The Hollow

by Malcolm Thomas

The night his father died, Kyle Mercer shut a door.

Now black stone is crawling up his the mark his father carried. The curse that's haunted the Mercer family since 1947, when thirteen men died in the Crestwood mine… and four came back changed.

There's a trapdoor in Kyle's barn. His name is carved into the wood.

The only way to stop the mark is to go down. Into the Hollow—a breathing dark that doesn't want apologies or excuses. It wants the thing you've never said out loud. The secret relief. The shameful satisfaction.

Not what you did.

What you wanted.

If Kyle doesn't descend before the stone reaches his heart, the Hollow will take him anyway. And the Fellowship—the group that claims to guide the marked—has spent decades teaching people how to die with polished stories. Not honest confession.

In Crestwood, Pennsylvania, everyone is hiding something.

The Hollow just makes you pay for it.

Descend. Tell the truth. Or it keeps you.

Psychological horror with a literary edge—for fans of Paul Tremblay, Ronald Malfi, and Jennifer McMahon.

247 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

Malcolm Thomas lives in the Midwest, where the winters last too long and the 1980s never quite left his memories. The Hollow is his first novel. He’s interested in broken people and what it costs to move forward anyway. Loves Synthwave music, woodworking, British TV, and Ireland.

Reviews

[Leanne]

The Hollow is one of those stories that gets under your skin before you even realise it’s happening. It starts with a simple, chilling command — Descend. Tell the truth. Or it keeps you. — and the book really does hold you to that promise.
Kyle Mercer is a character you root for even as you’re bracing yourself for whatever the Hollow is going to drag out of him. The creeping black stone on his hand is such a great visual for inherited guilt and generational secrets, and the way the story ties the Mercer family curse back to the 1947 mine disaster gives the whole book this heavy, lived‑in sense of history. Crestwood feels like a place where everyone knows more than they say, and the tension of that silence is constant.

The Hollow itself is the standout for me — not just a monster or a setting, but a presence. It doesn’t care about what you’ve done; it wants the things you’d never admit out loud, the thoughts you’d rather pretend you never had. That twist on confession makes the horror feel deeply personal, almost intimate. It’s less about jump scares and more about the dread of being truly known.

The Fellowship adds another layer of unease, with their polished stories and rehearsed “truths.” The idea that they’ve spent decades teaching people how to die neatly instead of honestly is both fascinating and unsettling. It makes Kyle’s descent feel even more urgent, because he’s not just fighting a curse — he’s pushing back against a whole system built on avoidance.

If you like atmospheric horror with emotional teeth, family secrets, and a supernatural element that feels symbolic and terrifying, this one delivers. It’s dark, introspective, and surprisingly tender in the moments where Kyle confronts what he’s been running from.

I finished it feeling like I’d been holding my breath — in the best way.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kerita Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) The Hollow tells the story of a line of people in a town cursed by a tragic mine collapse. The novel follows Kyle Mercer, the latest afflicted person, and how he, his family, and friends deal with his curse. This is a deeply introspective story for both the characters and the reader. So much that it was difficult to just read and enjoy the story without side thoughts of “what would I do” or “have I felt these same feelings about my own actions?” This may truly be a “me” issue; but, after reading the author’s note at the end of the book, this was the intention. The town and people felt authentic, and the suffering (both physical and emotional) throughout is well described. I rated this 3 stars because I expected this to be a scary novel (while maybe not horror). There is definitely a strong sense of dread and a healthy dose of fear. A good read for a gray, rainy season. Beware if you’re a highly empathetic reader…this one may break you!

Many thanks to BookSirens for this free an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Milt Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, though certain features of the writing often troubled me: the tale is too tightly plotted, almost mechanically produced; the structure follows a repetitive form, occasionally word for word, messing with the authenticity and the specificity of the characters; and there's a huge imbalance between the psychological and introspective aspects of the story, on the one hand, and the supernatural elements on the other. In fact, the lack of any explanation (or exploration) of the supernatural entity and its utterly unknown purposes, plus its restriction to a very general and abstract machine of sorts, made it practically akin to a force of nature rather than anything resembling a being with preferences and appetites. I kept wondering what exactly makes this tale specifically a horror story: it might have been a dark fantasy or science fiction story with only a couple of minor changes - just keep the focus on the psychology of the characters while setting the machine to fantasy, science fiction, or horror. There's such an emphasis on form and introspection that the horror ends up being more a external choice and less anything tied organically to the story. The book is essentially a machine of dread and introspection.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Katie Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good and the moral behind the story is so true. There are truths by facts but there is always a deeper truth behind the facts. I wish there was more depth into the entity seeking the truth. I really enjoyed the end of the book where the author left a note on speaking your truth. There is telling the truth and then the accountability. I felt really sad that I don't know what happened to Dana.

There was a discrepancy in the writing where it was an obvious error. Was the character 14 or 24 when he left his brother alone to meet a girl? It says both a few pages in between.

[Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never write reviews so this is the first one. The Hollow was an amazing story with the characters going through a journey figuring things out with what The Fellowship said and if you choose to follow what they said or not. Good way to learn the truth can set people free. I feel it will make me question things even after the book, I definitely enjoyed.

[Megan McElrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

What begins as a compelling novel slowly becomes something far more demanding. The Hollow does not simply tell a story. It draws you in with narrative, but it keeps you there with questions that linger long after the final page.

At its core, this book challenges us to examine ourselves. Not the polished, presentable version we offer to the world, but the hidden places, the parts marked by regret, shame, pride, fear, and quiet compromise. We all carry brokenness. We all carry ugliness we would rather ignore. The Hollow asks an uncomfortable but necessary questions: Are we willing to face those truths? Are we brave enough to say them aloud?

One of the most powerful themes woven throughout the novel is the weight of moral injury. The story captures how unaddressed brokenness does not disappear; it settles deeper, physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

What makes The Hollow exceptional is how it shifts from story to self-inspection. At some point, you realize you are no longer simply observing character, you are examining your own interior life.

The best books refuse to let us remain unchanged. They disrupt comfort and invite growth. The Hollow does exactly that.

[Stephanie Sommars Curwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hollow completely pulled me in from the beginning. The author wrote the supernatural not just as something happening around the characters, but as something that invades them. One of my favorite parts was the way he described what happened to the main character when he stepped through his door that final time. That scene was unsettling but in a good way. The story was about grief, relief, and a darkness that lingers in a person, how that person must embrace their monstrous side. The only reason this isn't a full five stars for me is the open-ended epilogue. The open ending was intentional, but I personally prefer a bit more finality to my stories.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

​If you’re looking for a story that gets under your skin and stays there like a creeping chill, look no further. This book is a visceral, atmospheric descent into the kind of secrets that don't just haunt a family—they consume a town.

​This is a gritty, high-stakes exploration of legacy and the lies we tell ourselves to survive. It’s perfect for fans of cosmic horror, small-town mysteries, and stories that challenge the boundaries of morality

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good. It was thrilling and filled with suspense. It pulls you into this darkness, the curse sits with you as you dive deeper into this story. Unraveling the horror of what this curse means. I was totally intrigued and didn’t put this down until I reached the end. This was a great psychological, thrilling horror of a read.

[Mandy Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a horror girl but did enjoy this. Took a bit for me to get into but once I did I wanted to keep reading to see what happened.

[Jodi Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Hollow and couldn’t put it down. It explores the weight of knowing you’ve done something wrong and what happens when that burden is carried instead of confronted. The story stirred emotions and questions I didn’t realize I needed to face, and the themes felt deeply human and relatable. A great book and a quick read that stays with you.

[Mescha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a book that gets under your skin. I loved this book, it left me questioning a lot of things and somewhat fearful of my actions and feelings about situations, it was full of plot twists and the concept is so interesting you can't put the book down, you want to know what it is, what it wants, what are the consequences? and more about the characters, it was a thrilling book that I devoured not being able to stop reading and I'm excited to read any other books that may get released by the author.

[Cheyenne Joy Mijdam · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Release date: March 17, 2026
The Hollow by Malcolm Thomas

First off — thank you Malcolm for trusting me with this ARC, and thanks to Inside Story for once again handing me a book that made me stare into the emotional basement of my own brain. Much appreciated. Really. Love that for me.

This story is built around something most of us pretend we don’t have: secrets. The deep ones. The kind that sit quietly in the back of your mind like unwanted roommates. The thoughts you never say out loud. The feelings you convince yourself aren’t real. The things you know are there… but admitting them would make them real in a way that’s slightly uncomfortable.

And that’s where this book lives.

It’s not just about lying to other people — it’s about lying to yourself. About the things you bury so deep you almost convince yourself they never existed. Except they do. And in this story those secrets don’t just sit there politely. They slowly eat at you.

And yes… sometimes quite literally.

The concept? I genuinely loved it. It’s dark, psychological, and the kind of story that crawls into your head and stays there for a while. Not loud, not explosive — more like a slow, uncomfortable realization that maybe the things we hide inside ourselves have a way of shaping who we become.

Now here’s the honest part: for me the story lingered a little too long. My brain understood the message pretty early on, and while I appreciated the atmosphere and the idea behind it, the pacing sometimes felt like it stretched that feeling a bit further than I personally needed.

But that’s also the thing with stories like this. Some readers will absolutely want to sit inside that tension for as long as possible. Some will love the slow burn of it all.

And me? I’m somewhere in the middle.

So I’m giving this three and a half secret-eating stars — because the idea is strong, the message sticks, and it definitely made me think. I just personally wished the journey there had a little more variation along the way.

That said, I’m not a spoiler goblin, so I won’t say more.

What I will say is this:
If you’re someone who enjoys psychological stories that quietly dig into the darker corners of the human mind — the thoughts we hide, the truths we avoid, the things we bury deep and pretend aren’t there — this book will absolutely give you something to think about.

Because the truth is…
As long as you keep your darkest thoughts and feelings buried deep enough, The Hollow never really ends.

And honestly?
That might be the most unsettling part of al…

[Hannah Bemis · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review: The Hollow by Malcolm Thomas

A haunting, introspective psychological horror that had me questioning my own choices as much as Kyle’s.

I was given the opportunity to be an ARC reader and received an early copy of “ The Hollow” by Malcolm Thomas. As an avid reader of anything and everything in the category of horror, I was immediately intrigued by this book.

The Hollow follows Kyle Mercer as he navigates his way through the curse that has plagued his family since 1947. Kyle is the next one to be afflicted. The Hollow tells the story of not only how Kyle has to deal with the forbidding curse, but also his family and friends.

The Hollow is classified as a psychological horror, and I can completely agree with that, but I would also classify it as a thriller as well. Thrillers tend to focus on psychological stakes and high tension, whereas horror tends to evoke emotions such as dread and fear.

This story is written in such a way that it becomes an introspective story not only for the characters in the story but also for the reader. As I read the story, I often found myself wandering off in thought, thinking, “What would I have done?, Do I feel this way about the decisions I have made in my life up to this point? What would someone think if they knew the things that I keep most sacred to myself?” I do not know if Malcolm intended for that to be the purpose of this story, but if it was, he did a phenomenal job!

As I read the story, I began to realize that the sense of dread and suffering was not only felt through the characters, but I felt it as well as I progressed through the story. I was “flipping through the pages” faster than I could imagine, wanting to know what was next.

While reading, I kept thinking back to the short story “The Lottery”; each had its intended existential dead moments. While both stories are innately their own, they both have the underlying feelings of “What would I do?” and “Can I beat this thing?”

The Hollow is the definition of “Keep the secret, and it will eat you alive.”

Thank you, Malcom and BookSiren,s for the advanced readers' copy of “The Hollow”. I look forward to reading many more of your next works!


“Descend. Tell the truth. Or it keeps you.” -Malcolm Thomas

[Matt Ballard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Promising Debut

I was provided an advanced review copy of the novel but was not compensated for this review.

A spoiler free review by a fan of King, Chizmar, and Maberry.

The Hollow is a debut novel by Malcolm Thomas. This novel deals with themes of grief, loss, consequences, and the worst parts of ourselves. The book follows main character Kyler Mercer as he deals with the loss of his father and the sudden appearance of a door in his barn with his name on it.

The bad: my biggest complaint with this book is pacing. The second quarter of this book felt like a drag and left me feeling like things were coming out of left field. It left me with questions which would be okay if all the answers were given. Simply, I wish the set up had been a little more thorough.

The good: I simply could not put down the book from about half way on. All of my pacing complaints ended around chapter 18 and the book wouldn’t let me go. The book also has heart. Our characters deal with real emotions that aren’t bloated for shock value. There are no jump scares in this, rather a cold hard look at the horror of life.

In conclusion, if you want other worldly scary images and the things that go bump in the night, then this might not be for you. However, if you can recognize the horror of our own lives and the monster that lives in each of us and can chew on that, then you will probably find this book rather fascinating. All in all, this was a strong debut by Malcom Thomas, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

[LindaM · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Hollow" is a psychologically haunting novel that lingers long after the final page. One of my favorite lines captures the heart of the story: “The Hollow doesn’t care what you intend. It cares what you’re hiding.” Those two sentences set the tone for everything that follows.

When Kyle Mercer’s father dies, the black stone mark that has haunted his family since the 1947 Crestwood mine disaster. Now as another disaster hits, the mark crawls up Kyle’s own hand. The curse is simple and merciless. Kyle’s survival requires a descent through the trapdoor bearing his name inside Mercer’s barn. The pitch-black underworld is chilling, symbolic, and deeply unsettling.

The cost of silence is deadly—no matter how small.

At its core, the author brings hidden truths and inner torment to the forefront. You see, the story doesn’t expose secrets; it forces its characters to confront the darkest parts of themselves.
If you enjoy psychological suspense layered with symbolism and creeping dread, Malcolm Thomas’s novel is worth the descent. Just be prepared to ask yourself what you might be hiding.

Note: I voluntarily agreed to read an ARC copy supplied by the author. All thoughts, opinions, and comments expressed are my own.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so pleasantly surprised that this is Malcolm Thomas’s debut novel…WOW! He reallyyyy came out swinging. His writing pulled me in immediately! It honestly felt like I could hear and feel what the characters were going through (which is great… and also mildly concerning for my stress levels). This is a slow-burn horror that has very complex characters, which was a nice break from nonstop jump scares and action. It builds this intense, creeping dread that just sits on your chest. The atmosphere and mood? Chef’s kiss.

The story digs into a familiar but uncomfortable question: how honest can you really be with yourself about the worst things you’ve done? It’s unsettling, tense, and sticks with you. I’m always a sucker for deeply flawed characters and I loved that there’s no clear hero or villain here… just people making very questionable choices under pressure. And then figuring out how to live with it.. it makes you think about what you would do and how much we try to justify or reconcile our actions.

And the way the Hollow calls for you, marks you and BREATHES? Yeah… I’ll be thinking about that at 2am, thanks. This was so chilling and completely absorbing. I loved every second of it. Even the author’s note felt like a perfect exhale after that ending. EASY 5 STARS!!

[Connie Rivet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5 stars. This was a haunting read about the choices we make and what we are willing to admit to even when our life is on the line.

Kyle Mercer has been marked. Just like his father and grandfather before him. He must go into the hollow and confess the truth or he will turn to stone and the hollow will keep him forever.

This book was not like anything I’ve ever read. It really made you think. Everyone has secrets, things they’ve done and things they don’t want to admit to. Could I be completely honest if I was in Kyle’s shoes? Could I admit what I don’t want anyone to know? It was a chilling read that left me feeling unsettled and made me think about my own choices in life.

This wasn’t a 5 star read for me as the story was a bit slow moving at times and while I did connect with Kyle’s character I couldn’t say the same for some of the other main characters.

Overall I do recommend this book and hope to see more from the author in the future.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hands down a mysterious, strange, and interesting kind of novel that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. From the very beginning, my eyes started to well up with tears as I felt the guilt and fear of the different characters. I couldn’t stop reading, wanting to know what would happen next. I felt my mind racing to the next chapters, trying to figure out the truth. As the reader, you start to see yourself in the situation and figure out if you would have done the same things. You see each character go through the journey, trying to connect the dots along the way. Reading on, I started to question everything. The anticipation drives you to read more until you start following the patterns beneath the darkness. I couldn’t even imagine my brain trying to figure out what was real or if my mind was just asleep until it was right in front of me. You will have to decide for yourself what is real and what is the truth behind the hollow.

[Colette Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of The Hollow by Malcolm Thomas in exchange for an honest review.

The original concept pulled me in immediately. It’s a short, fast-paced story with an unsettling vibe that keeps you reading. I appreciated how different the story felt from a lot of other horror novels I’ve read.

However, I spent a lot of the book feeling confused. Some of my questions were answered by the end, but the majority of the book I felt like I was missing important information while reading. I also wish the book had been longer so the characters and their relationships could have been explored more.

Overall, I enjoyed the originality of the story, but I wanted a bit more depth.

⭐️ 3.5/5 stars

[Brittany Fritsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the very beginning! The writing was so evocative that I felt like I was living the story, not just reading it. In addition to the story having a unique setting and intriguing characters, the author does a great job at introducing elements such as claustrophobia, thought provocation, mystery, dread, and bringing out raw emotion. With being a horror fanatic, I kind of thought the vibe of the story was going to be scary which is why i gave it a 4 instead of a 5 star. However, I feel like I was still locked in beginning to end and highly enjoyed this book. This was a great first debut from the author and can’t wait to read more.

[Sara Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting a book in the middle of a mine collapse is such a strong opening and immediately hooked me.
The imagery in this story is incredible—especially the slow spread of the stone and the scenes in the Hollow. It created such an eerie, creeping tension throughout the book.
The connections between all of the characters, but especially Marcus, Frank, and Kyle, were so well done.

And that ending?
Absolutely evil. Absolutely perfect.

The entire story was such a fascinating look into true introspection and how easily an entire town is willing to sweep things under the rug.

When you are looking for top tier writing, Malcom Thomas is it!

[Eric Scott Ledford · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started the book, I expected something different than what the author delivered. And what the author delivered was so much better than what I expected.

This book is incredible at how it takes the reader on the horrific and suspenseful and thrilling journey with the characters of the story. Not only is it a thriller/horror story, but there is an underlining deep-seated convicting truth that even as a reader, we have to address and face.

I applaud the author for creating something so different and so thrilling. It’s worth the read. I won’t give away the story, but I encourage everyone to pick this one up and a tear through it and let your mind get terrified.

[Terrie Feher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hollow uses alot of symbolism that leaves the reader doing some soul searching and asking themselves what would I do and what have I done that may have The Hollow reaching out to me?

After a mine collapse that killed 13 men and left 4 survivors something comes to town,whether its a curse or something else doesn't matter as long as you can face your truth!

I really enjoyed this dark perspective of looking into yourself and your raw truth, what demons are haunting you? What things have you done that come back to make you ask yourself should I have done that differently?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am laeving this review voluntarily.

[Stacie Maheurin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror isn't usually my style. I don't like when things "jump" out and when the whole point of the book is to just scare you. The Hollow is not that kind of horror.

It is a slow, suspenseful buildup. One where you see yourself in the characters of the book. Malcom takes you on a journey that seeps into your soul, and stays with you long after you've finished the book.

A great debut. Can't wait to see what he releases next.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What starts with familiar 80s nostalgia quickly turns into something deeply unsettling. The eerie breathing woven throughout the story creates a sense of tension that almost asks you to examine your own moral choices. Without giving anything away, this is a strong pick for readers who love psychological horror.

[Meadow Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're not a fan of superfluous writing, this well-written, succinct book will be an easy read for you. The story is compelling and somehow you feel you know the characters well even though you don't receive a ton of background before you are thrust right into the story. Highly thought provoking and emotional. A great first fiction debut!

[Charlotteanderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hollow is a compelling and immersive read that pulls you in from the very first pages. The writing is sharp and evocative, creating an atmosphere thick with tension and unease. Every chapter adds another layer to the mystery, making it difficult to put the book down.

[Marley Platterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark, atmospheric horror that blends psychological depth with creeping dread. The Hollow is a chilling concept, and Kyle’s buried memories and guilt make the story feel deeply personal. Haunting and thought-provoking, this one lingers after you finish reading.

[Karey C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting possibility of what happens when you are carrying a secret and what that secret does to you. to tell the truth and not the lie even if you live with a mark forever. Quick read.