The Torment

by David B. Bond

In the brutal winter of 1821, the emigrant ship Isabelle left Liverpool bound for Boston, her decks filled with hope—and concealed treachery. Among the passengers are a few ruthless conspirators plotting something sinister.

But when a violent storm wrecks the ship against the rocky shores of Widow’s Rock Island, the survivors are taken in by the islanders. At first, it seems they’ve been spared.

But salvation quickly turns into horror. One by one, the survivors begin to die in gruesome and unexplainable ways. Rumors of a killer spread—but is the threat human, or has something malicious come ashore with them?

As paranoia grows, long-buried secrets come to light, and the true horror behind Isabelle’s wreck may not be from betrayal…but from what lurks beneath the waves.

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 21, 2025

About the author

David Bond has loved mystery and horror for as long as he can remember. A retired Floridian now living in Thailand, David spends his days pursuing his passion for writing. Crediting his co-workers for pushing him into writing his debut novel ‘The Cemetery 6: Tales of Terror,’ released in September of 2022. David puts pen to paper with his creative imagination, continuously straddling fear of the unknown and the excitement of the thrill. After writing the 2nd and 3rd installments in the series, David began focusing on new projects.
In his latest book, ‘The Coyote-A Young Detective Choo Murder Mystery’, David looks at the incredible work of police detectives from a different perspective.
When he’s not writing his next great book, David can be found with his beloved wife Annah, exploring the land of smiles, and immersing themselves in Thai culture and traditions.
David stays actively involved in his Thai community by volunteering at the local “International Committee of the Red Cross” office. He often speaks with teens at the local high school in Nan about the English Language and encourages them to follow their dreams.

Reviews

[Ana S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like reading this author's books because there is always something different in store for the reader. The main characters are all interesting and well developed as the story unfolds. Great psychological suspense (which I enjoy), and since the story is set in the 1820s, the author was able to make me feel like I was there looking in on the story and that time frame. (if that makes sense). He kept me guessing whether the killer was human or something else. I won't give it away. Enjoyable read.

[Pyte Samchang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the read. Set in the 1820's it kept me on the edge of my seat. Read several of the author's books. I think this one is his best or close to it. (I also liked Disturbed.) Good character development, and he kept me guessing if the murders were supernatural or done by a person. I recommend it for fans of Historical Fiction and Horror.