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The Storm
In the eye of the storm they are watching…
A storm descends, a ship is wrecked.
A young girl is found, alone and afraid.
Villagers begin to vanish.
And the sea begins to cry.
A fierce storm envelopes a fishing village in Northumberland, and a ship the ‘Embla’ is wrecked on nearby rocks. The morning after, ‘Big’ Philip Jefferson, the lifeboat coxswain finds a young girl naked, and alive on the beach. Phil and his wife Mary take care of the girl, vowing to help her return home once the storm has ended. The girl is silent, mysterious, and some in the village are unsettled by her presence. When young men begin to disappear the suspicions grow and whispers spread. Tension mounts as more sinister events unfold, and the community becomes paranoid and divided. Who is this stranger? What is happening to the village?
One man is determined to find the truth.
A storm descends, a ship is wrecked.
A young girl is found, alone and afraid.
Villagers begin to vanish.
And the sea begins to cry.
A fierce storm envelopes a fishing village in Northumberland, and a ship the ‘Embla’ is wrecked on nearby rocks. The morning after, ‘Big’ Philip Jefferson, the lifeboat coxswain finds a young girl naked, and alive on the beach. Phil and his wife Mary take care of the girl, vowing to help her return home once the storm has ended. The girl is silent, mysterious, and some in the village are unsettled by her presence. When young men begin to disappear the suspicions grow and whispers spread. Tension mounts as more sinister events unfold, and the community becomes paranoid and divided. Who is this stranger? What is happening to the village?
One man is determined to find the truth.
237 pages, Paperback
Published January 6, 2018
6 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ord
5 books84 followersAcclaimed northern author Chris Ord writes dark, atmospheric page turners set in wild and rugged Northumberland.
He has published five novels: Becoming (2016) and Awakening (2019) are both part of the dystopian fantasy Gaia series; The Storm (2018) is a supernatural thriller set in the nineteenth century; Shadowfolk (2022), a haunting adult fairytale, was shortlisted for a Northern Writers' Award in 2021; and his latest The Deal (2022) is a folk horror set on the Northumberland coast. His current work in progress, a middle-grade adventure titled, Cuddy's Jewels was shortlisted for the Sid Chaplin Award in 2022. All his novels have received excellent reviews and widespread critical acclaim.
Chris has presented his work in schools, libraries, at writing events such as Noir at the Bar and The Stanza, and has featured in several magazines including, Writing Magazine, Living North, NARC, and Northumbria University’s OnEdge. In 2017, he was commissioned to write a series of short stories for Woodhorn Museum’s Wonderfolk exhibit.
When Chris is not plotting new storylines and killing off characters, he likes to toot his horn in his hometown brass band. Chris has always loved exploring the world and has lived and taught in Turkey, Portugal and India, and travelled far beyond. He currently lives in his beloved Northumbria with his wife, four boys, and Monty the mad, ever-hungry labrador.
Further information on Chris and his work can be found at: http://chrisord.wixsite.com/chrisord or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/chrisordauthor/. You can also follow him on Twitter: @theOoblet and Instagram: theooblet1
He has published five novels: Becoming (2016) and Awakening (2019) are both part of the dystopian fantasy Gaia series; The Storm (2018) is a supernatural thriller set in the nineteenth century; Shadowfolk (2022), a haunting adult fairytale, was shortlisted for a Northern Writers' Award in 2021; and his latest The Deal (2022) is a folk horror set on the Northumberland coast. His current work in progress, a middle-grade adventure titled, Cuddy's Jewels was shortlisted for the Sid Chaplin Award in 2022. All his novels have received excellent reviews and widespread critical acclaim.
Chris has presented his work in schools, libraries, at writing events such as Noir at the Bar and The Stanza, and has featured in several magazines including, Writing Magazine, Living North, NARC, and Northumbria University’s OnEdge. In 2017, he was commissioned to write a series of short stories for Woodhorn Museum’s Wonderfolk exhibit.
When Chris is not plotting new storylines and killing off characters, he likes to toot his horn in his hometown brass band. Chris has always loved exploring the world and has lived and taught in Turkey, Portugal and India, and travelled far beyond. He currently lives in his beloved Northumbria with his wife, four boys, and Monty the mad, ever-hungry labrador.
Further information on Chris and his work can be found at: http://chrisord.wixsite.com/chrisord or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/chrisordauthor/. You can also follow him on Twitter: @theOoblet and Instagram: theooblet1
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 8, 2022
I love this book. I wrote it. Give it a go. It's full of surprises.
May 22, 2018
This book was folklore and fact, which made for an interesting read. The folklore was quite creepy which in turn made the story quite tense. Wonderful descriptions by the author, which brought The Storm to life in my head as I was reading. I’m looking forward to reading more by Chris Ord
April 1, 2018
A Stormy Tale of Bravery and Superstition
This is a well-written and gripping tale of a Northumberland fishing community in the mid-nineteenth century whose harsh lives are ruled by the power of the sea. A storm whips up, dashing a ship and its crew on offshore rocks. The men react with practiced bravery and launch their lifeboat into the teeth of the storm. This is only the beginning of a drama that drags the whole village into a battle for survival against the elements and their own superstitious beliefs. A taut supernatural thriller that will keep you on tenderhooks until the final reveal. Highly recommended.
This is a well-written and gripping tale of a Northumberland fishing community in the mid-nineteenth century whose harsh lives are ruled by the power of the sea. A storm whips up, dashing a ship and its crew on offshore rocks. The men react with practiced bravery and launch their lifeboat into the teeth of the storm. This is only the beginning of a drama that drags the whole village into a battle for survival against the elements and their own superstitious beliefs. A taut supernatural thriller that will keep you on tenderhooks until the final reveal. Highly recommended.
March 4, 2018
Great mix of fact, folklore, fiction and local knowledge
This book is a one off and I found it a real page turner. Being familiar with the location in which it's set definitely added to my personal enjoyment of the story although the carefully chosen language paints a vivid and realistic description that would enable any reader to visualise the atmospheric setting. This story will appeal to readers across a wide age range. In my opinion it would also make a great talking book. Thoroughly satisfying.
This book is a one off and I found it a real page turner. Being familiar with the location in which it's set definitely added to my personal enjoyment of the story although the carefully chosen language paints a vivid and realistic description that would enable any reader to visualise the atmospheric setting. This story will appeal to readers across a wide age range. In my opinion it would also make a great talking book. Thoroughly satisfying.
June 12, 2018
I loved this book. Set in the Northumberland fishing village where I grew up, it is an imaginative tale built around an actual historical event, mixing fact and fiction, with both real characters and those created by the author, and drawing on local folklore. A few spine-chilling moments and a good sense of pace make this book a proper page-turner. A recommended read for all, but most especially for those who hold Newbiggin-by-the-Sea close to their hearts.
April 5, 2018
A gripping read full of twists and turns. The powerful descriptions capture the period perfectly, as well as the suffocating atmosphere of the storm. The characters are well drawn and compelling. It builds momentum to a thrilling end. This book keeps you guessing, and raises important questions. Highly recommended.
November 29, 2018
Excellent book altogether, compelling story-line that fits in perfectly with folklore. Would recommend it highly for any Northumbrian or someone who is interested in its culture. Like his previous work, Chris explores themes mistrust and corruption, and this time with a twist of the supernatural and an insight to a close-knit community.
I personally loved it!
I personally loved it!
January 27, 2018
Local story
Good read could imagine how things would look like coming from the village the author was writng about More stories like this please
Good read could imagine how things would look like coming from the village the author was writng about More stories like this please
October 19, 2019
Good read.
February 8, 2023
Newbiggin is a lovely village on the stunningly beautiful Northumberland coast. A community with a tradition of fishing and mining, where everyone seems to know everyone and is probably related to them!
Based on a true event, the attempted rescue of the crew and passengers of the ship Embla, wrecked on the treacherous rocks in a terrible storm, Chris interleaves a supernatural story of selkies, seals that can take on human form, and come ashore to seduce men and steal unborn children.
It's a well written, page turning novel that will have you guessing right to the end: is the young woman found naked in the beach really a miraculous surviver of the wreck, or is she one of them, coming for Phil and Mary's unborn baby?
Based on a true event, the attempted rescue of the crew and passengers of the ship Embla, wrecked on the treacherous rocks in a terrible storm, Chris interleaves a supernatural story of selkies, seals that can take on human form, and come ashore to seduce men and steal unborn children.
It's a well written, page turning novel that will have you guessing right to the end: is the young woman found naked in the beach really a miraculous surviver of the wreck, or is she one of them, coming for Phil and Mary's unborn baby?
October 29, 2023
An excellent Gothic mystery novel set in the mid-nineteenth century on the north-east coast of England. A ship goes down in a storm and despite the best efforts of the village to rescue the crew, all are lost, except a strange girl is miraculously washed up on the shore. Then people start to go missing. Gripping and engaging. Recommended.
October 14, 2018
A gripping read. I love tales of mermaids, selkies and mythical creatures. Usually mermaids are portrayed as kind creatures, but not in this tale. Dark and foreboding, tense and unnerving. Are the villagers able to ignore the folklore told by the elders or should they heed their warning? Burly men, crones and wives need to decide whether to protect the strange girl who's washed ashore, or whether she is the enemy.
We all need a Phil.
We all need a Phil.
April 5, 2018
While I appreciate the author's desire to keep local folklore and stories alive, I found this book tedious with little effort to develop the characters. The use of modern idioms in the dialogue also distracted from a story set in the 19th century.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews