of two unpleasant characters, Sylvia and Ben, who from their days at a boarding school become members of a Satanic cult. Eventually the connection between these characters and the Jackson twins - and with Sylvia in particular - are revealed.
The story is well-written overall. There is also an actual supernatural element which ties into ancient Scottish folklore. Unfortunately I found it increasingly hard to suspend disbelief regarding the activities of Sylvia and Ben, or to find it convincing that high up people in the police, for instance, would be involved. It did become a bit risible for me by the end. The subplot about the policewoman being suspended was also dropped by then, yet there was no mention of how the superior who had threatened her was neutralised. I also found the 'damsel in distress' trope rather irritating, especially as from the backstory discussion it seemed Annie had needed rescuing in the previous book also. These issues caused me to drop a couple of stars, so I would rate this at 3 stars.
Meanwhile, her other psychic problem - of hearing constant murmuring and hostile voices - is toned down when in the cottage, and her twin brother Lewis, who comes to support her, works out that the old stone built into the cottage, but originating in the original settlement higher up the hill, is dampening it. A workaround is therefore for Annie to carry a loose fragment he prises off. The backstory of what happened the previous year, when Annie found human remains and was nearly murdered by the perpetrator, is worked into the story. I realised after reading that this is book two in a series.
The twins adoptive mother asks them to help her sister whose son has recently gone missing. Their investigation soon begins drawing them into danger with local people who have power and influence. Unexpected help comes from a policewoman, but she is soon threatened with suspension.
Meanwhile, another thread of the story follows the upbringing of two unpleasant characters, Sylvia and Ben, who from their days at a boarding school become members of a Satanic cult. Eventually the connection between these characters and the Jackson twins - and with Sylvia in particular - are revealed.
The story is well-written overall. There is also an actual supernatural element which ties into ancient Scottish folklore. Unfortunately I found it increasingly hard to suspend disbelief regarding the activities of Sylvia and Ben, or to find it convincing that high up people in the police, for instance, would be involved. It did become a bit risible for me by the end. The subplot about the policewoman being suspended was also dropped by then, yet there was no mention of how the superior who had threatened her was neutralised. I also found the 'damsel in distress' trope rather irritating, especially as from the backstory discussion it seemed Annie had needed rescuing in the previous book also. These issues caused me to drop a couple of stars, so I would rate this at 3 stars.
June 17, 2025
Annie Jackson is still trying to come to terms with the Murmurs, those voices that never cease, and the visions of death that sometimes accompany them. Hiding away in the little cottage she inherited, Annie can almost ignore them, but as soon as she steps outside the door, they begin clamouring for her attention. And then her adoptive mother asks if Annie can help locate her nephew, who has gone missing.
I can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed The Torments. When I say it has it all, I mean it. There's a mystery to be solved, that of Mrs. Mac's missing nephew, but there's also black magic, rites, ceremonial sacrifices, and the Baobhan Sith. And as if that wasn't enough, Sawney Bean and his family of cannibals are mentioned a time or two. 👹
As you may have gleaned from the above, this book is dark, dark as pitch. But it's also thrilling. I loved it. Dare I say I loved it more than The Murmurs? Yes, I do dare, because it's true. 👹
I now eagerly await the next book in the series, The Howling. I'm on tenterhooks.
I can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed The Torments. When I say it has it all, I mean it. There's a mystery to be solved, that of Mrs. Mac's missing nephew, but there's also black magic, rites, ceremonial sacrifices, and the Baobhan Sith. And as if that wasn't enough, Sawney Bean and his family of cannibals are mentioned a time or two. 👹
As you may have gleaned from the above, this book is dark, dark as pitch. But it's also thrilling. I loved it. Dare I say I loved it more than The Murmurs? Yes, I do dare, because it's true. 👹
I now eagerly await the next book in the series, The Howling. I'm on tenterhooks.
September 25, 2024
This is the second blog tour I have participated in for this author, thank you to Random Things Tours for including me.
The Torments by Michael J. Malone is a captivating and atmospheric journey into the eerie, shadowed corners of the human mind and the supernatural. As the second book in the Annie Jackson Mysteries, it brilliantly builds upon the series’ foundation, blending gothic elements with a contemporary thriller.
Annie, haunted by the ancient family curse of the "murmurs," is an incredibly compelling protagonist. Malone has crafted her character with depth, making her internal struggles with these tormenting voices real. The contrast between the eerie sanctuary of her lochside cottage and the chaotic world outside heightens the tension, keeping you hooked on every page. I particularly appreciated the way the novel explores Annie’s internal battle—whether the curse is a blessing or a curse, and how it isolates her from the world, both physically and emotionally.
The arrival of her adoptive mother, Mandy, and the mysterious disappearance of her nephew Damien, thrust Annie out of her comfort zone, forcing her to confront her fears. The plot pulls you into a world steeped in secrets, a haunting family legacy, and a seductively dark mystery. Annie's vulnerability is contrasted with her determination, and it’s this internal conflict that makes her journey so engrossing. The tension between Annie and her brother Lewis adds another layer of intrigue, especially as they uncover unsettling truths about their family and their past.
Malone’s writing excels in creating a brooding, gothic atmosphere, perfectly suited for fans of psychological thrillers and eerie mysteries. The loch, with its remote beauty, becomes almost a character itself, adding a sense of isolation and suspense. The pacing is steady, with bursts of intensity that keep you on edge, and the narrative twists are surprising and well-executed.
The Torments is a chilling, immersive read that delves deep into family secrets, curses, and the price of uncovering the past. It’s a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page, making you question the thin line between reality and the supernatural. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys dark, atmospheric mysteries with a gothic twist.
https://featzreviews.com/the-torments...
The Torments by Michael J. Malone is a captivating and atmospheric journey into the eerie, shadowed corners of the human mind and the supernatural. As the second book in the Annie Jackson Mysteries, it brilliantly builds upon the series’ foundation, blending gothic elements with a contemporary thriller.
Annie, haunted by the ancient family curse of the "murmurs," is an incredibly compelling protagonist. Malone has crafted her character with depth, making her internal struggles with these tormenting voices real. The contrast between the eerie sanctuary of her lochside cottage and the chaotic world outside heightens the tension, keeping you hooked on every page. I particularly appreciated the way the novel explores Annie’s internal battle—whether the curse is a blessing or a curse, and how it isolates her from the world, both physically and emotionally.
The arrival of her adoptive mother, Mandy, and the mysterious disappearance of her nephew Damien, thrust Annie out of her comfort zone, forcing her to confront her fears. The plot pulls you into a world steeped in secrets, a haunting family legacy, and a seductively dark mystery. Annie's vulnerability is contrasted with her determination, and it’s this internal conflict that makes her journey so engrossing. The tension between Annie and her brother Lewis adds another layer of intrigue, especially as they uncover unsettling truths about their family and their past.
Malone’s writing excels in creating a brooding, gothic atmosphere, perfectly suited for fans of psychological thrillers and eerie mysteries. The loch, with its remote beauty, becomes almost a character itself, adding a sense of isolation and suspense. The pacing is steady, with bursts of intensity that keep you on edge, and the narrative twists are surprising and well-executed.
The Torments is a chilling, immersive read that delves deep into family secrets, curses, and the price of uncovering the past. It’s a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page, making you question the thin line between reality and the supernatural. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys dark, atmospheric mysteries with a gothic twist.
https://featzreviews.com/the-torments...
July 29, 2025
After reading and thoroughly enjoying The Murmurs (Book one in the Annie Jackson series) I couldn’t resist purchasing book two and bumping it to the top of my TBR list!
Annie is a very likeable character. One with a family curse I don’t envy her for. I’m not surprised she wants to hide away in her remote cottage where she gets some peace from everything.
However, when her adoptive mother begs for her help as her nephew has gone missing, she feels obliged to do whatever she can do to help although her visions don’t really work that way. With the help of her brother, Lewis, she leaves her sanctuary, unaware of the danger she’s about to be confronted with.
This is another fast paced, suspenseful novel which I found to be more than a little creepy. Some of the characters are certainly more than a little creepy! Again, I was completely invested from the very beginning. It was extremely difficult to put down. I would have happily read it in one sitting if I could have. I’m looking forward to book three, The Howling, but that isn’t being released until September. If you haven’t already, I recommend you catch up with the series in the meantime like I have. You won’t regret it!
** I purchased a paperback copy of The Torments on the 18th of June 2025 **
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2025/07/2...
Annie is a very likeable character. One with a family curse I don’t envy her for. I’m not surprised she wants to hide away in her remote cottage where she gets some peace from everything.
However, when her adoptive mother begs for her help as her nephew has gone missing, she feels obliged to do whatever she can do to help although her visions don’t really work that way. With the help of her brother, Lewis, she leaves her sanctuary, unaware of the danger she’s about to be confronted with.
This is another fast paced, suspenseful novel which I found to be more than a little creepy. Some of the characters are certainly more than a little creepy! Again, I was completely invested from the very beginning. It was extremely difficult to put down. I would have happily read it in one sitting if I could have. I’m looking forward to book three, The Howling, but that isn’t being released until September. If you haven’t already, I recommend you catch up with the series in the meantime like I have. You won’t regret it!
** I purchased a paperback copy of The Torments on the 18th of June 2025 **
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2025/07/2...
September 17, 2024
Annie Jackson, to whom we were introduced in The Murmurs (2023), has a frightening gift – she can foretell how people are going to die. She can also visualise the locations of dead bodies. One of the manifestations of her powers is also a curse. When she is inside her tiny cottage beside a Scottish locj, she hears constant murmuring voices. When she steps outside, however, these voices can be screams, or unintelligible chants. Annie has learned that this strange condition has affected women in her family going back generations.
Annie already has a certain amount of public exposure thanks to a recent case, but she is reluctantly accepted in the village near her cottage. She makes ends meet by waitressing in a cafe, and it is here, one afternoon, when the local lifeboat crew are in for their strong tea and bacon rolls that she has one of her moments of premonition. A junior member of the crew, a lad called Lachlan, drives a car that is something of an ‘old banger’. Annie sees it wrapped round a tree, with the boy dead at the wheel. She says nothing direct by way of a warning, and when her vision turns into horrific reality, she becomes a pariah.
A member of Annie’s wider family turns to her for help. Her son Damien, a former footballer whose career was curtailed by injury, has gone missing, and she asks Annie to try to find him. Reluctantly, Annie agrees, and with the help of her twin brother Lewis, she takes on the case.
There is a parallel plot which begins in the mid 1960s, but we know it will converge with Annie’s present day travails. Two youngsters, Sylvia and Ben, are pupils at a prestigious boarding school, and they fall under the malign influence of Phineas Dance, a sadistic teacher who is also an acoylite of Satanism. Also lurking in the present day background is a sinister spectre known as the Baobhan Sith*.
*The Baobhan Sith is a female fairy in the folklore of the Scottish Highlands, though they also share certain characteristics in common with the succubus. They appear as beautiful women who seduce their victims before attacking them and killing them
As Annie and Lewis chip away at the mystery surrounding Damien’s disappearance their path crosses that of Craig Oldfield, the son of a wealthy and well-connected solicitor. Craig was a one-time friend of Damien, but is his claim that he has no idea of his former friend’s whereabouts to be trusted? We meet a a local police officer, Clare Corrigan who is initially sceptical of Annie’s special powers, and a retired academic called Dr Thomasina Hetherington, who most certainly is not. When Annie goes missing, the story heads for a dramatic conclusion in a cliff-side cave, rumoured to have once been the haunt of the legendary cannibal Sawney Bean. By now, the present day identities of Sylvia and Ben have become clear. The finale put me in mind of the glory days of my youth, reading the the sadly long forgotten novels of Dennis Wheatley such as The Devil Rides Out (1934) in which the Duke de Richleau and his friends Simon Aron, Richard Eaton and Rex Van Ryn batted Satanic forces.
Novels that mix the paranormal with the more familiar tropes of crime fiction are more common than you might think. In the Aector McAvoy novels by David Mark it is McAvoy’s wife who has the sixth sense, and James Oswald’s DI Tony McLean often has worrying premonitions and glimpses into the ‘other world’. I once asked Phil Rickman if his wonderful diocesan exorcist Rev. Merrily Watkins always believes the people with troubled souls who reach out to her for help. His reply was along the lines of. “Not necessarily, but she believes that they believe.”
The Torments is a seriously entertaining story guaranteed to thrill even readers who – like Shakespeare’s Horatio – are initially sceptical about the existence of dark forces. It is published by Orenda Books and is available now.
Annie already has a certain amount of public exposure thanks to a recent case, but she is reluctantly accepted in the village near her cottage. She makes ends meet by waitressing in a cafe, and it is here, one afternoon, when the local lifeboat crew are in for their strong tea and bacon rolls that she has one of her moments of premonition. A junior member of the crew, a lad called Lachlan, drives a car that is something of an ‘old banger’. Annie sees it wrapped round a tree, with the boy dead at the wheel. She says nothing direct by way of a warning, and when her vision turns into horrific reality, she becomes a pariah.
A member of Annie’s wider family turns to her for help. Her son Damien, a former footballer whose career was curtailed by injury, has gone missing, and she asks Annie to try to find him. Reluctantly, Annie agrees, and with the help of her twin brother Lewis, she takes on the case.
There is a parallel plot which begins in the mid 1960s, but we know it will converge with Annie’s present day travails. Two youngsters, Sylvia and Ben, are pupils at a prestigious boarding school, and they fall under the malign influence of Phineas Dance, a sadistic teacher who is also an acoylite of Satanism. Also lurking in the present day background is a sinister spectre known as the Baobhan Sith*.
*The Baobhan Sith is a female fairy in the folklore of the Scottish Highlands, though they also share certain characteristics in common with the succubus. They appear as beautiful women who seduce their victims before attacking them and killing them
As Annie and Lewis chip away at the mystery surrounding Damien’s disappearance their path crosses that of Craig Oldfield, the son of a wealthy and well-connected solicitor. Craig was a one-time friend of Damien, but is his claim that he has no idea of his former friend’s whereabouts to be trusted? We meet a a local police officer, Clare Corrigan who is initially sceptical of Annie’s special powers, and a retired academic called Dr Thomasina Hetherington, who most certainly is not. When Annie goes missing, the story heads for a dramatic conclusion in a cliff-side cave, rumoured to have once been the haunt of the legendary cannibal Sawney Bean. By now, the present day identities of Sylvia and Ben have become clear. The finale put me in mind of the glory days of my youth, reading the the sadly long forgotten novels of Dennis Wheatley such as The Devil Rides Out (1934) in which the Duke de Richleau and his friends Simon Aron, Richard Eaton and Rex Van Ryn batted Satanic forces.
Novels that mix the paranormal with the more familiar tropes of crime fiction are more common than you might think. In the Aector McAvoy novels by David Mark it is McAvoy’s wife who has the sixth sense, and James Oswald’s DI Tony McLean often has worrying premonitions and glimpses into the ‘other world’. I once asked Phil Rickman if his wonderful diocesan exorcist Rev. Merrily Watkins always believes the people with troubled souls who reach out to her for help. His reply was along the lines of. “Not necessarily, but she believes that they believe.”
The Torments is a seriously entertaining story guaranteed to thrill even readers who – like Shakespeare’s Horatio – are initially sceptical about the existence of dark forces. It is published by Orenda Books and is available now.
September 23, 2024
Since the curse that has afflicted female members of her family for centuries made itself all too present, Annie has been hiding away from the world in the little cottage on the shores of a Scottish loch that has become her haven. While inside its walls, the murmers that plague every waking hour are just background noise, but outside, the voices of doom and visions of death are overwhelming.
When her adoptive mother Mandy comes to Annie asking for help locating her missing nephew, Damien, she can hardly refuse, even though she knows leaving the cottage will be hard. With the help of her brother Lewis, the pair set out on another amateur investigation to see if they can discover where Damien could have disappeared to. The shocking secrets they uncover may change them both for ever...
Annie Jackson is back, looking into another murky mystery that has dangerous consequences for herself and her own family, with the help of her brother Lewis. Drawn from her sanctuary, Annie must find a way to confront the tormenting presence of the murmers if she is going to be able to find Damien - as well as tackle the misguided, and sometimes downright hostile, attention that her powers have brought her...
The story follows the Jackson siblings as they uncover a trail of clues into Damien's disappearance, taking an unsettling turn back to a past rife with rumours of dark deeds, but they have no idea quite how dark - until it becomes obvious that those responsible have more than a passing interest in Annie herself. In parallel, Malone has a ball with a meandering plotline that begins in 1958, and delves into the history of two seriously disturbed characters, Sylvia and Ben, who become instruments for the nefarious activities of a secret society, controlled by the deliciously named Phineas Dance... and dance they do, to a tune that thrums with black magic, blood rituals, and attempts to call the sinister Baobhan Sith from her slumbers.
It takes some time to get your head around quite how these two plotlines relate to each other, but with an eerie slow-burn, the thread about Sylvia and Ben gradually begins to connect to Annie and Lewis' search for Damien. I did get a little bit lost with parts of the Sylvia and Ben storyline, but eventually saw where Malone was taking this, and once the threads come together around folklore, satanic rites, and seething revenge, I was there for every gripping moment that played out, hoping Annie and Lewis would survive their ordeal.
This has a different vibe to the first book in the series, The Murmers. Malone takes the original concept of a family curse that affects Annie's female bloodline and blows it wide open to create a horror story that is nostalgically old school. He combines a modern missing person mystery with nightmarish folklore, and all the bloody mayhem of those up to their necks in the dark arts under the mantle of respectability in a Hammer House of Horror twist. If you are of the right age, you may well feel yourself right back in your teen years, consuming the latest chiller from the likes of James Herbert, which I found very enjoyable.
I do not think this has quite the emotional tug of The Murmers, but it more than compensates for this in action and menace. In the telling, Malone explores some interesting themes, particularly when it comes to twin/sibling relationships, dysfunctional families, and manipulation. There is also a lot to ponder on when it comes to how people treat Annie, given the bewildering nature of her powers.
This was absolutely perfect for the run-up to Halloween, with atmospheric lines like 'Then all became smoke, and silence' to set the spooky season tone. Unnerving fun!
When her adoptive mother Mandy comes to Annie asking for help locating her missing nephew, Damien, she can hardly refuse, even though she knows leaving the cottage will be hard. With the help of her brother Lewis, the pair set out on another amateur investigation to see if they can discover where Damien could have disappeared to. The shocking secrets they uncover may change them both for ever...
Annie Jackson is back, looking into another murky mystery that has dangerous consequences for herself and her own family, with the help of her brother Lewis. Drawn from her sanctuary, Annie must find a way to confront the tormenting presence of the murmers if she is going to be able to find Damien - as well as tackle the misguided, and sometimes downright hostile, attention that her powers have brought her...
The story follows the Jackson siblings as they uncover a trail of clues into Damien's disappearance, taking an unsettling turn back to a past rife with rumours of dark deeds, but they have no idea quite how dark - until it becomes obvious that those responsible have more than a passing interest in Annie herself. In parallel, Malone has a ball with a meandering plotline that begins in 1958, and delves into the history of two seriously disturbed characters, Sylvia and Ben, who become instruments for the nefarious activities of a secret society, controlled by the deliciously named Phineas Dance... and dance they do, to a tune that thrums with black magic, blood rituals, and attempts to call the sinister Baobhan Sith from her slumbers.
It takes some time to get your head around quite how these two plotlines relate to each other, but with an eerie slow-burn, the thread about Sylvia and Ben gradually begins to connect to Annie and Lewis' search for Damien. I did get a little bit lost with parts of the Sylvia and Ben storyline, but eventually saw where Malone was taking this, and once the threads come together around folklore, satanic rites, and seething revenge, I was there for every gripping moment that played out, hoping Annie and Lewis would survive their ordeal.
This has a different vibe to the first book in the series, The Murmers. Malone takes the original concept of a family curse that affects Annie's female bloodline and blows it wide open to create a horror story that is nostalgically old school. He combines a modern missing person mystery with nightmarish folklore, and all the bloody mayhem of those up to their necks in the dark arts under the mantle of respectability in a Hammer House of Horror twist. If you are of the right age, you may well feel yourself right back in your teen years, consuming the latest chiller from the likes of James Herbert, which I found very enjoyable.
I do not think this has quite the emotional tug of The Murmers, but it more than compensates for this in action and menace. In the telling, Malone explores some interesting themes, particularly when it comes to twin/sibling relationships, dysfunctional families, and manipulation. There is also a lot to ponder on when it comes to how people treat Annie, given the bewildering nature of her powers.
This was absolutely perfect for the run-up to Halloween, with atmospheric lines like 'Then all became smoke, and silence' to set the spooky season tone. Unnerving fun!
September 27, 2024
I love Michael J. Malone's books; the poetically descriptive lyricism and keen appreciation of human behaviour is always a joy to read. His crime fiction is unfailingly of the highest order but as we head into autumn and, of course, Halloween, I was particularly excited to read another of his immersive gothic thrillers. The Torments is the second in his Annie Jackson series and while it's not necessary to have read The Murmurs, I recommend that you do – you'll gain a deeper understanding of the origin of Annie's curse and what she has already endured.
The melding of contemporary crime fiction with ancient Scottish folklore is what makes this series so memorable, and the book actually opens with the chilling tale of the Boabhan Sith, an ancient fey creature. However, while the storyline switches between past and present, it's more recent history which is revealed here. Alongside the main narrative which follows Annie and her twin brother, Lewis's search for their missing cousin, Damien, there's a dark, disturbing story following a couple of twisted individuals who meet at boarding school.
Annie is, understandably, reluctant to leave the peace and safety of her cottage – she does have a job but the burden she bears is quickly apparent. Cruelly mocked by the curse of the murmurs which become impossible to ignore when she leaves her sanctuary, she also has a terrible gift which means she has horribly graphic premonitions when somebody is going to die. She has learned that she is unable to stop the death from happening but in failing to warn someone about their upcoming tragedy, she invokes the wrath of the local community. The lonely life she has built for herself is challenged but when she reluctantly agrees to look for Damien, she slowly grows less passive and in spite of the dangers she faces, she is a strong, engaging character throughout.
The relationship she has with Lewis was one of the highlights of The Murmurs; it's developed further here and with a number of chapters told from his perspective, I enjoyed seeing his character further developed. As it becomes increasingly obvious that somebody is trying to warn them off their investigation into Damien's disappearance, Lewis has as important a role to play in proceedings as Annie and he certainly experiences more than his fair share of testing situations.
The rich descriptions ensures the sense of place is effortlessly evoked but as well as being a vividly atmospheric read, The Torments is spine-chillingly tense and exciting. As the truth of the dark decades-spanning story is gradually revealed, the real and supernatural worlds become terrifyingly intertwined. However, it's the wickedness of people and the torments borne by the victims of violence and the cruel, insatiable lust for power which is most disturbing. Not all the victims are easy to like but Michael J. Malone's empathy for his characters means we are at least able to understand how they have been brutalised and manipulated into behaving as they do.
The Torments is a compelling, supremely creepy and harrowing read; packed with drama and full of heart, I loved every word and cannot recommend it highly enough.
The melding of contemporary crime fiction with ancient Scottish folklore is what makes this series so memorable, and the book actually opens with the chilling tale of the Boabhan Sith, an ancient fey creature. However, while the storyline switches between past and present, it's more recent history which is revealed here. Alongside the main narrative which follows Annie and her twin brother, Lewis's search for their missing cousin, Damien, there's a dark, disturbing story following a couple of twisted individuals who meet at boarding school.
Annie is, understandably, reluctant to leave the peace and safety of her cottage – she does have a job but the burden she bears is quickly apparent. Cruelly mocked by the curse of the murmurs which become impossible to ignore when she leaves her sanctuary, she also has a terrible gift which means she has horribly graphic premonitions when somebody is going to die. She has learned that she is unable to stop the death from happening but in failing to warn someone about their upcoming tragedy, she invokes the wrath of the local community. The lonely life she has built for herself is challenged but when she reluctantly agrees to look for Damien, she slowly grows less passive and in spite of the dangers she faces, she is a strong, engaging character throughout.
The relationship she has with Lewis was one of the highlights of The Murmurs; it's developed further here and with a number of chapters told from his perspective, I enjoyed seeing his character further developed. As it becomes increasingly obvious that somebody is trying to warn them off their investigation into Damien's disappearance, Lewis has as important a role to play in proceedings as Annie and he certainly experiences more than his fair share of testing situations.
The rich descriptions ensures the sense of place is effortlessly evoked but as well as being a vividly atmospheric read, The Torments is spine-chillingly tense and exciting. As the truth of the dark decades-spanning story is gradually revealed, the real and supernatural worlds become terrifyingly intertwined. However, it's the wickedness of people and the torments borne by the victims of violence and the cruel, insatiable lust for power which is most disturbing. Not all the victims are easy to like but Michael J. Malone's empathy for his characters means we are at least able to understand how they have been brutalised and manipulated into behaving as they do.
The Torments is a compelling, supremely creepy and harrowing read; packed with drama and full of heart, I loved every word and cannot recommend it highly enough.
October 2, 2024
Annie is struggling to come to terms with the constant murmurs she hears and the havoc that they play on her life. She tries to hide herself away from people but still manages to upset those she encounters. Lewis is having a tough time too; he wants to help and support her but is unsure how to. He is more prominent in this story as we see the struggles through his eyes.
Whilst The Murmurs was a supernatural story with a touch of the gothic, The Torments is decidedly more in the realms of the occult and an excellent story it is too.
There are two strands to the story one set in the current day, the other is historical and moves together before they become entwined.
What starts as a straightforward missing person’s story gets progressively stranger and creepier as it develops. Things and people are not who they appear to be, warnings are given, and Annie and Lewis are close to quitting at times. Annie is experiencing visions and nightmares but is unable to fix them within the context of real life. Is it The Murmurs taking over, is she going mad? I found these visions so imaginative and captivatingly described. They are about to take a journey into the darkness of man’s soul without a guide. There is somebody with the knowledge and wisdom to use it correctly, hidden in plain sight but are they too well hidden for the twins to find.
Phineas Dance a teacher and a disturbingly sinister character is going to change the lives of two pupils forever, which we follow by flashbacks from 1958 to the present day. It takes a while for the significance of these children to become apparent.
Folklore and local legend are prominent to the plot and this being Ayrshire it references one of the greatest Scottish examples, whose setting provides a perfect backdrop, one to stick long in the memory. A legend from long ago with seemingly tangible links but whose veracity is certainly questioned. It is linked into the storyline so perfectly as a reader we can surely accept it as being truthful. Twins also become a recurring motif with their mystique and supposed supernatural gifts.
There is a gradual building up of the story as the search an unlikely accidental death occupies the twins, much like any conventional crime story. Fresh impetus is given when DI Clare Corrigan is stood down from the investigation and like all good fictional detectives goes rogue. Once this unlikely trio join forces a real sense of urgency comes through in the writing. Only now can reader start to piece it all together, this is a superbly plotted story that gives little away. From this moment on it becomes a race against time, a frantic search and a heart stopping finale with plenty of jeopardy. A beautifully balanced and written thriller.
Whilst The Murmurs was a supernatural story with a touch of the gothic, The Torments is decidedly more in the realms of the occult and an excellent story it is too.
There are two strands to the story one set in the current day, the other is historical and moves together before they become entwined.
What starts as a straightforward missing person’s story gets progressively stranger and creepier as it develops. Things and people are not who they appear to be, warnings are given, and Annie and Lewis are close to quitting at times. Annie is experiencing visions and nightmares but is unable to fix them within the context of real life. Is it The Murmurs taking over, is she going mad? I found these visions so imaginative and captivatingly described. They are about to take a journey into the darkness of man’s soul without a guide. There is somebody with the knowledge and wisdom to use it correctly, hidden in plain sight but are they too well hidden for the twins to find.
Phineas Dance a teacher and a disturbingly sinister character is going to change the lives of two pupils forever, which we follow by flashbacks from 1958 to the present day. It takes a while for the significance of these children to become apparent.
Folklore and local legend are prominent to the plot and this being Ayrshire it references one of the greatest Scottish examples, whose setting provides a perfect backdrop, one to stick long in the memory. A legend from long ago with seemingly tangible links but whose veracity is certainly questioned. It is linked into the storyline so perfectly as a reader we can surely accept it as being truthful. Twins also become a recurring motif with their mystique and supposed supernatural gifts.
There is a gradual building up of the story as the search an unlikely accidental death occupies the twins, much like any conventional crime story. Fresh impetus is given when DI Clare Corrigan is stood down from the investigation and like all good fictional detectives goes rogue. Once this unlikely trio join forces a real sense of urgency comes through in the writing. Only now can reader start to piece it all together, this is a superbly plotted story that gives little away. From this moment on it becomes a race against time, a frantic search and a heart stopping finale with plenty of jeopardy. A beautifully balanced and written thriller.
September 12, 2024
He’s done it again. The second book in Michael J. Malone’s Annie Jackson mysteries is another eerie, haunting and compulsive journey into the unknown. This time Annie and her twin brother, Lewis, are drawn into investigating the disappearance of a family friend, leading them to a darker mystery and long-held secrets that are better left undisturbed….
This is a stay up all night and feel knackered the next day, but it's totally worth it kind of a book. Malone is a masterful gothic storyteller and this one is deliciously dark, merging folklore and mystery with an unsettling but hypnotic atmosphere that kept me glued to the pages. Exquisitely written, intricately woven and cleverly choreographed, Malone toys with the reader, taking us down a road of misdirection and shocking twists. Other than a theme of the characters being tormented by forces that feel beyond their control, I had no idea how the two timelines or characters were connected or what would happen next and I devoured the book in one sitting, forcing myself to stay awake long into the early hours in my desperate need for answers.
The story is told in dual timelines: then and now. Both narratives are dripping with menace, foreboding, disquiet, mystery and intrigue, chilling me to the bone while keeping me on the edge of my seat. Annie narrates the present and follows as she and Lewis begin their hunt for their missing family friend. Annie is still trying to adjust to life with the murmurs, which remain unpredictable. All she can predict is for some reason they leave her alone when she’s home at her cottage, leading her to isolate herself a lot. I loved Annie’s relationship with her twin brother, Lewis, and think they make a great investigative duo. Meanwhile, the past timeline is narrated by Ben and Sylvia, two lost souls tormented by darkness and found by the wrong kind of people. They are children when their story begins, and I felt sorry for them at the start, but they made my skin crawl when they were adults. Malone has witten them cleverly, surprising me many times with their character arc, particularly when all was finally revealed.
Nerve-shredding, dark, twisting and unputdownable, this is a must for your spooky-season TBR. So, if like me you enjoy your thrillers with a slice of gothic, then this book and series is for you.
This is a stay up all night and feel knackered the next day, but it's totally worth it kind of a book. Malone is a masterful gothic storyteller and this one is deliciously dark, merging folklore and mystery with an unsettling but hypnotic atmosphere that kept me glued to the pages. Exquisitely written, intricately woven and cleverly choreographed, Malone toys with the reader, taking us down a road of misdirection and shocking twists. Other than a theme of the characters being tormented by forces that feel beyond their control, I had no idea how the two timelines or characters were connected or what would happen next and I devoured the book in one sitting, forcing myself to stay awake long into the early hours in my desperate need for answers.
The story is told in dual timelines: then and now. Both narratives are dripping with menace, foreboding, disquiet, mystery and intrigue, chilling me to the bone while keeping me on the edge of my seat. Annie narrates the present and follows as she and Lewis begin their hunt for their missing family friend. Annie is still trying to adjust to life with the murmurs, which remain unpredictable. All she can predict is for some reason they leave her alone when she’s home at her cottage, leading her to isolate herself a lot. I loved Annie’s relationship with her twin brother, Lewis, and think they make a great investigative duo. Meanwhile, the past timeline is narrated by Ben and Sylvia, two lost souls tormented by darkness and found by the wrong kind of people. They are children when their story begins, and I felt sorry for them at the start, but they made my skin crawl when they were adults. Malone has witten them cleverly, surprising me many times with their character arc, particularly when all was finally revealed.
Nerve-shredding, dark, twisting and unputdownable, this is a must for your spooky-season TBR. So, if like me you enjoy your thrillers with a slice of gothic, then this book and series is for you.
September 17, 2024
The Torments is an absolutely stunning read, it's a clever and intense mix of chilling terror, psychological tension, myths, legend and witchcraft.
Malone introduced his readers to Annie Jackson in the first book of this series; The Murmurs. Annie has a gift, but to her, it is a curse. She experiences what are known as murmurs, that is, she can tell if someone that she meets is about to die. It doesn't happen when she meets everyone, but when it does, it's very disturbing. For Annie, these are the torments; they never let up and have changed her life.
After being exposed to the public eye in a high profile case some time ago, Annie now lives in isolation, in a cottage away from everyone. She does work part time in a coffee shop, but hates being recognised.
When Annie finds out that her cousin has gone missing, she knows that despite her misgivings, she has to help. Damien has had a chequered past, with spells in prison, but his mother is convinced that something is amiss. Since he became a father, Damien has turned over a new leaf, there's no way that he would just up and leave, and abandon his little son.
Annie and her twin brother Lewis will do their best to search for Damien, they feel that they owe it to their adoptive Mother and her sister. Annie's fears and anxieties quickly come true as they find themselves smack bang in the middle of eerie and murderous events, things that will explain to both of them more about their earlier life and just how Annie gained the curse that is the torments.
Cleverly interwoven into the events of the present day is the story of Sylvia and Ben, dating back to the 1950s when they were school children. This is a dark story that does not hold back, with shocking details of cultish behaviour from people who are some of the most respected people in society. At first, it's difficult to understand how this fits in with Annie and Lewis' quest, but slowly and surely, the author beautifully exposes the truth.
A chilling, beautifully written story that will haunt the reader, with characters who range from the most evil, to those who have been ignored for years, but only want the truth to be exposed. It's an absolute triumph. I loved it
Malone introduced his readers to Annie Jackson in the first book of this series; The Murmurs. Annie has a gift, but to her, it is a curse. She experiences what are known as murmurs, that is, she can tell if someone that she meets is about to die. It doesn't happen when she meets everyone, but when it does, it's very disturbing. For Annie, these are the torments; they never let up and have changed her life.
After being exposed to the public eye in a high profile case some time ago, Annie now lives in isolation, in a cottage away from everyone. She does work part time in a coffee shop, but hates being recognised.
When Annie finds out that her cousin has gone missing, she knows that despite her misgivings, she has to help. Damien has had a chequered past, with spells in prison, but his mother is convinced that something is amiss. Since he became a father, Damien has turned over a new leaf, there's no way that he would just up and leave, and abandon his little son.
Annie and her twin brother Lewis will do their best to search for Damien, they feel that they owe it to their adoptive Mother and her sister. Annie's fears and anxieties quickly come true as they find themselves smack bang in the middle of eerie and murderous events, things that will explain to both of them more about their earlier life and just how Annie gained the curse that is the torments.
Cleverly interwoven into the events of the present day is the story of Sylvia and Ben, dating back to the 1950s when they were school children. This is a dark story that does not hold back, with shocking details of cultish behaviour from people who are some of the most respected people in society. At first, it's difficult to understand how this fits in with Annie and Lewis' quest, but slowly and surely, the author beautifully exposes the truth.
A chilling, beautifully written story that will haunt the reader, with characters who range from the most evil, to those who have been ignored for years, but only want the truth to be exposed. It's an absolute triumph. I loved it
September 25, 2024
Michael J Malone was up there with the best for me when his book House of Spines was published. I knew then that this was an author who could do something different. He stays within the crime genre, all the while dancing outwith it, around it, beyond it, and back. Within this book, we have the continuation of Annie and her twin Lewis’ story. While the book is about Annie’s gift, or curse, it really explores twins and their bonds and how that connection can be stretched, strengthened but rarely really broken. I also felt deeply for everyone in the story. Even with the old adage of two sides to every story there were reasons for what was done and Malone’s telling creates an atmospheric, emotional and chilling masterpiece.
This book is tension personified. A special gift that this author possesses is knowing when to ratchet up the tension just that little bit more.
I loved how the author also shows that the events of years ago can affect today. Certainly it’s amplified here, but it also reflects true events and how fear and hatred can carry through generations even when people don’t know the stories anymore.
There’s supernatural, crime, witch hunts, and a really chilling story that will keep you up because you’re gripped by the tension so fiercely you will hold your breath, throughout.
I always look forward to a new book from this author and can’t wait to start it, with the dread of wondering what can top this! If you pick up this book, and you’d be mad not to, look up the rest of his books, you will not be disappointed. This is another that will be on my books of the year list, and should be on every Spooky Season reading pile.
With thanks to Anne Cater, Orenda Books and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
This book is tension personified. A special gift that this author possesses is knowing when to ratchet up the tension just that little bit more.
I loved how the author also shows that the events of years ago can affect today. Certainly it’s amplified here, but it also reflects true events and how fear and hatred can carry through generations even when people don’t know the stories anymore.
There’s supernatural, crime, witch hunts, and a really chilling story that will keep you up because you’re gripped by the tension so fiercely you will hold your breath, throughout.
I always look forward to a new book from this author and can’t wait to start it, with the dread of wondering what can top this! If you pick up this book, and you’d be mad not to, look up the rest of his books, you will not be disappointed. This is another that will be on my books of the year list, and should be on every Spooky Season reading pile.
With thanks to Anne Cater, Orenda Books and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
August 28, 2024
The second in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series and Annie is still haunted by the murmurs, visions, sounds and voices that resonate in her head and show her when someone will die. The only peace she gets is when she is in her cottage and she barely ever leaves it unless necessary. When one of her premonitions causes problems for her with the local population it seems fortuitous that her adoptive mother, Mandy McEvoy, has asked for her help. The book opens with a prologue telling the myth of the Baobhan Sith, a story that returns throughout the book. Told in multiple timelines and from multiple POV’s, including those of Sylvia and Ben, two children at a private school in the late 1950’s, as well as Annie and Lewis and detective Clare Corrigan.
Briefly, Annie and her brother Lewis have agreed to help find Mandy‘s nephew Damien who went missing shortly after a day out with his four-year-old son. Their investigations soon lead them into a very dark and disturbing tale that appears to involve former solicitor Ben Oldfield and his family.
I enjoyed book one so much I was worried this wouldn’t stand up to it but I need not have worried. It was just as enjoyable, just as tense and full of emotion and just as shocking. This is a very atmospheric, contemporary gothic thriller that gets darker as the story progresses until the readers finds themself in a very dark and disturbing place. The plot is excellent, as are the characters and I do like Annie and feel sad that she has to live with this terrible legacy. That said I can’t wait for book three. Another fabulous read.
Briefly, Annie and her brother Lewis have agreed to help find Mandy‘s nephew Damien who went missing shortly after a day out with his four-year-old son. Their investigations soon lead them into a very dark and disturbing tale that appears to involve former solicitor Ben Oldfield and his family.
I enjoyed book one so much I was worried this wouldn’t stand up to it but I need not have worried. It was just as enjoyable, just as tense and full of emotion and just as shocking. This is a very atmospheric, contemporary gothic thriller that gets darker as the story progresses until the readers finds themself in a very dark and disturbing place. The plot is excellent, as are the characters and I do like Annie and feel sad that she has to live with this terrible legacy. That said I can’t wait for book three. Another fabulous read.
September 23, 2024
I read and reviewed The Murmurs, the first of the Annie Jackson Mysteries, this time last year. The Torments continues in the same vein, with Annie as the hero who can look at someone and know they are going to die imminently, and how. It's very upsetting for her. Even more so because if she tries to warn them, they treat her like a nutter, but if she doesn't, their family blame her for not warning them. She can't win.
We are now a year later and Annie is living in a tiny cottage, away from everyone and the voices - the murmurs - are quiet here. She even has a job in a cafe. But she has just been the subject of abuse because she didn't warn someone of a car accident. Her cottage is targeted, so her twin brother Lewis comes up to stay with her.
In what appears to be a totally unrelated story, Ben and Sylvia are pupils at a private school, where they fall under the influence of one of the teachers. Phineas Dance, who is involved with the Occult, persuades them to 'join' him. They don't need much persuading.
But there's more to come, because Annie and Lewis's adoptive mum's sister (phew!) asks for Annie's help. Her son Damien has gone missing and while he has had a chequered past, including a spell in prison, he adores his young son Bodie and she is convinced he wouldn't just walk away. Annie, however, isn't the kind of medium who can find people if given something belonging to them. That's not how it works.
We do move around through various timelines - Annie now, Ben and Sylvia at school, and we also follow Sylvia as she matures and becomes more and more obsessive.
This is a brilliant book, just as good as book one, though maybe a tiny bit more involved, but that may just be me forgetting the details of the original.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
We are now a year later and Annie is living in a tiny cottage, away from everyone and the voices - the murmurs - are quiet here. She even has a job in a cafe. But she has just been the subject of abuse because she didn't warn someone of a car accident. Her cottage is targeted, so her twin brother Lewis comes up to stay with her.
In what appears to be a totally unrelated story, Ben and Sylvia are pupils at a private school, where they fall under the influence of one of the teachers. Phineas Dance, who is involved with the Occult, persuades them to 'join' him. They don't need much persuading.
But there's more to come, because Annie and Lewis's adoptive mum's sister (phew!) asks for Annie's help. Her son Damien has gone missing and while he has had a chequered past, including a spell in prison, he adores his young son Bodie and she is convinced he wouldn't just walk away. Annie, however, isn't the kind of medium who can find people if given something belonging to them. That's not how it works.
We do move around through various timelines - Annie now, Ben and Sylvia at school, and we also follow Sylvia as she matures and becomes more and more obsessive.
This is a brilliant book, just as good as book one, though maybe a tiny bit more involved, but that may just be me forgetting the details of the original.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
September 11, 2024
I do love this series. There. got it out of the way early. The Murmurs was one of my top reads of last year and I have been so looking forward to this second book, knowing that the concept of the books, of Annie Jackson's particular talent, left the field wide open as to where Michael J Malone could take us. Blending the author's beautifully lyrical writing, with a gothic theme, a touch of the other worldly and a foe who is very much to be feared, The Torments, is a book which enchanted me from the very start and kept me on edge right until the very final pages. It's one of those books. The opening chapter is mythically pitch perfect and explains so much of what will follow, although you won't necessarily understand how straight off the bat. Where would be the fun in that?
This book really played to my ideal kind of reads. A mixture of mystery and a touch of the occult, but packed with interesting and unusual characters and a whole heap of tension that had me stabbing at my kindle screen at speed, wanting to know what would come next. Any one who has read book one will be well aware of Annie Jackson's particular talents, the eponymous 'murmurs' that occur whenever she is near someone who is soon to meet their end. Knowing that whether she speaks out or not, the end has already been determined, it makes no odds to the local community who hold her responsible for the death of a young rescue worker, believing that Annie could well have saved his life. It's almost a welcome relief to be asked by her adoptive Aunt to try and find her missing son, Damien, as it gives her reason to leave her home for a while, at least until the dust settles. Of course, leaning in to her talent does not come without risk, but it's safe to say that no-one could have foreseen how dangerous this particular quest would become. Not even Annie.
What I liked about this book is that it is not just a simple missing person investigation. MIchael J Malone has skilfully woven in a secondary thread, one that initially throws up more questions than it answers but that I knew had to tie back to Annie in some way. We are introduced to two school children who, struggling with their own acceptance amongst their peers, become the perfect victims for grooming, although the nature of it may take some by surprise. Now this element of the story has dark undertones, but plays heavily into the sense of the occult which is a huge part of what is to come to pass. I liked how the author plays with the characters in these scenes, setting them, and up, perfectly for what is to become their future, or perhaps their destiny.
The search for Damien introduces Annie and her brother Lewis to the village of Kirkronald, which proves to be home to a few strange residents of its own. Firstly there is a strange woman who lives up at a grand house just outside of the village, someone who Annie seems to have become infatuated with. Then there is Ina, a strange old woman who appears to know many of the villages secrets but reveals them only cryptically, making it hard to the siblings to follow, but making me all the more intrigued by the story. I had my theories as to how this would play out, but would they prove to be correct. And, more importantly, would finding the truth end up costing one of our beloved characters their life? Michael J Malone is not beyond pushing his characters to the limits and this is no exception.
With adversaries who will stop at nothing to get what they believe to be their right, strange rituals spanning decades which have proven more than occasionally deadly, and the kind of sway with the local constabulary and other people of rank and merit that can only serve to work against justice, you could really feel the tension building the further into the story we travel. The scene setting is perfect, so many atmospheric moments and creepy locations designed to unsettle but not completely disturb the reader, and that constant sense of impending danger that flows through the pages like wine to a chalice. It's mystery upon mystique, with brilliant pacing that goes through peaks and troughs as the story dictates. I was hooked from the start and more than delighted by the end. A perfect second book in what I hope will be a much (Much) longer series. Definitely recommended. And yeah. It can have one of these. A blood red hot read award. I do love my gothic style mysteries after all.
This book really played to my ideal kind of reads. A mixture of mystery and a touch of the occult, but packed with interesting and unusual characters and a whole heap of tension that had me stabbing at my kindle screen at speed, wanting to know what would come next. Any one who has read book one will be well aware of Annie Jackson's particular talents, the eponymous 'murmurs' that occur whenever she is near someone who is soon to meet their end. Knowing that whether she speaks out or not, the end has already been determined, it makes no odds to the local community who hold her responsible for the death of a young rescue worker, believing that Annie could well have saved his life. It's almost a welcome relief to be asked by her adoptive Aunt to try and find her missing son, Damien, as it gives her reason to leave her home for a while, at least until the dust settles. Of course, leaning in to her talent does not come without risk, but it's safe to say that no-one could have foreseen how dangerous this particular quest would become. Not even Annie.
What I liked about this book is that it is not just a simple missing person investigation. MIchael J Malone has skilfully woven in a secondary thread, one that initially throws up more questions than it answers but that I knew had to tie back to Annie in some way. We are introduced to two school children who, struggling with their own acceptance amongst their peers, become the perfect victims for grooming, although the nature of it may take some by surprise. Now this element of the story has dark undertones, but plays heavily into the sense of the occult which is a huge part of what is to come to pass. I liked how the author plays with the characters in these scenes, setting them, and up, perfectly for what is to become their future, or perhaps their destiny.
The search for Damien introduces Annie and her brother Lewis to the village of Kirkronald, which proves to be home to a few strange residents of its own. Firstly there is a strange woman who lives up at a grand house just outside of the village, someone who Annie seems to have become infatuated with. Then there is Ina, a strange old woman who appears to know many of the villages secrets but reveals them only cryptically, making it hard to the siblings to follow, but making me all the more intrigued by the story. I had my theories as to how this would play out, but would they prove to be correct. And, more importantly, would finding the truth end up costing one of our beloved characters their life? Michael J Malone is not beyond pushing his characters to the limits and this is no exception.
With adversaries who will stop at nothing to get what they believe to be their right, strange rituals spanning decades which have proven more than occasionally deadly, and the kind of sway with the local constabulary and other people of rank and merit that can only serve to work against justice, you could really feel the tension building the further into the story we travel. The scene setting is perfect, so many atmospheric moments and creepy locations designed to unsettle but not completely disturb the reader, and that constant sense of impending danger that flows through the pages like wine to a chalice. It's mystery upon mystique, with brilliant pacing that goes through peaks and troughs as the story dictates. I was hooked from the start and more than delighted by the end. A perfect second book in what I hope will be a much (Much) longer series. Definitely recommended. And yeah. It can have one of these. A blood red hot read award. I do love my gothic style mysteries after all.
December 29, 2024
I am a big fan of Michael J. Malones books and always look forward to the announcement that the next one is on the way, and I have been looking forward to catching up with Annie Jackson in The Torments and I wasn’t disappointed.
Following the events in The Murmurs, Annie Jackson has been hiding away from the world, trying hard to control the voices and the visions that have been ruling her life and for the most part she has managed to do so. Its not long before she is blamed for failing to save the life of a young man in the local village and just as she is dealing with that, she gets a request from her adoptive mother asking her to help locate her missing nephew, Damien. Its not something she would ask of her, but his mother is desperate to find him, and they believe Annie is there only hope. Knowing that she can’t deal with this on her own, her brother Lewis agrees to help, if nothing else to make sure that Annie doesn’t come to any harm.
Alongside Annie’s investigation there is another story, one that gives you the chills right from the start and as the book progresses you can start to see how the things in the past begin to link with the people and the places that Annie and Lewis encounter in their hunt for Damien. Sylvia and Ben are young students at a boarding school, both classed as misfits and singled out by teacher Phineas Dance who grooms them for what can only be described as evil, the extent of which is only revealed over time. For quite a while I was not sure which was worse, the things they were exposed to growing up or what they eventually became capable of with no concern to anyone but themselves and what they wanted to achieve.
The relationship between Annie and Lewis is strong but there are still times when Annie feels that she must do things alone, but it is at those times she is at her most vulnerable and experiences things that even she has trouble understanding. What is clear though is that she would give anything not to have her “gift” but for family she will try to harness it. If anyone is ready for the outcome from this only time will tell.
The Torments is dark and chilling, with the occult and local legends woven into the dual timelines effortlessly. Whilst it can be read as a standalone if you have not already read The Murmurs, I would recommend you pick that one up first as this is a series you want to get into from the start.
Following the events in The Murmurs, Annie Jackson has been hiding away from the world, trying hard to control the voices and the visions that have been ruling her life and for the most part she has managed to do so. Its not long before she is blamed for failing to save the life of a young man in the local village and just as she is dealing with that, she gets a request from her adoptive mother asking her to help locate her missing nephew, Damien. Its not something she would ask of her, but his mother is desperate to find him, and they believe Annie is there only hope. Knowing that she can’t deal with this on her own, her brother Lewis agrees to help, if nothing else to make sure that Annie doesn’t come to any harm.
Alongside Annie’s investigation there is another story, one that gives you the chills right from the start and as the book progresses you can start to see how the things in the past begin to link with the people and the places that Annie and Lewis encounter in their hunt for Damien. Sylvia and Ben are young students at a boarding school, both classed as misfits and singled out by teacher Phineas Dance who grooms them for what can only be described as evil, the extent of which is only revealed over time. For quite a while I was not sure which was worse, the things they were exposed to growing up or what they eventually became capable of with no concern to anyone but themselves and what they wanted to achieve.
The relationship between Annie and Lewis is strong but there are still times when Annie feels that she must do things alone, but it is at those times she is at her most vulnerable and experiences things that even she has trouble understanding. What is clear though is that she would give anything not to have her “gift” but for family she will try to harness it. If anyone is ready for the outcome from this only time will tell.
The Torments is dark and chilling, with the occult and local legends woven into the dual timelines effortlessly. Whilst it can be read as a standalone if you have not already read The Murmurs, I would recommend you pick that one up first as this is a series you want to get into from the start.
September 21, 2024
When I read the first book in this series, The Murmurs, last year I was hooked on its creepy, gothic and crime storyline. I was very happy to hear that a follow up had been written, eager to see how Annie was coping with her ‘gift’. The answer was not very well. Almost immediately, she has the misfortune of seeing another young man’s death and her attempts at averting it cause her more upset and a lot of resentment from local people. Whilst this is upsetting for her, I tend to believe that the anger directed at her by the locals was because of fear, the area in which they left had historical links to witchcraft. There would be people there whose family had lived locally for generations.
In a bid to escape her situation, both Annie and her twin brother Lewis agree to help their adoptive aunt find her missing son, little realising how much danger they were putting themselves in.
Alongside this storyline is one where the reader meets both Sylvia and Ben, from their childhood, when they met in the classroom up until adulthood when I had to work out how they fitted into the the storyline featuring Annie and Lewis. These two people I would definitely cross the road to avoid. Both terrifying and capable of just about anything. I couldn’t decide which of the two unsettled me most.
This is a brilliant series, there is something different when you read a book that contains threats from the dead as well as the living. Annie seemed more at peace with it, when she found a way to quieten the murmers but was still in danger from her involvement in her search. Lewis had no gift but his insistence on trying to protect her put him at risk from the same people.
I’m a big fan of a series I really hope that it continues.
In a bid to escape her situation, both Annie and her twin brother Lewis agree to help their adoptive aunt find her missing son, little realising how much danger they were putting themselves in.
Alongside this storyline is one where the reader meets both Sylvia and Ben, from their childhood, when they met in the classroom up until adulthood when I had to work out how they fitted into the the storyline featuring Annie and Lewis. These two people I would definitely cross the road to avoid. Both terrifying and capable of just about anything. I couldn’t decide which of the two unsettled me most.
This is a brilliant series, there is something different when you read a book that contains threats from the dead as well as the living. Annie seemed more at peace with it, when she found a way to quieten the murmers but was still in danger from her involvement in her search. Lewis had no gift but his insistence on trying to protect her put him at risk from the same people.
I’m a big fan of a series I really hope that it continues.
September 12, 2024
The Torments is the second in the Annie Jackson series, but as I did, it can definitely be read as a standalone.
It's a tense, creepy gothic thriller full of mystery and a great dual timeline.
It's a many layered tale of intrigue, dark magic, the occult and secrets.
It's a great novel to read at this time of year with Halloween just around the corner, with it's scary storyline.
It's atmospheric, it's disturbing, it's full of feeling and emotion, and I read this in two sittings.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
It's a tense, creepy gothic thriller full of mystery and a great dual timeline.
It's a many layered tale of intrigue, dark magic, the occult and secrets.
It's a great novel to read at this time of year with Halloween just around the corner, with it's scary storyline.
It's atmospheric, it's disturbing, it's full of feeling and emotion, and I read this in two sittings.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
July 13, 2025
This book was great, so much going on.
I did wonder if this second book would have been as good as the first one, the murmurs were know as many now, Karen lives in an old cottage far away from everyone, surely there couldn’t be as good a book as the first but there was and soon there will be a third, can’t wait.
Would recommend
I did wonder if this second book would have been as good as the first one, the murmurs were know as many now, Karen lives in an old cottage far away from everyone, surely there couldn’t be as good a book as the first but there was and soon there will be a third, can’t wait.
Would recommend
September 12, 2025
An extremely gripping, creepy and twisty tale involving the occult and a number of dubiously wicked people. The 2nd in the Annie Jackson mystery series and we'll worth reading. It's scary, and contains more twists and turns than a helter skelter. Highly recommended and looking forward to reading the next one in the series called The Howling.
December 17, 2025
The Torments
Lots of twists and turns, surprises. Different a good read.
Kept me on the edge of the seat till the end
Lots of twists and turns, surprises. Different a good read.
Kept me on the edge of the seat till the end
September 26, 2024
This book is so good. This book is the perfect book for me with its mix of psychological thriller with mythical and dark goings on, just perfect. I loved the different narratives switching between past and present as the different narratives come together for a brilliant ending. The two narratives also have quite a different feel one which was focused on the present which was a modern day psychological thriller trying to chase down the disappearance of Annie’s step cousin and the historical storyline which is much more creepy and dark. This is a great read as the nights start to draw in.
April 16, 2025
This was the first book I ready by this author. It was a good read. It was not my usual type of story I typically read. Which was a good thing. It was a nice change. I actually doubt I will read another of his Annie Jackson Mysteries though, as it isn't my normal cup of tea.
October 24, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I haven’t read book one in the Annie Jackson series but I don’t feel that it mattered that I hadn’t read it. (I’m absolutely going back to read it though as it sounds very interesting and if this one is anything to go by it’ll be fabulous too!)
I really like Annie from the start, and you know that she has this ‘gift’ / curse and I just really felt for her as she knows that something is going to happen but can’t say anything and you can tell that she feels absolutely awful about it. She has been hiding away at her home as much as possible as her gift is very loud when she’s around other people which must be very hard for her.
Annie is very caring though and I loved her relationship with her twin Lewis. I love how they understand each other and really know when to not pressure the other for information. I loved the storyline and thought it was very unique, it had me intrigued pretty quickly and I loved how it was pieced together.
The book was written part scenes in past years and the rest in today’s time, I thought it was very interesting and really well done as it all added pieces to the puzzle. I loved the build up to the ending and I honestly wasn’t sure what was going to happen, I definitely didn’t expect what did!!
I loved the writing style and seemed to fly through the chapters as it was so intriguing.
I really like Annie from the start, and you know that she has this ‘gift’ / curse and I just really felt for her as she knows that something is going to happen but can’t say anything and you can tell that she feels absolutely awful about it. She has been hiding away at her home as much as possible as her gift is very loud when she’s around other people which must be very hard for her.
Annie is very caring though and I loved her relationship with her twin Lewis. I love how they understand each other and really know when to not pressure the other for information. I loved the storyline and thought it was very unique, it had me intrigued pretty quickly and I loved how it was pieced together.
The book was written part scenes in past years and the rest in today’s time, I thought it was very interesting and really well done as it all added pieces to the puzzle. I loved the build up to the ending and I honestly wasn’t sure what was going to happen, I definitely didn’t expect what did!!
I loved the writing style and seemed to fly through the chapters as it was so intriguing.
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