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The Boatman: A Folk Horror Novel
In the 1890s mining town of Potter’s Field, faith is everything. Faith keeps the dead in their graves. Each burial must be marked by silver coins on the eyes and their sins read aloud, a ritual meant to usher the dead to Sheol to peacefully wander for eternity. But when the dead begin to stir and the children's bones start to twist, the townsfolk face a truth far older and far hungrier than God: their religion was built on a lie, and that lie has come to collect.
Father Boone struggles to remember the sacred rites as rain floods the town. Desiree hears children’s songs echoing from the woods. And Sawyer, a charming debt collector accused of murder, arrives seeking payment from a dead man, only to uncover the unfathomable that lies beyond the trees.
As faith decays from the bone and folklore becomes flesh, Potter’s Field teeters on the edge of damnation.
The rites are failing. The Boatman is coming.
Father Boone struggles to remember the sacred rites as rain floods the town. Desiree hears children’s songs echoing from the woods. And Sawyer, a charming debt collector accused of murder, arrives seeking payment from a dead man, only to uncover the unfathomable that lies beyond the trees.
As faith decays from the bone and folklore becomes flesh, Potter’s Field teeters on the edge of damnation.
The rites are failing. The Boatman is coming.
- GenresHorror
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2025
15 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 13, 2025
This is a great book to read during the spooky season. A great horror story that will end up a classic. I could see this being made into a movie. The visuals that are put in my head while reading are top notch. My favorite character is Maggie, yes, she is a horse. She has so much personality.
Think of every cult you have read about in the past and this is what happens when it is a whole town consumed with the religion of the cult. No one knows what they are doing or why they are doing it. Call it blind faith.
Like every good horror story there is gore and death. The great backgrounds and back stories of characters. Give this story a chance and you will be drawn in through the end
I am so glad to be an ARC reader of this story. I cannot wait for more books to come out by this author. I truly can't believe this is his first story.
Think of every cult you have read about in the past and this is what happens when it is a whole town consumed with the religion of the cult. No one knows what they are doing or why they are doing it. Call it blind faith.
Like every good horror story there is gore and death. The great backgrounds and back stories of characters. Give this story a chance and you will be drawn in through the end
I am so glad to be an ARC reader of this story. I cannot wait for more books to come out by this author. I truly can't believe this is his first story.
September 23, 2025
3.75 stars rounded up
I was given an eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All of these opinions are my own, honest thoughts on the book.
If you are looking for a brutal, gory, unforgiving folklore, this might be the book for you. The town of Potter's Field has a dark secret that's been kept since its founding, known only by a select few or those unfortunate enough to stumble upon it. This story felt like a blend of the cult from Hereditary and the old god from The Ritual. The story is told through three different POVs and is merciless, ending chapters on cliffhanger after cliffhanger, twist after twist. I love body horror and this book gave me the gore my gross little heart loves!
The ambiance of Potter's Field was super creepy, I was imaging some bog town in Appalachia.
This is a very strong debut for K. Bengston.
I was given an eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All of these opinions are my own, honest thoughts on the book.
If you are looking for a brutal, gory, unforgiving folklore, this might be the book for you. The town of Potter's Field has a dark secret that's been kept since its founding, known only by a select few or those unfortunate enough to stumble upon it. This story felt like a blend of the cult from Hereditary and the old god from The Ritual. The story is told through three different POVs and is merciless, ending chapters on cliffhanger after cliffhanger, twist after twist. I love body horror and this book gave me the gore my gross little heart loves!
The ambiance of Potter's Field was super creepy, I was imaging some bog town in Appalachia.
This is a very strong debut for K. Bengston.
September 2, 2025
One Hell Sheol of a wild ride!
If I didn't know that this wasn't a debut novel I'd have assumed the author had been writing for years. This book is absolutely fantastic, well-crafted and hard to put down.
The Boatman effortlessly balances three separate POV characters, each with their own distinct experience and views of the mystery unfolding before their eyes: Who is the Boatman truly; a deity, or an eldritch predator?
Dropped into the story with little explanation, the world unfolds as we journey with the characters, and by the end you'll love the denizens of Potter's Field, despite their many flaws.
Keep it up Bengston, you've got some real talent here!
If I didn't know that this wasn't a debut novel I'd have assumed the author had been writing for years. This book is absolutely fantastic, well-crafted and hard to put down.
The Boatman effortlessly balances three separate POV characters, each with their own distinct experience and views of the mystery unfolding before their eyes: Who is the Boatman truly; a deity, or an eldritch predator?
Dropped into the story with little explanation, the world unfolds as we journey with the characters, and by the end you'll love the denizens of Potter's Field, despite their many flaws.
Keep it up Bengston, you've got some real talent here!
August 9, 2025
Really enjoyed this one. The Boatman is set in a little swamp town where the priest, Father Boone, only half-remembers the rites!! When things start going wrong, the whole place feels like it’s coming apart. There’s something called the Boatman that is way more than a ferryman of the dead.
The vibe is on point! The writing makes you feel the damp air and muddy ground, and the ending stuck with me. Definitely one to pick up if you like creepy folklore and small-town horror.
The vibe is on point! The writing makes you feel the damp air and muddy ground, and the ending stuck with me. Definitely one to pick up if you like creepy folklore and small-town horror.
August 23, 2025
Listen. When I tell you it makes no sense that this is a new aurhor, you have to believe me. I was so lost at the start but I knew it would wind its path and make sense and it totally did. I really loved all the twists and turns and it is so much fun. You are going to love this one.
August 28, 2025
brilliant!!!! kept me wanting more. this book sent shivers down my spine and made my skin crawl in the beat way possible cant wait to read more books from the author
October 29, 2025
Something old is stirring beneath the soil, and no amount of prayer can quiet it. ⚰️
The Boatman- by K. Bengston
🪦Blurb🪦
In the cursed town of Potter's Field, the dead are buried with silver coins and recited sins. Father Boone performs the burial rites, though they were never properly passed down, only patched together from scraps of memory. One too many mistakes and now something beneath the town is stirring... and the old rites no longer hold. Desiree, scorned and ignored, begins hearing children's voices in the rain. And Sawyer, a charming debt collector, vanishes into the woods... only to return changed. As the veil between folklore and flesh tears open, all three are pulled into the truth behind their crumbling faith.
⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️
A town built on faith, undone by what it tried to forget.
Potter’s Field holds a sinister secret known to only those who are truly unfortunate enough to have discovered it. The Boatman exists to carry the souls of the dead to the beyond, and its Father Boone’s duty to perform the burial rites to ensure those souls make it. As time passes, the burial rites have been passed down in mere portions, being pieced together by memories, but after one too many mistakes, the rites have failed and the town is haunted by the souls who haven’t passed on.
A fever-drenched hymn to guilt, folklore, and the ghosts that bloom beneath southern soil. The Boatman drags the gothic south through the depths of its own faith, and what surfaces is pure, beautiful rot. A perfect horror read for the season.
If I hadn’t known better, I would have never assumed this was a debut. It is so perfectly crafted and written, and hooks you in from the first page.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the Author for allowing me to read this amazing story.
The Boatman- by K. Bengston
🪦Blurb🪦
In the cursed town of Potter's Field, the dead are buried with silver coins and recited sins. Father Boone performs the burial rites, though they were never properly passed down, only patched together from scraps of memory. One too many mistakes and now something beneath the town is stirring... and the old rites no longer hold. Desiree, scorned and ignored, begins hearing children's voices in the rain. And Sawyer, a charming debt collector, vanishes into the woods... only to return changed. As the veil between folklore and flesh tears open, all three are pulled into the truth behind their crumbling faith.
⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️
A town built on faith, undone by what it tried to forget.
Potter’s Field holds a sinister secret known to only those who are truly unfortunate enough to have discovered it. The Boatman exists to carry the souls of the dead to the beyond, and its Father Boone’s duty to perform the burial rites to ensure those souls make it. As time passes, the burial rites have been passed down in mere portions, being pieced together by memories, but after one too many mistakes, the rites have failed and the town is haunted by the souls who haven’t passed on.
A fever-drenched hymn to guilt, folklore, and the ghosts that bloom beneath southern soil. The Boatman drags the gothic south through the depths of its own faith, and what surfaces is pure, beautiful rot. A perfect horror read for the season.
If I hadn’t known better, I would have never assumed this was a debut. It is so perfectly crafted and written, and hooks you in from the first page.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the Author for allowing me to read this amazing story.
September 13, 2025
I received a digital ARC of this title from the author, in exchange for an open and honest review.
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There is a common thread that runs through towns, communities. Whether by choice, or by the sheer pressure of the movement of time, Communities forget. The remains of the dead, their deeds and desires, are washed away, buried in the mud of history. In that immense, long, river of time. Anyone who has had the occasion to visit a town or county’s “museum of local history”, can see the end result. What remains are pale echoes. The selective memory and cultural amnesia of the present, work to ensure that the incongruities of history stay forgotten, and the acts of folks both terrible and disbursing are never known. But just as things discarded in the river eventually are found, the full and ugly truth of the past inevitably resurfaces, regardless of whether it clashes with the fictions successive generations have propagated. The Boatman is about what happens when that terrible reckoning, finally comes pass.
There is a sense of place, a psychic foot print evident in the towns from the plains westward, in North America. K. Bengston, seems to recognize that. Potter’s Field feels like so many small hamlets in the plains, who today are found only in photographs, or the crumbling store fronts of whistle stop towns, long abandoned by the rail lines. The Boatman is truly a first novel of note. A narrative both firmly rooted in the poisoned core of American History, yet still rooted deeper in that place beyond light that resides in ourselves, and within that limitless place beyond the firelight. Call it Western, Historic, Cosmic and existential. It is Horror, and it is rushing towards you in the wake of The Boatman.
-
There is a common thread that runs through towns, communities. Whether by choice, or by the sheer pressure of the movement of time, Communities forget. The remains of the dead, their deeds and desires, are washed away, buried in the mud of history. In that immense, long, river of time. Anyone who has had the occasion to visit a town or county’s “museum of local history”, can see the end result. What remains are pale echoes. The selective memory and cultural amnesia of the present, work to ensure that the incongruities of history stay forgotten, and the acts of folks both terrible and disbursing are never known. But just as things discarded in the river eventually are found, the full and ugly truth of the past inevitably resurfaces, regardless of whether it clashes with the fictions successive generations have propagated. The Boatman is about what happens when that terrible reckoning, finally comes pass.
There is a sense of place, a psychic foot print evident in the towns from the plains westward, in North America. K. Bengston, seems to recognize that. Potter’s Field feels like so many small hamlets in the plains, who today are found only in photographs, or the crumbling store fronts of whistle stop towns, long abandoned by the rail lines. The Boatman is truly a first novel of note. A narrative both firmly rooted in the poisoned core of American History, yet still rooted deeper in that place beyond light that resides in ourselves, and within that limitless place beyond the firelight. Call it Western, Historic, Cosmic and existential. It is Horror, and it is rushing towards you in the wake of The Boatman.
October 4, 2025
~ ARC Review ~
Overall: 4.5 stars
What an interesting, complex, and disturbing story. Honestly at first, I was pretty lost and confused, bouncing between a few different perspectives and it felt like each one was its own story. And truthfully, they were. Bengston did a wonderful job tying all of those threads together in the end to create one large picture, but did so in a way that kept me guessing and anxious until the last page.
The writing style in The Boatman does not scream debut. In fact, there was such a deep level of thought behind each action and conversation for the characters, I felt like I was reading a book by a big time author who has perfected their craft.
This isn’t your typical horror story. At its core it’s a religious cult with deep dark secrets buried for centuries ~ buried so deeply that the town is oblivious to what is right in front of them. There is gore, death, and a constant subconscious fear of being watched from the shadows around each corner.
All in all, the visuals were outstanding and I had no issues whatsoever picturing Potter’s Field and its townspeople. Would I recommend this? Absolutely. Would I read more of this author in the future? Without a doubt.
Overall: 4.5 stars
What an interesting, complex, and disturbing story. Honestly at first, I was pretty lost and confused, bouncing between a few different perspectives and it felt like each one was its own story. And truthfully, they were. Bengston did a wonderful job tying all of those threads together in the end to create one large picture, but did so in a way that kept me guessing and anxious until the last page.
The writing style in The Boatman does not scream debut. In fact, there was such a deep level of thought behind each action and conversation for the characters, I felt like I was reading a book by a big time author who has perfected their craft.
This isn’t your typical horror story. At its core it’s a religious cult with deep dark secrets buried for centuries ~ buried so deeply that the town is oblivious to what is right in front of them. There is gore, death, and a constant subconscious fear of being watched from the shadows around each corner.
All in all, the visuals were outstanding and I had no issues whatsoever picturing Potter’s Field and its townspeople. Would I recommend this? Absolutely. Would I read more of this author in the future? Without a doubt.
October 9, 2025
When an entity gives specific instructions to keep the villagers safe; it’s probably a good idea to follow the instructions. Boone knew what was required to keep the boatman and the people safe and he had a decision to make. Would he do what was necessary or something else. The things that happen in this village are beyond bizarre. I cannot imagine having to deal with trying to traverse through a place that contained as much mud as there was in this story. As I read the chapters, the words used to describe the sound the mud made had me feeling as though I was walking through town. As the story progresses, the dread of finding out what the Boatman wanted had me devouring the pages as quickly as I could. I stayed up well into the early morning trying to finish this book. This book was well worth the loss of sleep.
December 1, 2025
I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. To be fair to the author, I read this at a time where my mind wasn't able to focus as well as normal. So, take this review with a grain of salt.
I loved the premise of this story. It has folklore, mythology, occult horror, and historical horror. It's told from the perspective of three different characters.
There were times in the novel that felt disjointed and I struggled to stay motivated to continue. It did have some moments that were great, which is why I continued on to finish it. I felt it dragged on in unimportant parts, and rushed through some of the more important aspects.
After much reflection, I rated 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4/5)
I loved the premise of this story. It has folklore, mythology, occult horror, and historical horror. It's told from the perspective of three different characters.
There were times in the novel that felt disjointed and I struggled to stay motivated to continue. It did have some moments that were great, which is why I continued on to finish it. I felt it dragged on in unimportant parts, and rushed through some of the more important aspects.
After much reflection, I rated 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4/5)
September 23, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The details, the vibes, the characters, it was everything! The writing was amazing and the plot really drew me in and held me there! If this fits your vibe I definitely recommend reading it!
September 29, 2025
It’s been a while since a read a horror book especially this quickly bravo!
December 24, 2025
Got this book from my local bookstore. It was a good horror book and kept me wanting to find out what happens. Can't wait for any other books this author comes out with.
December 26, 2025
A Must-Read for Horror Fans
An absolutely thrilling and terrifying read. It will keep you up all night and you wouldn’t mind one bit. Fantastic debut novel and I will be back for more of his future works.
An absolutely thrilling and terrifying read. It will keep you up all night and you wouldn’t mind one bit. Fantastic debut novel and I will be back for more of his future works.
October 10, 2025
spine chilling debut
The Boatman is an impressive debut that immediately grabbed my attention. K. Bengtson has crafted a tense, eerie, and genuinely frightening story that had me on edge from start to finish. There were several moments that sent chills down my spine, enough that I found myself cutting on the lights in my dark hallway while walking through the house. That’s when you know a horror story is doing its job.
What really makes this one stand out is its setting. The wild west backdrop gives the story a gritty, atmospheric edge that feels both familiar and completely fresh for the horror genre. It’s a perfect mix of frontier grit and supernatural terror, and it works surprisingly well.
For a debut, the writing feels confident and well-paced, keeping me invested all the way through. The tension builds naturally, and the scares hit hard without ever feeling forced.
Overall, The Boatman is a strong, original entry in the horror genre and a fantastic start to Bengtson’s career. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever this author writes next, this one really delivered.
The Boatman is an impressive debut that immediately grabbed my attention. K. Bengtson has crafted a tense, eerie, and genuinely frightening story that had me on edge from start to finish. There were several moments that sent chills down my spine, enough that I found myself cutting on the lights in my dark hallway while walking through the house. That’s when you know a horror story is doing its job.
What really makes this one stand out is its setting. The wild west backdrop gives the story a gritty, atmospheric edge that feels both familiar and completely fresh for the horror genre. It’s a perfect mix of frontier grit and supernatural terror, and it works surprisingly well.
For a debut, the writing feels confident and well-paced, keeping me invested all the way through. The tension builds naturally, and the scares hit hard without ever feeling forced.
Overall, The Boatman is a strong, original entry in the horror genre and a fantastic start to Bengtson’s career. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever this author writes next, this one really delivered.
November 9, 2025
As someone who doesn’t read horror novels, this book has pulled me towards the genre entirely. I can’t wait for this author to release more books!!
August 29, 2025
The Boatman was an awesome read. Most impressively, K. Bengston has crafted a universe palpable with gloom, horror, and swampy mysteries that lead the reader down an immersive path.
Chapter by chapter, The Boatman flips in perspective through three characters: Boone, Sawyer, and Desiree. Each character is vibrant and expertly written, and each emerging perspective unwinds the story of Potter’s Field with good pace and precision. The character shifting through chapters reminds me of the television show LOST (Boone and Sawyer? Maybe a reach?)—but most definite and relatable are THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and MIDNIGHT MASS vibes throughout, along with its overall originality and religious undertones.
The Boatman is a quick read that lingers, and that’s absolutely thanks to Bengston’s writing, atmosphere-building, and character development. This original debut horror novel shines as an occult horror novel and as a horror novel in general. You’ll be on edge with suspense, you’ll be freaked, and you’ll want to flip to the next page.
Chapter by chapter, The Boatman flips in perspective through three characters: Boone, Sawyer, and Desiree. Each character is vibrant and expertly written, and each emerging perspective unwinds the story of Potter’s Field with good pace and precision. The character shifting through chapters reminds me of the television show LOST (Boone and Sawyer? Maybe a reach?)—but most definite and relatable are THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and MIDNIGHT MASS vibes throughout, along with its overall originality and religious undertones.
The Boatman is a quick read that lingers, and that’s absolutely thanks to Bengston’s writing, atmosphere-building, and character development. This original debut horror novel shines as an occult horror novel and as a horror novel in general. You’ll be on edge with suspense, you’ll be freaked, and you’ll want to flip to the next page.
September 28, 2025
The Boatman is a superb blend of folk horror and religious horror set in an old west kind of time.
The folks of a small town know about the Boatman, a supernatural being who takes the souls of the dead to the great beyond. Father Boone has to perform a certain ritual exactly and to the letter to insure these souls are accepted. But after the death of an unpopular man named Larry, the boundaries between life, death, and revenge are crossed and what we'll eventually find out about this town, the ritual, and the Boatman is truly horrifying.
Written from the perspectives of three characters, this story is like a blend of a western meeting Midsummer by way of David Lynch. It's filled with themes of religious belief, trust, and betrayel as the character's lives intersect as the town experiences horror after horror.
With deeply held secrets and a tight extremely readable narrative, this book will punch you in the face and not even feel bad about it. I highly recommend it.
The folks of a small town know about the Boatman, a supernatural being who takes the souls of the dead to the great beyond. Father Boone has to perform a certain ritual exactly and to the letter to insure these souls are accepted. But after the death of an unpopular man named Larry, the boundaries between life, death, and revenge are crossed and what we'll eventually find out about this town, the ritual, and the Boatman is truly horrifying.
Written from the perspectives of three characters, this story is like a blend of a western meeting Midsummer by way of David Lynch. It's filled with themes of religious belief, trust, and betrayel as the character's lives intersect as the town experiences horror after horror.
With deeply held secrets and a tight extremely readable narrative, this book will punch you in the face and not even feel bad about it. I highly recommend it.
August 17, 2025
This was such a satisfying horror read! I honestly loved ALL the characters—major or minor, they each had their own role to play. My favorite was Desiree. She is one hell of a woman who has been through so much, yet her will and strength never waver. Some characters met cruel fates (which broke my heart), but it fit the story and made everything feel more real. I just wished there were a few more scenes with the townsfolk. I think this would have added even more atmosphere.
The tension and sense of doom were on point. And those gory scenes? Chef’s kiss.
Honestly, this doesn’t even feel like a debut novel. The writing was solid, the story wrapped up really well, and now I just want more. In fact, I’d love to see an entire series set in the Potter’s Field universe!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The tension and sense of doom were on point. And those gory scenes? Chef’s kiss.
Honestly, this doesn’t even feel like a debut novel. The writing was solid, the story wrapped up really well, and now I just want more. In fact, I’d love to see an entire series set in the Potter’s Field universe!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 9, 2025
If you are into 'folklore' this book is for you. Unfortunately i went in expecting a horror/thriller so i was a little disappointed.
HOWEVER, This book was very well written. It was full of twist and turns. The style was well put together. The beginning is very confusing but it all came together by end.
HOWEVER, This book was very well written. It was full of twist and turns. The style was well put together. The beginning is very confusing but it all came together by end.
October 31, 2025
Love this book! Great for people who love horror and was amazing to read for spooky season! The twists and turns kept me wanting more. I’m normally not in to books about cults but this one has changed my mind. I can’t wait for this author to release more books.
September 23, 2025
Really good book for spooky season and it was extremely interesting will definitely leave you wanting more
September 3, 2025
The perfect book to read on a rainy day! Potter’s Field will pull you in and keep its hold, but will you go down with this soggy and sinful town?
This book boasts great atmosphere, complex characters you love to hate (or love to love!), and the greatest damn horse you’ll meet.
All hail Maggie, the true star of the show!
This book boasts great atmosphere, complex characters you love to hate (or love to love!), and the greatest damn horse you’ll meet.
All hail Maggie, the true star of the show!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews