A Darkness Unseen

by Matt Kurtz

An unspeakable act brought her there, where an unimaginable horror was waiting.High in the mountains, a blizzard smothers the light of the full moon. A car fleeing downhill loses control and crashes. Twenty-something Katie McGill stumbles from the icy wreck and finds shelter miles away at an isolated, two-story house hidden among the dark mountainside.

All the lights are on. The fireplace is lit. The front door is unlocked. But no one is home.

Exhausted from the trek, Katie thaws by the fire, waiting for the homeowners to return. Lost in thought over the gut-wrenching events that led her there, she misses numerous warning signs around her.

Until the ceiling creaks from the floor above.

Trapped there for the night, she knows she has to investigate. The tension escalates with each reluctant step up the staircase until the terrifying truth is revealed. If Katie plans to make it out alive, she’ll have to dig deep and summon the strength for a grueling confrontation with what’s been watching her the entire time.

Genres: Horror

139 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2024

About the author

Author of THE ROTTING WITHIN, A DARKNESS UNSEEN, KINFOLK, and SHOCK WAVES, the 2024 Imadjinn Award Winner for Best Horror Novel.

Reviews

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pull A Positive...

A DARKNESS UNSEEN
by Matt Kurtz

No spoilers. 4 stars. Katie McGill was doing a very negative thing with her life...

She was seeing a married man...

Her father always told her to turn something negative around by pulling a positive from her life to focus on...

So...

Katie's positive was that she was pregnant, and her boyfriend Rob would surely leave his wife and daughter now for her and her baby...

But, as the story picks up...

Things didn't turn out quite the way Katie had planned, and now she has taken refuge from Rob in a snowbound cabin...

A strange cabin...

Where a fire burns in the grate, but it appears nobody's home... yet, somebody is home and following her through the cabin...

Quick Katie, pull a positive...

This story was short but interesting, but I must warn that every character in this book is extremely unlikable for some of you readers who need to like the cast to enjoy the story.

[Horror Bookworm Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
A Darkness Unseen by Matt Kurtz
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/

Losing control on an icy mountainside road, Katie McGill wakes from a severe car crash. In the middle of the night and stranded in a heavy snowstorm, she seeks refuge. Finding her way to a secluded home, Katie looks to the occupants for assistance. What she discovers is beyond comprehension. Surviving the elements is secondary compared to what the house has to offer.

Infidelity, a weekend getaway and the worst form of divine intervention imaginable, author Matt Kurtz has invited the reader for some fresh air and a change of scenery. A Darkness Unseen proves desperation and desire can be an explosive combination. Imagine Fatal Attraction meets Basket Case and you have a killer Kurtz book of unimaginable horror that creates panic and fright.

When you see his name, Matt Kurtz is one of those authors that fall into the category of “immediately purchase this book.” The atmospheric strangeness he creates is always accompanied by well-crafted thrills that are sometimes disturbing but always terrifying. A Darkness Unseen is legitimately scary and caught me off guard with its unpredictable twists and repulsive turns. The freaky factor matches the creepy factor.

As something fleshy this way comes, screams of the insane can be heard within the snow-filled woods. Prepare for the morbid and grotesque as you enter The Darkness Unseen. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.

[Dale Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chapters flip flop between the main character's, Katie, life - what happened "before" and what is happening currently. They are two very different types of chapters in terms of storyline and Matt does wonders in pulling the reader right in. Katie's current predicament is a tense and nervous read, Matt doing well to paint a great, intense picture. As the story moves forward more things unravel (in both past and present) and you begin to wonder who to root for. Who is in the right, and who is in the wrong. One thing is for sure, there's nothing worse than a woman scorned.

I loved this book. Knowing Matt's calibre of writing, I was on edge throughout as Katie investigates the strange cabin she has happened upon. His descriptions are great at making the reader nervous as to what's to come.

Excellent work.

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella had me hooked with its alternating timelines, integrating past and present in a way that felt natural, calculated, and downright intriguing. Sometimes dual timelines can feel forced or disjointed, but here, they added depth and left me constantly curious about how everything would merge.

The story centers on the aftermath of an affair between two people. Our protagonist finds herself trapped in a quaint little house, buried in snow—totally harmless and safe, right? The narrative challenges perception and morality—not just about the affair, but also about what unfolds in the isolated home. Instead of the usual black-and-white moral shift to grey, this story pulls you straight into the grey from the beginning, leaving you questioning everything you thought you knew about the characters and their choices.

One of my favorite elements is the protagonist’s mantra of "pulling a positive"—finding glimmers of hope in even the darkest situations. This theme resonates throughout the novella, building up to an ending that’s both unsettling and thought-provoking. Her skewed reality and questionable decisions make you sympathize with her, even when you don’t entirely agree.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should have read it sooner! "A Darkness Unseen" has a memorable plot, some quite paralyzing moral dilemmas, and an incredibly satisfying ending. I went into it blind, simply on the basis of the wonderful cover and the author's name, who'd never disappointed me before. This is his best (non-supernatural) work, blending psychological and medical horror in the format of a typical domestic thriller, interspersed with several creepy moments, shocking choices, and brutal acts. Gore is minimal, practically non-existent; it's not that kind of book - it's a solid story grounded on stellar writing (I couldn't stop reading!), perfect pacing (exemplary use of flashbacks and alternating timelines), and huge twists (impressive build up: we start with one idea about the characters and end up definitely on the opposite side). This is quite the achievement! I can't recommend it enough!

[Rebecca White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I knew what might happen during this read and I was so wrong!

First, I love Kurtz’s writing. It’s engaging and suspenseful. I was flipping through the pages quickly because there were so many what the fuck moments, I just had to know what happened next.

His ability to seamlessly hop from past to present was great.

Once you find out why Katie was on that mountain in the first place, this book flips you on yer head. And holy shit, that ending. If you are looking for your next snowy read, this is it.

[Daniel Lorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

After seeing the cover for this story, it went immediately onto my TBR pile.

A Darkness Unseen is a brilliant horror tale with some seriously creepy moments and an ending I didn't see coming.

I look forward to checking out more from this hugely talented author!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so crazy and good 😀 Katie is driving out at night in the snow and gets into an accident. She finds an unlocked house with no one home and roaring fire, and she decides to take refuge in the house. What she finds in the house was crazy and not at all what I expected.

Matt Kurtz is a great storyteller. If you want to read something that will keep your attention and you won't want to put down, definitely check out this one.

[Reia Pande · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story did not go where I thought it would and omg it went so much darker than I expected as well. Check trigger warnings before reading. I honestly didn’t know what was going to happen throughout this story, but it was a little too fast paced at parts. I didn’t connect in any way to the characters. But a really great, short and gory read for sure!

[Tara Losacano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit, this book was so much more creepy and intense than I expected!! The two timelines came together perfectly and the finale was so freakin' gnarly and unexpected! I haven't even fully processed this book yet since finishing last night, that's how insane but awesome it is. Go in blind, just trust me. 5/5 psychotic skulls ☠️

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A late 20’s woman named Katie finds herself fleeing from a car crash in the middle of a snowstorm high in the mountains. She takes shelter in an isolated house where the owners are seemingly not home. That’s it, that’s all you need to know about the story, go in as blind as possible and enjoy. I had already forgotten most of the synopsis when I started reading and I am so thankful that I had.

A Darkness Unseen is a propulsive horror thriller novel that I found impossible to put down. The story unfolds in a dual timeline in the present day as Katie seeks shelter and in the past that leads her up to that snowy mountainside. The constantly shifting narrative keeps the mystery strong and tension high from chapter to chapter. It is not an understatement to say that this story went in a wildly different direction than what I expected. With an abundance of terrifying moments and a breathtakingly satisfying ending, I was on a rollercoaster of emotions and I couldn’t get enough.

This will easily be one of my favorite books of the year. If you’re a horror fan that also enjoys psychological suspense mystery thrillers and domestic dramas, this book is absolutely for you.

[Broken Bones Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despicable characters. Bad weather. Two pieces of a larger story intertwined, changing each chapter. Past and present. An affair. An obsession. And a horrifying discovery on the mountain that brings the terror. Definitely a good one to read during a wintry storm. Grab some coco and prepare for dark drama!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Darkness Unseen by Matt Kurtz
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is such an awesome and intense horror story! This book has dual timelines going on and they meet up at the end. I love the way the book is set up and the story is told!
Katie just wants to be happy and loved, but makes the mistake of falling for a married man. Katie then finds herself in a very bad situation after a snowy car accident on a remote mountain.
The book is very unique and entertaining! I did not know what direction this story was going to take and I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and horror!

Thank you to Matt Kurtz for a copy of this fantastic book! I loved reading it by the warm fire! This is my first book from this author and I can’t wait to read more!!
*It’s out now and is a fast and super creepy read! Grab your copy!!*

[Wintry Monsters Press · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bullet quote: "An exciting and swift story of karma coming at you in a big way... This is a wintry read that comes with equal part terror and disgust." ~ Wesley Winters, author of Nobody's Savior and Feed the Sky

The extra stuff: This novella moves easily at a thriller's pace, thanks to its back and forth chapters in time. The neighbor's house on the mountain turns out to be mysterious in a classic horror sort of way (without going into detail), and the end is 'just deserts' for Katie. Speaking of her specifically, I despised Katie within the first ten pages of this book because she is a morally shit character that then takes things to a whole new level before everything is through. Cheating is a trigger for me, so she quickly made it clear I wouldn't like her when she immediately goes after a married man. As such, I never felt any sympathy or connection to her character. This actually might have benefitted me when reading this story because I liked the ending in a "ha-ha" sort of a way, as opposed to feeling sorry for the story's lead character. I liked that karma bit her in the ass.

This is an exciting thriller with drama, mystery, and violence. And thanks to its wintry backdrop, it's a good book to read during fresh snowfall. I really enjoyed it.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

A Darkness Unseen by Matt Kurtz, there’s not a lot I can say about this book and it’s main character Kate, except for the fact in the beginning, you’re going to feel bad for her, but by the end you’ll be rooting for the monster. This book was so good with such a shocking OMG ending and I loved all of it. I have never heard of this author before and I am so glad I have now. Truly an awesome awesome book.

[Amanda (spooky.octopus.reads) Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

👀 𝘼 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙐𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣⁣
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I am going to do something I typically don’t do and start at the end with this one…⁣
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This book had one of the most satisfying endings I have read in a long time. It wasn’t the cutesy, everything is wrapped up with a little bow type of ending…more like karma kind of ending. When I turned the last page, I was left with an all is right in the world kinda feeling. ⁣
⁣
The whole storyline was tense and full of deead, and I really enjoyed trying to guess what was going to happen at the end…and I was quite pleasantly surprised. I didn’t have a guess even close to what occurred. ⁣
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I don’t want to give away too much, but I’ll give you a little peek into the storyline…⁣
This is the story of Katie. Katie is kinda an unlikeable person doing very unlikeable things. The chapters alternate between Katie’s predicament now and her life then. Alternating timelines can be tricky, but Kurtz does a great job of giving juuuuust enough detail before reverting to the other timeline. Anyway, Katie, yeahhhh…about her…she wrecks her car in the middle of a mountainous snow storm. She knows she needs to find warmth and shelter, so she stumbles to a house looking for help. She finds that the lights are on, the fireplace is blazing, and the front door is unlocked, but no one is home. She decides that her only option is to invite herself in to warm up and wait for the homeowners to return. Her curiosity gets the best of her and she begins to explore the house, and things start to get quite peculiar…then the ceiling above her creaks. Like any normal person 🙄, she creeps upstairs to investigate…and, well…something quite surprising is waiting and watching. ⁣
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Guys, I could not out this book down and finished it all in one sitting. If you like characters you love to hate, suspense, and surprise endings…do yourself a favor and grab this one!!!⁣
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🖤🖤🖤🖤/5⁣
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*Thank you @mattkurtzwrites for this #gifted copy!!! ⁣
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#adarknessunseen #readmorehorror #horrorbookstagram #coolgirlsread #readersgonnaread #addtotbr #horrorgram #horrorbooks #librarymacabre #umbrapress #darkreads

[Winona · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW: A Darkness Unseen by Matt Kurtz
(cross posted in a couple of different groups)

I received an autographed copy of the book from the author.

Our MC, Katie, has been in a car accident in the middle of a blizzard. She accidentally stumbles her way to a house that is well lit, nice and toasty warm and seemingly abandoned. So Katie settles in waiting for the storm to let up, or the owners of the house to return from wherever they went.

She is lot in thought about the events that brought her there to begin with, when the ceiling creaks above her. She's not alone after all!

A Darkness Unseen is a shorter book, only 137 print pages, and it starts off with a bang, right after Katie has wrecked her car and is bleeding and freezing in a search for shelter. We find out that she wrecked while fleeing someone named Rob.

As the book progresses, it unfolds in a series of flashbacks and present day moments. Admittedly this isn't a style I enjoy much (I get pulled out of the story every time it switches, and by the time I settle into the new timeline it switches again.) so it took me a few days to read this one, despite enjoying the story over all.

I can't say too much about what I liked without giving spoilers, because this short little novel is full of twists and turns. Nothing went exactly like I expected it to, and a couple of things were out of the blue "where did THAT come from" moments.

It did leave me with 2 questions that I also can't vocalize because, again, they would be spoilers.

I give it 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who wants a fast paced read with a couple of twists.

(IMAGE: A moonlit nighttime scenes of a woman crawling in the snow. She is crawling towards the viewer, away from a brightly lit house. Over the house looms a large shadowy figure, all we can see is its eyes and two large hands reaching towards the view.)

[Kim Layman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well….that ending left me with resting shocked face. I did not see it coming. At all. Kurtz is a great horror suspense writer, and this story is a testament to that. His book starts the same way it ends-in a bloody mess.

Kurtz gives us a morally grey protagonist, Katie, who is equal parts likable and repugnant. But there is also a reason why she is the way she is. And you can’t help but root for her, as she is trying to desperately escape a house of horrors. That is, until you find out why she is even there in the first place. Then all bets are off.

But Kurtz doesn’t just succeed at giving us a story of real life horrors. He seamlessly weaves in a tale of scientific horrors, and leaves you squirming when you find out what has happened in that isolated house in the mountains. You also are left in a perpetual state of tension and anxiety as Katie is battling to make it out alive.

This was a wild ride, and I was hooked from start to finish. This is my first Kurtz novel, but won’t bet last. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work. 4.5 stars.

A huge thank you to the author for sending me his book. My opinion is my own.

[Mark F · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Darkness Unseen, by Matt Kurtz, is a book that tells the story of Katie McGill, a woman who’s involved in a car accident during a blizzard, and searching for shelter from the storm on an isolated mountainside. It would have been better for her had she stayed out in the storm. And better still, if she had never met Rob.

Even though it’s a relatively short book, at 137 pages, it still packs a punch. And while not your typical horror, one with demons, or ghosts, or blood-hungry creatures, it is still very much a horror. And because of the strong character development, the ability to stir a whole range of emotions is quite present. With the author going back and forth between past and present, adding to the story’s buildup, the suspense and terror grew stronger and stronger with each chapter. And the end? I could not have imagined what happened. Highly recommending this book, I give it a 5 out of 5.

[Jim Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just received this book by Matt Kurtz, A Darkness Unseen yesterday afternoon, and immediately started reading it! Finished it this morning and OMG!!!! I am now a big fan of this author. It follows a girl Katie McGill who was in a terrible car accident coming off the mountains during a blizzard. Luckily, she finds a cabin that is lit up and has a fire in the fireplace. She believes she is alone until she hears a creak from the second floor! It has been quite a while since I have read a book that had so many WTF moments in it!!! Especially when you find out why she was on the mountain in the first place, all I have to say is again WTF!! And when you find out who or what is sharing the house with her. The ending is omg absolutely perfect. Just perfectly written and keeps you on the edge of yourself until the bitter end!!! AWESOME!!!!!

[Mathew Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I just spent two hours with Matt Kurtz and his novel, A Darkness Unseen. I received an autographed copy from Matt last week and I must say I fell in love with this cover. It's truly mesmerizing, so that makes my rating higher.

For 138 pages, there was sex, violence, twists and turns, and of course Vanilla Bear, IYKYK. I gave this novella a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, as it met everything I look for when reading. The only downfall is I wish it were longer.


👻👻

[Jim Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of books and, as such, I thought I had this one figured out.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
Matt Kurtz has delivered a wonderful novella about a young lady named Katie who, after a car accident, is seeking shelter from a storm.
What she finds is certainly no shelter.
Kurtz gives us a narrative that is in both past and present tense, and it is very effective, with an ending that is sure to shock many.
I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to more from this author.

[Terry and dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa doggie, what an ending. 3.5 rounded up.
Kate and Rob meet and for a while it goes as I expected, but then, it doesn't. The book does a complete turn around towards the end, and adds...some ... unexpected complications. Almost like another story.
Not 100% sure that I really liked the story, but it was something.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute WTF book! I'm sitting here with my mouth hanging open, trying to catch my breath and process the story I just read. The dueling storylines kept me on the edge of my seat, and I did NOT see the ending coming that was so deviously and deliciously crafted! MK has created a masterpiece with this story, just like all his other books!

[Angelique Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read was UNHINGED! Every time I thought the characters couldn’t possibly get any worse, they proved me wrong.
It was fast-paced with some mystery thrown in, things go from bad to oh so much worse real quick, but let me tell you that what made this a 5⭐️ for me was the ending.
It was more than I was hoping and it made me very happy 😁

💀💀💀💀💀/5

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. At no point in the story did I know what was about to happen, the main character was completely unhinged, and the ending was 10/10 perfection. Once I started reading this novella I literally could not stop. There are scenes and descriptions in this one that will haunt me until the day I die.

[Jennifer Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty decent book. If you have trigger warnings, there are quite a few in this book. It’s a gory ride!

[Idalis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Corey Caison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A DARKNESS UNSEEN is Matt’s most recent release & plays around in the isolation trope. After a horrible accident, Katie finds shelter within a two-story house hidden among the dark mountainside. All the lights are on, but no one seems to be home. But maybe she’s just too inside her own head to notice the warning sides around her. She might not be so alone after all.

The story is told in chapters that alternate between past & present; allowing you a chance to get to know Katie and what occurs prior to everything going to Hell on this mountainside. I had 0 idea what to expect (I’m a girly who only skims the synopsis ✨), so this was definitely an unexpected ride & I had no clue how it would end.

If you’re looking for an isolated book or maybe looking for horror set in winter, throw A DARKNESS UNSEEN onto your TBR! 🖤