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Atomic Coffin
Not yet published
Expected 25 Jun 26December 1984. SIS field asset Heidi Sperling exfiltrates from East Berlin with the sole copy of a critical intelligence leak: a naval log containing a message received from a previously unidentified Soviet submarine.
Incredulously – impossibly – the vessel, known only as TK-15, has been sitting motionless and undetected in the waters between Scotland and Iceland for three whole years. Its latest message now reads: ACTIVE.
Picked up by the Royal Navy’s submarine HMS Viking, Heidi is unwittingly thrust into a black operation: find TK-15 and neutralise it at any cost. But as her only ally falls sick, she realises this modified vessel is far more than a Soviet experiment to gain an upper hand in the nuclear arms race. Here, in the crushing depths of the North Atlantic, something darker has been awoken, something that cannot be chained by any superpower.
As Heidi’s own reality twists around her, an unknowable force cripples HMS Viking’s defences and drives its crew to madness. Trapped in the deep, Heidi has no choice but to find a way to save the remaining crew and stop TK-15 for good, before it steals what’s left of her mind.
Incredulously – impossibly – the vessel, known only as TK-15, has been sitting motionless and undetected in the waters between Scotland and Iceland for three whole years. Its latest message now reads: ACTIVE.
Picked up by the Royal Navy’s submarine HMS Viking, Heidi is unwittingly thrust into a black operation: find TK-15 and neutralise it at any cost. But as her only ally falls sick, she realises this modified vessel is far more than a Soviet experiment to gain an upper hand in the nuclear arms race. Here, in the crushing depths of the North Atlantic, something darker has been awoken, something that cannot be chained by any superpower.
As Heidi’s own reality twists around her, an unknowable force cripples HMS Viking’s defences and drives its crew to madness. Trapped in the deep, Heidi has no choice but to find a way to save the remaining crew and stop TK-15 for good, before it steals what’s left of her mind.
- GenresHorrorHistorical Fiction
Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 25, 2026
About the author
Benedict Anning
3 books6 followersBenedict Anning is a Surrey-born author living just outside of Edinburgh with his wonderful cat, Penny.
After a stint in creative studies at sixth form, independent exams, and later Ancient History at university, Ben spent three years as a bookseller before moving to the third sector where he now works for a local animal shelter.
An artist at heart and fan of all things eerie, he has a special love for twisty horror fiction where the setting is a principal character and things just aren't quite right.
Ben is represented by John Baker at Bell Lomax Moreton
After a stint in creative studies at sixth form, independent exams, and later Ancient History at university, Ben spent three years as a bookseller before moving to the third sector where he now works for a local animal shelter.
An artist at heart and fan of all things eerie, he has a special love for twisty horror fiction where the setting is a principal character and things just aren't quite right.
Ben is represented by John Baker at Bell Lomax Moreton
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC ✨ The setup of this book genuinely hooked me, there’s something about isolation, claustrophobic environments and unknowable things in the deep that always makes me want to dive into a book.
The atmosphere was strong at times, the best parts leaned into that claustrophobic dread of being trapped underwater while reality starts to warp around the crew. There are moments where the darkness of the deep sea feels genuinely unsettling and the creeping madness aboard the submarine gets eerie. I think the setting could have been pushed even further because it never fully felt as suffocating, cramped, or oppressive as I wanted it to.
The biggest thing that stopped this from working for me was how confusing and vague it stayed throughout. The mystery surrounding TK15 and the something darker hidden within it kept me reading because I needed answers, but the further I got, the more it felt like the story was deliberately withholding too much, or like it wasn't sure itself. Even by the end, I was still left feeling unsure about what had actually happened, I felt confused throughout with the shifts in narrative and although it fit the story well, it didn't fully work for me and it felt unresolved by the end.
Heidi/Thistle was definitely the standout though. She felt believable, grounded, and emotionally real in a way that made me care what happened to her, even when I was struggling with the plot itself. The rest of the crew were enjoyable enough to read about but got a tad mixed together.
Overall this wasn’t a bad read, the writing was good and I can absolutely see the mix of espionage horror and deep sea dread working for other people making it a five star book for them. I personally just needed more clarity, more payoff, and more terror from the setting.
✨ Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the free copy, all opinions are my own.
The atmosphere was strong at times, the best parts leaned into that claustrophobic dread of being trapped underwater while reality starts to warp around the crew. There are moments where the darkness of the deep sea feels genuinely unsettling and the creeping madness aboard the submarine gets eerie. I think the setting could have been pushed even further because it never fully felt as suffocating, cramped, or oppressive as I wanted it to.
The biggest thing that stopped this from working for me was how confusing and vague it stayed throughout. The mystery surrounding TK15 and the something darker hidden within it kept me reading because I needed answers, but the further I got, the more it felt like the story was deliberately withholding too much, or like it wasn't sure itself. Even by the end, I was still left feeling unsure about what had actually happened, I felt confused throughout with the shifts in narrative and although it fit the story well, it didn't fully work for me and it felt unresolved by the end.
Heidi/Thistle was definitely the standout though. She felt believable, grounded, and emotionally real in a way that made me care what happened to her, even when I was struggling with the plot itself. The rest of the crew were enjoyable enough to read about but got a tad mixed together.
Overall this wasn’t a bad read, the writing was good and I can absolutely see the mix of espionage horror and deep sea dread working for other people making it a five star book for them. I personally just needed more clarity, more payoff, and more terror from the setting.
✨ Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the free copy, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fair warning - this is not my usual kind of book. I'm not usually a fan of cold-war thrillers, but it was the supernatural element that drew me in here - and I'm so glad I did!
First off, the atmosphere is perfect. Not a submarine (I have no way of commenting on that!); the sense of a winter in 1980s Europe, with the Berlin Wall firmly in place, Thatcher and Reagan fighting the USSR and everyday people just trying to get on. Including those who are essentially social outcasts (in this case both half-German and gay).
Protagonist Heidi (aka Thistle) is by no means a regular spy. She does her work to the best of her ability, while also battling considerable espionage PTSD and relationship grief over a lost girlfriend. Entering the claustrophobic, 100% male British environment of the HMS Viking sub is not an ideal mission. However, diving deep to discover a Russian nuclear vessel that shouldn't be there, Thistle discovers far more concerning drama than she could ever have anticipated.
This was a wonderful adventure that I tore through in two days. Essentially 'Event Horizon aboard Das Boot', it ramps up the tension from the get-go, moving from nuclear fear to something far darker that should've stayed in the depths of the ocean. Descriptions of life aboard a submarine - the conditions, the food, the smell! - had me entirely on board (pun intended), with the loneliness of the weird empty TK-15 pulling on even more nerves.
The characters are all fantastically drawn. I genuinely cared for Heidi/Thistle and understood why she would want to return to a terrifying place to save a fallen comrade even as I was internally shouting 'No, don't do it!'. Little touches such as photographs, the constant reminiscing about sunlight and dry land, and a stunningly effective piece of misdirection halfway through meant I couldn't leave the mystery unresolved any more than our messed-up heroine. I fully believe that life on board a submarine would make one question just what is reality, and this adds to that mental dilemma for the strangest, most compelling discomfort!
This is a truly remarkable book that achieves everything it sets out to do. More from Benedict Anning soon, please!
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
First off, the atmosphere is perfect. Not a submarine (I have no way of commenting on that!); the sense of a winter in 1980s Europe, with the Berlin Wall firmly in place, Thatcher and Reagan fighting the USSR and everyday people just trying to get on. Including those who are essentially social outcasts (in this case both half-German and gay).
Protagonist Heidi (aka Thistle) is by no means a regular spy. She does her work to the best of her ability, while also battling considerable espionage PTSD and relationship grief over a lost girlfriend. Entering the claustrophobic, 100% male British environment of the HMS Viking sub is not an ideal mission. However, diving deep to discover a Russian nuclear vessel that shouldn't be there, Thistle discovers far more concerning drama than she could ever have anticipated.
This was a wonderful adventure that I tore through in two days. Essentially 'Event Horizon aboard Das Boot', it ramps up the tension from the get-go, moving from nuclear fear to something far darker that should've stayed in the depths of the ocean. Descriptions of life aboard a submarine - the conditions, the food, the smell! - had me entirely on board (pun intended), with the loneliness of the weird empty TK-15 pulling on even more nerves.
The characters are all fantastically drawn. I genuinely cared for Heidi/Thistle and understood why she would want to return to a terrifying place to save a fallen comrade even as I was internally shouting 'No, don't do it!'. Little touches such as photographs, the constant reminiscing about sunlight and dry land, and a stunningly effective piece of misdirection halfway through meant I couldn't leave the mystery unresolved any more than our messed-up heroine. I fully believe that life on board a submarine would make one question just what is reality, and this adds to that mental dilemma for the strangest, most compelling discomfort!
This is a truly remarkable book that achieves everything it sets out to do. More from Benedict Anning soon, please!
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Suffocating psychological dread… in book form.
An ominous Soviet submarine sits suspiciously motionless in the North Atlantic ocean for three years, and our protagonist - Thistle - is extracted from East Germany to board a British submarine with intel on the mysterious vessel.
Atomic Coffin is increasingly claustrophobic, the writing creates a suffocating, tense feeling and twisted reality as Thistle and the crew investigate the silent submarine and face the consequences of their discoveries.
I have never wanted to be on a submarine less! … I would read another submarine horror though!
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘜𝘒, 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 | 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊
An ominous Soviet submarine sits suspiciously motionless in the North Atlantic ocean for three years, and our protagonist - Thistle - is extracted from East Germany to board a British submarine with intel on the mysterious vessel.
Atomic Coffin is increasingly claustrophobic, the writing creates a suffocating, tense feeling and twisted reality as Thistle and the crew investigate the silent submarine and face the consequences of their discoveries.
I have never wanted to be on a submarine less! … I would read another submarine horror though!
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘜𝘒, 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 | 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Arc Review
Atomic Coffin by Benedict Anning
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was a really good book, not something I would normally read but I let my son pick out my book and I can say I was pleasantly surprised!!
The characters were all amazing in their own right and the way the author was able toake them seem all the more real with their writing was phenomenal.
I don't think I'll mind reading more by this author in the future!!
#AtomicCoffin #NetGalley
Atomic Coffin by Benedict Anning
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was a really good book, not something I would normally read but I let my son pick out my book and I can say I was pleasantly surprised!!
The characters were all amazing in their own right and the way the author was able toake them seem all the more real with their writing was phenomenal.
I don't think I'll mind reading more by this author in the future!!
#AtomicCoffin #NetGalley
Review of advance copy
The first 70 or so pages of this buck had me sucked in.
The further we got into it the more I found myself less interested which shouldn't be how you feel when the whole point is in the mystery of what is in the sub.
Every single problem after she was picked up by the submarine was solved instantly with the first idea. The stakes dropped to nothing immediately and then the reveal is disappointing. I kept saying it could be worth it but all we got was more mystery and the monster being just some water that makes you suicidal. The pay off did not feel worth the slog to get to it.
The further we got into it the more I found myself less interested which shouldn't be how you feel when the whole point is in the mystery of what is in the sub.
Every single problem after she was picked up by the submarine was solved instantly with the first idea. The stakes dropped to nothing immediately and then the reveal is disappointing. I kept saying it could be worth it but all we got was more mystery and the monster being just some water that makes you suicidal. The pay off did not feel worth the slog to get to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s 1984 and agent Thistle is extracted from East Germany with crucial information about a Russian submarine. Then follows a fast paced, creepy, claustrophobic horror that kept me engaged throughout!
I really enjoyed this book, the setting, aboard a submarine, is the stuff of nightmares anyway. It keeps you guessing until the end.
I really enjoyed this book, the setting, aboard a submarine, is the stuff of nightmares anyway. It keeps you guessing until the end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s a very interesting Cold War horror, and the writing does feel quite fittingly claustrophobic at times. I think the end was a bit too vague.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Spooks on a tube? Hell yeah.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first submarine horror book and to begin with I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. But less half way through the book I realised that I don't care about any of the characters and I skipped whole paragraphs just to find out how the book ends.
It has this claustrophobic/psychedelic vibe to it but I wouldn't classify it as horror!
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes the Iron Lung type of horror but it wasn't for me and I only finished reading it to see how it ends.
Thank you NetGalley for my copy!
Unfortunately I also know the author which I didn't realise until recently and he's not a nice guy.
It has this claustrophobic/psychedelic vibe to it but I wouldn't classify it as horror!
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes the Iron Lung type of horror but it wasn't for me and I only finished reading it to see how it ends.
Thank you NetGalley for my copy!
Unfortunately I also know the author which I didn't realise until recently and he's not a nice guy.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews