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Wellspring
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Expected 26 Oct 26In 1973, at the peak of their stratospheric fame, the members of the classic rock band Bad Mother posed for an iconic photo gathered around an old stone well in the woods. That indelible image became the cover of their magnum opus, Wellspring, and the subject of a thousand fan theories concerning what the lead singer found in the well that drove him to new heights of artistic genius and depraved depths of violent madness culminating in the gruesome murder of a fan.
Forty years later, four lifelong friends and former bandmates brought together by their shared love of the classic Bad Mother album are drawn into the dark mystery of its origin when one of them goes missing on an unholy pilgrimage to find the legendary well. For Brian Parker, the prospect of dropping everything to go looking for a friend who never let go of their youthful obsession is an inconvenient obligation but one he can’t turn away from after watching Adam’s last unsettling video message from the dark forest where the well is rumored to be.
When they arrive at Adam’s last known location, Brian and his old bandmates are confronted by secretive and unfriendly locals who declare the forest off limits until the festival of the Hunter’s Moon. Defying the taboo and embarking on a treacherous trail, the would-be rescuers soon find themselves wounded, lost, and confronted with all manner of strange occurrences. Adam has left cryptic clues to his whereabouts, but nature itself seems to conspire against them. And while they hunt for their lost friend, Brian can’t shake the feeling that something ancient is hunting them.
Forty years later, four lifelong friends and former bandmates brought together by their shared love of the classic Bad Mother album are drawn into the dark mystery of its origin when one of them goes missing on an unholy pilgrimage to find the legendary well. For Brian Parker, the prospect of dropping everything to go looking for a friend who never let go of their youthful obsession is an inconvenient obligation but one he can’t turn away from after watching Adam’s last unsettling video message from the dark forest where the well is rumored to be.
When they arrive at Adam’s last known location, Brian and his old bandmates are confronted by secretive and unfriendly locals who declare the forest off limits until the festival of the Hunter’s Moon. Defying the taboo and embarking on a treacherous trail, the would-be rescuers soon find themselves wounded, lost, and confronted with all manner of strange occurrences. Adam has left cryptic clues to his whereabouts, but nature itself seems to conspire against them. And while they hunt for their lost friend, Brian can’t shake the feeling that something ancient is hunting them.
336 pages, ebook
Expected publication October 26, 2026
12 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Wynne
37 books145 followersDouglas Wynne is the author the horror thrillers The Devil of Echo Lake, His Own Devices, and the SPECTRA Files trilogy. His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and his writing workshops have been featured at genre conventions and schools throughout New England. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and son and a houseful of animals.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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April 16, 2026Review to come!
Review of advance copy received from Author
An extraordinary horror book, one I can only compare to Adam Nevill's "The Ritual"! From the creepy opening scene (in fact, an excerpt from a fictional article in Rolling Stone magazine!), to the jaw-dropping ending, the novel manages to bring together successfully so many of my favorite horror tropes and horror genres, it's hard to understate the stellar achievement it is!
There's rock music horror; Faustian bargains; folk horror; cult horror; survival horror; creature feature; and perhaps even a dash of cosmic horror! This is all packaged as a brilliant tale of three unsuspecting middle-aged friends, Brian, Joe and Chris, once bandmates, going to find Adam, their quirky fourth mate, who's gone missing during a trek deep in the aforementioned forest. A simple, yet incredibly fecund, idea serves as the book's main premise: the mystery of a well somewhere deep in the woods, made famous by a 70s rock band when they picked it for their iconic cover photo of their most influential album. The mythical well gave rise to many theories and conjectures about its location, drawing Adam himself into the rabbit hole which eventually brought him to the middle of the forest where he got lost.
The book is claustrophobic, creepy, wildly imaginative, and quite intense. Revelations come exactly when they're needed and not a moment earlier; the twists are few but major; the horror palpable throughout and grounded in a rather complex set of freaking good ideas; and the resolution chilling, shocking even, surely defying all expectations!
If you ever wondered what if The Blair Witch Project and The Ritual had a baby, check this one out. Be prepared to lose some sleep, however!
There's rock music horror; Faustian bargains; folk horror; cult horror; survival horror; creature feature; and perhaps even a dash of cosmic horror! This is all packaged as a brilliant tale of three unsuspecting middle-aged friends, Brian, Joe and Chris, once bandmates, going to find Adam, their quirky fourth mate, who's gone missing during a trek deep in the aforementioned forest. A simple, yet incredibly fecund, idea serves as the book's main premise: the mystery of a well somewhere deep in the woods, made famous by a 70s rock band when they picked it for their iconic cover photo of their most influential album. The mythical well gave rise to many theories and conjectures about its location, drawing Adam himself into the rabbit hole which eventually brought him to the middle of the forest where he got lost.
The book is claustrophobic, creepy, wildly imaginative, and quite intense. Revelations come exactly when they're needed and not a moment earlier; the twists are few but major; the horror palpable throughout and grounded in a rather complex set of freaking good ideas; and the resolution chilling, shocking even, surely defying all expectations!
If you ever wondered what if The Blair Witch Project and The Ritual had a baby, check this one out. Be prepared to lose some sleep, however!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another fabulous book by Douglas Wynne. I found myself drawn in quickly and it was hard to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed the build up to the cosmic horror reveal and then the conclusion blew me away. A great read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is Douglas Wynne at his best. This story had me hooked from page one. It reminds me of his other novel, The Devil of Echo Lake, that I highly recommend. A fun read that everyone should enjoy. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am not exaggerating when I say that the ARC of Wellspring (by Douglas Wynne) is the best book I have read in years. And I read fiction novels every day. It’s a story that makes intelligent minds feel satiated for a change. I’ll never forget this one! And what an ending! O M G !!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews