Seahenge

by J.F. Penn

What was drowned will be drowned again…

Marine archaeologist Dr. Evelyn Price has spent her life uncovering the mysteries of the deep ocean. But when a violent storm uncovers an ancient timber circle off the coast of England, she faces a discovery that will challenge everything she knows.
As the tide rises and storm clouds gather, Evelyn and her team race against time to decipher the strange symbols on the wooden pillars, before the sea comes to claim its own once more.

Seahenge is a gripping archaeological short story that blends cutting-edge science with ancient myth. It will leave you questioning what really lies beneath the waves…

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Short Stories, Horror, Mythology

48 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2024

About the author

I'm the award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, crime, dark fantasy, horror, short stories, and travel memoir.

The fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kick-ass protagonist and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft."

The Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller Series features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London.

The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy is set between Bath, England and the Borderlands in a split world fantasy where Sienna and the Mapwalker team travel through maps to adventure ...

A Thousand Fiendish Angels is a collection of 3 short stories bound together by a book of human skin. Inspired by Dante's Inferno.

You can buy books directly from me https://jfpennbooks.com/

I have a blog and podcast at http://www.BooksAndTravel.page

I'm passionate about writing and I love reading. My favorite authors include James Rollins, Jonathan Maberry, John Connolly, Daniel Silva, and I also read a lot of travel books.

Reviews

[Paula Michalowski]

J.F. Penn's stories are always thrilling and full of man's and women's folly when faced with the unknown

Marine Archeologist Dr. Evelyn Price and her team encounter a Neolithic timber structure that has emerged from the sea after storms on the coast of England in an area of fenland once below water. Its timbers contain unique markings of an ancient language as well as a sacrifice preserved by the peat it was all buried under.

Samuel Chen, a tech expert on Dr. Price's team works for hours trying to translate the language and its meaning while Dr. Price and team rush to remove the Seahenge before the storms can return it to the sea.

As the story progressed, I found myself enthralled by the authors' use of science, ancient history, and myth. The story builds in an atmosphere of anticipation and fear of what the Seahenge means. I enjoyed how the teams and Samuel Chens' actions keep pace with the rush of the oncoming storm, rising to a crescendo of unforeseen consequences.

This was a very impressive short story that packed a lot of real science and archeological info wrapped around a scary story while keeping me excited for the denouement.

[Manie]

I will never forget the laughter and joy my kids experienced the first time they got to the beach or the hunt for seashells and little treasures their keen eyes hunted for.
That is not what Dr. Evelyn Price found on a secluded beach at Norfolk, however. No, that discovery was fifty peat covered wooden posts just off the beach, previously submerged, now uncovered and reminding her somehow of Stonehenge.
Quite a wondrous site, it seems and hiding from sight probably for centuries.
If only she knew!
Seahenge is a brilliant short story hinting at the hidden treasures still out there, good or bad.
Enjoy.

[Steph]

As always there is a spooky/creepy aspect to a short penned by JF Penn. Not enough to keep the lights on all night, but enough to think some of it could happen. As someone long fascinated by Stonehenge, Seahenge was a great read. It helps that I always enjoy the writing, characters and pacing. For an example from page one, “And there, emerging from the receding tide, a perfect circle of tall timber spars. The wood was dark, almost black, preserved by long immersion in peat and sand. The spars glistened in the weak morning light, still slick with sea water and strands of seaweed. As the light shifted, it cast shadows along the wood, illuminating marks of ancient tools and ritual symbols in a long-lost language.” I think it also helps that in the Author’s Note there are some facts and explanations about the “why” of some of the stories which I enjoy.

[Jeffrey Aitken]

This short story is an atmospheric and thrilling dive into ancient mysteries and supernatural forces.

Its plot is engaging, balancing suspense with Penn’s meticulous attention to archaeological detail, which enriches the story without overwhelming the reader.

Characters, especially Evelyn and Samuel, are well-drawn and relatable, though secondary characters feel less developed, leaving some relationships under explored.

The absence of the mermaid’s backstory means we miss out on exploring the ancient rituals that were crucial in defeating the evil forces.

Penn’s writing shines in her vivid descriptions of the coastal setting, capturing both the eerie beauty of Seahenge and the growing sense of dread.

The suspense builds from start to finish, although the climactic scenes would benefit from a slower pace to heighten emotional impact.

Overall, Seahenge is an enjoyable, fast-paced read, especially for fans of supernatural archaeology and those intrigued by ancient myths resurfacing in modern times.

While deeper character exploration could enhance its emotional resonance, the story’s unique blend of mystery, history, and myth makes it a standout.

Readers who enjoy thrillers with a touch of the supernatural will find Seahenge both engaging and thought provoking.

[David Taylor]

Some things are best left alone!

Seahenge, the latest short story by J.F. Penn, grabbed my attention from the picture on the cover of the book. Lately I had seen pictures of several sea henges so seeing one on the cover of this story had me hooked right off the bat. I listened to a review copy of the story I received from the author.

As I listened to the story, I was able to correctly predict one of the early findings the investigators made, but it didn’t prepare me for where the story took me. In fact, I sat down the next day and listened to the story as I read the story again. I had to not only make sure I hadn’t missed anything in my initial listening experience, but because I enjoyed it so much the first time through.

Listening to Joanna Penn narrate her audiobook version of this story was an entertaining experience. Along with bringing the story to life, she breathed life into each of the characters.

[Leona Ennis]

A violent storm has revealed a Neolithic circle of tall wooden spars (similar to Stonehenge) off the coast of Norfolk, England. In the center is an inverted tree root with a strange object in the center of the roots. Marine archaeologist Dr. Evelyn Price and her crew are attempting to excavate all for further study. Meanwhile, Samuel Chen, resident Tech has utilized a drone to map a 3D map of the structure, discovering a pattern which seems to be a kind of language on the spars. Turning to AI, Samuel is attempting to translate some of it. On top of that, another violent storm is appearing in the distance. At this point I was on the edge of my seat! I loved this story! I highly recommend you read this short story to see what happens next. You won’t be disappointed! I have never been disappointed with any writing by this author and I have read many of her books and can highly recommend all of them. I read an ARC of this story but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Betsy]

I love this author’s short thrillers. Just be sure you have time to finish since you won’t want to stop once you start. An extremely terrible storm wipes out an entire beach on an English coastline. A marine archeologist group is detached to investigate and recover a massive timber ring with a huge upside down stump smack in the middle. What is also incredible, the surface of the wooden beams are covered with ancient unknown writings. From the first paragraph, the reader is immediately immersed into a thrilling story of discovery, recovery and imminent danger. What in the world has actually been uncovered off the English coast after this storm? What’s worse, more storms are forming, sucking away more and more of the coastline. As the marine specialists and their tech genius uncover and assemble clue after clue, has an incredible ancient horror be uncovered? Scary, thrilling, and well worth the read.

[Denise Berndt]

Seahenge by J.F. Penn is a gripping short story that immerses readers in an archaeological mystery brimming with intrigue and tension.
Told from the perspectives of scientists Dr. Evelyn Price and Samuel Chen, the narrative follows their discovery of an ancient wooden circle off the Norfolk coast.
Penn's storytelling shines through vivid, atmospheric descriptions that make readers feel the salty sea air and the tension of the dig.
The author masterfully blends historical discovery with suspense, keeping you on edge as the mystery unfolds.
The final twist is unexpected and leaves a lasting impression, showcasing Penn’s talent for surprising and satisfying conclusions.
Without revealing too much, the ending is truly unforgettable, adding a layer of depth to the story that resonates long after reading.
For fans of thrillers that blend history, archaeology, and the supernatural, Seahenge is a must-read.

[Kay]

A very short story, however, what it lacks in word count, it certainly makes up for in atmosphere, chills, and is rich in ancient myth and the supernatural. All of which I love in abundance.

If you know the author's work, you will know just how much research goes into each piece, and it's all worth it. You can tell, as the story feels robust and full of life. This is well-written, with full characters, and, I was going to say "enjoyable", but it's not. You'll see what I mean when you read it. ;)

Writing short stories is an art form in itself, not every author is able to get their message across in such a small and precise format. Ms Penn has NO problems in that area. I would love to read a longer novel on this subject.

I chose to read an ARC of this work which I voluntarily and honestly read and reviewed. All opinions are my own. My thanks to the author.

[Louis Henke]

Seahenge by J.F. Penn is a story about underwater archaeology and what can go wrong when we ignore the wisdom of the ancients. A major storm on the coast of England has uncovered an ancient timber circle. Marine archaeologist Dr. Evelyn Price and her team rush to salvage and preserve the site before the next storm and the sea reclaims it. As she works, her colleague, Samuel Chen uses an AI program he has developed to unlock the secrets of Seahenge before they make a catastrophic and irreversible mistake and release a devastating ancient power.

This story has a fast-moving plot highlighting dilemmas of rushing into a project and has a couple of twists that you don’t see coming. For a short story, the characters are well developed and the narrative is exciting. It offers a thrilling insight into the world of marine archaeology. I highly recommend Seahenge by J.F. Penn.

[HornFan2]

I always like J. F. Penn's writing, she's quite the wordsmith, it would be cool to see her co-write a novel with Stephen King, they both are masters at packing in so many elements into their writing, and it would be one epic hellacious read.

It's a treat to read her short stories or novels, she puts you right into the story, her characters are well developed, even with the religious elements added in the storyline, it's educational in a way, what a master of research and it enables her to add fictional elements into the story so beautiful. You don't know it till the end, when you read her blurb about the inspiration for the story.

One thing for sure with this one is, that Marine archaeologist Dr. Evelyn Price would make a character for a new series by her or add her to the Arkane Series as a Marine archaeology expert for the team.

[Dennis]

Seahenge, a short story by J. F. Penn, demonstrates her remarkable ability to tell a short story. This one is set along the English coast. She tells a story about a discovery made when one force of nature butts against the force of time. J.F. Penn has a deep respect for the sea, and past events which might be connecting with the present. While sitting on coastal rocks, I've observed wave after wave come crashing in, beauty, awesome power, deep respect, love/fear. So when Dr. Evelyn Price is summoned to the English coast, she discovers an ancient timber circle. As each wave recedes, more and more of the past is washing away. Dr. Price begins the arduous task of protecting the timber for removal for further study....Yet, as her team's work continues, a storm begins to brew! Angry water begins to pull back from the coast. Evelyn.......
No spoilers here. J.F. Penn has written an exceptional short story, yet I can sense more, so much more could be told, read/listen and imagined....
Penn delivers the words with her voice; aww, you just need to listen to her tell her story. I could almost taste the sea salt from my skin as my hair is tousled! I highly recommend this outstanding short story, bring your mind with your imagination!

[Reen Jones]

Seahenge is a real place, with a real history, and I remember my fascination when I read about it some years ago. Most of the interesting archaeology seems to happen in South America or the Middle East, but this was actually in Britain, back before written history began, and before the sea crept in and swallowed the land.
Like so many of this author’s brilliantly descriptive tales, this story is based on fact. J F Penn has a great knack of taking real-life happenings and saying, “What if…?”
There is not much you can say about a short story without giving too much away, so I will just say, Don’t look at the ending first!

[Pete]

Jo Penn always manages to bring incredible imagination to her stories and this is especially clever as far as I am concerned as it is based around a real item that is exposed on the coast of Norfolk, a henge of logs which had been buried on the beach for a very long time.

So a genuine situation, but what could happen when it is removed to be conserved? What could it reveal/release, and the answer that the author comes up with is amazing, shocking and cataclysmic, very exciting.

I do have to say though that not only is the storyline excellent, but the characters are also very well written, disappointingly unusual in many short stories.

[Naman Jaloria]

Seahenge is a real historical site in Britain, shrouded in mystery and fascinating to learn about. The story, inspired by actual events, is written by J.F. Penn, who masterfully blends history with imaginative "what if" scenarios. She takes readers on a journey back to a time before written history when the sea gradually consumed the land. It’s a short story, but full of suspense and depth. As always, J.F. Penn surprised me with her creative writing and storytelling. And I would like to recommend everyone read this book.

[Sylvia Collins]

J.F. Penn is a master short story writer. In a relatively few pages, she captures the sea, the atmosphere, the emotions, the people, the horror when the ancient meets modern technology in a deadly battle. Generally, I am not a fan of short stories, but J.F. Penn's are different. She has the ability to write a memorable story, even a short story. Seahenges are magical places, wooden structures placed back in a distant time, that appear occasionally and then are reclaimed by the waves. I find them fascinating, especially after reading this brilliant story.

[Ian]

Like all Penn stories this one grabs you from the first sentence and has you holding your breath through most of the 36 pages of this short story. Good pace, tense and intriguing.

Penn loves her history and research and this is evidenced by the historical and anthropological references by Dr Evelyn and Samuel. Further, the use of AI technologies features as Samuel runs his various programs seeking information and knowledge.

It ends frighteningly.

I still have a small issue with paying $A4 for a 36 page story, no matter how good it is and hence, why it's not a 5-star.

[Kathryn Read]

This one's a real cliffhanger!

"All good short stories should end with a twist" - that's what I was taught at uni, and it certainly hits the mark with this one!
Without giving the story away, I always really enjoy J.F. Penn's descriptions that give you a wonderful sense of the place, setting the scene, and then following the "what if premise" you have a story looking at an unexpected archaeological site
And, as I first said, an unexpected (but perhaps possible?) ending!

[Nigel Plant]

I really enjoyed this short story with the descriptions on point as always. The details of the discovery built with the tension around the storms and tides, although I felt the work by Samuel could have been explored further. The whole concept could open up a new area of archaeological thrillers, delving into the depths of the ocean, mostly unexplored. I enjoyed the book so much I would read a full-length novel based around it. There is certainly scope to do that.

[Ronel Janse van Vuuren]

I listened to the audiobook.

An interesting premise. I liked how technology was used to decipher what the timber circle had written over it. All the things that hid in the water along with what the AI computer model showed made me want to know more about this world. An atmospheric read with things unearthed by archeologists on-site and in the lab that keeps you wondering long after the story ends.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[Michael Murphy]

Ms. Penn devotes an amazing amount of research into a short story: she really packs a lot into just a few pages! She takes an initial idea, adds some historical facts, a few strong characters, vivid scenery, a dash of supernatural overtones and blends it with her excellent creative writing to produce an unputdownable tale. The perfect recipe for tuning out any distractions in an office waiting room!

[Vicki]

Very excellent read! The characters were well developed and the story was believable and engrossing! As we are finding more and more ancient artifacts in our modern day, I wonder if there will be consequences as well. I wish this “short story” had not ended! I can never get enough! Looking forward to the next story!

[Steve]

Well, is this a very good short sharp read or what. As with all this authors books I have read, well crafted and thought through. I loved it, couldn’t put it down till I’d finished it. I wanted to see what happened next right up to the ending I didn’t see coming at all. Though I should have done, shouldn’t I. Highly recommended.

[Jackie McCarthy]

This short story by J.F. Penn deftly fused cutting-edge technology with archaeological discovery. Throw in a healthy amount of suspense at the mysterious discovery beneath the waves. Seahenge was a gripping read and a unique take on ancient wisdom - or a modern-day threat?
I particularly enjoyed the author’s note which explained the research behind the story. Highly recommended!

[Sue Peek]

J.F. Penn always captivates the reader with her suspense and fanciful stories. Seahenge is no different, providing the reader with anticipation of what consequences will occur due to the disturbance of an ancient archaeological site. I also enjoyed the explanation at the end of the story.

[Patricia]

It's amazing how much J.F. Penn can pack into a short story. I think I held my breath for much of the time I was reading it. The detail, atmosphere, and description put you right in the story, and the terror is palpable. She is a master at short story horror.

[Debbie Mcnally]

I was lucky enough to have gotten a free audio book code from the author. I am volunteering to leave this review. I loved listening to the author narriate her own story bringing her characters to life. Awesome tale will the human race ever learn.

[Normand Girard]

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book, but the comments are my own. Just a wonderful read, with lots of room to imagine what is not written, allowing one's imagination to run wild and come up with a story within a story.

[T. Cole]

Another great short story
Really interesting story. When something shows up on the beach and the archeologists are trying to figure out what it is and what it's suppose to do. I really enjoyed this story.

[Carol Butler]

A great short story not of Stonehenge but Seahenge on the Norfolk coastline.
Here we have a mix of archaeology and supernatural.
Although short its a quick read and exciting read, as within the character of JF Penn novels.