Lowfield

by Mark Sampson

Riley Fuller, a police officer sidelined by the devastating loss of three colleagues in a tragic shooting, seeks solace in rural Prince Edward Island as he lays claim to his family's ancestral property—an ancient, dilapidated house known locally as Applegarth. Eager for a fresh start and relief from his traumatic past, Riley's hopes are soon dashed as he uncovers the dark secrets hidden within the very walls of the Victorian-era mansion. Soon, he realizes that Applegarth is merely a harbinger of something far more sinister—a malevolent force lurking within the nearby abandoned village of Lowfield, its ominous presence intricately entwined with the rich history of PEI itself.

Genres: Canada

347 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2025

About the author

Mark Sampson is a fiction writer, poet, book reviewer, and literary critic, originally from Prince Edward Island and now living and writing in Toronto. He is the author of eight books: the novels Lowfield (Now or Never Publishing, 2025), All the Animals on Earth (Wolsak & Wynn, 2020), The Slip (Dundurn, 2017), Sad Peninsula (Dundurn, 2014) and Off Book (Norwood Publishing, 2007); the short story collection The Secrets Men Keep (Now or Never Publishing, 2015); the poetry collection Weathervane (Palimpsest Press, 2016); and the poetry chapbook Big Wilson (Emergency Flash Mob Press, 2023).

Reviews

[Jeff Bursey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre fiction (horror), an easy read, and an amusing take on prince edward island in 1995. With me, Mayoff, and Sampson, pei is looking a bit roughed up, fictionally.

Longer review now up here:

https://miramichireader.ca/2025/06/lo...

[ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ ☠︎︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much gratitude to Literary Press Group of Canada, Now Or Never Publishing and NetGalley for giving me access to an early copy of Lowfield!

Being immersed in the descriptions of nostalgic 90's pop culture references and Canadian east coast imagery was quite possibly one of my favorite things to experience, along with the terrifying grip the story had on me to keep reading. A eerily gothic cosmic horror, set in Prince Edward Island 🇨🇦, was packed with disturbing and existentially dreadful consequences, from the very beginning!

This was a truly harrowing and reflective story that had a blend of historical facts mixed with horrific, otherworldly fiction 😱 Sampson's writing is witty, easy to follow, even if the content and topics discussed are hard to stomach. Not for the faint of heart (HEAVY TRIGGER WARNING⚠️), but definitely for the morbidly curious 🫣

[Just Another Final Girl Review (Brittany) Levely-Connolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

“There was very little life out here, which made it sort of spooky. But still.”

Genre:
General Adult Fiction
Horror:
-Cosmic
-Canadian
-gothic
-occult
-philosophical
historical fiction

Trigger warnings:
Death
Rape
Incest
Suicide and suicidal ideations
Abortion
Sexual assault
Intergenerational trauma and abuse
“So this raises the question:why don’t I leave? If I know that my presence here might cause something terrible to happen, then why don’t I flee from this place and never come back? “

If you are looking for a horror read for the cathartic release that accompanies a happy ending, then please do not pick up this book. It isn't the read for you. It is in every sense of the term a cosmic horror narrative.

I actually really liked this book, but know that it will be very triggering to many people due to the incest and rape that features heavily in the second half of the narrative. That being said there is really no graphic descriptions of any of those things happening and the reader is only made aware that these events when the protagonist is told by other characters that the girls and women of the town have accused their male family members of such horrific abuse and that these events have occurred in the past.

“He knew there was a bigger story—decades or even centuries old, and much darker than he could have imagined—burbling under the surface of his own tale.”

I received a physical copy of this book from the publishing company and an ebook arc copy from Netgalley for reviewing purposes

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 ⭐ rounded up

Boy oh boy, did this become difficult to get through, should have been a DNF.

As described, our narrative starts with our MC, Riley Fuller, heading to PEI to take ownership of, and move into, an old incestral home located on a remote property in eastern PEI in the mid 90s. I was intrigued by the cosmic horror and haunted house premise, but those two things, though present, did not take up nearly as much page time as incessant product mentions, the description of his hazel eyes (almost as non stop as in a romantasy novel), misogynistic descriptions of women, and scenes of the MC jerking off or getting hard.

I understand that Riley is supposed to be an unlikeable character, but this was to the extreme. He is so pathetically "woe is me and my life" that it reminded me of Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye (another book I hated) except more raunchy and gross. I stuck through it because other reviewers had mentioned the story picking up in the second half, yet to me almost nothing happened, there was no character development, and it ended in a lack luster climax with a predictable epilogue.

The 1.5 stars it did get were from the writing itself being mostly okay, I can push through almost anything if it's well written.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 Stars*
Lowfield is a slow-burn horror that I found intriguing due to its mix of cosmic horror with the history and geography of Prince Edward Island, a beautiful province in Canada. It also delves into toxic masculinity and the consequences of that abuse of power during a time when social media was non-existent, but people wanted a voice to express their concerns as to what was happening, especially women. During a time when abortion was still banned on the island, and the politics surrounded the building of the bridge to the mainland, this was an interesting mix of politics, history, and survival.

The book focuses on Riley, a disgraced RCMP officer from Moncton, who discovers he has inherited an old home and property on PEI. The character is not especially likable, but I was drawn to him because of this factor, and also due to the fact he was an unreliable narrator. Riley continuously has thoughts about younger women, and while this may be off-putting, it is connected to the house and the story and is supposed to make you uncomfortable. I did like how the author showed Riley's confusion and disgust as he was going through his visions and his dreams as it did make him, while not exactly relatable, but more real. I did feel that the character development on a whole however, was inconsistent, and the secondary characters were very much one-dimensional. I don't know if this was done on purpose to try to throw off the reader, but I would have been a lot more invested in the characters if I had actually been able to develop more of a link with them and knew them a bit better. I don't have to like them, but I do have to empathize with them.

The plot itself is very much a slow-burn one for two-thirds of the book, something that didn't bother me too much. I don't necessarily need my horror books to have these crazy twists and turns, but there was definitely enough to keep me interested and engaged despite the slower development. A lot happened during the last third of the book and I did need time to digest the information when I was finished. I will be hones though, I did have a suspicious as to what part of the ending would be and I was right.

The themes of toxic masculinity and sexual abuse do dominate the narrative. Multiple generations of abuse is discussed and the effects this has on the current generation, something I thought was well done in this book. It doesn't give solutions, just highlights the issues and the consequences, but makes you think of the impact on families. Is it uncomfortable? Absolutely, but it should be.

Lowfield definitely had interesting moments and I enjoyed it overall. I loved the setting and thought the descriptions were beautifully done. However, there were things that were inconsistent plot-wise, and I really wished some of the characters had been developed a bit more to make the story that much richer. I definitely like this author's writing style and look forward to reading more of his work. And while I try not to give away spoilers in my reviews, I would definitely check the trigger warnings for this book, especially for sexual themes.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Michael Parrish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. It has not affected my review.

Riley Fuller is a man suffering life from all quarters. PTSD from an event in the recent past has driven him to look for a fresh start at a large house past down to him from his father (like his father and so on for 4 generations before) in a rural section of Prince Edward Isle. Once there and in the house, he is so desperate for normalcy that the house seems to bring through quirky and eerie happenings, that he looks past the oddities or rationalizes them away. Discovering a 3-volume diary from his grandfather’s grandfather opens up knowledge of Lowfield and threatens to destroy not only Riley’s newfound peace, but the lives of many, many townsfolks.

Sampson writes a slow burn build for Riley’s life and the life of the surrounding area throughout the early book.that effectively builds the atmosphere readers look for in a story of a haunted individual and a haunted house, but its methodical in its payout. The flow of the build of Riley’s new cadre in Jack and Jessie-Mac was handled very realistically and set up some late-game happenings that much more impactful. I wasn’t ready for the dinner party, and that was just the roller coaster leaving the gate.

For those sensitive to it, know that there are some possible triggers in the book in Rape, Suicide, Incest, SA, and CSA - a couple in particular that went on way longer than the narrative required, even if it played into the overall setup.

I’m a huge Lovecraft fan and this hit a ton of those buttons I love. Otherworldly gates, disfigured creatures, and more. There’s even a lengthy and sensical nod in Sampson’s world to my favorite Lovecraft tale “The Shadow over Innsmouth” with an encounter with an old drunk fisherman named Obed Marsten, and several mentions of something called the “Lowfield Look.” I loved it.

Know going in that there’s some rough country Sampson is going to cover but the trip to the far side of the novel pays off in a story arc you don’t see often, and I wish there were more haunted man/house stories like it.

[Flutter By Night · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Sampson writes a very good story. He allows the reader to steep, then stew, in gradually cranked up unease and dread. Lowfield isn’t for the fast food or insta jump scares horror reader. It’s much more for those who appreciate quiet cosmic horror, unfolding to reveal countless layers. This one has plenty of fodder for any appreciator of old school horror: a deeply flawed character with a haunted and conflicting past, toxic masculinity, trauma, a tainted house, the supernatural, forces older and greater than the human mind will ever comprehend. It is a dense story with finely tuned, detailed writing. Despite its length, I found this book highly readable and interesting. It held my attention. It was a multi course meal. Character and plot are well-developed. Lowfield, very much reminds me of SK’s slow and steady unwinding of a unique small town, in this case PEI, an island Provence in Canada, which is a new and intriguing setting. It’s also a throwback to the 90’s, so a big check mark for some vintage horror, too. The prose, layers, history of the town, the house, the characters, the old journal—left me feeling like I have been to this place and have met these people and have walked with the protagonist through those too still woods. For readers who have stopwatches and must have rapid-fire dopamine hits from extreme horror gratification, this one won’t suit you. I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciate good writing, a well-crafted thoughtful plot, and who digs quiet, cosmic horror, messed up protagonists, and unsettling atmospheres.

Quiet cosmic horror doesn’t mean it’s not horror or lacks the creeps.

4.25/5

[Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mark Sampson’s “Lowfield” is a spooky read with elements of cosmic horror, while also pulling in unique elements of Prince Edward Island’s history and geography.

The plot focuses on disgraced RCMP officer Riley Fuller, who inherits Applegarth - a dilapidated but historic family home. Seeing an opportunity for a fresh start on PEI, he moves in and the house’s dark influence reawakens and begins taking a toll on him… and on the surrounding community. With the help of some locals, including a young and ambitious newspaper reporter, he unravels the mystery of Applegarth’s dark past, while simultaneously grappling with a recent tragedy in his life.

Initially, the similarities to Stephen King, particularly the novel Salem’s Lot (and especially his short story “Jerusalem’s Lot”, which goes into the backstory of that cursed village) were a bit too strong for my liking, but seeing a few wink-and-nudge direct references to King’s setting made me realize it’s more of an homage to his work rather than a duplication.

The only content warning I’d call out is that, as the house reawakens and exerts its influence on the community, there are a lot of mentions of sexual assault, which adds to the grim and unsettling atmosphere but may not be to every reader’s liking.

Overall, ���Lowfield” was an enjoyable read and would be great for fans of Stephen King who also want a little Canadian history mixed in with creepy atmosphere and classic horror moments!

[Mike Dominic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Sampson's Lowfield is, at heart, an exploration of toxic masculinity and the consequences of failure to act on the abuses of male power. Couched in a narrative that evokes Lovecraft's "Shadow Over Innsmouth" as much as it does Stephen King's "Jerusalem's Lot", set in the context of Atlantic Canada, the novel traces the cumulative effect of generations of abuse in the Fuller family.
To his credit, Sampson manages to navigate the murky waters of cosmic horror without falling into pastiche. He evades purple prose to write in a style that is accessible and fluid, keeping the reader engaged while constantly moving the story ahead.
Lowfield does suffer a little bit from Sampson's deployment of the more fantastic elements of the story. The first two thirds of the book feature minimal supernatural elements. While Sampson does more than make up for this with some truly horrific images in the closing chapters, it does make the majority of the novel a bit of a slow burn. This is not helped by an uneven character development. Some characters that are essential to the story are dispensed with too easily, while others that barely get a nod early on become integral to the conclusion.
In all, it's a mostly successful novel with a solid, timely theme, an interesting setting and skilful execution. Plus, it's nice to see cosmic horror themes brought to the Atlantic Canadian region like this. Whether you read it because of its historical and geographic perspective or just to appreciate the themes and imagery, Lowfield will not disappoint.

[Lisa Nikolits · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of true horror, and a fan of Mark Sampson’s writing, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Lowfield and it was everything I hoped and expected – and then some!

I’ve always thought that horror writers possess an uncanny ability to see that which lies beneath, the pulsating darkness that threatens to destroy the sunshiny lives of average folk just going about their days, the darkness waiting to pounce on the morally weak, the tired, the flawed and the vulnerable.

The battles of good and evil are waged daily, and I sometimes feel as if the supernatural events in true horror are metaphorical representations of the wars that, sooner or later, each of us will face. Perhaps it won’t get to the point of the supernatural, in our lives, but if you read Lowfield, you’ll see that it’s not possible to escape from your past. And what of nature versus nurture and the bad seeds we were born with, to start?

While paying homage to the horror trope, Sampson forges a novel with hallmarks of his own; he delivers an idyllic steamy summer in Prince Edward Island, with cinematic imagery and characters that immediately draw you in, some fascinating history and, as the novel is set in 1995, it was a great blast from the past.

Sampson brings the horror to life in vivid and unforgettable ways, and I applaud his sensational creativity in brandishing the creepy, the evil, and the tentacled.

Lowfield is, quite simply, a great read! And I’ll never be able to eat eggplant again.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lowfield was a haunting and slow burning read that pulled me in with its eerie atmosphere and sense of creeping dread. The setting, Prince Edward Island, was the PERFECT location for this horror. The way the author captured the isolation and quiet eeriness of the home / town gave the story a deeply unsettling edge. It felt like the landscape itself was a character, and it added so much to the overall mood.

The suspense was well done, and I found myself turning pages out of pure curiosity (and a little unease). There were definitely moments that were hard to get through- some scenes were emotionally heavy or unsettling in their intensity- but I think that’s part of what made the book so wild. It didn’t shy away from discomfort, and that made the story feel real in a chilling kind of way.

While it wasn’t a perfect read for me, and there were a few slower sections, I appreciated the way it built tension and delivered a story that felt genuinely haunting. If you’re into quiet horror with a strong sense of place and slow, creeping suspense, Lowfield is worth picking up. Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

[Wu · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one wasn’t for me. It definitely needs trigger warnings, which will help in finding the right audience. Aside from repeated references to sexual assault, incest, and gang rape there are more than just references to pedophilia. I don’t think the description gives any indication of such themes so people can’t know to avoid it ahead of time.

Story wise, I’m not a fan of unlikable main characters. I’m assuming Riley was meant to be unlikable because the way he thinks of women throughout the book is off putting. I also didn’t find him interesting enough to really care what happened to him. People who are fans of unlikable main characters might like it, though. Plot started out a bit slow, focusing more on the mystery of Riley’s personal past, and picked up more around the halfway mark as other horror elements made themselves known.

Thanks to NetGalley and Now or Never Publishing for the arc

[Adri Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you should not look for secrets within your bloodline…

Riley Fuller is an Off-Duty Sick Mountie that has had a rough few years. He’s middle-aged, an ex-wife, small apartment, and PTSD from watching three of his colleagues murdered. The big question is: should he give into the hope of a second chance or just use his Glock to end his misery?

Riley does get another chance when he finds an old deed in his deceased father’s belongings. The deed is for a house on Prince Edward Island that has been abandoned for the last 65 years. Riley decides to plant roots at Applegarth but is wholly unaware of quite what he has planted in his hopes of a second chance.

I really enjoyed this book, this morally grey character, and Mark Sampson's writing style. I think that it is worth the read.

TW: Sexual Themes (I try my darndest to not give away spoilers, but there are some unpleasant sexual elements in this novel that may not be suitable for some)

Merged review:

Sometimes you should not go looking for secrets within your bloodline…

Riley Fuller is an Off-Duty Sick Mountie that has had a rough few years. He’s middle-aged, an ex-wife, small apartment, and PTSD from watching three of his colleagues murdered. The big question is: should he give into the hope of a second chance or just use his Glock to end his misery?

Riley does get another chance when he finds an old deed in his deceased father’s belongings. The deed is for a house on Prince Edward Island that has been abandoned for the last 65 years. Riley decides to plant roots at Applegarth but is wholly unaware of quite what he has planted in his hopes of a second chance.

I really enjoyed this book, this morally grey character, and Mark Sampson's writing style. I think that it is worth the read.

TW: Sexual Themes (I try my darndest to not give away spoilers, but there are some unpleasant sexual elements in this novel that may not be suitable for some)

#ThxNetGalley #MarkSampson #Lowfield

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lowfield is an eerily haunting story that sits with you the moment you start it, and are inevitably intrigued enough to finish it as soon as possible. I loved the main setting of PEI in the 1990’s and loved all the callbacks as well, it lent an air of authenticity to the story that was needed. This story is absolutely not for everyone - there is mention of rape, incest, and the main character is kind of a dick - but compelling enough to need to finish the story no matter what. The Lovecraftian feel to the entire story just gave it an extra sense of horror and malice. I am not sure if saying I enjoyed this book is the right phrasing, but I devoured it and can’t wait to see what else the author has written - I’m sure those will be must-reads as well.

[Janet Berkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure what genre this book is (Canadian horror?) but I enjoyed it. RCMP officer on sick leave moves from Moncton to a small town in PEI after he learns that he inherited a Victorian home out in the middle of nowhere. It takes place in the 1990s, around the time of the construction of the bridge to the Island. The action starts out slow as he gets used to living in the new community and meets a few people. Strange things start to happen with the house and the horror slowly ramps up.

As an intro to the genre, it scared me and I had to stop reading a few times near the end lol. I thought the characters were well drawn and, apart from a few editing issues and the aforementioned scary bits, it was an engaging read.

Would I recommend it? Depends on who the person is.

[Erin Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is creepy AF. A disgraced cop moves to his families ancestral home for a new start. But the house is wicked and his family history is even more wicked. There’s an abandoned village behind the property where an entity is trying to escape. Really, really disturbing and upsetting things happen. There’s a lot of sexual deviancy in this and it will turn your stomach. Be warned. I kept reading thinking, how much worse can it get? It gets worse. Lots of history about Prince Edward Island as well. Love the cover art. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

[Brenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

review to come, really just excellent; it has worked almost mythically in me ... it made me want to write a horror tale