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Darker Shadows Lie Below
Something ancient sleeps in the shadows of Umber Gardens. When Dr. Benjamin Kent is extended an invitation to work at a prestigious mental health facility, he thinks it’s too good to be true. Ben soon realizes something is wrong at the Home. The darkness has eyes, and it’s hungry. The line between reality and fantasy begins to blur, and soon Umber Gardens’ dark secrets force Ben to question his family’s safety–and his own sanity. Darker Shadows Lie Below is the debut novel of writer Al Barrera. Visit www.al-barrera.com to read his blog, keep up-to-date on his current projects, and find more information about him.
- GenresHorror
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2014
13 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Al Barrera
6 books23 followersAl Barrera was born in Detroit, Michigan to a police officer and a soldier. Following in the family footsteps, he joined the military. After serving overseas Al moved to Tennessee and took up work in the medical field. Following more time working overseas, Al chose to write novels full time.
"I've wanted to do it since I was a kid. It's been a passion of mine as long as I can remember, and honestly, I can't see myself doing anything else."
Visit www.al-barrera.com to keep up on his blog or to get in contact.
"I've wanted to do it since I was a kid. It's been a passion of mine as long as I can remember, and honestly, I can't see myself doing anything else."
Visit www.al-barrera.com to keep up on his blog or to get in contact.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 16, 2014
2.5 stars, rounded up.
DARKER SHADOWS LIE BELOW was more of what I would classify as a "physchological thriller" than outright horror. This book had some genuinely creepy moments, but unfortunately, there were quite a few lulls in the book where I lost interest completely. I never really felt "connected" to Dr. Kent.
There was also a lot of "unnecessary information" thrown into the novel, that I felt could have been done without, and may have helped move the novel along better.
As I stated above, there were some good, unsettling moments, just not enough to engage me throughout the duration of the novel.
*I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
DARKER SHADOWS LIE BELOW was more of what I would classify as a "physchological thriller" than outright horror. This book had some genuinely creepy moments, but unfortunately, there were quite a few lulls in the book where I lost interest completely. I never really felt "connected" to Dr. Kent.
There was also a lot of "unnecessary information" thrown into the novel, that I felt could have been done without, and may have helped move the novel along better.
As I stated above, there were some good, unsettling moments, just not enough to engage me throughout the duration of the novel.
*I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
November 9, 2014
This was awarded to me by NetGalley - Thank you, and thank you Al Barrera for writing a truly creepy ghost story!
I usually do not get scared, but this book had me moving things around the office (because I would see them out of the corner of my eye, and was not quite sure if they were there before).
A psychological thriller I would call this one.
I had a bit of trouble because the spacing was all off (spaces where they did not belong, and none where they are needed change words).
The story had me captured, wondering what will happen, what will be seen next? I was very happily surprised because I was hoping the ending would not be the "and they all escaped and lived happily ever after". It did not end that way.
For any of those readers who are sensitive to things that go bump in the night, this will get into your nightmares!
I usually do not get scared, but this book had me moving things around the office (because I would see them out of the corner of my eye, and was not quite sure if they were there before).
A psychological thriller I would call this one.
I had a bit of trouble because the spacing was all off (spaces where they did not belong, and none where they are needed change words).
The story had me captured, wondering what will happen, what will be seen next? I was very happily surprised because I was hoping the ending would not be the "and they all escaped and lived happily ever after". It did not end that way.
For any of those readers who are sensitive to things that go bump in the night, this will get into your nightmares!
December 7, 2014
*NetGalley book for review*
Oh boy!
I was expecting more.
Nothing really jumped out at me and made me get all creepy feeling.
This was a good story line that could have been so much more than it was.
A real bummer.
Oh boy!
I was expecting more.
Nothing really jumped out at me and made me get all creepy feeling.
This was a good story line that could have been so much more than it was.
A real bummer.
October 31, 2014
I was really keen to read this book when I first saw it, ready for some CREEP-TASTIC moments and thrilling scary bits. Hmmmm, did I get them? Kind of, maybe a teeny-weeny little bit but not enough to satisfy this reader.
Something ancient sleeps in the shadows of Umber Gardens. When Dr. Benjamin Kent is extended an invitation to work at a prestigious mental health facility, he thinks it’s too good to be true. Ben soon realizes something is wrong at the Home. The darkness has eyes, and it’s hungry. The line between reality and fantasy begins to blur, and soon Umber Gardens’ dark secrets force Ben to question his family’s safety–and his own sanity.
Right from his first day on the job in this exclusive mental hospital, Dr Benjamin Kent is on the back foot. Staff, including his boss are cold and weird towards him, like they know something that he doesn't. Patients that he is told are basically crazy and delusional make more sense to Dr Kent than some of the staff.
HE SHOULD OF RAN AT THIS POINT!
The book moves between scenes at home of Benjamin with his very pregnant wife, he starts having horrific nightmares that feel very real and before long is really starting to freak his wife out with things he is saying and how he is behaving. The other parts of the book are at his place of work - Umber Gardens. This place is not all it seems on the surface. The things at work start to filter into his home and Ben is struggling to hold it together.
Some strange happenings start occurring with Dr Kent, small things at first that soon become things he cannot deny, but he still questions over and over if it's all real, the noises, the smells, the cold spots in the hospital and what, what, what is that THING in the basement? He is walking a fine line between reality and fantasy and has no idea which side his mind is falling on, to be honest at times I was not so sure myself as a reader.
As things, dark things are revealed about the facility and it's secrets, this book just gets kind of really weird. The thing that got to me is that even in the most tense, creepy scenes I was totally unclear as to what was truly going on, we had the people present but I felt the author needed to give more explanation of what they were seeing and what was happening, I was just more baffled than scared.
The book is a slow burner but interesting at first, builds up with more crazy stuff, pace and tension as it goes along. The ending? I HATED IT, but not because it's a bad ending, just that it wasn't what I wanted nor expected, the author got me good and proper with surprising me about how it ends. Did not see that coming.
I don't know how I feel really about this book, I did feel it lacked description of events that would have made this book so much better, meh, don't know what more to say really, it was okay, it was readable but I have nearly forgotten it already. 3 stars for this one.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Something ancient sleeps in the shadows of Umber Gardens. When Dr. Benjamin Kent is extended an invitation to work at a prestigious mental health facility, he thinks it’s too good to be true. Ben soon realizes something is wrong at the Home. The darkness has eyes, and it’s hungry. The line between reality and fantasy begins to blur, and soon Umber Gardens’ dark secrets force Ben to question his family’s safety–and his own sanity.
Right from his first day on the job in this exclusive mental hospital, Dr Benjamin Kent is on the back foot. Staff, including his boss are cold and weird towards him, like they know something that he doesn't. Patients that he is told are basically crazy and delusional make more sense to Dr Kent than some of the staff.
HE SHOULD OF RAN AT THIS POINT!
The book moves between scenes at home of Benjamin with his very pregnant wife, he starts having horrific nightmares that feel very real and before long is really starting to freak his wife out with things he is saying and how he is behaving. The other parts of the book are at his place of work - Umber Gardens. This place is not all it seems on the surface. The things at work start to filter into his home and Ben is struggling to hold it together.
Some strange happenings start occurring with Dr Kent, small things at first that soon become things he cannot deny, but he still questions over and over if it's all real, the noises, the smells, the cold spots in the hospital and what, what, what is that THING in the basement? He is walking a fine line between reality and fantasy and has no idea which side his mind is falling on, to be honest at times I was not so sure myself as a reader.
As things, dark things are revealed about the facility and it's secrets, this book just gets kind of really weird. The thing that got to me is that even in the most tense, creepy scenes I was totally unclear as to what was truly going on, we had the people present but I felt the author needed to give more explanation of what they were seeing and what was happening, I was just more baffled than scared.
The book is a slow burner but interesting at first, builds up with more crazy stuff, pace and tension as it goes along. The ending? I HATED IT, but not because it's a bad ending, just that it wasn't what I wanted nor expected, the author got me good and proper with surprising me about how it ends. Did not see that coming.
I don't know how I feel really about this book, I did feel it lacked description of events that would have made this book so much better, meh, don't know what more to say really, it was okay, it was readable but I have nearly forgotten it already. 3 stars for this one.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2014
I received a copy of this book through Net Galley. Thank you, Al Barrera!
Picture this: I am reading this book while waiting for my pizza at a well-lit restaurant. Suddenly, a server comes by with my order and I was so engrossed and creeped out that I nearly yelled out loud. For a person who reads horror books and watches horror movies the same as other people watch chick-flicks, it says a lot about how scary and creepy this novel is, that it actually spooked me. I loved how it never tells you when it is set, yet you know it's in the 80's by the pop culture references and lack of cell phones. The Home, arguably the second most important character in the book, is well brought to life, and goes from a majestic mansion to a nightmarish hell. The secondary characters are not as well defined as Ben and the Home but, since we see everything through Ben's eyes, it makes sense that they are somewhat blurred by his obsession. This is the perfect read for Halloween.
Picture this: I am reading this book while waiting for my pizza at a well-lit restaurant. Suddenly, a server comes by with my order and I was so engrossed and creeped out that I nearly yelled out loud. For a person who reads horror books and watches horror movies the same as other people watch chick-flicks, it says a lot about how scary and creepy this novel is, that it actually spooked me. I loved how it never tells you when it is set, yet you know it's in the 80's by the pop culture references and lack of cell phones. The Home, arguably the second most important character in the book, is well brought to life, and goes from a majestic mansion to a nightmarish hell. The secondary characters are not as well defined as Ben and the Home but, since we see everything through Ben's eyes, it makes sense that they are somewhat blurred by his obsession. This is the perfect read for Halloween.
November 4, 2014
spoilers! spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler
This was an interesting read, one that's good but could be improved upon for me. It has moments that are definitely creepy, but more than anything it seems like a psychological thriller, not a horror novel.
Really, there's a lot of inane information in this novel that we really don't need. There's quite a bit of narration about how Julia fixed Ben lunch, or how they didn't have plates so they ordered lunch, or they went out to eat instead of cooking.... Things that really didn't matter, and had me skimming every once in a while.
The dreams got to be a bit too repetitive, and though they were creepy at first the creepiness factor dipped down when it kept happening over and over again with nothing changing. You'd think someone having that many nightmares would do something about it either way... or that the story would progress a little bit.
And the ending, while sneaky, doesn't really explain anything satisfactorily. I guess we're not really supposed to know if Ben is crazy or not, which is fine. But the thing is, I'm inclined to believe one aspect of it more than the other simply because the story wouldn't make any sense the other way.
Ben can't be crazy. Why? Because nothing else would make sense in the story if he was. Why did the hospital spend such an insane amount of money for him to work at an institute where he does absolutely nothing? Did he imagine, in his crazy state, that they were offering him an insane amount of money? Did the doctor weed through hundreds (if not thousands) of other doctors, only to alight on this one with no experience? It doesn't make sense, if you put it into the context that Ben is just crazy and he really did go on a shooting spree and kill random people because he believed there was a conspiracy.
Now that being said, the story was choppy enough in the end that I'm more inclined to believe it IS supposed to be that Ben is crazy, but the writing is too vague to get that across completely. Either way, I think it's safe to say that it IS his fault that his wife and child are dead, for leaving them with a crazy woman who already admitted she would do whatever she thought necessary to kill the darkness.
It's an okay story, with decent creepiness. The story just didn't do enough for me.
This was an interesting read, one that's good but could be improved upon for me. It has moments that are definitely creepy, but more than anything it seems like a psychological thriller, not a horror novel.
Really, there's a lot of inane information in this novel that we really don't need. There's quite a bit of narration about how Julia fixed Ben lunch, or how they didn't have plates so they ordered lunch, or they went out to eat instead of cooking.... Things that really didn't matter, and had me skimming every once in a while.
The dreams got to be a bit too repetitive, and though they were creepy at first the creepiness factor dipped down when it kept happening over and over again with nothing changing. You'd think someone having that many nightmares would do something about it either way... or that the story would progress a little bit.
And the ending, while sneaky, doesn't really explain anything satisfactorily. I guess we're not really supposed to know if Ben is crazy or not, which is fine. But the thing is, I'm inclined to believe one aspect of it more than the other simply because the story wouldn't make any sense the other way.
Ben can't be crazy. Why? Because nothing else would make sense in the story if he was. Why did the hospital spend such an insane amount of money for him to work at an institute where he does absolutely nothing? Did he imagine, in his crazy state, that they were offering him an insane amount of money? Did the doctor weed through hundreds (if not thousands) of other doctors, only to alight on this one with no experience? It doesn't make sense, if you put it into the context that Ben is just crazy and he really did go on a shooting spree and kill random people because he believed there was a conspiracy.
Now that being said, the story was choppy enough in the end that I'm more inclined to believe it IS supposed to be that Ben is crazy, but the writing is too vague to get that across completely. Either way, I think it's safe to say that it IS his fault that his wife and child are dead, for leaving them with a crazy woman who already admitted she would do whatever she thought necessary to kill the darkness.
It's an okay story, with decent creepiness. The story just didn't do enough for me.
October 28, 2014
I got this from Net Galley. I chose it because it seemed spooky (which is always fun to read this time of year) and the author is from Tennessee, as I. I'm actually not too far from this fictional town.
Anywho, I really enjoyed this book! I thought I had it figured out a couple times and was delighted when it twisted in another direction.
if you like a good spooky story that will keep you guessing, pick this up!
Anywho, I really enjoyed this book! I thought I had it figured out a couple times and was delighted when it twisted in another direction.
if you like a good spooky story that will keep you guessing, pick this up!
April 17, 2015
“Hesse’s Journey to the East (1951) in the fifties anticipated the occult revival of the late sixties. But who will interpret for us the amazing success of Rosemary’s Baby and 2001? I am merely asking the question.” ― Mircea Eliade, Occultism, Witchcraft, and Cultural Fashions: Essays in Comparative Religion
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown” ― H.P. Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature
What happened here? I occasionally like a good horror book, and this one sounded right. A doctor takes a new job at Umber Gardens, an extremely prestigious mental hospital which can make his career. Moving from the big city to a small southern town is hard, but soon Ben begins to realize that the possibilities of his new position are becoming a nightmare of monstrous proportions – in more way than one.
I had hopes, but I they just never really focused for me. It isn’t a ‘bad’ book per se. I just had a feeling of “been there, done that, didn’t enjoy it all that much the first time.” For those readers who haven’t read any of the older horror stories, such as Rosemary’s Baby (1968) or Don’t Look In The Basement (1973), you should find this more enjoyable than I did. The bones are there – the body just needed more fleshing out.
I will leave it to your discretion to decide if you like the book or not. For me, three stars for a book that was readable, but took me longer to read than most as it didn’t keep my attention long enough not to be easily distracted.
I received this book from the publisher in return for a realistic review. All thoughts are my own.
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown” ― H.P. Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature
What happened here? I occasionally like a good horror book, and this one sounded right. A doctor takes a new job at Umber Gardens, an extremely prestigious mental hospital which can make his career. Moving from the big city to a small southern town is hard, but soon Ben begins to realize that the possibilities of his new position are becoming a nightmare of monstrous proportions – in more way than one.
I had hopes, but I they just never really focused for me. It isn’t a ‘bad’ book per se. I just had a feeling of “been there, done that, didn’t enjoy it all that much the first time.” For those readers who haven’t read any of the older horror stories, such as Rosemary’s Baby (1968) or Don’t Look In The Basement (1973), you should find this more enjoyable than I did. The bones are there – the body just needed more fleshing out.
I will leave it to your discretion to decide if you like the book or not. For me, three stars for a book that was readable, but took me longer to read than most as it didn’t keep my attention long enough not to be easily distracted.
I received this book from the publisher in return for a realistic review. All thoughts are my own.
January 28, 2015
The idea of the book was intriguing and promising but did not deliver for me. I liked the idea of a new doctor starting his career at a forbidding and eerie former mansion turned mental hospital but I had trouble relating to the main characters and feeling sympathy for their plight. I like to be more involved with the characters in a book at to where they came from and why they are the way they are. There was a bit of background but not enough to make me feel for the characters. That being said, I enjoyed the writing style but would have liked a bit more action than just going to and from the hospital. I was also reminded a bit of Rosemary's Baby so was able to guess where the story was going. I like to be more surprised. All in all, I found the novel ok and enjoyed the writing.
November 6, 2014
I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. It is very Stephen King-esque, especially his early work. It's a good old fashioned horror romp and kept me wanting to read it all the way through.
You follow the journey of Dr Benjamin Kent as he embarks on a new career at the Home. You quickly become involved in his experience of the Home and I found it to be deliciously dark and creepy in places.
Darker Shadows reminded me a little of Rosemary's baby (as I believe has been mentioned in a previous review) and The Shining. I would definitely recommend this book.
You follow the journey of Dr Benjamin Kent as he embarks on a new career at the Home. You quickly become involved in his experience of the Home and I found it to be deliciously dark and creepy in places.
Darker Shadows reminded me a little of Rosemary's baby (as I believe has been mentioned in a previous review) and The Shining. I would definitely recommend this book.
October 29, 2014
I received a copy of Darker Shadows Lie Below for the purpose of reviewing. I was "into" the story immediately. Mr Barrera does an excellent job of making you feel like you're a fly on the wall actually observing and taking part in the action. It is a horror story that is somewhat predictable but the writing was so good it didn't matter to me. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
January 7, 2016
I received a copy of Darker Shadows Lie Below by Al Barrera published by Al Barrera from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I gave it five stars.
This is one of the most frightening horror stories I've read. It's a story of a young doctor moving to Tennessee to start a new job at Umber Gardens, a prestigious hospital for the mentally ill.
"The oldest & strongest emotion of mankind is fear, & the oldest & strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."-H.P. Lovecraft
Ben Kent, the doctor has trouble sleeping. "Anxiety wormed its way through his guts at the thought of putting his head on the pillow."
"Sleep avoidance behavior was the clinical term for it. The irrational fear of sleep. Usually a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder or similar forms of anxiety."
His fiance, Julia is nine months pregnant, due at any moment. The stress of being a pending father, the stress from the unusual circumstances & events at the new job are all taking a toll on his mental well being.
He called his lifelong friend, Eddy to confide in him & ask for information about the area where he lived & about the hospital where he was working. He mentioned some of his irrational fears & shared that he felt the need for prayer was a source of help. Eddy replied: "Prayer is the last bastion of the weak & the desperate." Ben felt desperate & hopelessly alone.
"Existence was one long attempt to hold onto things that always fell away, doomed to failure before it began."
I worked at a mental institution built in the early 1930's. There were times on the night shift when I could relate to some of the fears that Ben faced. There's something about being surrounded by the mentally ill in a creepy old building that can make you doubt your own sanity as it does with Ben.
For a book that will keep the pages turning into the wee hours & then keep you frighteningly awake for days after, this is the book for you. I recommend it for horror story fans.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Darker-Shadows-...
This is one of the most frightening horror stories I've read. It's a story of a young doctor moving to Tennessee to start a new job at Umber Gardens, a prestigious hospital for the mentally ill.
"The oldest & strongest emotion of mankind is fear, & the oldest & strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."-H.P. Lovecraft
Ben Kent, the doctor has trouble sleeping. "Anxiety wormed its way through his guts at the thought of putting his head on the pillow."
"Sleep avoidance behavior was the clinical term for it. The irrational fear of sleep. Usually a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder or similar forms of anxiety."
His fiance, Julia is nine months pregnant, due at any moment. The stress of being a pending father, the stress from the unusual circumstances & events at the new job are all taking a toll on his mental well being.
He called his lifelong friend, Eddy to confide in him & ask for information about the area where he lived & about the hospital where he was working. He mentioned some of his irrational fears & shared that he felt the need for prayer was a source of help. Eddy replied: "Prayer is the last bastion of the weak & the desperate." Ben felt desperate & hopelessly alone.
"Existence was one long attempt to hold onto things that always fell away, doomed to failure before it began."
I worked at a mental institution built in the early 1930's. There were times on the night shift when I could relate to some of the fears that Ben faced. There's something about being surrounded by the mentally ill in a creepy old building that can make you doubt your own sanity as it does with Ben.
For a book that will keep the pages turning into the wee hours & then keep you frighteningly awake for days after, this is the book for you. I recommend it for horror story fans.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Darker-Shadows-...
November 5, 2014
I never read horror or thriller books, so this was a completely new experience for me. Being an English major and a writer myself, as well as knowing the author forced me to have a more critical eye.
I enjoyed the book and didn't want to finish it at the same time. It gave me bad dreams and that says a lot. If a book can get inside your subconscious like that it means it was written in an extremely detailed way. I was enthralled to the point of staying up until the wee hours of the morning.
The book starts like a normal realistic fiction novel and slowly evolves (devolves?) into a gripping thriller.
[Spoilers] We watch the main character succumb to either the horrors of the Home or his failing sanity. We never really know weather he has gone crazy or if the monsters are real, and as thrillers go I'm sure that is the point.
[end Spoilers]
My favorite part about the way the story is written is how the author introduces us to the characters. He doesn't shove a background chapter in the readers face, instead he gives us a bit of information at a time in the thoughts of the characters, and that is talented writing.
I gave the story only 4 stars simply because I felt that it was a bit longer than it needed to be and there were a lot of typos. All of which I believe to be the fault of the editor not the author.
I would recommend this book to any horror/thriller lover.
I enjoyed the book and didn't want to finish it at the same time. It gave me bad dreams and that says a lot. If a book can get inside your subconscious like that it means it was written in an extremely detailed way. I was enthralled to the point of staying up until the wee hours of the morning.
The book starts like a normal realistic fiction novel and slowly evolves (devolves?) into a gripping thriller.
[Spoilers] We watch the main character succumb to either the horrors of the Home or his failing sanity. We never really know weather he has gone crazy or if the monsters are real, and as thrillers go I'm sure that is the point.
[end Spoilers]
My favorite part about the way the story is written is how the author introduces us to the characters. He doesn't shove a background chapter in the readers face, instead he gives us a bit of information at a time in the thoughts of the characters, and that is talented writing.
I gave the story only 4 stars simply because I felt that it was a bit longer than it needed to be and there were a lot of typos. All of which I believe to be the fault of the editor not the author.
I would recommend this book to any horror/thriller lover.
December 4, 2014
Darker Shadows Lie Below is a horror ride wherein even as you read, you'd be torn in judging whether the protagonist is just slowly losing his mind (like some psycho-horror films) or that ghosts are real. Creepy and indulging, it's a good horror company to read at night.
It reminds me of the film Susperia with the building of terror, suspicion that members of the establishment you've just gone to are members of a cult, that even in your first week there's this silent watches behind your back; of the film The Shining with the enveloping darkness, the struggle in distinguishing what's real and what's not; and of Rosemary's Baby .
It seems like the author is really involved in writing the story. There's a feel of authenticity in reading the book, as if Ben and Julie are real people. I like how the approach is realistic in a way that the characters are some people you'd know in real life, that this book is not written simply to spook or written with cheap jump scares. You'd get emotionally connected with the protagonist which what makes this book awesome.
Read more on Zirev
It reminds me of the film Susperia with the building of terror, suspicion that members of the establishment you've just gone to are members of a cult, that even in your first week there's this silent watches behind your back; of the film The Shining with the enveloping darkness, the struggle in distinguishing what's real and what's not; and of Rosemary's Baby .
It seems like the author is really involved in writing the story. There's a feel of authenticity in reading the book, as if Ben and Julie are real people. I like how the approach is realistic in a way that the characters are some people you'd know in real life, that this book is not written simply to spook or written with cheap jump scares. You'd get emotionally connected with the protagonist which what makes this book awesome.
Read more on Zirev
November 15, 2014
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for a fair review. So, here it is: I would have liked this much more as a short story than as a novel. There were several times during the first half of the book when I almost gave up because the plot was moving very slowly. I'm glad I stuck with it because the last half was quite good. The book begins with an H.P. Lovecraft quote which gives you a good idea what kind of story you're about to read. I think if this book were edited down to about half this length or less it could be a 4 or even 5 star book.
January 23, 2015
Received from Netgalley for honest review.
I really tried to enjoy this, but after quarter of the way through, I could not get any feeling for characters or storylines and had to just stop.
Not my thing
I really tried to enjoy this, but after quarter of the way through, I could not get any feeling for characters or storylines and had to just stop.
Not my thing
November 24, 2014
I don't know that I could say I enjoyed this book, too many unanswered questions but it certainly dragged me in. I couldn't wait to see what happened in the end but it was rather an anti climax, no resolution at all. A very dark book.
February 15, 2015
wicked, mean ,and evil...I LOVED IT
This book grabs you and refuses tho let go
I loved it. Well written, this author does with words
What a great artist does with his paints. Does not
Disappoint.
This book grabs you and refuses tho let go
I loved it. Well written, this author does with words
What a great artist does with his paints. Does not
Disappoint.
November 9, 2015
A very good very creepy story. I read it in a day. I wish there had been more about the history....the story behind the story. And maybe a lot less flash at the end. There was so much happening that it was hard to understand what was happening.
November 28, 2014
A+
Really liked the way it kept me guessing if he was really crazy or was this whole thing real . Great book
Really liked the way it kept me guessing if he was really crazy or was this whole thing real . Great book
October 9, 2020
A bit of a slow burn in the beginning...
But once you get a third of the way in, it gets good. Dread, terror, otherworldly horror - it’s all here.
Very well written. Descriptive but not overly gory as some authors often do. The building sense of dread Ben feels throughout the story is described fantastically. Highly recommend this book!
But once you get a third of the way in, it gets good. Dread, terror, otherworldly horror - it’s all here.
Very well written. Descriptive but not overly gory as some authors often do. The building sense of dread Ben feels throughout the story is described fantastically. Highly recommend this book!
August 6, 2018
Old school
Reminds me of the old school stories. Short to the point and able to elicited nightmares and or shared the crap out of the reader.
Well done.
Reminds me of the old school stories. Short to the point and able to elicited nightmares and or shared the crap out of the reader.
Well done.
August 31, 2019
Will caveat that I know Al. Was a good first book that held my interest the whole time. Agree with others that it could use more “something” but well worth reading.
January 20, 2016
There were a lot of things that I really loved about this book and a few things that I didn't. The scary parts were EXTREMELY scary and well written. I loved those moments, and they kept me reading. The setting was amazing. The Home felt like a real place (a place I never want to visit because CREEPY!), and its history really added something to the story's atmosphere. A sense of dread hung over every page of this book. You knew something wasn't right, but you were never sure what that something was.
My biggest issue with this book is that I never felt connected to any of the characters. It may just be me (maybe I just couldn't relate), but I didn't feel invested in any of them. I felt like I didn't know them well enough. I wanted more intimate moments, more inside jokes, more memories, more scenes that showed what kind of people the characters were before the story started.
Overall, I enjoyed Darker Shadows Lie Below and look forward to reading more from this author. I also look forward to sleeping with the lights off again. Seriously guys, this book will give you nightmares. So! If you like being freaked out, definitely give this book a try. :)
My biggest issue with this book is that I never felt connected to any of the characters. It may just be me (maybe I just couldn't relate), but I didn't feel invested in any of them. I felt like I didn't know them well enough. I wanted more intimate moments, more inside jokes, more memories, more scenes that showed what kind of people the characters were before the story started.
Overall, I enjoyed Darker Shadows Lie Below and look forward to reading more from this author. I also look forward to sleeping with the lights off again. Seriously guys, this book will give you nightmares. So! If you like being freaked out, definitely give this book a try. :)
September 1, 2015
(I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review)
This is a dark horror which I felt torn about. On one hand I really wanted to read it through in one sitting, but on the other hand I felt dreadful reading it because I kept finding all these dark things in the story and I dreaded reading about them.
The setting of the story is in the Home, a mental institution, and a new Doctor has been hired at this place, at a much higher salary than any other similar institutions. This should ring a bell but it didn't for the Doctor and he found out the hard way.
Overall, it was well written and a good story but I wouldn't say I thoroughly enjoyed it... perhaps I really felt creeped out and really wanted a good happy ending for the Doctor and his family.
This is a dark horror which I felt torn about. On one hand I really wanted to read it through in one sitting, but on the other hand I felt dreadful reading it because I kept finding all these dark things in the story and I dreaded reading about them.
The setting of the story is in the Home, a mental institution, and a new Doctor has been hired at this place, at a much higher salary than any other similar institutions. This should ring a bell but it didn't for the Doctor and he found out the hard way.
Overall, it was well written and a good story but I wouldn't say I thoroughly enjoyed it... perhaps I really felt creeped out and really wanted a good happy ending for the Doctor and his family.
May 14, 2015
I kept with it until the last sentence, which was a disappointment but I can always imagine a different last sentence, right? Very good, detailed writing. Often felt what the character felt, CREEPY yet sane or insane?
November 7, 2014
This is an effective chiller with great descriptions of the creepy setting.
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