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What Dwells Beneath
Before the haunting began… the earth itself turned against them.
Ohio, 1885 — The Barlow family believes they’ve found 120 acres of rich farmland at an impossible price. But this land has a memory. And it remembers blood.
When sixteen-year-old Jacob Barlow uncovers strange symbols carved into the limestone beneath their new barn, he becomes obsessed with unlocking their meaning. Brilliant, ambitious, and desperate to prove himself, Jacob thinks he’s found the key to unimaginable power.
He hasn’t. He’s found the door.
As winter closes in, livestock vanish. Crops rot in the soil. The wind whispers in a voice only Jacob can hear. Something ancient and hungry has been waiting for him — waiting for someone bold enough to break its seals, and naive enough to think he can control it.
Before The Haunting of Willow’s Bend Farm, there was the evil that first awoke.
An atmospheric, slow-burn gothic horror based on true events, What Dwells Beneath reveals the terrifying origins of the curse that will haunt Willow’s Bend for generations.
Some truths are better left buried.
Some roots should never be unearthed.
Ohio, 1885 — The Barlow family believes they’ve found 120 acres of rich farmland at an impossible price. But this land has a memory. And it remembers blood.
When sixteen-year-old Jacob Barlow uncovers strange symbols carved into the limestone beneath their new barn, he becomes obsessed with unlocking their meaning. Brilliant, ambitious, and desperate to prove himself, Jacob thinks he’s found the key to unimaginable power.
He hasn’t. He’s found the door.
As winter closes in, livestock vanish. Crops rot in the soil. The wind whispers in a voice only Jacob can hear. Something ancient and hungry has been waiting for him — waiting for someone bold enough to break its seals, and naive enough to think he can control it.
Before The Haunting of Willow’s Bend Farm, there was the evil that first awoke.
An atmospheric, slow-burn gothic horror based on true events, What Dwells Beneath reveals the terrifying origins of the curse that will haunt Willow’s Bend for generations.
Some truths are better left buried.
Some roots should never be unearthed.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2025
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 10, 2025
Thank you Stephen Crane for allowing me to arc read for you . I really enjoyed creeping myself out reading this lol!
This to me is a historical horror story set in 1885-1886.
It is definitely filled with all the dang creepy things!!
17 year Jacob Barlow discovers strange things carved deep beneath the families new farm. Jacob is always hi fry to learn and thinks he has stumbled op on something of great power. But then things start happening beyond his control !
this is also a prequel for the the Haunting of Willows bend farm set in 1977.
This to me is a historical horror story set in 1885-1886.
It is definitely filled with all the dang creepy things!!
17 year Jacob Barlow discovers strange things carved deep beneath the families new farm. Jacob is always hi fry to learn and thinks he has stumbled op on something of great power. But then things start happening beyond his control !
this is also a prequel for the the Haunting of Willows bend farm set in 1977.
September 2, 2025
Stephen, how the hell did your writing get creepier? Jesus take the wheel, I was not ready! I had to keep taking breaks with this one because some scenes were so unsettling they’re still living rent-free in my head. I devoured this book!
September 14, 2025
Stephen, you have outdone yourself with this book. I loved your first one, but this was amazing....
I absolutely loved the creepy, thriller, hair-raising experience throughout the entire book. It's one of those books where you needed to put it down to process what was happening, but you just couldn't. When you read this book and you must, be ready for a ride.
I can't wait to see what you come up with next.
I absolutely loved the creepy, thriller, hair-raising experience throughout the entire book. It's one of those books where you needed to put it down to process what was happening, but you just couldn't. When you read this book and you must, be ready for a ride.
I can't wait to see what you come up with next.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews