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The Sound of the Dark
In 1983 experimental artist Tony Mathias began work on a new installation – it was to be a collage of visuals and sounds collected at an abandoned RAF base called Warden Fell. Various stories and rumours swirled around the place but Tony was interested only in the echoes of history. But soon after visiting the site to tape-record the sounds there, he returned to the caravan where he was staying with his family and killed his wife, his two children and then himself. Another dark twist in Warden Fell’s history?
But the past reaches out. Decades later Cally Darker, gets the chance to investigate the terrible story and perhaps even solve the mystery – a fantastic exclusive story for her true-crime podcast.
Tony's actress sister Stella is desperate for the mystery to be solved before she dies will do all she can to help and passes on the tapes left behind by her brother. But before long, Cally realises that Warden Fell has a far older and darker story to tell. Be careful what you listen to…
But the past reaches out. Decades later Cally Darker, gets the chance to investigate the terrible story and perhaps even solve the mystery – a fantastic exclusive story for her true-crime podcast.
Tony's actress sister Stella is desperate for the mystery to be solved before she dies will do all she can to help and passes on the tapes left behind by her brother. But before long, Cally realises that Warden Fell has a far older and darker story to tell. Be careful what you listen to…
400 pages, Paperback
Published October 28, 2025
15 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Church
3 books35 followersDaniel Church is a British horror writer. His writing is inspired by a lifelong passion for the genre and its roots in folklore and a fierce connection with the underdog and the marginalised in society. He grew up in Lancashire and now lives in the Wirral with his wife, who is also a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 22, 2025
First things first: This book should have been 200 pages shorter. Like, I am usually a fairly fast reader and I have been working on this thing for almost two weeks. Not just because it's long, but also because it takes until around the 70% mark for anything even remotely exciting to happen. The first two-thirds is mostly just the main character interviewing people and whining about how much her life sucks, and I couldn't really bring myself to care enough to actually want to read the book for any length of time.
At the same time, though, I didn't exactly hate this? The initial premise is fantastic: a visit to an abandoned military base causes a guy go home and kill his entire family, and when true crime podcaster Cally investigates the decades-old murders, supernatural shenanigans ensue. I mean, yes please! But then there's dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of pages of Cally interviewing a bunch of other characters about the murders (whoo, secondhand knowledge of the same event from 27 different perspectives!) and going on and on about her seasonal allergies. Like, I seriously wouldn't be surprised to find out that Clarityn paid for product placement in this novel because she mentions it approximately one zillion times. But I kept thinking that it was going to lead to something big and exciting and so I kept reading … and reading … and reading … and, well, you get the picture.
And then things start to happen! Yay! But it's kind of an unfunny Men in Black film meets a superhero movie meets the Buffy-meets-the-first-slayer episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets H.P. Lovecraft meets a Hieronymus Bosch painting, and I'm not even sure what to think about the whole thing. But I did get invested in the climax of the novel and found myself rooting for the main characters, so I guess I can't complain too much there. Like much of the rest of this book, however, the climax does take much too long to get to the point and it's drawn out for ages. *insert Monty Python “Get on with it!” clip here*
Do prepare to hate the main villain. Not in the way that you normally hate literary villains, but in a “this guy is an over-the-top caricature of an incel” sort of way. I wanted to DNF this book each and every time he used the phrase “pretty Cally Darker” because, well … because it was bloody annoying, that's why.
Also, "pretty" Cally Darker defrosts bread in the microwave and I'm sorry (not sorry) but this is unforgivable sociopathic behavior.
Anyway, to sum things up: I liked the premise, I mostly liked the climax, and this author apparently has a unique deal with his publisher where he gets paid per word. Seriously, you guys, there are way too many words in this book.
My overall rating: 2.8 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 28, 2025.
At the same time, though, I didn't exactly hate this? The initial premise is fantastic: a visit to an abandoned military base causes a guy go home and kill his entire family, and when true crime podcaster Cally investigates the decades-old murders, supernatural shenanigans ensue. I mean, yes please! But then there's dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of pages of Cally interviewing a bunch of other characters about the murders (whoo, secondhand knowledge of the same event from 27 different perspectives!) and going on and on about her seasonal allergies. Like, I seriously wouldn't be surprised to find out that Clarityn paid for product placement in this novel because she mentions it approximately one zillion times. But I kept thinking that it was going to lead to something big and exciting and so I kept reading … and reading … and reading … and, well, you get the picture.
And then things start to happen! Yay! But it's kind of an unfunny Men in Black film meets a superhero movie meets the Buffy-meets-the-first-slayer episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets H.P. Lovecraft meets a Hieronymus Bosch painting, and I'm not even sure what to think about the whole thing. But I did get invested in the climax of the novel and found myself rooting for the main characters, so I guess I can't complain too much there. Like much of the rest of this book, however, the climax does take much too long to get to the point and it's drawn out for ages. *insert Monty Python “Get on with it!” clip here*
Do prepare to hate the main villain. Not in the way that you normally hate literary villains, but in a “this guy is an over-the-top caricature of an incel” sort of way. I wanted to DNF this book each and every time he used the phrase “pretty Cally Darker” because, well … because it was bloody annoying, that's why.
Also, "pretty" Cally Darker defrosts bread in the microwave and I'm sorry (not sorry) but this is unforgivable sociopathic behavior.
Anyway, to sum things up: I liked the premise, I mostly liked the climax, and this author apparently has a unique deal with his publisher where he gets paid per word. Seriously, you guys, there are way too many words in this book.
My overall rating: 2.8 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 28, 2025.
September 27, 2025
The Sound of the Dark by Daniel Church
3.85 rounded up to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Est. Pub. Date: Oct. 28, 2025
Angry Robot Books
1940s Great Britain…
💡 Orbs Prologue: The cab is slightly left open as the breeze cools the sweaty hands of the operator. My steel arm stretches out, attached with a dragline. My rustic-looking bucket is poised to gather earth upon the commands of those inside my compartment. I am a useful tool in building anew. I am assisting in laying the groundwork for Warden Fall, a new RAF base. This soil, though, harbors mystery. I can hear them, but it's not yet clear if my human brethren can as well. Chanting…incantations, a netherrealm of existence underneath the very plot I am gouging. The slight tremor runs through my lines, invoking a sense of terror within me… Is this a good idea?
🔩 Nuts & Bolts: 1983… A docile father suddenly guns down his family in brutal fashion. Never known to be violent or malicious, Tony Mathias, our murderer, is thrust into the spotlight after a horrendous chain of events. Decades later, we see Cally Darker, our main protagonist and creator of a true crime podcast, receiving a tip about a case of the other World End’s Murders from 1983. After careful consideration, Cally’s interests are piqued, and she begins her own investigation, which she renames the Eagle Mount Murders. Through conversations with various friends and family members of Tony Mathias, several questions remain unanswered. Having discovered the latest project tapes from Mathias, Cally unearths an eeriness surrounding Warden Fall, the location where Tony was conducting a new art piece. Down the rabbit hole, readers are taken into a myriad of unbelievable folklore that ties into the very land that Warden Fall is standing upon. The recorded cassette tapes hold the key to the mystery, yet what happens when the clues they provide also become the worst nightmare?
👍 Orbs Pros: Daniel Church, our author, has written an intense novel. There is plenty here to wrangle the proverbial feathers. Horrifying creatures slink around in the darkness, waiting, biding their time. Nightmares exploding through eyelids, telling of a foreboding future. Deeply atmospheric in tone, the novel is sure to supply a jolt to your nerves. The prose was solid, and thus my reading experience flew by fairly quickly. I would like to acknowledge Church’s creativity, as the demonic entities introduced simply took my breath away. As I watched the changes on the world canvas, more horrid thought patterns emerged from my mind.
👎 Orbs Cons: While not a deal breaker by any means, I felt as though the relationship between Cally and Ellen, her love interest, seemed rushed and unbelievable. Certainly cut from the same cloth, I understood their common ground and understanding; however, the relationship took a serious turn quite quickly, which had me questioning Church’s decision. The novel felt long in the tooth. Perhaps shaving some of that time spent on the relationship may have helped reinvigorate the novel towards the ¾ mark.
🔚The conclusion was quite satisfying indeed. I was in the front seat, clickety clack, clickety clack. The vibrations began targeting my gluteus maximus as my eyes darted far down below. To the abyss, the people wandering around the theme park. Up, up, climbing yet higher still…. Panic and fear are rearing their ugly heads. I have reached the crescendo, my lunch-filled stomach on high alert. Oh, this was going to be intense. Jetting through corners at a high velocity, peering down into a pit of anxiousness. Jarring my neck into crooked positions, I felt battered by an inordinate amount of sensations, and suddenly it was over….The ride had ended. I stood and closed the book, wiping the perspiration from my brow. “Take a trip on the wild side,” by Motley Crue, blares from the speakers.
Recommended! For those who love bizarrely over-the-top horror!
💡 Orbs Epilogue: I feel heavy, weirdly weighed down like a swollen belly. As an excavator, this would seem normal, yet this was strange. Was it the rocks? Is the soil wet? Blood-stained, perhaps? I began to retract my line when all of a sudden, my cable snapped, lashing out like a frog delivering a tongue lashing. I was not wanted here; this was for certain. Out of commission, I thanked the machinery god that my job was done. However, the work here was far from finished, and hopefully, I would be miles away in the comforts of anything but unholy domains.
Many thanks to the publisher Angry Robot for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
3.85 rounded up to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Est. Pub. Date: Oct. 28, 2025
Angry Robot Books
1940s Great Britain…
💡 Orbs Prologue: The cab is slightly left open as the breeze cools the sweaty hands of the operator. My steel arm stretches out, attached with a dragline. My rustic-looking bucket is poised to gather earth upon the commands of those inside my compartment. I am a useful tool in building anew. I am assisting in laying the groundwork for Warden Fall, a new RAF base. This soil, though, harbors mystery. I can hear them, but it's not yet clear if my human brethren can as well. Chanting…incantations, a netherrealm of existence underneath the very plot I am gouging. The slight tremor runs through my lines, invoking a sense of terror within me… Is this a good idea?
🔩 Nuts & Bolts: 1983… A docile father suddenly guns down his family in brutal fashion. Never known to be violent or malicious, Tony Mathias, our murderer, is thrust into the spotlight after a horrendous chain of events. Decades later, we see Cally Darker, our main protagonist and creator of a true crime podcast, receiving a tip about a case of the other World End’s Murders from 1983. After careful consideration, Cally’s interests are piqued, and she begins her own investigation, which she renames the Eagle Mount Murders. Through conversations with various friends and family members of Tony Mathias, several questions remain unanswered. Having discovered the latest project tapes from Mathias, Cally unearths an eeriness surrounding Warden Fall, the location where Tony was conducting a new art piece. Down the rabbit hole, readers are taken into a myriad of unbelievable folklore that ties into the very land that Warden Fall is standing upon. The recorded cassette tapes hold the key to the mystery, yet what happens when the clues they provide also become the worst nightmare?
👍 Orbs Pros: Daniel Church, our author, has written an intense novel. There is plenty here to wrangle the proverbial feathers. Horrifying creatures slink around in the darkness, waiting, biding their time. Nightmares exploding through eyelids, telling of a foreboding future. Deeply atmospheric in tone, the novel is sure to supply a jolt to your nerves. The prose was solid, and thus my reading experience flew by fairly quickly. I would like to acknowledge Church’s creativity, as the demonic entities introduced simply took my breath away. As I watched the changes on the world canvas, more horrid thought patterns emerged from my mind.
👎 Orbs Cons: While not a deal breaker by any means, I felt as though the relationship between Cally and Ellen, her love interest, seemed rushed and unbelievable. Certainly cut from the same cloth, I understood their common ground and understanding; however, the relationship took a serious turn quite quickly, which had me questioning Church’s decision. The novel felt long in the tooth. Perhaps shaving some of that time spent on the relationship may have helped reinvigorate the novel towards the ¾ mark.
🔚The conclusion was quite satisfying indeed. I was in the front seat, clickety clack, clickety clack. The vibrations began targeting my gluteus maximus as my eyes darted far down below. To the abyss, the people wandering around the theme park. Up, up, climbing yet higher still…. Panic and fear are rearing their ugly heads. I have reached the crescendo, my lunch-filled stomach on high alert. Oh, this was going to be intense. Jetting through corners at a high velocity, peering down into a pit of anxiousness. Jarring my neck into crooked positions, I felt battered by an inordinate amount of sensations, and suddenly it was over….The ride had ended. I stood and closed the book, wiping the perspiration from my brow. “Take a trip on the wild side,” by Motley Crue, blares from the speakers.
Recommended! For those who love bizarrely over-the-top horror!
💡 Orbs Epilogue: I feel heavy, weirdly weighed down like a swollen belly. As an excavator, this would seem normal, yet this was strange. Was it the rocks? Is the soil wet? Blood-stained, perhaps? I began to retract my line when all of a sudden, my cable snapped, lashing out like a frog delivering a tongue lashing. I was not wanted here; this was for certain. Out of commission, I thanked the machinery god that my job was done. However, the work here was far from finished, and hopefully, I would be miles away in the comforts of anything but unholy domains.
Many thanks to the publisher Angry Robot for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
August 9, 2025
ARC for review. To be published October 28, 2025.
3 stars.
I thought/hoped this movie got be something innovative, like how it is that audio tapes can come to be haunted, but, alas, it wasn’t to be and this is your standard, mid-grade horror about a haunted military base going for the long con. It was OK; it was amazing how a podcaster from nearly fifty years later found nearly everyone still alive, within driving distance and ready to spill their guts to a perfect stranger, no? Life is weird like that. Not MY life of course, but, you know, somebody’s.
3 stars.
I thought/hoped this movie got be something innovative, like how it is that audio tapes can come to be haunted, but, alas, it wasn’t to be and this is your standard, mid-grade horror about a haunted military base going for the long con. It was OK; it was amazing how a podcaster from nearly fifty years later found nearly everyone still alive, within driving distance and ready to spill their guts to a perfect stranger, no? Life is weird like that. Not MY life of course, but, you know, somebody’s.
October 27, 2025
’The dark makes children of us all’
The Sound of the Dark is a paranormal, supernatural, science-fiction, conspiracy theorist, mystery thriller, that somehow manages to be both excellent and terrible in equal measure. We follow Cally Darker, a podcaster who becomes fixated on artist Tony Mathias, who, after visiting the abandoned air-base Warden Fell, kills his wife, two children, and himself, in cold-blood, seemingly out of nowhere. But what Cally doesn’t know is that the history behind Warden Fell is seriously more insane than she, or I, the reader, could have ever guessed.
Beginning with what I liked about this book is simple: the premise. I was hooked from the first page, as Church begins this thriller brilliantly. The interviews with the various people that knew Tony in life were interesting, detailed and utterly compelling. I loved getting to know him as a person, and hearing about his mental (and physical) decline in vague terms only made me more desperate to get to the bottom of the mystery. I began this story with such high hopes, even if I found our main-character Cally (and the ham-fisted way in which her ‘romance’ and daily-life was over-explained) pretty lacklustre and boring.
Then we got to the 60% mark, and the entire book shifted into a totally different genre than what it had been up until that point.
Initially this was okay - a government conspiracy, a little REALISTIC sci-fi element, was something I could deal with. What I can’t deal with, however, is when a book decides to swap from one genre to the next within a matter of chapters. A lack of identity is an easy way, in my opinion, to not only confuse your readers but turn them off the story entirely. This was the case for me, as I felt that the book I thought I had been reading for the past three hours had suddenly disappeared. I completely understand that this is not the case for all readers, some might see it as an engaging twist or a subversion of expectations, but I just felt a little duped.
The writing is acceptable, and conversations between Cally and interviewees were particularly enjoyable. However, the pacing was completely off for the entire narrative, the ending especially drawn-out to a fairly anti-climactic conclusion. A good 100-150 pages could have been trimmed down to the effect of a much more impactful story.
The side-characters were indistinguishable from one another (or at times Cally herself) and the main antagonist was caricaturish in his grotesqueness. He wasn’t scary, insomuch that he was too ‘silly’ to be threatening.
Overall, The Sound of the Dark gets 3/5 stars. There were some real highlights at the start of this book, but unfortunately it did not stick the landing.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
The Sound of the Dark is a paranormal, supernatural, science-fiction, conspiracy theorist, mystery thriller, that somehow manages to be both excellent and terrible in equal measure. We follow Cally Darker, a podcaster who becomes fixated on artist Tony Mathias, who, after visiting the abandoned air-base Warden Fell, kills his wife, two children, and himself, in cold-blood, seemingly out of nowhere. But what Cally doesn’t know is that the history behind Warden Fell is seriously more insane than she, or I, the reader, could have ever guessed.
Beginning with what I liked about this book is simple: the premise. I was hooked from the first page, as Church begins this thriller brilliantly. The interviews with the various people that knew Tony in life were interesting, detailed and utterly compelling. I loved getting to know him as a person, and hearing about his mental (and physical) decline in vague terms only made me more desperate to get to the bottom of the mystery. I began this story with such high hopes, even if I found our main-character Cally (and the ham-fisted way in which her ‘romance’ and daily-life was over-explained) pretty lacklustre and boring.
Then we got to the 60% mark, and the entire book shifted into a totally different genre than what it had been up until that point.
Initially this was okay - a government conspiracy, a little REALISTIC sci-fi element, was something I could deal with. What I can’t deal with, however, is when a book decides to swap from one genre to the next within a matter of chapters. A lack of identity is an easy way, in my opinion, to not only confuse your readers but turn them off the story entirely. This was the case for me, as I felt that the book I thought I had been reading for the past three hours had suddenly disappeared. I completely understand that this is not the case for all readers, some might see it as an engaging twist or a subversion of expectations, but I just felt a little duped.
The writing is acceptable, and conversations between Cally and interviewees were particularly enjoyable. However, the pacing was completely off for the entire narrative, the ending especially drawn-out to a fairly anti-climactic conclusion. A good 100-150 pages could have been trimmed down to the effect of a much more impactful story.
The side-characters were indistinguishable from one another (or at times Cally herself) and the main antagonist was caricaturish in his grotesqueness. He wasn’t scary, insomuch that he was too ‘silly’ to be threatening.
Overall, The Sound of the Dark gets 3/5 stars. There were some real highlights at the start of this book, but unfortunately it did not stick the landing.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
December 7, 2025
Rating & review coming soon...
August 26, 2025
3.5/5
This book had me hooked from the start. Now, it doesn’t slam you with jump scares or endless action. Instead, it takes its time to build the suspense and unnerving atmosphere. I liked that slow-build approach. You know something bad is coming, but you’re not sure when or what shape it’ll take.
And in does come in creepy shapes and whispers, creatures made from the darkness trying to be solid. Initially, they’re not in-your-face monster-movie scary, but deeply, deeply unsettling. The more we see of them, the more horrifying they become. There are also audiotapes and interviews with people that help in building an unnerving atmosphere.
Character-wise, Daniel Church does a good job. Cally is dealing with depression, is slightly directionless in life, but she’s also obsessive and determined even when she’s in over her head. Her relationship with Ellen might feel rushed to some readers, but I liked it. It felt authentic enough that I bought into it. Most of the supporting cast is well drawn too, though the chief antagonist is almost cartoonishly vile, which made him feel a bit flat compared to everyone else. But there’s a reason for that, explained later in the story.
What’s interesting is how polarizing this book seems to be in early reviews. Some readers love the slow-burn pacing, others think it drags. Some think the horror is brilliant, others wanted more visceral scares. Personally, I thought the writing was effective - moody and tight, with just enough detail to make the setting feel alive. The pacing isn’t perfect, but once the story gets moving, it stays steady and doesn’t let up. There’s room for some tightening in places, sure, but it never lost me.
Unfortunately, the ending does. After such a careful buildup, the finale rushes in like someone realized the book was running out of pages. Explanations are dumped out quickly, the mystery gets over-explained, and the sense of creeping dread gives way to something more predictable and popcorn-like. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but compared to the careful tension of the beginning and middle, the resolution felt like a step down.
In the end, The Sound of the Dark is less about big shocks and more about letting dread creep in and stay there. It stuck with me thanks to its creepy creatures, unnerving atmosphere, and characters I actually liked. It’s not perfect, especially the ending, but it doesn’t need to be - I found it memorable, and that’s what matters.
I would recommend it to readers who enjoy slow burn horror and creepy stuff.
This book had me hooked from the start. Now, it doesn’t slam you with jump scares or endless action. Instead, it takes its time to build the suspense and unnerving atmosphere. I liked that slow-build approach. You know something bad is coming, but you’re not sure when or what shape it’ll take.
And in does come in creepy shapes and whispers, creatures made from the darkness trying to be solid. Initially, they’re not in-your-face monster-movie scary, but deeply, deeply unsettling. The more we see of them, the more horrifying they become. There are also audiotapes and interviews with people that help in building an unnerving atmosphere.
Character-wise, Daniel Church does a good job. Cally is dealing with depression, is slightly directionless in life, but she’s also obsessive and determined even when she’s in over her head. Her relationship with Ellen might feel rushed to some readers, but I liked it. It felt authentic enough that I bought into it. Most of the supporting cast is well drawn too, though the chief antagonist is almost cartoonishly vile, which made him feel a bit flat compared to everyone else. But there’s a reason for that, explained later in the story.
What’s interesting is how polarizing this book seems to be in early reviews. Some readers love the slow-burn pacing, others think it drags. Some think the horror is brilliant, others wanted more visceral scares. Personally, I thought the writing was effective - moody and tight, with just enough detail to make the setting feel alive. The pacing isn’t perfect, but once the story gets moving, it stays steady and doesn’t let up. There’s room for some tightening in places, sure, but it never lost me.
Unfortunately, the ending does. After such a careful buildup, the finale rushes in like someone realized the book was running out of pages. Explanations are dumped out quickly, the mystery gets over-explained, and the sense of creeping dread gives way to something more predictable and popcorn-like. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but compared to the careful tension of the beginning and middle, the resolution felt like a step down.
In the end, The Sound of the Dark is less about big shocks and more about letting dread creep in and stay there. It stuck with me thanks to its creepy creatures, unnerving atmosphere, and characters I actually liked. It’s not perfect, especially the ending, but it doesn’t need to be - I found it memorable, and that’s what matters.
I would recommend it to readers who enjoy slow burn horror and creepy stuff.
August 27, 2025
If you read and loved THE PATIENT by Jasper DeWitt, then this one will absolutely reel you in for the first half because it lies in that same psychological thriller vein. The second half is more supernatural thriller as it (possibly) reaches its resolution. Or as least A resolution.
This is my third novel by Daniel Church and I am incredibly grateful to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for approving my request to read the Advanced Reader's Copy. Happy to say I'll be back on watch for further novels by Daniel Church and he's now batting 3 for 3 for me!
I was instantly hooked. I read the first half in what felt like one breath. (This very well could have been because I was HOLDING my breath as there were some very intense moments! I've been doing a lot of late night reading before bed these days due to work and training and let's just say there was one night after a particular chapter where I slept with the lamp on.)
I am a fiend for psychological thrillers and Daniel Church absolutely nailed this aspect. I couldn't get enough of the intrigue and the huge mystery surrounding a family in which the father killed his wife and two children - brutally - before turning the gun on himself. It was so out of character according to friends and family - and as our main character starts to dig into it for her true crime podcast - a larger mystery looms.
Now, vague spoiler here, I really wish the mystery had been left a mystery. As soon as our main character finally starts getting some answers and the picture of what really happened starts to become clear - that made the switch in the narrative from psychological thriller to just plain ol supernatural thriller and that ratcheted down the thrills, chills and squeals for me. (If it had been left a mystery, I'd have probably complained about not getting answers, so take this last bit with a grain of salt, lol)
Daniel Church's writing makes you feel things, which is something I crave when I read horror. I want my blood to race, I want to feel the terror and blast it, make me sleep with the light on! There were 2 nights reading this that messed me up, lol. I loved the slow build up of dread and suspense as I turned the pages, the anticipation of what might be revealed on the next page and the resulting reward of creepiness.
If you love thrillers, folklore and rich, atmospheric writing, then I think this would be an excellent choice for you!
This is my third novel by Daniel Church and I am incredibly grateful to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for approving my request to read the Advanced Reader's Copy. Happy to say I'll be back on watch for further novels by Daniel Church and he's now batting 3 for 3 for me!
I was instantly hooked. I read the first half in what felt like one breath. (This very well could have been because I was HOLDING my breath as there were some very intense moments! I've been doing a lot of late night reading before bed these days due to work and training and let's just say there was one night after a particular chapter where I slept with the lamp on.)
I am a fiend for psychological thrillers and Daniel Church absolutely nailed this aspect. I couldn't get enough of the intrigue and the huge mystery surrounding a family in which the father killed his wife and two children - brutally - before turning the gun on himself. It was so out of character according to friends and family - and as our main character starts to dig into it for her true crime podcast - a larger mystery looms.
Now, vague spoiler here, I really wish the mystery had been left a mystery. As soon as our main character finally starts getting some answers and the picture of what really happened starts to become clear - that made the switch in the narrative from psychological thriller to just plain ol supernatural thriller and that ratcheted down the thrills, chills and squeals for me. (If it had been left a mystery, I'd have probably complained about not getting answers, so take this last bit with a grain of salt, lol)
Daniel Church's writing makes you feel things, which is something I crave when I read horror. I want my blood to race, I want to feel the terror and blast it, make me sleep with the light on! There were 2 nights reading this that messed me up, lol. I loved the slow build up of dread and suspense as I turned the pages, the anticipation of what might be revealed on the next page and the resulting reward of creepiness.
If you love thrillers, folklore and rich, atmospheric writing, then I think this would be an excellent choice for you!
August 12, 2025
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
i hated it, unfortunately. i was really excited for this book because the plot sounded so compelling but it ultimately fell completely flat. i’m still giving it two stars because there was part of me that, despite the issues i’m about to outline, still felt intrigued enough by the mystery to finish the story.
as a reader i’m extremely particular about prose and if a story has poor prose it will completely ruin my enjoyment. the prose in this novel was just not great in my opinion.
i also had issues with the pacing. it shouldn’t take me getting to 65% to finally feel like the pace is picking up. and even then, it started to slow down again towards the end and i found myself so frustrated at what was focused on. so much of this book could have been condensed.
i HATED how the women in this story felt like caricatures of women. i like to read stories and feel as if these characters could actually exist in real life but instead it was like someone who has only ever interacted with fictional iterations of women writing about women.
i hated the random and unnecessary inclusion of disordered thoughts from cally. it does not give her more depth by inserting irrelevant and outright insensitive ideas about weight loss and calorie intake when the plot itself is about solving a decades old murder case. all it did was trigger and annoy me. all of those comments could be cut from the story and it would have no influence on the plot whatsoever.
also cally and ellen’s relationship while i guess sweet at times, still felt rushed to me. obviously you’re bonded now because of this fucked up shit you saw together but i couldn’t connect to them. i can recognise the attempts at giving depth to the characters but again none of these attempts landed for me and i pretty much disliked every character! sorry.
roland’s inner monologue was so heavy handed like okay we get it.. i feel like he could have been a much more interesting villain if his characterisation wasn’t so in your face.
i don’t really have any major gripes with the conclusion of the story but the emotional beats didn’t hit for me because i already had a dislike and a disconnection for/from the story and characters. i’m sad because i wanted to love this but unfortunately it’s not the story for me!
i hated it, unfortunately. i was really excited for this book because the plot sounded so compelling but it ultimately fell completely flat. i’m still giving it two stars because there was part of me that, despite the issues i’m about to outline, still felt intrigued enough by the mystery to finish the story.
as a reader i’m extremely particular about prose and if a story has poor prose it will completely ruin my enjoyment. the prose in this novel was just not great in my opinion.
i also had issues with the pacing. it shouldn’t take me getting to 65% to finally feel like the pace is picking up. and even then, it started to slow down again towards the end and i found myself so frustrated at what was focused on. so much of this book could have been condensed.
i HATED how the women in this story felt like caricatures of women. i like to read stories and feel as if these characters could actually exist in real life but instead it was like someone who has only ever interacted with fictional iterations of women writing about women.
i hated the random and unnecessary inclusion of disordered thoughts from cally. it does not give her more depth by inserting irrelevant and outright insensitive ideas about weight loss and calorie intake when the plot itself is about solving a decades old murder case. all it did was trigger and annoy me. all of those comments could be cut from the story and it would have no influence on the plot whatsoever.
also cally and ellen’s relationship while i guess sweet at times, still felt rushed to me. obviously you’re bonded now because of this fucked up shit you saw together but i couldn’t connect to them. i can recognise the attempts at giving depth to the characters but again none of these attempts landed for me and i pretty much disliked every character! sorry.
roland’s inner monologue was so heavy handed like okay we get it.. i feel like he could have been a much more interesting villain if his characterisation wasn’t so in your face.
i don’t really have any major gripes with the conclusion of the story but the emotional beats didn’t hit for me because i already had a dislike and a disconnection for/from the story and characters. i’m sad because i wanted to love this but unfortunately it’s not the story for me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2026
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2025/12/11/...
The Sound of the Dark is one of those books with a setup that makes you think you know exactly where it’s going…until suddenly, you don’t! This is my third Daniel Church novel, and I’m still amazed by how he can pull the rug from under you in the best way possible. What begins as a straightforward true-crime investigation gradually warps into something far stranger and darker than it first appears, and I found myself hooked even when I wasn’t sure what kind of story I was walking into.
The book follows Cally, host of a well-received but small-time true crime podcast called You Like it Darker, but life hasn’t been too kind to her lately. Dealing with depression and a failing relationship with her boyfriend, the things that used to give her joy and purpose just aren’t cutting it anymore. So, when a listener writes in with a tip suggesting she look into a lesser known 1983 case in which a mild-mannered family man suddenly snapped and murdered his wife and children in cold blood, Cally hopes this new project will spur her to get back on her feet.
Her research leads her to Warden Fell, a creepy abandoned military installation which has long since become the subject of whispers and urban legends in the area. It was reported that the man at the center of her case had gunned down his entire family after visiting this site, pointing to a possible connection. But interviews with others familiar with the investigation, including the killer’s sister and the medical examiner who remembers autopsying the bodies reveal details that are far stranger. Eventually, Cally catches a break in the form of the killer’s audio journals, discovered after visiting the old scene of the crime. However, at this point of no return, Cally begins to understand that she isn’t simply retracing the path of a man’s decent into madness. Rather, she’s quite literally becoming a part of it.
I loved the first half of this book, which reads almost like a straight mystery, following our protagonist as she dives headfirst into the nuts and bolts of investigative work. The pacing here is measured but deliberate, giving readers enough time to pick through the clues. We also get a clearer sense of who Cally is in this section: her frustrations at not being heard, the feeling of being stuck, and her struggle to find a sense of purpose. It makes her obsession with the strange aspects of the case feel that much more believable. After all, how does a husband and father who is by all accounts a gentle and nonviolent man suddenly decide to slaughter the people he loves in such a horrific way? Walden Fell is also wonderfully eerie once Cally gets there, an early sign that things are about to shift into something much darker, and indeed, this is just the beginning.
That said, the middle part of the book gets a bit shaky as we shift into the next phase. Here, the plot turns sharply into territory bordering on conspiracy theory fiction with a generous helping of supernatural and cosmic horror. At this point, I do think the author’s control slipped a little, as he tried juggling all these moving parts while still keeping Cally’s reactions true to her character and convincing. But on the flip side, the horror elements are fantastically well done, vivid and unsettling and full of grotesque body horror imagery. I had no idea Church had this talent in his writer’s toolbox.
And once the plot reaches full throttle, the book becomes hard to put down. A huge part of this is due to character work, both with Cally and the supporting cast. Stella, the eccentric actress we meet early on in the investigation, is a true standout and impossible not to like. Her scenes and dialogue with Cally are some of the best in the novel. Ellen, the young police officer who briefly becomes romantically involved with Cally also brings a steady, down-the-earth presence even if their relationship feels a bit rushed. Still, the dynamic between the three women in the final act is what makes the events of the ending both so chaotic and exciting, watching them come together to take down the big bad.
Final thoughts? The Sound of the Dark is a moody, slow-burn supernatural thriller that isn’t afraid to take its readers down some wild and twisty roads. Even though the plot gets a little tangled in places, it’s still an absorbing read that is undoubtedly memorable. And honestly, that’s what I look for in a book—something that leaves a strong lasting impression long after I’ve turned the last page.
The Sound of the Dark is one of those books with a setup that makes you think you know exactly where it’s going…until suddenly, you don’t! This is my third Daniel Church novel, and I’m still amazed by how he can pull the rug from under you in the best way possible. What begins as a straightforward true-crime investigation gradually warps into something far stranger and darker than it first appears, and I found myself hooked even when I wasn’t sure what kind of story I was walking into.
The book follows Cally, host of a well-received but small-time true crime podcast called You Like it Darker, but life hasn’t been too kind to her lately. Dealing with depression and a failing relationship with her boyfriend, the things that used to give her joy and purpose just aren’t cutting it anymore. So, when a listener writes in with a tip suggesting she look into a lesser known 1983 case in which a mild-mannered family man suddenly snapped and murdered his wife and children in cold blood, Cally hopes this new project will spur her to get back on her feet.
Her research leads her to Warden Fell, a creepy abandoned military installation which has long since become the subject of whispers and urban legends in the area. It was reported that the man at the center of her case had gunned down his entire family after visiting this site, pointing to a possible connection. But interviews with others familiar with the investigation, including the killer’s sister and the medical examiner who remembers autopsying the bodies reveal details that are far stranger. Eventually, Cally catches a break in the form of the killer’s audio journals, discovered after visiting the old scene of the crime. However, at this point of no return, Cally begins to understand that she isn’t simply retracing the path of a man’s decent into madness. Rather, she’s quite literally becoming a part of it.
I loved the first half of this book, which reads almost like a straight mystery, following our protagonist as she dives headfirst into the nuts and bolts of investigative work. The pacing here is measured but deliberate, giving readers enough time to pick through the clues. We also get a clearer sense of who Cally is in this section: her frustrations at not being heard, the feeling of being stuck, and her struggle to find a sense of purpose. It makes her obsession with the strange aspects of the case feel that much more believable. After all, how does a husband and father who is by all accounts a gentle and nonviolent man suddenly decide to slaughter the people he loves in such a horrific way? Walden Fell is also wonderfully eerie once Cally gets there, an early sign that things are about to shift into something much darker, and indeed, this is just the beginning.
That said, the middle part of the book gets a bit shaky as we shift into the next phase. Here, the plot turns sharply into territory bordering on conspiracy theory fiction with a generous helping of supernatural and cosmic horror. At this point, I do think the author’s control slipped a little, as he tried juggling all these moving parts while still keeping Cally’s reactions true to her character and convincing. But on the flip side, the horror elements are fantastically well done, vivid and unsettling and full of grotesque body horror imagery. I had no idea Church had this talent in his writer’s toolbox.
And once the plot reaches full throttle, the book becomes hard to put down. A huge part of this is due to character work, both with Cally and the supporting cast. Stella, the eccentric actress we meet early on in the investigation, is a true standout and impossible not to like. Her scenes and dialogue with Cally are some of the best in the novel. Ellen, the young police officer who briefly becomes romantically involved with Cally also brings a steady, down-the-earth presence even if their relationship feels a bit rushed. Still, the dynamic between the three women in the final act is what makes the events of the ending both so chaotic and exciting, watching them come together to take down the big bad.
Final thoughts? The Sound of the Dark is a moody, slow-burn supernatural thriller that isn’t afraid to take its readers down some wild and twisty roads. Even though the plot gets a little tangled in places, it’s still an absorbing read that is undoubtedly memorable. And honestly, that’s what I look for in a book—something that leaves a strong lasting impression long after I’ve turned the last page.
November 2, 2025
Like an Earworm, You Can’t Unhear This!
The Sound of the Dark sinks its claws in slowly. It’s a slow-burn, but once it gets you, it gets you. Daniel Church takes the “true-crime podcaster chasing a story” setup and twists it into something moodier, stranger, and way more cosmic than readers have probably expected or experienced. Cally’s not just following leads and investigating Warden Fell, she’s unraveling herself. Her emotions, grief, burnout, messy ambition all create a unique and volatile lens for readers to glimpse inside of. A forgotten military base thrives behind the scenes of this story as well. The atmosphere is thick and anxious in the best way. Readers can expect a late-night YouTube deep-dive and abandoned-places TikTok collided with old-school folk horror. It is excellent writing and readers are going to LOVE THIS!
Is it slow-burn? Yeah. Does it pay off? Absolutely, once the weird starts roaring, it really roars. The horror is original and unnerving, and Church knows exactly how to make you doubt what you’re hearing right along with Cally. If you love horror that rewards patience and plays with obsession, trauma, and the dangerous thrill of listening a little too long, this one is for you! Just maybe don’t read it with headphones on. Or in the dark. Or anywhere too quiet.
The Sound of the Dark sinks its claws in slowly. It’s a slow-burn, but once it gets you, it gets you. Daniel Church takes the “true-crime podcaster chasing a story” setup and twists it into something moodier, stranger, and way more cosmic than readers have probably expected or experienced. Cally’s not just following leads and investigating Warden Fell, she’s unraveling herself. Her emotions, grief, burnout, messy ambition all create a unique and volatile lens for readers to glimpse inside of. A forgotten military base thrives behind the scenes of this story as well. The atmosphere is thick and anxious in the best way. Readers can expect a late-night YouTube deep-dive and abandoned-places TikTok collided with old-school folk horror. It is excellent writing and readers are going to LOVE THIS!
Is it slow-burn? Yeah. Does it pay off? Absolutely, once the weird starts roaring, it really roars. The horror is original and unnerving, and Church knows exactly how to make you doubt what you’re hearing right along with Cally. If you love horror that rewards patience and plays with obsession, trauma, and the dangerous thrill of listening a little too long, this one is for you! Just maybe don’t read it with headphones on. Or in the dark. Or anywhere too quiet.
October 28, 2025
Meh.
Started out okay... a bit slow maybe, and of course we spent a lot of time on the relationship of Cally & future ex-boyfriend Iain, who is painted as this totally stuck-up a-hole unable to "get" or "see" (yes, those are quotes) poor deep fragile Cally because he's this huge boar, but really the dude struck me as fairly reasonable tbh... Cally was just this massive mope-bag, I could not stand her. Which is kind of a problem when this is the character you're stuck with for what felt like 800 pages. (This book is WAY too long. Really. This thing needed some major editing.)
So Cally gets going on some "research" for her totally awesome true crime "podcast" (of courrrrse), which basically consisted of her meeting or phoning up some person or other and then engaging them in endless, endless dialogue, just reams of "she reflected" or "he said thoughtfully" that made my eyes glaze over after the fifth page or so. And that's it. She turns up someone, they get in contact, and then it's talk me to death please. There's no action whatsoever for the first, uh, 60% of this novel.
Then again, once we do get to spook city, things get even worse, i.e. ridiculous. Everyone who's ever watched a horror movie knows that the scariest monsters are the ones we never really see. We maybe catch a glimpse, but the rest stays in shadow (and in your imagination). Now Daniel Church is a firm believer in dragging the uncanny out into the light and examining it in detail, which might work in the hands of a more evocative author, but in this case it just made me scoff on an Olympic level. By all means give me things that go bump in the night, but please maybe have them be something I can believe (or at least not disbelieve) in, not some stupid animal trio like The Wind in the Willows by way of H.P. Lovecraft. The Eel, the Toad and the Cormorant (yes, with capital lettering)... um, no. Just not scary. Not even when they "undulate" up the stairs 75 times in a row.
This being a guy writing women, we also get treated to what he thinks lesbian courtship and romance look like (utterly bland, shallow and passionless, incidentally). This felt possibly even less convincing than the dumb demonic beasties. Not sure whether Mr Church thought he was being progressive or simply indulged in some weird fetish thing, it just did not ring true IMO.
On a related note, the male characters fared even worse, they were all written as psychopaths, creeps or run-of-the-mill assholes. While the women were just boring overthinkers, every single male here was nothing but caricature.
I ended up skimming after the first half, because really, life is too short. The thing with the spooky audio tapes sounded cool, but the execution as well as the plot and resolution themselves felt juvenile and lame to me. I was not a fan of this author's first book either (and did not even consider picking up his second because the premise seemed deeply problematic to me, which turned out to be spot-on), so this is it for me; there are so many books out there, I'll just steer clear of Mr Church's from now on.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Started out okay... a bit slow maybe, and of course we spent a lot of time on the relationship of Cally & future ex-boyfriend Iain, who is painted as this totally stuck-up a-hole unable to "get" or "see" (yes, those are quotes) poor deep fragile Cally because he's this huge boar, but really the dude struck me as fairly reasonable tbh... Cally was just this massive mope-bag, I could not stand her. Which is kind of a problem when this is the character you're stuck with for what felt like 800 pages. (This book is WAY too long. Really. This thing needed some major editing.)
So Cally gets going on some "research" for her totally awesome true crime "podcast" (of courrrrse), which basically consisted of her meeting or phoning up some person or other and then engaging them in endless, endless dialogue, just reams of "she reflected" or "he said thoughtfully" that made my eyes glaze over after the fifth page or so. And that's it. She turns up someone, they get in contact, and then it's talk me to death please. There's no action whatsoever for the first, uh, 60% of this novel.
Then again, once we do get to spook city, things get even worse, i.e. ridiculous. Everyone who's ever watched a horror movie knows that the scariest monsters are the ones we never really see. We maybe catch a glimpse, but the rest stays in shadow (and in your imagination). Now Daniel Church is a firm believer in dragging the uncanny out into the light and examining it in detail, which might work in the hands of a more evocative author, but in this case it just made me scoff on an Olympic level. By all means give me things that go bump in the night, but please maybe have them be something I can believe (or at least not disbelieve) in, not some stupid animal trio like The Wind in the Willows by way of H.P. Lovecraft. The Eel, the Toad and the Cormorant (yes, with capital lettering)... um, no. Just not scary. Not even when they "undulate" up the stairs 75 times in a row.
This being a guy writing women, we also get treated to what he thinks lesbian courtship and romance look like (utterly bland, shallow and passionless, incidentally). This felt possibly even less convincing than the dumb demonic beasties. Not sure whether Mr Church thought he was being progressive or simply indulged in some weird fetish thing, it just did not ring true IMO.
On a related note, the male characters fared even worse, they were all written as psychopaths, creeps or run-of-the-mill assholes. While the women were just boring overthinkers, every single male here was nothing but caricature.
I ended up skimming after the first half, because really, life is too short. The thing with the spooky audio tapes sounded cool, but the execution as well as the plot and resolution themselves felt juvenile and lame to me. I was not a fan of this author's first book either (and did not even consider picking up his second because the premise seemed deeply problematic to me, which turned out to be spot-on), so this is it for me; there are so many books out there, I'll just steer clear of Mr Church's from now on.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 7, 2025
3.5 rounded up for a novel that starts slow, but once it hits its stride, it's off! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
The first half is too slow for its own good. The ideas that it sets up aren't bad and do pay off, but the pattern of Cally going to talk to someone, having a long involved conversation where little is revealed, and then hearing about another person that she can contact, with an optional interlude for Iain being a dickhead is repetitive. The more overtly supernatural stuff also takes awhile to kick off. Particularly in the first half, there are several scenes that could have been partially or entirely cut that would help with the pacing issues. The second half is much better in that regard. Everything starts paying off, and there are fewer scenes and moments that are repetitions of ideas or information that we've already gotten before. I deeply hope that there was a little more editing in the finished product than in the ARC I received, because it would be even better with one more editing pass.
I deeply enjoyed the setting, particularly the bits in Wales, as it gave me an excuse to talk to a Welsh friend about the book, because she grew up near some of the town described. The supernatural elements of this novel are very creepy, particularly the body horror. The characters are fine; the villains in particular are a bit one-note, but it's not overly a problem.
A very solid supernatural horror with a few editing problems. It is a worthwhile read but be prepared for a slow burn.
The first half is too slow for its own good. The ideas that it sets up aren't bad and do pay off, but the pattern of Cally going to talk to someone, having a long involved conversation where little is revealed, and then hearing about another person that she can contact, with an optional interlude for Iain being a dickhead is repetitive. The more overtly supernatural stuff also takes awhile to kick off. Particularly in the first half, there are several scenes that could have been partially or entirely cut that would help with the pacing issues. The second half is much better in that regard. Everything starts paying off, and there are fewer scenes and moments that are repetitions of ideas or information that we've already gotten before. I deeply hope that there was a little more editing in the finished product than in the ARC I received, because it would be even better with one more editing pass.
I deeply enjoyed the setting, particularly the bits in Wales, as it gave me an excuse to talk to a Welsh friend about the book, because she grew up near some of the town described. The supernatural elements of this novel are very creepy, particularly the body horror. The characters are fine; the villains in particular are a bit one-note, but it's not overly a problem.
A very solid supernatural horror with a few editing problems. It is a worthwhile read but be prepared for a slow burn.
October 29, 2025
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
I love a slow creeping dread! And Daniel Church gives me just that!
There’s no secret found footage is my favourite horror genre (fight me I don’t care and I’m insane you will lose) and The Sound of the Dark gave me that with a slight twist.
I love the haunted audio aspect and I do truely hope this gets an audio book with the chance to really play with that and the podcast aspect.
3.75 stars rounded up, from me - a perfect little horror for the spooky season or to wet your pallet if your a seasoned horror reader.
I love a slow creeping dread! And Daniel Church gives me just that!
There’s no secret found footage is my favourite horror genre (fight me I don’t care and I’m insane you will lose) and The Sound of the Dark gave me that with a slight twist.
I love the haunted audio aspect and I do truely hope this gets an audio book with the chance to really play with that and the podcast aspect.
3.75 stars rounded up, from me - a perfect little horror for the spooky season or to wet your pallet if your a seasoned horror reader.
October 28, 2025
A really internist supernatural horror story that mixes true crime, conspiracies, magic and more into a very interesting plot with a fascinating lead. Hope to see these characters again
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
August 17, 2025
Brilliant novel. Daniel Church's characters are, as always, extremely well drawn with clear motivations and strong personalities. The story is full of horror, intrigue, and questions, and the answers are revealed at a satisfying pace. Excellent antagonists, too! Roland is a truly detestable POS that reminded me a bit of Percy from The Green Mile.
November 5, 2025
Pushes true crime horror beyond limits - where reality, conspiracy, and the unimaginable blur.
In 1983, experimental artist Tony Mathias began creating an installation at the abandoned RAF base Warden Fell, blending visuals and sounds to capture its haunting history. But after recording there, Tony shockingly murdered his family and himself, adding another grim chapter to the site’s legend. Decades later, true-crime podcaster Cally Darker revisits the mystery. As Cally delves deeper, she discovers that Warden Fell hides a far older and darker secret - one that warns: be careful what you listen to.
What begins as a deep dive into a grisly case evolves into a web of cover-ups, political secrets, and haunting truths that refuse to stay buried. It’s a story that doesn’t just explore the evil people do, but how systems, silence, and secrecy help that evil thrive.
One of the most striking elements of this novel is its use of a podcast as the main backdrop and driving force of the story. It’s an incredibly modern lens - reflecting how our society consumes tragedy as entertainment, and how podcasting has become both an investigative tool and a cultural mirror. The author captures the allure of true crime podcasts perfectly: the thrill of uncovering new details, the obsession with getting ‘the full story’, and the blurred ethics of telling other people’s trauma for an audience.
Cally is a raw and hauntingly real character. Her struggle with depression feels deeply authentic - it’s not romanticized or exaggerated, but lived-in, weary, and painfully human. Through her, the book captures the horror of everyday life: how mental illness can feel like its own haunting. Yet, despite everything, Cally’s moments of resilience - choosing rest, hyper-focusing on the case, finding small ways to move forward - serve as beacons of light in all the surrounding darkness. Her boyfriend’s dismissive attitude toward her depression adds another layer of realism, reflecting how misunderstood these battles often are.
Every character feels distinct and meaningful, no matter how brief their appearance. From close friends to fleeting interview subjects, their voices add color and contrast - humor, rudeness, suspicion, empathy - that build the novel’s atmosphere of tension and unpredictability. Each personality adds a new piece to the puzzle, heightening both the mystery and the emotional weight of the story.
The horror itself is a master of slow-burn tension. It starts grounded in true crime grit, but morphs into something far stranger. Audio glitches, night terrors, and inexplicable occurrences layer together until reality itself starts to warp. By the time the truth emerges, it’s something far beyond what I could have imagined and even more terrifying.
The Sound of the Dark is a reflection on obsession, storytelling, and the shadows we choose to chase. Smart, modern, and deeply unnerving, it’s a must-read for fans of true crime, psychological horror, and stories that aren’t afraid to stare into the abyss.
In 1983, experimental artist Tony Mathias began creating an installation at the abandoned RAF base Warden Fell, blending visuals and sounds to capture its haunting history. But after recording there, Tony shockingly murdered his family and himself, adding another grim chapter to the site’s legend. Decades later, true-crime podcaster Cally Darker revisits the mystery. As Cally delves deeper, she discovers that Warden Fell hides a far older and darker secret - one that warns: be careful what you listen to.
What begins as a deep dive into a grisly case evolves into a web of cover-ups, political secrets, and haunting truths that refuse to stay buried. It’s a story that doesn’t just explore the evil people do, but how systems, silence, and secrecy help that evil thrive.
One of the most striking elements of this novel is its use of a podcast as the main backdrop and driving force of the story. It’s an incredibly modern lens - reflecting how our society consumes tragedy as entertainment, and how podcasting has become both an investigative tool and a cultural mirror. The author captures the allure of true crime podcasts perfectly: the thrill of uncovering new details, the obsession with getting ‘the full story’, and the blurred ethics of telling other people’s trauma for an audience.
Cally is a raw and hauntingly real character. Her struggle with depression feels deeply authentic - it’s not romanticized or exaggerated, but lived-in, weary, and painfully human. Through her, the book captures the horror of everyday life: how mental illness can feel like its own haunting. Yet, despite everything, Cally’s moments of resilience - choosing rest, hyper-focusing on the case, finding small ways to move forward - serve as beacons of light in all the surrounding darkness. Her boyfriend’s dismissive attitude toward her depression adds another layer of realism, reflecting how misunderstood these battles often are.
Every character feels distinct and meaningful, no matter how brief their appearance. From close friends to fleeting interview subjects, their voices add color and contrast - humor, rudeness, suspicion, empathy - that build the novel’s atmosphere of tension and unpredictability. Each personality adds a new piece to the puzzle, heightening both the mystery and the emotional weight of the story.
The horror itself is a master of slow-burn tension. It starts grounded in true crime grit, but morphs into something far stranger. Audio glitches, night terrors, and inexplicable occurrences layer together until reality itself starts to warp. By the time the truth emerges, it’s something far beyond what I could have imagined and even more terrifying.
The Sound of the Dark is a reflection on obsession, storytelling, and the shadows we choose to chase. Smart, modern, and deeply unnerving, it’s a must-read for fans of true crime, psychological horror, and stories that aren’t afraid to stare into the abyss.
November 6, 2025
The Sound of the Dark had a lot of very cool elements that piqued my interest. I really enjoyed main character Cally, the entire premise, and most of the execution. If I had one qualm (and I do, sorry), it is similar to what others have said: it just was a little too long. So the premise is this: Cally is sort of floundering in life, struggling with some mental health issues and a dead-end relationship. One of her interests is true crime, and she has a podcast devoted to it (which I kind of wished we'd got into a little more, but alas). She receives a message from some unknown listener about a case that she hadn't heard about, but absolutely piqued her interest: Tony, a seemingly upstanding family man who was exploring an old military base before he went off the deep end, killing his whole family and setting them aflame back in 1983.
This sends Cally down a very twisted path where she encounters a lot of interesting folks- both in good ways, and in bad. She also finds herself wading deeper into the history of the base and Tony's findings, including recordings and personal journals. Obviously I don't want to say too much because hello, mystery, but this was definitely a unique story for me! We also delve pretty deep into Cally's personal life, including her relationships, her mental health, and her self-esteem. We also get a pretty close look into a lot of the side characters' inner workings as well, which is helpful. There is definitely quite a bit of body horror, so take that into account as well. I also really liked the ending- it felt both appropriate and satisfying, so while the pacing was sometimes a bit slow, I found the whole thing to be quite worth it in the end.
Bottom Line: Come for the true crime, stay for the characters and bananas twists.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
This sends Cally down a very twisted path where she encounters a lot of interesting folks- both in good ways, and in bad. She also finds herself wading deeper into the history of the base and Tony's findings, including recordings and personal journals. Obviously I don't want to say too much because hello, mystery, but this was definitely a unique story for me! We also delve pretty deep into Cally's personal life, including her relationships, her mental health, and her self-esteem. We also get a pretty close look into a lot of the side characters' inner workings as well, which is helpful. There is definitely quite a bit of body horror, so take that into account as well. I also really liked the ending- it felt both appropriate and satisfying, so while the pacing was sometimes a bit slow, I found the whole thing to be quite worth it in the end.
Bottom Line: Come for the true crime, stay for the characters and bananas twists.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
November 7, 2025
I received this paperback from Angry Robot in exchange for a fair review.
A novel that retains the feel of a true crime podcast, The Sound of the Dark is an engaging supernatural thriller/horror!
Following a podcaster researching a horrific but confounding crime, the book feels like you're reading her investigation as it unfolds in real life. Because of the supernatural element, the reason for the initial crime is revealed slowly, which I enjoyed. I like a slow build horror, and horror with a reason (vs just “this guy is evil”) is my favourite type. In truth, there’s a bit of the latter in this as well (something initially seemed odd but then makes sense, though I did find the character a bit over the top).
As it’s more a thriller than a horror for the most part, there aren’t too many scary scenes, but the few we get are really creepy, especially if you’re reading the book at night in the dark. The tone is very solid throughout, a sort of underlying menace that builds in intensity.
In terms of the characters, Cally was a little hard to like. I feel bad because she does have depression, but she bemoans it and uses it as an excuse a lot. It explained why she didn’t have a job and stuff, but I found her a little annoying at times. Her friends, though, especially Stella, were fun. There’s a very “strong female character” vibe about this book, which has been true of every book of Church's I’ve read.
The ending also stretched on a bit longer than I think it needed to, in the sense of the action - I could have used less action and more explanation or lore, in a sense, but that's just my preference vs poor execution.
I really really enjoyed this book and recommend it to the murder mystery/true crime podcast crowd, as well as those who like a good supernatural thriller/horror.
A novel that retains the feel of a true crime podcast, The Sound of the Dark is an engaging supernatural thriller/horror!
Following a podcaster researching a horrific but confounding crime, the book feels like you're reading her investigation as it unfolds in real life. Because of the supernatural element, the reason for the initial crime is revealed slowly, which I enjoyed. I like a slow build horror, and horror with a reason (vs just “this guy is evil”) is my favourite type. In truth, there’s a bit of the latter in this as well (something initially seemed odd but then makes sense, though I did find the character a bit over the top).
As it’s more a thriller than a horror for the most part, there aren’t too many scary scenes, but the few we get are really creepy, especially if you’re reading the book at night in the dark. The tone is very solid throughout, a sort of underlying menace that builds in intensity.
In terms of the characters, Cally was a little hard to like. I feel bad because she does have depression, but she bemoans it and uses it as an excuse a lot. It explained why she didn’t have a job and stuff, but I found her a little annoying at times. Her friends, though, especially Stella, were fun. There’s a very “strong female character” vibe about this book, which has been true of every book of Church's I’ve read.
The ending also stretched on a bit longer than I think it needed to, in the sense of the action - I could have used less action and more explanation or lore, in a sense, but that's just my preference vs poor execution.
I really really enjoyed this book and recommend it to the murder mystery/true crime podcast crowd, as well as those who like a good supernatural thriller/horror.
October 29, 2025
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for the copy and including me on your tour! Here are my thoughts:
Cally is facing her mental health crisis by diving into her blooming true crime podcast career. She is exploring a strange murder that is linked to an abandoned RAF base. But once she becomes more involved, she starts having nightmares and experiencing physical symptoms of what the original murderer was supposedly going through. Can Cally solve this mystery in time, or will it consume her?
The first thing that captured me about this story was it reminded me of The Ring and the ability for media to pass on a supernatural occurrence. I’ve kept this vague as to avoid spoilers. It’s such a fun way to jump into a horror/thriller and it totally worked in this case. As Cally investigated more, the scenes got quite scary and there are some very icky body horror scenes. Gabe doesn’t like body horror, so I made sure to read him some of those ones…
The characters all felt unique and real and were all facing their own challenges which were melded well into the mystery aspect and the characters played well off of each other too. Even one of the villains was phenomenal, he was so creepy and made me cringe just reading him. As is Cally’s boyfriend at the start of the book. He’s a real piece of work. I love when characters inspire a strong reaction, to me, it’s a sign of good writing.
I had a few questions upon finishing the book but overall, I really liked it. I read it quickly and it was very hard to put down!
Cally is facing her mental health crisis by diving into her blooming true crime podcast career. She is exploring a strange murder that is linked to an abandoned RAF base. But once she becomes more involved, she starts having nightmares and experiencing physical symptoms of what the original murderer was supposedly going through. Can Cally solve this mystery in time, or will it consume her?
The first thing that captured me about this story was it reminded me of The Ring and the ability for media to pass on a supernatural occurrence. I’ve kept this vague as to avoid spoilers. It’s such a fun way to jump into a horror/thriller and it totally worked in this case. As Cally investigated more, the scenes got quite scary and there are some very icky body horror scenes. Gabe doesn’t like body horror, so I made sure to read him some of those ones…
The characters all felt unique and real and were all facing their own challenges which were melded well into the mystery aspect and the characters played well off of each other too. Even one of the villains was phenomenal, he was so creepy and made me cringe just reading him. As is Cally’s boyfriend at the start of the book. He’s a real piece of work. I love when characters inspire a strong reaction, to me, it’s a sign of good writing.
I had a few questions upon finishing the book but overall, I really liked it. I read it quickly and it was very hard to put down!
November 11, 2025
Church became one of my favorite authors to follow after I devoured The Hollows and The Ravening. His newest cosmic folk horror brings in a true crime backdrop that slowly morphs into an Eldritch terrors nightmare. Add a dash of body horror and atmospheric suspense, and you've got the first decent into Church's woven madness.
This novel starts with the horrific tragedy of a family brutally murdered in 1983. Decades later, Cally is introduced to this hidden murder by one of her followers on her true crime podcast. Church slowly builds his narratives allowing the reader to connect with the world and characters. If you're looking for immediate horror action, this is not it. The backdrop to the mystery is unraveled through interviews and data gathering that crafts an eerie picture until a little over the halfway mark. While I wasn't a fan of Cally as a whole, I found this added to her character growth by the end.
When the revelation explodes, this novel goes from true crime to chaos quickly. Its a page turning race to the end to find out what happens. I enjoyed the hell out of the finale. You could almost see this being a mini series on TV. I do want to note that there is chronic depression, mention of desired sadistic assaults and other items that readers should check before starting. Church is also a British author, so be ready for terms and spellings that may slow your cadence.
For my audiobook lovers or readers who struggle with slower pacing, I highly recommend the audio. Sarah Kempton did an excellent job bringing this story to life! True rating 3.5/5.
This novel starts with the horrific tragedy of a family brutally murdered in 1983. Decades later, Cally is introduced to this hidden murder by one of her followers on her true crime podcast. Church slowly builds his narratives allowing the reader to connect with the world and characters. If you're looking for immediate horror action, this is not it. The backdrop to the mystery is unraveled through interviews and data gathering that crafts an eerie picture until a little over the halfway mark. While I wasn't a fan of Cally as a whole, I found this added to her character growth by the end.
When the revelation explodes, this novel goes from true crime to chaos quickly. Its a page turning race to the end to find out what happens. I enjoyed the hell out of the finale. You could almost see this being a mini series on TV. I do want to note that there is chronic depression, mention of desired sadistic assaults and other items that readers should check before starting. Church is also a British author, so be ready for terms and spellings that may slow your cadence.
For my audiobook lovers or readers who struggle with slower pacing, I highly recommend the audio. Sarah Kempton did an excellent job bringing this story to life! True rating 3.5/5.
October 30, 2025
I haaaaaate to rate this book so low. Partly because I am really, truly grateful to Angry Robot for the physical copy to review.
To be fair, there were things I liked and didn't like. The idea of the contaminated tapes really had me hooked. Especially the first half of the book. I really wanted to know what the hell was going on. Then it went in a direction I never would have thought. I could have run with that, but then more and more just kept happening that I was no longer really interested. I dare say it got me with the ol' bait and switch. The biggest problem I had was that it was twice as long as it needed to be.
The creatures; I did not expect. I could have liked that, and the weird body morphing. But Cally got progressively annoying. Too much time was spent on Cally's personal life. A lot of it wasn't even necessary to the story. Iain, for example. Plus, I was on Iain's side for most of it anyway. Also, why was every villain some sort of homophobic cartoon villain? I dont know... I guess there was supposed to be some sort of commentary there, but it didn't work. all it did was annoy me and pull me out of the story.
I did like the history of Warden Fell. I liked the tapes and the creepy vibes of the first half. i wish that the sounds from the tapes played a bigger part of the story.
It just fell apart for me, unfortunately, and there were too many unnecessary moments.
To be fair, there were things I liked and didn't like. The idea of the contaminated tapes really had me hooked. Especially the first half of the book. I really wanted to know what the hell was going on. Then it went in a direction I never would have thought. I could have run with that, but then more and more just kept happening that I was no longer really interested. I dare say it got me with the ol' bait and switch. The biggest problem I had was that it was twice as long as it needed to be.
The creatures; I did not expect. I could have liked that, and the weird body morphing. But Cally got progressively annoying. Too much time was spent on Cally's personal life. A lot of it wasn't even necessary to the story. Iain, for example. Plus, I was on Iain's side for most of it anyway. Also, why was every villain some sort of homophobic cartoon villain? I dont know... I guess there was supposed to be some sort of commentary there, but it didn't work. all it did was annoy me and pull me out of the story.
I did like the history of Warden Fell. I liked the tapes and the creepy vibes of the first half. i wish that the sounds from the tapes played a bigger part of the story.
It just fell apart for me, unfortunately, and there were too many unnecessary moments.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2025
3.75 ✨| I had the fortune of getting an advanced copy of Daniel Church's newest book The Sound of the Dark from Angry Robot.
For long time (or even recent) followers, you know I have really enjoyed reading fictional books steeped in art. As a museum professional, it’s been fun reading unique interpretations of the field.
When Angry Robots reach out this book, I knew I needed to read it.
The best way to describe this book is a fun journey through a Hieronymus Bosch painting.
This story is told through lost media of artist Tony Mathias for his last art piece via podcaster Cally. Cally is sent a vague email in reference to the murders Tony caused in 1983 and is asked to help try to solve this cold case. Cally is ready for her big podcast break and feels like this story could be that for her.
I had such a fun time reading this novel. I love art, so the lost media of an artist, to it feeling like Bosch painting was such a delight. Church kept me hooked, at each turn I had no clue what to expect for the characters. I enjoyed how the journey of this book unfolded with each character or introduction of new knowledge Cally would find. It felt like the best mix of Scooby Doo or Monster of the Week. This book also reminded me a lot Christopher Golden or Chuck Wendig’s books in the best way. I hope you all pick up a copy whether via your local book store or library.
Thank you again to Angry Robot and make sure to see all the other reviews of The Sound of the Dark.
For long time (or even recent) followers, you know I have really enjoyed reading fictional books steeped in art. As a museum professional, it’s been fun reading unique interpretations of the field.
When Angry Robots reach out this book, I knew I needed to read it.
The best way to describe this book is a fun journey through a Hieronymus Bosch painting.
This story is told through lost media of artist Tony Mathias for his last art piece via podcaster Cally. Cally is sent a vague email in reference to the murders Tony caused in 1983 and is asked to help try to solve this cold case. Cally is ready for her big podcast break and feels like this story could be that for her.
I had such a fun time reading this novel. I love art, so the lost media of an artist, to it feeling like Bosch painting was such a delight. Church kept me hooked, at each turn I had no clue what to expect for the characters. I enjoyed how the journey of this book unfolded with each character or introduction of new knowledge Cally would find. It felt like the best mix of Scooby Doo or Monster of the Week. This book also reminded me a lot Christopher Golden or Chuck Wendig’s books in the best way. I hope you all pick up a copy whether via your local book store or library.
Thank you again to Angry Robot and make sure to see all the other reviews of The Sound of the Dark.
November 12, 2025
The Sound of the Dark was different from any other book I've read this year - in a good way!
*TW - Depression, suicide, death of loved ones, murder by a family member, graphic child murder, threat of SA & more*
I love a true crime podcast myself so I requested this arc as I thought it be interesting to read a true crime podcaster horror. It was a bit slow to start with many of the trigger warnings happening then. We follow Cally as she navigates her depression with working on a new episode for her podcast. She starts researching a familicide but as she digs further it seems to be more than it appears. Is the work of demons at play? As the plot progresses, we get the same information as Cally so we are left to guess at what actually happened. There is a twist near the end when the 'trinity' is introduced which takes the whole story in a different direction.
I have to admit, while reading this over the course of a few nights, I found myself double checking my doors are locked and keeping a light on after reading certain chapters 😂 and I'm not easily scared when it comes to books!
4.5⭐️/5⭐️
*TW - Depression, suicide, death of loved ones, murder by a family member, graphic child murder, threat of SA & more*
I love a true crime podcast myself so I requested this arc as I thought it be interesting to read a true crime podcaster horror. It was a bit slow to start with many of the trigger warnings happening then. We follow Cally as she navigates her depression with working on a new episode for her podcast. She starts researching a familicide but as she digs further it seems to be more than it appears. Is the work of demons at play? As the plot progresses, we get the same information as Cally so we are left to guess at what actually happened. There is a twist near the end when the 'trinity' is introduced which takes the whole story in a different direction.
I have to admit, while reading this over the course of a few nights, I found myself double checking my doors are locked and keeping a light on after reading certain chapters 😂 and I'm not easily scared when it comes to books!
4.5⭐️/5⭐️
November 21, 2025
With thanks to the author, publishers Angry Robot, and NetGalley for providing me with a DRC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I have previously read and enjoyed The Ravening and The Hollows by this author, and also enjoyed this one which was in a similar vein to those other two books.
It was a bit of a slow-burner early on, while we learn about the mysterious deaths of Tony and his family. We also see our main protagonist Cally, a true-crime podcaster, who is dealing with some personal issues, but when she learns about Tony's fate her interest is piqued by the case and she sets out to learn more in order to document it in a new podcast.
The author does a good job of building the tension during this first half of the book, but the pace definitely picks up in the second half where the real faces and motives of some of the characters start to be revealed. The last quarter of the book describing the battle of the two 'Trinitys' was particularly enjoyable, and when I had to put it down I couldn't wait to get back to see how it all ended.
I have previously read and enjoyed The Ravening and The Hollows by this author, and also enjoyed this one which was in a similar vein to those other two books.
It was a bit of a slow-burner early on, while we learn about the mysterious deaths of Tony and his family. We also see our main protagonist Cally, a true-crime podcaster, who is dealing with some personal issues, but when she learns about Tony's fate her interest is piqued by the case and she sets out to learn more in order to document it in a new podcast.
The author does a good job of building the tension during this first half of the book, but the pace definitely picks up in the second half where the real faces and motives of some of the characters start to be revealed. The last quarter of the book describing the battle of the two 'Trinitys' was particularly enjoyable, and when I had to put it down I couldn't wait to get back to see how it all ended.
October 28, 2025
For those of you who like your body horror with a bit of true crime, The Sound of the Dark is a creepy tale of a podcaster piecing together a mysterious murder from years ago.
Fantastic concept of an abandoned military base haunting the lives of those who encounter its secrets, but I do think that this book suffered from its pace. It took a long time to get to the action and once we did, the action itself was very drawn out. For a book about a podcast, it could have really benefitted from some interview style chapters to make us feel as if we were listening to the recordings and to hasten the exposition of the first 70% of the book.
Ultimately, when this picked up it was visceral and entertaining. Absolutely creepy and I was along for the ride. A fun, interesting take on ancient magics and military secrets.
⭐⭐⭐
Available October 28, 2025
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Fantastic concept of an abandoned military base haunting the lives of those who encounter its secrets, but I do think that this book suffered from its pace. It took a long time to get to the action and once we did, the action itself was very drawn out. For a book about a podcast, it could have really benefitted from some interview style chapters to make us feel as if we were listening to the recordings and to hasten the exposition of the first 70% of the book.
Ultimately, when this picked up it was visceral and entertaining. Absolutely creepy and I was along for the ride. A fun, interesting take on ancient magics and military secrets.
⭐⭐⭐
Available October 28, 2025
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 22, 2025
The premise here involves haunted audio tapes from an abandoned RAF base that caused an experimental artist to murder his entire family in 1983, and decades later, true crime podcaster Cally Darker decides to investigate. The writing had serious weird/gross/annoying problems throughout: at one point, Cally is using sex to distract her boyfriend, but the narration tells us she wasn't trying to distract him anymore because she was "genuinely enjoying herself.' I find this extremely doubtful, classic man-writing-women garbage. At another point, Cally puts on a pair of gold harem pants. Gold harem pants. Seriously? What! At least two completely different interview subjects both use the word "benighted" in the span of about two chapters, and aside from that, these two very different characters spoke almost exactly the same. The same wry, sardonic tones, similar turns of phrase, etc. I don't know that I could let that go in a book I was actually having a good time with, but in this one, it was exceptionally egregious. And the villain was such an over-the-top incel caricature that I wanted to throw the book every time he said "pretty Cally Darker." By the end of this, I think I was hate-reading it.
February 11, 2026
I really wanted to rate this more than three stars, but there were just some glaring issues that held me back.
I definitely agree with reviews mentioning the shallow characters and rushed ending, but what bothered me the most honestly was the typos! There were supposedly two editors for this book, but there are several instances of missing punctuation, misspelled words (hm instead of him? In a published copy???) and even parts of sentences that began one way and were clearly rewritten while forgetting to delete the fragments that were changed.
The story concept was so cool, but I feel like this needed a lot more polishing, but writing-wise and proofreading-wise.
I definitely agree with reviews mentioning the shallow characters and rushed ending, but what bothered me the most honestly was the typos! There were supposedly two editors for this book, but there are several instances of missing punctuation, misspelled words (hm instead of him? In a published copy???) and even parts of sentences that began one way and were clearly rewritten while forgetting to delete the fragments that were changed.
The story concept was so cool, but I feel like this needed a lot more polishing, but writing-wise and proofreading-wise.
November 12, 2025
This book was so unique! The body horror was exquisite, and the overall plot was really fun. At times I found my mind wandering as I felt the story dragged in some parts due to inconsistent pacing. I got some Archive 81 vibes, but it also had some cosmic horror vibes as well. This was my first book by this author, and I’d definitely give his others a try.
July 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this! As a horror fan I loved the story, characters and atmosphere. Reading this home alone at night set the tone. It was so creepy and delightful and the story was very well written. I’d recommend this to any horror fan or anyone trying to get into the horror genre!
October 28, 2025
Loved the premise of a person investigating a crime for a podcast. Very "Only Murders in the Building". It got really...peculiar at the end with all the body horror. The paranormal aspects felt a bit disjointed and convoluted at times. A decent read though.
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