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Beneath Ash Bone
Selburn, Virginia: A quiet backwater town nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the days before the Civil War, Sam Lock keeps the peace as the town sheriff, like his father before him.
That peace is shattered during a raging winter storm when a boy goes missing at Evermore, the sprawling estate of Horace Crownhill and his family. Racing against time and the elements, Sam must mount a desperate search for the child—but what he finds in the snow, and the dark halls of Evermore, are madness ... and murder.
As Sam searches for truth in a house poisoned by mysteries and haunted by ghosts, he hopes to weather the storm, but the harrowing secrets he uncovers may prove too terrible to bear. Will he escape with his sanity intact or will the dark presence rumored to hold sway over Evermore claim him as another sacrifice?
That peace is shattered during a raging winter storm when a boy goes missing at Evermore, the sprawling estate of Horace Crownhill and his family. Racing against time and the elements, Sam must mount a desperate search for the child—but what he finds in the snow, and the dark halls of Evermore, are madness ... and murder.
As Sam searches for truth in a house poisoned by mysteries and haunted by ghosts, he hopes to weather the storm, but the harrowing secrets he uncovers may prove too terrible to bear. Will he escape with his sanity intact or will the dark presence rumored to hold sway over Evermore claim him as another sacrifice?
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2016
5 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
About the author
D. Alexander Ward
25 books73 followersD. Alexander Ward is an author and anthologist of horror and dark fiction. In addition to his latest novel POUND OF FLESH, he is the author of numerous short stories and the novels BLOOD SAVAGES and BENEATH ASH & BONE.
As an anthologist, he edited the Bram Stoker Award-nominated anthologies LOST HIGHWAYS: Dark Fictions From the Road and GUTTED: Beautiful Horror Stories (co-edited) from Crystal Lake Publishing as well as the anthologies THE SEVEN DEADLIEST (co-edited) and SHADOWS OVER MAIN STREET, Volumes 1, 2, and 3 (co-edited), and the mini-anthology STRANGE ECHOES.
He is an Active Member of the Horror Writers Association and very involved in the small press publishing world of horror and dark fiction, where he runs Bleeding Edge Books.
Along with his beloved wife and daughter and the haints in the woods, he lives near the farm where he grew up in what used to be rural Virginia, where his love for the people, passions, and folklore of the South was nurtured. There, he spends his nights penning, collecting, and publishing tales of the dark, strange, and fantastic.
As an anthologist, he edited the Bram Stoker Award-nominated anthologies LOST HIGHWAYS: Dark Fictions From the Road and GUTTED: Beautiful Horror Stories (co-edited) from Crystal Lake Publishing as well as the anthologies THE SEVEN DEADLIEST (co-edited) and SHADOWS OVER MAIN STREET, Volumes 1, 2, and 3 (co-edited), and the mini-anthology STRANGE ECHOES.
He is an Active Member of the Horror Writers Association and very involved in the small press publishing world of horror and dark fiction, where he runs Bleeding Edge Books.
Along with his beloved wife and daughter and the haints in the woods, he lives near the farm where he grew up in what used to be rural Virginia, where his love for the people, passions, and folklore of the South was nurtured. There, he spends his nights penning, collecting, and publishing tales of the dark, strange, and fantastic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 12, 2019
Sometimes you read a book and you're like, "Why isn't this WAY more popular?!"
Beneath Ash & Bone by D. Alexander Ward is that book. First of all, the blurb across the cover from Ronald Malfi reads, "Engaging, resonant, smart and downright goddamn terrifying."
AND from Josh Malerman,
"I wanted to invite the narrator of Beneath Ash and Bone over to my house for whiskey and have him tell me the whole damn thing in person. Great voice."
I fully agree with both of those statements. The narrator, town sheriff Sam Lock is a new favorite literary character. He gets this story of a boy gone missing and travels out to the estate in the middle of winter to see what's what.
It's 1860 in Virginia before the Civil War.
The author does an impeccable job of setting, characterization and building suspense.
Sam Lock does not take any shit and yet, he's tender and observant. I enjoyed being in Sam's head as he tours the grounds, interviews witnesses and speculates on just about everything. I also falsely assumed where the story was going to go and so I was pleasantly surprised when the author pulled a few fast horror tropes on me.
I wanted to jump up out of my chair and applaud! I love being shocked and surprised.
I'm also adding this book to my growing list of stories under 200 pages that you could possibly devour in one sitting. If it wasn't for adulting and life stuff, I could have easily stayed with this one from start to finish--maybe only pausing to get snacks and coffee.
Unputdownable.
I'm recommending this one to fans of: Winter horror, historical fiction, suspense, murder mysteries, twists & turns, strong male protagonists you could easily develop a fictional crush on AND books to read in one sitting.
Beneath Ash & Bone by D. Alexander Ward is that book. First of all, the blurb across the cover from Ronald Malfi reads, "Engaging, resonant, smart and downright goddamn terrifying."
AND from Josh Malerman,
"I wanted to invite the narrator of Beneath Ash and Bone over to my house for whiskey and have him tell me the whole damn thing in person. Great voice."
I fully agree with both of those statements. The narrator, town sheriff Sam Lock is a new favorite literary character. He gets this story of a boy gone missing and travels out to the estate in the middle of winter to see what's what.
It's 1860 in Virginia before the Civil War.
The author does an impeccable job of setting, characterization and building suspense.
Sam Lock does not take any shit and yet, he's tender and observant. I enjoyed being in Sam's head as he tours the grounds, interviews witnesses and speculates on just about everything. I also falsely assumed where the story was going to go and so I was pleasantly surprised when the author pulled a few fast horror tropes on me.
I wanted to jump up out of my chair and applaud! I love being shocked and surprised.
I'm also adding this book to my growing list of stories under 200 pages that you could possibly devour in one sitting. If it wasn't for adulting and life stuff, I could have easily stayed with this one from start to finish--maybe only pausing to get snacks and coffee.
Unputdownable.
I'm recommending this one to fans of: Winter horror, historical fiction, suspense, murder mysteries, twists & turns, strong male protagonists you could easily develop a fictional crush on AND books to read in one sitting.
March 1, 2016
It seems like every time I start a post out with, "Necro Publications recently sent me a package..." it ends up leading to something good. So, just to give you an idea where we're heading here, Necro Publications recently sent me a package, and in that package there were books. One of those books was D. Alexander Ward's newest book from Bedlam Press, BENEATH ASH & BONE, a dark, intense, whip-crack of a horror-western-mystery story set in the days shortly after the Civil War.
Like just about every good story in the history of forever, BENEATH ASH & BONE starts off with action and intrigue, immediately setting the story in motion and setting it's hooks into the reader:
"The air itself was a gale of darkness and ice that chewed into him like a storm of broken glass. Sheriff Sam Lock and his old nag of a horse, Cutter, pressed on into the bosom of a churning blizzard to find the missing boy."
That opening passage sets up a mystery that draws you in. You want to keep reading because you want to know more about the setting, about Sheriff Sam, and about that missing boy. This type of opening is always a good indicator that you're in good hands, that the author knows what he's doing and won't fail to meet the expectations he sets with his beginning. And Ward doesn't fail to deliver on the promise of that first few sentences.
I always look for the strengths of a given work when I set out to review it. Some books display masterful character development and backstory, others are strong on setting, while still others demonstrate superior storytelling abilities. With BENEATH ASH & BONE, D. Alexander Ward has crafted a tale that showcases a combination of all of the things that make a story great. Sheriff Sam is a guy you want to sit down and share a glass of whiskey with, you want to learn more about him and his tormented past, the stern father whose ghost he can't put behind him. He's a tragic, sympathetic figure and you care about what happens to him. And the settings, the places Ward creates in this book, are pristine and real:
"Sam entered the remains of the structure and scanned it for signs of recent passage or habitation, but if something had spent any time in this place, it was not plain to see and certainly not since the storm had begun. The innards of the structure were undisturbed and upon every surface exposed to the elements, there was a uniform gathering of white. Sam’s heart sank. Until that moment, even he himself had not known how much he hoped they would find the boy there. After seeing Colvin scrawl it onto the map, he had a simple and powerful hunch that the old barn would bear some fruit in their search. But it was no more than another lonely, deserted place in the wood, forgotten by all but time itself, which had whittled it down to almost nothing."
His descriptions are poetic and moody, not overly expository at all, and they give you a vivid sense of place throughout the story, a technique that helps to keep you in the story, wanting to see what's over that next, snow frosted hillock.
One more strength of this book that I want to spend time on is dialogue. In a nutshell, it's fantastic. It's a thing that's extremely difficult to master, but Ward handles it with a virtuoso capability. His characters interactions are fluid, captivating, and natural, placing you in the conversation as your head metaphorically moves back and forth between the individual speakers:
“Bet?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Mister Crownhill has a good deal of hunting clothes and gear in here. Was he much of an outdoorsman?”
“He could hunt a deer as well as any. Didn’t go very often. Uncle says that after he come home from the war, he was always more of the indoor sort. And now…”
The young man drifted off and Sam stuck his head out from the closet.
“Yes?” he asked. “What sort is he now?”
Bet sighed, looked down to the floor.
“I can’t rightly say.”
Without a large number of he-said she-said, almost none in fact, we know exactly who's speaking at all times as the characters interact, the drawl of their language coming through in the cadence of their speech.
Written by someone who stands tall in the horror community as an editor, BENEATH ASH & BONE is proof that D. Alexander Ward is also a standout horror author that deserves your attention. It's horror with heart, six guns, and razor-sharp flesh rending teeth, best read with the light on and a stiff shot of whiskey or two to shore up your courage. The story is lightning quick, instantly captivating, and over way too damn soon, leaving your nerve endings singing and your heart longing for more of Sheriff Sam and the horrors that dwell within the bounds of the Evermore estate.
I for one am hoping we get to see more of Sheriff Sam, whether it be exploring deeper the mysteries and demons of Evermore or in an entirely new scenario. The place and the people are fascinating and immensely entertaining. If you haven't read D. Alexander Ward, you really want to change that. Start right here with BENEATH ASH & BONE.
Like just about every good story in the history of forever, BENEATH ASH & BONE starts off with action and intrigue, immediately setting the story in motion and setting it's hooks into the reader:
"The air itself was a gale of darkness and ice that chewed into him like a storm of broken glass. Sheriff Sam Lock and his old nag of a horse, Cutter, pressed on into the bosom of a churning blizzard to find the missing boy."
That opening passage sets up a mystery that draws you in. You want to keep reading because you want to know more about the setting, about Sheriff Sam, and about that missing boy. This type of opening is always a good indicator that you're in good hands, that the author knows what he's doing and won't fail to meet the expectations he sets with his beginning. And Ward doesn't fail to deliver on the promise of that first few sentences.
I always look for the strengths of a given work when I set out to review it. Some books display masterful character development and backstory, others are strong on setting, while still others demonstrate superior storytelling abilities. With BENEATH ASH & BONE, D. Alexander Ward has crafted a tale that showcases a combination of all of the things that make a story great. Sheriff Sam is a guy you want to sit down and share a glass of whiskey with, you want to learn more about him and his tormented past, the stern father whose ghost he can't put behind him. He's a tragic, sympathetic figure and you care about what happens to him. And the settings, the places Ward creates in this book, are pristine and real:
"Sam entered the remains of the structure and scanned it for signs of recent passage or habitation, but if something had spent any time in this place, it was not plain to see and certainly not since the storm had begun. The innards of the structure were undisturbed and upon every surface exposed to the elements, there was a uniform gathering of white. Sam’s heart sank. Until that moment, even he himself had not known how much he hoped they would find the boy there. After seeing Colvin scrawl it onto the map, he had a simple and powerful hunch that the old barn would bear some fruit in their search. But it was no more than another lonely, deserted place in the wood, forgotten by all but time itself, which had whittled it down to almost nothing."
His descriptions are poetic and moody, not overly expository at all, and they give you a vivid sense of place throughout the story, a technique that helps to keep you in the story, wanting to see what's over that next, snow frosted hillock.
One more strength of this book that I want to spend time on is dialogue. In a nutshell, it's fantastic. It's a thing that's extremely difficult to master, but Ward handles it with a virtuoso capability. His characters interactions are fluid, captivating, and natural, placing you in the conversation as your head metaphorically moves back and forth between the individual speakers:
“Bet?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Mister Crownhill has a good deal of hunting clothes and gear in here. Was he much of an outdoorsman?”
“He could hunt a deer as well as any. Didn’t go very often. Uncle says that after he come home from the war, he was always more of the indoor sort. And now…”
The young man drifted off and Sam stuck his head out from the closet.
“Yes?” he asked. “What sort is he now?”
Bet sighed, looked down to the floor.
“I can’t rightly say.”
Without a large number of he-said she-said, almost none in fact, we know exactly who's speaking at all times as the characters interact, the drawl of their language coming through in the cadence of their speech.
Written by someone who stands tall in the horror community as an editor, BENEATH ASH & BONE is proof that D. Alexander Ward is also a standout horror author that deserves your attention. It's horror with heart, six guns, and razor-sharp flesh rending teeth, best read with the light on and a stiff shot of whiskey or two to shore up your courage. The story is lightning quick, instantly captivating, and over way too damn soon, leaving your nerve endings singing and your heart longing for more of Sheriff Sam and the horrors that dwell within the bounds of the Evermore estate.
I for one am hoping we get to see more of Sheriff Sam, whether it be exploring deeper the mysteries and demons of Evermore or in an entirely new scenario. The place and the people are fascinating and immensely entertaining. If you haven't read D. Alexander Ward, you really want to change that. Start right here with BENEATH ASH & BONE.
December 22, 2019
Absolutely fantastic!
Review coming soon.
Review coming soon.
October 3, 2021
CW:
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
I wanted to love this book. The premise is fantastic - snowed in murder mystery pre-Civil War - and the language used in the writing is excellent. Ward, regardless of my upcoming criticisms, is a really beautiful writer. He has a great way with words and I found it entirely captivating.
But I found myself becoming less and less enamored with the story as it went on.
I didn't feel like there was enough foreshadowing/planting of the story to come. The REALLY didn't work for me because it just wasn't planted early enough. It either should have been a more standard story and stayed the length it was OR been extended somewhat to build up the scary supernatural factors.
I felt like Sam jumped to conclusions when he picked out his suspects, he never brought us along for the investigative ride, which was really disappointing.
Also, a personal pet peeve, but please for the love of God stop trying to say you found demon names in the "Old Testament." There are no demons in Judaism. There are no demons in the Tanakh. I don't care what language you've translated it through, keep the demons in your own religious books please and thanks. Ugh.
But, all of this aside! I'm totally down to read another D. Alexander Ward book! The premise is just **chef's kiss** and the writing is lovely. A lot of people loved this book, as you can tell from the average rating, so please don't let my review scare you off. It's short enough that it's really worth the experience if you find yourself in possession of a copy.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
I wanted to love this book. The premise is fantastic - snowed in murder mystery pre-Civil War - and the language used in the writing is excellent. Ward, regardless of my upcoming criticisms, is a really beautiful writer. He has a great way with words and I found it entirely captivating.
But I found myself becoming less and less enamored with the story as it went on.
I didn't feel like there was enough foreshadowing/planting of the story to come. The REALLY didn't work for me because it just wasn't planted early enough. It either should have been a more standard story and stayed the length it was OR been extended somewhat to build up the scary supernatural factors.
I felt like Sam jumped to conclusions when he picked out his suspects, he never brought us along for the investigative ride, which was really disappointing.
Also, a personal pet peeve, but please for the love of God stop trying to say you found demon names in the "Old Testament." There are no demons in Judaism. There are no demons in the Tanakh. I don't care what language you've translated it through, keep the demons in your own religious books please and thanks. Ugh.
But, all of this aside! I'm totally down to read another D. Alexander Ward book! The premise is just **chef's kiss** and the writing is lovely. A lot of people loved this book, as you can tell from the average rating, so please don't let my review scare you off. It's short enough that it's really worth the experience if you find yourself in possession of a copy.
September 10, 2023
This book surprised me so much. In my opinion, I thought it was going to be your typical missing persons book and it turned out to be a pretty good horror story. Recommended!
December 27, 2019
4.5 stars. What great storytelling! I devoured this book. Murder and secrets and some seriously disturbing scenes.
December 18, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. While it’s technically categorized as “horror”, I would definitely say it’s much more of a Murder mystery/ thriller with historical fiction vibes, sprinkled with a few horror tropes.
We are transported to 1860s Virginia, where we meet Sheriff Sam Lock. He is investigating the disappearance of a young boy, and when the boy is found in the snow brutally murdered, things begin to unravel.
I don’t want to give away too much about what’s really going on and why the boy was murdered, but I will say it was a nice little twist In the last 3rd of the book that really brought those horror tropes to life.
I recommend this to horror fans of course, but I also think that this could reach a broader audience. I recommend this also if you enjoy thrillers, murder mysteries and even historical fiction. This book is way under hyped and should definitely be more popular! I’ll be promoting it as a great winter read!
We are transported to 1860s Virginia, where we meet Sheriff Sam Lock. He is investigating the disappearance of a young boy, and when the boy is found in the snow brutally murdered, things begin to unravel.
I don’t want to give away too much about what’s really going on and why the boy was murdered, but I will say it was a nice little twist In the last 3rd of the book that really brought those horror tropes to life.
I recommend this to horror fans of course, but I also think that this could reach a broader audience. I recommend this also if you enjoy thrillers, murder mysteries and even historical fiction. This book is way under hyped and should definitely be more popular! I’ll be promoting it as a great winter read!
February 28, 2020
I received this book as part of a Night Worms subscription package. I may have never come across it any other way, which is bad because I think of all the other readers out there who may be missing out on this due to lack of knowledge. This book IS SO GOOD! I think all horror fans will devour this one. This book has family secrets, murder, twists, gore, etc. The book read like how it feels to sit next to a fire in a cabin during a thunderstorm with no electricity. My senses were on high alert the entire time and I felt like I could hear the floorboards creaking. This book got under my skin (ESPECIALLY THAT SCENE!!) and I can't stop thinking about it. 5 stars!
December 26, 2020
Beneath Ash and Bone was a pleasant surprise. I knew nothing going into this book, and had never read anything from this author, but from the very first page I was hooked, fully immersed in the tale and its main character. Atmospheric, well written, thrilling, and creepy as Hell. I definitely recommend this one.
November 15, 2020
I liked the first half (which it's a novella so, ya), but I had a really hard time finishing it. It was a good book, but I just couldn't get into it like most horror novels due to the setting/time period (long ago). For some reason it just bored me after awhile.
November 4, 2020
”The devil knows no redemption.”
MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ THIS!!!!
MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ THIS!!!!
November 8, 2025
Beneath Ash & Bone is a startlingly intense Southern Gothic novella that never lets up. Set in the time just after slavery was abolished, on a southern manor, this fast-paced read has shadowy atmosphere to spare and many unforgettable iconic images.
The prose is languid in all the right places despite the overall fast pace. There is enough shocking violence to call this extreme horror but the beauty in the decay is what really drew me in. From a clockwork baby to a wasp king on his throne there are haunting images here that stick in your mind’s eye.
For a novella it’s got a lot of layers, there’s backstory and development for multiple characters, there are plot twists and some unexpected developments. I admired the way the subject of slavery was handled and how that illuminated the ways in which the transition from “slave” to “free” was not an easy one. While not necessarily the point of the story it was a great demonstration of how moral rot twists things over time and leaves a horrific legacy. There are some truly uncomfortable and repugnant scenes but the subject calls for every one and they are applied with an unflinching grace.
I listened to the audiobook version and very much enjoyed the narration.
The prose is languid in all the right places despite the overall fast pace. There is enough shocking violence to call this extreme horror but the beauty in the decay is what really drew me in. From a clockwork baby to a wasp king on his throne there are haunting images here that stick in your mind’s eye.
For a novella it’s got a lot of layers, there’s backstory and development for multiple characters, there are plot twists and some unexpected developments. I admired the way the subject of slavery was handled and how that illuminated the ways in which the transition from “slave” to “free” was not an easy one. While not necessarily the point of the story it was a great demonstration of how moral rot twists things over time and leaves a horrific legacy. There are some truly uncomfortable and repugnant scenes but the subject calls for every one and they are applied with an unflinching grace.
I listened to the audiobook version and very much enjoyed the narration.
December 26, 2019
This is the first book I picked out to read from the Night Worm's December book package, and it's grisly, Southern Gothic, and so, so good. Set just before the American Civil War, the novel takes on race in a compelling if familiar way, with a third-person persona narrator steeped in the language of the time but finding in Sheriff Sam Lock a good man dealing with both the legacy of slavery and his own tragic past. Doubting his own abilities, he finds himself in the middle of a blizzard and a mystery at the well-to-do Crownhill estate among family members and servants who keep secrets. Events quickly escalate in horrifying ways.
I enjoy the similarities between Sheriff Lock and detectives of noir fiction, and especially how flawed and lacking in confidence he is. The atmosphere is suitably dark, cold, and horrifying, there are vivid creepy details throughout, and the plot moves rapidly, but the page count seems just right for the happenings. As the blizzard escalates and darkness falls across the estate, I found myself turning the heat up in my own apartment. I'll be seeking out more dark tales from D. Alexander Ward.
I enjoy the similarities between Sheriff Lock and detectives of noir fiction, and especially how flawed and lacking in confidence he is. The atmosphere is suitably dark, cold, and horrifying, there are vivid creepy details throughout, and the plot moves rapidly, but the page count seems just right for the happenings. As the blizzard escalates and darkness falls across the estate, I found myself turning the heat up in my own apartment. I'll be seeking out more dark tales from D. Alexander Ward.
January 2, 2020
Sheriff Sam Lock is called out to the Evermore estate during a blizzard to search for a missing boy. When the sheriff find the boy, he also finds a mystery that is drenched in murder and madness.
There is a lot going on in this story. Just when you start thinking that it is one thing, then something happens that spins off into something else. I did give it 3.5 stars, but Goodreads doesn't allow half stars.
I did like the tale, but I wasn't able to fully connect to any of the characters. Much of the book seems to be written as a waking dream, and I found myself a bit lost several times trying to decipher if something was really happening or if the sheriff was dreaming or if it was a flashback.
It was, however, a captivating tale; and one that could well be enjoyed on a long winter night, when the wind is howling, and the shadows are long and deep.
There is a lot going on in this story. Just when you start thinking that it is one thing, then something happens that spins off into something else. I did give it 3.5 stars, but Goodreads doesn't allow half stars.
I did like the tale, but I wasn't able to fully connect to any of the characters. Much of the book seems to be written as a waking dream, and I found myself a bit lost several times trying to decipher if something was really happening or if the sheriff was dreaming or if it was a flashback.
It was, however, a captivating tale; and one that could well be enjoyed on a long winter night, when the wind is howling, and the shadows are long and deep.
April 11, 2024
Some nightmarish sequences and devastating moments make this novella highly recommended for fans of horror and crime/mystery.
Read
December 28, 2019Strong historical mystery with southern gothic flavor and horror twists. The narrator is irresistible and compelling. I would love to see more books with sheriff Sam. The setting, a manor house, is used almost as another character. It’s under 200 pages and is one of those books you could devour in one sitting.
January 10, 2020
A historical murder mystery with a supernatural twist. The book is set in the 1860's but could easily be set in today's environment. An isolated country mansion in the middle of a snow storm. The story was really interesting. I loved the setting. The snowstorm was a character in itself. Sheriff Sam is a great character and I liked reading about him.
December 28, 2019
This was a haunting, eerie, fun horror story that gave me the chills. Taking place in the 1860's, this is a story of a rich, old family with secrets and a sheriff who tries to figure out what is happening. If you like dark murder mysteries, with a historical setting and some horror this one is for you! It was a great read, especially for December. 4 stars!
December 23, 2019
My spoiler-free review can be found at smallandspooky.com!
December 15, 2019
There's a blurb by Josh Malerman on the back cover that reads: "I wanted to invite the narrator of Beneath Ash and Bone over to my house, set out two glasses for whiskey, and have him tell me the whole damn thing in person. Great voice. "
That blurb pretty much explains why this earned a full 5-stars. When you hear the individual voices of the characters in your head, when you feel empathy for them, you know you're in the hands of a fine author.
This is believable Southern Gothic horror, with a compelling ambiance straight from the days prior to the Civil War, bleak winter and creepy as hell.
That blurb pretty much explains why this earned a full 5-stars. When you hear the individual voices of the characters in your head, when you feel empathy for them, you know you're in the hands of a fine author.
This is believable Southern Gothic horror, with a compelling ambiance straight from the days prior to the Civil War, bleak winter and creepy as hell.
July 20, 2016
I won this book as part of a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
When a boy goes missing in the dead of winter at Evermore, town Sheriff Sam Lock is there to investigate. What he finds however is much darker than he anticipated. Trying to hold onto his sanity, he delves into a case of secrets, madness, and murder.
A historical southern gothic type horror novel, this book was hard to put down. It starts out with a missing child and quickly takes a turn into murder and madness that will enthrall the reader and take them on a sinister ride. Although I was able to figure out who the murderer was before it was revealed, I did not anticipate the rest of the story. Definitely not a light hearted read, this book is not for those looking for a cozy mystery. The characters were realistic and the atmosphere was appropriately dark and gloomy as it set the tone for what was about to transpire. It grabbed me from the very beginning and I found myself immersed in the case right along with the Sheriff, Sam Lock, a man trying not to follow too closely in his father’s footsteps. Filled with supernatural elements, this book was a short but fantastic read and I look forward to more by this author.
A copy of this review has also been posted on my blog at:
Once Upon A Book
When a boy goes missing in the dead of winter at Evermore, town Sheriff Sam Lock is there to investigate. What he finds however is much darker than he anticipated. Trying to hold onto his sanity, he delves into a case of secrets, madness, and murder.
A historical southern gothic type horror novel, this book was hard to put down. It starts out with a missing child and quickly takes a turn into murder and madness that will enthrall the reader and take them on a sinister ride. Although I was able to figure out who the murderer was before it was revealed, I did not anticipate the rest of the story. Definitely not a light hearted read, this book is not for those looking for a cozy mystery. The characters were realistic and the atmosphere was appropriately dark and gloomy as it set the tone for what was about to transpire. It grabbed me from the very beginning and I found myself immersed in the case right along with the Sheriff, Sam Lock, a man trying not to follow too closely in his father’s footsteps. Filled with supernatural elements, this book was a short but fantastic read and I look forward to more by this author.
A copy of this review has also been posted on my blog at:
Once Upon A Book
April 19, 2021
This book was incredible. I'd heard good things about it, but didn't imagine how much I would end up loving it.
Set shortly before the American Civil War, Beneath Ash and Bone centers on Virginia sheriff Sam Lock, when he's called up to the palatial estate of Evermore to organize a search for a missing child. The boy is soon found, dead and bloody, beneath the snow. As he prepares to ride out the snow storm at Evermore, Lock endeavors to determine who wanted the boy dead. There are dark secrets to be uncovered in this mansion in the mountains, and the twists and turns the story takes as the mystery is gradually revealed are at turns disturbing and outright shocking.
Ward's novel got under my skin in the best possible way. I couldn't put it down until I was through. Ward is an incredible writer, who needs to be immediately discovered and read by every horror fan. I will gladly read anything this man writes and cannot recommend Beneath Ash and Bone enough. It's perfect for cold winter nights when you need a chilling read to match the weather.
Set shortly before the American Civil War, Beneath Ash and Bone centers on Virginia sheriff Sam Lock, when he's called up to the palatial estate of Evermore to organize a search for a missing child. The boy is soon found, dead and bloody, beneath the snow. As he prepares to ride out the snow storm at Evermore, Lock endeavors to determine who wanted the boy dead. There are dark secrets to be uncovered in this mansion in the mountains, and the twists and turns the story takes as the mystery is gradually revealed are at turns disturbing and outright shocking.
Ward's novel got under my skin in the best possible way. I couldn't put it down until I was through. Ward is an incredible writer, who needs to be immediately discovered and read by every horror fan. I will gladly read anything this man writes and cannot recommend Beneath Ash and Bone enough. It's perfect for cold winter nights when you need a chilling read to match the weather.
November 27, 2016
This is one of the books that starts off strong and never lets up. I like to be creeped out from the first page on and I was not disappointed. I can't say too much because something happens on every other page and I don't want to give it away, but Mr. Ward captures Sam so well that I feel like I am watching this story play out in front of me. Sam is a regular guy who unknowingly steps into a world of ... well, a lot of stuff that is just unexplainable.
I do not normally like historical fiction but I thought the setting in this case helped move the story along. Do not read this book and attempt to go to sleep!
I do not normally like historical fiction but I thought the setting in this case helped move the story along. Do not read this book and attempt to go to sleep!
April 29, 2016
Full review here: http://www.chocomeiske.com/2016/04/29...
Beneath Ash & Bone grabbed my attention from the get go and didn’t let go until the very end. I was simply unable to put it down and read it in one sitting. Easy, crisp, clear-cut prose draws you in and holds you enthralled, eager to uncover the mystery yet wanting to savour every word and reluctant for it to end.
Beneath Ash & Bone grabbed my attention from the get go and didn’t let go until the very end. I was simply unable to put it down and read it in one sitting. Easy, crisp, clear-cut prose draws you in and holds you enthralled, eager to uncover the mystery yet wanting to savour every word and reluctant for it to end.
March 11, 2016
Beneath Ash and Bone returns the down home promise of Southern Gothic horror, where dark secrets of madness and the supernatural hit the reader with a genteel punch in the gut.
Read rest of the review at http://www.ismellsheep.com/2016/03/bo...
Read rest of the review at http://www.ismellsheep.com/2016/03/bo...
February 23, 2017
I won Beneath Ash & Bone from GoodReads for an honest review. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who enjoys gothic novels. I was a little on the fence about this book but I did enjoy it.
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April 14, 2017I received this book as a giveaway from Good Reads, in the normal way, I would not have picked this. And so I would have missed an excellent read.
A murder mystery set in the old south, a spooky house, and a family full of secrets. Well written and peopled with characters that come alive.
A murder mystery set in the old south, a spooky house, and a family full of secrets. Well written and peopled with characters that come alive.
August 31, 2016
won on goodreads
great story, great horror aspect without overkill
great story, great horror aspect without overkill
May 2, 2016
I won this book and it was actually a good read. Thank you for choosing me in the give away!
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