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The Cage
Caged inside Ted Armstrong’s mind are memories of his old job as a police the victims he saw, the helplessness he felt.
Caged within the Hotel Cromwell is a history of horrific murder, turned into a tourist attraction by the identical twins who maintain their family business.
Caged below the earth is the evidence that Ted has been sent to discover, a legacy of blood-soaked atrocities as dark as his own past.
Caged by snowdrifts and cut off from the outside world, the hotel echoes with terrified screams, hissing voices, and the screech of tortured metal…
…getting closer and closer.
Caged within the Hotel Cromwell is a history of horrific murder, turned into a tourist attraction by the identical twins who maintain their family business.
Caged below the earth is the evidence that Ted has been sent to discover, a legacy of blood-soaked atrocities as dark as his own past.
Caged by snowdrifts and cut off from the outside world, the hotel echoes with terrified screams, hissing voices, and the screech of tortured metal…
…getting closer and closer.
- GenresHorror
149 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2015
1 person is currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
David Haynes
27 books215 followersWhen 12 year-old David Haynes picked up a battered copy of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, he never looked back.
Writing in the grand tradition of the horror paperback originals of his misspent youth, Haynes populates his spine-chilling novels with ancient evils and small-town terrors, mutant monstrosities and knife-wielding psychopaths, and is dedicated to disproving the depressing observation that “...they don’t write ‘em like they used to.”
David Haynes is the author of sixteen horror novels and three collections of macabre short fiction, and lives in England with his wife and dog - that he wasn’t allowed to call Cujo.
Writing in the grand tradition of the horror paperback originals of his misspent youth, Haynes populates his spine-chilling novels with ancient evils and small-town terrors, mutant monstrosities and knife-wielding psychopaths, and is dedicated to disproving the depressing observation that “...they don’t write ‘em like they used to.”
David Haynes is the author of sixteen horror novels and three collections of macabre short fiction, and lives in England with his wife and dog - that he wasn’t allowed to call Cujo.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 24, 2015
A nasty relationship turns deadly and detective Ted Armstrong is called upon by a grieving mother to prove the innocence of her son in the murder.
In the course of the investigation, Ted visits the scene of the crime, the snowbound Hotel Cromwell.
Alone, except for the hotel staff that is composed solely of twins Christopher and Alex Cromwell, Ted is thrust into the murder mystery and embarks on a journey of self-reflection and discovery.
The relationships detailed by Haynes in "The Cage" are brutal and the consequences of these are equally appalling. Dropped into the Shining-esque Hotel Cromwell, the aloneness is haunting.
Another strong work by David Haynes.
4 STARS
In the course of the investigation, Ted visits the scene of the crime, the snowbound Hotel Cromwell.
Alone, except for the hotel staff that is composed solely of twins Christopher and Alex Cromwell, Ted is thrust into the murder mystery and embarks on a journey of self-reflection and discovery.
The relationships detailed by Haynes in "The Cage" are brutal and the consequences of these are equally appalling. Dropped into the Shining-esque Hotel Cromwell, the aloneness is haunting.
Another strong work by David Haynes.
4 STARS
September 22, 2015
David Haynes ranks as one of the few authors whose work I'll immediately pick up and shoots to the top of my TBR list once they release a new book. Of course there's always the worry that the latest release doesn't match up with the expectations engendered from the previous books. Thankfully all remains well with this latest book.
It was the Victorian era horror that first attracted my attention, but his recent books have been more contemporary and The Cage follows that trend. In some respects the story follows a familiar theme, there is an ex-detective who is tormented by the demons of his past and he enters a new situation seeking to expel them.
One of the reasons I enjoy the author's stories so much is that he can take the familiar and add a new cast to it. He also knows how to maintain a mystery and the core of the story is kept hidden throughout, yet tantalising with its darkness. There's a blend of physical and supernatural horror here, with some very sinister characters.
The characters are well drawn, the lead character has astounding depth and the two brothers are great. The writing is well crafted and the pacing is finely balanced. All in all this is a superb horror read and a recommended read for any fan of the genre.
It was the Victorian era horror that first attracted my attention, but his recent books have been more contemporary and The Cage follows that trend. In some respects the story follows a familiar theme, there is an ex-detective who is tormented by the demons of his past and he enters a new situation seeking to expel them.
One of the reasons I enjoy the author's stories so much is that he can take the familiar and add a new cast to it. He also knows how to maintain a mystery and the core of the story is kept hidden throughout, yet tantalising with its darkness. There's a blend of physical and supernatural horror here, with some very sinister characters.
The characters are well drawn, the lead character has astounding depth and the two brothers are great. The writing is well crafted and the pacing is finely balanced. All in all this is a superb horror read and a recommended read for any fan of the genre.
September 18, 2015
Ted, retired from the police force, works as a private detective. He has some regrets. If he had killed a child-molester who got off through the incompetence of one of his colleagues, he knows he could have saved further harm to children but his conscience wouldn't let him kill. He's called in to look into a murder in a remote hotel. Heavy snow traps him there and we find out more about him - and the occasion on which he actually did take a life.
David Haynes has created a claustrophobic story which works very well as a horror novel at surface level. It's as creepy and spooky as you could want. It works as a metaphor too, of the cages in our minds where we hide our secrets or our fears. The literal and metaphorical cages in this novel make you shudder. There are hauntings of different types here and the slow crumbling of a mind. This is a modern classic horror story by a man who has made the genre his own.
David Haynes has created a claustrophobic story which works very well as a horror novel at surface level. It's as creepy and spooky as you could want. It works as a metaphor too, of the cages in our minds where we hide our secrets or our fears. The literal and metaphorical cages in this novel make you shudder. There are hauntings of different types here and the slow crumbling of a mind. This is a modern classic horror story by a man who has made the genre his own.
September 30, 2015
I started reading this story without a clue of the plot. All I know is that I love this author's stories.
This one starts with a murder in a hotel room. But who did it? Was it really the husband who was caught "red handed"?
Ted is hired to investigate this and sets off in a snowstorm to the hotel. There's just him and the twins who run the place staying in the hotel. Or is there?
This started off more of a mystery, but as it progressed and the snow penned the people in, the story got more and more claustrophobic and ever so creepy. The noise the cages made was horrific in my imagination. This is not a story to read late at night. There are many layers to this story, even though it's not a mammoth read.
As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. This author's mind is a bit warped. Which is good for us readers.
This one starts with a murder in a hotel room. But who did it? Was it really the husband who was caught "red handed"?
Ted is hired to investigate this and sets off in a snowstorm to the hotel. There's just him and the twins who run the place staying in the hotel. Or is there?
This started off more of a mystery, but as it progressed and the snow penned the people in, the story got more and more claustrophobic and ever so creepy. The noise the cages made was horrific in my imagination. This is not a story to read late at night. There are many layers to this story, even though it's not a mammoth read.
As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. This author's mind is a bit warped. Which is good for us readers.
October 11, 2015
Ted Armstrong, retired police officer who is now working as a private eye, accepts an intriguing case from a mother who is sure that her son did not commit the murder of which is convicted. Excited to be working again on a case worthy of his true talents, Ted sets out immediately to the scene of the crime he is to investigate, but becomes stranded in a snowstorm and is very happy that the hotel Cromwell is within walking distance of his stranded car.
He is greeted by one of two identical twins as odd as the hotel itself. Thus begins a very complex and entirely satisfying murder mystery and psychological horror story that is not to be missed.
David Haynes, one of my favorite authors, does a great job using his deeply troubled protagonist as an unreliable narrator of the story. Also, his use of metaphor about 'cages' makes for an unforgettable tale of mystery and horror.
I would highly recommend this short novel to fans of this genre and anyone who would enjoy a truly well-written and exciting book!
He is greeted by one of two identical twins as odd as the hotel itself. Thus begins a very complex and entirely satisfying murder mystery and psychological horror story that is not to be missed.
David Haynes, one of my favorite authors, does a great job using his deeply troubled protagonist as an unreliable narrator of the story. Also, his use of metaphor about 'cages' makes for an unforgettable tale of mystery and horror.
I would highly recommend this short novel to fans of this genre and anyone who would enjoy a truly well-written and exciting book!
November 6, 2015
David Haynes’ latest horror has echoes of 'The Shining'. Snow, a hotel, twins and a man potentially going mad. But the story is a world apart from King’s work and Haynes proves once again that he is a master of the genre.
It’s difficult to think of another author who creates such a queasily nightmarish atmosphere and this book showcases this quality splendidly. It’s richly plotted, the lead a retired copper with a history that makes him flawed, vulnerable, unpredictable and most of all three-dimensional. Compelling through to its unexpected conclusion and final thought-provoking sentences, this is one scary page-turner!
It’s difficult to think of another author who creates such a queasily nightmarish atmosphere and this book showcases this quality splendidly. It’s richly plotted, the lead a retired copper with a history that makes him flawed, vulnerable, unpredictable and most of all three-dimensional. Compelling through to its unexpected conclusion and final thought-provoking sentences, this is one scary page-turner!
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December 24, 2015I don't feel like I can really rate this book because I didn't understand the ending. Can somebody help me out or is it more open to interpretation? It was a very interesting book! :)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews