What do you think?
Tenebris
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2026
About the author
Al Nicholson
2 books3 followersAl Nicholson was born and raised in Kent, England.
He graduated with a B.ed (hons) and spent his working life as a teacher.
Al debuted in2024 with Sigil, a murder mystery set on Dartmoor. His second offering, Tenebris, sees him, once again, drawing inspiration from his love of the West country and its dramatic features, folklore and legend.
Al's books have been enjoyed by those who love a well researched page turner, featuring two, strong, female protagonists. Laced with evocatively detailed description of landscapes that make you yearn to be there, you can almost smell Dartmoor from the page!
Murder, mystery, a hint of the occult, a dash of LGBTQ narrative texture, and a will-they-won't-they implied romance all showcase in both books.
Sigil and Tenebris are guaranteed to be different.
He graduated with a B.ed (hons) and spent his working life as a teacher.
Al debuted in2024 with Sigil, a murder mystery set on Dartmoor. His second offering, Tenebris, sees him, once again, drawing inspiration from his love of the West country and its dramatic features, folklore and legend.
Al's books have been enjoyed by those who love a well researched page turner, featuring two, strong, female protagonists. Laced with evocatively detailed description of landscapes that make you yearn to be there, you can almost smell Dartmoor from the page!
Murder, mystery, a hint of the occult, a dash of LGBTQ narrative texture, and a will-they-won't-they implied romance all showcase in both books.
Sigil and Tenebris are guaranteed to be different.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 15, 2026
Wow, what a read! I absolutely loved Tenebris. As the sequel to Sigil, I was really looking forward to getting back into this story and it completely pulled me in. I found myself becoming more and more invested as the story unfolded, and I honestly didn't want to put it down.
It's clear just how much research Al has put into this book. The historical and occult elements feel carefully considered and add so much depth to the story rather than simply being there for atmosphere. I found those aspects particularly fascinating and really enjoyed the way they were woven naturally into the narrative.
And speaking of atmosphere, Dartmoor is the perfect setting for this story. There's something inherently mysterious and eerie about the landscape, and the author really brings it to life. I could really picture the locations as I was reading, and that sense of isolation and unease added another layer of tension to the story.
Although this could technically be read as a standalone, the author does a great job of recapping the important events from Sigil, so you're never left wondering what happened previously. Personally, though, I'd recommend reading Sigil first. For me, experiencing both books in order made the characters, the twists and the whole story much more impactful.
I was completely absorbed by this one. It's atmospheric, dark, intriguing and I liked the feeling of never quite knowing where the story is going to take you next.
A thoroughly compelling read and a fantastic follow up to Sigil. If you enjoyed the first book, you definitely need to read this one and if you haven't started the series yet, go and pick up Sigil first. I highly recommend it!
It's clear just how much research Al has put into this book. The historical and occult elements feel carefully considered and add so much depth to the story rather than simply being there for atmosphere. I found those aspects particularly fascinating and really enjoyed the way they were woven naturally into the narrative.
And speaking of atmosphere, Dartmoor is the perfect setting for this story. There's something inherently mysterious and eerie about the landscape, and the author really brings it to life. I could really picture the locations as I was reading, and that sense of isolation and unease added another layer of tension to the story.
Although this could technically be read as a standalone, the author does a great job of recapping the important events from Sigil, so you're never left wondering what happened previously. Personally, though, I'd recommend reading Sigil first. For me, experiencing both books in order made the characters, the twists and the whole story much more impactful.
I was completely absorbed by this one. It's atmospheric, dark, intriguing and I liked the feeling of never quite knowing where the story is going to take you next.
A thoroughly compelling read and a fantastic follow up to Sigil. If you enjoyed the first book, you definitely need to read this one and if you haven't started the series yet, go and pick up Sigil first. I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
📖 Tenebris by A.L. Nicholson.
Gifted/PR
⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
This is book 2—and honestly? You could absolutely read it as a standalone. Al Nicholson does such a wonderful job gently weaving in what you need from the first one, referencing things naturally so you never feel lost, BUT please start with book 1 anyway, because I enjoyed it that much 🖤
His writing is just… beautiful. Lyrical, vivid, and you can truly tell how much care & proper research went into every detail. 🌿✨ The atmosphere wraps right around you, pacing is perfectly balanced, never dragging, never rushing and such great, diverse characters.
And that ending?! So tense, my heart was racing, turning pages faster and faster right until the end, pure nail‑biting goodness! Just a tiny part or two kept it from being full 5 stars for me, otherwise I honestly adored every second.
Rich, immersive & gripping—highly, highly recommend this whole series
This is my honest review, thank you @alnicholsonbook for asking me to read your book.
#Gifted #PR
Gifted/PR
⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
This is book 2—and honestly? You could absolutely read it as a standalone. Al Nicholson does such a wonderful job gently weaving in what you need from the first one, referencing things naturally so you never feel lost, BUT please start with book 1 anyway, because I enjoyed it that much 🖤
His writing is just… beautiful. Lyrical, vivid, and you can truly tell how much care & proper research went into every detail. 🌿✨ The atmosphere wraps right around you, pacing is perfectly balanced, never dragging, never rushing and such great, diverse characters.
And that ending?! So tense, my heart was racing, turning pages faster and faster right until the end, pure nail‑biting goodness! Just a tiny part or two kept it from being full 5 stars for me, otherwise I honestly adored every second.
Rich, immersive & gripping—highly, highly recommend this whole series
This is my honest review, thank you @alnicholsonbook for asking me to read your book.
#Gifted #PR
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is book 2 and I was excited to jump into it after the way book 1 ended and chatting to Al about it. It can be read as a standalone but would be appreciated more if the first book, Sigil, was read.
This book kept me on my toes and even when you knew what was happening the tension and atmosphere kept the book driving along. The author did a fantastic job with the scenery and the characterisation... such well rounded characters- even those that were a bit on the mental side 😅 (no names mentioned for spoiler free review).
From the blurb -
"Two coils of hair buried beneath an ancient monument; an enlarged image in a photograph casting doubt on an accidental death; a body tangled in river snag close to a hidden Dartmoor beauty spot..." does it all connect? If so, how? And is Jacqui in danger?
The book moves along at a nice pace but as it gets to the end I found myself flipping faster and faster through it, heart pounding and tension high. I adored the traces of occult and it made me think a lot about how well we truly know those around us and magic/coincidence. Thoroughly enjoyable!
This book kept me on my toes and even when you knew what was happening the tension and atmosphere kept the book driving along. The author did a fantastic job with the scenery and the characterisation... such well rounded characters- even those that were a bit on the mental side 😅 (no names mentioned for spoiler free review).
From the blurb -
"Two coils of hair buried beneath an ancient monument; an enlarged image in a photograph casting doubt on an accidental death; a body tangled in river snag close to a hidden Dartmoor beauty spot..." does it all connect? If so, how? And is Jacqui in danger?
The book moves along at a nice pace but as it gets to the end I found myself flipping faster and faster through it, heart pounding and tension high. I adored the traces of occult and it made me think a lot about how well we truly know those around us and magic/coincidence. Thoroughly enjoyable!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a second book in a series but it could definitely be read as a standalone.
The author does a great job of referencing what happened in key events from the first book.
The writing is very descriptive and I really struggled to put this down.
The chapters are slightly on the longer side for my liking. But there are *'s for scene changes etc.
Loved the quirky characters and you can tell that the author has done a lot of research on certain subjects.
Good pace and an intriguing setting.
Some good twists in there.
The author does a great job of referencing what happened in key events from the first book.
The writing is very descriptive and I really struggled to put this down.
The chapters are slightly on the longer side for my liking. But there are *'s for scene changes etc.
Loved the quirky characters and you can tell that the author has done a lot of research on certain subjects.
Good pace and an intriguing setting.
Some good twists in there.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you enjoyed ‘Sigil’ you will definitely enjoy ‘Tenebris’…it answers a lot of the questions which were left at the end of his first book. Having said that, if you haven’t read ‘Sigil’ don’t worry (although obviously it would be good if your read that too!), as Al really does an excellent job of weaving reminders and context into this story.
He has a great talent for describing the landscape of the area and a worrying knowledge of the occult (just joking)!
To summarise…I rattled through ‘Tenebris’ in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it.
He has a great talent for describing the landscape of the area and a worrying knowledge of the occult (just joking)!
To summarise…I rattled through ‘Tenebris’ in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it.
September 2, 2026
A fantastic dive back into the mystery crime world set in and around Dartmoor. I was so excited to find out what new developments were in store for DS Baines, Jack and Jacqui. Although I've read the first book, Sigil, this one holds up as a standalone drama too, with some great twists and vivid imagining and magic in a stunning setting. I really enjoyed the set of lead female character developments, real care was taken with these. A definite recommendation for this genre!
July 31, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5 -
I absolutely loved Tenebris! While I do think this could be read as a standalone, as the author does a great job of reminding readers of key events from book one, I would still recommend reading Sigil first for the best overall experience and to fully appreciate the characters’ journeys.
One of my favourite things about this series is how seamlessly Al Nicholson blends Wicca, history, and mystery into one compelling story. It’s such a unique combination, and I found myself completely fascinated by all the different elements woven throughout the plot. You can really tell the author has done extensive research, and it pays off in creating a rich, believable world.
The cast is filled with quirky, complex, and sometimes flawed characters, which makes them feel all the more real. I especially enjoyed catching up with familiar faces and seeing how their lives had developed since the events of Sigil.
With great pacing, an intriguing setting, and plenty of twists and turns along the way, Tenebris kept me hooked from beginning to end. If you enjoy mysteries with darker themes, occult elements, and a strong sense of history, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
I absolutely loved Tenebris! While I do think this could be read as a standalone, as the author does a great job of reminding readers of key events from book one, I would still recommend reading Sigil first for the best overall experience and to fully appreciate the characters’ journeys.
One of my favourite things about this series is how seamlessly Al Nicholson blends Wicca, history, and mystery into one compelling story. It’s such a unique combination, and I found myself completely fascinated by all the different elements woven throughout the plot. You can really tell the author has done extensive research, and it pays off in creating a rich, believable world.
The cast is filled with quirky, complex, and sometimes flawed characters, which makes them feel all the more real. I especially enjoyed catching up with familiar faces and seeing how their lives had developed since the events of Sigil.
With great pacing, an intriguing setting, and plenty of twists and turns along the way, Tenebris kept me hooked from beginning to end. If you enjoy mysteries with darker themes, occult elements, and a strong sense of history, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews