Silent Portraits: An Extreme Horror x Dark Romance

by Lesley A. Camphouse

Torture, Spice and everything nice...

There's beauty in death...

It is a longing that has its roots deep within me, but he was the one who silenced the afterlife for me and made life sing.


It was he who beckoned me to keep my eyes open.

In return, I accepted the beast he carries within. Yet, it seems my yearning for death is never far astray, as his beast awakened mine. A beast that craves a death that is not my own...

Oh, sweet death. The serenity it brings.

This is a Dark Romance meets Extreme Horror. TW apply. 18+

166 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 3, 2026

About the author

Lesley lives secluded in the Netherlands with her husband and five cats. She enjoys writing Extreme Horror, Splatterpunk, and Dark Romantasy.

Besides writing, she likes to read, and those exact categories are the ones she devours.

She's also a hoarder of trinkets and cool things and collects a lot of stuff, from oddities and curiosities to manga, comics, and figurines.

Reviews

[Jojobean_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, Lesley just out here writing banger after banger. An erotic Horror with a HEA? yes please 🙏

[Mellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing keeps a couple together more than shared prey.

Warning: This book is DARK. Check the triggers if need be!

I loved every minute of Silent Portraits.
It is beautifully written. I would get lost in the description only to realize that something gory was being described so elegantly. True artistry.
I loved the Victorian Death Photography aspect of this horror erotica novella. I thought it was really unique.

If you like horror erotica with dark romance vibes, intense devotion, obsession, touch her & ☠️, pitch black MMC & FMC, and spicy moments - check this out!!

This was my first Camphouse book but it won’t be my last!

[Books with chaos queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn’t want a dark romance/pitch black/horror erotica rolled into one book ;)

I love how this book has aspects of both dark romance and pitch black/horror erotica . I love a pitch black/horror erotica and I’m also a fan of dark romance, when I seen Lesley promoting this book I was instantly very intrigued. Right now let’s talk about the book without giving anything a way.
At first reading the first chapter I wasn’t sure I was going to like it but once the story starts to roll and come alive it’s all sparks from there for me.
Firstly I want to mention how the FMC and MMC are both pitch black/morally grey I LOVED this!
There is a spice in the book but it doesn’t overpower the storyline.
The gore hit the spot for me.
If you’re just into dark romance this book isn’t going to be for you. With the horror/gore elements being heavy!
I really enjoyed reading this and I want to thank Lesley for trusting me with her work.
I look forward to future books🖤

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silent Portraits by Lesley Camphouse is a dark, twisted romance that isn’t afraid to lean into the shadows 🖤 Clare is obsessed with death photography and standing on the edge of giving up when she is saved by Jasper, a man who is every bit as dangerous as he is devoted. What begins as two broken people colliding turns into a bond forged through shared darkness, creating a relationship that is unsettling, intense, and strangely beautiful.
This book has a little bit of everything I love: a fiercely strong FMC, a devoted (and terrifying) MMC, plenty of violence, and just the right amount of spice 🔥 It’s brutal, emotional, and addictive all at once!

[Becki 🤎 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silent Portraits 🥀

Is there anything Lesley can’t do? The fact that she’s doing Extreme horror crossed with Dark Romance & doing it to these unreal standards shows how multi talented she really is! I devoured this & left not a single crumb!! 😮‍💨🫶🏻

“I am unable to love someone on mere surface level, Clara. I have this feral need to possess, to consume a human being”

Clara is lonely, she doesn’t fit in with this modern world, she feels like a burden to everyone & anyone. The only thing that’s good for her is death. She’s decided it’s time to end her miserable existence

Then one message changes everything….Jasper, her saviour, he said he loves her! He wants her to move in with him, to escape this life & be shown what real love is. She has nothing to lose, she’s all in

But Jasper has his own cloak of darkness, he has needs & wants. It’s up to Clara to accept him wholly, for every thing he is & everything he does. She says she’s ready to jump but does Jasper know how far she’s willing to go for love?

Time does tell….obsession is everything 😮‍💨

F Me sideways 😳😮‍💨👏🏼 Lesley you actually killed this!! The total love and obsession from Clara & Jasper spilled out of those pages. Ugh I’m so sad I’ve finished! I need more 😭

I was locked in, it was the perfect amount of extreme for me. Coming from reading mainly extreme horror & splatterpunk to deep diving into erotic horror & dark romance this was just perfection.

Honestly i absolutely loved it & would consider it one of my top DR reads this year!! Releasing 3rd April, Makesure to get those pre-orders in you do not want to miss this!! It’s defo one I will be purchasing at the indie con 🫶🏻🤎

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Dubs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only violence you’ll ever experience from me is my devotion

I’m going to build an altar for this woman in the middle of my house, I swear to god. 😭

Silent Portraits gives us the story of Clara and Jasper. Clara is a girl who is lonely despite having people around her; nobody can truly understand what she craves until she meets Jasper online. They’re constantly chatting, and he deeply sees her; he welcomes her and accepts her completely.

I need to be fully honest; a long time ago, I lost my faith in dark romance books. At some point, every book felt the same (for me; if you enjoy DR, go for it), and I was craving something different within the genre. Now I have what I was needing. This one is not just dark romance; it combines extreme horror, because let’s face it, if Lesley writes it, the book will have extreme elements, and we love her exactly because of it.

This bad boy will capture you from the very first chapter, and you won’t be able to put it down until the end. The writing is captivating, the pace is the kind that will keep you hooked, building tension and putting you in the position of wanting to know more, to need more. To put it bluntly, we are Clara, and the book is Jasper, simple as that, and you will agree with me when you read it.

I won’t write more than this because I need to avoid spoilers, but trust me when I say I could talk about this book for hours, write an essay with its own PowerPoint presentation.

If you want devotion, obsession, and a pitch-black book boyfriend, this is the right book for you.

Trust me, I know.

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤📚 Silent Portraits

Thank you Lesley for smashing extreme horror and dark romance together and then setting it on fire. Because YES! 🔥

Silent Portraits doesn’t simply blur the line between love and death… it erases it completely and paints the aftermath in blood and obsession.

From the very first page, it sank its claws into me. It is absolutely feral in the best way. The way these words danced across the page had me devouring every sentence like I was starving for it. Every line felt deliberate, haunting, and intimate — like reading someone’s darkest confession whispered directly into your ear.

There is something hypnotic about the way Camphouse writes longing. Not just romantic longing… but that deep, unsettling pull toward the quiet of death. The kind that lingers under the skin and refuses to let go. And when that yearning collides with the beast inside him?
Chaos. Beautiful, seductive chaos.

I loved how the story explores the idea that sometimes love doesn’t tame the monster — sometimes it awakens another one. And when those beasts finally recognize each other? Oh… it’s deliciously dark.

This book is drenched in obsession, pain, desire, and the eerie serenity that comes from standing too close to the edge.

Lesley is a true artist.
Silent Portraits needs to be on your radar.
Just know this going in: This book isn’t here to comfort you. It’s here to consume you.
And honestly? I loved every twisted second of it.

Thank you for this ARC!

[Charlene (Char) ❤︎ ❀˖° ❤︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐯𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞”

𝓦𝓸𝔀, 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓪 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓹𝓾𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓶𝓲𝓽𝓼!

This book revolves around a woman named Clara, who has always felt like the odd one out—not just in her friend group, but even within her own family. She’s often treated like an outsider, and each day feels like a struggle, leaving her wishing for an escape from her pain. But everything changes when she meets Jasper in an online chat room. Their conversations spark a new sense of hope in her, and she discovers a kindred spirit who shares her darker inclinations. Clara is eager to see just how deep their connection can go.

This dark horror romance is sure to satisfy anyone looking for a thrilling read. The steamy scenes? Absolutely sizzling and might as well be illegal! I’m a huge fan of the horror elements in this book; it’s a fantastic mix. I love a good gory tale, and this one definitely delivers. Just be sure to check for any triggers before diving in. Honestly, I don’t think Lesley is capable of writing a bad book. Each one she puts out just keeps getting better! If you haven’t picked up any of her works yet, you really should!

Thank you Lesley, for the opportunity to allow me to read your ARC all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Vix · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC read and review!! This was an epic read!! If Lesley has written it I will be reading it!! I adore all her books and this one is another exceptional book . I love that it blends two of my favourite genres Extreme horror AND dark romance! Just stunning!! This story follows Clara and Jasper! Their love is intense and passionate. Since starting my journey into Extreme horror I did know little bit about the Victorian death photography. I find the whole idea of it fascinating. A quality I share with the FMC and the author. So Clara does have a dark side but when she moves in with the love of her life Jasper . Her new home is deep in a secluded forest I mean what can possibly go wrong! Jasper has a Extremely dark side and untill now the only person that gets to see the real him is his assistant Marvin!! But as Jasper is completely infatuated with Clara and so shares his dark side with Clara . He is a killer and loves the hunt, the torture, the kill! But it turns out The couple that slays together stay together. The spice, the horror and gore are perfection! 5 star read!!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silent Portraits by Lesley A Camphouse
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is an intensely beautiful and disgusting extreme love story! It is a brutal read, full of suspense, gore, torture, obsessions, and spice!!
Jasper and Clara find each other when they both really needed someone. They bonded over their shared interest in death and torture. Clara sees the beauty in death and wants to be able to photograph it. Jasper supports her wishes and will gladly assist with her passion.
They are a couple who bring each other great joy and happiness. They are both monsters, with an intense and passionate need for one another.

I was lucky to get an arc of this amazing dark romance story! It’s so well written and I absolutely couldn’t put it down! There is plenty of excitement from start to finish!
Lesley is a must read author for me!!

*It comes out April 3rd and I highly recommend the read!*
💀🌶️🔥🌶️🔥🌶️🔥🌶️🔥🌶️ 💀

Check triggers

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silent Portraits by Lesley A. Camphouse completely captured my attention from beginning to end. This story embraces the gritty side of love, the kind that isn’t polished or perfect, but real, raw, and fiercely devoted.

What I loved most was how the characters accepted each other exactly as they were, flaws and all. Their relationship had strong Gomez Addams and Morticia Addams energy, darkly romantic, loyal to the core, and unapologetically passionate about one another.

The pacing kept me engaged the entire way through. There was never a moment where the story dragged; each chapter pulled me deeper into the characters and their connection.

If you love stories with emotional depth, gritty devotion, and a relationship that thrives in the shadows rather than the light, Silent Portraits is definitely one to pick up.

[Arielle Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What did I just read? I’m left wanting more!! I was given the opportunity to ARC read Silent Portraits, and Lesley did not disappoint my craving. Clara and Jasper had me hooked from the very beginning. Clara is a woman who was always misunderstood by everyone in her life. She was pretty much obsessed with the idea of death, and felt as if no one understood and wouldn’t miss her if she was gone; that death would bring her peace of mind. Until she started talking with Jasper online and decided after some time to go into seclusion with him. After this, she felt at peace, and everything they did together made her realize that death brought them together; that in death comes tranquility. This book had me putting off any chore I had until I was completely finished reading it. Once this book is released, it already has a spot waiting on my bookshelf for a physical copy.

[Samantha Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? This was disgustingly beautiful in the way it was written, and it is definitely not for the faint of heart.

There are scenes in this book that will stay with me for a long time, the kind that haunt you even after you’ve closed the pages. And if I’m being honest, Jasper and Clara are not people I would ever want to run into.

Yet beneath the gruesome and terrifying moments, there is also something strangely compelling about the connection between them. A kind of love and acceptance that exists outside what most people would understand.

It’s unsettling, disturbing, and oddly poetic all at once.

Maybe the saying is true after all…
birds of a feather really do flock together.

[Theresa Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into Silent Portraits expecting something that would pull me in the way other Camphouse books have, but this one just didn’t click for me. The pacing felt slow and flat, and instead of being drawn into the story I was mostly waiting for something more to happen. I didn’t really connect with the characters or their journey, and I read more to finish it than because I felt invested in what was going on.

The book has some dark elements and blends extreme horror with dark romance, but for me it ended up feeling like it just existed rather than grabbed my attention. The characters were fine but nothing memorable stuck with me after I closed the book. It definitely wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t what I’ve come to expect from Camphouse’s other work, and it left me hoping for more.

[Thebatandthebook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its very rare for an author to provide so much depth within a story and the character and also mix in erotic elements successfully. But Lesley A. Camphouse does it yet again.

the way i wanted to be loved and obsessed over as much as Clara was even with the unhinged torture and romanticising of death.

pitch black here is an understatement but its so worth every page read

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE QUOTES:
“I am unable to love someone on a mere surface level, Clara. I have this feral need to possess, to consume a human being. I want all of you, body and mind. I love with such intensity that most people cannot handle it—at least not yet. I will bind myself to you like ivy to stone, root myself within you. But with that possessiveness, the ugly inside of me rears its head, a jealousy that runs through my veins and comes out whenever a person who is mine catches someone’s attention."

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC

Ok wow this was horrific and creepy and awesome, these characters really didn't have many redeeming qualities but they still get their HEA

I never want to come across these people, usually I'll read a book and want to be transported into the world but nope, not with these guys haha

I totally get the beauty in death and loved how the author talked about it and made me see it and reminded me about my own memories of my love of Victorian death photos

But no crimes will be committed for me to relive that interest haha

[Madame Strange · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Silent Portraits” - There is beauty in death and clearly we all have a different take on the matter.

★★★★★

As a Thriller and Horror reader I never dabbled into Dark Romance (Or Dark Romantasy and yet Lesley’s “Aurum Duet” has literally changed that for me). Yet the prospect of Extreme Horror combined with Dark Romance is a whole new level of Dark and Twisted I never knew I would enjoy this much. This story is extreme in every sense of the word and also beautiful in it’s own depraved and macabre way. Love is not always light, Love is darkness is a whole new way.

[Jennifer Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review:
This is definitely not something I would normally read but if I’m going to get into a love story, this is it! Really glad I got the chance to give this story a chance. I definitely questioned it at first, this girl just gives up her life to go stay with this guy who to be fair sounds like a total smoke show, so I can’t say I blame her! Then it just gets better from there! The gore and violence is great and I hate to say it but I wish there was more! They had no mercy and I loved every minute of it!

[viki edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, normally gore doesnt bother me, but Lesley, oh my gosh, what an author!! I had to read a bit, put it down, then come back to it when I managed to pick my jaw off the floor.
The descriptions, the detail, the pure unhinged story, written so annoyingly beautifully I couldn't hate it even though I really. wanted. to. stop. reading. This author has talent, and once I have recovered from this book, I am going to read more of her work!

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Lesley Camphouse for trusting me with this ARC I appreciate her and everything she creates.🖤

This is an erotic horror romance with a HEA.
It's dark, consuming, and romantic in its own way. The FMC struggles, yet through him she finds strength, love, and a bond so deep they feel like one soul together.

My words will never do this story justice. it's meant to be read and devoured. Lesley continues to deliver unforgettable work that stays with you long after the last page.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death is only the beginning.
This book is dark, check your triggers!

This book was beautifully written, capturing the scenes so poetically until you are reminded what the scene is actually about. The love between the FMC and MMC comes quick but deep and death only brings them closer. Even with the content, you cant help but fall in love with their wild chemistry. I enjoyed this very much and was happy to see a mix of romance within the extreme horror.

[LT Rosado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Lesley A. Camphouse spoke to gothic, dark, horror loving soul with this book. Not for the newbies to dark romance, this is for the experienced readers. Check the trigger warnings. Lots of death, decay, macabre, torture & spice. The romance was another level. A couple who hunts, tortures & preserve their flesh trophies stay together. Loved every second of this book.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is that this book was the PERFECT balance between my two favorite genres. Extreme horror and dark romance.
A man saving a woman that is lost and feeling like the only way out is death? A man possessive over his lady but has dark secrets himself. Count me in! This book really pulled me right in from the beginning!
Lesley did such a good job at making you love the main characters. at least for me, the details and the way they loved each other and loved each other's flaws.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
This was the first book I read by Lesley and I was absolutely obsessed.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and love horror x dark romance books.
It was written so well and blended perfectly.
I will definitely be reading more of Lesley's books!!
Also thank you so much Lesley for allowing me to arc read for you 🫶🏼🖤

[Morgen Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, I did find it pretty mild on the Lesley scale of "WTF did I just read" but it is labeled as Extreme Horror x Dark Romance. I wish there was a little more of the horror and less of the romance but always love when two macabre broken souls can find love and peace within each other.

[Risshan Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

The couple that kills together stays together. This an amazing blend of super dark romance and gore. A weird girls dream! Two lost souls finally unite, they blend together and bring out the best yet the worst in each other. Death, blood and pure romance 🖤

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

..Silent Portraits is a darkly beautiful book. The story is haunting, addictive, and visceral..you know that you shouldn't love him, but I got caught up in the MMC Jasper just like the FMC did..he is alluring and dangerous and protective..This is a story that will haunt me a while..

[Rebecca Woodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so lucky to have received this as an arc from the author.

This is a dark romance/extreme horror book and I loved it. I loved the obsession between Clara and Jasper. The gore and the torture were just perfect. Check tw as this is a dark story. Thank you Lesley for letting me read it 😊

[Tarin Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read from a brilliant author. Incredibly romantic, possessive vibes, with all the nasty gore of splatterpunk. A true pitch black romance, spicy and gross, with a main character that was likeable whilst doing awful things.

[Kylie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO SO good!!! I was on edge the entire time!