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No One Was Ever Really in This Place: A Horror Novel
This psychological horror novel is a hauntingly beautiful journey of redemption, art, and the afterlife.
The world didn't end with a bang—it ended with silence.
Felix is used to feeling invisible. He drifts through life on autopilot. His days blur together beneath waves of anxiety, depression, and the quiet fear that he should be alone.
Then one morning, the world agrees with him.
Felix wakes to a world that is empty. Alone in a city that feels staged, artificial, and unsettling wrong, Felix searches for answers while confronting the terrifying possibility that he is truly the last person alive. As Felix finally accepts his fate… the silence begins to speak back. Something in the abandoned world has finally noticed him.
A haunting, emotional descent into isolation, No One Was Ever Really in This Place blends psychological horror, cosmic dread, and raw human vulnerability
The world didn't end with a bang—it ended with silence.
Felix is used to feeling invisible. He drifts through life on autopilot. His days blur together beneath waves of anxiety, depression, and the quiet fear that he should be alone.
Then one morning, the world agrees with him.
Felix wakes to a world that is empty. Alone in a city that feels staged, artificial, and unsettling wrong, Felix searches for answers while confronting the terrifying possibility that he is truly the last person alive. As Felix finally accepts his fate… the silence begins to speak back. Something in the abandoned world has finally noticed him.
A haunting, emotional descent into isolation, No One Was Ever Really in This Place blends psychological horror, cosmic dread, and raw human vulnerability
- GenresHorror
171 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 10, 2026
4.5 stars we follow Felix [our main character ] into his downward spiral of depression and loneliness and isolation. this is more about grief horror than monsters themselves. this book will tug at your heart at times and make you really think of many other struggles in this life for some.
August 11, 2026
I’ve got one question for you Mr. Salt. Why? Why did you hurt me the way you did? Do you feed on our pain? 🤣 Because I’m going to need 3-5 business days to process all the feelings from this goddamn book 😭 I had an idea of where this book was heading but then the rug was yanked out from under me and completely changed everything. This one seriously hit SO close to home and hapter 9 broke my heart. Felix’s loneliness and sadness was so tangible and visceral it made my own heart ache. But the ending was so unique and gave me the overwhelming feeling of complete melancholy. This is book is an absolute work of art. It’s short, but man it will rip your heart into two 😭
Again I’d like to give a GIANT thank you to Andrew at Wicked House for giving me an arc of Mike’s newest book. I will be thinking about this one for a LONG time.
Again I’d like to give a GIANT thank you to Andrew at Wicked House for giving me an arc of Mike’s newest book. I will be thinking about this one for a LONG time.
August 18, 2026
Felix is a depressed young man living in the city when suddenly his environment drastically changes.
I don’t know what audience this book was aimed at, but I’m guessing the YA crowd.
This book describes Felix’s depression and panic attacks quite well, but it did venture into overkill. In fact, the whole thing ventured into overkill. It was very repetitive. Very, very repetitive. I was shaking my head and thinking about how repetitive it was. Felix’s thoughts repeated. I was frustrated at the repetition. Felix thought things over and over. He repeatedly thought about the same things.
Are you annoyed yet? I know I sure was.
I also know that this is a realistic demonstration of the thought process of someone whose thoughts are in a loop due to depression and/or anxiety. It’s just frustrating to read.
Even though I had this figured out fairly quickly, it still would have made a great short story. It was already a novella, but should have been shortened much more.
Because it had potential, I’ll give it 3 stars.
I don’t know what audience this book was aimed at, but I’m guessing the YA crowd.
This book describes Felix’s depression and panic attacks quite well, but it did venture into overkill. In fact, the whole thing ventured into overkill. It was very repetitive. Very, very repetitive. I was shaking my head and thinking about how repetitive it was. Felix’s thoughts repeated. I was frustrated at the repetition. Felix thought things over and over. He repeatedly thought about the same things.
Are you annoyed yet? I know I sure was.
I also know that this is a realistic demonstration of the thought process of someone whose thoughts are in a loop due to depression and/or anxiety. It’s just frustrating to read.
Even though I had this figured out fairly quickly, it still would have made a great short story. It was already a novella, but should have been shortened much more.
Because it had potential, I’ll give it 3 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you enjoyed You’re Not Supposed to Be Here, then you’re going to love Mike Salt’s new book, No One Was Ever Really in This Place. And if you haven’t read You’re Not Supposed to Be Here, sorry but now you have two books to add to your TBR 😆
No One Was Ever Really in This Places focuses on mental health, and is a dark and lonely story. The main character, Felix, wakes up alone in the world, and we follow him as he spirals into the darkest of places. As always, Mike Salt’s writing draws you in and rips your heart out. Highly recommend if you enjoy grief or psychological horror!
No One Was Ever Really in This Places focuses on mental health, and is a dark and lonely story. The main character, Felix, wakes up alone in the world, and we follow him as he spirals into the darkest of places. As always, Mike Salt’s writing draws you in and rips your heart out. Highly recommend if you enjoy grief or psychological horror!
August 15, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
BLURB:
Felix wakes to a world where everyone has mysteriously vanished. As he searches an eerily empty city for answers, he realizes something lurking within the silence has finally noticed him.
REVIEW:
This was my first read from this author, and I was drawn in by the title and creepy cover. I’m also a big fan of psychological horror rather than stories with lots of body horror, and I love books with mental health representation, so this sounded right up my alley! What I didn’t expect was just how mind-bending and emotional this would be—and the strong elements of cosmic horror and existential horror. The protagonist struggles with depression, anxiety, isolation, and loneliness, and these themes are woven into an original and unpredictable storyline.
The story is told from Felix’s third-person POV. He’s a young man who’s been estranged from his family for five years, and the only companionship he has is his dog, Ninja. Their brief moments together stand out because Ninja brings Felix much-needed comfort when everything else feels so heavy.
Just before a major event occurs and everything changes, we get to see Felix’s daily routine and how disconnected he is from the world. He works at a diner where his coworkers know almost nothing about him, and he has a quiet crush on a barista he regularly visits for coffee. Aside from those small interactions, Felix sees no one, and no one checks in on him or knows how much he’s struggling. I immediately had a creeping sense of dread that something bad was coming.
When Felix finally wakes up one morning and the world has changed, the story takes a direction I wasn’t expecting. There’s no one at the diner where he works—or anywhere! The streets are empty, and his panic begins to set in. The writing is so immersive here that I was literally feeling the panic right alongside him.
From there, the story becomes fascinating and unpredictable. It feels like Felix is navigating an altered reality, and the passage of time seems different. As time goes on, he uncovers strange clues and has surreal experiences that make him question everything. I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Felix’s past with his cousins when the future seemed bright. The different paths their lives took and how they relate to Felix’s circumstances are especially compelling.
Felix’s exploration of the Rainy Days apartment complex while searching for people becomes a major part of the mystery. There’s also a recurring red telephone that suddenly appears in different locations and begins ringing—SO creepy and an effective piece of psychological horror. He also sees shadowy figures that made me question whether his mind was unravelling.
The more I read, the more I realized the horror isn’t just about all the craziness Felix experiences, but about what everything represents—and let me tell you, the themes here are so deep that you could discuss them for hours in a book club! I felt the empty world reflected Felix’s emotional state and that his flashbacks, along with the terrifying events, were all meant for him to experience.
The chapters aren’t the shortest, but because the story is always moving, and at under 200 pages (about five hours on audio), you can easily finish this book in a day. The final 30% feels even more like a fever dream, including a captivating and unexpected séance scene in Felix’s apartment that’s followed by surprises. Without giving anything away, the ending is shocking and heartbreaking, but it also gives closure. This is easily one of the most original books I’ve read this year, and I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.
If you enjoy psychological horror, mental health representation, deeper themes, and mind-bending stories, I highly recommend picking this one up!
BLURB:
Felix wakes to a world where everyone has mysteriously vanished. As he searches an eerily empty city for answers, he realizes something lurking within the silence has finally noticed him.
REVIEW:
This was my first read from this author, and I was drawn in by the title and creepy cover. I’m also a big fan of psychological horror rather than stories with lots of body horror, and I love books with mental health representation, so this sounded right up my alley! What I didn’t expect was just how mind-bending and emotional this would be—and the strong elements of cosmic horror and existential horror. The protagonist struggles with depression, anxiety, isolation, and loneliness, and these themes are woven into an original and unpredictable storyline.
The story is told from Felix’s third-person POV. He’s a young man who’s been estranged from his family for five years, and the only companionship he has is his dog, Ninja. Their brief moments together stand out because Ninja brings Felix much-needed comfort when everything else feels so heavy.
Just before a major event occurs and everything changes, we get to see Felix’s daily routine and how disconnected he is from the world. He works at a diner where his coworkers know almost nothing about him, and he has a quiet crush on a barista he regularly visits for coffee. Aside from those small interactions, Felix sees no one, and no one checks in on him or knows how much he’s struggling. I immediately had a creeping sense of dread that something bad was coming.
When Felix finally wakes up one morning and the world has changed, the story takes a direction I wasn’t expecting. There’s no one at the diner where he works—or anywhere! The streets are empty, and his panic begins to set in. The writing is so immersive here that I was literally feeling the panic right alongside him.
From there, the story becomes fascinating and unpredictable. It feels like Felix is navigating an altered reality, and the passage of time seems different. As time goes on, he uncovers strange clues and has surreal experiences that make him question everything. I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Felix’s past with his cousins when the future seemed bright. The different paths their lives took and how they relate to Felix’s circumstances are especially compelling.
Felix’s exploration of the Rainy Days apartment complex while searching for people becomes a major part of the mystery. There’s also a recurring red telephone that suddenly appears in different locations and begins ringing—SO creepy and an effective piece of psychological horror. He also sees shadowy figures that made me question whether his mind was unravelling.
The more I read, the more I realized the horror isn’t just about all the craziness Felix experiences, but about what everything represents—and let me tell you, the themes here are so deep that you could discuss them for hours in a book club! I felt the empty world reflected Felix’s emotional state and that his flashbacks, along with the terrifying events, were all meant for him to experience.
The chapters aren’t the shortest, but because the story is always moving, and at under 200 pages (about five hours on audio), you can easily finish this book in a day. The final 30% feels even more like a fever dream, including a captivating and unexpected séance scene in Felix’s apartment that’s followed by surprises. Without giving anything away, the ending is shocking and heartbreaking, but it also gives closure. This is easily one of the most original books I’ve read this year, and I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.
If you enjoy psychological horror, mental health representation, deeper themes, and mind-bending stories, I highly recommend picking this one up!
April 16, 2026
SAD BOI SPRING IS IN FULL EFFECT 😭😭😭
Felix is just… existing. Trying to get by in a world in which he feels invisible, unappreciated, and incapable of reaching out.
He’s got a dog named Ninja, and you could say he’s Felix’s lifeline. When things get dark, and a breakdown is on the horizon, Ninja is always there to bring him out of it with some sloppy doggo kisses.
So it comes as a horrifying shock when one day, he wakes up and things are just a little.. off. After a night of heavy drinking and existential panic, he wakes up late, leaves a bowl of food out for Ninja, and rushes on his way to his job as a dishwasher at a local diner.
It’s not until he gets to work that he realizes something is very wrong.
There’s not a living soul anywhere. The coffee pot is on, the diner was unlocked and ready for business, but nobody is there.
It doesn’t take long for him to realize that there’s nobody… anywhere. He’s completely alone. And that is when the panic truly sets in.
As days go on, he spends his days searching the entire city, looking for absolutely anyone, until he starts to be haunted by entities from his past, and a classic red telephone that rings only for there to be static on the other end when he answers.
This story was so incredibly upsetting. We see all of the unadulterated depression and anxiety that Felix feels without anyone, not even Ninja, to help him get through it all.
But we also see him try to come back from it all, to make peace with his past, and gain closure for the trauma that led him to where he ended up in his lonely adulthood.
I do not cry when I read books, but this one nearly took me out when I finished it. There’s one scene in particular that had me absolutely losing my mind with complete and utter sadness.
But overall, when it comes to reading for empathy, this one definitely hit. And the early 2000s emo nostalgia was very much appreciated.
Felix is just… existing. Trying to get by in a world in which he feels invisible, unappreciated, and incapable of reaching out.
He’s got a dog named Ninja, and you could say he’s Felix’s lifeline. When things get dark, and a breakdown is on the horizon, Ninja is always there to bring him out of it with some sloppy doggo kisses.
So it comes as a horrifying shock when one day, he wakes up and things are just a little.. off. After a night of heavy drinking and existential panic, he wakes up late, leaves a bowl of food out for Ninja, and rushes on his way to his job as a dishwasher at a local diner.
It’s not until he gets to work that he realizes something is very wrong.
There’s not a living soul anywhere. The coffee pot is on, the diner was unlocked and ready for business, but nobody is there.
It doesn’t take long for him to realize that there’s nobody… anywhere. He’s completely alone. And that is when the panic truly sets in.
As days go on, he spends his days searching the entire city, looking for absolutely anyone, until he starts to be haunted by entities from his past, and a classic red telephone that rings only for there to be static on the other end when he answers.
This story was so incredibly upsetting. We see all of the unadulterated depression and anxiety that Felix feels without anyone, not even Ninja, to help him get through it all.
But we also see him try to come back from it all, to make peace with his past, and gain closure for the trauma that led him to where he ended up in his lonely adulthood.
I do not cry when I read books, but this one nearly took me out when I finished it. There’s one scene in particular that had me absolutely losing my mind with complete and utter sadness.
But overall, when it comes to reading for empathy, this one definitely hit. And the early 2000s emo nostalgia was very much appreciated.
August 8, 2026
I went into No One Was Ever Really in This Place expecting an eerie supernatural horror novel. I wasn’t expecting one of the most emotionally affecting books I’ve read this year.
At its core, this is a story about loneliness, anxiety, depression, and the quiet belief that you’ve become invisible to the people around you. Felix is an incredibly sympathetic protagonist, and watching him navigate both the supernatural mystery unfolding around him and the battles happening inside his own mind made him feel painfully real.
As someone who’s struggled with anxiety and gone through depressive periods myself, there were moments that hit uncomfortably close to home. Mike Salt captures those feelings with a level of honesty that made it impossible not to connect with Felix.
The horror elements are genuinely unsettling, from the abandoned town and ghostly encounters to the recurring red telephone that never seems to have anyone on the other end. But what stayed with me long after I finished wasn’t the horror—it was the humanity behind it.
By the time I reached the final pages, I was full on bawling my eyes out. It’s rare for a horror novel to frighten you and leave you emotionally moved in equal measure, but this one absolutely did.
If you enjoy horror with real emotional depth, memorable atmosphere, and a story that has something meaningful to say about loneliness and mental health, I can’t recommend this one enough.
At its core, this is a story about loneliness, anxiety, depression, and the quiet belief that you’ve become invisible to the people around you. Felix is an incredibly sympathetic protagonist, and watching him navigate both the supernatural mystery unfolding around him and the battles happening inside his own mind made him feel painfully real.
As someone who’s struggled with anxiety and gone through depressive periods myself, there were moments that hit uncomfortably close to home. Mike Salt captures those feelings with a level of honesty that made it impossible not to connect with Felix.
The horror elements are genuinely unsettling, from the abandoned town and ghostly encounters to the recurring red telephone that never seems to have anyone on the other end. But what stayed with me long after I finished wasn’t the horror—it was the humanity behind it.
By the time I reached the final pages, I was full on bawling my eyes out. It’s rare for a horror novel to frighten you and leave you emotionally moved in equal measure, but this one absolutely did.
If you enjoy horror with real emotional depth, memorable atmosphere, and a story that has something meaningful to say about loneliness and mental health, I can’t recommend this one enough.
August 18, 2026
Le sigh, it's so good, but so bleak. The way Mike Salt describes how depressed and alone Felix feels is so good, like you can feel it. I know it's weird to say that's good, being depressed obviously isn't good. It is just the way that Salt can put you in his main characters shoes.
Felix doesn't really have a purpose, he just goes day to day living a simple routine that is boring and mundane. He has no friends, most of his family he is estranged from or they have passed away. He is a dishwasher and is barely even acknowledged by his coworkers. He is over everything-including living. But one morning he wakes up and everyone is gone, even his dog Ninja. Where did everyone go? Was there a mass evacuation that he just slept through? He searches tirelessly for someone-anyone, he is so tired of being alone. Each day he wakes up and keeps searching and then one day he sees someone and then another day he sees someone in the shadows...is he losing his mind or is not really alone?
Mike Salt is a hidden gem and it is a shame that more people don't know about him.
Felix doesn't really have a purpose, he just goes day to day living a simple routine that is boring and mundane. He has no friends, most of his family he is estranged from or they have passed away. He is a dishwasher and is barely even acknowledged by his coworkers. He is over everything-including living. But one morning he wakes up and everyone is gone, even his dog Ninja. Where did everyone go? Was there a mass evacuation that he just slept through? He searches tirelessly for someone-anyone, he is so tired of being alone. Each day he wakes up and keeps searching and then one day he sees someone and then another day he sees someone in the shadows...is he losing his mind or is not really alone?
Mike Salt is a hidden gem and it is a shame that more people don't know about him.
August 6, 2026
If i could give this book 6 stars i would.
I was blown away at how great, dark, sad, and just how on point this book was.
Follow felix as he navigates the dark and the shadows. The loneliness he feels.
I was blown away at how great, dark, sad, and just how on point this book was.
Follow felix as he navigates the dark and the shadows. The loneliness he feels.
August 8, 2026
Disappointing
I’ve read a lot of horror and this was not. I didn’t like Felix, he was annoying. You knew the truth most of the time. It dragged on and on with barely anything happening. I forced myself to finish it, and skipped a lot. I expected a much better book.
I’ve read a lot of horror and this was not. I didn’t like Felix, he was annoying. You knew the truth most of the time. It dragged on and on with barely anything happening. I forced myself to finish it, and skipped a lot. I expected a much better book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Felix is lonely, depressed and suffers from anxiety attacks - living with his only real companion and best friend Ninja (a little Weiner dog). He’s moved to the city to follow his dreams of becoming an artist and move away from past traumas. But the trauma was never really dealt with and so he continued to carry this burden. One day he wakes up and finds that everyone in the world has vanished but him. Now Felix is on a mission to find out what happened.
Oh my gosh, my heart. I don’t think I’ve ever cried that hard while reading. I’m pretty sure I tried to come up with so many reasons on what happened to the world and honestly never guessed the correct answer.
This book is heavy!
Oh my gosh, my heart. I don’t think I’ve ever cried that hard while reading. I’m pretty sure I tried to come up with so many reasons on what happened to the world and honestly never guessed the correct answer.
This book is heavy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review for No One Was Ever really in this place by Mike Salt-
“Depression has a weird way of taking everything from a person. The further you fall, the further away you become from the things that could pull you out.”
This book, especially towards the end kind of mentally destroyed me a lil bit. Depression is an awful bitch of a mountain to climb and I think that Mike Salt is able to put it into words that are so relatable. I really thought that the crazy haunted house story or the creepy cave story were going to be my favorites, but I think that grief horror is also just as incredible. The way in which Felix’s panic attacks were described as well were supremely relatable. I will probably write a more in depth review once I can wrap my head around it all.
“Depression has a weird way of taking everything from a person. The further you fall, the further away you become from the things that could pull you out.”
This book, especially towards the end kind of mentally destroyed me a lil bit. Depression is an awful bitch of a mountain to climb and I think that Mike Salt is able to put it into words that are so relatable. I really thought that the crazy haunted house story or the creepy cave story were going to be my favorites, but I think that grief horror is also just as incredible. The way in which Felix’s panic attacks were described as well were supremely relatable. I will probably write a more in depth review once I can wrap my head around it all.
Review of advance copy received from Author
So much grief and brutal honesty, coupled with a soul-crashing feeling of resignation throughout, make this book rather hard to read: a powerful and fascinating tale of one young man's spiraling, sure, but also depressing af and heart-rending to the point of tears. I confess that Felix's attitude to life left me emotionally battered - heartache and loneliness, panic attacks and intrusive self-deprecating thoughts are part of his daily struggle to be seen, to be heard, and to be understood. His life is not good. He's depressed. And Salt's portrayal of depression is extremely on point.
Did I wish for Felix's suffering to end? Yes. Did I root for him to raise himself above his melancholy? Oh yes. Did I expect he'd suddenly wake up and find himself in the most absurd of situations, trying to keep himself sane when his whole world has gone the way of the dodo? Hell no! That was a nasty surprise. Reminded me of similar situations in that movie, Vanilla Sky, or the first season of Alice in Borderland - though Felix's predicament is far darker and way more devastating, psychologically and mentally: Felix is neither merely sad nor just confused; to repeat, he's depressed - that is, day in, day out, his mind goes to dark places, and keeps attacking him from the shadows.
Once Felix's world changes in a totally unexpected and most unsettling way, his daily life becomes downright bizarre. He's no less depressed than before - but man, did I really love the creepy scenes that followed! The phone ringing when there's literally noone who could be calling Felix; the red eyes starring at him from the dark corners when the room he's in is empty; Felix's glimpses of people who just cannot be really there - if that's an obvious allegory for Felix's state of mind, it's no less true that Salt's storytelling has never been as powerful and empathetic, not to mention heart-piercing and immersive, as when he describes Felix's confusing path to redemption, his attempt to find answers amidst growing supernatural attacks to his sanity and even his self-respect. Both Felix and the reader have to puzzle out what's going on, and separate out what's real and what's not.
The ending, I believe, won't satisfy everyone, and I reckon it's not meant to. It is definitely arresting and a bit astonishing, perhaps even staggeringly demanding for unwary readers, who're left to deal emotionally with it one way or another completely on their own.
I highly recommend the book to fans of psychological, grief, and isolation horror, and horror revolving around mental health and existential dread. And to end the review on a happy note: at least Ninja, Felix's wiener doggie, finds the happiness he deserves!
Did I wish for Felix's suffering to end? Yes. Did I root for him to raise himself above his melancholy? Oh yes. Did I expect he'd suddenly wake up and find himself in the most absurd of situations, trying to keep himself sane when his whole world has gone the way of the dodo? Hell no! That was a nasty surprise. Reminded me of similar situations in that movie, Vanilla Sky, or the first season of Alice in Borderland - though Felix's predicament is far darker and way more devastating, psychologically and mentally: Felix is neither merely sad nor just confused; to repeat, he's depressed - that is, day in, day out, his mind goes to dark places, and keeps attacking him from the shadows.
Once Felix's world changes in a totally unexpected and most unsettling way, his daily life becomes downright bizarre. He's no less depressed than before - but man, did I really love the creepy scenes that followed! The phone ringing when there's literally noone who could be calling Felix; the red eyes starring at him from the dark corners when the room he's in is empty; Felix's glimpses of people who just cannot be really there - if that's an obvious allegory for Felix's state of mind, it's no less true that Salt's storytelling has never been as powerful and empathetic, not to mention heart-piercing and immersive, as when he describes Felix's confusing path to redemption, his attempt to find answers amidst growing supernatural attacks to his sanity and even his self-respect. Both Felix and the reader have to puzzle out what's going on, and separate out what's real and what's not.
The ending, I believe, won't satisfy everyone, and I reckon it's not meant to. It is definitely arresting and a bit astonishing, perhaps even staggeringly demanding for unwary readers, who're left to deal emotionally with it one way or another completely on their own.
I highly recommend the book to fans of psychological, grief, and isolation horror, and horror revolving around mental health and existential dread. And to end the review on a happy note: at least Ninja, Felix's wiener doggie, finds the happiness he deserves!
August 4, 2026
Thank you to Wicked House Publishing for my copy. All opinions are my own.
4.50 / 5.00
Felix has always been a loner. But when the rest of the world up and leaves him, Felix is left with nothing to do but confront his own demons.
This was more than just a scary story about the last man on earth, it was an emotional journey through grief and depression that ends with acceptance. It was a short read, but very engaging throughout and had such a powerful message. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
This book had me singing “Fade to Black” by Metallica. The song is about a person who feels numb and totally empty inside, maybe on the brink of depression or just over the line. “Getting lost within myself / Nothing matters, no one else.” Felix reminisces on the times he spent his youth with friends or cousins, and questions what life would be like if he had just reached out. “Things not what they used to be / Missing one inside of me / Deathly lost, this can’t be real / Cannot stand this hell I feel.” When Felix wakes to his new reality, it takes time for it to sink in that he’s totally alone. He keeps thinking he can chase down a neighbor, a coworker, a random person, and make a connection that will help him feel alive again. “No one but me can save myself, but it’s too late.” Does Felix still have the opportunity to save himself? What happens if he listens to the voice on the mysterious phone that keeps ringing? You’ll only find out Felix’s fate when you read No One Was Ever Really in this Place.
4.50 / 5.00
Felix has always been a loner. But when the rest of the world up and leaves him, Felix is left with nothing to do but confront his own demons.
This was more than just a scary story about the last man on earth, it was an emotional journey through grief and depression that ends with acceptance. It was a short read, but very engaging throughout and had such a powerful message. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
This book had me singing “Fade to Black” by Metallica. The song is about a person who feels numb and totally empty inside, maybe on the brink of depression or just over the line. “Getting lost within myself / Nothing matters, no one else.” Felix reminisces on the times he spent his youth with friends or cousins, and questions what life would be like if he had just reached out. “Things not what they used to be / Missing one inside of me / Deathly lost, this can’t be real / Cannot stand this hell I feel.” When Felix wakes to his new reality, it takes time for it to sink in that he’s totally alone. He keeps thinking he can chase down a neighbor, a coworker, a random person, and make a connection that will help him feel alive again. “No one but me can save myself, but it’s too late.” Does Felix still have the opportunity to save himself? What happens if he listens to the voice on the mysterious phone that keeps ringing? You’ll only find out Felix’s fate when you read No One Was Ever Really in this Place.
March 21, 2026
I’ve been a longtime fan of Mike Salt’s work. His Linkville series completely creeped me out, and with No One Was Ever Really In This Place, I think Salt may have found another powerful niche. He is exceptional at writing horror that is deeply rooted in grief.
Sometimes nothing is scarier than feeling completely alone and lost, and Salt captures that feeling perfectly through the main character, Felix. His struggles, particularly with panic attacks, are portrayed in such a raw and authentic way. I do not think I have read another book that depicts that experience so vividly.
The ending was both beautiful and heartbreaking. This story is emotional, intense, and quietly haunting in a way that lingers long after you finish the final page.
While this book absolutely fits within the horror genre, it also reminds us that some of the scariest things in the world are not monsters, ghosts, or demons. They are the very real emotions of grief, isolation, and searching for meaning.
I would even recommend this to readers who do not typically read horror, because at its core this is a deeply human story about loss, self-isolation, and discovery.
Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. Mike Salt is an incredible storyteller who never fails to deliver. No One Was Ever Really In This Place is currently scheduled for release in June 2026 and is available for preorder.
Sometimes nothing is scarier than feeling completely alone and lost, and Salt captures that feeling perfectly through the main character, Felix. His struggles, particularly with panic attacks, are portrayed in such a raw and authentic way. I do not think I have read another book that depicts that experience so vividly.
The ending was both beautiful and heartbreaking. This story is emotional, intense, and quietly haunting in a way that lingers long after you finish the final page.
While this book absolutely fits within the horror genre, it also reminds us that some of the scariest things in the world are not monsters, ghosts, or demons. They are the very real emotions of grief, isolation, and searching for meaning.
I would even recommend this to readers who do not typically read horror, because at its core this is a deeply human story about loss, self-isolation, and discovery.
Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. Mike Salt is an incredible storyteller who never fails to deliver. No One Was Ever Really In This Place is currently scheduled for release in June 2026 and is available for preorder.
August 4, 2026
Mike Salt did it again. He has a way of ripping my heart out and tearing it to shreds. The story isn’t perfect, but I think that is the point. Life is full of imperfections and if you focus too much on that you can get lost in it. Depression is a real and serious issue that too many people take too lightly. The whole time you know deep down in your heart that the main character is dead, but you hope that maybe you are wrong. Maybe someone will help him before he decides he has had enough. It is a slow pace but there is still a lot going on if that makes sense. The pace must be slow though go paint the oppressive feeling it needs. There’s a lot going on and it all fits together in the end. Grief horror is still a new concept to me, but I love it and feel like it was made for me. The message is beautiful. You are never truly alone. Only in your own mind. Nothing is so bad that you need to end it. There is a light somewhere if you just look. This one will sit with me for a while. You feel so many emotions while reading this because the main character is so open with his feelings and memories. I cried twice if that tells you anything! The story telling is brilliant!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2026
This novel gives us the story of Felix, a young man struggling with depression and nihilism, only to wake one morning to find himself the only person left on Earth…or so it seems. This is a head-dive into surrealism, and Mr. Salt excels in setting up a lonely, eerie atmosphere very reminiscent of a Backrooms-style nightmare. Liminal spaces are a big trend now, and Salt excels in making us feel tense and alone—while simultaneously having us wonder if Felix truly is alone.
Admittedly, I started out unsure of whether I liked Felix as a character. He grew on me with each chapter, and resonated perfectly with me in time for the emotional gut-punch of an ending Salt delivers to us. Anyone who has suffered from depression or suicidal ideation understands the struggle of daily self-loathing and fantasizing the world without us. Salt tackles these feelings head-on, delivering a powerful final message that is haunting, empathetic, and above all, hopeful. For that, I give him a solid five-stars and a thank you for reminding us we’re always enough, regardless of how we may feel.
Admittedly, I started out unsure of whether I liked Felix as a character. He grew on me with each chapter, and resonated perfectly with me in time for the emotional gut-punch of an ending Salt delivers to us. Anyone who has suffered from depression or suicidal ideation understands the struggle of daily self-loathing and fantasizing the world without us. Salt tackles these feelings head-on, delivering a powerful final message that is haunting, empathetic, and above all, hopeful. For that, I give him a solid five-stars and a thank you for reminding us we’re always enough, regardless of how we may feel.
August 13, 2026
2.75⭐️ | Contains Spoilers
No One Was Ever Really in This Place had a great premise, but the execution was frustratingly drawn out. For most of the book, the story felt repetitive and emotionally stagnant, and I figured out very early that Felix was dead, which took away much of the suspense for me. I eventually found myself just waiting for the story to get somewhere.
However, the final act was outstanding. Felix standing among the kids using the Ouija board and slowly realizing that he was the spirit communicating with them was easily my favorite part of the entire book. I loved the idea that every time he spoke, his words were being spelled out on the board. Learning how he died and then discovering that the woman from the coffee shop really did care about him—and had taken in Ninja—gave the ending an emotional weight that I wish I had felt throughout the rest of the story.
The final act showed me the book I wish I had been reading all along. Unfortunately, as much as I loved the ending, it wasn’t enough to make up for how much I struggled with everything that came before it.
No One Was Ever Really in This Place had a great premise, but the execution was frustratingly drawn out. For most of the book, the story felt repetitive and emotionally stagnant, and I figured out very early that Felix was dead, which took away much of the suspense for me. I eventually found myself just waiting for the story to get somewhere.
However, the final act was outstanding. Felix standing among the kids using the Ouija board and slowly realizing that he was the spirit communicating with them was easily my favorite part of the entire book. I loved the idea that every time he spoke, his words were being spelled out on the board. Learning how he died and then discovering that the woman from the coffee shop really did care about him—and had taken in Ninja—gave the ending an emotional weight that I wish I had felt throughout the rest of the story.
The final act showed me the book I wish I had been reading all along. Unfortunately, as much as I loved the ending, it wasn’t enough to make up for how much I struggled with everything that came before it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Felix drifts alone through life. Unseen by the world, he feels apart from everyone and everything. Until one day he wakes to an empty world, no sign of life anywhere. As he navigates his new and lonely life, he is haunted by memories…and maybe he isn’t as alone as he thought.
This story is a quiet horror. Grief horror for the world that was, the life that could have been, No One Was Ever Really In This Place is a study in loneliness. The crushing, soul-destroying loneliness that there is no escape from.
Tugging at your heart, Felix firmly cements himself under your skin as you follow at his side. He is complicated, full of trauma and fear, as well as being a genuinely likeable MC.
The tone and pacing of the story are perfectly placed throughout the story to make this a real page turner even as you feel yourself breaking. Emotional and deep, this story will stay with you long after the phone stops ringing and the world falls away.
This story is a quiet horror. Grief horror for the world that was, the life that could have been, No One Was Ever Really In This Place is a study in loneliness. The crushing, soul-destroying loneliness that there is no escape from.
Tugging at your heart, Felix firmly cements himself under your skin as you follow at his side. He is complicated, full of trauma and fear, as well as being a genuinely likeable MC.
The tone and pacing of the story are perfectly placed throughout the story to make this a real page turner even as you feel yourself breaking. Emotional and deep, this story will stay with you long after the phone stops ringing and the world falls away.
Review of advance copy received from Author
There’s just something so wonderful about Mike Salt’s books. I’m able to read them so effortlessly and I haven’t read one I didn’t like.
No One Was Ever Really In This Place hit the creepy mark for me. There were some points where I was holding my breath because I could feel myself in this quiet place with Felix, the main character. I didn’t want to move or breathe because I felt like I was actually there. Mike can describe scenes so well without being overly “wordy” and descriptive (that’s my one pet peeve with books).
I think a lot of people will be able to relate to Felix. Mike did such a great job showing the despair that depression brings to people. This book made me feel lonely. I do go through phases of anxiety and depression so I was able to relate to this book.
As always, Mike Salt wrote a phenomenal story. You must read it when it comes out- it is available for pre order now so get on that!
No One Was Ever Really In This Place hit the creepy mark for me. There were some points where I was holding my breath because I could feel myself in this quiet place with Felix, the main character. I didn’t want to move or breathe because I felt like I was actually there. Mike can describe scenes so well without being overly “wordy” and descriptive (that’s my one pet peeve with books).
I think a lot of people will be able to relate to Felix. Mike did such a great job showing the despair that depression brings to people. This book made me feel lonely. I do go through phases of anxiety and depression so I was able to relate to this book.
As always, Mike Salt wrote a phenomenal story. You must read it when it comes out- it is available for pre order now so get on that!
August 10, 2026
Desperately, desperately needed editing.
Extremely repetitive. Every chapter had paragraphs repeating how sad and lonely the character was, followed by repeating paragraphs about how he'd failed to make anything of his life and was filled with laments about What Could Have Been.
Even if you're trying to establish a depressed character, the constant repetition was excessive. Half of this already short book could have been taken out without losing any of the story or meaning.
And the dramatic pauses.
Like this.
And this.
This happens multiple times a chapter, nearly every other page. There is no longer drama or significance if you do it
Every
Single
Chapter.
I personally found the plot predictable and clocked where it was going very early on, but I know that can be different for everyone.
Bit of a shame, I'd thought the concept sounded interesting for this one, but the execution sorely lacked and the implemented idea was fairly generic. Been done before, and far better.
Extremely repetitive. Every chapter had paragraphs repeating how sad and lonely the character was, followed by repeating paragraphs about how he'd failed to make anything of his life and was filled with laments about What Could Have Been.
Even if you're trying to establish a depressed character, the constant repetition was excessive. Half of this already short book could have been taken out without losing any of the story or meaning.
And the dramatic pauses.
Like this.
And this.
This happens multiple times a chapter, nearly every other page. There is no longer drama or significance if you do it
Every
Single
Chapter.
I personally found the plot predictable and clocked where it was going very early on, but I know that can be different for everyone.
Bit of a shame, I'd thought the concept sounded interesting for this one, but the execution sorely lacked and the implemented idea was fairly generic. Been done before, and far better.
August 11, 2026
Buy it. That's the review. If the description interests you, then buy it. It's that good.
Okay, fine, some specifics. Salt excels at exploring the effects of depression through Felix, his protagonist. Life hasn't worked out for Felix and he can't fully verbalize why, even though he's circling the truth. After a moment where he might be making progress with the girl of his dreams, Felix wakes up to find everyone in town has disappeared, and no matter what he does the town resets whenever he sleeps, a Groundhog's Day scenario in a world of one. Only Felix is going to learn that no one is ever truly alone. And what's more terrifying than the presence of others?
This is a story where its all about the journey. What Felix realizes is a lesson more relevant than ever in this fragmented world where so many of us are stuck in our digital silos. Recommended for fans of isolation horror, grief horror, and those seeking meaning in the chaos.
Okay, fine, some specifics. Salt excels at exploring the effects of depression through Felix, his protagonist. Life hasn't worked out for Felix and he can't fully verbalize why, even though he's circling the truth. After a moment where he might be making progress with the girl of his dreams, Felix wakes up to find everyone in town has disappeared, and no matter what he does the town resets whenever he sleeps, a Groundhog's Day scenario in a world of one. Only Felix is going to learn that no one is ever truly alone. And what's more terrifying than the presence of others?
This is a story where its all about the journey. What Felix realizes is a lesson more relevant than ever in this fragmented world where so many of us are stuck in our digital silos. Recommended for fans of isolation horror, grief horror, and those seeking meaning in the chaos.
August 14, 2026
Felix is a very unhappy person, only feeling good when he is around his dachshund, Ninja. One day he wakes up to find that the world has changed and he seems to be the only one left alive. The reader follows him through endless days of searching for someone else or some answer to what has happened. (Think Groundhog Day here, with each day repeating ad nauseam).
I had pretty much figured out the truth about halfway through the book but the ending was still satisfying. The author has done a good job portraying mental health issues like depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies. I enjoyed the story and there were some creepy moments, but this was of a psychological read than horror IMO. Also, I think that the story could have been much shorter as I found myself getting a bit bored with Felix's repetitive wanderings.
The narrator did a good job and held my attention with his performance.
I had pretty much figured out the truth about halfway through the book but the ending was still satisfying. The author has done a good job portraying mental health issues like depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies. I enjoyed the story and there were some creepy moments, but this was of a psychological read than horror IMO. Also, I think that the story could have been much shorter as I found myself getting a bit bored with Felix's repetitive wanderings.
The narrator did a good job and held my attention with his performance.
Review of advance copy received from Author
So many tears were shed during this one, and I wish I could read it for the first time over and over.
Sit with it a while longer.
Let it feel seen and heard, noticed, as it deserves to be.
After reading NO ONE WAS EVER REALLY IN THIS PLACE by Mike Salt, I felt strangely empty and deeply full at the same time. Like something reached inside my brain and rearranged everything, leaving behind a heaviness, a presence. I'm not alone, not really. The story burrowed into brain, clinging to my thoughts, making me feel like I'd shifted to another plane of existence. Like I was alone Wwhen surrounded by people. I was alone with my thoughts, my fears, my hopes. I was alone, trapped inside story I couldn't control or change, witnessing things couldnt stop, and the hurt was real every step of the way.
Sit with it a while longer.
Let it feel seen and heard, noticed, as it deserves to be.
After reading NO ONE WAS EVER REALLY IN THIS PLACE by Mike Salt, I felt strangely empty and deeply full at the same time. Like something reached inside my brain and rearranged everything, leaving behind a heaviness, a presence. I'm not alone, not really. The story burrowed into brain, clinging to my thoughts, making me feel like I'd shifted to another plane of existence. Like I was alone Wwhen surrounded by people. I was alone with my thoughts, my fears, my hopes. I was alone, trapped inside story I couldn't control or change, witnessing things couldnt stop, and the hurt was real every step of the way.
August 14, 2026
No One Was Ever Really in This Place was a hard book to read. Not because it was bad, it was great. Brilliant in fact, but because its subject matter hit close to my heart. As someone who has struggled with depression and its constant soul crushing darkness, Felix's journey and spiral through his depression and anxiety I felt deeply. Mike has a deep understanding of what it is to feel under the influence of the black dog and it shows here.
The story follows Felix who is struggling with life in a big city with dreams that he never began to follow, instead settling for a dish washing job at a local cafe. He has no friends to speak of, no social life, his family scorn him and he has nothing beyond his dog and his apartment. One day, he wakes up to find the world completely empty. It's just him. The streets are bare but appear lived in, his dog is gone as if it never existed and there are no answers. Felix embarks on a mission to find out what happened but as the world around him slowly grows more sinister.
At it's heart, this book is a dark read. For those who struggle with depression or have in the past, you may find yourself shedding some tears here as I did. It's also hauntingly beautiful. As Felix grows closer to the truth, he also grows through the hardship he faces and so when the answer reveals itself as to why the world is the way it is, he is ready for it.
This one is highly recommended reading for those who love grief stories. This one will pull at your heartstrings, perhaps even reflect on your life and your own journey through darkness.
The story follows Felix who is struggling with life in a big city with dreams that he never began to follow, instead settling for a dish washing job at a local cafe. He has no friends to speak of, no social life, his family scorn him and he has nothing beyond his dog and his apartment. One day, he wakes up to find the world completely empty. It's just him. The streets are bare but appear lived in, his dog is gone as if it never existed and there are no answers. Felix embarks on a mission to find out what happened but as the world around him slowly grows more sinister.
At it's heart, this book is a dark read. For those who struggle with depression or have in the past, you may find yourself shedding some tears here as I did. It's also hauntingly beautiful. As Felix grows closer to the truth, he also grows through the hardship he faces and so when the answer reveals itself as to why the world is the way it is, he is ready for it.
This one is highly recommended reading for those who love grief stories. This one will pull at your heartstrings, perhaps even reflect on your life and your own journey through darkness.
August 18, 2026
4.5 🌟 😢💔 I wasn't expecting this book to hit so hard! I highlighted these and saved them into my phone.
📌But promises are just words. And words fade much like memories. In the snap of a finger, life changes. Life fades. Life isn’t fair. Unless you are part of the wealthy class riding the top of the tax brackets, life doesn’t give a f@ck what your plans are.
📌People asked how he was, but they didn’t want the real answer. They wanted “I’m good” or “Just tired” so they could move on with their day without the burden of his misery weighing them down.
📌The sickening realization that he could disappear tomorrow, and the world would keep spinning without him.
📌Depression has a weird way of taking everything from a person. The further in you fall, the further away you become from the things that could pull you out
📌But promises are just words. And words fade much like memories. In the snap of a finger, life changes. Life fades. Life isn’t fair. Unless you are part of the wealthy class riding the top of the tax brackets, life doesn’t give a f@ck what your plans are.
📌People asked how he was, but they didn’t want the real answer. They wanted “I’m good” or “Just tired” so they could move on with their day without the burden of his misery weighing them down.
📌The sickening realization that he could disappear tomorrow, and the world would keep spinning without him.
📌Depression has a weird way of taking everything from a person. The further in you fall, the further away you become from the things that could pull you out
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A dark, sad and introspective look at depression and loneliness. Felix feels alone and invisible in the life he has created for himself far from his family. He is introverted and quiet and watches as his life and his dreams seem to be passing him by. But then, one day he wakes up and he really is alone.
This weighty yet lovely novella is written with such tender acknowledgement of Felix’s strengths and flaws, stubbornness and pain, regret and loss. It examines his familial relationships and his choices, his self-care and negative self-talk, as he stumbles through his empty world wondering how he was left behind.
But then he sees a woman, and he has hope.
Mike Salt has created an intimate story, a heart-breaking yet hopeful look at a young man lost in his own anxieties.
This weighty yet lovely novella is written with such tender acknowledgement of Felix’s strengths and flaws, stubbornness and pain, regret and loss. It examines his familial relationships and his choices, his self-care and negative self-talk, as he stumbles through his empty world wondering how he was left behind.
But then he sees a woman, and he has hope.
Mike Salt has created an intimate story, a heart-breaking yet hopeful look at a young man lost in his own anxieties.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you like your horror to be truly soul crushing, this is the one. No One Was Ever Really in the Place by Mike Salt takes grief horror to a whole new level, constantly breaking your heart while unraveling your mind. Felix is trapped, terrified, and completely alone in a world that looks exactly like his own life, but feels deeply wrong. As isolation tightens its grip, his sanity begins to slip, and you feel every ounce of it. Dark, unsettling, and painfully emotional!
Preorder your copy today!!
Preorder your copy today!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was so haunting in all the right ways. There are times we all struggle and we keep it inside and never let it show. This book was the perfect example of how our own internal demons can do us harm and we sometimes don't know we are being harmed until it is too late. This book was able to capture and showcase this in a beautiful way. This is one that will stick with you even after you read it.
I was given an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2026
So this book made me ugly cry and scared the crap out of me, all in 150 pages.
It explored so many facts of life and it was beautifully written. The plot and character were so relatable for people of all mental health stages. The writing reminded me of a constant anxiety spiral and it was so necessary to get the story across.
It was a masterpiece and it will live in my reading memory for a long time. It was nothing like I expected, it was so much better.
It explored so many facts of life and it was beautifully written. The plot and character were so relatable for people of all mental health stages. The writing reminded me of a constant anxiety spiral and it was so necessary to get the story across.
It was a masterpiece and it will live in my reading memory for a long time. It was nothing like I expected, it was so much better.
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