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David Hammond #1
The Gate in the Shadows: Is there some truth behind ghost stories?
Dr. David Hammond changes the way we look at ghost stories, researching the things that are undeniably real, but which cannot yet be explained. Things that happen to people like you and me, but are lost in the mire of beliefs that people call paranormal.
Isle of Skye, 1962. Billy approaches the grave as her body lies in the ground, not yet covered over. Eirinn’s parents are the only ones who look up as he strides towards the small gathering of mourners.
A train to Scotland 2006. David has been hired by a disgraced former politician who is trying to make a living from writing novels, to visit the remote islands of St. Kilda, far off the west coast of Scotland. When the politician-turned-writer disappears, the police want answers. The trouble is, David knows nothing about the tales of depraved rituals, or of bodies being dug up above the beach, that fill the newspapers as a result of his visit to that rocky isle.
And why is he having those nightmares?
Isle of Skye, 1962. Billy approaches the grave as her body lies in the ground, not yet covered over. Eirinn’s parents are the only ones who look up as he strides towards the small gathering of mourners.
A train to Scotland 2006. David has been hired by a disgraced former politician who is trying to make a living from writing novels, to visit the remote islands of St. Kilda, far off the west coast of Scotland. When the politician-turned-writer disappears, the police want answers. The trouble is, David knows nothing about the tales of depraved rituals, or of bodies being dug up above the beach, that fill the newspapers as a result of his visit to that rocky isle.
And why is he having those nightmares?
352 pages, Paperback
Published May 29, 2025
2 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Code
2 books3 followersNigel brings a fresh series of mystery novels with the David Hammond books, exploring if perhaps there is some truth behind beliefs in hauntings after all, if you scrape away the hysteria and fantasy. Having studied sciences before working in industry, he is now a researcher and scriptwriter for science programmes. Rarely without a book to hand when not writing, he has a deep love for the English language, its history and varieties, and all the many accents that make it so interesting. He lives in the North East of England, overlooking a restless sea.
Nigel has written seven books in the David Hammond collection, starting with The Gate in the Shadows. The eighth is now making its way onto paper. These chart David's unusual career from 2006 to the present day, and all will be published exclusively on Amazon 2025/26.
Find out more on his website.
Nigel has written seven books in the David Hammond collection, starting with The Gate in the Shadows. The eighth is now making its way onto paper. These chart David's unusual career from 2006 to the present day, and all will be published exclusively on Amazon 2025/26.
Find out more on his website.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 16, 2025
Most people who believe in spirits, ghosts, seers, and the like have the standard beliefs.
David has a scientific mind. He does not believe in haunted buildings, ghosts, or even esp. Yet, he acknowledges there are emotion footprints left behind. He has the unique ability to feel and pick up these distance remnants and interpret long ago feelings and thoughts.
He and his wife take a well deserved vacation. David purposely choses Scotland's Isle of Skye in an attempt to make sense of a childhood trauma. He is also being paid to observe the ruins of nearby St Kilda.
The couple, especially David, encounter more and end up adjust a murder and fraud investigation. Intermixed this has David getting repeated disturbing sightings and nightmares.
An interesting twist has a police inspector believe in David when he awkwardly explains his "gift".
The description of the islands are spectacular. However, David's paragraphs upon paragraphs of his repeated thoughts and vague memories was exhausting. The cop constantly showing up ruining their vacation got tiresome.
Further, the ending. simply dropped a bizarre possible cliffhanger. Or did it just end?
David has a scientific mind. He does not believe in haunted buildings, ghosts, or even esp. Yet, he acknowledges there are emotion footprints left behind. He has the unique ability to feel and pick up these distance remnants and interpret long ago feelings and thoughts.
He and his wife take a well deserved vacation. David purposely choses Scotland's Isle of Skye in an attempt to make sense of a childhood trauma. He is also being paid to observe the ruins of nearby St Kilda.
The couple, especially David, encounter more and end up adjust a murder and fraud investigation. Intermixed this has David getting repeated disturbing sightings and nightmares.
An interesting twist has a police inspector believe in David when he awkwardly explains his "gift".
The description of the islands are spectacular. However, David's paragraphs upon paragraphs of his repeated thoughts and vague memories was exhausting. The cop constantly showing up ruining their vacation got tiresome.
Further, the ending. simply dropped a bizarre possible cliffhanger. Or did it just end?
August 9, 2025
It didn’t deliver. The premise—Alex hearing a ghostly voice and unraveling a century-old mystery—had potential, but the execution felt flat. The pacing dragged, with long stretches of exposition that didn’t build suspense. Dialogue was often stilted, and the characters lacked emotional depth, making it hard to connect with their experiences.
The supernatural elements, which should have been eerie and compelling, came across as repetitive and predictable. Instead of a chilling mystery, it felt like a recycled ghost story with little originality. Even the historical details, while accurate, were shoehorned in without much narrative finesse.
Overall, I found myself skimming through pages, hoping for a twist or revelation that never came. If you’re looking for a gripping paranormal read, this one might leave you cold.
I don’t know what the author was thinking - shocking.
The supernatural elements, which should have been eerie and compelling, came across as repetitive and predictable. Instead of a chilling mystery, it felt like a recycled ghost story with little originality. Even the historical details, while accurate, were shoehorned in without much narrative finesse.
Overall, I found myself skimming through pages, hoping for a twist or revelation that never came. If you’re looking for a gripping paranormal read, this one might leave you cold.
I don’t know what the author was thinking - shocking.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews