Pareidolia

by Damir Salkovic

Disgraced celebrity biographer Don Ruby’s life has hit the skids. When he’s offered a contract with a reputable publishing house, he’s sure there’s been a misunderstanding. When he goes to clear things up with the actual writer in question, Don finds him dead of apparent suicide. On impulse, he pockets the man’s notes and embarks on the writing project himself—a biography of a once-famous director of B-rated horror films, Victor Hudson. To be more specific, Hudson’s legendary lost movie, The Unveiling.

The more Don learns about the film, the more disassociated he becomes from reality. Disturbing visions encroach on his every waking thought. He’s sure he’s being possessed, becoming a stranger inside his own head. But with the progress he’s making, he can’t stop now. After hours of research and countless interviews with Hudson’s surviving collaborators, Don begins unearthing pieces of the truth—including Hudson’s ties to an obscure cult from the 1960s.

It’s only the beginning. The cult is far from extinguished, and somehow Don is slowly being dragged into the depths of half- seen horrors. There’s something that wants to be reborn…and it needs Don to do it.

Genres: Horror

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2025

Reviews

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book scared the bejesus out of me. That is rare. Mr. Damir Salkovic, where have you been hiding? Please take note of this author's name. Hopefully, he will thrill you, too.

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was delightful in a grim sort of way.

If you enjoyed Silver Nitrate but wished it had been a little more trippy and had a little more action, or if you wish it had a love child with a Stephen King novel, this one is going to be for you.

The pacing was really solid for most of the book and for someone who, like me, enjoys exploring the horror of losing control of one's own body and lost media this book really is a little treat. If you're familiar with my reviews you're probably well aware that I have a very soft spot for characters doing any sort of detection work while also having a substance abuse problem, well Salkovic also treated me on that front. Long story short, this book hits a ton of beats that I just love so it was almost like reading something that was tailor made to keep me interested.

I loved the style, the character, the weirdness, and how grimy things felt. It also has moments where it's very atmospheric and uncomfortable. The prose is generally polished and feels quite intentional.

My only problem with this book is that the pacing was a little off near the end and the story dragged a little in the last quarter but it was really not enough to diminish my overall enjoyment of this book. Also I swear I wrote this review well over a month ago but somehow there is no trace of it... weird. Anyways, 4.5 rounded up.

I received a free digital review copy of this book through BookSirens.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Pareidolia" is an ambitious horror novel done really, really well. The theme of cursed artifacts is employed to great effect, drawing on psychological, cult, cosmic and weird horror as well. The main character is intentionally unlikeable, but portrayed with so much care, attention to detail and empathy, I soon found myself following his exploits with interest and compassion. The whole idea of one's spiraling for very obscure (and perhaps undecideable) reasons, where addiction and the occult have an equal say in one's shaping of reality - this was conveyed compellingly, skillfully and, I might say, with intriguing originality: the framing device of “pareidolia” itself (discovering meaning that may not be there, out of patterns and randomness) allowed for some creepy moments to arise out of a completely fragmentary notion of experience. The atmosphere of suspicion, the unreliability of the narrator himself, and that ending - the book turns right before one's eyes into a series of ambiguities without ever giving up on meaning, bordering on Lovecraftian explorations of cosmic terror and drawing on weird fever dreams of fictional authorship of one's worldly presence. Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joseph Wadas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a dark, addictive find. I’m a sucker for stories about cursed movies, and watching a washed-up writer steal a dead man's notes only to get sucked into a literal occult nightmare was gripping. The way the B-movie lore blends with the protagonist's crumbling sanity kept me hooked until the very last page.

[עצוב שיכור · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pareidolia is that thing your brain does when it desperately tries to convince you that the stain on your ceiling is Cronos off Venom singing "Warhead", the shadow in the corner is Satan, or the bloke down the pub actually knows what he's talking about. It's a gloriously faulty piece of biological engineering when biology laughs at us.

"Pareidolia" is also the title of a novel by Damir Salkovic. I had to copy and paste his name because life's too short to memorise consonants arranged by what appears to be a committee. Fortunately, reading the book requires considerably less effort than pronouncing the author's surname.

The whole thing immediately brought "Eyes Wide Shut" to mind. Which is wildly awkward, because I still haven't actually seen "Eyes Wide Shut". I do have a rough idea about the plot though. Enough to nod thoughtfully whenever someone mentions Kubrick muttering something about masks, desire and the death of "bourgeois certainty".

The story itself is exactly the sort of lunatic premise that either detonates spectacularly or becomes something genuinely memorable. Magic. Ancient entities lurking behind reality. A mythical horror film that was supposed to transform a second-rate director into the next cinematic messiah before vanishing so completely it might never have existed in the first place. Then there's Don Ruby, who's hired to write a non-fiction book about this impossible film, and before long you're knee-deep in conspiracies, occult weirdness and that delicious sensation that reality has quietly fucked up while nobody was paying attention.

This sort of thing is like a pint of IPA to me. It's like someone took Barker, Lovecraft, a crate of VHS tapes, and the collective paranoia of every obsessive film nerd who's ever paused a frame to see if the devil was hiding in the background, and tossed all that shit in the blender.

And here's the genuinely surprising bit: it actually works. It doesn't collapse under the weight of its own cleverness. It doesn't disappear up its own metaphysical asshole. It simply keeps tightening the screws until you're happily following the investigation wherever it decides to drag you because this is exactly why some people read horror in the first place. Right, I'd tell you more, but that would be like explaining the punchline before the joke.

Four and a half stars rounded up. Marvellous. More of this sort of madness, please.

NEXT!

[Ali zabala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, the cover didn't appeal to me at all; it's awful and needs changing. What drew me to the novel was the excellent description and the title!
Pareidolia presents a bleak psychological experience that blends meta-narrative horror, identity fragmentation, and an obsession with cursed art. Its protagonist, Don Robey, a discredited biographer, suddenly finds himself presented with an unexpected opportunity to return to the literary scene. But this opportunity quickly turns into a curse when he discovers that the original author of the project has committed suicide. Don then seizes his notes and immerses himself in writing a biography of a B-movie horror director, Victor Hudson, focusing particularly on his legendary, lost film, The Unveiling.
The novel's strength lies in its slow, deliberate psychological build-up. The deeper Don delves into his research, the more the boundaries between reality and hallucination blur. Disturbing visions, a loss of self-control, and a growing sense of possession are all crafted in a way that suggests the reader is complicit in this mental slide. The concept of “pareidolia” seeing patterns and meanings in random objects is used not only as a title but also as a narrative tool that explains how the mind constructs terrifying meaning from scattered fragments.
The novel also succeeds in expanding the horizons of horror through a mysterious sectarian thread that harks back to the 1960s, confirming that evil is not a extinguished memory but an entity awaiting a medium to resurface. Here, Don transforms from a researcher into a tool, from a writer into a ritual of revival. The horror in Pareidolia is not loud or bloody, but subtle, creeping, based on suggestion and suspicion.
Salkovich’s style is concise and intelligent, appealing to readers of psychological and cosmic horror alike, especially those interested in the idea of ​​“art that looks at you as much as you look at it.” A relatively short novel, yet profoundly impactful, it leaves the reader with a disquieting question: Do we uncover secrets… or do secrets choose us?

[Jessica Jesinghaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dizzying fever dream of obsession, addiction, and desperation

When we meet Don Ruby he's at the end of his rope. A disgraced novelist, he's hanging on by a thread. Alcohol is his only coping mechanism, and it has overtaken his life. When he's pitched the idea of writing a book which centers on a lost, never-before-seen horror film by a now-forgotten auteur he sees it as the opportunity he's been waiting for: a way back into the limelight. To be respected again and heralded as the genius he is... it's a lure he cannot ignore.

But what ensues as he chases down the history of those involved in the doomed film is a fever dream of epic proportions. Are they dreams? Is it all really happening, orchestrated by a shadowy cabal? Are supernatural forces conspiring to bring him to his doom? Or is it all just a product of his alcoholism, the consequence of his spiraling addiction paired with desperate hope? As the author so aptly put it: "It no longer mattered what was real and what wasn’t." Don must fight to escape the doom he's set in motion... Everything feels as if it's a consequece of his addictions: to alcohol, to his quest for redemption, or to the (figurative or literal?) demons nipping at his heels.

It's hard to say more without spoiling the book's twists & turns. I will say Don isn't a very likeable man, but despite that the author made him relatable. I could underatand his desperation and found myself rooting for his success, despite the cosmic odds. Don's nightmares (hallucinations? reality?) were a visceral thing and kept drawing me deeper into his journey.

Final rating: 4.5

**I received an free copy of this book via Revvue.co for which I voluntarily chose to write an unbiased review.**

[Joey Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pareidolia is the kind of horror that creeps under your skin quietly and stays there. Rather than relying on shock or gore, this book builds dread through atmosphere, implication, and the slow unraveling of a damaged mind brushing up against something it was never meant to see.
The story follows a disgraced writer circling the margins of relevance, alcohol, and regret, who stumbles into a mystery tied to forgotten horror films and people who seem to vanish along with them. What starts as grimly realistic literary fiction gradually mutates into something far more unsettling. The horror emerges organically, blurring the line between obsession, coincidence, and the supernatural in a way that feels disturbingly plausible.
The prose is sharp, moody, and confident, with an almost cinematic sense of pacing. There’s a strong love letter here to cult horror and lost media, but it never becomes indulgent or self-referential. Instead, it uses that backdrop to explore themes of anonymity, artistic decay, and the terrifying idea of being erased creatively and literally.

[Dilbatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pareidolia is a slow-burning, unsettling psychological horror that creeps under your skin rather than relying on shock. Don Ruby is a deeply flawed but fascinating protagonist, and his descent from disgraced biographer into something far darker feels disturbingly believable. I really enjoyed how the mystery of Victor Hudson’s lost film unfolds through interviews, research, and fragmented clues, blurring the line between obsession and possession. The cult elements and creeping visions add a strong Lovecraftian undertone without feeling derivative. The pacing is deliberately measured and may feel slow for some, but the mounting dread and eerie atmosphere make it a rewarding read. A haunting exploration of identity, art, and the horrors that refuse to stay buried.

[Julie Jordan]

Pareidolia is seeing something that is usually familiar but in random patterns. Think schizophrenia.

Don happens upon an unbelievable find, notes for a book on a movie producer and film, but they belong to a dead man. He takes them but that wasn’t the best idea. Karma hits him ten fold.

When Don starts looking into a forgotten film called “The Unveiling,” he feels he is losing his mind. Could a 60’s cult still exist and what does it want with or from him?

Worth a look if you like creepy and different.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Linda Meris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a psychometrist (reading people’s belongings thru objects). I watch many paranormal programs and love reading books of this kind. Sometimes one should be careful, as in this case, taking possessions of deceased soul not personally known. But this writing was very exciting. It delved into one’s haunting obsession to finish a writing project. The slow buildup, with weird visions, is how the writer Don Ruby slowly succumbs to madness. I truly hope to see a film based on this book, because it isn’t the typical jump out scare tactics and would be visually exciting. This is mind blowing cult terror, with one being driven into psychological horror.

[Brian Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pareidolia is a rare kind of horror novel. It begins with a simple investigation. Damir Salkovic writes with a quiet confidence that allows dread to accumulate in subtle, deliberate layers. The result is a story that feels intimate, hallucinatory, and deeply unsettling.
Don Ruby is a biographer whose curiosity becomes both his strength and his undoing. As he digs into the history of a lost horror film and the people who made it, he finds himself pulled into a world where art, ritual, and identity begin to blur. Salkovic charts Don’s mental and emotional decline with precision. His fears feel earned, and his discoveries feel dangerous.
The missing movie at the center of the story is not just a plot device. It is a symbol of obsession and a gateway into darker territory. Salkovic uses the mythology of forgotten cinema to explore how images can influence, distort, and consume. The idea that a film can hold more than what appears on the screen gives the novel its eerie pulse.
The occult society that shadows the narrative is not a caricature. It is a network of seekers who treat ritual as performance and performance as transformation. Their philosophy is seductive and corrosive, and Salkovic avoids the usual tropes. Instead, he presents a group whose beliefs feel intellectual, dangerous, and psychologically infectious.
The novel’s most striking moments take place in liminal spaces where reality bends. Salkovic excels at creating scenes that feel dreamlike without losing narrative clarity. The horror comes from the sense that the world is shifting in ways the reader can almost understand. Pareidolia itself becomes a narrative engine, as Don begins to see patterns everywhere.
Salkovic writes with restraint. He does not rely on shock or spectacle. Instead, he builds tension through atmosphere, character, and the slow erosion of certainty. The novel’s final movements leave the reader with a sense of unresolved dread, which is exactly the right note for a story about the dangers of interpretation.
Pareidolia is a sophisticated and atmospheric work of psychological horror. It blends occult mystery with metafictional tension and uses the language of film and art to explore the fragile boundary between perception and reality. Salkovic delivers a novel that is both intelligent and haunting, and it lingers in the mind long after the book is closed.
Five stars. A cerebral and deeply immersive descent into the shadows of the human mind.

[Mindy Mather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely pulled me in and kept me invested from beginning to end. What starts as the story of a disgraced biographer trying to reclaim his career quickly turns into something much darker, stranger, and far more unsettling than I expected.

The gradual shift from professional opportunity to psychological unraveling was handled incredibly well.

Don Ruby is such a compelling protagonist because he feels flawed and human. He is desperate for redemption, which makes his decision to take the dead writer’s notes and continue the project both understandable and ominous.

You can feel his determination to prove himself again, even as things around him start to feel wrong. His slow descent into confusion and fear never feels rushed.

Instead, it creeps in gradually, making every strange moment more believable and disturbing.

The mystery surrounding Victor Hudson and his lost film was fascinating. The idea of a forgotten horror director and a missing movie with a dark history creates an eerie atmosphere that lingers throughout the entire story.

Each new revelation adds another layer of intrigue, especially as the connections to the cult begin to surface.

The deeper Don digs, the more unsettling everything becomes, and it creates a constant sense of tension that kept me turning pages.

What I loved most was how the story blurs the line between reality and something supernatural. The visions, the paranoia, and Don’s growing sense that he is losing control of himself make it impossible to know what is real and what isn’t.

That uncertainty makes the experience immersive and gripping. You feel like you are unraveling the mystery alongside him.

The pacing was excellent, always revealing just enough to keep the intrigue alive without giving too much away too quickly. It builds a sense of dread and anticipation that grows stronger with every chapter.

Overall, this was an incredibly intriguing and engaging read. It combines psychological tension, mystery, and supernatural horror in a way that keeps you fully invested in Don’s journey. I found myself completely absorbed in the story and eager to see how everything would unfold.

This is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys stories about obsession, hidden truths, and the dangerous cost of uncovering secrets that were never meant to be found.

[A. Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as an ePub on my MacBook Book app. The flow was smooth and immersive, and the formatting helped me get lost in the atmosphere without any distractions. This is the kind of book that really benefits from a clean digital format, since the tone builds slowly and draws you in the longer you read. Right from the start, there’s a strong sense of unease that hangs over everything. Lines like “Spiritualism and occultism had made a comeback.” set the mood right away and show that this isn’t just a typical mystery. The story keeps building on that unsettling feeling. At one point, it describes “A tale of minor Hollywood players indulging in obscure depravity; two deaths, a suicide, a disappearance, all linked by an unfinished movie,” which really sums up the eerie, investigative mood of the book.

What I liked most was how the mood stays the same throughout. Descriptions like “Walls and ceiling replaced the starless night sky” and “One can guess at what unhallowed rites took place beneath its roof” create a spooky feeling that stays with you. The tension grows slowly instead of using surprises, and even simple moments feel important. There’s also a sense of urgency and dread running through the story, especially in lines like “He didn’t dare think what would happen if he failed to turn the manuscript in on time.” This keeps the stakes personal, even as the mystery grows bigger. Overall, this was a strong and absorbing read. The epub format made it easy to get into the story, and the writing keeps a steady, moody tension that makes you want to keep reading. It’s thoughtful, creepy, and quietly exciting in a way that stays with you after you finish.

[Edmond Thornfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pareidolia is an ambitious, psychologically driven work of horror that privileges atmosphere, interiority, and ambiguity over conventional scares. Framed as a disgraced biographer’s descent into obsession while researching a lost cult film, the novel excels at cultivating unease and blurring the boundary between perception, memory, and the supernatural. The stream-of-consciousness narration is often effective, evoking a disintegrating mind and recalling the density of literary modernists such as Faulkner—here, mercifully, with careful punctuation and clarity of sentence.

That said, the execution does not always match the ambition. The prose occasionally mixes British and American English without clear stylistic intent, and lapses in dialogue attribution and formatting suggest the need for firmer editorial oversight. The narrative also tends to meander, delaying a clear inciting incident or sense of forward momentum, which may frustrate readers accustomed to more traditional pacing. At times, the sheer volume of tangential interior detail requires rereading to follow the action.

Still, readers who appreciate slow-burn psychological horror, unreliable narration, and literary experimentation will find Pareidolia a thoughtful, unsettling experience that lingers well beyond its final page.

[Huey Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Pareidolia by Damir Salkovic, and wow, it's a seriously unsettling psychological horror story. No big jump scares or gore here—instead, it slowly chips away at your sense of what's real until you're left doubting everything.

The main character, Don Ruby, is a once-successful writer who's now a struggling alcoholic, lost in obscurity. As his life unravels, weird, subtle things start happening that build this quiet, creeping dread that really gets under your skin.

Forget the Gore, Fear Your Own Mind

The writing is fantastic—precise, atmospheric, and great at showing what it's like to be drunk and foggy, stuck in half-dreams, or realizing your own mind is betraying you. The pacing is slow and deliberate, building tension through psychology rather than action. It might frustrate people who want fast thrills, but if you stick with it, the unease becomes almost suffocating.

This one's perfect for fans of slower-burn authors like Ramsey Campbell, Thomas Ligotti, or early Stephen King—horror about losing control of your own perceptions and life, not monsters or violence.
Don feels like a real, messy person: bitter, self-aware, and painfully vulnerable, which makes the horror hit emotionally.

Overall, it's a smart, creepy dive into identity and mental collapse. Highly recommend if you prefer mind-bending over bloody.

[Gary Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Horrors We Ingest

Pareidolia by Damir Salkovic is a metafictional horror novel that finds its terror not in monsters, but in the act of storytelling itself. The protagonist, a disgraced biographer, commits a parasitic act: he steals the identity and unfinished project of a dead writer. His subject is a forgotten director of B horror films and a legendary lost movie. As the biographer reconstructs the film, he deconstructs his own sanity.

The narrative is a double excavation. The biographer digs into the arcana of cults and cinematic history, while the story he uncovers digs into him. Salkovic masterfully charts this erosion of self, where research becomes obsession and obsession becomes possession. The horror is cerebral, rooted in the gradual, chilling realization that one is becoming a vessel for a narrative older and more malevolent than one's own.

This is a story about the dangerous intimacy between creator and subject, and the unsettling truth that in seeking to document a mystery, one often becomes its latest chapter. The novel suggests that some stories are less told than transmitted, and that the most profound horror lies in the loss of authorship over one's own mind.

[Sotto Voce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea what to think after reading this book. I’m not a fan of the horror genre, but I appreciate a good story.

This book pulls me in and throws me into a swirling madness as I follow the protagonist's story. There are times when I’m not sure what is real and what is not, whether he is an unreliable narrator, a drunk, or the most sane person in a room.

The plot is quite close to home, as I myself am a struggling writer, well, of course, I don’t have the previous glory, but it’s very interesting to see the madness unravelled behind a simple concept: a contract that comes at the right time.

This book is full of vivid imagery. I was wary as I read along, not knowing whether the ending would be satisfying. There were times when I felt helpless with a prolonged journey that felt a bit repetitive, but it didn’t last long.

I have read a few of Damir’s books, and I have to say I haven’t been disappointed. I have become a fan of his work, his style, and the richness of his storytelling. I know I wouldn’t be disappointed.

The book has everything horror fans need. In reality, with the mysteriousness around some films in real life, the most notable one being The Exorcist, this story feels too real. I’m glad I read this book mostly during day time.

[Guy Eventov]

This is a powerful slow-burn horror novel that focuses on atmosphere, psychological tension, and creeping unease rather than jump scares. The story follows Don Ruby, a disgraced writer whose attempt to rebuild his career leads him into the disturbing history of a lost horror film and the dark forces connected to it. His struggles with addiction, identity, and reality add emotional depth and make his character feel believable, even when he’s not always likable.

The book excels at building a constant sense that something is wrong beneath the surface. The line between reality, memory, hallucination, and possible supernatural influence is intentionally blurred, which adds to the tension and keeps the story feeling unpredictable. The mystery surrounding the lost film, the cult connections, and Don’s growing detachment from reality create a strong, immersive mood throughout.

The pacing is deliberate and steady, allowing the dread and psychological pressure to build naturally. This strategy will probably be appreciated by readers who like introspective, eerie horror that lingers after you've finished reading it.

All things considered, this is an unforgettable and engrossing horror book that skillfully balances mood, character psychology, and gradually increasing tension.

[Mark Smeltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've got one or two more of his books to read, but so far this might be Salkovic's most fully realized work. This is a deliberately paced, intimate horror novel following a biographer in pursuit of details about the life of an enigmatic auteur filmmaker. As this biographer-turned-detective probes more deeply into the circumstances of a slasher film that was never made (or at least never released), he quickly learns that some mysteries are better left unsolved. Almost from the word go, it's clear that Don Ruby's story isn't going to end well.

In many ways, this is a more developed, complete treatment of some of the same themes explored in Salkovic's "In Lost Country and Other Divergences." We've got a writer landing a dream gig of dubious origins, tasked with following increasingly darker clues to unravel the world of a secretive art form; we've got a lonely mansion in the middle of the woods; we've got forces moving beyond the visible borders of the world. But these elements are genre staples for a reason, and Salkovic wields them skillfully to bring this atmospheric tale to a definitive and satisfying conclusion--and that is NOT a genre staple. All too many novels in this tradition tend to fumble the ending, and this is certainly not the case here. Recommended.

[William Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

striking, introspective work that lingers long after the final page. At its core, the book explores the deeply human tendency to search for meaning in chaos—to see patterns where none may exist, and to find purpose in moments that feel fractured or surreal. Salkovic writes with a quiet intensity, blending psychological depth with poetic observation, creating a narrative that feels both intimate and unsettling in the best way.

What makes Pareidolia especially compelling is its ability to mirror the reader’s own inner landscape. The prose often feels reflective, almost meditative, drawing attention to the fragile line between perception and reality. There’s a constant tension between what is real and what is projected, making the reader question how much of life is interpretation rather than truth.

Salkovic’s writing style is deliberate and atmospheric, allowing emotion to build slowly rather than relying on dramatic excess. The themes of identity, perception, and internal struggle are handled with maturity and restraint, giving the book a quiet power that grows stronger the more you sit with it.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a jump-scare kind of horror book, but slow and uncomfortable in a way that sneaks up on you. It’s the kind of story where you’re never quite sure what’s real, what’s imagined, and whether that even matters,and that’s very much the point.
The atmosphere is the real star here. There’s a constant feeling that something is off, even when nothing obvious is happening. The book leans hard into perception, memory, and the way our brains try to make sense of things that don’t quite add up. I found myself second-guessing scenes and rereading parts, which added to the unease.
That said, it won’t be for everyone. The pacing is slow, and the story doesn’t hold your hand. If you like clear answers, neat endings, or traditional horror structure, this might feel frustrating at times. The ambiguity is intentional, but it can feel heavy if you’re not in the right mood for it..
Overall, I really enjoyed it. It stuck with me after I finished, which is more than I can say for a lot of horror novels. If you like psychological, unsetling stories that mess with your head more than they scare you outright, this book is worth checking out.

[Allen Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pareidolia is a dark, introspective psychological novel that deliberately plays on the blurred boundary between perception and reality. The story follows a fragile, trauma-marked mind, where memories, visions, and subjective interpretations overlap until every event feels ambiguous and potentially unreliable.

The concept of pareidolia is not merely thematic but structural: the human need to impose meaning on chaos becomes the true driving force of the narrative. The style is fragmented and often claustrophobic, fully consistent with the protagonist’s mental state, but demanding for the reader. There are no reassuring explanations or conventional plot turns.

The novel succeeds in conveying unease and psychological tension with restraint and coherence, but it requires attention and a willingness to live with uncertainty. The ending, deliberately open, refuses any form of comforting resolution.

Pareidolia is an intense and consistent read, recommended for those who appreciate psychological and unsettling fiction. It is less suitable for readers seeking a linear plot or immediate entertainment.

[Giovanni Menicocci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Ruby’s story would be that of a simple biographer in decline, were it not for the darkness that awaits him. Starting from a meta-literary premise (a novel about a novelist), Pareidolia then shifts toward horror territory.

The stolen notes mark the beginning of Don’s descent into a project that will become his damnation: if reconstructing the story of The Unveiling – the lost film by director Victor Hudson, a forgotten master of B-movie horror – is his objective, the suspense that Damir Salkovic infuses into the narrative is well-calibrated.

The novel works because it doesn’t offer easy answers. It doesn’t over-explain, doesn’t translate horror into something comprehensible. The “invisible horrors” remain as such, evoked but never fully revealed. While Don’s research, with its endless interviews and archival investigations, risks at times slowing the tension, the horror element balances out this unevenness. A book worth reading, for how it merges artistic obsession with psychological abyss.

[Henri Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book pull you deep into a spooky story about don ruby, a washed-up biographer who steal a dead guys notes to write about forgotten horror director victor hudson and his mysterious lost film the unveiling. as don dig in, he start seeing weird visions and feel like somethings taking over his mind, tying back to a creepy 1960s cult thats not really gone. the terror build slow through his research and interviews, making everyday stuff turn sinister without big jumpscares. i like how it blend old movie lore with questions about whats real and whats just in your head, like seeing faces in random patterns. the hero doubts his own sanity step by step, and the cult secrets add a layer of ancient evil waiting to wake up. solid pick for lovers of brainy scares that linger, though the pacing drag a bit in middle and ending wrap up quick. dark and addictive, perfect for late-night reads if you enjoy tales where art curse the artist.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damir Salkovic delivers a haunting psychological thriller that explores the dangerous intersection of lost media and obsessive research. I found the technical handling of the unreliable narrator trope excellent, as Don Rubys descent from a disgraced biographer to a vessel for something ancient mirrors the very disassociation he is documenting. The narrative excels in building a sense of folk horror through the investigation of Victor Hudsons cult ties, effectively blurring the lines between a Hollywood exposé and a supernatural ritual. I was particularly struck by the honesty in depicting the protagonists ethical collapse—pocketing a dead mans notes—as the catalyst for a much darker possession. It is a gripping and atmospheric exploration of how some truths are better left buried, ideal for readers who enjoy stories where the pursuit of a legendary lost film leads to a reality-shattering revelation

[Kelsi Smirlies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely love the idea of this book. A lot of the plot is exactly what I hoped for, but there are multiple plot lines to follow, which I wasn't expecting. Definitely not a bad thing, but something to keep in mind before going into it.

This is also not an easy read. It definitely challenged my mind and my vocabulary. The author uses some very descriptive language, often using some uncommon words which occasionally took me out of the story a little bit. I would have liked to see the characters' dialogue be a little bit more distinct from one another. I found it hard to believe that a stumbling drunk former movie starlet would use some of the words that she did.

Ultimately, I would recommend this book if you want something that will challenge you in multiple (good) ways. I would have given 4 stars if the complex writing didn't take me out of the story as often as it did, but that is very much a me problem!

[Jessy Carlisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror is always best paced slow and this one does to the reader's mind what Don has happening to his. I wouldn't exactly call it an ideal way to process trauma. If his troubling visions don't echo in your dreams, maybe you're not reading close enough to bedtime.

I thought the pseudo-religious angle added an intriguing element. Why is it people never know when to stay away from a cult? I loved the personification (if that's the right word in this context) of evil.

In dark mode the epub I received for review worked as intended, showing light text on a dark background, and I quite liked the font choice. After the final chapter, there's a brief paragraph about the author, his cats and other books.

I think this book could be improved by titling each chapter and adding a Contents screen for ease of navigation. The absence of those things almost caused me to knock it down a star but, given the quality of the plot, I just couldn't do that.

[Thinker Mindset · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is WILD, man. Pareidolia is about a failed writer who agrees to write a book about horror movies. Sounds normal, right? Wrong. The rest is unexpected. I wont give u any spoiler. You need to read to know more...
The author is really good at making you feel trapped with the main character. The writing is dark and atmospheric, and it creeps up on you slowly. The mystery keeps you wanting to turn pages that is why i could not realize it is 300+ pages book.
But i need to mention It's pretty long and slow in places and that is the reason i had to skim a bit The horror is psychological, so if you want action you'll be disappointed. The ending leaves you with a lot of questions that don't get answered, which might frustrate you.
This isn't a regular horror book. If you like weird, mind-bending horror, you'll love

[Gordon Blitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pareidolia is a nerve wracking novel obsession. Although not a traditional page turner, I had a sense of being in a chaotic world that fascinated me. I really got into the head of the unreliable narrator. The author’s skill showed by using fragmented language to mirror the whirlwind plot. Descriptions like-“Callaway snorted, hawked and spat” gives the readers, the paranoia present at all times during the story. Use of metaphors and simili’s are outstanding. Here is an example- “A featureless sky hovered over the landscape like lead dome over the world in which the shrunken, distant sun, struggled to break through. I have to admit I the resolution I was hoping for at the end didn’t come but as I thought about it, I came to appreciate the author not giving any easy answers.