The Devouring

by R. S. Cunningham

Under the glow of fairy lights in a Belfast suburb, a group of women gather, wine in hand, for what should be a harmless autumn evening of ghost stories - but some stories aren’t told… they’re unleashed.
Suspenseful, twist-driven, and unflinching, The Devouring is a psychological horror that grips from its first line and refuses to let go.
A haunting supernatural thriller that will remain with you long after the final page.

Genres: Horror

323 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2025

Reviews

[John Morris]

Surreal and spooky!

A traditional gothic telling of ghost stories but, with a distinct difference. Instead of Victorian upper class English gentlemen telling their ghost stories over brandy and cigars in their exclusive London club, we had a revised 21st century version. Here we were introduced to a group of middle class Northern Irish ladies of impeccable manners. Ladies who lunch, as the saying goes.

This group of friends meet up regularly, for scrumptious food and drink and to tell each outrageous ghost stories. The ladies are wealthy and have exemplary professional careers. Strange then, that one night the host invites her reclusive cleaner to join them for the 'festivities'.

Something is obviously amiss but we don't find out what until the end of the book, and what an ending it was. Highly recommended to all aficionados of good ghost stories.

[LottiesLit]

Firstly, a massive thank you to the author, R. S. Cunningham, for sending me a copy of this to review. I absolutely ‘devoured’ this! 😁 (Pun intended!) I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style, which is presented in a chatty tone, is accessible and incredibly easy to fully immerse yourself in.

I also loved the way in which the book was formatted, essentially being a collection of interconnected short stories within an overarching storyline. My favourite story was definitely ‘Click’ - it was genuinely batshit and also creeped me out 👀 - but I enjoyed all of the stories and appreciated their social commentary, discussing themes of class, womanhood, girlhood and family dynamics. There’s a lot of heavy subject matter in the book, so do check the trigger warnings (listed at the end of my review). Definitely a great twist at the very end too which was brilliant.

Overall, this is an amazing debut and I’m keen to read anything Ruth writes in the future. If you’re looking for a supernatural/paranormal read that’s super easy to engross yourself in then I totally recommend you check this wonderful book out! 🫶



⚠️TW: SA, abuse, animal death, suicide, miscarriage, child abuse, domestic abuse, violence.

[Thespookybookclub]

The Devouring, R.S. Cunningham

𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝑻𝒐𝒍𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚'𝒓𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅.


CALLING ALL HORROR LOVERS!- THIS ONE IS FOR US!
Excuse me bc i absolutely would NOT finish this book until my husband came home ( and i LOVED THAT! it is honestly SPINE TINGLING) the creepiest of the creepy I was so impressed! And the TENSION!? Hello!? Immaculate! This story begins in a quiet suburb: a circle of women gather beneath the shimmer of fairy lights for a night filled with ghost tales and expensive wine. However, what begins as playful entertainment swiftly devolves into something more ominous, deeply unsettling, and truly unforgettable. I throughly enjoyed this, tension building throughout and omg the last few pages genuinely had me whispering wtfwtf wtf!
Suspenseful, twist-driven, and unflinching, this was a psychological horror that grips from its first line and refuses to let go.
A haunting supernatural thriller that will remain with you long after the final page.















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#crimsonpeak #matchyourmugmonday #orange #halloween #spooky #thrillerandhorrorbooklover #horror #horrorbookstagram

[Bailey Dowd]

Creepy little paranormal story. Nice quick read.

[LX]

3.5 rounded up!

Gotta say I loved the way this opened and the first story told I really liked how unsettling it was. I had a feeling about how things would go within the overall story itself and it somewhat went down that road but I was still surprised with what happened and liked how each story told was different and had different themes within them.

[Kendall Hammonds]

Thanks a lot Beth. I’ll never sleep again.

[Ben Hammonds]

Solid spooky season read.

Pretty feckin nuts throughout and would not recommend to the tender hearted. Toed the line on a few “trigger warning” topics, so reader beware.

[Beth Kuban]

Ate this book up. I devoured it…get it???

[mrsbookburnee Niamh Burnett]

This is such an amazing debut, I will be binging anything else the author rights.

This has it all scary short stories, which are all interlinked and woven to gather in the MOST phenomenal way, and characters I was entranced by and felt such an underlying unease towards, throughout the book.

I really don’t want to give away spoilers, as I feel this needs to be gone in to blind, just watch out for ‘Click, that one scared the absolute bejaysus out of me!!

[Tasha]

I absolutely loved this book and flew through it! I also really loved the way the book was written - different chapters being each character’s stories!

[Rachael McMahon]

Can I just start this review with saying I am scared of my own shadow but I don’t let anything deter me away from a good plotline and this was exactly that!

This was written beautifully, the stories are described so vividly I felt as though I was one of characters. I haven’t been this immersed in a book for a long time and at this point I think I would read anything written by this author. My heart was in my mouth for the majority of the story. I absolutely loved how original this story was. It was unlike anything I’ve read before. I didn’t know what was going to happen from one chapter to the next. I read it front to back in a couple of hours as I couldn’t put it down and I’ve thought about it a lot since I finished it too.
If you’re a fan of unimaginable plot twist you will love this book.
The characters were so relatable and I love how we got a pov from all of them throughout the book.
I honestly think I would do a reread of this book probably more than once. For me it was a really enjoyable experience even if I was too scared to sleep without the light afterwards!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Publication date - 20th October 2025

[Becky Noble]

‘’Because, because that’s when my grip on reality started to disappear. It’s when I lost all understanding of what’s real and what isn’t. It’s the last thing I remember clearly’’

The Devouring is a captivating paranormal soft horror that brings to mind those spooky campfire stories we loved as kids. It follows Murieann, a young cleaner who gets invited to her boss’s home for dinner with friends. The evening starts off simply with good food and a light breezy chatter, but Ruth’s hints of unease slowly build up, leading to a fantastic twist that catches you off guard.

From the very first page, I was hooked! I truly admired the character development, the layout, and the storytelling style, it is some of the best I've seen in a while. I enjoyed how each character shared their story, giving us a glimpse into their thoughts at the start of every chapter, all while keeping Murieann at the heart of it. The story moves swiftly and keeps you engaged from beginning to end. I was eagerly awaiting a twist, and I wasn’t disappointed, the build-up reached a crescendo, leaving me shocked to my core.

I couldn't put the book down; I finished it in just three hours! The author’s keen attention to detail and storytelling talent make me hopeful that someday this book will be adapted into a film or TV series. It's honestly one of the best horror books I've read in a long time, and I felt a little sad when I finished because I wasn’t ready for it to be over.

[Lindsay]

This book is a rollercoaster of a read. This book truly has a way of getting under your skin. It's dark and scary, making you question every little sound you hear late at night and giving you the eerie feeling that someone might be standing behind you, breathing on your neck.
 
The story begins with an adult version of ghost stories around a campfire, but with a twist. We meet a group of friends who gather for good wine, good food, and to share the deepest, darkest, and scariest events that have happened in their lives. The only odd one out in this group is M, the cleaner for the host Joanna. Poor M is so unimportant that Joanna can't even pronounce her name correctly. Yet, for some mysterious reason, she has been invited to this gathering, even though she doesn't really want to be there.
 
The characters, aside from M, are not particularly likable as they come across as quite pretentious and don't seem to genuinely like each other. It leaves you wondering if M was invited just to make up the numbers or if there's something more sinister at play. Regardless of your beliefs about ghosts or spirits, this book will definitely get under your skin. I would suggest not reading it in the dark, especially if you're alone.
 
I absolutely loved it and thought it was a fantastic read!
 

[Polished Pages by Fran]

This book had me hooked from the start. I love a good ghost story and this had quite a few in it. Based in Ireland a group of friends get together to tell ghost stories they’ve experienced. Only this time the cleaner of Joanne’s house is invited along. Which may seem strange at the time but it all makes sense at the end.
The worldbuilding in this book is incredible, the detail that has gone into setting the scene for the ‘gathering’ is extraordinary. I could imagine the dining room full of food and drink and everyone talking. I loved how the friends group was very realistic and they acted how most friend groups do by arguing, disagreeing or just talking about each other behind the other persons back.
I was on the edge of my seat for some of these stories and I am extremely glad I didn’t read them in the dark because I was freaked out. I don’t think I would have been able to stay in the house on my own if I had.
The twist at the end was so unexpected and I loved it. I had to go back and reread the book from a completely different perspective after learning the ending. The book has a completely different feel to it the second time around.
There was one story in it that I loved but also hated at the same time because there is a dog involved.

[Jessica]

I ATE UP The Devouring (no pun intended). This book was incredible - I read it in one setting and was completely sucked in. I honestly loved this book. I don't think I've read a horror since my days of reading Goosebumps at school, and reading The Devouring has given me the bug to read more!


Muireanne is a fantastic character, and I felt like we really got to experience her state of mind, which was even more impactful given that the story was told in first person. First person narrative is something that would usually put me off - but it was executed perfectly in this case, and I can't imagine the story being told in any other way. 


The stories within the story were the exact right level of spooky, and I liked that they erred more towards a psychological thriller in nature. 


It's the perfect soft horror, that even readers who aren't horror fans would enjoy! I would recommend that everybody give this book a go - you won't regret it. 


Five stars!

[Bree]

Wow. I just finished this 300 plus page book in one day..but it was impossible to put down. This book slowly unfolds the story of the gathering of women to share thier tragic and terrifying tales. Fine wine and delicious foods are shared, but underneath all of the sparkle lies the darkness that these women are desperate to cover up. The stories that they share actually scared me. Look over your shoulder type of scared. The slow crawling scares that slowly build with each story explode into full terror for the climactic ending. Overall, I want to recommend this book to any horror lover. If you scare easily though, maybe save this one for the pros🤣

[Kimberly]

I enjoy the "stories within a larger story" framework. Some of the individual stories were great, others just didn't resonate as well.

[Tony Dure]

A great read

This book should be read when the rain is pelting down, late at night, with lightning, brightening the room.
Be prepared to read each tale as the night draws on-and hope you can sleep without dreams

[Yai]

Devoured the book

Read the book in one day. It has been a while since the last time I did not sleep to keep reading. Not 5 stars because I saw the twist coming but nonetheless it was good.

[Josette Thomas]

This is not a feel good story. There are elements of horror, revenge and mystery. As each story is told, the reader can feel that something is about to change. Why would a rich woman ask for her cleaner to come to her ‘gathering’? Each woman at this lady’s house has a really terrifying story to share. Yet no one really asked how the cleaner felt about supernatural or anything about her life. As the evening wore on, the women only drank more and when the cleaner was ready to go home the tension ramped up. Then it happened. The real reason for the invite. The betrayal happened fast and unapologetic. When you find out the reason for the need for a stranger; you will be shocked. Read this book to find out the shocking end!

[R. S.]

Superb 😱👻

[Ren]

thoroughly enjoyable and unique experience but to me in a way the ending was somewhat predictable, didn’t change the fact it was great though

[Elizabeth]

Couldn’t put it down. Highlights for me were the depiction of the GP receptionists and the reaction of all the fellas when they encountered the ghosties. Still gutted about poor Mabel though.

[Andrew Scotter]

New favourite author

A different take on a horror story, a real page turner from the start and couldn't put it down. Brilliant story telling !

[Corryn]

Enjoyed that ending!

[Nicola Cox]

I’d rate this 3.75 it’s a family group who each have a story and they sit together at a gathering and tell there stories the last one is a shocking one and is a twist I wasn’t expecting it’s on kindle unlimited aswell it reads really quick I’d recommend this book

[Rebecca Griffiths]

Brilliant and Haunting; I can’t believe this is Ruth S. Cunningham’s debut novel!

I’m not usually a fan of the horror genre, but The Devouring completely pulled me in from the first page. I finished it in only two sittings (something I almost never do) which speaks to just how gripping Ruth S. Cunningham’s writing is. For a debut novel, this feels polished, confident and deeply unsettling in the best possible way.
What impressed me most is how Cunningham manages to sustain tension across a single night. The entire story unfolds over the course of just a few hours, yet she layers dread and suspense so effectively that it feels both expansive and claustrophobic at the same time. The confined setting of a dinner party, where a group of middle-aged women gather together to share their own haunting stories, makes the tension all the more claustrophobic, yet Cunningham manages to keep the pacing taut, with each chapter tightening the sense of unease until the plot twist is revealed at the end.
Cunningham also captures the dynamics of long friendships really well – including the tenderness but also the undercurrent of secrets that bind and divide them. That emotional realism makes the supernatural elements even more chilling because the reader feels deeply invested in these women and the fates their stories seem to foreshadow.
Throughout the whole novel, I was eagerly trying to guess how this novel would end by picking out the clues along the way and piecing together possible outcomes. But, despite my best efforts, I was unable to predict the final twist – and when it came, it was both shocking and perfectly fitting.
Overall, The Devouring is a truly brilliant debut that exceeded every expectation. It’s a haunting, tightly crafted story that horror fans will adore, but even readers who, like me, don’t usually gravitate toward the genre should give it a chance. I can’t wait to see what Ruth S. Cunningham writes next!

[Annette Megaughin-Helder]

When a middle class Belfast woman hosts a dinner party, pretentiously calling it a gathering, and invites not only her perfect middle class friends but also her simple cleaner, more than a few eyebrows are raised. Not in the least from the cleaner herself, who has no idea why she gets asked to attend, but isn’t brave enough to decline.

It’s all a bit weird, especially when the guests all take turns to tell creepy ghost stories. And some of them are behaving really odd. There is tension in the air, and the hostess is overly chipper for someone whose sister is supposedly gravely ill.

The stories they tell are very interesting but also unsettling. The cleaner copes by drinking more than she should and eating her body weight in posh food she wouldn’t be able to afford to buy for herself. She is relieved to be told she doesn’t need to contribute a story, just listen to the ramblings of the other women.

When the night finally comes to end, and one of the nicer guests offers her a lift home, she is glad to make her escape.

What happens next takes this collection of ghost stories to a whole other dimension!

I don’t normally read horror-like books so wouldn’t have picked this up if it hadn’t been an ARC read. I am glad I did though. It was a very good read and you would never know that it’s the authors first book!

The stories are varied and draw you in. They aren’t so scary to me that they will keep me up at night, but if they were filmed that would probably a whole other experience!

The twist at the end is unexpected and therefore really good and well thought out.

I would totally recommend this book for fans of paranormal, occult or ghostly books.

I received this book as an ARC but the review is my own opinion and non-biased

[Ethan Williams]

The Devouring is one of those rare books that completely consumes you fitting, given the title. Set in a quiet Belfast suburb, the story begins innocently enough: a group of women gather under the glow of fairy lights for an evening of ghost stories and wine. But what starts as lighthearted fun quickly spirals into something darker, more sinister, and utterly unforgettable. By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked and by the last page, I was genuinely shaken.
What makes The Devouring so effective is how real it feels. The characters are authentic, flawed, and deeply human. Their friendships, secrets, and vulnerabilities unfold naturally, making the horror that follows all the more chilling. When the supernatural begins to seep into their world, it doesn’t feel forced it feels inevitable, as though the darkness has simply been waiting for an invitation.
The tension builds beautifully. Each chapter tightens the grip, blending psychological unease with spine-tingling suspense. The author masterfully blurs the line between what’s real and imagined, leaving both the characters and the reader questioning everything. The atmosphere from the flicker of candlelight to the quiet dread in every whispered word is crafted so vividly that it feels cinematic.
Beyond the scares, the novel explores themes of guilt, repression, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. It’s not just about the ghosts that haunt us, but the truths we try to bury. The ending left me breathless not just because of its twist, but because of the emotional weight behind it.
The Devouring is haunting, intelligent, and impossible to forget. It’s the kind of horror that lingers not in your nightmares, but in your thoughts long after the final page is turned.

[Biddyshannon]

I devoured this book

What a great horror story. I read it in one sitting. I look forward to reading further work from this author.