Long After Dark

by Greg F. Gifune

Harry Fremont hasn't slept in days. He's down with a terrible flu: runny nose, fever, a sore throat, the chills, and worst of all, a horrible cough that keeps him up all night. His wife Kelly is away on a business trip and their son Garret is at college, leaving Harry alone in the house. Though worn out, Harry has been unable to sleep...and things are starting to change. He's seeing unusual things outside, just beyond the windows and confines of his home...hearing things...experiencing unsettling things that make no sense. And they're getting worse. Are they simply figments of a tortured and exhausted mind, or clues to an intricate mystery steeped in evil and deception Harry cannot yet comprehend? Haunted by remnants of earlier nightmares, disturbing questions about his life and marriage, strange shadowy figures, odd noises, cryptic writings on his doors and glimpses of a hideously disfigured being wrapped in bloody bandages, Harry free-falls into a horrifying world of paranoia, agony and terror where nothing is what it seems. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us...long after dark. Sleep while you still can.

Features of this special edition:

* Bonus Afterword (not printed in any other edition)
* Long After Dark: Behind The Scenes (special essay only printed in the limited and lettered hardcovers)
* Oversewn natural leather binding
* Custom-made slipcase with matching foil stamp design
* Special Endsheets

Genres: Horror

214 pages, Leather Bound

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Called "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene, Greg F. Gifune is the author of numerous short stories, several novels and two short story collections. His work has been published in a wide range of magazines and anthologies all over the world, and has recently garnered interest from Hollywood. His novels include The Bleeding Season, Deep Night, Saying Uncle, A View From The Lake, Night Work, Drago Descending, Blood In Electric Blue and Dominion.

Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books. 

The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer.  Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.

The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats. 

Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often I read a book that’s genuinely disturbing. Long After Dark by Greg F. Gifune holds that moniker held high. Suffering from an awful dose of the flu, Harry starts experiencing symptoms worse than a hacking cough and a high fever. Harry’s wife is on yet another business trip. Feeling hurt by his perceived abandonment only serves to heighten his worsening flu.

Worse still is the fact that Harry hasn’t slept in 3 days. Now I’ve had the kind of flu that makes you hallucinate once in my life. It was not pleasant! Combing that will sleep deprivation would be a horrible experience. Gifune writes Harry’s character so well, I almost felt like I was experiencing the same illness.

As a result of his illness and a lack of sleep, Harry sees strange things. Now the question is, is it the illness or is what Harry sees real? Reading this novel as Harry witnesses the strange goings on made me more and more nervous of the strange goings on!

Blow me away! The conclusion of this book knocked me side wards. It offers no explanations or apologies. I love it! At the moment I seem to be picking up books from authors new to me that are just brilliant. Gifune’s writing has the ability to absolutely put you there in the moment. The more Harry was getting scared, the more scared I became! This is what modern horror should be about.

So, for those who love horror and enjoy being scared this is such a great find. I’m really pleased with this discovery! This is an absolute 5 star read!

****Disclaimer – I purchased this book. This is my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own****

[Karl]

This hardcover is copy 96 of 150 copies printed and is signed and numbered by Greg F. Gifune.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Harry is a man, sick with the flu, who hasn't slept in days. Anyone who's ever been in this situation will identify with Gifune's accurate descriptions of the symptoms suffered by those who have been severely sleep deprived. On top of all of this, the stability of Harry's life begins to crumble around him.....is he really seeing those "men" in black, the strange symbols around his home, or are they merely hallucinations caused by his insomnia? And what of the address that keeps popping up in his mind to plague him further?

When you have gone as long as Harry has without sleep, how do you know what is real anymore? As more and more fragmented visions begin to torment him, I found it impossible to put this book down until I got to the end. Another superb offering from Greg Gifune!

Recommended!

[Rob Twinem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Fremont is not a well man and it's more than a passing case of "man flu", his faithful dog Marlon is dead, his son Garret is not at home and even his beautiful wife Kelly has deserted him, for as part of her high flying career she must spend a work weekend away....or does she? As the minutes and hours pass Harry's sickness and growing paranoia reaches new levels. Does his wife love him?, did she ever love him?, what are the ghostly figures that he sees from the corner of his eye...that are now coming to haunt him? Is it all just a figure of his sick mind or is there something more hidden under the surface and in the life of Harry Fremont. Yet another excellent story from the great Greg f Gifune, a dark tale of insomnia, fear, paranoia and the sadness and inadequacies that haunt the human spirit.....

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's October horror time! Yes, it's late October and I'm late to the party but I had other fish to fry.
Now the big day is approaching fast, and the binge is on for creeps and chills. Let's go!

Our first contestant is Greg F. Gifune.

This is the fourth novel I've read from him. The Bleeding Season and The Rain Dancers were terrific, but this one? Ehh. Ultimately it left me a little cold.

Gifune is an excellent writer. His descriptive prose is good, but where he really excels is through dialogue. Very real, believable stuff. I was really hoping to five-star this review, and halfway through it looked like he was there. But this novel evolved into one of those stories where, at the end of it, you're trying to piece together the timelines, what really happened, what didn't, and frankly these types of novels that leave you in that state piss me off. I'm just glad this was only a 200 page investment of my time.

I will read him again because I think this guy has very underrated talent, but this fell short only because of my taste in story types. It's me, Greg, not you.

So. Plenty of five-star moments. Almost enough five-star dialogue. Lots of 4-star setting and mood.
A one-star for making me wonder what the hell I just read. I'm pretty sure I have it, but not 100%, and this makes me an unhappy camper.
As always, your mileage will vary; read for yourself. Gifune is a fine, fine writer.

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of LONG AFTER DARK by Greg F. Gifune

In the 16th century St. John of the Cross wrote of "the long dark night of the soul." In the early 20th century writer F. Scott Fitzgerald penned that while in it, the time is always 3 AM. In LONG AFTER DARK, master author Greg F. Gifune explores a new view of the long dark night, a night that doesn't just occur at 3 AM, but in the daylight as well, a night that is unending.

Poor Harry Fremont: long-term husband, efficient senior manager, father of one (a university student). He is concerned about his job future due to a merger; he and his wife must sell their residence due to encroaching commercial development, and his wife's executive career keeps her working long hours and traveling too much. Any of those factors could be faced and eventually dealt with efficiently, but suddenly Harry develops serious flu symptoms, with additonal pains and symptoms that don't even relate to flu. Suddenly Harry can't sleep--at all. His wife has jetted off to San Diego, for business; his son is away at university; the sole remaining neighbor is not home. But for Harry, solitude would be a blessing. He is certainly not alone. Badgered by waking nightmares, bizarre neighborhood sights, noises, really strange annoying phone calls, then a visit from his wife's boss' spouse which only stirs suspicions already lodged in Harry's unconsciousness.

Author Gifune has an exceptional talent for the subtle introduction of his horror. Yes, there is full-on horror before the story concludes, but for me, the best was the way in which the horror creeps in on little cat feet, like Robert Frost's fog, so that although the terror escalates, still I was shocked when certain events occurred, and found myself nearly screaming along with Harry, and chills coursing up and down my spine. If you haven't read anything by Greg Gifune, race to read this one. If you're already a fan, be prepared for the best.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing in this book was very good. A dark vision, like nightmares that blended into nightmares. I'm not sure I understood what was going on after all, and that's hard to swallow. Sometimes it's good to question and ponder, but in this case, it was unsettling and unfulfilling. If the reader wants a story that is more about fears, regret, and doubt, with a pervasive sense of nebulous menace, they will probably appreciate this. For a complex mix of horror and emotional angst that ultimately makes no sense, this will qualify. If the reader wants a more coherent story that makes some sort of sense and has a point to it, instead of a sense of futility, then this won't do. At least it didn't quite do it for me.

My rating is complicated, so I am going to get mathematical here:

Writing quality: 4.25/5.0 stars
Coherency: 1.5/5.0 stars
Reader fulfillment rating: 2.0/5.0 stars

Overall rating: 7.75/15 = 51.7% ---------> 2.58/5.0 stars.

Thanks to my friend for letting me borrow this book!

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Fremont has the flu and has not slept for days. Things are getting weirder by the minute. Harry can see things others cannot see. He wished he couldn’t. Now all he has to do is figure out what is real and what is only in his mind. Not as easy, as it sounds.

Another great tale from one of the masters. Gifune builds tension and a growing sense of dread with his characters that is palpable. And he loves the rain. 4.5 Stars. Highly Recommended!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really great! Totally not what I was expecting and kept me engaged right up until almost the very end. Was very fast paced until then, and I had to reread some parts to make sure I had a handle on it. I love this author and will be reading more of his books

[Amit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus! Christ!
That was hell of a gem by Greg F. Gifune. Almost never does he disappointed me. Holy Cow, I just freaking like this book...

Harry Fremont got the flu and cough which dangerously suffering him badly. He could not escape from it no matter what the medicine he was taking. Not slept for 3 days it was getting very difficult for him what was he seeing if they were true or not. He could not divide the reality with whatever he was having in his house all alone. His wife Kelly did go for a business work for couple of days but Harry had doubt. Did his wife really care for him or not? And what those things he was seeing in the yard of his house and so on. The coyote's unnatural behavior. It was all he could do was just sitting and watch them happening or not! Tough to say if Harry could break this illusion at all, or lake of sleep causing all of this? Harry need to find out or go mad himself...

Must read for them who's like to read Greg's Work. 5 out of 5...

[Boris Cesnik · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the archetypal elements present like a a fine thread in all his novels, they're here pushed to the front; maybe in a more subtle way but still eerily absorbing as usual.
Whereas the first half represent a welcoming detachment from Greg's leitmotif narrative, the last few chapters leave less surprises and embrace you back into his familiar punchy while comfortable writing.
Horror is a secondary instrument emerging, sometimes barely spoken, through thin veils of words after words that turn an achingly dreading story into a deeper and darker meaning for an all encompassing philosophical belief.

[Christopher McDevitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of course there were the true believers who thought everything was real and often refused to acknowledge facts to the contrary, and the totally closed-minded (who often falsely labeled themselves "skeptics" ) who refused to accept anything as real and approached everything from a point of disproving it rather than having an even remotely open mind. The truth, as in most things, Harry felt, was more than likely somewhere in the middle.

Sometimes love runs so deep it hurts, but when it turns to anger or even violence it becomes something else entirely.

[Douglas Castagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Harry Fremont left at home with a bad case of the flu. His wife, away on a business trip, his illness worsens because of his insomnia. He cannot reach his wife, his mind seems to get away from him...

Very fast paced and unsettling. A stellar one from Gifune.

[Kari Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange stpry

The book was eerie and creepy, just lacking somewhat. The characters were well written, and the story was fast paced.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this guy really knows how to write! This story was fantastic!