ALONE: A gripping horror novella

by D. R. Clark

GOODREADS REVIEWER - "The story is great for anyone who likes a spooky cabin read! 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

GOODREADS REVIEWER - "This is a phenomenal novella. If you're a fan of paranormal, preternatural and cult behaviour, look no further! 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

He wanted to be alone… Then they arrivedAfter discovering his wife’s infidelity, Sam Carter decides to escape from it all.
He packs his bags and travels to a secluded cabin in the Scottish Highlands, surrounded by the tranquil Barswood Forest. His goal is to find peace among the crisp air and towering trees.

However, Sam’s solitude is short lived as a group of odd strangers arrive, bringing with them an unwelcoming sense of danger. Sam's peacefully stay soon comes to an end, as he is disturbed by unexplainable occurrences in the night.

As he investigates further into the group's peculiar ways, he uncovers a dark secret. One they’d kill to keep hidden.

Will he be able to escape Barswood Forest before it’s too late, or will he fall victim to their sinister plot?

142 pages, Paperback

Published July 13, 2024

Reviews

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Invasion of the Grifters...

ALONE: A Gripping Horror Novella
by D.R. Clark

No spoilers. 3 stars. Sam Carter woke up with a beer hangover in a place he didn't recognize...

His first thought: Where am I?

Sam and his wife, Ellie, had been together 23 years, but now it looked like they were heading for divorce...

After catching Ellie with another man...

Sam packed his things and headed for his father's isolated cabin in Barswood Forest in the Scottish Highlands...

But...

The cabin wasn't as isolated as Sam had hoped, In fact, there was a gypsy-like clan sharing his patch of forest with Sam...

The question is...

What was this group's reason for being there? And, would they be trouble for Sam, who just wanted to get away from his troubles at home?

I usually like a good isolated cabin story since I now live in the mountains myself, like MAYNARDS HOUSE by Herman Raucher and THE REMEDY FOR LOVE by Bill Roorbach. This story was passable but uninteresting. The plot events seemed to jump from one point to another without much of a lead-up, and when the climax unfolded, it was a little lack-luster.

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a very eerie experience. Normally when a horror book goes to a cabin in the woods, it's a cryptid, ghost, or some deranged hillbillies. This took a somewhat standard route to the designated cabin setting, but then spun a whole new type of story for the audience. And it worked really well. Without spoiling anything, the events of the story had their charm, but I mostly enjoyed the atmosphere. DR Clark really excelled here making me feel uncomfortable and experiencing the same uneasiness that our lead, Sam, was going through. As Sam was processing his detrimental marital issues, this menacing group of strangers took his secluded getaway and turned it into a nightmare. Lots of horror elements used here, not committing to one specific type of antagonist, but selectively picking and choosing certain variables to make something unique here. And the quick pace was a good choice. The only portions that it didn't work for was the relationship between Sam and his wife, Ellie. The set up to their martial troubles, the follow through, and even the conclusion just felt like afterthoughts. I wanted to see a lot more done with it all, also connecting it more to everything else, to give everything a better flow. But, aside from that single critique, this was a strong showing from DR Clark.

[Sarah * Between the Lines Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect amount of creepy!

Will be reading more of D.R. Clark books for sure!!

You can get this book through Kindle Unlimited.

[Nicola Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 this was a fast paced novella but this could of been so much creepier i wanted to be freaked out but unfortunately this just didn't do it for me .

[Jamie Dunsmuir · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could be considered as spoilers lay ahead. Ye hath been warned.

Firstly, allow me to say a big thank you to Mr Clark for reaching out and sending me this bite size treasure, for reading and review, before the official release.

Sam finds his wife, of 18 years, indulging in extramarital relations with “pink shirt guy,” and it breaks Sam’s heart. His bag is packed, necessary provisions, alcohol, is purchased and the long drive from Manchester to the Scottish Highlands begins.

He arrives at his late father’s cabin and so ensues the drunken stupor in attempt to drink away the pain.

In, and out, his dreams, strange noises, visions and apparitions commence, all put down to his beer induced state, to begin with. Caravans carrying shady and suspicious persons arrive and put an end to his “blissful” and withdrawn solitude.

From the get go, the caravan crowd give off similar vibes to Stephen Kings “True Knot,” and for good reason.

Inquisitiveness and curiosity snowball, signs of animal mutilation are stumbled upon, the noises, visions and apparitions intensify - it’s not the booze causing them. He’s starting to think he should have stayed in Manchester and crashed on his mates couch.

This is a phenomenal novella. If you’re a fan of paranormal, preternatural and cult behaviour, look no further, Alone is what you want to get lost in. If your floorboards begin to creak and someone starts shouting your name, you must have just imagined it, right?

[ADHD Book ✨Gal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in 1 sitting.

Really good and enjoyed this. Not too over the top or crazy and loved the story.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

D.R. Clark was kind enough to let me read his newest (soon to be released July 15th) novella. I have also read his first one, #thefifthfloor, which I thoroughly enjoyed so I was stoked to get my hands on this one! Alone is about our main character Sam who travels to his late father’s old cabin to get away from troubles at home to clear his mind. But, as all of us horror lovers know, nothing good ever happens in a cabin in the woods. Ghosts, unsavory neighbors and a snow storm. What could possibly go wrong! This book gets a 4⭐️s from me. The only thing I wish I could change about it is that it would be longer with more build up / suspense. But all in all, I loved reading it and I def recommend to anyone wanting a quick horror read!!

[Mags · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having read The Fifth Floor and loved it, I was really excited to read Alone!!!

The story is set around a group of cabibs in the woods, which is where Sam heads to to get as far away as possible after the nightmare of witnessing his wife of 10 years being unfaithful to him.

The woods and cabins hold lovely childhood memories for Sam as he went there with his parents during his childhood and he went fishing with his father, so he hopes that getting away to the serenity of the woods will help him to clear his head but his first morning there, his peace is shattered when a group of travelling gypsies turn up in the woods and then sam's nightmare REALLY begins !!!!

I cant say anymore for fear of spoiling the story but i loved this SO much that i read it in 1 sitting and this SOOOO needs to be made into a movie!!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Risshan Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This bite sized horror has us follow Sam into a secluded family cabin. Sam is trying to escape his new home horrors of infidelity when he is faced with new ones in the woods. Is his cabin haunted? And what does this threatening group of people hanging around want?

This story is great for anyone that likes a good spooky cabin read! Everything flows seamlessly as you spend the whole time trying to figure out what’s really going on. We get emotionally attached to poor Sam despite this being a shorter book. This even has a nice little surprise creep component.. I can’t wait for everyone else to read and find it.

[Reads_Must · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alone
Horror
D.R. Clark
⭐️⭐️.5

• ᴄʜᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ • ᴄᴀʙɪɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴏᴅꜱ • ʀɪᴛᴜᴀʟꜱ •

I didn't really like this book as much as I expected to.

I found the writing to be very clunky. It didn't flow smoothly and there were too many descriptions of mundane tasks.

It was hard to connect to the MC, Sam. His inner monologue became boring so I wasn't invested in what happened to him.

I didn't particularly get the horror vibes. The plot wasn't tense or creepy enough for me.

I just found this book to be disappointing.

[Jane Wynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cabin in the wood story, more supernatural than horror. Not great writing, though an English author and set in the UK, full of Americanisms (soda, windshield to name but 2) and for some reason, the last few chapters skip from past to present tense and back again, making for messy reading. Good story premise though.

[Elise Simpkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooky and quick read for an evening on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate. The setting is already fantastic, a creepy cabin in the woods, what more do you want from a horror story?!

Could have been longer with more creepy details, but overall a good read.

[Erica smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written

I wouldn't call this a horror novel per say, more paranormal. The writing was not well done and should have been edited a little more . luckily it was short or I would have df this book.

[Mason Howlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great amount of creepy! Really enjoyed!

[Gemma Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, easy, short read, kept me wanting to read more, very much enjoyed