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The Twelve: A ghost story
John Rydell was 4000 miles away when he got the phone call from his wife.'John there's someone in the house.' By the time he was home, tragedy had struck. A tragedy that threatened to engulf him, bringing back long forgotten and repressed memories of his days at university. Now his old friends are dying, one by one. They are found gutted, disembowelled, ruined.There were twelve of them twenty years ago, in university, and there were twelve of them for a reason.A Ghost Story from the dark mind of D E McCluskey, author of CRACK, and A Love StorySometimes the past can come back to haunt you...
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2017
125 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
D.E. McCluskey
49 books454 followersI love horror, and I love Christmas. Some would say that the two are not mutually associated, I would tell you different.
I started writing at Christmas, back in the days of yore. I was reading The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore to my daughter who was too excited to sleep. But, I used my secret weapon, my boring voice she was soon catching the right amount of zzzzz's... As I tiptoed out of the room, giving Santa the space he needed to do his bit, I thought to myself, you know what? I could write something like that...
So I did...
The good Behaviour Act was written, the first story in Interesting Tymes, my very first publication.
I live in sunny Liverpool in the UK with my partner and daughters, I used to work in IT but don't anymore, and am the happier person for it. I love football, music and film... I also enjoy long walks, pretty flowers, and gratuitous violence and nudity...
I can be found mostly on Facebook @demccluskey_author
or on Twitter @dammagedpro @demccluskey1
my website is www.dammaged.com
I started writing at Christmas, back in the days of yore. I was reading The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore to my daughter who was too excited to sleep. But, I used my secret weapon, my boring voice she was soon catching the right amount of zzzzz's... As I tiptoed out of the room, giving Santa the space he needed to do his bit, I thought to myself, you know what? I could write something like that...
So I did...
The good Behaviour Act was written, the first story in Interesting Tymes, my very first publication.
I live in sunny Liverpool in the UK with my partner and daughters, I used to work in IT but don't anymore, and am the happier person for it. I love football, music and film... I also enjoy long walks, pretty flowers, and gratuitous violence and nudity...
I can be found mostly on Facebook @demccluskey_author
or on Twitter @dammagedpro @demccluskey1
my website is www.dammaged.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
November 15, 2024
Creepy Haunting!
Small backstory:
John Rydell has been through the wringer with losing his wife and going through a depression stage of grief, but now something is lurking in his house to the point where he thinks he might be going crazy as something is haunting his footsteps and he is not sure what has invaded his home or better yet what does it want!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This is my first time reading a book by this author and it won't be my last! I loved how the story just started out as it pulled me into the spooky world of this author! I found myself reading twelve chapters in one sitting as I could not put the book down! I truly lost myself within the story as my room disappeared around me and all I could focus on was the story itself.
I loved the character John and I felt for him as things started happening to him. The mystery of the story just kept me suspended in intrigue as I made my way through the story as I was trying to put the puzzle pieces together of what was taking place with the haunting.
There are some timeline flips though as the story will go back to college days of John and his friends then come forward to the present day. The timeline jumps were smooth and easy to follow so I didn't mind them at all as to know what is happening in the present day as the past has to be slowly revealed. I am not much into timeline jumping but if the story moves along smoothly and the author writes it as such then I am fine with it.
The spookiness of the story just kept me wrapped within the pages of this book as I could feel the dread slowly starting to seep under my skin. This haunting tale was awesome and I am looking forward to reading more by this author which I have a couple or so more books by him on my kindle. Giving this book five "Spooky Shivers" stars!
Small backstory:
John Rydell has been through the wringer with losing his wife and going through a depression stage of grief, but now something is lurking in his house to the point where he thinks he might be going crazy as something is haunting his footsteps and he is not sure what has invaded his home or better yet what does it want!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This is my first time reading a book by this author and it won't be my last! I loved how the story just started out as it pulled me into the spooky world of this author! I found myself reading twelve chapters in one sitting as I could not put the book down! I truly lost myself within the story as my room disappeared around me and all I could focus on was the story itself.
I loved the character John and I felt for him as things started happening to him. The mystery of the story just kept me suspended in intrigue as I made my way through the story as I was trying to put the puzzle pieces together of what was taking place with the haunting.
There are some timeline flips though as the story will go back to college days of John and his friends then come forward to the present day. The timeline jumps were smooth and easy to follow so I didn't mind them at all as to know what is happening in the present day as the past has to be slowly revealed. I am not much into timeline jumping but if the story moves along smoothly and the author writes it as such then I am fine with it.
The spookiness of the story just kept me wrapped within the pages of this book as I could feel the dread slowly starting to seep under my skin. This haunting tale was awesome and I am looking forward to reading more by this author which I have a couple or so more books by him on my kindle. Giving this book five "Spooky Shivers" stars!
June 11, 2018
Thanks to the Author and Publisher for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review. I gave this a strong 4 stars or 8/10.
Whilst John is away with work he gets a message from Gill his wife, telling him that she thinks there is someone in the house. He feels at a loss and helpless with being so far away. John Rydell and his wife Gill met at University and along with 10 other friends formed a friendship group called The Twelve and there could only be twelve of them for a reason.
The story is told as a dual time frame story, set in the present and the past (while they were all at University together). The chapters are small and the encouragement is there to keep you reading just that one more chapter, as the story draws you in. The premise was interesting and had me hooked from the start. As his old University friends are dying off one by one, they all have one thing in common. They are all dying the same way as each other, why is this happening and who is doing it? With a great mix of both narrative and descriptive passages the story sets the scenes well.
I enjoyed this story and my only niggle was that it could have done with slightly better editing, as I found myself correcting things as I read. This did spoil my enjoyment of the story a little. However, it won't put me off reading other books by this Author.
This book is ideal for fans of James Herbert and Stephen King, it's a great modern horror story that will keep you thinking.
Whilst John is away with work he gets a message from Gill his wife, telling him that she thinks there is someone in the house. He feels at a loss and helpless with being so far away. John Rydell and his wife Gill met at University and along with 10 other friends formed a friendship group called The Twelve and there could only be twelve of them for a reason.
The story is told as a dual time frame story, set in the present and the past (while they were all at University together). The chapters are small and the encouragement is there to keep you reading just that one more chapter, as the story draws you in. The premise was interesting and had me hooked from the start. As his old University friends are dying off one by one, they all have one thing in common. They are all dying the same way as each other, why is this happening and who is doing it? With a great mix of both narrative and descriptive passages the story sets the scenes well.
I enjoyed this story and my only niggle was that it could have done with slightly better editing, as I found myself correcting things as I read. This did spoil my enjoyment of the story a little. However, it won't put me off reading other books by this Author.
This book is ideal for fans of James Herbert and Stephen King, it's a great modern horror story that will keep you thinking.
February 18, 2018
The Twelve is the consummate modern-day old-school supernatural horror story. This superbly written page-turner has it all: good flow, steady pace, solid characters, gripping suspense, emotional intensity, serious horror, and most importantly, an amazing plot and story. I read this entire novel in one day. I couldn’t not finish it. It is frighteningly gripping, wholly enthralling and has a very nice twist at the end. It is one of those books that you know you will read a second and third time over time because it is that entertaining.
McCluskey’s writing style is like a breath of fresh night air in the horror genre: dark and captivating. I found myself completely intellectually and emotionally engaged in the story throughout, as it played like a movie in my head. This is definitely a shelf worthy book. I am looking forward to more horror from this writer.
Short version, yes, I liked it. I really liked everything about it. Even the cover art.
McCluskey’s writing style is like a breath of fresh night air in the horror genre: dark and captivating. I found myself completely intellectually and emotionally engaged in the story throughout, as it played like a movie in my head. This is definitely a shelf worthy book. I am looking forward to more horror from this writer.
Short version, yes, I liked it. I really liked everything about it. Even the cover art.
May 10, 2024
Excellent spooky horror!
May 1, 2018
Review: THE TWELVE by D. E. McCluskey
An aspect of fiction I insist on is the "Reader's Hook," something in the first page (or even the first paragraph) that yanks the reader straight inside the story, impelling us to suspend disbelief and live through the characters--no matter what. In THE TWELVE, the Reader's Hook is explosive!! Blew me away! And--propelled me! Not once was I disappointed. Saddened--yes. Perturbed--yes. Gore-splattered--frequently! Yet the story rocked on, carrying me like the white water rapids of a raging out-of-control river, and I adored every minute of the experience.
An aspect of fiction I insist on is the "Reader's Hook," something in the first page (or even the first paragraph) that yanks the reader straight inside the story, impelling us to suspend disbelief and live through the characters--no matter what. In THE TWELVE, the Reader's Hook is explosive!! Blew me away! And--propelled me! Not once was I disappointed. Saddened--yes. Perturbed--yes. Gore-splattered--frequently! Yet the story rocked on, carrying me like the white water rapids of a raging out-of-control river, and I adored every minute of the experience.
November 27, 2024
DNF 27% I couldn’t engage with the story or the characters, I didn’t find it scary or interesting. The writing style was not to my taste.
May 16, 2017
A very worthy five star
Having never really delved into anything other than the standard, predictable, young adult genre type books, I decided to broaden my horizons and this caught my eye. Having read the sample I knew I would love the writing style. With books, on occasion, I tend to easily forget parts I don't really find interesting, leaving me to get confused by the storyline, but I became totally immersed with this book. Definitely worth a read. Just make sure you have a free day to read it because if you're like me, you won't want to put it down.
Having never really delved into anything other than the standard, predictable, young adult genre type books, I decided to broaden my horizons and this caught my eye. Having read the sample I knew I would love the writing style. With books, on occasion, I tend to easily forget parts I don't really find interesting, leaving me to get confused by the storyline, but I became totally immersed with this book. Definitely worth a read. Just make sure you have a free day to read it because if you're like me, you won't want to put it down.
February 12, 2018
I'm not a horror fan usually, but this was so gripping I couldn't put it down, even when I was a bit creeped out! There were unanswered questions right to the end, and the way it's written across two periods of time made me keep reading to see it all tie up. Well done Dave, I look forward to reading In The Mood For Murder too.
I'll need to investigate the graphic novel pages. The grotesque imagery would have been amazingly portrayed by Janine I'm sure. It's a nice touch to have kept the original concept alive by using her artwork for the cover.
I'll need to investigate the graphic novel pages. The grotesque imagery would have been amazingly portrayed by Janine I'm sure. It's a nice touch to have kept the original concept alive by using her artwork for the cover.
May 19, 2018
the twelve by D E Mccluskey.
Omg this is an absolutely fantastic read. I cannot highly Recommend This enough. If you love horror then this this is the book for you. the way David writes. grotesque very gory. John wife is dead then someone he knew from university is dead. are they related? the people who are murdered are from his university he knew them. the were in a group. twelve of them. slowly one by one getting murdered. gutted and disemboweled. who is doing this and why?
This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. if I could I would give more. 5*.
Omg this is an absolutely fantastic read. I cannot highly Recommend This enough. If you love horror then this this is the book for you. the way David writes. grotesque very gory. John wife is dead then someone he knew from university is dead. are they related? the people who are murdered are from his university he knew them. the were in a group. twelve of them. slowly one by one getting murdered. gutted and disemboweled. who is doing this and why?
This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. if I could I would give more. 5*.
February 12, 2019
This is a great bloody, violent, sexy, rollicking old-school horror book which keeps you guessing right up until the last few pages.
It tells the story of John Rydell, whose wife is the victim of a nasty, violent crime when John is away on business, helpless to save her over the phone.
As the story develops we learn that John and his wife were part of a weird group at University and it´s the actions of this group which develop the story.
For me, this was a fun, scary, shocking read which had me hooked until the last few pages.
It tells the story of John Rydell, whose wife is the victim of a nasty, violent crime when John is away on business, helpless to save her over the phone.
As the story develops we learn that John and his wife were part of a weird group at University and it´s the actions of this group which develop the story.
For me, this was a fun, scary, shocking read which had me hooked until the last few pages.
March 25, 2019
Great suspense
I read this book in two nights! Would’ve been sooner had it not been for a cold. The plot was great, characters were well developed and the momentum was well paced. I felt for Kev and John but the ending was not a surprise but it was intimate and endearing. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
I read this book in two nights! Would’ve been sooner had it not been for a cold. The plot was great, characters were well developed and the momentum was well paced. I felt for Kev and John but the ending was not a surprise but it was intimate and endearing. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
September 23, 2018
A disturbingly dark read that I won’t forget in a hurry. Occult dabblings from 20 years ago come back to haunt those involved with a shocking twist.
This is the second book I’ve read from this author and have already started the third
This is the second book I’ve read from this author and have already started the third
May 27, 2025
3.5⭐️ Really good culty, gory, ghost story!
March 31, 2018
Spooky!
I enjoyed this story, and would have given it 5 stars if not for the HORRIBLE editing. I very much wonder how some books get published with the glaring errors they contain, from extra commas to missing commas, misspelled words to incorrect grammar. Luckily the story kept me intrigued enough to finish it.
The book flips back and forth between present day and twenty years ago. In present day, we follow John as he learns of the grisly murders of his friends from university. Twenty years ago, the Twelve participated in a ritual to attain their deepest wishes.
Fast forward to present day, where all of the are being murdered by a mysterious being. The being presents itself in the form of a shockingly cold room, intensely stinky smell, and literal frost on most surfaces. The members of the Twelve experience this phenomena for several days, sometimes weeks, before they are murdered.
I did figure out the murderer before it was revealed, but enjoyed the twists and turns of the mystery. The deaths were fairly imaginative, though the overuse of the release of each victim's bladder got old.
Be warned, there are some pretty graphic sex and murder scenes, though all fit in to the story well. Overall, with some polishing from a good editor, this is a great book!
I enjoyed this story, and would have given it 5 stars if not for the HORRIBLE editing. I very much wonder how some books get published with the glaring errors they contain, from extra commas to missing commas, misspelled words to incorrect grammar. Luckily the story kept me intrigued enough to finish it.
The book flips back and forth between present day and twenty years ago. In present day, we follow John as he learns of the grisly murders of his friends from university. Twenty years ago, the Twelve participated in a ritual to attain their deepest wishes.
Fast forward to present day, where all of the are being murdered by a mysterious being. The being presents itself in the form of a shockingly cold room, intensely stinky smell, and literal frost on most surfaces. The members of the Twelve experience this phenomena for several days, sometimes weeks, before they are murdered.
I did figure out the murderer before it was revealed, but enjoyed the twists and turns of the mystery. The deaths were fairly imaginative, though the overuse of the release of each victim's bladder got old.
Be warned, there are some pretty graphic sex and murder scenes, though all fit in to the story well. Overall, with some polishing from a good editor, this is a great book!
September 30, 2018
What a page turner of a book! I could not put it down and could of finished it in a day if life had not got in the way.
The Twelve is a gory, paranormal, mystery. It gets you hooked right from the start and does not let you go till the bloody end.
John has a good life, a gorgeous wife and an upcoming promotion, what could possibly go wrong? When he is away on business and gets a call from his wife about someone in the house. What follows for John is an absolute nightmare, as not only does his wife get brutally murdered but over the next few months so does a bunch of his university friends. Memories start to flood back about his time at university and his group of friends known as The Twelve and their dabbling with the Occult.
The story flits between the past and the present as John slowly unravels the web of his past and makes the connection as to why they are all being picked off. With short, sharp chapters you will not be able to put this book down.
I also want to say that the cover of this book is stunning and perfect for the story.
I really cant wait to read more from this author!
The Twelve is a gory, paranormal, mystery. It gets you hooked right from the start and does not let you go till the bloody end.
John has a good life, a gorgeous wife and an upcoming promotion, what could possibly go wrong? When he is away on business and gets a call from his wife about someone in the house. What follows for John is an absolute nightmare, as not only does his wife get brutally murdered but over the next few months so does a bunch of his university friends. Memories start to flood back about his time at university and his group of friends known as The Twelve and their dabbling with the Occult.
The story flits between the past and the present as John slowly unravels the web of his past and makes the connection as to why they are all being picked off. With short, sharp chapters you will not be able to put this book down.
I also want to say that the cover of this book is stunning and perfect for the story.
I really cant wait to read more from this author!
October 8, 2021
I wanted to like it
This would have been a tedious book to read due to all the errors even if the plot had been excellent. (It wasn’t.)
The author peppers the story with randomly placed commas, and there are numerous instances where his word choice makes it clear that he doesn’t know what the word actually means.
Then there’s the storyline... The book revolves around 12 people that aren’t likable, and I couldn’t make myself care about what was happening to them... And (*semi-spoiler*) you have to sit through the EXACT same events happening to each of them.
I wanted to like this, but unfortunately it was just mediocre.
This would have been a tedious book to read due to all the errors even if the plot had been excellent. (It wasn’t.)
The author peppers the story with randomly placed commas, and there are numerous instances where his word choice makes it clear that he doesn’t know what the word actually means.
Then there’s the storyline... The book revolves around 12 people that aren’t likable, and I couldn’t make myself care about what was happening to them... And (*semi-spoiler*) you have to sit through the EXACT same events happening to each of them.
I wanted to like this, but unfortunately it was just mediocre.
June 15, 2021
I'm sorry but i really don't understand why the ratings are so good for this book. To me the writing felt chidish, like when you wish to be an author at 12 years old and you try to write your first book.
Also, it was really not anything new or special. Different people experiencing bad smells and cold spots? Really? And you knew who the bad guy was like halfway through the book. It just wasn't that good.
Also, it was really not anything new or special. Different people experiencing bad smells and cold spots? Really? And you knew who the bad guy was like halfway through the book. It just wasn't that good.
January 16, 2022
I almost gave up on this about halfway through but it had such great reviews I thought maybe it would get better. Unfortunately it didn't. Don't understand what almost everybody but me saw in this book.
October 5, 2022
The start was horrific and the story continued weaving its way all the way to end pulling you along with it as it's hooks you from the start.
A happily married man has his wife ripped away from him but that's just the start as his university friends are all murdered in the same equally nasty way.
A happily married man has his wife ripped away from him but that's just the start as his university friends are all murdered in the same equally nasty way.
May 2, 2017
Great read
Loved this story, and how it kept me intrigued all the way through. If you live suspense, and a bit of gore, then this is for you.
Loved this story, and how it kept me intrigued all the way through. If you live suspense, and a bit of gore, then this is for you.
January 15, 2022
Agree with the author...
This might have made an interesting graphic work. On the other hand, it's far too translucent to be considered a decent horror novel. Whatever.
This might have made an interesting graphic work. On the other hand, it's far too translucent to be considered a decent horror novel. Whatever.
August 23, 2023
DE McCluskey is such a brilliant writer. This book was nothing short of amazing. I also heard this was his debut novel…he clearly has a gift. Keep them coming, sir! ❤️
May 28, 2019
This is a brilliant, gory, spooky horror that had me gripped from the beginning.
The story starts with John and his wife Gill....both leading successful lives, with things about to get better. But then while John's away on a business trip he gets a call from his wife....and there's someone in the house. John's world unravels as his past comes back to haunt him and the people that he used to friends with turn up dead......by the same gruesome means. But who is committing these murders? And what did 'The Twelve' of them do back in their uni days?
I was honestly gripped! As you go through, the story flits between the present and their uni days as we start to learn what went on..... And then we get to know a bit more about each of 'The Twelve' - what they were like back then, and where they're at in their present lives. I literally didn't want to stop reading!
I was completely behind John - even though he'd been a bit of an ass in the past.....but I really wanted things to work out ok for him. But what will happen to him?
I don't want to give anything away.....if you love a horror then you check this out! The writing style is clear and easy to follow, the storyline is fab and what unfolds is gruesome (but actually quite sad!) This was a brilliant debut novel from Dave!
I'm now looking forward to reading the next of Dave's books so keep an eye out for my reviews...... In the meantime, this is definitely recommended by me!
The story starts with John and his wife Gill....both leading successful lives, with things about to get better. But then while John's away on a business trip he gets a call from his wife....and there's someone in the house. John's world unravels as his past comes back to haunt him and the people that he used to friends with turn up dead......by the same gruesome means. But who is committing these murders? And what did 'The Twelve' of them do back in their uni days?
I was honestly gripped! As you go through, the story flits between the present and their uni days as we start to learn what went on..... And then we get to know a bit more about each of 'The Twelve' - what they were like back then, and where they're at in their present lives. I literally didn't want to stop reading!
I was completely behind John - even though he'd been a bit of an ass in the past.....but I really wanted things to work out ok for him. But what will happen to him?
I don't want to give anything away.....if you love a horror then you check this out! The writing style is clear and easy to follow, the storyline is fab and what unfolds is gruesome (but actually quite sad!) This was a brilliant debut novel from Dave!
I'm now looking forward to reading the next of Dave's books so keep an eye out for my reviews...... In the meantime, this is definitely recommended by me!
December 17, 2023
A gripping book that manages to mix different aspects of horror and thriller without being too overwhelming, exploring several basic human feelings skilfully.
I had the chance of listening to the beautiful voice of Alan Turton narrating this book making it a great experience throughout!
This is also the first book where I hated all the characters apart from a couple and was very happy to witness their stories, from their past background to their present vicissitudes.
I was sucked in from the start and I put my earphones on whenever I could, to get to the end. The book starts with John and Gill living their average lives, but we soon realise that their life is nothing average, when a ghost from the past starts hunting "the twelve" down, trying to retrieve something that doesn't belong to them. Who are "the twelve" you ask? Well you have to figure that out for yourself as it would spoil the whole story.
Apart from the hateful characters, I appreciated that this is not a horror/thriller where you have to find out who the culpable agent is, but why the events happen, and when that is revealed it all makes sense, revealing highlighting another side of the plot. At that point I think that my hate towards "the twelve" trebled.. This is not my first book from D. E. McCluskey and I haven't been disappointed yet!
Thanks to D. E. McCluskey for a code and this is my honest opinion.
I had the chance of listening to the beautiful voice of Alan Turton narrating this book making it a great experience throughout!
This is also the first book where I hated all the characters apart from a couple and was very happy to witness their stories, from their past background to their present vicissitudes.
I was sucked in from the start and I put my earphones on whenever I could, to get to the end. The book starts with John and Gill living their average lives, but we soon realise that their life is nothing average, when a ghost from the past starts hunting "the twelve" down, trying to retrieve something that doesn't belong to them. Who are "the twelve" you ask? Well you have to figure that out for yourself as it would spoil the whole story.
Apart from the hateful characters, I appreciated that this is not a horror/thriller where you have to find out who the culpable agent is, but why the events happen, and when that is revealed it all makes sense, revealing highlighting another side of the plot. At that point I think that my hate towards "the twelve" trebled.. This is not my first book from D. E. McCluskey and I haven't been disappointed yet!
Thanks to D. E. McCluskey for a code and this is my honest opinion.
February 5, 2022
I have just finished "The Twelve" audio book, and I absolutely loved it. If I didn't have a job, I could have listened to this in one sitting, it was a metaphorical page turner of a book!
John is happily married to the love of his life and in line for an upcoming promotion at work. Whilst working away in the states, and after a seemingly false alarm from Gill of an intruder in the house, Gill is found brutally murdered at home.
Whilst grieving for Gill, he encounters more bad news when he hears of an old university friend being murdered. The discovery of an old photo stirs long forgotten and disturbing memories of his days at university. Does the answer to Gill's murder really lie in his past? Can his vague memories of "the Twelve" and their dabbling in the occult really be true?
One by one his friends are dying, their bodies disembowelled and mutilated, just like Gill's.... is John next?
The Twelve is a well paces and well written novel and the author weaves you through the past and present life of John Rydell in this gory paranormal mystery.
The narrator Alan Turton was a brilliant choice for this story, and his voice keeps you hooked right up to the bloody end!
This was my first Dave McCluskey book and will definitely listen or read more from this author!
John is happily married to the love of his life and in line for an upcoming promotion at work. Whilst working away in the states, and after a seemingly false alarm from Gill of an intruder in the house, Gill is found brutally murdered at home.
Whilst grieving for Gill, he encounters more bad news when he hears of an old university friend being murdered. The discovery of an old photo stirs long forgotten and disturbing memories of his days at university. Does the answer to Gill's murder really lie in his past? Can his vague memories of "the Twelve" and their dabbling in the occult really be true?
One by one his friends are dying, their bodies disembowelled and mutilated, just like Gill's.... is John next?
The Twelve is a well paces and well written novel and the author weaves you through the past and present life of John Rydell in this gory paranormal mystery.
The narrator Alan Turton was a brilliant choice for this story, and his voice keeps you hooked right up to the bloody end!
This was my first Dave McCluskey book and will definitely listen or read more from this author!
December 8, 2024
Imagine answering that one call that is gonna change your life forever. John Rydell was on an important business trip when he got a terrifying call from his wife Gill - 'John, there is someone in the house. '
Tragically, the love of his life was murdered that night and John, inevitably, plunged into a spiral of depression. But the nightmare didn't end here. His old university friends, once of a tight-knit group of students that called themselves 'the twelve', were also being targeted and killed in horrific, gruesome ways.
"Sometimes the past can come back to haunt you...
I got this book from the hands of Dave McCluskey himself at the epic #indiehorrorchapterone book convention. I really enjoyed meeting this talented and delightfully funny author. Naturally, I bought too many books at the event, so I've only just got around to reading this one.
The Twelve is a terrific and intriguing ghost story, told in two timelines, alternating between the past and the present. It pulls you in immediately, offering a great mix of supernatural horror, murder mystery, sex and gore. It brings to mind movies like 'Children shouldn't Play with Dead Things' or 'Eyes Wide Shut'.
I did start to piece together the mystery about three-quarters in, but that didn't diminish the payoff at the end. The finale ties up the secrets, motives and twists very nicely.
Tragically, the love of his life was murdered that night and John, inevitably, plunged into a spiral of depression. But the nightmare didn't end here. His old university friends, once of a tight-knit group of students that called themselves 'the twelve', were also being targeted and killed in horrific, gruesome ways.
"Sometimes the past can come back to haunt you...
I got this book from the hands of Dave McCluskey himself at the epic #indiehorrorchapterone book convention. I really enjoyed meeting this talented and delightfully funny author. Naturally, I bought too many books at the event, so I've only just got around to reading this one.
The Twelve is a terrific and intriguing ghost story, told in two timelines, alternating between the past and the present. It pulls you in immediately, offering a great mix of supernatural horror, murder mystery, sex and gore. It brings to mind movies like 'Children shouldn't Play with Dead Things' or 'Eyes Wide Shut'.
I did start to piece together the mystery about three-quarters in, but that didn't diminish the payoff at the end. The finale ties up the secrets, motives and twists very nicely.
February 14, 2021
This is an amazingly atmospheric and descriptive book definitely for the fans of horror and intrigue but definitely not for the feint hearted.
It is a number of short stories that all link to combine to the overall story drifting very cleverly from the present day to the past.
Despite the horrific action there are some very light hearted comedic moments and the story of Brenda whether intentional or not I found more of a comedy than a horror.
Whilst the main demonic character is certainly that throughout I found myself having a level of sympathy because you sensed throughout he was a real person and he wasn’t born demonic but society made him that way or should I say a certain group of society!
Whilst it became apparent what was happening and why, I was surprised by the twist at the end and also pleased. It wasn’t a happy ending but better than expected.
Overall an excellent book that delivers on expectation of gore and horror but with the added bonus of some excellent characters.
Whether the author meant to or not there is also a life lesson that achieving success at any cost isn’t the way to live your life look at the impact you have on others. It maybe simple but the reality is it’s easier said than done.
Another excellent read by this talented author
It is a number of short stories that all link to combine to the overall story drifting very cleverly from the present day to the past.
Despite the horrific action there are some very light hearted comedic moments and the story of Brenda whether intentional or not I found more of a comedy than a horror.
Whilst the main demonic character is certainly that throughout I found myself having a level of sympathy because you sensed throughout he was a real person and he wasn’t born demonic but society made him that way or should I say a certain group of society!
Whilst it became apparent what was happening and why, I was surprised by the twist at the end and also pleased. It wasn’t a happy ending but better than expected.
Overall an excellent book that delivers on expectation of gore and horror but with the added bonus of some excellent characters.
Whether the author meant to or not there is also a life lesson that achieving success at any cost isn’t the way to live your life look at the impact you have on others. It maybe simple but the reality is it’s easier said than done.
Another excellent read by this talented author
April 9, 2023
The Twelve is a fantastic story that ties together the occult, the supernatural and horrific revenge. DE McCluskey opens the book with chapters that immediately create a feeling of doom and a sense of urgency to follow the characters into their present and past lives. The pacing keeps propelling us further into the horrors that have tied Twelve people together for 20 years. Each scene has been written with purpose, and the timelines are blended in a way that have us creeping through the fog and peering at the terror that was and the terror that is to come. McCluskey gives us just enough detail to make us shiver with fright, check the shadows of our own rooms and jump at unexpected noises, while immersed in the reading.
I began reading this book midday and read late into the night, drifting off to sleep. I was gifted with snippets of the story in my dreams, and awoke sweaty, after several twisted scenes! I jumped right back into the book because I had to know why. What could be so important that The Twelve did what they did, and who has to die in order to settle the score?
I began reading this book midday and read late into the night, drifting off to sleep. I was gifted with snippets of the story in my dreams, and awoke sweaty, after several twisted scenes! I jumped right back into the book because I had to know why. What could be so important that The Twelve did what they did, and who has to die in order to settle the score?
October 19, 2023
Awesome ghost story for spooky season!
The Twelve: A ghost story by D. E. McCluskey was an absolute pleasure to listen to. I listened to the audio book version of the story, and the narrator does a great job as usual in all of McCluskey's books.
This book touches on several different genres so it should have a little something for everyone. The genres touched on in the book include thriller, horror, mystery, crime, supernatural, and a little eroticism sprinkled throughout (it is written by Dave, right?)
I really love the way McCluskey writes and the way his stories flow. This book was full of mystery and twists. I had no idea what was going on half the time and then all the pieces started connecting.
Overall, this is a fun and easy read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good ghost story to read for spooky season or anyone who loves the thriller genre.
The Twelve: A ghost story by D. E. McCluskey was an absolute pleasure to listen to. I listened to the audio book version of the story, and the narrator does a great job as usual in all of McCluskey's books.
This book touches on several different genres so it should have a little something for everyone. The genres touched on in the book include thriller, horror, mystery, crime, supernatural, and a little eroticism sprinkled throughout (it is written by Dave, right?)
I really love the way McCluskey writes and the way his stories flow. This book was full of mystery and twists. I had no idea what was going on half the time and then all the pieces started connecting.
Overall, this is a fun and easy read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good ghost story to read for spooky season or anyone who loves the thriller genre.
August 13, 2019
OK... So do you like sex, horror and a bit of mystery??
Well David McCluskey book The Twelve will have you gripped!! Such a fantastic read, great characters and brilliant 90s style story line....
Now don't get me wrong the ending is as good as any but I was hoping for something slightly different but by no means does that stop me giving this book a 8.5 out of 10.
Honestly this book has a little (and in some cases a lot) of everything.... The story line was awesome and the characters are brilliant! You may hold the book the story holds you!! It just let's your imagination run wild and let's face it that's the best thing about reading a book....
Mr McCluskey, i take my hat of to you (or should I say, I take my hood down for you)... Your books sir are becoming one of my fave reads.
If you haven't read it... Then get it!
Well David McCluskey book The Twelve will have you gripped!! Such a fantastic read, great characters and brilliant 90s style story line....
Now don't get me wrong the ending is as good as any but I was hoping for something slightly different but by no means does that stop me giving this book a 8.5 out of 10.
Honestly this book has a little (and in some cases a lot) of everything.... The story line was awesome and the characters are brilliant! You may hold the book the story holds you!! It just let's your imagination run wild and let's face it that's the best thing about reading a book....
Mr McCluskey, i take my hat of to you (or should I say, I take my hood down for you)... Your books sir are becoming one of my fave reads.
If you haven't read it... Then get it!
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