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Tormentor
This story isn't really about me.
On the Isle of Skye, near the community of Dunvegan, sits a rustic old one-bedroom home, waiting for a new tenant. It seems like the perfect opportunity for Jim Greenwood to escape the hectic London city life—a place to move on from tragedy.
This is the story of a house.
As he tries to settle into country life, his is tormented by mysterious soot marks left throughout the house while he sleeps, cryptic e-mails from unknown senders, and hundreds of hand-drawn stick-figure drawings etched in a perfect pattern on the cottage's cellar walls.
Stay. Beth needs you.
Jim begins losing control, drinking excessively, shaking to an uncontrollable beat in his head, trying to decipher what may or may not be a code—or a warning.
No limbs, no limbs, no head, no head, left arm gone, left leg gone, no legs, no head.
The door is open, and something is coming through. It's just a matter of when—and what.
On the Isle of Skye, near the community of Dunvegan, sits a rustic old one-bedroom home, waiting for a new tenant. It seems like the perfect opportunity for Jim Greenwood to escape the hectic London city life—a place to move on from tragedy.
This is the story of a house.
As he tries to settle into country life, his is tormented by mysterious soot marks left throughout the house while he sleeps, cryptic e-mails from unknown senders, and hundreds of hand-drawn stick-figure drawings etched in a perfect pattern on the cottage's cellar walls.
Stay. Beth needs you.
Jim begins losing control, drinking excessively, shaking to an uncontrollable beat in his head, trying to decipher what may or may not be a code—or a warning.
No limbs, no limbs, no head, no head, left arm gone, left leg gone, no legs, no head.
The door is open, and something is coming through. It's just a matter of when—and what.
114 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2015
6 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
William Meikle
407 books1,849 followersI'm a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with more than thirty novels published in the genre press and over 300 short story credits in thirteen countries.
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 20, 2025
A very creepy little story from William Meikle. Honestly, it occurred to me that I've never read anything from this author prior, which is shocking. He has quite a collection, and this felt like a good starting point. So we follow Jim here, who is mourning the loss of his significant other, Beth, and relocates to a remote cabin in the wilderness. Great views, totally secluded, and just a peaceful place...well, except for the ghosts. But hey, nothing is perfect, right? So we follow Jim and his realtor, Alan, as they develop a deep comradery, as the new homeowner dives deeper and deeper into the mysterious happenings at his new home. Really subtle, hair-raising set of events that take place. And I enjoyed the intrigue created. My only critique is that I wanted some more of the emotionality from Jim when it came to Beth. I just felt like his character was written more so to further the story along, and less about his actual character development. So, a bit of a missed opportunity, but it didn't take away from much the way it was written. But beyond that, it was a very good outing from a clearly talented author.
July 23, 2017
When Jim Greenwood moves to the Isle of Skye to start a new life after his wife's death, he has the misfortune of buying a house with a dark past. Will Jim meet the same fate as the previous owners?
Tormentor is the story of a house with a troubled past and the man who has the misfortune of trying to make a new life there. While I've read two other haunted house stories by William Meikle, Broken Sigil and Pentacle, this one was like neither.
It started simply, with a smudge of soot on the wall. The other islanders are pretty tight-lipped about the house but Jim gradually pieces things together, his grip on sanity loosening in the process.
This one is a slow burn, as much about island life and Jim's adjustments as it was about a man tormented by the entity living in his house, although torment might be a strong word for it.
The isolation of living on an island, coupled with it happening during winter, give the tale a lot of atmosphere. I kept wondering what the hell Jim was going to do next and what was going on behind the scenes.
I wasn't terribly fond of the ending but it was a gripping read while it lasted. Remind me not to buy a house on a Scotish island any time soon. Four out of five stars.
Tormentor is the story of a house with a troubled past and the man who has the misfortune of trying to make a new life there. While I've read two other haunted house stories by William Meikle, Broken Sigil and Pentacle, this one was like neither.
It started simply, with a smudge of soot on the wall. The other islanders are pretty tight-lipped about the house but Jim gradually pieces things together, his grip on sanity loosening in the process.
This one is a slow burn, as much about island life and Jim's adjustments as it was about a man tormented by the entity living in his house, although torment might be a strong word for it.
The isolation of living on an island, coupled with it happening during winter, give the tale a lot of atmosphere. I kept wondering what the hell Jim was going to do next and what was going on behind the scenes.
I wasn't terribly fond of the ending but it was a gripping read while it lasted. Remind me not to buy a house on a Scotish island any time soon. Four out of five stars.
January 2, 2015
Jim Greenwood is left devastated and facing some big decisions about his future when his wife passes away. Time for a change, time to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind, time for solitude and time to mourn.
So he moves to an isolated cottage on the shore of the remote Loch Dunvegan in Scotland. Here he falls into the well-used trap that awaits sudden loss and loneliness. One of alcohol abuse, conversing with his dead partner and something else on the periphery, strange occurrences, a haunting steeped in local history.
Tormentor is a well written ghost story that didn't quite fulfil my expectations after a good start, our protagonist realises something is amiss and desperately seeks answers. My main issue was this haunting entity of old firing Jim's computer up and leaving gibberish messages of code in the form of emails, for me it didn't fit the story and wasn't a suitable method of furthering the tale.
I received Tormentor from Darkfuse & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and that’s what you’ve got.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
So he moves to an isolated cottage on the shore of the remote Loch Dunvegan in Scotland. Here he falls into the well-used trap that awaits sudden loss and loneliness. One of alcohol abuse, conversing with his dead partner and something else on the periphery, strange occurrences, a haunting steeped in local history.
Tormentor is a well written ghost story that didn't quite fulfil my expectations after a good start, our protagonist realises something is amiss and desperately seeks answers. My main issue was this haunting entity of old firing Jim's computer up and leaving gibberish messages of code in the form of emails, for me it didn't fit the story and wasn't a suitable method of furthering the tale.
I received Tormentor from Darkfuse & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and that’s what you’ve got.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
February 21, 2015
4.5 stars.
Review of Tormentor by William Meikle Tormentor is my favorite William Meikle book thus far. This is far from your usual haunted house story, and I am far from a connoisseur of Scottish folklore, but I enjoyed this one quite a lot. The beginning is fairly cliche, to be honest. A guy (Jim Greenwood) loses his wife and moves to a house on a mostly remote island for a change of scenery. From there the story is anything but mundane. He starts to hear hints of rumors about the house from the moment he meets his far-off neighbors at the local bar, but no one is saying more than that. He starts to notice things that are slightly off within and outside the house, but it could just be his imagination on overdrive in his new solitary existence. As the rumors become louder and an insistent drumming takes up residence in his home--in his head-- it soon becomes clear that something in his new home is requesting--demanding--his attention. he story will not be silenced and it is the story, not the house, that will end up haunting you.
Review of Tormentor by William Meikle Tormentor is my favorite William Meikle book thus far. This is far from your usual haunted house story, and I am far from a connoisseur of Scottish folklore, but I enjoyed this one quite a lot. The beginning is fairly cliche, to be honest. A guy (Jim Greenwood) loses his wife and moves to a house on a mostly remote island for a change of scenery. From there the story is anything but mundane. He starts to hear hints of rumors about the house from the moment he meets his far-off neighbors at the local bar, but no one is saying more than that. He starts to notice things that are slightly off within and outside the house, but it could just be his imagination on overdrive in his new solitary existence. As the rumors become louder and an insistent drumming takes up residence in his home--in his head-- it soon becomes clear that something in his new home is requesting--demanding--his attention. he story will not be silenced and it is the story, not the house, that will end up haunting you.
December 28, 2014
4.5 stars.
When a young widow, Jim Greenwood, decides to run from his life in the city, he couldn't get much more isolated than the remote shore of Loch Dunvegan. The locals are friendly enough, although all studiously avoid any mention of the history surrounding Jim's new home, and the ruins of the old crofter's cottage on its grounds.
When mysterious smudges and stick figures drawn in soot begin appearing, along with cryptic coded emails, Jim starts to harbor the hope that somehow his dead wife, Beth, is trying to get in contact with him. Despite how quickly events begin to take on stronger, more specific directions, Jim clings stubbornly to the notion of his Beth still being there--trying to break through.
Although this novella begins commonly enough, the actions--both "physical" and psychological--quickly morph it into an original tale of a haunting, unlike anything I'd expected. Meikle has a way with infusing folklore and legends into his tales that bring them to life--making them seem all too plausible.
Highly recommended!
*I received an advance e-version of this novella from DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review.*
When a young widow, Jim Greenwood, decides to run from his life in the city, he couldn't get much more isolated than the remote shore of Loch Dunvegan. The locals are friendly enough, although all studiously avoid any mention of the history surrounding Jim's new home, and the ruins of the old crofter's cottage on its grounds.
When mysterious smudges and stick figures drawn in soot begin appearing, along with cryptic coded emails, Jim starts to harbor the hope that somehow his dead wife, Beth, is trying to get in contact with him. Despite how quickly events begin to take on stronger, more specific directions, Jim clings stubbornly to the notion of his Beth still being there--trying to break through.
Although this novella begins commonly enough, the actions--both "physical" and psychological--quickly morph it into an original tale of a haunting, unlike anything I'd expected. Meikle has a way with infusing folklore and legends into his tales that bring them to life--making them seem all too plausible.
Highly recommended!
*I received an advance e-version of this novella from DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review.*
February 1, 2015
The story starts out after the passing of Jim Greenwood's wife Beth. Jim decides to get away from everything and buy a house by sea loch in Skye. After getting settled in his cottage strange things start to happen. He starts finding these soot marks all through the house every morning. Then he starts getting strange e-mails. He starts looking into the history of the house. The more he finds out, the more he gets obsessed with the things that are going on. The story is a ghost story with some folklore thrown in. Like all of William's books they are well written and are very enjoyable read. I gave Tormentor 3 1/2 stars.
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review.
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2016
This is a first class example of just how to write an intelligent and gripping horror novel. A good horror story, and in particular a good haunted house horror story, needs certain vital ingredients, firstly an isolated and inviting haunted house, and secondly a troubled even tormented central character. William Meikle does a wonderful job of exploring his native homeland (Scotlands's loss is Canada's gain) and in Jim Greenwood he has chosen the perfect victim to showcase his dark writing talent.
Jim’s partner Beth died swiftly and horribly of cancer and he has taken the decisive step to move into a house by a sea loch on the Isle of Skye...”without her London seemed pointless-a mound full of termites running around doing things that benefited other termites and pretending it mattered a jot.” I find it difficult to believe that William Meikle is no longer a resident of this fair isle as his sense of time and space and his descriptive prowess is breathtaking as he expertly brings alive the isolation of this dark and beautiful windswept island.....”From this vantage point the view was completely wild-no roads or pylons visible, no other houses, just the loch, with wavelets slightly churning in a stiff breeze, the purple hills hanging in a haze across the water and white clouds scudding north across the sky.”
Jim befriends a young estate agent Alan Bean and enjoys his company in the drinking dens of nearby Dunvegan whilst settling into his rustic one-bed roomed home. As befits the setting for this wonderful tale all is not well and soon Jim begins to receive strange messages and notice odd occurrences as he slowly learns what befell the previous owner Annie Menzies.
Meikle’s mixing of the dark, the horror, the setting, the folklore set around Dunvegan Castle and the historical loss of a young drummer boy, many centuries ago, all adds to the atmosphere. The reader becomes confused as to whether what is happening to Jim Greenwood is real or part of the madness surrounding him and possibly controlling him as he lives life without his beloved Beth.
Alex Wark the local minister was a character in particular I found enticing and a great way for the author to express and compare the presence of good and evil...
“How you can still believe in God when there are so many things wrong in the world and it is obvious that he doesn’t care? He looked up and smiled. “The Bible says that God is love. And part of his loving nature is that he allows people to have free will. As a result, we have evil, pain and suffering, due to the choices we and others make.”
A truly brilliant, intelligent, dark tale of a damaged man attempting to find peace and happiness in the wild and haunted setting of the isle of skye. Highly recommended.
Jim’s partner Beth died swiftly and horribly of cancer and he has taken the decisive step to move into a house by a sea loch on the Isle of Skye...”without her London seemed pointless-a mound full of termites running around doing things that benefited other termites and pretending it mattered a jot.” I find it difficult to believe that William Meikle is no longer a resident of this fair isle as his sense of time and space and his descriptive prowess is breathtaking as he expertly brings alive the isolation of this dark and beautiful windswept island.....”From this vantage point the view was completely wild-no roads or pylons visible, no other houses, just the loch, with wavelets slightly churning in a stiff breeze, the purple hills hanging in a haze across the water and white clouds scudding north across the sky.”
Jim befriends a young estate agent Alan Bean and enjoys his company in the drinking dens of nearby Dunvegan whilst settling into his rustic one-bed roomed home. As befits the setting for this wonderful tale all is not well and soon Jim begins to receive strange messages and notice odd occurrences as he slowly learns what befell the previous owner Annie Menzies.
Meikle’s mixing of the dark, the horror, the setting, the folklore set around Dunvegan Castle and the historical loss of a young drummer boy, many centuries ago, all adds to the atmosphere. The reader becomes confused as to whether what is happening to Jim Greenwood is real or part of the madness surrounding him and possibly controlling him as he lives life without his beloved Beth.
Alex Wark the local minister was a character in particular I found enticing and a great way for the author to express and compare the presence of good and evil...
“How you can still believe in God when there are so many things wrong in the world and it is obvious that he doesn’t care? He looked up and smiled. “The Bible says that God is love. And part of his loving nature is that he allows people to have free will. As a result, we have evil, pain and suffering, due to the choices we and others make.”
A truly brilliant, intelligent, dark tale of a damaged man attempting to find peace and happiness in the wild and haunted setting of the isle of skye. Highly recommended.
November 27, 2015
William Meikle is an excellent writer. His prose is beautifully constructed; his descriptions of scenes second-to-none; his characters are generally detailed and human enough in their actions to be believable.
But like all of us, Meikle has proven himself prone to the occasional dip in form. His books are not infallible. And unlike most of those who have reviewed Tormentor before me, I consider this one to be such a dip.
Told exclusively from the first person perspective of the novella's protagonist, Tormentor is essentially a haunted house tale. The reader follows Jim who moves to country Scotland to exhume his artistic interests and as a way to process the death of his young wife, only to become immersed in the history of the home he has purchased. It's a bit of a tried and tested formula, but I had faith that Meikle - one of my must-read authors - would pull it off.
Instead I got a not-at-all frightening story that was more about obsession than anything supernatural (though it does eventually make its way there). Jim is well-drawn and, as I already noted, the prose itself is good. The story, however, was boring. By the two-thirds mark I was wondering if anything of consequence was going to happen, since the mystery driving the narrative had lost whatever early hold it had on me. By the end, when Meikle has brought everything together, I was unmoved. The answer to what had been plaguing Jim was not at all satisfying, and it left unanswered the only pat of the story I was genuinely engaged in. .
Oh well. As I implied above, you can't win them all. I'm clearly in the minority with regard to Tormentor. Take that for what you will. Meanwhile, I'll just hope the next Meikle read is a return to his unsettling best - or at very least, is something that is pulpishly fun.
2 Soot Stains Cleaned to a Beat for Tormentor.
But like all of us, Meikle has proven himself prone to the occasional dip in form. His books are not infallible. And unlike most of those who have reviewed Tormentor before me, I consider this one to be such a dip.
Told exclusively from the first person perspective of the novella's protagonist, Tormentor is essentially a haunted house tale. The reader follows Jim who moves to country Scotland to exhume his artistic interests and as a way to process the death of his young wife, only to become immersed in the history of the home he has purchased. It's a bit of a tried and tested formula, but I had faith that Meikle - one of my must-read authors - would pull it off.
Instead I got a not-at-all frightening story that was more about obsession than anything supernatural (though it does eventually make its way there). Jim is well-drawn and, as I already noted, the prose itself is good. The story, however, was boring. By the two-thirds mark I was wondering if anything of consequence was going to happen, since the mystery driving the narrative had lost whatever early hold it had on me. By the end, when Meikle has brought everything together, I was unmoved. The answer to what had been plaguing Jim was not at all satisfying, and it left unanswered the only pat of the story I was genuinely engaged in. .
Oh well. As I implied above, you can't win them all. I'm clearly in the minority with regard to Tormentor. Take that for what you will. Meanwhile, I'll just hope the next Meikle read is a return to his unsettling best - or at very least, is something that is pulpishly fun.
2 Soot Stains Cleaned to a Beat for Tormentor.
December 26, 2014
This one is a bit of a slow burn as Jim moves to an old house on the loch with a storied history to escape city life and recover from the death of his wife Beth. What should have been a relaxing and healing time quickly starts to go sideways with the appearance of strange soot markings and ghostly messages written in emails and wee stick men. Something is trying to communicate. Hoping against hope that his wife has something to do with these supernatural occurrences, Jim stays and tries to solve the mystery that is buried somewhere within the history of the house. That is, if he can get to the mystery before it destroys him.
Another solid work from Mr. Meikle. 4 Stars. Highly Recommended.
*As a member of the DarkFuse Readers Group, I received an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Another solid work from Mr. Meikle. 4 Stars. Highly Recommended.
*As a member of the DarkFuse Readers Group, I received an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2015
TORMENTOR by William Meikle
January 20 to January 21, 2015
Dark Fuse pre-released
WOW-WEE!! Mr. Meikle has outdone himself in his newest Dark Fuse publication, Tormentor. He has developed well written, believable characters. In this book there are good guys and not a lot of bad guys except for, yes you guessed it, The Tormentor.
There is no place in the world like Scotland and when you add a haunted situation just makes you want to go back and visit your loved ones. Ha! I don't know, maybe after reading this one, I'll just see them in heaven and stay on this side of the great pond.
Meikle's descriptions of the coast are beautiful. I could almost feel the chilling breezes from the ocean. All the animals are very cute and add to the story. I think this could be the beginning of a series for this character, but not sure about that. It could also be a stand along story. Guess Willy knows that for sure.
This is my favorite Meikle book I have read from Dark Fuse.
4 stars and highly recommended
January 20 to January 21, 2015
Dark Fuse pre-released
WOW-WEE!! Mr. Meikle has outdone himself in his newest Dark Fuse publication, Tormentor. He has developed well written, believable characters. In this book there are good guys and not a lot of bad guys except for, yes you guessed it, The Tormentor.
There is no place in the world like Scotland and when you add a haunted situation just makes you want to go back and visit your loved ones. Ha! I don't know, maybe after reading this one, I'll just see them in heaven and stay on this side of the great pond.
Meikle's descriptions of the coast are beautiful. I could almost feel the chilling breezes from the ocean. All the animals are very cute and add to the story. I think this could be the beginning of a series for this character, but not sure about that. It could also be a stand along story. Guess Willy knows that for sure.
This is my favorite Meikle book I have read from Dark Fuse.
4 stars and highly recommended
December 22, 2016
Jim Greenwood's life is devastated with the death of his wife from cancer. He attempts to start over by getting away from all of the pain that surrounds him in London by moving to a remote home on the NE coast of Scotland near Dunvegan. The home is the oldest in the area and the locals seem to be frightened by it. Soon Jim finds out why. Mysterious sooty smudges appear while he sleeps that seem to be forming some sort of code. In an attempt to avoid the madness of it all, Jim resorts to drinking heavily. Is something from beyond trying to communicate with him or is Jim slowly going insane?
Meikle is a master at telling tales and Tormentor is no exception. He crafts a tight storyline with realistic characters that you quickly identify with. Tormentor is a fun romp of a haunted house story that you'll savor through every page.
5 stick figures out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
Meikle is a master at telling tales and Tormentor is no exception. He crafts a tight storyline with realistic characters that you quickly identify with. Tormentor is a fun romp of a haunted house story that you'll savor through every page.
5 stick figures out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
November 1, 2015
William Meikle delivers a solid, if somewhat quiet, ghost story in Tormentor.
Jim has escaped to Dunvegan, Scotland, following the loss of his young wife to cancer. Independently wealthy, he's able to buy a nice piece of property, but begins to learn that this centuries old house has secrets. Not such an uncommon thing, until he begins waking to soot marks scratched across his bathroom mirror, mysterious e-mails, and drawings of matchstick men with missing limbs.
Meikle does a great job of recreating a chilling Scotland climate, and captures the culture of pub life and male friendship nicely. While this is a ghost story first and foremost, it's fairly light on terror. There's a few scenes of quiet dread and unease, and a well-crafted spooky atmosphere, particularly as Jim begins to realize what's happening in his old home and becomes driven by the mystery of it all. This story is certainly worth a read, and up to par with the usual top-notch production of the DarkFuse brand.
Jim has escaped to Dunvegan, Scotland, following the loss of his young wife to cancer. Independently wealthy, he's able to buy a nice piece of property, but begins to learn that this centuries old house has secrets. Not such an uncommon thing, until he begins waking to soot marks scratched across his bathroom mirror, mysterious e-mails, and drawings of matchstick men with missing limbs.
Meikle does a great job of recreating a chilling Scotland climate, and captures the culture of pub life and male friendship nicely. While this is a ghost story first and foremost, it's fairly light on terror. There's a few scenes of quiet dread and unease, and a well-crafted spooky atmosphere, particularly as Jim begins to realize what's happening in his old home and becomes driven by the mystery of it all. This story is certainly worth a read, and up to par with the usual top-notch production of the DarkFuse brand.
February 16, 2015
In "Tormentor", Meikle adds his chapter to the tried and true theme of the recovering victim of a tragedy in an idyllic setting, removed from the pains that brought him to a point of no return.
Strange symbols that may be a code, an adjacent cottage that has fallen into ruins and townspeople that are not willing to discuss the haunted history that surrounds the hero's new home all drum their way towards the ancient mystery that resides at the climax of this tale.
3 STARS
Strange symbols that may be a code, an adjacent cottage that has fallen into ruins and townspeople that are not willing to discuss the haunted history that surrounds the hero's new home all drum their way towards the ancient mystery that resides at the climax of this tale.
3 STARS
August 1, 2017
This was a neat little ghost story I fancied reading between other books as a palate cleanser of sorts, and it was just what I needed. I was soon immersed in the remote Scottish setting and found the characterisations thoroughly believable, and since it's based on local legend and folk stories, is just my thing. Highly recommended.
June 12, 2015
This is the story of Jim, he has recently lost his wife Beth so he decides to pack up and move to the wilds of Scotland. He moves into a house that is steeped in mystery and before long strange things begin to happen in the house. When he tries to find out what is going on, however, his enquiries are met with stony silence by many of the villagers. This only seems to deepen the mystery...
I love haunted house mysteries, and this was no exception. Willie took us on a tension filled ride, while Jim tried to come to terms with the loss of his wife, and the strange things going on in the house. The tension built up to fever pitch until the end when it all came together in a fantastic finish. The characters were great, Jim especially so, mourning the loss of his wife, drinking too much and just trying to get to the bottom of what was happening in his new house. The pace was relentless, and I found myself reading the story in two sittings. I love Willies work, and eagerly await his new releases, so far I haven't been disappointed!
I love haunted house mysteries, and this was no exception. Willie took us on a tension filled ride, while Jim tried to come to terms with the loss of his wife, and the strange things going on in the house. The tension built up to fever pitch until the end when it all came together in a fantastic finish. The characters were great, Jim especially so, mourning the loss of his wife, drinking too much and just trying to get to the bottom of what was happening in his new house. The pace was relentless, and I found myself reading the story in two sittings. I love Willies work, and eagerly await his new releases, so far I haven't been disappointed!
January 16, 2016
When grieving widower Jim buys an old house on a remote piece of land on an island in the British Isles, he gets much more than he bargained for. At first he tries not to let it bother him him as he settles in to a simple routine of daily living. It's just a stripe of soot after all...
William Meikle mixes love lost and ghostly hauntings better than anyone I have ever read. He is a master of his craft. Buy this book, gift this book. Recommend this book to others.
I received an e-arc of TORMENTOR from the publisher in exchange for my review.
William Meikle mixes love lost and ghostly hauntings better than anyone I have ever read. He is a master of his craft. Buy this book, gift this book. Recommend this book to others.
I received an e-arc of TORMENTOR from the publisher in exchange for my review.
July 4, 2015
A very well written book. Beautiful descriptions and all that jazz...but
Story.
I wants me some story yo.
I never once felt a pang of terror or a stiring in my boxers. A 'haunted house' story with other elements thrown in that didn't amount to anything.
Colour me disappointed.
Story.
I wants me some story yo.
I never once felt a pang of terror or a stiring in my boxers. A 'haunted house' story with other elements thrown in that didn't amount to anything.
Colour me disappointed.
Want to read
June 30, 2015This is copy 88 of 100 signed numbered copies.
April 1, 2023
A cracking old-school ghost story that reminded me of mid-period James Herbert. Great stuff.
March 22, 2015
I received an E-arc from Darkfuse Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Jim moves to Dunvegan for a fresh start after losing his wife to cancer, he is in need of a change of pace from London and the small isolated property he has just purchased seems ideal. He begins to settle into a more leisurely pace of life and makes some friends and acquaintances with the people of the village.
Whilst they welcome him to the community they are reluctant to say anything about the house he has bought. Strange soot marks and stick figures begin to appear around the property, he starts receiving garbled emails and slowly, through his research, begins to piece together the houses history. His connection to the house reaches disturbing levels as he is driven on by the spirits that reside there.
One of my favourite things about this novella was the mc, Jim. I found him really engaging once the story started in earnest, the early set up with the move from London seemed a bit unoriginal but the author quickly made Jim a believable and likeable person.
The pacing was great throughout with Jim's descent into obsession being particularly disturbing at some points and although this wasn't an action packed story it moved along at a nice pace. My only complaints would be that I didn't feel the stories of the spirits really came together to explain the goings on, a bit more clarity around this would have been great.
A great read that I would recommend for those that like folklore and ghost stories.
Jim moves to Dunvegan for a fresh start after losing his wife to cancer, he is in need of a change of pace from London and the small isolated property he has just purchased seems ideal. He begins to settle into a more leisurely pace of life and makes some friends and acquaintances with the people of the village.
Whilst they welcome him to the community they are reluctant to say anything about the house he has bought. Strange soot marks and stick figures begin to appear around the property, he starts receiving garbled emails and slowly, through his research, begins to piece together the houses history. His connection to the house reaches disturbing levels as he is driven on by the spirits that reside there.
One of my favourite things about this novella was the mc, Jim. I found him really engaging once the story started in earnest, the early set up with the move from London seemed a bit unoriginal but the author quickly made Jim a believable and likeable person.
The pacing was great throughout with Jim's descent into obsession being particularly disturbing at some points and although this wasn't an action packed story it moved along at a nice pace. My only complaints would be that I didn't feel the stories of the spirits really came together to explain the goings on, a bit more clarity around this would have been great.
A great read that I would recommend for those that like folklore and ghost stories.
December 28, 2014
I'm not much of a fan of haunted house stories, hence William Meikle had his work cut out for him when I started Tormentor. This novella demonstrates that a talented writer can overcome an unappealing premise.
Mostly I responded to Tormentor as a character piece. Living the story through the perspective of Jim made the experience most visceral. Jim is already vulnerable due to the untimely death of his wife, and as his life starts to unravel in his new (haunted) home the reader is drawn in to his inner torments. He explains things away, then tries to drink his feelings in to submission, and finally succumbs to an obsession that takes over his life. The first person narration's drawback is that we know everything will be OK in the end, but the positive results in a character sense more than make up for it.
Any fan of smart psychological horror will be glad they read this one; I certainly am. 4 stars.
Mostly I responded to Tormentor as a character piece. Living the story through the perspective of Jim made the experience most visceral. Jim is already vulnerable due to the untimely death of his wife, and as his life starts to unravel in his new (haunted) home the reader is drawn in to his inner torments. He explains things away, then tries to drink his feelings in to submission, and finally succumbs to an obsession that takes over his life. The first person narration's drawback is that we know everything will be OK in the end, but the positive results in a character sense more than make up for it.
Any fan of smart psychological horror will be glad they read this one; I certainly am. 4 stars.
February 12, 2015
Man, did I love this book! Haunted house stories are my favorites, and Willie hit this one out of the park. Yeah, OK, so maybe the setup is cliche, but beyond that it seems pretty original to me. Start with an ancient, creepy house on the secluded shore and secretive, hostile townfolk, throw in some history/mythology, and you've got a well-written, engrossing, multi-layered ghostly mystery. I definitely did not guess the ending, and I thought it fit very well. I've read a lot of Willie's work, liked all of it, even loved much of it,but this is my new favorite of his. Highly recommended, especially for ghost story fans!
January 27, 2015
Very interesting haunted house story. It draws you in a little at a time until you're totally immersed in it. Highly recommended.
April 23, 2015
Once again, William Meikle has written a story I couldn't put down until I was done. Tormentor is a nice little slice of creepy. Check it out, won't you?
July 11, 2017
This was just ok for me. I thought it was going to be alot creepier than it ended up being. I hate to be the one that doesn't agree with the rave reviews, but this just didn't do it for me.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad. I loved the atmosphere, characters and the writing was good, but the story was just so-so.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad. I loved the atmosphere, characters and the writing was good, but the story was just so-so.
April 12, 2018
A good, spooky story. I like those ghost stories that are more about atmosphere than scary ghosts jumping out from the woodwork. And this short book from Meikle is all about atmosphere. A house with history, symbols, and a man who listens.
May 27, 2025
I always love atmospheric hauntings.
August 21, 2025
The ending was kind of a let down since it did not feel like the whole drum code was leading towards a... ghost of an ancient warchief?...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2016
Don’t you hate it when the previous owners of your new house trashed the place moving out before you moved in? That’s what happens to Jim Greenwood who moves into a small house on an island off the Scottish coast. The house, centuries old, begins showing signs of mysterious soot marks, as if unseeing visitors wander the interior leaving grimy streaks like young children who haven’t washed their hands after playing outside. When the soot marks start taking the shape of stick figures, often with missing appendages and heads, Jim starts feeling a tad anxious. The islands inhabitants won’t talk about the history of the place in any detail, but do let slip a few hints of something supernatural going on.
William Meikle is a prolific writer who manages to turn out original pieces of fiction that never seem stale or overused. Tormentor would fall under the category of a haunted house story, but there is no rehashing of old plot lines. His writing always feels unique (at least to me), and Tormentor is filled with creepy images and foreboding events that are cleverly concocted. One minor exception is the supernatural entity’s use of email which stretched the bounds of believability. But, hey, this is a ghost story after all, so I could let this silliness go by without complaint. The Tormentor was a great read, both original and spooky, much of what you’d expect from Mr. Meikle. 4.5 stars.
William Meikle is a prolific writer who manages to turn out original pieces of fiction that never seem stale or overused. Tormentor would fall under the category of a haunted house story, but there is no rehashing of old plot lines. His writing always feels unique (at least to me), and Tormentor is filled with creepy images and foreboding events that are cleverly concocted. One minor exception is the supernatural entity’s use of email which stretched the bounds of believability. But, hey, this is a ghost story after all, so I could let this silliness go by without complaint. The Tormentor was a great read, both original and spooky, much of what you’d expect from Mr. Meikle. 4.5 stars.
February 21, 2015
The weirdest story I have read so far this year. I couldn't get into it at all, although I kept hoping it was going to get better. Not much actually happened! Stickmen, soot stains and local legends don't amount to much of a story on their own. The only saving grace was the beautiful descriptions of the location, which made me want to move there despite the strange occurrences.
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