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Loch Ness Unleashed
Billionaire Duke Callahan is on the hunt for a legend.
As massive earthquakes shake Loch Ness, the monster which has eluded discovery for centuries is driven to the surface. Faced with the horrifying reality of the creature, Duke is forced to decide what he is willing to sacrifice as the primal fury of the Loch Ness Monster is unleashed upon the world.
From the author of Megalodon Gulf and Abattoir Ocean comes the latest sea creature thriller with bite!
As massive earthquakes shake Loch Ness, the monster which has eluded discovery for centuries is driven to the surface. Faced with the horrifying reality of the creature, Duke is forced to decide what he is willing to sacrifice as the primal fury of the Loch Ness Monster is unleashed upon the world.
From the author of Megalodon Gulf and Abattoir Ocean comes the latest sea creature thriller with bite!
- GenresHorror
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 14, 2026
He was wrong. He’d not caught the monster. It had caught him.
< 3 stars. Being a huge fan of cryptid stories in all their weird but often incredibly well-told glory, I've run across a few that are centered around the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. And while none of these have ever reached the pantheon of this sub-genre, they do come in all shapes and sizes, so to speak. For example, Hunter Shea's "Loch Ness Revenge" had more than a pleasing amount of both horror and humor and would probably rank as the best of the bunch I've read so far. On the other hand, Peter Tremayne's "The Curse of Loch Ness" - that sought to make sense of an alien race older than mankind that sought to reproduce with a captured wee lassie to keep their species alive - was somehow even worse than it sounds.
We’ll be in the water. What’s the worst that could happen?
Still, my stubbornness led me to continue my search for a really top-notch Loch Ness story. However, I have to confess: Sam M. Phillips' "Loch Ness Unleashed" didn't even come close to scratching that itch. In fact, this book is so silly in its scope that I'm tempted to file it under humor and run away, ignoring the death and destruction that were all part of this farcical tale. I mean, sure, if you love a good story that involves massive earthquakes ("Loch Ness is situated on a fault line. You know that, don’t you?"), a monster seemingly with a nose for revenge, emotionally deficient rich people and more, then go for it!
It was better to play it safe and not rock the boat.
reviewer's note: they are ON a boat when this is said...
Whereas no one could argue with the amount of action that Phillips includes in his tale - things start off bloody and do not let up until we're done - there's little else to hang your thick woollen sweater on. But it does contain that kind of addictively ridiculous and unbridled mayhem you find on the most infamous made-for-cheap-cable movies that so many (including me!) find tremendous joy in watching, sometimes several times over and over. The consumption of illegal or legal drugs are optional, but in this case, I don't think you'll need either. Just don't forget the popcorn…
Let’s be thankful the monster isn’t real... If it was, we’d be in real trouble.
Yes, this is definitely the "Sharknado" or even "Cocaine Bear" of Loch Ness stories, with a degree of absurdity that I can't even put into words. The writing itself is so melodramatic and the similes, metaphors, analogies or whatever the hell they were were so consistently over-dramatized, that again I found myself literally laughing out loud on several occasions (e.g. as one poor soul dies: "He made a sound like a stepped-on set of bagpipes…"). This including during scenes where people were being eaten, drowned, burned and otherwise utterly dismembered ("…the man was nothing but a red mist floating away on the breeze…") to support this insane plot that took us from the placid shores of Loch Ness to the oil fields of the North Sea. Oh yes, they're connected, both in the story and apparently as well geographically.
…(it) didn’t break her fall, only brought it to a halt with a wet slap of tenderised meat under a mallet.
I also found it more than just a little bit funny that in today's day and age - particularly regarding the most obnoxious headlines that cause more migraines than we deserve as a species - that the main "protagonists" and, well, monster-food are a small group of "shallow and soulless" billionaires and multi-millionaires (yes, the difference matters) with all their requisite egos ("Where were his many employees, his minions, his underlings?") and inflated self-images included ("…what would life be without his money? He’d rather die…"). What this manages to accomplish then is absolutely no regret for those that meet their demise and, in fact, a tendency to pull more for the monster than those that seek to capture and/or kill it for their own need for immortality to be placated. To say that these corporate creatures are clichés themselves would be understating things.
…all he could think was what a waste of his money it would be to die now.
So if you're looking for a relatively quick but still extremely verbose tale about the Earth tearing itself asunder - draining the Loch AND destroying Urquhart Castle in the process! - and totally ruining our expedition to find and capture Nessie, well, here you go. I think though if I had had a choice as an editor, I would have either suggested a bit more focus on the monster and a lot less self-examination about what an utter schmuck these people realized they had each become or just said the hell with it and gone for broke, turning it into perhaps the first cryptid-based splatterpunk novel available. As it is, like I said, it gets pretty inane and doesn't let up in its exaggerated descriptives at all. Kind of like a large fang-filled mouth having its snack on all the tasty megalomaniacs that conveniently - and utterly ridiculously - put themselves in constant drama! Um, danger. I meant danger!
< 3 stars. Being a huge fan of cryptid stories in all their weird but often incredibly well-told glory, I've run across a few that are centered around the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. And while none of these have ever reached the pantheon of this sub-genre, they do come in all shapes and sizes, so to speak. For example, Hunter Shea's "Loch Ness Revenge" had more than a pleasing amount of both horror and humor and would probably rank as the best of the bunch I've read so far. On the other hand, Peter Tremayne's "The Curse of Loch Ness" - that sought to make sense of an alien race older than mankind that sought to reproduce with a captured wee lassie to keep their species alive - was somehow even worse than it sounds.
We’ll be in the water. What’s the worst that could happen?
Still, my stubbornness led me to continue my search for a really top-notch Loch Ness story. However, I have to confess: Sam M. Phillips' "Loch Ness Unleashed" didn't even come close to scratching that itch. In fact, this book is so silly in its scope that I'm tempted to file it under humor and run away, ignoring the death and destruction that were all part of this farcical tale. I mean, sure, if you love a good story that involves massive earthquakes ("Loch Ness is situated on a fault line. You know that, don’t you?"), a monster seemingly with a nose for revenge, emotionally deficient rich people and more, then go for it!
It was better to play it safe and not rock the boat.
reviewer's note: they are ON a boat when this is said...
Whereas no one could argue with the amount of action that Phillips includes in his tale - things start off bloody and do not let up until we're done - there's little else to hang your thick woollen sweater on. But it does contain that kind of addictively ridiculous and unbridled mayhem you find on the most infamous made-for-cheap-cable movies that so many (including me!) find tremendous joy in watching, sometimes several times over and over. The consumption of illegal or legal drugs are optional, but in this case, I don't think you'll need either. Just don't forget the popcorn…
Let’s be thankful the monster isn’t real... If it was, we’d be in real trouble.
Yes, this is definitely the "Sharknado" or even "Cocaine Bear" of Loch Ness stories, with a degree of absurdity that I can't even put into words. The writing itself is so melodramatic and the similes, metaphors, analogies or whatever the hell they were were so consistently over-dramatized, that again I found myself literally laughing out loud on several occasions (e.g. as one poor soul dies: "He made a sound like a stepped-on set of bagpipes…"). This including during scenes where people were being eaten, drowned, burned and otherwise utterly dismembered ("…the man was nothing but a red mist floating away on the breeze…") to support this insane plot that took us from the placid shores of Loch Ness to the oil fields of the North Sea. Oh yes, they're connected, both in the story and apparently as well geographically.
…(it) didn’t break her fall, only brought it to a halt with a wet slap of tenderised meat under a mallet.
I also found it more than just a little bit funny that in today's day and age - particularly regarding the most obnoxious headlines that cause more migraines than we deserve as a species - that the main "protagonists" and, well, monster-food are a small group of "shallow and soulless" billionaires and multi-millionaires (yes, the difference matters) with all their requisite egos ("Where were his many employees, his minions, his underlings?") and inflated self-images included ("…what would life be without his money? He’d rather die…"). What this manages to accomplish then is absolutely no regret for those that meet their demise and, in fact, a tendency to pull more for the monster than those that seek to capture and/or kill it for their own need for immortality to be placated. To say that these corporate creatures are clichés themselves would be understating things.
…all he could think was what a waste of his money it would be to die now.
So if you're looking for a relatively quick but still extremely verbose tale about the Earth tearing itself asunder - draining the Loch AND destroying Urquhart Castle in the process! - and totally ruining our expedition to find and capture Nessie, well, here you go. I think though if I had had a choice as an editor, I would have either suggested a bit more focus on the monster and a lot less self-examination about what an utter schmuck these people realized they had each become or just said the hell with it and gone for broke, turning it into perhaps the first cryptid-based splatterpunk novel available. As it is, like I said, it gets pretty inane and doesn't let up in its exaggerated descriptives at all. Kind of like a large fang-filled mouth having its snack on all the tasty megalomaniacs that conveniently - and utterly ridiculously - put themselves in constant drama! Um, danger. I meant danger!
February 28, 2026
Loch Ness Unleashed
By: Sam M. Phillips
Publisher: Severed Press
Published Date: February 17, 2026
ASIN: B0GNPPBP3Q
Page Count: 190
Triggers
Creature feature violence, graphic monster attacks, blood/gore, mass casualty disaster vibes, earthquakes, destruction, humans making spectacularly bad choices on purpose.
Star Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Skull Dread Rating 💀💀💀
More “holy crap RUN” than “sleep with the lights on.”
What Did I Just Walk Into?
A billionaire with a hero complex goes monster hunting at Loch Ness, nature throws a tantrum, and Nessie clocks in like, “I’ve been patient for centuries, but today I’m choosing violence.”
Here’s What Slapped:
Pacing that bites. This book does not wander. It sprints, tackles you, and drags you straight into the water.
Nessie goes full feral. Not cute. Not mysterious. Not “tourism board approved.” This is primal, catastrophic, and MAD about being perceived.
Cinematic destruction. Big set pieces, escalating chaos, and that delicious creature-feature inevitability where you keep thinking, “They’re not gonna do that,” and then they absolutely do.
Obsession with consequences. Under all the monster mayhem is a sharp little stab at ambition, ego, and what people will sacrifice to be the one who “proves” a legend.
What Could’ve Been Better:
Honestly? If you came here for cozy folklore vibes and a shy, blurry lake noodle, you took a wrong turn at the gift shop. This is a straight-up sea creature thriller that throws elbows. If that’s what you want, it’s doing the job perfectly.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Sea creature horror with big action energy
“Humans are the real problem” themes, plus an actual problem with teeth
Billionaires learning the hard way that money is not a flotation device
Fast, destructive creature features that feel like a movie in your head
Sum Up
This one is a gleeful, teeth-first plunge into legend turned nightmare. It’s loud, fast, and vicious in the most satisfying way, and it left me grinning like I just watched chaos win a gold medal.
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
By: Sam M. Phillips
Publisher: Severed Press
Published Date: February 17, 2026
ASIN: B0GNPPBP3Q
Page Count: 190
Triggers
Creature feature violence, graphic monster attacks, blood/gore, mass casualty disaster vibes, earthquakes, destruction, humans making spectacularly bad choices on purpose.
Star Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Skull Dread Rating 💀💀💀
More “holy crap RUN” than “sleep with the lights on.”
What Did I Just Walk Into?
A billionaire with a hero complex goes monster hunting at Loch Ness, nature throws a tantrum, and Nessie clocks in like, “I’ve been patient for centuries, but today I’m choosing violence.”
Here’s What Slapped:
Pacing that bites. This book does not wander. It sprints, tackles you, and drags you straight into the water.
Nessie goes full feral. Not cute. Not mysterious. Not “tourism board approved.” This is primal, catastrophic, and MAD about being perceived.
Cinematic destruction. Big set pieces, escalating chaos, and that delicious creature-feature inevitability where you keep thinking, “They’re not gonna do that,” and then they absolutely do.
Obsession with consequences. Under all the monster mayhem is a sharp little stab at ambition, ego, and what people will sacrifice to be the one who “proves” a legend.
What Could’ve Been Better:
Honestly? If you came here for cozy folklore vibes and a shy, blurry lake noodle, you took a wrong turn at the gift shop. This is a straight-up sea creature thriller that throws elbows. If that’s what you want, it’s doing the job perfectly.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Sea creature horror with big action energy
“Humans are the real problem” themes, plus an actual problem with teeth
Billionaires learning the hard way that money is not a flotation device
Fast, destructive creature features that feel like a movie in your head
Sum Up
This one is a gleeful, teeth-first plunge into legend turned nightmare. It’s loud, fast, and vicious in the most satisfying way, and it left me grinning like I just watched chaos win a gold medal.
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
March 12, 2026
I love creature horror and therefore had high hopes for this one. If you're looking for a folklore tale, better turn the other way. Instead, we get an action packed thrilling read where the monster takes no prisoners. It has that classic B Movie feel to it, which is perfect for a book like this.
The MC is driven by greed and ambition until he meets the Loch Ness. To be honest, most of the characters minus the fishermen were unlikeable, but that's ok. That didn't detract from the terror. It more than makes up from the dread and terror that is created. A good creature horror focuses on the creature/monster and this one hits the mark with that. It's mostly action, but man is it fun and hard to put down. I'll be reading more from Sam!
The MC is driven by greed and ambition until he meets the Loch Ness. To be honest, most of the characters minus the fishermen were unlikeable, but that's ok. That didn't detract from the terror. It more than makes up from the dread and terror that is created. A good creature horror focuses on the creature/monster and this one hits the mark with that. It's mostly action, but man is it fun and hard to put down. I'll be reading more from Sam!
February 27, 2026
The book delivers exactly what fans of Sam M. Phillips’ ocean‑horror novels crave: high tension, cinematic destruction, and a monster that refuses to stay hidden. When massive earthquakes rattle Loch Ness, the legendary creature is forced to the surface, and billionaire Duke Callahan, driven by ambition, ego, and a hunger for discovery, finds himself face‑to‑face with a nightmare older than myth. The book blends fast pacing with escalating dread, turning the familiar Nessie legend into something far more feral and catastrophic. While the story is action‑heavy, it still explores the cost of obsession and the thin line between wonder and horror.
March 12, 2026
I’ve read many monster books…. This one was horrible!!! Usually there is a main character you like. This one I was hoping they all died!!! Not much on the monster just a lot of ME,ME, ME. . The concept of the loch draining was really a far stretch. The only character I did like was the fisherman. Don’t think I’ll be reading any more of his books. It’s too bad because the cover was great and I had high hopes for the book. Happy Reading :)
May 1, 2026
Holy Cow, where do I begin? How about be sure to strap yourself in when you sit down to read this book because it will certainly take you on a wild ride. I was hooked from the first chapter and eager to find out where the tale goes. The chapters are short so it’s easy to pick up and put down, but once you start reading it you certainly won’t want to.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews