Pinprick

by Matthew Cash

All villages have their secrets Brantham is no different. Twenty years ago after foolish risk taking turned into tragedy Shane left the rural community under a cloud of suspicion and rumour. Events from that night remained unexplained, memories erased, questions unanswered.Now a notorious politician, he returns to his birthplace when the offer from a property developer is too good to decline. With big plans to haul Brantham into the 21st century, the developers have already made a devastating impact on the once quaint village.But then the headaches begin, followed by the nightmarish visions.Soon Shane wishes he had never returned as Brantham reveals its ugly secret.

244 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2016

About the author

Author Biography

Matthew Cash, or Matty-Bob Cash as he is known to most, was born and raised in Suffolk; which is the setting for his debut novel Pinprick. He is compiler and editor of Death By Chocolate, a chocoholic horror Anthology and the 12Days: STOCKING FILLERS Anthology. In 2016 he launched his own publishing house Burdizzo Books and took shit-hot editor and author Em Dehaney on board to keep him in shape and together they brought into existence SPARKS: an electrical horror anthology, The Reverend Burdizzo’s Hymn Book, Under The Weather* Visions From the Void ** and The Burdizzo Mix Tape Vol. 1.
He has numerous solo releases on Kindle and several collections in paperback.
Originally with Burdizzo Books, the intention was to compile charity anthologies a few times a year but his creation has grown into something so much more powerful *insert mad laughter here*. He is currently working on numerous projects, his third novel FUR was launched in 2018.
*With Back Road Books
** With Jonathan Butcher

He has always written stories since he first learnt to write and most, although not all, tend to slip into the many layered murky depths of the Horror genre.
His influences ranged from when he first started reading to Present day are, to name but a small select few; Roald Dahl, James Herbert, Clive Barker, Stephen King, Stephen Laws, and more recently he enjoys Adam Nevill, F.R Tallis, Michael Bray, Gary Fry, William Meikle and Iain Rob Wright (who featured Matty-Bob in his famous A-Z of Horror title M is For Matty-Bob, plus Matthew wrote his own version of events which was included as a bonus).
He is a father of two, a husband of one and a zoo keeper of numerous fur babies.

You can find him here:
www.facebook.com/pinprickbymatthewcash

https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B010MQTWKK


Www.burdizzobooks.com

Reviews

[Darren Dilnott · Rating 5 out of 5]

If i could have given this book 6 stars i would have done. Thats how impressive this supernatural thriller from the uber talented Matthew Cash was. If you are looking for an edge of your seat mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end, then i cant recommend this highly enough. It has a perfectly spooky and sinister pace, and is wonderfully written with control and attention to detail.

[Sue and her books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something goes terribly wrong when a group of local boys decide to break into Brantham's House of Oddities to escape the rain after a fun night out. As they explore the building, they stumble upon a small mysterious door. Inside, the air is filled with a deep, unsettling moan and a rancid rotten stench.

Only Shane survives the night. He wakes up in the hospital, surrounded by his family, with no memory of what happened to his friends. Most of the people in town blame him for their fate.

Haunted by guilt, rumours and isolation, Shane eventually leaves Brantham. Twenty years later, now a successful businessman/politician, he returns for his mother's funeral. His longing for closure is overshadowed by unease as he faces the resentment of a rural community that has never forgiven him for the disappearance of his friends. Nightmares and visions plague his mind like an overdue punishment for running away.

'An intense cold spot flared up inside his skull and gathered into a dark icy raindrop. The raindrop dripped from the rafters of his mind and splashed onto the filthy black glass of the cabinet that held all of his secrets. All the things long locked away.'

Pinprick is a brilliant supernatural horror story told across two timelines, slowly revealing the events of the past and its consequences in the main character's present.
I thoroughly enjoyed knowing more about the boy's friendships - how they met, how they bounded and the moments that led up to that fateful night that changed everything. The narrative keeps you wondering until the very end - a satisfying conclusion as everything is finally brought into the light.

[Isabella Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't look down!

I really enjoyed this book, read most of it in one sitting, I couldn't wait to find out what was going on and how it would all come together. I can recommend this book, it's creepy, suspenseful and it gave me the shivers..

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Cash gives us a disturbing PINPRICK ...
An ominous tale that will keep readers peaking around corners through the darkness until the very end.

[Shanelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm very confused. The basic story was good but the ending, to me, made no sense. Someone might have to explain it because I don't understand what the hell is going on? AND I hate it when a book ends with too many questions. It's irritating and a waste of my time. I won't read any more by this author.

[DA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to be honest and say I wasn't really digging this book in the beginning. I think it was because I wanted the plot to go one way and it wasn't turning out like I expected. I really shouldn't have worried though, just like everything else I've read from Cash it turned out to be an amazing folk horror story. I'm really glad I gave it a read, although I am kinda mad at the ending, but I'll get over it.

[Kirsty Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent debut where you can see the author's potential (see more recent work for comparison).
An interesting story that takes advantage of the sleepy town setting to add intrigue and suspense. Essentially a mystery horror that left me wanting more. Some good character development, it would have been good to know more. There was also some side elements to think about with different relationships, my nosey self also would have liked to know more! 🤣
Give it a try and then pick up his Werewolf/Fur/Feral series.

[C.H. Baum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a brilliant story Mr. Cash. I loved the interaction between Shane and Jennifer, and I loved the conflict between the modern world and old legend and myth. All myths are based on truth though, right?

[Lisa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinprick is a dark horror suspense novel. Matthew Cash uses a non-linear timeline style to do a slow reveal of past and present events and how they tie in, building an almost unbearable tension as he teases the reader with horrible bits of surreal information. The characters build as the horror builds, like a puzzle being put together piece by piece.

Combining the elements of supernatural thriller, psychological horror, and mystery suspense, Matthew Cash presents a daring but well put together story that will leave you breathless.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shane can’t remember anything. As he returns to the small village he grew up in, the noises and nightmares also return.

Told in alternative time perspectives, Shane’s new life and his mysterious past combine to propel the narrative.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense, mystery, thrills, horror...I didn't want to put this book down.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disgustingly brilliant!! Matthew is the conductor of a macabre orchestra when he writes.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a group of young lads out and about when something happens leaving all but 1 missing and that 1 is named Shane and he has no memory of what happened that night much to the chagrin of this small English village. Shane is back in his hometown for his mother's funeral along the way he gets way more than he anticipated. This was a pretty great read, Matthew Cash's writing was fantastic as usual. I found the story very enticing, and I couldn't wait to see what was going on and how it would all end.

[Jeremy Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It's a non-linear story, using multiple timelines to slowly explain what happened on one particularly crazy night where the main characters friends go missing, and he conveniently can’t remember a thing. Pinprick is a bit of a slow burn at the beginning, (I had no problem with that) and the author’s editor might have gotten a little lazy in the middle of the book, but the end is well worth it. I had heard some good things about the author and I wasn’t disappointed.

[Kelly Rickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists and turns everywhere. A mystery of an event forgotten and being outcast and treated forever judged for something he can remember. 


Intriguing and just pulls me along.