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The Sound of Suffering: A Novel
Malcolm Turner has suffered from what he thought was tinnitus all his life. Of late, the episodes make him feel like his brain is bleeding, depriving him of sleep and working away at his already faltering marriage and stale career. Little hope remains.
Desperation leads him to a chat room and a group of similar folks who call themselves 'The Undertones.' After a series of shared experiences, the group contemplate that this bane of their lives may not be a curse but a gift—free-thinking radicals picking up on something other than the grind of the machine. As sinister events begin to unfold around the world, 'The Undertones' become convinced that this noise in their ears might hold the key to these horrors. Malcolm has already tasted grief, but the stakes are as high as they come this time. Will he get answers before his world comes tumbling down?
Desperation leads him to a chat room and a group of similar folks who call themselves 'The Undertones.' After a series of shared experiences, the group contemplate that this bane of their lives may not be a curse but a gift—free-thinking radicals picking up on something other than the grind of the machine. As sinister events begin to unfold around the world, 'The Undertones' become convinced that this noise in their ears might hold the key to these horrors. Malcolm has already tasted grief, but the stakes are as high as they come this time. Will he get answers before his world comes tumbling down?
238 pages, Paperback
Published February 3, 2025
129 people are currently reading
1398 people want to read
About the author
Mark Towse
95 books484 followersMark Towse is an English horror writer living in Australia. He would sell his soul to the devil or anyone buying if it meant he could write full-time. Alas, he left it very late to begin this journey, penning his first story since primary school at the ripe old age of forty-five. Since then, he's been published in over two hundred journals and anthologies, had his work made into full theatrical productions for shows such as The No Sleep Podcast and Tales to Terrify, and has penned fourteen novellas, including Nana, Gone to the Dogs, 3:33, and Crows. He also has two very well-received story collections, 'There's Something Wrong with Aunty Beth,' and 'You Only Live Once.' Chasing The Dragon is his debut novel.
'Mark Towse is an exciting new discovery. His stories are hidden gems that glint in the darkness. His characters draw you into their worlds, making you care, then plunge you into the abyss, leaving only a memory of warmth. These tales will linger in your mind long after the telling. His are heart-felt stories with an icy edge. Highly recommended.'
Trevor Denyer – Editor and Publisher – Midnight Street Press
https://twitter.com/MarkTowsey12
https://www.facebook.com/mark.towse.75
https://marktowsedarkfiction.wordpres...
'Mark Towse is an exciting new discovery. His stories are hidden gems that glint in the darkness. His characters draw you into their worlds, making you care, then plunge you into the abyss, leaving only a memory of warmth. These tales will linger in your mind long after the telling. His are heart-felt stories with an icy edge. Highly recommended.'
Trevor Denyer – Editor and Publisher – Midnight Street Press
https://twitter.com/MarkTowsey12
https://www.facebook.com/mark.towse.75
https://marktowsedarkfiction.wordpres...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
April 12, 2025
They're controlling people. Messing with their brainwaves.
The Sound of Suffering is an amazing, yet noticeably darker, tale from Mark Towse about grief, desperation, and catastrophe.
Malcolm Turner's life is on the brink of destruction. The chronic hum in his ears has been dismissed as nothing more than tinnitus—but it's destroying his life. He's on a downward plight of what seems to be desperation, utter exhaustion, and at times— insanity. Not only does he deal with the constant and debilitating hum, but he's on the rocks with his job, his marriage is falling apart, and he's still mourning the loss of his young daughter, Lily. Nothing seems to be looking up for Malcolm. His suffering bleeds through the pages as he navigates how to dig himself out of the hole.
But he can’t.
The humming gets louder, turning into shrill ringing and drilling, until it completely takes over Malcolm's entire being.
And in a fit of desperation, Malcolm takes to the internet. He stumbles across a group named the 'Undertones'— individuals from all over the area that also succumb to the same crippling sound.
There's a reason for the noise. The 'Undertones' are a part of something much bigger.
I really enjoyed The Sound of Suffering. From its multiple points of view, to its heartbreaking take on grief horror, and its intertwined story of governmental conspiracy, I was consistently kept on my toes. Just like Malcolm, I had no idea where the story was headed, where anyone would end up, nor did I expect such an odd yet satisfying resolution. Towse has built a narrative that walks the line of eerie, shattering, and political— blending them seamlessly. This novel deserves ★★★★★ stars for its ability to keep you guessing and for its powerful representation of heartache and grief.
The Sound of Suffering is an amazing, yet noticeably darker, tale from Mark Towse about grief, desperation, and catastrophe.
Malcolm Turner's life is on the brink of destruction. The chronic hum in his ears has been dismissed as nothing more than tinnitus—but it's destroying his life. He's on a downward plight of what seems to be desperation, utter exhaustion, and at times— insanity. Not only does he deal with the constant and debilitating hum, but he's on the rocks with his job, his marriage is falling apart, and he's still mourning the loss of his young daughter, Lily. Nothing seems to be looking up for Malcolm. His suffering bleeds through the pages as he navigates how to dig himself out of the hole.
But he can’t.
The humming gets louder, turning into shrill ringing and drilling, until it completely takes over Malcolm's entire being.
And in a fit of desperation, Malcolm takes to the internet. He stumbles across a group named the 'Undertones'— individuals from all over the area that also succumb to the same crippling sound.
There's a reason for the noise. The 'Undertones' are a part of something much bigger.
I really enjoyed The Sound of Suffering. From its multiple points of view, to its heartbreaking take on grief horror, and its intertwined story of governmental conspiracy, I was consistently kept on my toes. Just like Malcolm, I had no idea where the story was headed, where anyone would end up, nor did I expect such an odd yet satisfying resolution. Towse has built a narrative that walks the line of eerie, shattering, and political— blending them seamlessly. This novel deserves ★★★★★ stars for its ability to keep you guessing and for its powerful representation of heartache and grief.
January 16, 2025
This story is much darker than Mark’s other works. Scattered here and there are twinkles of his signature humour (I’ll say it again- his descriptions/encounters with the elderly crack me up), but this is very different than what I’ve come to expect in his stories.
I really enjoyed the plot, characters, prose- I think it’s fantastic to see authors take on different styles and challenges; break out from their norm.
We follow a man adrift on a sea of despair. Malcolm has always heard a “hum” but lately it’s become unbearable. Affecting his marriage, work, and every aspect of his life. There’s also been an increase in terror attacked- is there a correlation? A mysterious figure Mal meets believes there is.
“His jaw cracked. His teeth grinded. The drilling sound was new, resembling the high-pitched squeal of a dentist’s implement. Beyond the bay window, trees hardly gave, but inside his head was the storm of the fucking century, a tsunami of pain on the way.”
This was a wild story- I felt such sympathy for the main character as he’s had so much misery in his life the last few years. Mark’s descriptions of the different catastrophes going on in the world are also very scary and horrific. You can’t help but imagine what you’d do in the same situation, and it’s terrifying to think about.
I was a bit puzzled/lost at the end, but loved the rest of the story so it’s ok. It might just be a “me” thing anyways. This is definitely one you’ll want to add to your shelves!
I really enjoyed the plot, characters, prose- I think it’s fantastic to see authors take on different styles and challenges; break out from their norm.
We follow a man adrift on a sea of despair. Malcolm has always heard a “hum” but lately it’s become unbearable. Affecting his marriage, work, and every aspect of his life. There’s also been an increase in terror attacked- is there a correlation? A mysterious figure Mal meets believes there is.
“His jaw cracked. His teeth grinded. The drilling sound was new, resembling the high-pitched squeal of a dentist’s implement. Beyond the bay window, trees hardly gave, but inside his head was the storm of the fucking century, a tsunami of pain on the way.”
This was a wild story- I felt such sympathy for the main character as he’s had so much misery in his life the last few years. Mark’s descriptions of the different catastrophes going on in the world are also very scary and horrific. You can’t help but imagine what you’d do in the same situation, and it’s terrifying to think about.
I was a bit puzzled/lost at the end, but loved the rest of the story so it’s ok. It might just be a “me” thing anyways. This is definitely one you’ll want to add to your shelves!
February 22, 2025
I found this book in a facebook group for psychological thrillers and was excited to give it a try. It started off promising with the alternating POVs and it was really well written but I soon found it became repetitive and felt more like a book about grief and a failing marriage. I really struggled to get through it by the 50% mark and started just skimming pages because so much felt the same. The ending felt really rushed and there were maybe 10 pages of explanation which left me more confused than anything lol. I feel horrible giving this 2 stars but it just didn’t make a lot of sense to me.
January 9, 2025
The Sound of Suffering by Mark Towse is a novel about paranoia, grief, and conspiracy. He adeptly wraps these themes together cohesively in a darkly caustic narrative. This has been touted as Towse's darkest work yet, and it shows. Brooding, cynical, and unsettlingly timely.
We are thrown into the life of Malcolm Turner, whose life is falling apart due to his overwhelming bouts of tinnitus. His marriage to his wife, Anne, is all but broken and his job is on the line. On top of this debilitating condition, Malcolm is still processing the grief of losing his daughter, Lily. All of this, on top of excessive drinking, pool together into a dangerous, time-sensitive cocktail of chaos and confusion. He soon becomes desperate enough to reach out to the Internet for help and is contacted by an anonymous user, being requested to meet in person. We meet "Jack," a mysterious individual who reveals that Malcolm is not alone in his feelings and his condition. In fact, there's a small online community that shares these elements of isolation and injury. It is further revealed that all the strings of catastrophic events and acts of terrorism/violence being committed around the world may be connected far more than the media is letting on. Is everything connected in a sinister way or is all of this just some conspiratorial bunk?
The audience is farmed every which way with the seeds of the main narrative being planted amongst crops of vignettes of catastrophe and terrorist attacks that show the real-time ramifications, putting a fresh perspective on the events at large. The ending, which comes out of left field, actually makes a fair amount of sense when placed alongside the narrative as a whole. This was a solid, heavy effort that pays off nicely.
I'm giving this novel a well-deserved 👂x5 (five ears).
We are thrown into the life of Malcolm Turner, whose life is falling apart due to his overwhelming bouts of tinnitus. His marriage to his wife, Anne, is all but broken and his job is on the line. On top of this debilitating condition, Malcolm is still processing the grief of losing his daughter, Lily. All of this, on top of excessive drinking, pool together into a dangerous, time-sensitive cocktail of chaos and confusion. He soon becomes desperate enough to reach out to the Internet for help and is contacted by an anonymous user, being requested to meet in person. We meet "Jack," a mysterious individual who reveals that Malcolm is not alone in his feelings and his condition. In fact, there's a small online community that shares these elements of isolation and injury. It is further revealed that all the strings of catastrophic events and acts of terrorism/violence being committed around the world may be connected far more than the media is letting on. Is everything connected in a sinister way or is all of this just some conspiratorial bunk?
The audience is farmed every which way with the seeds of the main narrative being planted amongst crops of vignettes of catastrophe and terrorist attacks that show the real-time ramifications, putting a fresh perspective on the events at large. The ending, which comes out of left field, actually makes a fair amount of sense when placed alongside the narrative as a whole. This was a solid, heavy effort that pays off nicely.
I'm giving this novel a well-deserved 👂x5 (five ears).
March 10, 2025
This book was—repetitive, redundant, and lacking any real payoff. The premise had potential: Malcolm Turner, suffering from what he believed was tinnitus, discovers a group of people who share his experience, leading them to question whether their affliction is actually a gift. Unfortunately, the execution completely fell apart.
The biggest issue? Redundancy. It felt like the first three chapters were copied and pasted repeatedly with slight variations in characters and settings. The plot dragged with no real movement until the last 18%, and even then, the ending fell flat. I kept reading, hoping for a twist or revelation that would make it worthwhile, but it never came.
Emotionally, I felt nothing but frustration—mostly at myself for not DNF’ing this book. And I still can’t understand why it’s so hyped in psychological thriller groups.
Would I recommend it? Not to anyone. If you’re looking for a gripping psychological thriller, this isn’t it.
Final Verdict: An underwhelming, repetitive read that I wouldn’t suggest wasting time on.
The biggest issue? Redundancy. It felt like the first three chapters were copied and pasted repeatedly with slight variations in characters and settings. The plot dragged with no real movement until the last 18%, and even then, the ending fell flat. I kept reading, hoping for a twist or revelation that would make it worthwhile, but it never came.
Emotionally, I felt nothing but frustration—mostly at myself for not DNF’ing this book. And I still can’t understand why it’s so hyped in psychological thriller groups.
Would I recommend it? Not to anyone. If you’re looking for a gripping psychological thriller, this isn’t it.
Final Verdict: An underwhelming, repetitive read that I wouldn’t suggest wasting time on.
March 29, 2025
The Sound of Suffering by Mark Towse
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was a tougher book for me to get through, because of some of the dramatic & traumatic events. There’s a lot of grief horror in this story and somehow it was able to dig its way into my heart! ❤️🩹
Poor Malcolm has been dealing with a terrible ringing in his ears, which seems to keep getting worse.
Malcolm’s life also feels like it’s falling apart for him. He had a terrible traumatic event when his young daughter was killed and now his marriage is failing too.
Crazy and horribly tragic events have started to occur in the world and Malcolm is wondering if the ringing sound in his ears👂🏻 is somehow tied to these events?
The book is very well written and the author does amazing with the horrific imagery in the story!
Thank you to Mark Towse for a copy of this deep, dark and intense horror book!!
*It’s out now, so grab it and brace yourself!*
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was a tougher book for me to get through, because of some of the dramatic & traumatic events. There’s a lot of grief horror in this story and somehow it was able to dig its way into my heart! ❤️🩹
Poor Malcolm has been dealing with a terrible ringing in his ears, which seems to keep getting worse.
Malcolm’s life also feels like it’s falling apart for him. He had a terrible traumatic event when his young daughter was killed and now his marriage is failing too.
Crazy and horribly tragic events have started to occur in the world and Malcolm is wondering if the ringing sound in his ears👂🏻 is somehow tied to these events?
The book is very well written and the author does amazing with the horrific imagery in the story!
Thank you to Mark Towse for a copy of this deep, dark and intense horror book!!
*It’s out now, so grab it and brace yourself!*
March 29, 2025
As someone who deals with severe tinnitus on the daily, this one really resonated with me (pun intended). Malcolm Turner has lived with what he thought was tinnitus his whole life, but when the episodes get worse—draining his sleep, straining his marriage, and crushing his spirit—he turns to an online group called The Undertones for answers. What starts as a support group quickly turns into something much darker.
Towse masterfully blends psychological horror with conspiracy thriller elements, making you question everything right alongside Malcolm. The tension is relentless and the mystery gripping. I do have to admit though, the payoff at the end was a little predictable for me. But that doesn't mean it was any less satisfying.
All in all, a very enjoyable read.
Recommended. 4 ⭐
Towse masterfully blends psychological horror with conspiracy thriller elements, making you question everything right alongside Malcolm. The tension is relentless and the mystery gripping. I do have to admit though, the payoff at the end was a little predictable for me. But that doesn't mean it was any less satisfying.
All in all, a very enjoyable read.
Recommended. 4 ⭐
February 5, 2025
Another amazing book from Mark Towse! I was
February 1, 2025
When I want to read horror that sticks with me (ya know like a knife in the ribs), Mark Towse never lets me down. But ohhhh Mark…with The Sound of Suffering you kicked it up a notch (x10). 🤯
This one has gritty witty writing, reads like a thriller, AND scared the living daylights out of me. For real for real, we are talking nightmare material here and I read it over a 24 hour period with only one night in the mix.
🖤Were your ears ringing last night? If the answer is yes, be afraid, be very afraid. No spoilers but here are some book deets. For the full ride, you must read this novel/novella (but of course) and I highly recommend doing just that.
Malcom Turner is depressed and miserable. He lost his young daughter three years ago, his marriage is hanging my a thread, and he hasn’t had good sleep in years. He thinks he’s going crazy - and I thought so too. He’s tried everything. An online support group (they are all mad here too) and trying to drink himself into an oblivion only makes things worse…and weirder. It’s the ringing in his ears. It won’t stop. Omg the ringing.
Filled with POVs from around the UK, we are witnessing strange events also. Strange random horrible events, but are they random? This story is SO relevant now and that’s what makes it so scary. Such a multi layered storyline!
Think: Matrix + Don’t Worry Darling with a dash of 1984 mixed in with really fun relatable writing.
If horror and psychological mind games are your thing, read this soon (and all of this author’s work).
Thanks for my early copy Mark. This one truly made my ears bleed and my mind blow (pun intended so IYKYK). It’s lovely (and by lovely I mean horror in the best way).
Get this one on your radar it’s out in the wild this coming week. 🤯
This one has gritty witty writing, reads like a thriller, AND scared the living daylights out of me. For real for real, we are talking nightmare material here and I read it over a 24 hour period with only one night in the mix.
🖤Were your ears ringing last night? If the answer is yes, be afraid, be very afraid. No spoilers but here are some book deets. For the full ride, you must read this novel/novella (but of course) and I highly recommend doing just that.
Malcom Turner is depressed and miserable. He lost his young daughter three years ago, his marriage is hanging my a thread, and he hasn’t had good sleep in years. He thinks he’s going crazy - and I thought so too. He’s tried everything. An online support group (they are all mad here too) and trying to drink himself into an oblivion only makes things worse…and weirder. It’s the ringing in his ears. It won’t stop. Omg the ringing.
Filled with POVs from around the UK, we are witnessing strange events also. Strange random horrible events, but are they random? This story is SO relevant now and that’s what makes it so scary. Such a multi layered storyline!
Think: Matrix + Don’t Worry Darling with a dash of 1984 mixed in with really fun relatable writing.
If horror and psychological mind games are your thing, read this soon (and all of this author’s work).
Thanks for my early copy Mark. This one truly made my ears bleed and my mind blow (pun intended so IYKYK). It’s lovely (and by lovely I mean horror in the best way).
Get this one on your radar it’s out in the wild this coming week. 🤯
January 14, 2025
Mark Towse's second novel, "The Sound of Suffering", is a triumph of dialogue and characterization, going deeply into trauma, grief, marital issues, and, to put it mildly, the end of the world. The book expands on the author's short story, "The Undertones," from his collection "There's Something Wrong With Aunty Beth". The short was a hugely impressive tale about the sinister meaning of an apparent case of tinnitus. The novel breaks the story down into short chapters, and, building on the same premise, offers a compelling, detailed, and original read, of a man's spiral into despair due to his awful suffering by tinnitus: Malcolm Turner, having already lost his young daughter in an accident, finds himself tormented by loud ringing "noises" in his ears; but as his own plight affects every one of his relationships negatively (his marriage, his job, his friendships), the world itself seems to stand on the verge of collapse due to an ongoing series of "terrorist" attacks, massacres, natural disasters, and other atrocities. It's no wonder that Malcolm ends up connecting with an online chat group in the dark web, a group of other people who suffer similarly, and have their own explanations about what's happening. This occasion allows the author to offer a rare glimpse into the conspiracy mindset. The ending, however, is designed to take the reader by surprise, revealing that the "noises" serve an entirely different purpose from what's been hinted at in the book. This twist came right out of the blue, and shows that conspiracy theorists simply hadn't gone far enough!
The book has several unsettling moments, since Towse takes great care to portray the atrocities from a subjective point of view, and not merely report them as inexplicable acts of brutality. The story gets gory and bloody at times, and its lack of humor may be too heavy for some. But Towse's tender approach to his characters and the honest portrayal of their flaws, make the book a true page-turner, full of heart and unfeigned attentiveness to a world on the brink, where answers do not come easy - if they come at all. Highly recommended!
The book has several unsettling moments, since Towse takes great care to portray the atrocities from a subjective point of view, and not merely report them as inexplicable acts of brutality. The story gets gory and bloody at times, and its lack of humor may be too heavy for some. But Towse's tender approach to his characters and the honest portrayal of their flaws, make the book a true page-turner, full of heart and unfeigned attentiveness to a world on the brink, where answers do not come easy - if they come at all. Highly recommended!
January 11, 2025
I was lucky enough to come across the authors post in one of my Facebook groups looking for some “early readers/reviewers”. I read the synopsis and thought it sounded intriguing.
The main character, Malcolm, was very relatable. Going through a really rough point in his life and trying to deal with a lifelong “noise” in his head. I mean, even I’ve dealt with tinnitus before!
Unfortunately for me, this book was a little too all over the place. I was usually more confused than anything, and honestly wanted to DNF this book after only 30%. I stuck it out though in hopes to get some answers and find out what was going on. Sadly, I never got the answers I was looking for; and by the end I actually had more questions than answers I was originally looking for.
The main character, Malcolm, was very relatable. Going through a really rough point in his life and trying to deal with a lifelong “noise” in his head. I mean, even I’ve dealt with tinnitus before!
Unfortunately for me, this book was a little too all over the place. I was usually more confused than anything, and honestly wanted to DNF this book after only 30%. I stuck it out though in hopes to get some answers and find out what was going on. Sadly, I never got the answers I was looking for; and by the end I actually had more questions than answers I was originally looking for.
January 12, 2025
It's all in your head. Or is it? What if the incessant ringing from your "tinnitus" was more than what anyone could fathom?
This book had me confused like 99% of the time, but in a good way. I had no clue who or what was causing all of the havoc and what on earth was happening to Malcolm and the other Undertones.
The book had gore, but was also well written to allow for a good story line. I also appreciate the ending because it could lead into a second book or left as is.
This is my second book by Mark Towse and I do believe it won't be my last.
Thank you Mr. Towse and Wicked House Publishing for a chance to read this ARC.
This book had me confused like 99% of the time, but in a good way. I had no clue who or what was causing all of the havoc and what on earth was happening to Malcolm and the other Undertones.
The book had gore, but was also well written to allow for a good story line. I also appreciate the ending because it could lead into a second book or left as is.
This is my second book by Mark Towse and I do believe it won't be my last.
Thank you Mr. Towse and Wicked House Publishing for a chance to read this ARC.
January 13, 2025
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book, and although I might be a bit biased as there a few personal parallels with my own life, it is beautifully written and struck a chord with me.
Mark Towse masterfully captures the grief of losing a child and the subsequent struggles of living with a long-term debilitating condition. And that’s just the backstory! The main narrative dives into themes of terrorism and government conspiracies, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns to keep you hooked. Without giving too much away, I can confidently rate this book a well-deserved 4.5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫.
Mark Towse masterfully captures the grief of losing a child and the subsequent struggles of living with a long-term debilitating condition. And that’s just the backstory! The main narrative dives into themes of terrorism and government conspiracies, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns to keep you hooked. Without giving too much away, I can confidently rate this book a well-deserved 4.5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫.
January 12, 2025
3.5
This one is for all of the conspiracy theorists out there.
In this book, we mostly follow Malcolm who is suffering from severe and worsening tinnitus. In an attempt to find answers, he comes across a chat room called ‘The Undertones’ - folks who are suffering from the same malady and who believe there is more to the ringing in their ears.
Towse had me grieving and suffering right alongside Malcolm. The twist wasn’t totally my jam, and for that reason, I did enjoy this one more as a short story- ‘The Undertones’ which can be found in Towse’s collection ‘There’s Something Wrong With Aunty Beth’ (which is marvelous, by the way. Check it out)
This one is for all of the conspiracy theorists out there.
In this book, we mostly follow Malcolm who is suffering from severe and worsening tinnitus. In an attempt to find answers, he comes across a chat room called ‘The Undertones’ - folks who are suffering from the same malady and who believe there is more to the ringing in their ears.
Towse had me grieving and suffering right alongside Malcolm. The twist wasn’t totally my jam, and for that reason, I did enjoy this one more as a short story- ‘The Undertones’ which can be found in Towse’s collection ‘There’s Something Wrong With Aunty Beth’ (which is marvelous, by the way. Check it out)
March 27, 2025
It was a good, fast-paced read. My favorite line would be, "I can’t help but blame you for what happened".
It somehow reminded me of that one SciFi Thriller movie and I think it would make sense it if was the continuation of that movie (won't say as it might be a spoiler to those who know of it, and I think you'll know what I'm referring to after you read it 😁).
It was open ended and would want a continuation too 👌
It somehow reminded me of that one SciFi Thriller movie and I think it would make sense it if was the continuation of that movie (won't say as it might be a spoiler to those who know of it, and I think you'll know what I'm referring to after you read it 😁).
It was open ended and would want a continuation too 👌
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2025
Whoa! This book definitely raised my anxiety, but I still had to finish it! Who knew ringing of the ears could be so much more!
This was my first book by Mark Towse and it won’t be my last!
This was my first book by Mark Towse and it won’t be my last!
February 7, 2025
Malcolm hears a ringing sound all the time. It is affecting his life in multiple ways. How far will he go to get relief? What is the sound? Great characters. Pulls you in.
May 27, 2025
This was a really weird book. Not sure how to feel about it. I was kinda bored with it but then the last 30% got really interesting. Humans are just machines.
August 25, 2025
Book# 164 2025
"The Sound of Suffering" ~ Mark Towse
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"The Sound of Suffering" by Mark Towse is a dark, unsettling descent into psychological and supernatural horror. Towse has a gift for creating atmosphere; his writing is sharp, immersive, and dripping with dread, pulling you straight into the nightmare world he’s crafted.
The story balances raw human emotion with terrifying, otherworldly elements, and at its core, it’s about how people cope with pain, guilt, and trauma when forced to face the unexplainable. The characters are flawed yet compelling, making their suffering feel disturbingly real. Towse also doesn’t shy away from graphic, haunting imagery, which gives the book its visceral punch.
That said, a few parts feel slightly rushed. Some scenes could have used more breathing room to fully develop the tension before plunging into the horror. Still, the conclusion ties the experience together in a way that is both satisfying and chilling.
If you enjoy horror that digs into the human psyche while delivering unsettling supernatural thrills, The Sound of Suffering is absolutely worth picking up. It’s disturbing, original, and memorable, though maybe not for the faint of heart. #booktok #books #bookreview #horror #MarkTowse
"The Sound of Suffering" ~ Mark Towse
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"The Sound of Suffering" by Mark Towse is a dark, unsettling descent into psychological and supernatural horror. Towse has a gift for creating atmosphere; his writing is sharp, immersive, and dripping with dread, pulling you straight into the nightmare world he’s crafted.
The story balances raw human emotion with terrifying, otherworldly elements, and at its core, it’s about how people cope with pain, guilt, and trauma when forced to face the unexplainable. The characters are flawed yet compelling, making their suffering feel disturbingly real. Towse also doesn’t shy away from graphic, haunting imagery, which gives the book its visceral punch.
That said, a few parts feel slightly rushed. Some scenes could have used more breathing room to fully develop the tension before plunging into the horror. Still, the conclusion ties the experience together in a way that is both satisfying and chilling.
If you enjoy horror that digs into the human psyche while delivering unsettling supernatural thrills, The Sound of Suffering is absolutely worth picking up. It’s disturbing, original, and memorable, though maybe not for the faint of heart. #booktok #books #bookreview #horror #MarkTowse
January 25, 2025
“The desperate eat what is fed to them”
Wooooow this book was definitely not what I was expecting! Much darker and complex than what I usually expect from Mark Towse, but brilliant all the same. Although there is one trend I’ve noticed through all his works, a hilarious but unnerving description of the elderly (what the heck did an old lady do to traumatize you my friend?!)
I loved this novel, I was totally sucked into Malcom’s dark world of grief, exhaustion, failures and spark to keep his life from taking a dive. I thought that the smaller break up scenes of what was going on around the world to be interesting and exciting on their own as well, each a little mini story into many smaller characters in this world.
I truly appreciate Mark Towse for this ARC offer, I truly love everything he writes and this was no exception. If you haven’t yet read anything by him- you’re missing out!
Wooooow this book was definitely not what I was expecting! Much darker and complex than what I usually expect from Mark Towse, but brilliant all the same. Although there is one trend I’ve noticed through all his works, a hilarious but unnerving description of the elderly (what the heck did an old lady do to traumatize you my friend?!)
I loved this novel, I was totally sucked into Malcom’s dark world of grief, exhaustion, failures and spark to keep his life from taking a dive. I thought that the smaller break up scenes of what was going on around the world to be interesting and exciting on their own as well, each a little mini story into many smaller characters in this world.
I truly appreciate Mark Towse for this ARC offer, I truly love everything he writes and this was no exception. If you haven’t yet read anything by him- you’re missing out!
January 20, 2025
This isn’t my first ride headfirst into my deepest fears with Mark Towse, and it won’t be my last. This particular nightmare, a masterfully nasty one. Ever had that ringing sound in your ear holes? Something high pitched enough that a dog would hear, but accompanied with an itchy, icy feeling of pain and dread? Now imagine that noise worm so to speak, wasn’t just once, or occasionally even, but all the time. A noise that has become so prevalent that it supersedes everything else in your life. What would you do? Our protagonist, Malcolm is a man whose life has been hit with tragedy and, he finds that the answers to his ear worm are as outrageous as they are terrifying. I read this book quickly at first, but slowed my pace to make it last. I hope to see more about The Undertones, in their new element…hint hint, Mark??
May 30, 2025
Although I own more by the author than I’ve read (can anyone really keep up with him) I naturally had to buy his latest as well.
So this book deals with ringing ears and not much to explain them. Honestly it gave me a lot of anxiety at the start (and I didn’t feel any safer after finishing) as I too have a ringing ear that I went through a bunch of testing for as a teen. Doctors said hearing loss or tinnitus but nothing ever stuck. So, I was the perfect candidate for this to be super eerie.
The beginning of this novel shows multiple peoples perspectives as they all succumb to some kind of natural, or unnatural event. These events continue throughout, and honestly they were pretty rough to get through. Firsthand accounts of terrorist attacks and losing loved ones was not what I expected. But I feel it is a testament to Towse’s writing that as a reader I almost felt like I was there, suffering.
Then there’s Malcolm Turner, a bereaved parent and my ear ringing counterpart, that features as the main character. He’s always felt the ringing, more than just hearing it, almost like it’s alive, but lately it’s gotten worse. These episodes are keeping him from sleep, forcing him further away from coping with the loss and causing his performance at work and as a husband to suffer. If only he could get some rest he’d be better, but the ringing has other plans for him. Now, at the risk of losing both his wife and job, he’s forced to seek help from elsewhere, desperate for someone to understand. A little internet search finds an entire group of people suffering from the same condition, and more, they even claim it’s getting worse for them too.
What follows is perhaps some of Towse’s best yet. A meditation on grief, human nature, and the impact of lack of sleep on the human brain. I especially appreciated how the husband and wife were such polar opposites on grieving. Malcom needs to talk about their daughter, to feel her still there, and his wife can’t handle it, can’t treat it as real. It really goes to show how much of a journey it is and how it takes a lot of forgiveness. I can only imagine the depths the author went to to give us such a visceral and real examination. And such real dialogue during their arguments…
The ending left a lot to the imagination. Not it a bad way, but I did find myself wishing for more. Whether that be more writing or more explanation, I’m not sure. But as it stands this was a very well paced and well developed novel!
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-so...
So this book deals with ringing ears and not much to explain them. Honestly it gave me a lot of anxiety at the start (and I didn’t feel any safer after finishing) as I too have a ringing ear that I went through a bunch of testing for as a teen. Doctors said hearing loss or tinnitus but nothing ever stuck. So, I was the perfect candidate for this to be super eerie.
The beginning of this novel shows multiple peoples perspectives as they all succumb to some kind of natural, or unnatural event. These events continue throughout, and honestly they were pretty rough to get through. Firsthand accounts of terrorist attacks and losing loved ones was not what I expected. But I feel it is a testament to Towse’s writing that as a reader I almost felt like I was there, suffering.
Then there’s Malcolm Turner, a bereaved parent and my ear ringing counterpart, that features as the main character. He’s always felt the ringing, more than just hearing it, almost like it’s alive, but lately it’s gotten worse. These episodes are keeping him from sleep, forcing him further away from coping with the loss and causing his performance at work and as a husband to suffer. If only he could get some rest he’d be better, but the ringing has other plans for him. Now, at the risk of losing both his wife and job, he’s forced to seek help from elsewhere, desperate for someone to understand. A little internet search finds an entire group of people suffering from the same condition, and more, they even claim it’s getting worse for them too.
What follows is perhaps some of Towse’s best yet. A meditation on grief, human nature, and the impact of lack of sleep on the human brain. I especially appreciated how the husband and wife were such polar opposites on grieving. Malcom needs to talk about their daughter, to feel her still there, and his wife can’t handle it, can’t treat it as real. It really goes to show how much of a journey it is and how it takes a lot of forgiveness. I can only imagine the depths the author went to to give us such a visceral and real examination. And such real dialogue during their arguments…
The ending left a lot to the imagination. Not it a bad way, but I did find myself wishing for more. Whether that be more writing or more explanation, I’m not sure. But as it stands this was a very well paced and well developed novel!
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-so...
January 8, 2025
The Sound of Suffering: Mark Towse
After volunteering to read and review an advance copy, I finished this book in a couple of hours. I just couldn’t put it down!! I love books that keep me engaged and pushing to find out what happens next and this one certainly did that! It was a fast paced read that kept me guessing until the very end.
The main character, Malcolm Turner is sympathetically written and I feel his frustration and pain over his supposed tinnitus. He’s about to lose everything in life that has meaning until he is led to The Undertones online chat room.
Do the noises in their heads have meaning? Is it a gift? Is it a curse?
Seriously, this book was fantastic!! It will be available on Amazon from 7 Feb.
After volunteering to read and review an advance copy, I finished this book in a couple of hours. I just couldn’t put it down!! I love books that keep me engaged and pushing to find out what happens next and this one certainly did that! It was a fast paced read that kept me guessing until the very end.
The main character, Malcolm Turner is sympathetically written and I feel his frustration and pain over his supposed tinnitus. He’s about to lose everything in life that has meaning until he is led to The Undertones online chat room.
Do the noises in their heads have meaning? Is it a gift? Is it a curse?
Seriously, this book was fantastic!! It will be available on Amazon from 7 Feb.
May 20, 2025
“The Sound of Suffering” is a brilliantly written thriller about tinnitus- an ailment that some people describe as an intense ringing in the ears. What causes it? This book dives into finding the answer. If you dare to opens its pages, you can try to solve the mystery for yourself! The ending was not what I expected but I thought it fitting considering all the horrifying events that lead up to it. I thought all the characters were well constructed, I got especially attached to Malcolm. You can’t help but feel for the poor guy as his episodes of tinnitus get drastically worse. This book had me on the edge of my seat, the intense scenes were so well described that I felt like it was real. It’s a book that will stick with you, that’s for sure. Highly recommended!
August 11, 2025
This was one hell of a crazy story, in a good way, though. It all starts with a man named Malcolm, who can't stop hearing ringing in his ear. It's causing him to not be able to live a normal life. While this is more of a thriller, there are elements of grief horror as Malcolm is reminded of his daughter, who passed away (Small Spoiler).
The ringing in his ear turns out to be more than just him losing his mind. As the title suggests, the ringing in his ear is actually an indication of something far greater. This is one of the darkest books I've read. I actually found myself feeling bad for poor Malcolm and some of the other victims. It's a book that will make you question how our brains operate and how easy it is to fall for propaganda.
I really enjoyed this one!
The ringing in his ear turns out to be more than just him losing his mind. As the title suggests, the ringing in his ear is actually an indication of something far greater. This is one of the darkest books I've read. I actually found myself feeling bad for poor Malcolm and some of the other victims. It's a book that will make you question how our brains operate and how easy it is to fall for propaganda.
I really enjoyed this one!
January 14, 2025
I recieved this as an ARC and am so glad I was picked!
I started this book and could not put it down until the last page was done.
Are the noises in your ears really tinnitus or is it something more sinister? After finding an online group with others who suffer just like you it is a question Malcolm Turner is asking.
This book is a fast pace, edge of your seat, can’t put it down, abandon all responsibilities kind of book. It had me guessing the entire time what was going on and who was doing what. I really enjoyed the story line and am hopefully that there will be a second book but the ending has that it could go either way - another book or not.
Thank you so much for this chance to read the book before publication.
I started this book and could not put it down until the last page was done.
Are the noises in your ears really tinnitus or is it something more sinister? After finding an online group with others who suffer just like you it is a question Malcolm Turner is asking.
This book is a fast pace, edge of your seat, can’t put it down, abandon all responsibilities kind of book. It had me guessing the entire time what was going on and who was doing what. I really enjoyed the story line and am hopefully that there will be a second book but the ending has that it could go either way - another book or not.
Thank you so much for this chance to read the book before publication.
February 14, 2025
I started this book and could not put it down until the last page was done.
Are the noises in your ears really tinnitus or is it something more sinister is the question that Malcom Turner is asking . After finding an online group with others who suffer just like you do and hoping you will get answers.
This book is a fast pace, edge of your seat, can't put it down, abandon all responsibilities kind of book.
It had me guessing the entire time what was going on and who was doing what. I really enjoyed the story line and am hopefully that there will be a second book but the ending has that it could go either way - another book or not.
January 16, 2025
This book made me question everything, from the government to my own sanity. I felt like I couldn’t read it fast enough. I had several ideas for endings but I was wrong. Novels that have you in an existential crisis are few and far between, but that’s what I found here. I will definitely be purchasing for a few of my friends to read so that I can finally converse with someone about this. Gripping story to the end! Well done, Mark Towse! Can’t wait to read your other books.
February 1, 2025
Received this as an ARC for review. I give it 4 1/4 stars. It's a solid read that was tense, emotional, and chalk full of holy crap!!! I didnt see that end coming and it was a cool twist. Mark really has his finger on the pulse of the current climate in a way that was unique.
Small trigger warning the book touches on suicide, mental issues and the loss of a child. But not in a disrespectful way...
A great read seriously dark.
Small trigger warning the book touches on suicide, mental issues and the loss of a child. But not in a disrespectful way...
A great read seriously dark.
February 9, 2025
I came across this author on TikTok and was incredibly excited to receive an ARC (my first one!) of this book.
Thriller is my top genre of choice, and this did not disappoint. I read this in one sitting because I could not tear myself away. Mark Towse hooks you right from the start and keeps you a wild ride right until the end.
I can't wait to read more from this author. Highly recommend!
I think its's important to note that I reserve 5 stars for the life-altering books (The Giver, Parable of the Sower, etc.) This would otherwise easily get a full 5 from me.
Thriller is my top genre of choice, and this did not disappoint. I read this in one sitting because I could not tear myself away. Mark Towse hooks you right from the start and keeps you a wild ride right until the end.
I can't wait to read more from this author. Highly recommend!
I think its's important to note that I reserve 5 stars for the life-altering books (The Giver, Parable of the Sower, etc.) This would otherwise easily get a full 5 from me.
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