The Garrison Project

by David J. Thirteen

From the acclaimed author of “Mr. 8” comes a new novella that twists found-footage horror into an exploration of obsession and the terrifying need to find meaning in what we see. The Garrison Project is a contemporary ghost story as only David J. Thirteen could imagine. No one knows more about urban legends than Molly Heyworth. She’s been studying them for years, hoping to discover a story at the moment it makes the leap from a real-life event to a macabre folktale. When she comes across the Garrison’s video blog, Molly believes her search is over. The tapes begin with a young couple fixing up their dream house, but events take an eerie turn when a hidden room is found where no room should exist. After the discovery, their home improvements fade into the background as accidents and family tragedies take centerstage. The videos create an intimate window into the couple’s fracturing relationship and Molly is unable to turn away. The more she watches, the more she sees herself reflected back on the screen. But as she examines every frame and pixel, something is gazing back at her from those captured images of the past  — something seeking a new victim to prey upon.

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2017

About the author

David J. Thirteen (he/him) is a writer of horror and other dark fiction. His serialized novels on Wattpad have received over a million reads and led to the publication of both his novel, MR. 8, and the novella, THE GARRISON PROJECT. His short stories have been published on THE OTHER STORIES podcast and in various anthologies including the best selling THE MONSTERS WE FORGOT: VOLUME 1. You can find him at www.DavidJThirteen.com and as @DavidJThirteen on Instagram and Twitter, or in real life on the streets of Toronto, once it's safe to be outside again...if it ever is.

Reviews

[Marvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Garrison Project is an interesting literary slant on a cinematic gimmick called the Found Footage Film. The most famous example of that is, of course, The Blair Witch Project. Actually the closest thing to found footage in novels would be the epistolary novel where the narrative is given by documents, usually letters. David J. Thirteen's take is to follow a researcher of urban legends who comes upon a series of videos that chronicles the remodeling of a house and points to something more sinister.

Molly is looking for the point where a true-life incident makes the leap to horror folk tale. She believes she may have found it in a online video where the family is tearing down a wall for remodeling and discovers a strange shrine. The research comes to a dead end until an unknown person sends her more tapes chronicling the continuing remodeling of the house. We not only follow the video's narration of what took place but also Molly's as she senses something in the videos may be taking a hold on her.

That is where the analogy to found footage ends. We see the viewer's own perceptions and reaction as well as the narration on the videos. The chapters go back and fought, sometimes a little awkwardly, but it does rev up the tension of the story. You not only have a unreliable narrator but perhaps an unreliable video. It's a nice gimmick and one that works most of the way through. The idea communicates the changes in Molly's perceptions rather well which is really the meat of the story.

Overall a brief but entertaining read from a new writer who took some chances and made it work.

[Reviewing Nerds · Rating 4 out of 5]

David J Thirteen has proved his mettle yet again in an awesome page turner that keeps you engaged till the last moment. The story involves around Molly's obsession with Garrison family and endless repeat watches of them repairing their house. She spent hours in creating a story in her head, thus making herself believe things that made everyone around her worried.

Check this out for full review: https://goo.gl/SizNR5

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't stop reading

This horror novella hooked me early on with it's unique storyline about DIY YouTubers and a woman writing a thesis on paranormal activity. I was so anxious to find out what was going to happen next to the different characters, I had to keep reading. The ending was an unexpected surprise, but satisfying. Thoroughly enjoyable!

[Rodney Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently written and builds on the tension all the way through. It easy to follow the journey into obsession and get as wrapped up in it as the protagonist does. Every step of her discovery is expertly crafted even as inevitable as the ending feels there are still some surprises waiting. Definitely get this and read it.

[R.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of found-footage type stories (think Blair Witch), then you'll enjoy this novella. The build-up is smart, clever and scary, making you keep on turning the pages to find out what will come next.

[SalScamander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent read. I read this book on wattpad. I do warn you though, don't read this in the dark. I was scared for days while reading this. But I just couldn't stop reading it. I had to know what was going to happen & how things would end. I was hooked to the very end.