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Claustrophobis
Not yet published
Expected 5 Jun 26Rafe has spent his entire life believing humanity should cease to exist. He's about to find out if he really means it.
He has watched humans consume, exploit and destroy everything they touch. When an army of six million death-mask creatures offers him the means to cleanse Earth of humanity, the opportunity he never thought possible is suddenly within reach. But as the line between his own will and something far darker begins to dissolve, he must confront a truth about himself that has been waiting in the shadows since before he was born.
He has watched humans consume, exploit and destroy everything they touch. When an army of six million death-mask creatures offers him the means to cleanse Earth of humanity, the opportunity he never thought possible is suddenly within reach. But as the line between his own will and something far darker begins to dissolve, he must confront a truth about himself that has been waiting in the shadows since before he was born.
- GenresHorror
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 5, 2026
About the author
Evan Jameson
3 books7 followersEvan Jameson lives in the North East of England with his wife and son. He spends his time listening to music, watching movies, reading, and writing.
He is currently working on A Better Place for All, the second of five Black Paintings he is writing that will hang out together once they are complete.
He is currently working on A Better Place for All, the second of five Black Paintings he is writing that will hang out together once they are complete.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was interesting. I read a lot of horror but I can't say I've ever read a book quite like this one.
The positives:
The prose was quite beautiful and well-constructed. The author did a fantastic job relating the images in their head into the written word. I was able to easily picture everything I was reading. The violence was quite extreme at times but not over the top compared to other books I've read.
The mystery surrounding some of the supporting characters (who I won't name because that would be spoiling the fun for any potential readers) might've been my favorite part. The phone calls and texts with their eerie messages and strange claims added an element of suspense I wasn't expecting.
I enjoyed the first person narration and watching Rafe try to puzzle out, well, everything himself. Whether I agreed with him or not, it was intriguing and sometimes infuriating. He came off, to me at least, as less unreliable narrator and more confused and/or disconnected person.
The negatives:
The length. It needed to be trimmed down. There was a lot of repetition. I only want and need to hear the same thing so many times before I either feel like the author is talking down to my intelligence, preaching at me, or trying to up the page count. At somewhere around 60% I started skimming certain sections because the same thing was happening over and over.
The plot took on religious themes that made me groan. Everything was incredibly original before then and I can't understand why the author went there. Especially with the "directives". That was my least favorite aspect of the book. Maybe that was the point? For the same flaw that started everything in the first place? If that was the point then it was well made. Although Rafe didn't seem to get it.
I don't think the author trusted the reader enough to understand the major theme of the book. They were heavy-handed though only addressed two main issues over and over (plus the idea of desensitization). There was a lack of nuance. Whether that's because those two issues are the ones closest to the author's heart or not I can't say. I can say that approaching the topic of extinctionism should encompass more of what plagues the global population. It isn't all modern day slavery and the destruction of nature. It felt like the author would be served by expressing themselves through the medium of essays perhaps.
I'm glad I read this because it was quite captivating in a lot of ways but the reader needs to go in with a certain level of patience for the long drawn out sections. (I obviously lacked the requisite patience hence the skimming in the latter half of the book.)
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was interesting. I read a lot of horror but I can't say I've ever read a book quite like this one.
The positives:
The prose was quite beautiful and well-constructed. The author did a fantastic job relating the images in their head into the written word. I was able to easily picture everything I was reading. The violence was quite extreme at times but not over the top compared to other books I've read.
The mystery surrounding some of the supporting characters (who I won't name because that would be spoiling the fun for any potential readers) might've been my favorite part. The phone calls and texts with their eerie messages and strange claims added an element of suspense I wasn't expecting.
I enjoyed the first person narration and watching Rafe try to puzzle out, well, everything himself. Whether I agreed with him or not, it was intriguing and sometimes infuriating. He came off, to me at least, as less unreliable narrator and more confused and/or disconnected person.
The negatives:
The length. It needed to be trimmed down. There was a lot of repetition. I only want and need to hear the same thing so many times before I either feel like the author is talking down to my intelligence, preaching at me, or trying to up the page count. At somewhere around 60% I started skimming certain sections because the same thing was happening over and over.
The plot took on religious themes that made me groan. Everything was incredibly original before then and I can't understand why the author went there. Especially with the "directives". That was my least favorite aspect of the book. Maybe that was the point? For the same flaw that started everything in the first place? If that was the point then it was well made. Although Rafe didn't seem to get it.
I don't think the author trusted the reader enough to understand the major theme of the book. They were heavy-handed though only addressed two main issues over and over (plus the idea of desensitization). There was a lack of nuance. Whether that's because those two issues are the ones closest to the author's heart or not I can't say. I can say that approaching the topic of extinctionism should encompass more of what plagues the global population. It isn't all modern day slavery and the destruction of nature. It felt like the author would be served by expressing themselves through the medium of essays perhaps.
I'm glad I read this because it was quite captivating in a lot of ways but the reader needs to go in with a certain level of patience for the long drawn out sections. (I obviously lacked the requisite patience hence the skimming in the latter half of the book.)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Claustrophobis
By Evan Jameson
Pub Date: Jun 12 2026
This is a fantastic horror book. A mix of psychological and body horror with very strong philosophical undertones. Not a dull moment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Witching Hole Publications for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
By Evan Jameson
Pub Date: Jun 12 2026
This is a fantastic horror book. A mix of psychological and body horror with very strong philosophical undertones. Not a dull moment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Witching Hole Publications for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews