Grim Fate

by Nicho Young

Marcus Grimm is a paranormal investigator who has made a living determining if supernatural events are occurring. Although he has a special intuition and connection to the Otherworld, he remains a skeptic, which allows him to figure out if there is a genuine event or if a family is trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame.

When Marcus meets John Billings and his children at their house, he has a sense that the events John describes are very real. As Marcus explores the house for signs of supernatural activity he not only learns more about himself, but uncovers truths that will change his life forever.

And he discovers that sometimes accepting invitations can have dire consequences.

230 pages, Paperback

Published September 22, 2024

About the author

NICHO YOUNG is an American author who resides in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by trees that try to whisper to him in the night.

He lives with his wife and four children on 4 acres of land surrounded by these trees, and if he is being honest he might have listened to one or two of those whispers to help create the stories he writes.

Young hopes to continue telling tales until the forest reclaims him as one of their own.

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very in depth story, built with lots of knowledge and understanding around the supernatural. Our main character, Marcus Grimm is a paranormal investigator invited to John's house to see if there is anything threatening his family. But this house is not what it seems and Marcus soon discovers he might be out of his depth.

Marcus was a stand up character, heroic in his own way and built with empathy. He knows the difference between when he can pursue something and when he can't actually help, and he battles with this throughout the story. The author has given Marcus a great understanding of supernatural theories, picked one and built it into the story. There are other characters in the story, John's wife, and the kids. The kids react fairly how you would expect children to react in this situation.

This was not a bad read, I think it was just really technical at times for me and that is why I have given it 3 stars. I would have loved some more ominous atmosphere to add to the creepy vibe. Warning though, this book does cover some horrible topics that I struggled to read through, abuse being one of them.

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I want to point out how the title aptly fits the story. Kudos to the author on that. Not only was it a pun on the main character's name, but perhaps it was a forecast, also.
My head is spinning after reading this story. It's rare if I read a paranormal, but I liked the synopsis of this one.
So much happened, despite the entire book happening in one evening and at only one house/ property. The story gets deep into supernatural stuff
.such as sliding into other realms, and allowing ghosts into your head. The main character finds out he was given a gift as a child, one that allowed him to be so close to the supernatural world. Now, it would become his fate.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grim Fate is the story of paranormal investigator Marcus Grimm being called into the home of a family who recently experienced the death of their wife and mother. The father has noticed strange occurrences since her death and is concerned that whatever is occurring may harm his children. Well-versed in situations where children are abused by their parents, and feeling ill at ease with the father’s interference in his investigation, Marcus’s main concern is the protection of the children—but from what and whom?

Using his own powers, Marcus communes with spirits in the home and slides between realms to see the dangerous situations that are befalling the family—as well as learn more about himself and his connection to the events at hand. Actions from his past have unexpected effects on not only Marcus’s future but also of the family he is trying to save.

I love everything about this book—I love how Nicho Young uses Grim in the title of the book, as the last name of the protagonist (different spelling, same effect,) and as the overall feeling of this story. Most of all, I love the character of Marcus Grimm. He is the guy you call in to investigate if an event is a cheap grab for fame and money, or if it is the real deal. Marcus, in my opinion, ranks right up there with some of the best fictional paranormal investigators of all time—the Winchesters, Dresden, and even occult detective John Constantine. Young did a great job of character-building in the book, even those who were only seen in small glimpses. You genuinely care and become attached to this family, and to Marcus, over the course of the many twists and turns in the story.



5/5 Stars

I received a copy of this book for review, the thoughts and opinions included in my review are my own.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Disclaimer – I received free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Grim Fate follows a paranormal investigator called to a house by the father of two young children. His wife has just died and he is concerned about some strange activities that are happening in the home that may be affecting his children. Our protagonist, Marcus, has been in a situation before where it was the parent harming the children so he is wary of any red flags when investigating the house, but little does he know, there’s a lot more going on here than even that.

Soon he is interviewing the children and discovering that there certainly are otherworldly forces at play in this house, both manipulative, both relentless, and both set to change the course of Marcus’s life forever. Through his supernatural abilities, the reader gets to know more about Marcus’s own life as well as the life of the family and the children he is trying to protect from this dark and dangerous entity in their home. And it is not clear which side the children’s father is really on.

While there is an interesting premise and good writing in Grim Fate, you are thrown in very much at the deep end. I would have liked to have spent a little more time with the family and the children in the ‘here and now’, instead of immediately delving into past experiences and memories. It gave the story a bit of an unstable feeling and made the climax in the real shared reality feel brittle to the touch. In saying that though, the story itself has its own unique layers and will interest any reader who is into ghosts, demons, and paranormal horror.

[Ian Backhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read Nicho Young's paranormal thriller, Grim Fate. The plot follows the protagonist, Marcus Grimm, a seasoned investigator, as he is called to investigate strange occurrences in a family's home after the death of their mother. Marcus is wary of the father's interference in his investigation but is primarily focused on protecting the children from potential harm.

Through the use of his unique abilities, Marcus delves into the spirit world and discovers perilous situations that threaten the family. Along the way, he learns more about himself and the events at hand, which have unforeseen consequences for everyone involved.

One aspect that stood out to me was Young's clever use of "Grim" in the title, the protagonist's surname, and the overall tone of the book. Marcus Grimm is an excellent character, and I appreciated how well-developed the other characters were, even those who appeared briefly. The author's adept character-building enabled me to develop a genuine attachment to the family and Marcus throughout the twists and turns of the story.

As a reader, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a gripping paranormal thriller with a strong cast of characters. Grim Fate proves to be a promising debut from Nicho Young, and I look forward to seeing what he has in store for his readers in the future.

[HotPants · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grim Fate is an incredible supernatural story with so many twists, I could not put it down! This book gave me all the goosebumps and, eerie feelings that forced me to only read this in the daytime. Well written, with characters you care about and surprises. This is not just a supernatural thriller but a psychological one too. Wow!

[Gareth Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow-burn beginning builds the tension enough to give you a chill that lingers throughout the entire story as if an otherworldly being is watching you.
The more pages you read, the more you want to read until you devour the book leaving you lost.
The characters are well crafted, and you feel yourself cheering them on. This is a supernatural thriller on another level.

[Terry and dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me by surprise. I didn’t expect to get into it so quickly. I found it completely fascinating. I actually said “whoa”, aloud a couple of times. The story of the family was heartbreaking and the characters of the children shone. I did not expect it to end that way, and was very satisfied. We’ll done!