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Black Pine Creek
Gold is all Scott Draper knows. Gold and darkness. A lifetime of mining has broken his life, estranged him from his daughter and left two dead men behind.
One last opportunity might turn things around – an abandoned mine in the icy Alaskan wilderlands. If he can bring his old crew together to help, they could all end up rich.
Draper knows that darkness always follows the gold. What he doesn’t know is that something even darker than his past, something nightmarish and ravenous, is waiting for them all in the shadows of Black Pine Creek.
One last opportunity might turn things around – an abandoned mine in the icy Alaskan wilderlands. If he can bring his old crew together to help, they could all end up rich.
Draper knows that darkness always follows the gold. What he doesn’t know is that something even darker than his past, something nightmarish and ravenous, is waiting for them all in the shadows of Black Pine Creek.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2016
112 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
David Haynes
27 books214 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 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 6, 2018
The first 7 or 8 chapters were very slooowwww. A lot of it was uneccesary fluff and needed to be cut down to about two chapters. If you can get through that opening though the rest of the book is really good and worth reading especially if you like reading about gold mining or .
October 23, 2016
I always look forward to the latest release from this author, so much so that any new release of his shoots straight to the top of my TBR list. This latest release did the same, and certainly disappoint.One of the main factors for being such a fan is that he takes a familiar concept, but brings something new.
While reading the book I was struck by a possible new measure for horror books - would it still be a good read with the horror elements removed? And in this case it would. The tale of Scott Draper and his last chance mining operation is an interesting tale in itself. The camaraderie of the characters (with certain exceptions) provides an excellent basis. The characters are well realised with contrasting personalities fitting together to make a greater whole. Not all the team are as richly drawn, and a couple of the lesser characters could maybe had a bit more history.
The horror element is masterly woven throughout. I love horror that builds tension and atmosphere rather relying on cheap shocks, and the author delivers. There's a definite sense of menace around the mining camp, and the evolution of the story. I also liked the fact that the presence isn't revealed too early.The setting is different from his previous books, and the level of research shows from the details.
I enjoyed the pacing, and the quality of the writing is what I've come to expect. He has a real craft to his writing. The author stands as one of my favourite contemporary horror writers, a must read for any fans of the genre.
While reading the book I was struck by a possible new measure for horror books - would it still be a good read with the horror elements removed? And in this case it would. The tale of Scott Draper and his last chance mining operation is an interesting tale in itself. The camaraderie of the characters (with certain exceptions) provides an excellent basis. The characters are well realised with contrasting personalities fitting together to make a greater whole. Not all the team are as richly drawn, and a couple of the lesser characters could maybe had a bit more history.
The horror element is masterly woven throughout. I love horror that builds tension and atmosphere rather relying on cheap shocks, and the author delivers. There's a definite sense of menace around the mining camp, and the evolution of the story. I also liked the fact that the presence isn't revealed too early.The setting is different from his previous books, and the level of research shows from the details.
I enjoyed the pacing, and the quality of the writing is what I've come to expect. He has a real craft to his writing. The author stands as one of my favourite contemporary horror writers, a must read for any fans of the genre.
June 5, 2018
Normally I like books by this author, but I struggled with this one for some reason. Just putting it down for now and will try at some later date to get back into it.
October 13, 2016
Scott Draper has had gold fever ever since his grandpa showed him a nugget. His obsession ruined his marriage and his relationship with his daughter. Now he’s got a chance to make a fortune on a site at Black Pine Creek, Alaska. The place itself is eerie. A good quantity of new mining equipment has been left at the site – even last season’s final run hasn’t been removed from the wash plant. What’s going on? Then, Draper finds a body – a suicide.
This is an atmospheric story which ramps up the tension as it progresses. Many of the gang have worked together before and trust one another’s judgement. Even the surprise member of the group (can’t say, spoiler!) is a hard worker and becomes a trusted colleague. One man, though, doesn’t click with them. We begin to see why. The characters are well drawn and believable and the root of the problem is greed and the things people will do to feed it. They all suffer nightmares in which their fears come back at them, magnified. It’s tense and scary and I spent the last ten percent of this book on the edge of my chair. Absolutely a corker and the author’s best yet.
This is an atmospheric story which ramps up the tension as it progresses. Many of the gang have worked together before and trust one another’s judgement. Even the surprise member of the group (can’t say, spoiler!) is a hard worker and becomes a trusted colleague. One man, though, doesn’t click with them. We begin to see why. The characters are well drawn and believable and the root of the problem is greed and the things people will do to feed it. They all suffer nightmares in which their fears come back at them, magnified. It’s tense and scary and I spent the last ten percent of this book on the edge of my chair. Absolutely a corker and the author’s best yet.
October 13, 2016
Scott Draper is a gold miner. He hasn't mined for 2 years after an incident, but wants back in. The only site he can get is at Black Pine Creek. Why did the last prospectors disappear leaving millions of dollars of equipment? Was it just because they got bored, or did something else happen?
This is a departure from David Haynes' previous books. It's more of a thriller and less of a full on horror story. Yes, there's something in the woods, but for me this book was more about the story than the frights. In fact the "something in the woods" could have been a bear and the story would still be as good.
This is a story more about the characters. I felt drawn in from the start, even though it might have been a storyline topic I'd less likely pick up if it wasn't from an author I know and love reading.
I found the character of the woods to be as much a character as the human ones. The descriptions were very clear (unlike the view in the woods) and I could easily picture it in my mind's eye.
Another fantastic book from an author who should be more popular.
This is a departure from David Haynes' previous books. It's more of a thriller and less of a full on horror story. Yes, there's something in the woods, but for me this book was more about the story than the frights. In fact the "something in the woods" could have been a bear and the story would still be as good.
This is a story more about the characters. I felt drawn in from the start, even though it might have been a storyline topic I'd less likely pick up if it wasn't from an author I know and love reading.
I found the character of the woods to be as much a character as the human ones. The descriptions were very clear (unlike the view in the woods) and I could easily picture it in my mind's eye.
Another fantastic book from an author who should be more popular.
November 7, 2022
I absolutely loved this book; the characters are well-developed, likeable and a great mixed bag. Their back stories are drip fed in and are very satisfying and help you develop your own feelings for each of them.
The setting of Black Pine Creek is isolated and becomes increasingly bleak, the description of the area is vivid, I could picture it all clearly. The camp, the plant and the creek itself feature strongly and are detailed perfectly.
The atmosphere at the mining site becomes increasingly tense and foreboding. The writing is on point. A real page-turner.
There is quite a gradual build to the story which is just paced at a speed which is enough to draw you in. David Haynes manages to spin a tale that you don't expect. It is engaging, bloody and thrilling. At about 70% the anxiety I felt due to the build up was immense!!!!
I really did not want it to end.
The setting of Black Pine Creek is isolated and becomes increasingly bleak, the description of the area is vivid, I could picture it all clearly. The camp, the plant and the creek itself feature strongly and are detailed perfectly.
The atmosphere at the mining site becomes increasingly tense and foreboding. The writing is on point. A real page-turner.
There is quite a gradual build to the story which is just paced at a speed which is enough to draw you in. David Haynes manages to spin a tale that you don't expect. It is engaging, bloody and thrilling. At about 70% the anxiety I felt due to the build up was immense!!!!
I really did not want it to end.
June 1, 2017
Gold Fever
Pretty good book from this author. A mythological beast prowling the Alaskan wilderness and tapping into the emotions of the entire team and wreaking havoc on them.
Most of the focus was on the individual members of the mining crew, and the personal demons they were struggling with which made for a much more interesting story than the usual man versus beast story. I'm definitely interested in reading more from this author.
Pretty good book from this author. A mythological beast prowling the Alaskan wilderness and tapping into the emotions of the entire team and wreaking havoc on them.
Most of the focus was on the individual members of the mining crew, and the personal demons they were struggling with which made for a much more interesting story than the usual man versus beast story. I'm definitely interested in reading more from this author.
January 22, 2019
I absolutely adored this book. It was my first book by David and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I won't go on about the story as you need to read it for yourself, but the characters are well defined and explained as is the main story and back stories of characters. None of which goes overboard into boredom like some books can do.
The story is quite original based in myth, but David makes it very believable. His writing style reminds me a lot of Shaun Hutson, who is one of my favourite authors, and if his other books continue to be as good as this one, the he will also be in my list of top authors.
If you love scary stories, movies like The Thing, or Alien and the Arctic or Alaska and groups of people alone and stranded, then this book is for you. It will not disappoint.
The story is quite original based in myth, but David makes it very believable. His writing style reminds me a lot of Shaun Hutson, who is one of my favourite authors, and if his other books continue to be as good as this one, the he will also be in my list of top authors.
If you love scary stories, movies like The Thing, or Alien and the Arctic or Alaska and groups of people alone and stranded, then this book is for you. It will not disappoint.
October 25, 2016
"Black Pine Creek" is Discovery Channel's "Gold Rush" meets Algernon Blackwood's "The Wendigo".
Haynes does a great job developing the characters and the interactions between their varied personalities. You can feel the distrust between some of the characters and the intense loyalty between others. Add to that something creepy lurking in the perimeter and you have a winning story-line.
4 STARS
Haynes does a great job developing the characters and the interactions between their varied personalities. You can feel the distrust between some of the characters and the intense loyalty between others. Add to that something creepy lurking in the perimeter and you have a winning story-line.
4 STARS
June 30, 2017
I loved "Boo" by this author and couldn't wait to dive into this book soon after. No disappointments here! While "Boo" was more of a roller coaster ride, this book was slow burning but never boring. The character development is one of the things this author does well and he allows us the chance to get into the lives and minds of the characters in this book. It really makes you care if someone dies or not and when one particular person seemingly met a horrific demise, I was saddened and surprised!
The plot revolves around a goldmine and an ancient evil lurking there, but it's also about family, friends, and the true price of unbridled greed. If you like your horror bloody with a side of drama, I highly recommend this book. I'm already on to the next book by this author and more to come!
The plot revolves around a goldmine and an ancient evil lurking there, but it's also about family, friends, and the true price of unbridled greed. If you like your horror bloody with a side of drama, I highly recommend this book. I'm already on to the next book by this author and more to come!
May 8, 2020
Something dark, hungry and inherently evil stalks the deep shadows of Black Pine Creek.
Haynes can seriously write. This is the second book of his I've consumed and again I'm pleasantly impressed. The story has just great atmosphere and the pace is exceptional - moving from a slowburner to a raging disastrous crescendo in the final act. Most characters are decently fleshed out, particularly the main character Draper, and I found myself caring about their fates...which is always indicative of solid writing. What's more, this is genuinely creepy and a chill will seep slowly in as the story progresses. I am a hunter of scary stories, and being hard to scare, this gets my seal of approval.
Well done Mr Haynes. I look forward to reading more from you in the future and please keep serving up the atmospheric chills - especially those set against the inhospitable environment of the far north.
Haynes can seriously write. This is the second book of his I've consumed and again I'm pleasantly impressed. The story has just great atmosphere and the pace is exceptional - moving from a slowburner to a raging disastrous crescendo in the final act. Most characters are decently fleshed out, particularly the main character Draper, and I found myself caring about their fates...which is always indicative of solid writing. What's more, this is genuinely creepy and a chill will seep slowly in as the story progresses. I am a hunter of scary stories, and being hard to scare, this gets my seal of approval.
Well done Mr Haynes. I look forward to reading more from you in the future and please keep serving up the atmospheric chills - especially those set against the inhospitable environment of the far north.
February 3, 2019
I wanted so badly to love this...
Reading the summary of this book I was incredibly excited. I LOVE stories set in the Alaskan wilderness and even though I'm not a miner a love of the show Goldrush ensured I would at least be able to understand what was going on. The story was okay but it just didn't hold my attention like I expected. I liked it but I was disappointed because I wanted to love it. The ending seemed a little rushed and too tidy.
Reading the summary of this book I was incredibly excited. I LOVE stories set in the Alaskan wilderness and even though I'm not a miner a love of the show Goldrush ensured I would at least be able to understand what was going on. The story was okay but it just didn't hold my attention like I expected. I liked it but I was disappointed because I wanted to love it. The ending seemed a little rushed and too tidy.
April 27, 2017
Gpo
Good book!
I Enjoyed reading it but the ending was a bit abrupt.
Still it was worthy of 5 stars
Good book!
I Enjoyed reading it but the ending was a bit abrupt.
Still it was worthy of 5 stars
May 15, 2017
Good stuff
Excellent little horror novel. Great story. Set-up was good and not picked out of the flavor-of-the-month story line generator. Cool cast. And wonderfully free of typos, misspellings and plot holes.
Check it out.
Excellent little horror novel. Great story. Set-up was good and not picked out of the flavor-of-the-month story line generator. Cool cast. And wonderfully free of typos, misspellings and plot holes.
Check it out.
August 6, 2018
Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Was really hoping for the happy ending, but it is a horror novel after all. Really likes the exploration of all the characters' relationships and the monster was unique. Would recommend for a spooky winter evening.
December 6, 2019
This book was frustrating. The writing is fine, no issues with the writing, but the book really needs to be about 200 pages less. Chapters and chapters and chapters of unnecessary and unhelpful people interacting and talking among themselves (introducing characters, preparing and then going on a gold dig expedition) adding essentially nothing to the story... for SO MANY chapters. 34 total chapters, the interesting stuff finally starts happening around chapter 24-25. And after being basically bored to tears waiting so long for anything interesting to happen, and honestly not even really caring anymore, the payoff was... it wasn't terribly interesting in the end. I felt zero atmosphere, dread, any creepyness... nothing like that. I read quite a bit of horror, I wouldn't even categorize this as horror. I'd call it a gold digging expedition mystery that's unnecessarily long.
December 21, 2025
3.9/5
Haynes has always had an eye for pacing and character. This might be his best lead character yet. And the themes here are strong as well. But he’s also never been great at writing women, and that issue shines particularly foul here. The one woman in the cast isn’t given enough to do to warrant how much they bring up her femininity.
The horror element is also by far the weakest across all his works i’ve read. In making the animal more lovecraftian & ethereal, haynes simply takes little time to develop the threat and leaves all the most intense moments for the final confrontation, but we know so little that carries no weight.
Haynes has always had an eye for pacing and character. This might be his best lead character yet. And the themes here are strong as well. But he’s also never been great at writing women, and that issue shines particularly foul here. The one woman in the cast isn’t given enough to do to warrant how much they bring up her femininity.
The horror element is also by far the weakest across all his works i’ve read. In making the animal more lovecraftian & ethereal, haynes simply takes little time to develop the threat and leaves all the most intense moments for the final confrontation, but we know so little that carries no weight.
December 23, 2025
David Haynes, what happened?
Gold miners go mining for gold, but there’s spooky stuff happening—that’s usually enough for me. I love David Haynes’ work and know he can be brutal and create some wicked monsters and moments.
Instead, I got a loooong story and a step‑by‑step guide on how to mine gold, with a little bit of The Shining mixed in, which also involved a smelly dog.
Yeah, I wasn’t impressed with this one. Looking back, this seems to be one of his earliest books, so I guess he was still finding his feet before writing his newer, far superior novels.
Just skip this one and read Dead Crow, The Skittering, or the awesome Cryptids.
Gold miners go mining for gold, but there’s spooky stuff happening—that’s usually enough for me. I love David Haynes’ work and know he can be brutal and create some wicked monsters and moments.
Instead, I got a loooong story and a step‑by‑step guide on how to mine gold, with a little bit of The Shining mixed in, which also involved a smelly dog.
Yeah, I wasn’t impressed with this one. Looking back, this seems to be one of his earliest books, so I guess he was still finding his feet before writing his newer, far superior novels.
Just skip this one and read Dead Crow, The Skittering, or the awesome Cryptids.
April 1, 2021
A frightening tale!
What a story this was, a horror/thriller in the Arctic gold fields. Stalked by a mystical and murderous creature, straight out of Hell, the miners began to fight amongst themselves as greed took its toll. All of them desperate for wealth in order to clear debt and start new lives. Unfortunately for them the creature could see into their minds and twist their thoughts. Team spirit soon fell apart as the group fought for survival. It was impossible to put this book down. Highly recommended!
What a story this was, a horror/thriller in the Arctic gold fields. Stalked by a mystical and murderous creature, straight out of Hell, the miners began to fight amongst themselves as greed took its toll. All of them desperate for wealth in order to clear debt and start new lives. Unfortunately for them the creature could see into their minds and twist their thoughts. Team spirit soon fell apart as the group fought for survival. It was impossible to put this book down. Highly recommended!
September 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this novel. Although, the setting was completely different from other books of David's which I have read, there is a recurring theme, throughout this author's work, namely a monstrous beast holding the poor souls of many as it meanders through this world on the road to self destruction and hell. Very clever plot, sadly this time no empathy whatsoever for monsters incorporated. Jim
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2017
Better then average... Not great
The story is tediously drawn out at points, but you feel the need to keep reading just to see what happens. I will definitely give this author another shot, but I hope future books are more compelling.
The story is tediously drawn out at points, but you feel the need to keep reading just to see what happens. I will definitely give this author another shot, but I hope future books are more compelling.
November 27, 2022
3.5 stars
Supernatural suspense/horror.
Things go wrong for a small group of modern-day gold miners as they work an abandoned claim in a remote part of Alaska.
The author (who is new to me) is skilled at characterization and creating an atmosphere that makes you feel like you're there.
Supernatural suspense/horror.
Things go wrong for a small group of modern-day gold miners as they work an abandoned claim in a remote part of Alaska.
The author (who is new to me) is skilled at characterization and creating an atmosphere that makes you feel like you're there.
September 11, 2017
Long journey, short end.
Not bad tale but not a good supernatural fan read. This was more of a bad weather soap opera. Best move on.
Not bad tale but not a good supernatural fan read. This was more of a bad weather soap opera. Best move on.
March 17, 2017
A solid three
I know I did not mean to hit four stars, the book is not exactly fast paced, until the end, but it has enough action to keep you reading, for the price not a bad read. Yes I would recommend.
I know I did not mean to hit four stars, the book is not exactly fast paced, until the end, but it has enough action to keep you reading, for the price not a bad read. Yes I would recommend.
May 3, 2017
This is one scary read, not to be read at night. Very well written tale with plenty of chills. I will definitely read more of Mr. Haynes works - when I'm on sunny beach. At noon.
May 30, 2018
This book started off so promising. I liked the characters, there was some creepy stuff going on, and then about a third of the way through it just started to implode. The thing is, this is exactly the type of book I love to read, the wilderness, the isolation, a creature, possibly supernatural. So it was even more disappointing when it went downhill.
***spoiler alert***
Now, there was one character in this book that was quite annoying. Not only that, but he’s stealing gold, having installed a hidden trap in the machinery to catch a large chunk of the gold collected. Not.too long after they start mining, the other characters right away don’t trust him. He seems off, in his behaviour and personality, even like he’s hiding something. Which at this point in the book, we know he is, he has stolen thousands of dollars in gold, possibly hundreds of thousands, it’s not specified, but the first “small” amount he gets is worth about $10,000. And they notice the amount of gold they are getting is way less than it should be, compared to the core samples and even what’s been pan-handled by the boss. His behaviour gets more suspicious. By the time a normal person would be seriously considering firing the guy, their suspicions are just starting the be aroused that he’s up to something. Remember how I mentioned that no one trusted him? Well, they talked about it, but never figured out what he could possibly be up to. Never even occurs to them until way late in the book that he might be stealing gold. And this is after he lies about the owner coming to the camp, kills him, and hides his truck, which is quickly found, plus other evidence that the owner had been there. But they don’t even suspect he might have done something to the guy. Even when the owners remains are found, they don’t really think he did something to the owner. It’s strange, they don’t trust this guy, but they never formulate any idea as to what they think he might have done.
I know I’m rambling about this character,but I found it seriously annoying, and distracting. And there were so many other things he did that should have not just aroused suspicion, but called for sending him home early. Or calling the police even. And the funny thing is, when the boss finally does tell him to leave the site, he refuses, and that’s that. There are other minor things wrong with the book, but his character was so prominent and so obviously up to something that it just overpowered what might have been a decent book.
I mean, he was so obviously a villain, he might as well have stood by cackling and rubbing his hands together. Which, come to think of it, he might just have at one point.
***spoiler alert***
Now, there was one character in this book that was quite annoying. Not only that, but he’s stealing gold, having installed a hidden trap in the machinery to catch a large chunk of the gold collected. Not.too long after they start mining, the other characters right away don’t trust him. He seems off, in his behaviour and personality, even like he’s hiding something. Which at this point in the book, we know he is, he has stolen thousands of dollars in gold, possibly hundreds of thousands, it’s not specified, but the first “small” amount he gets is worth about $10,000. And they notice the amount of gold they are getting is way less than it should be, compared to the core samples and even what’s been pan-handled by the boss. His behaviour gets more suspicious. By the time a normal person would be seriously considering firing the guy, their suspicions are just starting the be aroused that he’s up to something. Remember how I mentioned that no one trusted him? Well, they talked about it, but never figured out what he could possibly be up to. Never even occurs to them until way late in the book that he might be stealing gold. And this is after he lies about the owner coming to the camp, kills him, and hides his truck, which is quickly found, plus other evidence that the owner had been there. But they don’t even suspect he might have done something to the guy. Even when the owners remains are found, they don’t really think he did something to the owner. It’s strange, they don’t trust this guy, but they never formulate any idea as to what they think he might have done.
I know I’m rambling about this character,but I found it seriously annoying, and distracting. And there were so many other things he did that should have not just aroused suspicion, but called for sending him home early. Or calling the police even. And the funny thing is, when the boss finally does tell him to leave the site, he refuses, and that’s that. There are other minor things wrong with the book, but his character was so prominent and so obviously up to something that it just overpowered what might have been a decent book.
I mean, he was so obviously a villain, he might as well have stood by cackling and rubbing his hands together. Which, come to think of it, he might just have at one point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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