The Place Beneath the Dirt

by Robert King II

Veteran homicide detective Sam Harris thought he had seen everything--until a brutal massacre at a gas station shakes him to his core.

Following the murder suspect's inexplicable death, his vengeful spirit haunts Sam as he delves deeper into the case, unraveling his grip on reality.

Soon, Sam uncovers a dark conspiracy tied to the murders, aimed at unleashing an ancient evil. As corruption spreads not only in his own police department, but also into his personal life, Sam begins to truly realize the horrors he faces.

When he discovers that his own daughter is the ultimate piece of a horrifying ritual, the stakes grow higher as Sam to save her--and the world--he must race against time to uncover the sinister truth buried beneath the dirt before it's too late.

“Equal parts detective thriller and otherworldly insanity…fast paced with things getting kicked into motion right from the first page…” -AD Jones author of “Little Horn” and “Born of Bloodshed”

“A fantastic debut! Robert has written a fun, fast-paced, noir-ish horror story…” -Shawn Brooks author of the “Black Sun” series

“It’s got a solid and creepy vibe that reminded me of films like ‘SEVEN’ and ‘Kalifornia’…” -Wil Forbis author of “The Mirror Man” and “What Waits In The Shadows”

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2025

Reviews

[Carl Bluesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was grate mix between a dead to the story and a horror story. Detective Harris was a grate and well balanced character to fallow. You spend a lot of time with both is professional and family side. And the there were plenty of dark and gritty scenes with lots of gore that really scratch that horror itch I always have.

This was a shorty read at 231pg making it a rather fast pace story in the best of ways. I will be re-reading this often as I love the detective in horror story theme, and if you like that as well this is a must read.

I will be waiting anxiously for Robert’s next story, and I am so happy that I will be able to say I have been a fan of his from the start, as this is his first in what I hope will been long career in telling great stories!

[Bryan Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell yeah! I love horror and I love detective thrillers so when an author puts them together, I'm already on their side before I even start reading. When an author does it as well as Rob King II does in The Place Beneath The Dirt...I'm in heaven...or more accurately given the themes in this book...hell! A cool AF cop protagonist, a bubbling cauldron of supporting characters, and a doom and damnation filled supernatural plot all come together to make this one hell of a read. I can't wait to see what this author does next.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

So different from what I usually read but I loved it

[xbabygirl_2223x · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Place Beneath the Dirt was such a different style of novel that I’ve read over the last few months. I am a big fan of horror, suspense, and believe me, this book brought all of it. It was like I was watching a movie in my head and I couldn’t stop reading.

The plot line wasn’t confusing and made sense throughout the book, you felt for the characters on a personal level, especially Sam and what he is going through at this time. I love the side characters, especially Mub and Adams. The twists and turns in this novel were unexpected and some parts, very intense.

This is definitely a book that I would reread again. And I can’t wait to read more from this author. Just make sure you check your trigger warnings and expect the unexpected.

[Bobby Buhay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! As a Debut novel from Rob, I am very impressed. It is an occult crime investigation horror novel that holds your attention throughout. It keeps you guessing and the last third of the book I couldn't put down.

I definitely recommend this read to anyone that is into horror. There are some very gory scenes!

I think I'm the first to leave a review on Goodreads!

[Tim Huitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homicide Detective Sam Harris has seen it all until a brutal murder at a local gas station leaves him shaken. After watching his murder suspect die from unknown causes, Sam dives deep into the case, loosing his grip on reality and uncovering an evil conspiracy that threatens everyone he cares about.
I love a good debut novel from new authors because they really know how to pack a punch. This is not a slow burn as you are thrown right into the first murder in chapter one. I love the descriptive scenes and the dark atmosphere that King paints in the novel. His writing style flowed well and was super easy to get through. For being a fast 280 page read, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Crime novels aren’t my all time favorite but you throw in the occult and the supernatural, I’m hooked. King made this crime story interesting, nail biting, and so addictive that I needed to finish to find out what the hell was going on! King threw in some nice little twists and turns that made me second guess who the main character should trust in the book and that’s what really kept me hooked.
This was a great debut novel that has really peaked my interest into possibly reading more crime/ thriller novels!

[Lou Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horror is not normally my thing, but I really enjoyed this. The writing was excellent and kept you guessing. I liked how crime was slotted in as well to the story.

The horror level for me was enough (I’m a wimp) however, I really enjoyed this book.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had fun reading this book and it definitely kept me engaged and entertained.
The author did a good job combining elements of mystery, suspense and horror with the supernatural in this crime/thriller suspense.
The story follows season detective Sam Harris who after investigating a barbarous/blood thirsty murder that took place at a gas station a sinister and evil spirit begins to hunt him. Soon he discovers that his daughter is the ultimate price as part of a ritualistic scheme to unleash devil on earth.

Definitely recommend reading this book!!!!

[Tony splatterpunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Sam Harris attends a brutal massacre at a gas station which sets off a chain of evil events that involves his work colleagues and family, who can he trust?
A great fast paced horror/thriller which was a fantastic read.

[Hooterbby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun for my minds eye! The details used to set the scenes were fantastically written. I was very invested in seeing if Sam was going to pull it off. It's the perfect read for anyone who enjoys horror sprinkled into a well written crime show. I enjoyed the characters a lot, I even have a favorite by the end. Amazing ending to finish it off.

Thank You to the author for allowing me to be an ARC reader.

[The ARC Bro · Rating 3 out of 5]

🔥 BRO vs. THE PLACE BENEATH THE DIRT 🔥

🥊 The Book: A brutal massacre leads detective Sam Harris down a rabbit hole of vengeful spirits, police corruption, and an ancient evil. As reality unravels around him, Sam must face supernatural horrors to keep his family safe.

💪 The Bro: A detective horror-thriller? I’m in. I love a good mix of hardboiled crime and the supernatural, but the key is keeping things fresh. This one definitely has some cool ideas, but does it bring enough surprises to go the distance?

🥊 ROUND 1: First Impressions
• Solid premise—mixing detective noir with supernatural horror always has potential.
• The lore behind the haunting and ancient evil is where the book shines most.
• The writing has passion behind it, even when the execution stumbles.

🥊 ROUND 2: Midway Feels
• The tropes are heavy—hardboiled detective, tragic backstory, heroic sacrifice, corrupt system. It’s all here, and it plays out exactly as expected.
• Characters fall into predictable roles: good guys are good, shady people are shady. No real surprises in how things unfold.
• The horror elements have moments, but they don’t always hit as hard as they could.

🥊 ROUND 3: Final Verdict
• While the story feels familiar, the passion in the writing is clear. It’s not lazy—it just leans too hard on well-worn genre beats.
• The world-building and lore show promise, even if the execution doesn’t fully land.
• King’s got potential—this one didn’t win me over, but I’d check out what he does next.

🔥 FINAL BELL: The ARC Bro Scorecard 🔥

🛎️ Went the Distance – The Place Beneath the Dirt doesn’t break new ground, and the reliance on tropes keeps it from being truly gripping. But there’s creativity here, especially in the lore, and that makes me think King’s got a great book in him.

I was provided this ARC for purposes of review. I was not paid for this, and did it as a volunteer.

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great debut novel.

The story follows Detective Sam, who finds himself tangled in a horrific case—one that slowly pulls him into something far stranger than your standard police procedural. As he digs deeper, he begins to experience visions and other unsettling events that start to blur the lines between reality and the supernatural. Eventually, we uncover what the place beneath the dirt actually is, how to get there, and why it exists.

It’s weird to say this was fun considering it involves sacrificial murders… but it really was.
What really stood out to me was how well the author blended the procedural elements with the supernatural ones without making it feel ridiculous or over-the-top. It didn’t feel like a genre mashup for the sake of it—it felt grounded, intentional, and well-paced.

The characters were solid, especially Mr. Mub—probably my favorite. There’s a strong current of family, love, and healing woven through the horror, and that gave the book even more emotional weight.

Also—and this might be a personal thing—but I really appreciated the length. It didn’t drag on for an extra hundred pages like some books do, but it also wasn’t too short. It hit that sweet spot where the story was fully told, nothing felt rushed, and I closed the book feeling satisfied.

[A.D. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a debut novel, this came out of the doors full pelt, screaming as it ran!

I don’t think I can realise summarise much of the plot for this one without giving away swathes of information that should be discovered at your own pace. It is equal parts detective thriller and otherworldly insanity though, and I love when genre worlds collide!

It was fast paced, with things getting kicked into motion right from the first page, and I think Robert did an excellent job of keeping things in motion for the entire novel, which jumps from a few different pov’s, which in itself can make keeping track of the time frames difficult. I never felt lost with what was going on, and different reveals happened at a very digestible pace.
The story itself was very interesting and it carried a very noir feel, while delving into things much beyond the genre. The characters were a pretty broad mix of personalities, though for me Mub was the MVP. The action gore was gory, and the action was actiony(shush!)

[Martti Orson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for the faint of heart. Place Beneath The Dirt is brutal, bloody, and relentless, but it’s also deeply human. Sam Harris is not your perfect, heroic detective. He’s flawed, haunted by guilt, and broken in ways that made me sympathize with him right away. The supernatural twist with the vengeful spirit had me questioning what was real and what wasn’t, which I think is exactly what King wanted. The conspiracy angle was handled brilliantly. I won’t spoil too much, but the way it weaves into the corruption in Sam’s department felt chillingly plausible. And then, when Sam’s daughter becomes the target, the horror becomes painfully personal. As a parent, those chapters hit me especially hard. This debut honestly feels like something seasoned horror writers would put out.

[Michelle Chatres · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Place Beneath the Dirt is one of those rare thrillers that completely pulls you into its world from the first chapter. Robert King masterfully blends crime fiction with supernatural horror in a way that feels both believable and chilling. Sam Harris is an incredibly well-developed protagonist—flawed, weary, deeply human. His unraveling mental state mirrors the escalating terror of the case, making every chapter feel urgent. The way King slowly reveals the conspiracy behind the murders is brilliant, and the twist involving Sam’s daughter gave me goosebumps. I genuinely couldn’t put the book down.
Highly recommended to anyone who loves psychological, dark detective fiction. Writers will appreciate the tight pacing and emotional depth as well.

[Anna Avery · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was recommended this by a friend after she’d heard about it on a podcast!

It didn’t work great for me. There are some good ideas here but the story felt a little familiar to me. I think Mub was the most fleshed out character, and the little girl was too cute, but the rest of the characters didn’t feel wuite as real.

The ending is okay, but it was a little predictable too. The author just built such an interesting place (“The place beneath the dirt”) and I felt like it didn’t take center stage as much as it should’ve.

[Shawn Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic debut! Robert has written a fun, fast-paced, noir-ish horror story. I was never bored reading it and was genuinely invested in where the story was going. The mythos leaves lots of rooms for expansion if that's what he has planned, but it is also satisfying by itself. Looking forward to more from this author!

[Wil Forbis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC version of this story. It's got a solid and creepy vibe that reminded me of films like "Seven" and "Kalifornia." The writing is strong and I liked the mix of different POV characters, though it's centered around Det. Sam Harris.

[Susan Butwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Place Beneath the Dirt surprised me in ways I didn’t expect. On the surface, it starts like a familiar detective thriller. Sam Harris, a seasoned homicide detective, arrives at the scene of a grisly massacre at a gas station. But very quickly, Robert King II veers into far darker, more unnerving territory, blending procedural grit with supernatural dread.

One of the things I appreciated most was how deeply the story pulls us into Sam’s unraveling psyche. The moment the murder suspect dies under bizarre circumstances, the entire book takes on a surreal, paranoid edge. Sam is haunted, not just figuratively by guilt or trauma, but literally by the suspect’s vengeful spirit. Those haunting scenes are some of the most effective in the book; King uses them to blur the line between delusion and reality, and I often found myself questioning what was actually happening versus what Sam believed was happening.

As the investigation expands, so does the story’s scope. The conspiracy Sam uncovers, which stretches from his police department to his own household, gives the book a slow-burn tension that never really lets up. The corruption subplot felt grounded enough to be believable, but the way it ties into the ancient evil at the center of the ritual adds a mythic horror layer that worked surprisingly well.

The emotional punch comes when Sam realizes his daughter is at the heart of the ritual. That revelation genuinely raises the stakes, not just “save the world” stakes, but the intimate, parental ones. From that point forward, the book becomes much more personal and desperate, and Sam's actions feel driven by real fear rather than just heroic obligation.

If I had to point out anything, it’s that some of the mythology behind the “ancient evil” could’ve used a bit more fleshing out, but honestly, the ambiguity also contributes to the eerie tone. The pacing ramps up hard in the final third, and by the time Sam confronts what’s “beneath the dirt,” I found myself reading far later into the night than I intended.

Overall, The Place Beneath the Dirt is a gripping blend of detective noir, supernatural horror, and psychological suspense. It’s gritty, unsettling, and unexpectedly emotional. If you like stories where haunted detectives face both internal and cosmic threats, this one’s absolutely worth the read.