Salpsan: A Gothic Horror

by Robert Essig

She lives to help the sick, but will she help a monster? Marion Fleicher has been stripped of her nursing license and ostracized in her homeland for an act of sheer compassion. Desperate to help the sick and infirmed, and struggling on a fixed income, she takes a job as a private nurse. She finds herself in the Spanish countryside at the door to a dilapidated old house wondering if she’s made a mistake. Behind the door is a motley a servant-man who is as shady as a shadow and sneaky as an imp, Terrance Adler, Marion’s ambiguous employer, and her patient, who is in desperate need of a doctor. Will she be able to help her patient or will she die trying? "Robert Essig has crafted one creepy-as-hell tale of modern gothic horror that sets an ominous tone from the first few words and never lets up. Told from the POV of an unconventional narrator with secrets of her own, Salpsan is a dark, dark story that will prove you wrong several times when you think you know where it's going. I enjoyed it immensely, and can't wait to read more from this writer!" -- James Newman (author of Odd Man Out, Animosity, and Ugly As Sin) "With Salspan, Essig takes you on a twisted journey through the Spanish hillside; one full of intrigue, memorable characters and hellish encounters. This is a story that will stick with you, long after turning the last page. --K. Trap Jones, author of The Charm Hunter, The Sinner and The Harvester

Genres: Horror

75 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2016

About the author

Robert Essig is the author of 30 books such as Baby Fights, Disco Rice, and Master of Bodies, which was nominated for a Splatterpunk Award. He has published over 130 short stories and edited three anthologies. Robert lives with his family in east Tennessee.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book started strong with an ex-nurse being hired to take care of a very ill man. Soon she finds out that something is very strange about her new patient. What is wrong with him? Why is he always feverish and hot? What about the two men who hired her? The connection between Marion (the nurse) and Salpsan intensifies. Set in Spain, a derelict old house, mysterious characters, everything is ready for an eerie old fashioned gothic story. But soon the story stalls a bit and rather becomes some kind of travesty or satire. To be honest I prefer straight old fashioned horror to this confusing and repetitive story. Also the characters didn't fully convince me. Not bad, but nothing to get overenthusiastic.

[Matty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m on the side of the Devil with this one.

[Amit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!!! You son of the Devil! Be the Hell become the powerhouse of earth to sustain mankind. Another master horror telling from Robert Essig, it just blown my mind away. There's no chance you could hate this one, no fu**ing chance...

Short or say its a novella to read but My God how enthusiastic the tale was. No freaking way anyone could deceive it with anything. Hell of a ride and no stopping untill you finish the book...

Marion Fleicher a nurse who made a decision about her life to be self independent in her own way with her nursing activity. While she accepted an offer from that strange man named Adler to serve a very ill person who got the strangest name too "Salpsan". The problem was the more she know about that sick person Salpsan the more she got transfixed. By the time she was in there to service him, she didn't immediately know that his name was Salpsan but anyhow she found out the identity. So no one have any idea about who he really was and where did he come from. But Marion Fleicher the nurse as the day went by couldn't handle herself but flee from there because she knew something was very wrong with Salpsan and she better made herself safe by leaving the house as immediately as possible. Terrifying, entertaining and full of great horror you would experience when you read the tale and by the way how can I forgot about Blake?? Man I just loved that part when Marion the nurse was in great danger to protect her awe from that sick bast*ad and then something happened which she could never think could happen in her life. Great just Great part of the story that event was. Salpsan for me was a hero, whatever he was a human being or not you would find out when you read but Salpsan to me was my real Hero, Keeper or say the word Defender. I truly appreciate that event about him and the nurse from the bottom of my heart...

So that's all for now and if you want to have great joy with real horror, just GO FOR IT. Rest will be history if you allow me to say...

Robert Essig a big heart for you and of course a high 5 with the rating too...