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The Dark: A spinetingling seaside folk horror novel, set against the blackouts of the 1970s
A SPINETINGLING SEASIDE FOLK HORROR NOVEL, SET ON THE YORKSHIRE COAST AGAINST THE 1970s BLACKOUTS
When the lights go out
You can lose sight of what is real . . .
It is the 1970s. A young woman, Rosie, moves to a small remote seaside village, readying to welcome her first child. But with her partner working away on an oil rig, the house isn't the sanctuary she'd hoped for - the situation made worse by the regular blackouts due to the ongoing miners' strikes. And the villagers seem friendly enough, but some of them are taking an uncomfortably close interest in her pregnancy.
Before long, Rosie notices strange noises and unexplained shadows in the corners of the cottage. As her birth date moves closer and the blackouts intensify, her isolation begins to consume her until she feels that she is losing her grip on reality.
But Rosie isn't the only one in the village who has cause to fear the dark . . .
'No one writes the supernatural quite like Amanda Mason. In The Dark the hauntings are visceral, underpinned by folklore, an evocative setting and a beautifully observed cast of characters' JESS KIDD, author of Little Spark and Things in Jars
When the lights go out
You can lose sight of what is real . . .
It is the 1970s. A young woman, Rosie, moves to a small remote seaside village, readying to welcome her first child. But with her partner working away on an oil rig, the house isn't the sanctuary she'd hoped for - the situation made worse by the regular blackouts due to the ongoing miners' strikes. And the villagers seem friendly enough, but some of them are taking an uncomfortably close interest in her pregnancy.
Before long, Rosie notices strange noises and unexplained shadows in the corners of the cottage. As her birth date moves closer and the blackouts intensify, her isolation begins to consume her until she feels that she is losing her grip on reality.
But Rosie isn't the only one in the village who has cause to fear the dark . . .
'No one writes the supernatural quite like Amanda Mason. In The Dark the hauntings are visceral, underpinned by folklore, an evocative setting and a beautifully observed cast of characters' JESS KIDD, author of Little Spark and Things in Jars
- GenresHorror
288 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 27, 2026
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Amanda Mason’s The Dark starts with an atmospheric, genuinely unsettling premise. The early chapters built a strong creepy vibe, relying on subtle tension, unsettling encounters, and a growing sense of dread that had me hooked.
The characters feel grounded at first, and their grounded, skeptical reactions to the strange events make the initial scares feel far more real and relatable.
Unfortunately, as the story progresses, the plot loses a lot of its early promise, and the characters suffer for it. Rather than making logical or interesting choices, their behavior starts to feel frustratingly irrational and very annoying.
Once the central threat is pulled into the light, the eerie atmosphere fades entirely, leaving behind a conclusion that feels a bit absurd rather than satisfying. It all gets very silly, very quickly.
Overall, it's not a bad read. The author clearly knows how to build the tension and suspense, but the shift in tone and character logic halfway through makes it hard to stay fully invested.
Amanda Mason’s The Dark starts with an atmospheric, genuinely unsettling premise. The early chapters built a strong creepy vibe, relying on subtle tension, unsettling encounters, and a growing sense of dread that had me hooked.
The characters feel grounded at first, and their grounded, skeptical reactions to the strange events make the initial scares feel far more real and relatable.
Unfortunately, as the story progresses, the plot loses a lot of its early promise, and the characters suffer for it. Rather than making logical or interesting choices, their behavior starts to feel frustratingly irrational and very annoying.
Once the central threat is pulled into the light, the eerie atmosphere fades entirely, leaving behind a conclusion that feels a bit absurd rather than satisfying. It all gets very silly, very quickly.
Overall, it's not a bad read. The author clearly knows how to build the tension and suspense, but the shift in tone and character logic halfway through makes it hard to stay fully invested.
November 1, 2026
Creepy, scary, compelling - this was so different, I remember the 1970s and the power cuts but they certainly weren’t like this!
This book was so different to what I normally read - in a good way and with great characters and storyline.
I definitely want to read more by Amanda.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers,
This book was so different to what I normally read - in a good way and with great characters and storyline.
I definitely want to read more by Amanda.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers,
October 25, 2026
What a wonderfully creepy read that was! My genuine sense of unease gradually grew as the pages turned and the relationships unfolded. A perfect book to read on an autumnal weekend.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews