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The Dark
'Gripping and thoroughly eerie' LUCIE MCKNIGHT HARDY
'Deliciously spinetingling' ANNA MAZZOLA
'The perfect ghostly web of claustrophobia and grief' ESSIE FOX
A SPINETINGLING SEASIDE FOLK HORROR NOVEL, SET ON THE YORKSHIRE COAST AGAINST THE 1970s BLACKOUTS
When the lights go out
You can lose sight of what is real . . .
It is the 1970s. A young woman, Rosie, moves to a small remote seaside village, readying to welcome her first child. But with her partner working away on an oil rig, the house isn't the sanctuary she'd hoped for - the situation made worse by the regular blackouts due to the ongoing miners' strikes. And the villagers seem friendly enough, but some of them are taking an uncomfortably close interest in her pregnancy.
Before long, Rosie notices strange noises and unexplained shadows in the corners of the cottage. As her birth date moves closer and the blackouts intensify, her isolation begins to consume her until she feels that she is losing her grip on reality.
But Rosie isn't the only one in the village who has cause to fear the dark . . .
'No one writes the supernatural quite like Amanda Mason. In The Dark the hauntings are visceral, underpinned by folklore, an evocative setting and a beautifully observed cast of characters' JESS KIDD, author of Little Spark and Things in Jars
'Hugely atmospheric - I absolutely loved it' ALISON LITTLEWOOD, author of The Hidden People
'I couldn't put it down' ALLY WILKES author of All the White Space
'Deliciously spinetingling' ANNA MAZZOLA
'The perfect ghostly web of claustrophobia and grief' ESSIE FOX
A SPINETINGLING SEASIDE FOLK HORROR NOVEL, SET ON THE YORKSHIRE COAST AGAINST THE 1970s BLACKOUTS
When the lights go out
You can lose sight of what is real . . .
It is the 1970s. A young woman, Rosie, moves to a small remote seaside village, readying to welcome her first child. But with her partner working away on an oil rig, the house isn't the sanctuary she'd hoped for - the situation made worse by the regular blackouts due to the ongoing miners' strikes. And the villagers seem friendly enough, but some of them are taking an uncomfortably close interest in her pregnancy.
Before long, Rosie notices strange noises and unexplained shadows in the corners of the cottage. As her birth date moves closer and the blackouts intensify, her isolation begins to consume her until she feels that she is losing her grip on reality.
But Rosie isn't the only one in the village who has cause to fear the dark . . .
'No one writes the supernatural quite like Amanda Mason. In The Dark the hauntings are visceral, underpinned by folklore, an evocative setting and a beautifully observed cast of characters' JESS KIDD, author of Little Spark and Things in Jars
'Hugely atmospheric - I absolutely loved it' ALISON LITTLEWOOD, author of The Hidden People
'I couldn't put it down' ALLY WILKES author of All the White Space
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Published October 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I read and reviewed The Hiding Place by Amanda Mason back in 2021, and absolutely loved it. I was delighted to get a pre publication copy of her latest; The Dark, from the publisher
I remember the power cuts and the darkness of the 1970s and there's something about this era that makes it absolutely perfect for a ghost story. It is a decade that seems to come with its own peculiar darkness, and Amanda Mason uses that brilliantly in The Dark. Add an isolated house, a small Yorkshire coastal village, local folklore, winter weather and the blackouts caused by the miners’ strikes, and I was completely sold.
Rosie is expecting her first child and has moved with her partner Isaac to Righteous House in the village where he grew up. Isaac works away on a North Sea oil rig, leaving Rosie alone for long periods in a place where she knows very few people. The villagers are interested in her, perhaps a little too interested at times, and then there is the house itself. Strange sounds, unexplained shadows and a creeping feeling that something is not quite as it should be begin to make Rosie question what is happening around her.
I loved the Yorkshire setting. That coastline, beautiful but bleak and exposed, and it works so well for gothic and ghostly tales. The author creates a real sense of isolation, not just inside Righteous House but in the village too. It feels like a place with memories, where stories have been passed down and old beliefs haven't entirely disappeared.
The 1970s detail is excellent. There are no mobile phones to reach for, no instant way of finding reassurance or company, and when the electricity goes off, the darkness really is dark. Those blackouts become increasingly claustrophobic and threatening. The author also captures the everyday details of the decade so well that the setting always feels so real. The attitudes, expectations and limitations placed upon women are just as important to Rosie's story as the period furnishings and power cuts.
I really enjoyed the uncertainty. Doubt seems to be everywhere. Is Rosie genuinely experiencing something inexplicable, or are loneliness, pregnancy and fear changing the way she sees the world around her? That question creates a lovely, creeping tension.
The Dark is wonderfully atmospheric folk horror, filled with unease and no cheap shocks. It is eerie, unsettling and steeped in its Yorkshire setting. And really, what could be better for a ghost story than a remote house on the coast in the 1970s, just as all the lights go out? Highly recommended.
I remember the power cuts and the darkness of the 1970s and there's something about this era that makes it absolutely perfect for a ghost story. It is a decade that seems to come with its own peculiar darkness, and Amanda Mason uses that brilliantly in The Dark. Add an isolated house, a small Yorkshire coastal village, local folklore, winter weather and the blackouts caused by the miners’ strikes, and I was completely sold.
Rosie is expecting her first child and has moved with her partner Isaac to Righteous House in the village where he grew up. Isaac works away on a North Sea oil rig, leaving Rosie alone for long periods in a place where she knows very few people. The villagers are interested in her, perhaps a little too interested at times, and then there is the house itself. Strange sounds, unexplained shadows and a creeping feeling that something is not quite as it should be begin to make Rosie question what is happening around her.
I loved the Yorkshire setting. That coastline, beautiful but bleak and exposed, and it works so well for gothic and ghostly tales. The author creates a real sense of isolation, not just inside Righteous House but in the village too. It feels like a place with memories, where stories have been passed down and old beliefs haven't entirely disappeared.
The 1970s detail is excellent. There are no mobile phones to reach for, no instant way of finding reassurance or company, and when the electricity goes off, the darkness really is dark. Those blackouts become increasingly claustrophobic and threatening. The author also captures the everyday details of the decade so well that the setting always feels so real. The attitudes, expectations and limitations placed upon women are just as important to Rosie's story as the period furnishings and power cuts.
I really enjoyed the uncertainty. Doubt seems to be everywhere. Is Rosie genuinely experiencing something inexplicable, or are loneliness, pregnancy and fear changing the way she sees the world around her? That question creates a lovely, creeping tension.
The Dark is wonderfully atmospheric folk horror, filled with unease and no cheap shocks. It is eerie, unsettling and steeped in its Yorkshire setting. And really, what could be better for a ghost story than a remote house on the coast in the 1970s, just as all the lights go out? Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Early 1970's, Isaac and Rosie move into an old quirky cottage in a small seaside village. Issac works away on the oil rigs and Rosie is getting to know the villagers. Whist at home alone Rosie begins to feel that something is off.
This is the third book now I've read by the author and is my least favourite, although I enjoyed most of the story.
What I did like as always was the small community with its superstitions. In this case its a cave and something called The Hob. Also been set in the 1970's with the power cuts bringing the village into darkness.
The story i felt was a slow burn but had the sense of dread slowly growing. The book did have a few creepy moments along the way.
I also felt that there were other storylines that were not explored enough. One was what had happened between three of the villagers, Linda, Rob and Phil. Also I was confused towards the end. I had no idea what was going on, whether it was paranoia or paranormal.
Overall this was a book I was super excited to read but I've been left feeling a little underwhelmed.
Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the book to review.
This is the third book now I've read by the author and is my least favourite, although I enjoyed most of the story.
What I did like as always was the small community with its superstitions. In this case its a cave and something called The Hob. Also been set in the 1970's with the power cuts bringing the village into darkness.
The story i felt was a slow burn but had the sense of dread slowly growing. The book did have a few creepy moments along the way.
I also felt that there were other storylines that were not explored enough. One was what had happened between three of the villagers, Linda, Rob and Phil. Also I was confused towards the end. I had no idea what was going on, whether it was paranoia or paranormal.
Overall this was a book I was super excited to read but I've been left feeling a little underwhelmed.
Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the book to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Set in 1970s Britain against a backdrop of constant power cuts, The Dark by Amanda Mason follows Rosie, a young woman who has moved to her partner Isaac's hometown, a seaside village in Yorkshire.
With a baby on the way, the couple have recently purchased a small family home, Righteous House, which had been in the hands of a prominent family for generations. Getting the place ready for the new arrival proves difficult since Isaac's place of employment is an oil rig on the North Sea.
Preparing for the new arrival, however, slowly becomes the least of Rosie's worries when it becomes apparent that she's not alone in Righteous House. Isolated from a community she can't connect to, Rosie finds herself fighting for her sanity against a dark presence she can't explain.
Oh, this was nicely done. The 1970s setting was almost a character in its own right. In The Dark, each character featured was a product of their time, and the attitudes of that era shaped their interactions with each other in an impactful way. The frequent blackouts added fuel to an already highly atmospheric, often suffocating story.
After the attention-grabbing opener, Rosie's story started off at a slow trot, but the tension notched up perfectly right up to the final stretch.
Mason did a wonderful job showing a young woman mentally unravelling and becoming more isolated with almost every choice she makes in the presence of an ancient malevolent force. Despite her flaws, it was near impossible not to root for her. The same goes for the other villagers, who for all intents and purposes start off almost as background props.
Overall, this was an excellent read, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any fans of folk horror. Admittedly, while I would have liked a bit more attention on the mythology surrounding The Hob, the narrative didn't need it, as there was enough going on within the pages as it was.
With thanks to Bonnier Books for the ARC.
With a baby on the way, the couple have recently purchased a small family home, Righteous House, which had been in the hands of a prominent family for generations. Getting the place ready for the new arrival proves difficult since Isaac's place of employment is an oil rig on the North Sea.
Preparing for the new arrival, however, slowly becomes the least of Rosie's worries when it becomes apparent that she's not alone in Righteous House. Isolated from a community she can't connect to, Rosie finds herself fighting for her sanity against a dark presence she can't explain.
Oh, this was nicely done. The 1970s setting was almost a character in its own right. In The Dark, each character featured was a product of their time, and the attitudes of that era shaped their interactions with each other in an impactful way. The frequent blackouts added fuel to an already highly atmospheric, often suffocating story.
After the attention-grabbing opener, Rosie's story started off at a slow trot, but the tension notched up perfectly right up to the final stretch.
Mason did a wonderful job showing a young woman mentally unravelling and becoming more isolated with almost every choice she makes in the presence of an ancient malevolent force. Despite her flaws, it was near impossible not to root for her. The same goes for the other villagers, who for all intents and purposes start off almost as background props.
Overall, this was an excellent read, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any fans of folk horror. Admittedly, while I would have liked a bit more attention on the mythology surrounding The Hob, the narrative didn't need it, as there was enough going on within the pages as it was.
With thanks to Bonnier Books for the ARC.
October 13, 2026
3.25⭐️
October 14, 2026
Rosie is pregnant when she moves to an isolated seaside village with her partner, who works on an oil rig and is often away. She soon starts to feel unsettled in her new home.
I really liked the 1970s setting, and Amanda Mason does a good job of creating an eerie atmosphere. The isolation of the village, the blackouts, and the local folklore and superstitions all add to the unease. I enjoyed the hints of folk horror, but I did find the story a little too slow-paced. Although I appreciated the gradual build-up of dread, I wanted a bit more tension to keep me fully engaged.
Overall, I liked the creepy atmosphere, but the slow pace meant this wasn't quite the gripping read I hoped for. However, I'd recommend this if you like slow burn, atmospheric horror to read on a cold winter's night.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I really liked the 1970s setting, and Amanda Mason does a good job of creating an eerie atmosphere. The isolation of the village, the blackouts, and the local folklore and superstitions all add to the unease. I enjoyed the hints of folk horror, but I did find the story a little too slow-paced. Although I appreciated the gradual build-up of dread, I wanted a bit more tension to keep me fully engaged.
Overall, I liked the creepy atmosphere, but the slow pace meant this wasn't quite the gripping read I hoped for. However, I'd recommend this if you like slow burn, atmospheric horror to read on a cold winter's night.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
November 8, 2026
The Dark follows Rosie and Isaac after they move into a house whose previous occupant died by suicide. Rosie is pregnant and already somewhat isolated, removed from family and living in an insular town, setting the scene for her increasingly unsettling experiences. The novel immediately establishes a dark and gloomy atmosphere while also providing an interesting glimpse into how people lived during the 1970s.
I really enjoyed the time period as although it predates me, there was something nostalgic about it, particularly seeing some of the attitudes, customs and everyday life that continued into later periods. The initial pub scenes were a highlight in these regards. There are folk remedies, little superstitions and local beliefs woven throughout, which helped establish the feeling of a community with its own traditions and rules.
The book does a particularly good job of portraying how oppressive and all-encompassing the darkness is, using it as an effective source of horror. The idea of not being able to see what might be surrounding you is incredibly unsettling and the darkness becomes increasingly claustrophobic as Rosie becomes more isolated. The novel remains quite ambiguous for me, with it never completely settling whether the entity in the dark is a genuine entity or whether what is happening can be explained by collective fear, superstition and the beliefs of the village.
I also thought the book captured the isolating nature of pregnancy particularly well. Rosie is already an outsider when she arrives, and as the story progresses, she becomes increasingly ostracised by the villagers. What initially feels like suspicion and unease gradually develops into outright hostility, making it clear that she is never really going to be allowed into the fold, partly due to her pregnancy limiting how involved she can get in community life, but also due to her unmarried status. This isolation makes everything happening to her feel even more threatening because she has fewer and fewer people she can turn to.
Overall, The Dark was an atmospheric and unsettling horror story with a strong sense of place and period. I enjoyed the depiction of village life and the ambiguity around the dark’s true nature kept me questioning what was really happening.
I really enjoyed the time period as although it predates me, there was something nostalgic about it, particularly seeing some of the attitudes, customs and everyday life that continued into later periods. The initial pub scenes were a highlight in these regards. There are folk remedies, little superstitions and local beliefs woven throughout, which helped establish the feeling of a community with its own traditions and rules.
The book does a particularly good job of portraying how oppressive and all-encompassing the darkness is, using it as an effective source of horror. The idea of not being able to see what might be surrounding you is incredibly unsettling and the darkness becomes increasingly claustrophobic as Rosie becomes more isolated. The novel remains quite ambiguous for me, with it never completely settling whether the entity in the dark is a genuine entity or whether what is happening can be explained by collective fear, superstition and the beliefs of the village.
I also thought the book captured the isolating nature of pregnancy particularly well. Rosie is already an outsider when she arrives, and as the story progresses, she becomes increasingly ostracised by the villagers. What initially feels like suspicion and unease gradually develops into outright hostility, making it clear that she is never really going to be allowed into the fold, partly due to her pregnancy limiting how involved she can get in community life, but also due to her unmarried status. This isolation makes everything happening to her feel even more threatening because she has fewer and fewer people she can turn to.
Overall, The Dark was an atmospheric and unsettling horror story with a strong sense of place and period. I enjoyed the depiction of village life and the ambiguity around the dark’s true nature kept me questioning what was really happening.
November 3, 2026
Set in the 1970s again the background of a miner strike and intermittent blackouts. When Rosie and Isaac move to the remote village where he came from, they move into the home of a recently deceased elderly woman who kept up a family tradition of lighting an old storm lamp again the swallowing dark. With Isaac away for weeks at a time working on an oil rig, Rosie is left largely to herself in a village of strangers with her unfriendly mother-in-law being the only person she knows nearby. As Rosie's pregnancy moves further alongs, the oppressive darkness of the blackouts begins to take its toll and she has odd expectations, bearing noises in the house when there should be none and feeling a presence despite being alone. She eventually leans the lore of The Hob, dwelling within a nearby cave and which people ask favors from while leaving tokens and gifts. Rosie's grip on reality slips in the dark watches of the night.
I mostly liked this book. It was great in building a tense, spooky atmosphere. Where it fails is in payoff, or lack thereof. There are many hints at things that aren't quite right but very little in the way of confirmation it explanation. I get that not everything in a book should be explained in full, leaving some things for the reader to figure out, but I felt the author took that line of thinking too far here. Just one example: Early in the book, Rosie's mother-in-law, Nancy, is leaving Rosie's house when Rosie sees her stop and talked briefly to a mysterious hooded figure. I felt certain this would come back later as a plot point but, unless I missed it, it doesn't at all. Another example would be the opening chapter in which we experience the last night of the elderly woman whose home Rosie and Isaac will soon occupy. It seems to be that he dea brothers have come back as ghostsz which, like the mystery hooded figure, just never seems to have any part in the story going forward. Even the story of the Hob is a bit vague. I found myself wishing there'd been a bit more clarity. Still, it was a quick and enjoyable read.
3.75/5
I mostly liked this book. It was great in building a tense, spooky atmosphere. Where it fails is in payoff, or lack thereof. There are many hints at things that aren't quite right but very little in the way of confirmation it explanation. I get that not everything in a book should be explained in full, leaving some things for the reader to figure out, but I felt the author took that line of thinking too far here. Just one example: Early in the book, Rosie's mother-in-law, Nancy, is leaving Rosie's house when Rosie sees her stop and talked briefly to a mysterious hooded figure. I felt certain this would come back later as a plot point but, unless I missed it, it doesn't at all. Another example would be the opening chapter in which we experience the last night of the elderly woman whose home Rosie and Isaac will soon occupy. It seems to be that he dea brothers have come back as ghostsz which, like the mystery hooded figure, just never seems to have any part in the story going forward. Even the story of the Hob is a bit vague. I found myself wishing there'd been a bit more clarity. Still, it was a quick and enjoyable read.
3.75/5
October 7, 2026
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
We follow Rosie, it’s the 1970s and she’s leaving her friends behind to move into a house with her new husband back in his hometown. She’s pregnant, and she’ll have her mother in law nearby while her husband is frequently away working on oil rigs. However what everyone but Rosie seems to know, is there’s something not right with the house. Rosie faces suspicion anyway as an ‘incomer’, but even more so because of the house she’s inhabiting.
One thing I found so interesting in this book, was the use of blackouts. It’s a constant concern and leads in to ‘the dark’. It creates a whole layer of anxiety, even when they’re known about. For example, not being able to keep food in the fridge. The loss of electricity shapes social occasions in the village and pushes people back to matches and candles. And of course, there are things that prefer the dark.
I really liked the use of local horror here. Rosie is new to this village and it’s like everyone is in on the secrets but her. There was a very creepy and particular element that is known to the villagers. And Rosie isn’t prepared to deal with it as no-one has shared this with her. She’s extremely isolated in the village. People aren’t rushing to make friends with her, and her relationship with her mother in law is challenging. She’s alone when her husband is away for weeks at a time and she’s left to deal with this very unnerving house. Not to mention, there are some quite unsavoury people living in the village. It always feels very unsafe.
I thought this was really atmospheric, it used its core horror elements well and it was deeply unsettling. Expect something more cerebral than visceral here. It’s creeping rather than jumping scares. It’s loneliness, lore and lacking light.
We follow Rosie, it’s the 1970s and she’s leaving her friends behind to move into a house with her new husband back in his hometown. She’s pregnant, and she’ll have her mother in law nearby while her husband is frequently away working on oil rigs. However what everyone but Rosie seems to know, is there’s something not right with the house. Rosie faces suspicion anyway as an ‘incomer’, but even more so because of the house she’s inhabiting.
One thing I found so interesting in this book, was the use of blackouts. It’s a constant concern and leads in to ‘the dark’. It creates a whole layer of anxiety, even when they’re known about. For example, not being able to keep food in the fridge. The loss of electricity shapes social occasions in the village and pushes people back to matches and candles. And of course, there are things that prefer the dark.
I really liked the use of local horror here. Rosie is new to this village and it’s like everyone is in on the secrets but her. There was a very creepy and particular element that is known to the villagers. And Rosie isn’t prepared to deal with it as no-one has shared this with her. She’s extremely isolated in the village. People aren’t rushing to make friends with her, and her relationship with her mother in law is challenging. She’s alone when her husband is away for weeks at a time and she’s left to deal with this very unnerving house. Not to mention, there are some quite unsavoury people living in the village. It always feels very unsafe.
I thought this was really atmospheric, it used its core horror elements well and it was deeply unsettling. Expect something more cerebral than visceral here. It’s creeping rather than jumping scares. It’s loneliness, lore and lacking light.
Review of advance copy
The Dark is a masterclass in quiet, creeping dread. Set against an isolated, bone-chilling backdrop, Amanda Mason delivers a deeply atmospheric folk horror that genuinely got under my skin and had me feeling properly unsettled.
What works brilliantly from the start is the deliberate blurring between past and present narrative threads. Mason gives the old house a suffocating weight, leaving deliberate gaps in the storytelling that heighten the suspense rather than detract from it. The grounding in rustic local folklore—centered around village tales of a "hob" and the traditional need to leave offerings—elevates this far above a standard haunted house trope. It feels far creepier because it is tied to the landscape itself.
The human element of the horror is where the story truly cuts deep. The ambiguity surrounding the figure associated with the hob's cave—a prominent, manipulative local pub figure who preys on vulnerable women—blurs the line between supernatural folk entity and real-world predatory violence in an insidious, disturbing way.
The framing of Rosie’s perspective is easily one of the book’s greatest strengths. Structuring her chapters around the advancing weeks of her pregnancy acts like an impending clock, turning what should be a time of anticipation into a slow, agonizing descent into psychological terror. Her refusal to accept the reality of losing Isaac is heartbreaking. Even at the novel’s close, her mind has completely splintered; she still clings to the delusion that she hears him coming home. Holding her newborn with her reality entirely fractured makes for a deeply tragic, bleak resolution that resonated far more than a tidy, conventional ending would have.
My only slight reservation was that I occasionally craved a bit more depth regarding the lore itself. The significance of the light felt somewhat obscure, and a deeper dive into the specific mythology of the hob would have been welcome.
Still, for readers who appreciate quiet, atmospheric folk horror with an unrelenting psychological edge and an unapologetically bleak conclusion, The Dark is well worth the read.
What works brilliantly from the start is the deliberate blurring between past and present narrative threads. Mason gives the old house a suffocating weight, leaving deliberate gaps in the storytelling that heighten the suspense rather than detract from it. The grounding in rustic local folklore—centered around village tales of a "hob" and the traditional need to leave offerings—elevates this far above a standard haunted house trope. It feels far creepier because it is tied to the landscape itself.
The human element of the horror is where the story truly cuts deep. The ambiguity surrounding the figure associated with the hob's cave—a prominent, manipulative local pub figure who preys on vulnerable women—blurs the line between supernatural folk entity and real-world predatory violence in an insidious, disturbing way.
The framing of Rosie’s perspective is easily one of the book’s greatest strengths. Structuring her chapters around the advancing weeks of her pregnancy acts like an impending clock, turning what should be a time of anticipation into a slow, agonizing descent into psychological terror. Her refusal to accept the reality of losing Isaac is heartbreaking. Even at the novel’s close, her mind has completely splintered; she still clings to the delusion that she hears him coming home. Holding her newborn with her reality entirely fractured makes for a deeply tragic, bleak resolution that resonated far more than a tidy, conventional ending would have.
My only slight reservation was that I occasionally craved a bit more depth regarding the lore itself. The significance of the light felt somewhat obscure, and a deeper dive into the specific mythology of the hob would have been welcome.
Still, for readers who appreciate quiet, atmospheric folk horror with an unrelenting psychological edge and an unapologetically bleak conclusion, The Dark is well worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2026
I feel like the marketing of this was a bit misleading. The Dark reads more like a psychological thriller exploring the themes of paranoia, isolation, outsiders, and the vulnerability that comes from being a pregnant women. The only local folklore bits were the candle holder that needs to be lit and is a metaphor for "will she do it our way" even though its a common seaside village tradition to bring fishermen home and The Hob in the cave but these are kept quite vague which means they feel more like metaphors than actual folk horror elements. The 1970s backdrop or the miners strike and power cuts, makes it tense and atmospheric, but I think the real horror comes from exploring Rosie's mental state because she is an isolated outsider in a suspicious rural community while pregnant with a partner that works on oil rigs. So with all this anxiety and stress you're never quite sure if its actual supernatural phenomena or Rosie's stress and paranoia taking a toll. Either way, it was quick and tense story, but not one that I felt particularly invested in unfortunately. The characters felt a bit thin and fell into the stereotypical village types rather than anything odd or weird like I'd come to expect in a folk horror as there was no pronounced clash in ideals or beliefs. Also, I didn't really like the ending, I wasn't made to feel like I had to really route for anyone and it doesn't feel like it makes sense since the folklore isn't really explained so it just feels a bit disjointed.
TL;DR, this is a psychological thriller that examines some interesting elements of the human psyche in isolation.
TL;DR, this is a psychological thriller that examines some interesting elements of the human psyche in isolation.
Review of advance copy
‘… this winter, this dark was different. And the fear had crept up on her so gradually, she had barely noticed it was there. And now the fear lay in wait for her, biding its time until the lights went out.’
Viewed in retrospect, the 1970s is a haunted and liminal decade, a threshold between the relative certainties of the post war years and the neon-lit neoliberal insecurities of the 1980s and beyond.
It is the perfect decade for a good ghost story. Evocative of the later modern-day outings of the BBC’s 1970s ‘Ghost Stories for Christmas’, Amanda Mason’s novel shares a concise and paired back aesthetic with the best entries in that series; indeed I can only imagine how effectively director Lawrence Gordon Clark would bring Mason’s narrative to the small screen.
This is the 1970s of the everyday; of condensation on a bus’s inside window, rubber shower attachments and twin-tub washing machines. It is also the 1970s of casual misogyny, miners’ strikes, North Sea oil and power cuts, the latter a source of literal darkness that Mason uses to chilling effect.
The tense combination of the everyday, North Yorkshire folklore, and a haunted family and cottage, serve to create an atmosphere of unease and creeping dread, as Rosie and Isaac, the new owners of Righteous House, Ha’penny Nab on the North Yorkshire coast are drawn into a web of darkness and terror.
Due to be published in October this year, THE DARK is the perfect novel for the haunted season.
Viewed in retrospect, the 1970s is a haunted and liminal decade, a threshold between the relative certainties of the post war years and the neon-lit neoliberal insecurities of the 1980s and beyond.
It is the perfect decade for a good ghost story. Evocative of the later modern-day outings of the BBC’s 1970s ‘Ghost Stories for Christmas’, Amanda Mason’s novel shares a concise and paired back aesthetic with the best entries in that series; indeed I can only imagine how effectively director Lawrence Gordon Clark would bring Mason’s narrative to the small screen.
This is the 1970s of the everyday; of condensation on a bus’s inside window, rubber shower attachments and twin-tub washing machines. It is also the 1970s of casual misogyny, miners’ strikes, North Sea oil and power cuts, the latter a source of literal darkness that Mason uses to chilling effect.
The tense combination of the everyday, North Yorkshire folklore, and a haunted family and cottage, serve to create an atmosphere of unease and creeping dread, as Rosie and Isaac, the new owners of Righteous House, Ha’penny Nab on the North Yorkshire coast are drawn into a web of darkness and terror.
Due to be published in October this year, THE DARK is the perfect novel for the haunted season.
October 25, 2026
Thanks to Bonnier Books UK, Manilla Press and Netgalley for the advance copy.
With a backdrop of the 1970s blackouts, which I vaguely remember as a young child at the time, and the combination of a seemingly haunted house and an isolated setting (which are some of my favorite spooky tropes), I was keen to read this novel.
Pregnant Rosie moves to her partner's home town. Left alone when he goes to work on the rigs, she feels an increasing unease in their new house as she learns about its history and the folklore it's part of.
Mason does a great job of evoking the inwardness of a small seaside town and the creeping dread of the dark and what it might contain. I also enjoyed the folklore aspect of the Hob, a cave that contains something dark and old, that's probably been there longer than the town.
Rosie's sections of the story work well with her increasing anxiety about the house, her pregnancy and her absent husband all building as the novel progresses.
Other characters and their stories aren't quite as well drawn and I was a little confused about what happened in the final quarter of the book. There are some flashbacks to the history of Rob, Phil and Linda which I think could have been expanded to give a greater sense of the link to the past.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone looking for an atmospheric book to read on a cold, dark night.
With a backdrop of the 1970s blackouts, which I vaguely remember as a young child at the time, and the combination of a seemingly haunted house and an isolated setting (which are some of my favorite spooky tropes), I was keen to read this novel.
Pregnant Rosie moves to her partner's home town. Left alone when he goes to work on the rigs, she feels an increasing unease in their new house as she learns about its history and the folklore it's part of.
Mason does a great job of evoking the inwardness of a small seaside town and the creeping dread of the dark and what it might contain. I also enjoyed the folklore aspect of the Hob, a cave that contains something dark and old, that's probably been there longer than the town.
Rosie's sections of the story work well with her increasing anxiety about the house, her pregnancy and her absent husband all building as the novel progresses.
Other characters and their stories aren't quite as well drawn and I was a little confused about what happened in the final quarter of the book. There are some flashbacks to the history of Rob, Phil and Linda which I think could have been expanded to give a greater sense of the link to the past.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone looking for an atmospheric book to read on a cold, dark night.
October 19, 2026
This was disappointing. For me, it started off really well but then slowly went downhill. It was very repetitive with the description of the "haunting" repeated - word for word - over and over, therefore dialling down the chill factor as the book wore on. Many of the characters were two dimensional and inconsistent in their actions and motivations. Even the MFC, whose story this primarily is, was poorly defined and uninteresting. Also, one pretty big plot hole: the setting is depicted as a small village where everyone knew each other's ins and outs and news went round the place like wildfire. Yet, in the middle of the book, an event occurs that completely skews the storyline and was probably the biggest thing to happen there in decades - to the point it was all over the radio and TV. And NO ONE mentions it, talks to each other about it or even seems to know about it. This just made no sense to the plot. Most disappointingly though, the supernatural elements just weren't frightening (unless the reader is terrified when sand is tracked into the house or the sink overflows). For me, either the scares needed to be significantly amped up, or this would have read much better as a novella or short story, more anchored in reality than telling a pallid tale about a boogeyman in a cave.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A Perfect spooky season read for those who want a little more substance to their horror. Mason takes that niggling feeling that you're not alone in the dark and uses it as a vehicle to explore grief, small-town ties, and intergenerational womanhood. This book would be enjoyed by fans of Shirley Jackson and Julia Armfield. 'The Dark' is a gripping novel that kept me on edge throughout. I can't wait for the inevitable A24 movie adaptation.
My only criticism is that I wanted more. I would have been curious to hear more about The Hob's origins and the run of folklore throughout the town's history. I would also have been interested to read more about Phil, Rob, and Linda's backstory. However, this could be a perk for readers who love to be kept wondering.
Readers should be aware that this book contains references to sexual assault, suicide, and self-harm.
My only criticism is that I wanted more. I would have been curious to hear more about The Hob's origins and the run of folklore throughout the town's history. I would also have been interested to read more about Phil, Rob, and Linda's backstory. However, this could be a perk for readers who love to be kept wondering.
Readers should be aware that this book contains references to sexual assault, suicide, and self-harm.
October 13, 2026
Having only just this minute finishes reading this, I'm kind of using this space to process and work out my thoughts and feelings.
This book was incredibly atmospheric, with believable characters and a well built up story with multiple threads.
This book seemed to capture quite a lot in a relatively short story. Rural life and communities and their histories between the members. New family life and transitioning from being a couple to expecting a baby. Folklore and superstition and the secrets people keep. It certainly left me wondering at times if it was real or if it was paranoia brought on by old tales, superstition and heightened by the blackouts.
NOthing in or about the story particularly blew me away. But it was a solid, atmospheric tale that was really well written and should certainly be enjoyed during an autumnal seaside holiday!
This book was incredibly atmospheric, with believable characters and a well built up story with multiple threads.
This book seemed to capture quite a lot in a relatively short story. Rural life and communities and their histories between the members. New family life and transitioning from being a couple to expecting a baby. Folklore and superstition and the secrets people keep. It certainly left me wondering at times if it was real or if it was paranoia brought on by old tales, superstition and heightened by the blackouts.
NOthing in or about the story particularly blew me away. But it was a solid, atmospheric tale that was really well written and should certainly be enjoyed during an autumnal seaside holiday!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the arc!
This is an excellent read for the spooky season. We follow the main character who has moved to a remote seaside town and is expecting her first child. I enjoyed the blend of local folklore, small-town intrigue and the political climate of the 1970's. Additionally, the author also touches on topics such as suicide and sexual assault. I thought the use of the dark (as the title suggests) as thread running throughout was quite clever. I feel that there could have been a greater exploration of the folklore underpinning the story as it only really comes into focus towards the end of the book. Nevertheless, this is a great atmospheric read and I highly recommend.
This is an excellent read for the spooky season. We follow the main character who has moved to a remote seaside town and is expecting her first child. I enjoyed the blend of local folklore, small-town intrigue and the political climate of the 1970's. Additionally, the author also touches on topics such as suicide and sexual assault. I thought the use of the dark (as the title suggests) as thread running throughout was quite clever. I feel that there could have been a greater exploration of the folklore underpinning the story as it only really comes into focus towards the end of the book. Nevertheless, this is a great atmospheric read and I highly recommend.
September 30, 2026
A creepy and atmospheric horror set in the 1970s in coastal England, The Dark is definitely one to read on a cold, dark night, snuggled in the safety of your well lit home.
I loved how this started, the almost isolated and insular location was perfect and the creeping dread of the encroaching dark was wonderful.
At times I thought the book flitted between folk horror and psychological thriller.
I got everything I wanted from the main character, but I think I’d have preferred another 100 pages exploring the history or padding out the secondary characters.
I’d recommend this for anyone looking for an atmospheric read as the nights start drawing in.
Thanks to Bonnier Books and NetGalley for the early access.
I loved how this started, the almost isolated and insular location was perfect and the creeping dread of the encroaching dark was wonderful.
At times I thought the book flitted between folk horror and psychological thriller.
I got everything I wanted from the main character, but I think I’d have preferred another 100 pages exploring the history or padding out the secondary characters.
I’d recommend this for anyone looking for an atmospheric read as the nights start drawing in.
Thanks to Bonnier Books and NetGalley for the early access.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐
This starts out as a claustrophobic small village story. Everyone knowing your business, everyone knowing each other. Very much feeling like the incomer.
Gradually ,the dread creeps in, things that go bump and crash in the night.
The feeling that something isn't being said.
Then you hear the old tales of The Hob.
I think 90% of things could be explained away by Rosie being pregnant and alone and jumpy. The weather...
But then it's that final 10% you have to worry about.
Full of atmosphere, and creepy in just the right places.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
This starts out as a claustrophobic small village story. Everyone knowing your business, everyone knowing each other. Very much feeling like the incomer.
Gradually ,the dread creeps in, things that go bump and crash in the night.
The feeling that something isn't being said.
Then you hear the old tales of The Hob.
I think 90% of things could be explained away by Rosie being pregnant and alone and jumpy. The weather...
But then it's that final 10% you have to worry about.
Full of atmosphere, and creepy in just the right places.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
October 23, 2026
Picked this up on holiday and read it late at night in a cabin in the rain. I enjoyed the tone: I love a ghost story that focuses on setting and subtlety, on descriptions of nature and of a place characterised by loneliness, doubt, and sadness. The first third was very promising and very unsettling, but I don’t think it ever really varied or stepped beyond what it first established, so the paranormal element became quite repetitive. The plot was very enigmatic but I’d say perhaps a little bit too so, as I’m left feeling like I don’t quite understand what happened or why exactly. Evocative and enigmatic but perhaps not one that will stay with me.
October 8, 2026
A very compelling ghost story set in the north of England during the 1970s and the blackouts that occurred during the oil crisis then. Part haunted house, part folk lore, I loved the story that was confined to the house itself. I struggled a bit with the secondary characters and often felt confused about what was going on and who was who and I can't say I fully know now on finishing. An atmospheric little book with lots of female characters. I'd like to read more by the author
Thank you Bonnier Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
Thank you Bonnier Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
October 26, 2026
The first half of this novel was genuinely scary and the second half compelling. All in all an excellent read for the spooky season.
There's a sense of mounting tension, a building towards a crescendo, without ever being entirely sure which of the seemingly disconnected strands of the narrative will lead us there. We're not sure at all where we're being taken, nor who we can trust.
I like a few unsolved mysteries: I think explaining the scare takes the fear out of it. That's not the case here at all. There's an ending ... or is there?
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
There's a sense of mounting tension, a building towards a crescendo, without ever being entirely sure which of the seemingly disconnected strands of the narrative will lead us there. We're not sure at all where we're being taken, nor who we can trust.
I like a few unsolved mysteries: I think explaining the scare takes the fear out of it. That's not the case here at all. There's an ending ... or is there?
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
October 19, 2026
Superbly tense and creepy. Excellent combination of unease at supernatural and human threats, plus wonderful use of the bleak costal setting and unstable geography.
Also really loved the themes of energy use and human encroachment on and exploitation of the natural world, combined with light as a source of comfort and safety.
Excellent read for a dark night...
Also really loved the themes of energy use and human encroachment on and exploitation of the natural world, combined with light as a source of comfort and safety.
Excellent read for a dark night...
October 9, 2026
Weeeeell yeh ok. Creepy and atmospheric
October 29, 2026
Wasnt a lover of this book. It was a book club pick and not my usual cup of tea. I found it confusing at times and was confused by the ending.
October 8, 2026
This was a creepy tale full of folklore and superstition in a small seaside town set in the 1970s as we follow the story of Rosie, a pregnant young woman who has just moved to town with her husband, Isaac, who works away on an oil rig so Rosie is left alone and isolated for long stretches of time in a cottage where there’s power cuts and strange noises and random patches of sand left on the floor.
There’s an old story of a Hob who lives in a sea cave who grants wishes after an offering from the needful. Rosie stumbles across the sea cave and the story gets a little creepier from this point onwards.
I felt like this was quite a quick and short story and I think it could’ve benefited from being a bit longer with some of the backstory being explored more. The characters could’ve been a bit more fleshed out but they were well-developed, I just felt like I was just getting to know some of them and their motivations and could’ve done with a bit more time with them.
But I did enjoy the story and got the heebie-jeebies when reading it and the ending was ambiguously dark and played on my mind for a while.
A great spooky tale for this Halloween season!
There’s an old story of a Hob who lives in a sea cave who grants wishes after an offering from the needful. Rosie stumbles across the sea cave and the story gets a little creepier from this point onwards.
I felt like this was quite a quick and short story and I think it could’ve benefited from being a bit longer with some of the backstory being explored more. The characters could’ve been a bit more fleshed out but they were well-developed, I just felt like I was just getting to know some of them and their motivations and could’ve done with a bit more time with them.
But I did enjoy the story and got the heebie-jeebies when reading it and the ending was ambiguously dark and played on my mind for a while.
A great spooky tale for this Halloween season!
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