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Devouring Dark
DEVOURING DARK is an urban horror novel about a man plagued since childhood by a malevolent darkness that threatens to consume him. After a lifetime spent wrestling for control over this onslaught, Matt McLeod has learned to wield his mysterious paranormal skill to achieve an odious goal: retribution as a supernatural vigilante.
When one such hit goes bad, McLeod finds himself ensnared in a multi-tentacled criminal enterprise caught between a corrupt cop and a brutal mobster. His only promise of salvation may be a bewitching woman who shares his dark talent but has murderous designs of her own.
When one such hit goes bad, McLeod finds himself ensnared in a multi-tentacled criminal enterprise caught between a corrupt cop and a brutal mobster. His only promise of salvation may be a bewitching woman who shares his dark talent but has murderous designs of her own.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2018
10 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Alan Baxter
135 books526 followersMy book rating system:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Brilliant, I bloody loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really good, highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyable, well worth a read.
I don't talk about ⭐⭐ and ⭐ reads because I only talking up the good stuff. That's why my Goodreads rarely has anything under a ⭐⭐⭐.
Bio: Alan Baxter is a British-Australian multi-award-winning author of horror, supernatural thrillers, dark fantasy, and crime. He’s also a martial arts expert, a whisky-soaked swear monkey, and dog lover. He creates dark, weird stories among the valleys of southern Tasmania.
Fond him online at www.alanbaxter.com.au
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Brilliant, I bloody loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really good, highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyable, well worth a read.
I don't talk about ⭐⭐ and ⭐ reads because I only talking up the good stuff. That's why my Goodreads rarely has anything under a ⭐⭐⭐.
Bio: Alan Baxter is a British-Australian multi-award-winning author of horror, supernatural thrillers, dark fantasy, and crime. He’s also a martial arts expert, a whisky-soaked swear monkey, and dog lover. He creates dark, weird stories among the valleys of southern Tasmania.
Fond him online at www.alanbaxter.com.au
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 11, 2019
DEVOURING DARK kept me glued to the pages and not wanting to do anything else until I finished the book!
Meet Matt and Amy. They both have special powers inside them and each of them use those powers in a different way. Meet Vince Stratton. Local mob boss/Fagin. He rounds up local disenfranchised youth to run his errands, keep an eye on the neighborhood, and to make pick ups and drop offs of ...whatever. How do these characters all come together? You'll have to read this and see!
Being my first story from this author, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. To be honest, I was a bit surprised by the quality of writing. From the descriptions of unbelievable pain to the honesty and humor of the dialogue, I was engaged. I really felt for both Matt and Amy, and I really hated Vince Stratton. I did feel that a few of the surrounding characters, (Matt's mates, mostly), weren't quite as well developed, but I was okay with that, as it meant I got to spend more time with Matt and Amy.
I would be interested in reading more about these two, and how they develop and grow in their new situation, be they together or apart. There was a calm and sympathetic take as to how we care for the aging in the world today, and I appreciated that outlook, mostly from Amy's point of view. It made me like her that much more.
Overall, DEVOURING DARK was an engaging and fast-paced read. It was well written, had some funny portions to help break up the darkness and an ending I could get behind. Also, the premise was original and that's hard to find these days.
Highly recommended!
Find this review and others like it at: www.HorrorAfterDark.com
*I received a free paperback of this book to review for Horror After Dark. This did not affect the content of my review.*
Meet Matt and Amy. They both have special powers inside them and each of them use those powers in a different way. Meet Vince Stratton. Local mob boss/Fagin. He rounds up local disenfranchised youth to run his errands, keep an eye on the neighborhood, and to make pick ups and drop offs of ...whatever. How do these characters all come together? You'll have to read this and see!
Being my first story from this author, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. To be honest, I was a bit surprised by the quality of writing. From the descriptions of unbelievable pain to the honesty and humor of the dialogue, I was engaged. I really felt for both Matt and Amy, and I really hated Vince Stratton. I did feel that a few of the surrounding characters, (Matt's mates, mostly), weren't quite as well developed, but I was okay with that, as it meant I got to spend more time with Matt and Amy.
I would be interested in reading more about these two, and how they develop and grow in their new situation, be they together or apart. There was a calm and sympathetic take as to how we care for the aging in the world today, and I appreciated that outlook, mostly from Amy's point of view. It made me like her that much more.
Overall, DEVOURING DARK was an engaging and fast-paced read. It was well written, had some funny portions to help break up the darkness and an ending I could get behind. Also, the premise was original and that's hard to find these days.
Highly recommended!
Find this review and others like it at: www.HorrorAfterDark.com
*I received a free paperback of this book to review for Horror After Dark. This did not affect the content of my review.*
November 8, 2018
4.5 stars!
2018 has been the year of discovery for me. I have found so many new, amazing authors--I feel incredibly lucky. If you looked over my 2018 Goodreads challenge, you would see that I have been fortunate enough to have read a lot 4 and 5 star reads this year. It feels *really* good to be this deep into the horror genre and still finding new authors to love.
Alan Baxter has a lock on his own, unique brand of horror.
You would do well to start reading his books if you enjoy these signature styles:
Gangster drama, Noir, Crime, Supernatural, Action, Urban Horror.
And if you like:
Well written dialog fueled storytelling. Complicated, dimensional protagonists and expertly developed plot lines.
I read Manifest Recall last month and loved it so much, I was only too eager to read Devouring Dark coming out this month. Some horror loving friends of mine got it at the same time so we all read it together (Shane K. Mindi and Tracy-you guys are so fun to buddy read with!).
In this book, our main character, Matt (who has a Scottish accent and I totally read his lines with that in mind-I also might have a crush on Matt) has an unusual ability. Matt used his gift to snuff out some street scum and it was caught on tape by a mob boss who wants to obtain Matt and use him for selfish gain.
Just when things get rolling, the author switches up the narrative to a night shift nurse, Amy Cavendish. I love Amy. She has a supernatural ability as well--something even a little more intriguing than Matt's! As soon as Amy's story started, I wondered how these two were going to meet and what Alan Baxter was going to do to get me invested.
And through Amy's story and through her special ability, I became *very* invested indeed. I was actually surprised at the way there was this sudden break in the action and testosterone to explore a very tender and emotional subject. I appreciate the author's keen skills to tie it in so brilliantly.
My only real issue with this book is that it is so heavy on dialog, that it feels like the primary vehicle for storytelling (at times)--which is fine because Baxter is so incredibly good at it--but I think because he is so adept at it, he leans too heavy on it sometimes and I miss the way he also writes the inner mind chat for characters and his own voice in the narrative sections. So not really a complaint, just a desire for a more balanced way of getting all the good stuff Alan brings to the table.
I'm excited to add yet another author to my list of insta-buys. I'll read anything Baxter turns out.
(Thank you Grey Matter Press for a review copy in exchange for an honest review)
2018 has been the year of discovery for me. I have found so many new, amazing authors--I feel incredibly lucky. If you looked over my 2018 Goodreads challenge, you would see that I have been fortunate enough to have read a lot 4 and 5 star reads this year. It feels *really* good to be this deep into the horror genre and still finding new authors to love.
Alan Baxter has a lock on his own, unique brand of horror.
You would do well to start reading his books if you enjoy these signature styles:
Gangster drama, Noir, Crime, Supernatural, Action, Urban Horror.
And if you like:
Well written dialog fueled storytelling. Complicated, dimensional protagonists and expertly developed plot lines.
I read Manifest Recall last month and loved it so much, I was only too eager to read Devouring Dark coming out this month. Some horror loving friends of mine got it at the same time so we all read it together (Shane K. Mindi and Tracy-you guys are so fun to buddy read with!).
In this book, our main character, Matt (who has a Scottish accent and I totally read his lines with that in mind-I also might have a crush on Matt) has an unusual ability. Matt used his gift to snuff out some street scum and it was caught on tape by a mob boss who wants to obtain Matt and use him for selfish gain.
Just when things get rolling, the author switches up the narrative to a night shift nurse, Amy Cavendish. I love Amy. She has a supernatural ability as well--something even a little more intriguing than Matt's! As soon as Amy's story started, I wondered how these two were going to meet and what Alan Baxter was going to do to get me invested.
And through Amy's story and through her special ability, I became *very* invested indeed. I was actually surprised at the way there was this sudden break in the action and testosterone to explore a very tender and emotional subject. I appreciate the author's keen skills to tie it in so brilliantly.
My only real issue with this book is that it is so heavy on dialog, that it feels like the primary vehicle for storytelling (at times)--which is fine because Baxter is so incredibly good at it--but I think because he is so adept at it, he leans too heavy on it sometimes and I miss the way he also writes the inner mind chat for characters and his own voice in the narrative sections. So not really a complaint, just a desire for a more balanced way of getting all the good stuff Alan brings to the table.
I'm excited to add yet another author to my list of insta-buys. I'll read anything Baxter turns out.
(Thank you Grey Matter Press for a review copy in exchange for an honest review)
November 8, 2018
Devouring Dark, the latest from Alan Baxter by way of Grey Matter Press, is a solid cross-genre affair, entertainingly blending supernatural horror and crime.
Matt McLeod has a darkness within him. Quite literally as it turns out, as he can summon this darkness and use it to kill those who have done wrong. In the book's opening chapter, we get a delicious taste of McLeod's peculiar brand of vigilante justice as he stalks and kills a pedophile in a London alley. In a stroke of coincidence that promises to not bode well for Matt, his exploits are caught on the cell phone camera of a hoodlum who works for local mobster Vince Stratton. Stratton thinks he can use Matt as an assassin, but Matt's none too keen on this idea. Add into the mix a nurse, Amy, who shares similar talents as Matt, and soon enough you're off to the races in a frenetic game of cat-and-mouse.
There's a lot of neat layers to Devouring Dark, and I had a lot of fun reading it, particularly as Matt works at digging his way out from under Stratton's thumb. Baxter builds an interesting web to connect his characters, although there's an awful lot here that hinges on coincidence. Thankfully, the story moves fast enough, the characters are involving enough, and the challenges befalling them are sufficiently difficult enough, that some of the overly lucky (or perhaps unlucky is more apt) strikes lining them all up just so aren't entirely noticeable or distracting on first pass.
Baxter has a great knack at using his character's voices to great effect, alternating chapters between their varied points of view, giving readers a nice array of perspective to view the story through. Although Matt is arguably the lead protagonist, it's Amy Cavendish who really shines and provides a few bright spots throughout the narrative. Amy's gift is similar to Matt's curse, but her role as a nurse, as well as her understanding of her power, allows her to use the darkness in a strikingly different way, but one that's true to her humanity.
Amy is also a conduit for Baxter, allowing him to speak up a bit on issues of palliative care and the ignominy of death. Baxter, Amy, and I find ourselves in full agreement on the issue of how we treat our sick and dying relatives from a medical perspective versus the ease with which we can end a pet's suffering. Despite our medical and scientific advancement, medically assisted suicide for human beings is still deeply taboo, but I'm more than sympathetic to the author's viewpoint, having had similar thoughts and discussions myself after losing loved ones to prolonged and painful illnesses.
Although it's a crime story first and foremost, Baxter does manage to fit in a vital message, one that I'd hope more people would give conscious thought and action toward, and I appreciate his willingness to broach it in both Devouring Dark and the bonus short story, "Shadows of the Lonely Dead," included at book's end. Mind you, Devouring Dark is hardly a treatise on the pros of assisted suicide, so if you're one of those who fret about politics in their fiction, worry not. Such moments are small in the sum of this book, but there are a few worthwhile, and dare I say vital, scenes that provide some necessary food for thought.
[Note: This review is based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher.]
Matt McLeod has a darkness within him. Quite literally as it turns out, as he can summon this darkness and use it to kill those who have done wrong. In the book's opening chapter, we get a delicious taste of McLeod's peculiar brand of vigilante justice as he stalks and kills a pedophile in a London alley. In a stroke of coincidence that promises to not bode well for Matt, his exploits are caught on the cell phone camera of a hoodlum who works for local mobster Vince Stratton. Stratton thinks he can use Matt as an assassin, but Matt's none too keen on this idea. Add into the mix a nurse, Amy, who shares similar talents as Matt, and soon enough you're off to the races in a frenetic game of cat-and-mouse.
There's a lot of neat layers to Devouring Dark, and I had a lot of fun reading it, particularly as Matt works at digging his way out from under Stratton's thumb. Baxter builds an interesting web to connect his characters, although there's an awful lot here that hinges on coincidence. Thankfully, the story moves fast enough, the characters are involving enough, and the challenges befalling them are sufficiently difficult enough, that some of the overly lucky (or perhaps unlucky is more apt) strikes lining them all up just so aren't entirely noticeable or distracting on first pass.
Baxter has a great knack at using his character's voices to great effect, alternating chapters between their varied points of view, giving readers a nice array of perspective to view the story through. Although Matt is arguably the lead protagonist, it's Amy Cavendish who really shines and provides a few bright spots throughout the narrative. Amy's gift is similar to Matt's curse, but her role as a nurse, as well as her understanding of her power, allows her to use the darkness in a strikingly different way, but one that's true to her humanity.
Amy is also a conduit for Baxter, allowing him to speak up a bit on issues of palliative care and the ignominy of death. Baxter, Amy, and I find ourselves in full agreement on the issue of how we treat our sick and dying relatives from a medical perspective versus the ease with which we can end a pet's suffering. Despite our medical and scientific advancement, medically assisted suicide for human beings is still deeply taboo, but I'm more than sympathetic to the author's viewpoint, having had similar thoughts and discussions myself after losing loved ones to prolonged and painful illnesses.
Although it's a crime story first and foremost, Baxter does manage to fit in a vital message, one that I'd hope more people would give conscious thought and action toward, and I appreciate his willingness to broach it in both Devouring Dark and the bonus short story, "Shadows of the Lonely Dead," included at book's end. Mind you, Devouring Dark is hardly a treatise on the pros of assisted suicide, so if you're one of those who fret about politics in their fiction, worry not. Such moments are small in the sum of this book, but there are a few worthwhile, and dare I say vital, scenes that provide some necessary food for thought.
[Note: This review is based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher.]
November 12, 2018
"I sat there in the darkness of my room and knew it was all me. I had created that horror."
I've read a couple short stories by Alan Baxter, but Devouring Dark was my introduction to his novels. I think that it had a really promising concept, and I was interested in seeing how this story was going to turn out.
I saw this book as more of a thriller with supernatural elements as opposed to a supernatural thriller (if that makes sense). The focus was much heavier on the noir than the supernatural storyline, which is what I had been looking forward to. I have a hard time connecting with organized crime stories, and that's what this was. It's just my personal preference - this is not a bad book at all, and I think that someone who is intrigued by an organized crime story with supernatural elements would love this one.
There were a lot of characters introduced, and it took a minute to get used to everyone. Since there were so many characters, I wish there would have been a wider variety of names. For example, one of the main characters has three friends named Caroline, Caitlin, and Carla, and it was difficult to keep everyone straight.
Thank you so much to Grey Matter for sending this one to me.
I've read a couple short stories by Alan Baxter, but Devouring Dark was my introduction to his novels. I think that it had a really promising concept, and I was interested in seeing how this story was going to turn out.
I saw this book as more of a thriller with supernatural elements as opposed to a supernatural thriller (if that makes sense). The focus was much heavier on the noir than the supernatural storyline, which is what I had been looking forward to. I have a hard time connecting with organized crime stories, and that's what this was. It's just my personal preference - this is not a bad book at all, and I think that someone who is intrigued by an organized crime story with supernatural elements would love this one.
There were a lot of characters introduced, and it took a minute to get used to everyone. Since there were so many characters, I wish there would have been a wider variety of names. For example, one of the main characters has three friends named Caroline, Caitlin, and Carla, and it was difficult to keep everyone straight.
Thank you so much to Grey Matter for sending this one to me.
November 8, 2018
This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Yay! I have a new author to add to my auto-buy list! Alan Baxter is my new favorite for Urban Horror and vigilante justice. I get so pumped up reading his books.
A few months ago I read Manifest Recall and I instantly knew that I needed to read more from Baxter. When I heard he had a new book coming out I was really excited. I buddy read this one with a few of my favorite book people, and we had a blast. Devouring Dark was everything I hoped it would be.
Matt McLeod is able to harness the dark powers of death inside his body. He carries this darkness around with him until he manages to find a terrible person worthy of a horrible death, and then Matt needs only to touch that person to kill them. He's usually very meticulous and careful, but the darkness is growing inside him, and one night when he kills a pedophile in an alley, his act is caught on video. Now a powerful gangster named Stratton knows about Matt's power, and plans to force him to use that power to take out his own enemies. But Matt isn't used to being threatened or ordered around.
Amy Cavendish has a similar power, but she is able to control it much easier than Matt. Suddenly their paths cross, and two people who thought they were totally alone in the world realize that they are very much alike. Amy becomes entangled in Matt's problems with the Stratton, and soon the two are involved in a life and death struggle with the gangster that will leave both of them to test the full extent of their dark powers.
I really love the characters of Matt and Amy, and their dark powers are fascinating. Stratton is pure evil, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Devouring Dark is one hell of a read. Baxter writes characters that you care about, and so there is genuine tension when those characters are in peril. I especially love Amy. Her kindness and empathy for the dying is admirable. And I love her form of the darkness. Matt and Amy are so alike in their dark gifts, and yet the way they harness them and use them is so completely different. This book had me riveted from start to finish. I recommend it to everyone who loves supernatural noir.
Yay! I have a new author to add to my auto-buy list! Alan Baxter is my new favorite for Urban Horror and vigilante justice. I get so pumped up reading his books.
A few months ago I read Manifest Recall and I instantly knew that I needed to read more from Baxter. When I heard he had a new book coming out I was really excited. I buddy read this one with a few of my favorite book people, and we had a blast. Devouring Dark was everything I hoped it would be.
Matt McLeod is able to harness the dark powers of death inside his body. He carries this darkness around with him until he manages to find a terrible person worthy of a horrible death, and then Matt needs only to touch that person to kill them. He's usually very meticulous and careful, but the darkness is growing inside him, and one night when he kills a pedophile in an alley, his act is caught on video. Now a powerful gangster named Stratton knows about Matt's power, and plans to force him to use that power to take out his own enemies. But Matt isn't used to being threatened or ordered around.
Amy Cavendish has a similar power, but she is able to control it much easier than Matt. Suddenly their paths cross, and two people who thought they were totally alone in the world realize that they are very much alike. Amy becomes entangled in Matt's problems with the Stratton, and soon the two are involved in a life and death struggle with the gangster that will leave both of them to test the full extent of their dark powers.
I really love the characters of Matt and Amy, and their dark powers are fascinating. Stratton is pure evil, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Devouring Dark is one hell of a read. Baxter writes characters that you care about, and so there is genuine tension when those characters are in peril. I especially love Amy. Her kindness and empathy for the dying is admirable. And I love her form of the darkness. Matt and Amy are so alike in their dark gifts, and yet the way they harness them and use them is so completely different. This book had me riveted from start to finish. I recommend it to everyone who loves supernatural noir.
December 7, 2018
Alan Baxter consistently delivers, and Devouring Dark is no exception. Baxter's supernatural thriller about a young man and a young woman who independently struggle with an incredible ability to harness - and release - death at will is masterfully constructed and beautifully, and powerfully, written. It seems a rarity to find an author who combines chilling scares, supernatural thrills, a rollercoaster crime-structured plot and magnificent, clean prose.
I highly recommend this novel, and recommend picking up Baxter's other work, as well. I'm not sure anyone is doing it better right now, and Devouring Dark is absolutely in my top reads of 2018. Not to be missed.
I highly recommend this novel, and recommend picking up Baxter's other work, as well. I'm not sure anyone is doing it better right now, and Devouring Dark is absolutely in my top reads of 2018. Not to be missed.
December 20, 2018
Baxter’s newest was certainly an entertaining read for me. While crime noir isn’t my go to genre, this book handles it well. Personally, I would’ve loved to have the darker, horror aspects be more prevalent.
Matt McLeod has a darkness in him and he uses this power as a form of retribution - think vigilante justice. Baxter’s stellar use of description during these moments put me off my food for a moment, just some wonderfully disgusting details and I wanted more😃.
There were a few parts when the relationships between the characters and the shifts in focus were a bit too fast for me and I was left wanting a bit more depth and explanation in parts - but this could very well just be me.
I look forward to reading more from this author. I’ll tell you this, there’s never a dull moment in a Baxter book...hang on for the ride.
Matt McLeod has a darkness in him and he uses this power as a form of retribution - think vigilante justice. Baxter’s stellar use of description during these moments put me off my food for a moment, just some wonderfully disgusting details and I wanted more😃.
There were a few parts when the relationships between the characters and the shifts in focus were a bit too fast for me and I was left wanting a bit more depth and explanation in parts - but this could very well just be me.
I look forward to reading more from this author. I’ll tell you this, there’s never a dull moment in a Baxter book...hang on for the ride.
September 13, 2019
What a treat this book was to read! I'm glad I paid no attention to the blurb the publisher wrote on this book or I probably would not have read it.
I'm going to sit this book on the fence somewhere between crime/thriller and paranormal but I think Baxter could have amped it up a level and made it slightly darker.
The story is mainly based on Matt McLeod, an average guy that carries a darkness in him. A secret darkness he uses as a type of vengeance against those deserving of a punishment only he can deliver.
Little does Matt know there is another with a darkness similar to his own.
Amy Cavendish is able to harness the dark from the dying before passing it on, playing vigilante if you will.
Both of these characters were well developed, complex, and unique in their own way.
Along comes Vince Stratton who discovers Matt's talent and decides to hold those closest to him hostage to use Matt's darkness for his own evil exploitations.
Throw a dirty cop into the mix and things are bound to get messy.
Amy is most definitely my favourite character, she always seems calm and unshakable. She also breaks the testosterone of so many male characters in the story.
Negatives- too many names starting with the letter C all in the one chapter.
Amy still needed medical attention?
Did Amy get back in touch with her flat mate?
Highly recommend this book and I think it would make for a great series.
I'm going to sit this book on the fence somewhere between crime/thriller and paranormal but I think Baxter could have amped it up a level and made it slightly darker.
The story is mainly based on Matt McLeod, an average guy that carries a darkness in him. A secret darkness he uses as a type of vengeance against those deserving of a punishment only he can deliver.
Little does Matt know there is another with a darkness similar to his own.
Amy Cavendish is able to harness the dark from the dying before passing it on, playing vigilante if you will.
Both of these characters were well developed, complex, and unique in their own way.
Along comes Vince Stratton who discovers Matt's talent and decides to hold those closest to him hostage to use Matt's darkness for his own evil exploitations.
Throw a dirty cop into the mix and things are bound to get messy.
Amy is most definitely my favourite character, she always seems calm and unshakable. She also breaks the testosterone of so many male characters in the story.
Negatives- too many names starting with the letter C all in the one chapter.
Amy still needed medical attention?
Did Amy get back in touch with her flat mate?
Highly recommend this book and I think it would make for a great series.
November 6, 2018
As title mentions there is some devouring, and it is to do with a darkness, a void, a dark matter possession, succumbing, decay and death.
Administered by two characters, male and female, same gift shall we say but different application of it.
Small Scotsman, drinks occasional Laphroaig, lives in modest part of city of London, in Finsbury Park, in his one-bedroom basement flat, whilst in spare time, “trying to make sense of the blackness that swirled like ink in water through his skin,” and whilst on his atonement and vengeance road “The cost of his ability was getting higher, the hurt more intense and long-lasting.” He is a case of, “Dark attracts itself like iron filings to a magnet, mate” from his own words. Mr. Matthew McLeod Drives an old dark blue VW Golf hatchback, no love in his life, no siblings, “Matthew McLeod. A nobody warehouseman. Arrived in London from Edinburgh about a decade ago, same job and home for the last eight years. No record, no priors, no reason to matter to anyone.” That’s what Detective Sergeant Charlie Collins had on him in the beginnings of his investigation and through a small error he has come to be known by a few people that shouldn’t know of his ability, one person in particular a London a mobster, Vince Stratton landlord of Stratton’s.
He has troubles weighing him down, some really darkness of heart of the past decaying his soul and with this power in his hands, a gift, and a bane, as he anticipates his falling and demise he will take down many deserved of vengeance, a vigilante finding himself caught in a little web by a nasty gangster from town, one that has his hand in many pockets, and with his loved ones lives at stake needs to shut things down, even if it costs him his life.
There is one other with certain dark abilities an Amy Cavendish that gets caught in this web, she seems to have more grip on hers and a nurse so uses it with some idea of mercy and helping some and at the sometime killing of others that she feels need it.
The prose was clear and had right amount of scenes staying on form with no unnecessary bearing away from the storytelling.
It was an entertaining read with an interesting amalgamation of storytelling elements of noir, supernatural, and horror, that one may devour and enjoy.
A subterranean tale with shadows of justice manipulating death.
Matthew McLeod
Amy Cavendish
Carla
Detective Sergeant Charlie Collins
Vince Stratton
Najdovski
Clancy
Dexter
Review with excerpts @ https://more2read.com/review/devouring-dark-by-alan-baxter/
Administered by two characters, male and female, same gift shall we say but different application of it.
Small Scotsman, drinks occasional Laphroaig, lives in modest part of city of London, in Finsbury Park, in his one-bedroom basement flat, whilst in spare time, “trying to make sense of the blackness that swirled like ink in water through his skin,” and whilst on his atonement and vengeance road “The cost of his ability was getting higher, the hurt more intense and long-lasting.” He is a case of, “Dark attracts itself like iron filings to a magnet, mate” from his own words. Mr. Matthew McLeod Drives an old dark blue VW Golf hatchback, no love in his life, no siblings, “Matthew McLeod. A nobody warehouseman. Arrived in London from Edinburgh about a decade ago, same job and home for the last eight years. No record, no priors, no reason to matter to anyone.” That’s what Detective Sergeant Charlie Collins had on him in the beginnings of his investigation and through a small error he has come to be known by a few people that shouldn’t know of his ability, one person in particular a London a mobster, Vince Stratton landlord of Stratton’s.
He has troubles weighing him down, some really darkness of heart of the past decaying his soul and with this power in his hands, a gift, and a bane, as he anticipates his falling and demise he will take down many deserved of vengeance, a vigilante finding himself caught in a little web by a nasty gangster from town, one that has his hand in many pockets, and with his loved ones lives at stake needs to shut things down, even if it costs him his life.
There is one other with certain dark abilities an Amy Cavendish that gets caught in this web, she seems to have more grip on hers and a nurse so uses it with some idea of mercy and helping some and at the sometime killing of others that she feels need it.
The prose was clear and had right amount of scenes staying on form with no unnecessary bearing away from the storytelling.
It was an entertaining read with an interesting amalgamation of storytelling elements of noir, supernatural, and horror, that one may devour and enjoy.
A subterranean tale with shadows of justice manipulating death.
Matthew McLeod
Amy Cavendish
Carla
Detective Sergeant Charlie Collins
Vince Stratton
Najdovski
Clancy
Dexter
Review with excerpts @ https://more2read.com/review/devouring-dark-by-alan-baxter/
November 2, 2018
I was lucky enough to read DEVOURING DARK this past summer and found it to be amazing. Alan described it during his interviw with me posted on Cat After Dark on November 1st as a mash-up, and yes, a beautiful mash-up it was – of thriller, fantasy, horror and crime. There is something for everyone in this deeply dark depiction of death. And yet like everything there are two sides, so it’s not as heavy as I make it out to be. It’s a very satisfying read that I highly recommend.
October 22, 2018
Originally reviewed by Timy Takács on Grimdark Magazine.
Suppose you have darkness/shadows (depending on what you call it) living inside of you. Suppose you can release it time to time in one way or another. How would you use it? And if you only had a limited time left before the darkness devours you? Matt decides to use his power to atone for his sin. After leaving behind Scotland he finds a job and a flat in London, settles down, makes friends, and lives a normal life. And deals with paedophiles on the side every once in a while, knowing he can't go on like this forever.
His last hit didn't go exactly as planned, and that's when trouble, parading as Vincent Stratton, finds him. Stratton owns a bar in Camden, has connections everywhere, bosses vulnerable teenage boys around to do his bidding while pretending to care about them, and is practically untouchable. He finds Matt's skill curious and wants to use it no matter the consequences. He is arrogant and a bit narcissistic, sure he can get away with everything. Well, he can, having compromising evidence against almost everyone who counts. Stratton is cunning and makes sure he doesn't leave any traces behind himself. Knowing that, it really doesn't take much for him to get a grip on Matt. But Matt is hard to manipulate. Not having any other chance Matt plays the game, but does everything to be the one who sets the rules. Especially after he bumps into Amy, a palliative nurse who has her own agenda regarding death. She and Matt have to work together if they want to survive another day and get Stratton out of the picture. The odds are against them and time is running out.
Devouring Dark has three main POVs plus one with a side character, all of them written in the 3rd person. We follow Matt, Amy, Vincent Stratton and occasionally Charlie Collins—a detective who has been after Stratton for a while. The plot revolves around the relationships of the characters, but the focus is the cat and mouse play to see who can get the upper hand. London provides the perfect background for this dark and heavy story. Baxter keeps the tension up all the way from the moment the unassuming Matt falls into Vince's trap. Although Matt and Amy seem like normal people, living their everyday lives, underneath it all they hold this secret and try to use their abilities the best way they can, punishing those who seem to be above the law, justifying their acts. Does this make them bad people? Are they any different than Vince, who uses teenage boys to run errands for him, gives them money, food, a place to stay asking for nothing but loyalty and that they don't ask questions? Is he a good man despite his business machinations? What makes someone good or bad? This book won't answer that question for you, but it's interesting how much you can sympathize with someone who takes the path Matt and Amy choose.
I quite enjoyed this book, despite its flaws. For me, the plot needed a better balance. Charlie's plotline made things really interesting for about half of the book, but then it was abandoned to focus more on Amy and Matt. Probably a better balance between the plotlines and a slightly different ending would have made this book one of the best urban fantasy books I've read. It builds up nicely until about 80%, but then the ending feels a bit rushed and unbelievable, and the revelations aren't all that surprising. What I liked about this book was how real it felt until then. I mean, I can totally imagine there is a guy like Stratton out there, or Amy and Matt minus their abilities, or detective Collins. Not all of them good, but all of them real, whom I could bump into on the streets.
This book is not action packed, but then this book's real strength is in the characters, and although there aren't impressive lengthy fight scenes it doesn't mean it lacks dead bodies. Or tension. You can't quite know what happens next, even when you anticipate something to happen. The characters not only have conflicts with each other but also with themselves. They all deal with it differently. The writing captures this pretty well.
The quote above is from my favorite character, Terry, Vincent's dad. He is only a side character, but a significant one. He is an old man, can't remember what happened 10 minutes ago, but can quote Shakespeare no problem. Weirdly, these lines from Hamlet and Macbeth fit really well into the prose, even though it's a bit of a cliché to use Shakespeare in a book set in London. I liked his pragmatism and the way he handled his situation with some remaining dignity and sarcasm. I kind of wish I had a grandfather like him.
There is a lot to like about Devouring Dark, especially if you are into grimdark (grey characters, making a decision between bad and worse) and dark fantasy. The plot asks for some improvement and some questions remains (not significant questions, but still). Nevertheless, I could hardly put it down and couldn't wait to get back reading it. The atmosphere, the complexity of the characters and the curiosity just sucks you in. Devouring Dark is a gritty, tension filled read from the start until the end.
Suppose you have darkness/shadows (depending on what you call it) living inside of you. Suppose you can release it time to time in one way or another. How would you use it? And if you only had a limited time left before the darkness devours you? Matt decides to use his power to atone for his sin. After leaving behind Scotland he finds a job and a flat in London, settles down, makes friends, and lives a normal life. And deals with paedophiles on the side every once in a while, knowing he can't go on like this forever.
His last hit didn't go exactly as planned, and that's when trouble, parading as Vincent Stratton, finds him. Stratton owns a bar in Camden, has connections everywhere, bosses vulnerable teenage boys around to do his bidding while pretending to care about them, and is practically untouchable. He finds Matt's skill curious and wants to use it no matter the consequences. He is arrogant and a bit narcissistic, sure he can get away with everything. Well, he can, having compromising evidence against almost everyone who counts. Stratton is cunning and makes sure he doesn't leave any traces behind himself. Knowing that, it really doesn't take much for him to get a grip on Matt. But Matt is hard to manipulate. Not having any other chance Matt plays the game, but does everything to be the one who sets the rules. Especially after he bumps into Amy, a palliative nurse who has her own agenda regarding death. She and Matt have to work together if they want to survive another day and get Stratton out of the picture. The odds are against them and time is running out.
Devouring Dark has three main POVs plus one with a side character, all of them written in the 3rd person. We follow Matt, Amy, Vincent Stratton and occasionally Charlie Collins—a detective who has been after Stratton for a while. The plot revolves around the relationships of the characters, but the focus is the cat and mouse play to see who can get the upper hand. London provides the perfect background for this dark and heavy story. Baxter keeps the tension up all the way from the moment the unassuming Matt falls into Vince's trap. Although Matt and Amy seem like normal people, living their everyday lives, underneath it all they hold this secret and try to use their abilities the best way they can, punishing those who seem to be above the law, justifying their acts. Does this make them bad people? Are they any different than Vince, who uses teenage boys to run errands for him, gives them money, food, a place to stay asking for nothing but loyalty and that they don't ask questions? Is he a good man despite his business machinations? What makes someone good or bad? This book won't answer that question for you, but it's interesting how much you can sympathize with someone who takes the path Matt and Amy choose.
"Matt McLeod knew the old adage, that light is supposed to push away the darkness. But he also knew it wasn't true. Light sits on top, like a film of oil on water. The dark is still there underneath, deep, permanent, waiting."
I quite enjoyed this book, despite its flaws. For me, the plot needed a better balance. Charlie's plotline made things really interesting for about half of the book, but then it was abandoned to focus more on Amy and Matt. Probably a better balance between the plotlines and a slightly different ending would have made this book one of the best urban fantasy books I've read. It builds up nicely until about 80%, but then the ending feels a bit rushed and unbelievable, and the revelations aren't all that surprising. What I liked about this book was how real it felt until then. I mean, I can totally imagine there is a guy like Stratton out there, or Amy and Matt minus their abilities, or detective Collins. Not all of them good, but all of them real, whom I could bump into on the streets.
This book is not action packed, but then this book's real strength is in the characters, and although there aren't impressive lengthy fight scenes it doesn't mean it lacks dead bodies. Or tension. You can't quite know what happens next, even when you anticipate something to happen. The characters not only have conflicts with each other but also with themselves. They all deal with it differently. The writing captures this pretty well.
"People could achieve so much, but they're fearful. They let it drag on them and they don't reach their heights. You make sure you don't give in to that kind of fucking inertia."
The quote above is from my favorite character, Terry, Vincent's dad. He is only a side character, but a significant one. He is an old man, can't remember what happened 10 minutes ago, but can quote Shakespeare no problem. Weirdly, these lines from Hamlet and Macbeth fit really well into the prose, even though it's a bit of a cliché to use Shakespeare in a book set in London. I liked his pragmatism and the way he handled his situation with some remaining dignity and sarcasm. I kind of wish I had a grandfather like him.
There is a lot to like about Devouring Dark, especially if you are into grimdark (grey characters, making a decision between bad and worse) and dark fantasy. The plot asks for some improvement and some questions remains (not significant questions, but still). Nevertheless, I could hardly put it down and couldn't wait to get back reading it. The atmosphere, the complexity of the characters and the curiosity just sucks you in. Devouring Dark is a gritty, tension filled read from the start until the end.
March 28, 2019
Imagine a game of speed chess with three players, where the board is London's grimy streets and all the pieces are black. That would be something like reading Alan Baxter's latest novel. There is a young man with a terrible secret. A woman who tends the dying. A professional dealer in death, who takes pride in the different ways he can deliver it. All are on a collision course which could see death unleashed in every direction.
Although this is a tale of supernatural horror, Baxter conveys it with absolute conviction. He introduces one, bizarre element into an otherwise realistic situation and allows things to unfold with an almost crushing logic. Matt, Amy and Vince are none of them fools; nor is the detective who discovers their trail. They are aware that actions have consequences, just as their circumstances and, increasingly, their emotions demand urgent, decisive action. From the first, shocking scene, the stakes are clear and following, the suspense ratchets as high as a detective's blood pressure.
“But forensics said it didn't really bear the hallmarks of burning. More like the body had been drained of all moisture, dessicated like an Egyptian mummy, left somewhere to dry for years on end. But something else had occurred too. A kind of disruption of the flesh and organs on a cellular level. The bones were brittle like chalk...
“It remained an open case, but no one at the station ever expected it to go any further, like so many cold cases, unsolved murders, strange deaths, lost properties. But Charlie had a habit of remembering...”
I said the situation was realistic, but that does not mean bland. There are places in this world, in our society, where many people (authors included) might prefer not to go. Into a hospice, into the room of a man dying of cancer. Into the even more sordid corners of organised crime. Into the orbit of an abused child, who has trusted the wrong person once again. Even an excursion into the rarefied air of money, fame and power can be ugly, once the glamour has worn away. But then, even a street in Camden on a grey afternoon can be terrifying. The key is detail, often slipped in under the guise of something else, that will absolutely explode later on. This is some solid world building and absolutely evil plotting.
A prolific writer of novels, as of short stories, Baxter is known for his masterful combat sequences, that are such a feature of Bound (Alex Caine #1). But here, as in the 2017 novella The Book Club, there is a tremendous concern, and feel, for human connection and what happens in its absence. For me, one of the hardest-hitting scenes was when Amy is forced to tell a patient that his son will not be visiting in the foreseeable future. For we, as readers, have already seen the potential result. For it is there, among the loneliness, anger and despair, that the cracks may form, that let the darkness in. Once that happens, then only love and true friendship stand a chance at saving life and soul, and even then, the price will be high. Sacrifice may be required.
With its intense atmosphere and shredding climax, Devouring Dark shows what can be achieved by eschewing cliché and finding your own way to look fear in the face. Some readers may find it confronting, even difficult in places. But, for those who seek to peer into the darkness (by the light of a good lamp), it is a rewarding experience.
Although this is a tale of supernatural horror, Baxter conveys it with absolute conviction. He introduces one, bizarre element into an otherwise realistic situation and allows things to unfold with an almost crushing logic. Matt, Amy and Vince are none of them fools; nor is the detective who discovers their trail. They are aware that actions have consequences, just as their circumstances and, increasingly, their emotions demand urgent, decisive action. From the first, shocking scene, the stakes are clear and following, the suspense ratchets as high as a detective's blood pressure.
“But forensics said it didn't really bear the hallmarks of burning. More like the body had been drained of all moisture, dessicated like an Egyptian mummy, left somewhere to dry for years on end. But something else had occurred too. A kind of disruption of the flesh and organs on a cellular level. The bones were brittle like chalk...
“It remained an open case, but no one at the station ever expected it to go any further, like so many cold cases, unsolved murders, strange deaths, lost properties. But Charlie had a habit of remembering...”
I said the situation was realistic, but that does not mean bland. There are places in this world, in our society, where many people (authors included) might prefer not to go. Into a hospice, into the room of a man dying of cancer. Into the even more sordid corners of organised crime. Into the orbit of an abused child, who has trusted the wrong person once again. Even an excursion into the rarefied air of money, fame and power can be ugly, once the glamour has worn away. But then, even a street in Camden on a grey afternoon can be terrifying. The key is detail, often slipped in under the guise of something else, that will absolutely explode later on. This is some solid world building and absolutely evil plotting.
A prolific writer of novels, as of short stories, Baxter is known for his masterful combat sequences, that are such a feature of Bound (Alex Caine #1). But here, as in the 2017 novella The Book Club, there is a tremendous concern, and feel, for human connection and what happens in its absence. For me, one of the hardest-hitting scenes was when Amy is forced to tell a patient that his son will not be visiting in the foreseeable future. For we, as readers, have already seen the potential result. For it is there, among the loneliness, anger and despair, that the cracks may form, that let the darkness in. Once that happens, then only love and true friendship stand a chance at saving life and soul, and even then, the price will be high. Sacrifice may be required.
With its intense atmosphere and shredding climax, Devouring Dark shows what can be achieved by eschewing cliché and finding your own way to look fear in the face. Some readers may find it confronting, even difficult in places. But, for those who seek to peer into the darkness (by the light of a good lamp), it is a rewarding experience.
March 26, 2019
Review copy
Killer opening for Alan Baxter's latest novel, Devouring Dark...
"Matt McLeod knew the old adage, that light is supposed to push away the darkness. But he also knew it wasn’t true. Light sits on top, like a film of oil on water. The dark is still there underneath, deep, permanent, waiting. And usually it’s enough, that surface skein of brightness, to keep a soul from the yawning black abyss below. But once the cracks appear, the fall is inevitable. And the darkness devours."
If you have previously read Alan's Australian Shadows Award-Winning short story, "Shadows of the Lonely Dead," you may already be familiar with the overall theme of Devouring Dark. If not, you could do something I never suggest and skip to the end of the book and read that first, or read the book and then discover the short story. Either way, you're in for a treat.
Devouring Dark is full of delightfully rich characters. Matt has a unique talent he uses to eliminate people who deserve to go. Amy Cavendish works at the Sally Gentle Hospice and has a similar talent, but exercises it in a decidedly different way. Then there's Vince Stratton, a mob boss/hitman of sorts. Generally, Matt is very careful about when and where he does what he does, but the one time someone sees him, it's one of Vince's "boys." Now, Vince wants Matt on his crew and he won't take no for an answer.
That should be enough to whet your appetite. Devouring Dark is a brilliant mix of crime and the supernatural. One I won't soon forget.
Recommended.
Published by Grey Matter Press, Devouring Dark, is available in both paperback and e-book formats. Pre-order now and read on November 6th, 2018 https://tinyurl.com/ydcwpb5p
From the author's bio - Alan Baxter is a British-Australian author who writes supernatural thrillers and urban horror, rides a motorcycle and loves his dogs. He also teaches Kung Fu. He lives among dairy paddocks on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales, Australia, with his wife, son, dogs, and cat. He’s the multi-award-winning author of several novels and over seventy short stories and novellas. So far.
Killer opening for Alan Baxter's latest novel, Devouring Dark...
"Matt McLeod knew the old adage, that light is supposed to push away the darkness. But he also knew it wasn’t true. Light sits on top, like a film of oil on water. The dark is still there underneath, deep, permanent, waiting. And usually it’s enough, that surface skein of brightness, to keep a soul from the yawning black abyss below. But once the cracks appear, the fall is inevitable. And the darkness devours."
If you have previously read Alan's Australian Shadows Award-Winning short story, "Shadows of the Lonely Dead," you may already be familiar with the overall theme of Devouring Dark. If not, you could do something I never suggest and skip to the end of the book and read that first, or read the book and then discover the short story. Either way, you're in for a treat.
Devouring Dark is full of delightfully rich characters. Matt has a unique talent he uses to eliminate people who deserve to go. Amy Cavendish works at the Sally Gentle Hospice and has a similar talent, but exercises it in a decidedly different way. Then there's Vince Stratton, a mob boss/hitman of sorts. Generally, Matt is very careful about when and where he does what he does, but the one time someone sees him, it's one of Vince's "boys." Now, Vince wants Matt on his crew and he won't take no for an answer.
That should be enough to whet your appetite. Devouring Dark is a brilliant mix of crime and the supernatural. One I won't soon forget.
Recommended.
Published by Grey Matter Press, Devouring Dark, is available in both paperback and e-book formats. Pre-order now and read on November 6th, 2018 https://tinyurl.com/ydcwpb5p
From the author's bio - Alan Baxter is a British-Australian author who writes supernatural thrillers and urban horror, rides a motorcycle and loves his dogs. He also teaches Kung Fu. He lives among dairy paddocks on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales, Australia, with his wife, son, dogs, and cat. He’s the multi-award-winning author of several novels and over seventy short stories and novellas. So far.
November 7, 2018
*** Edited as review is live on Kendall Reviews!***
Matt McLeod has a problem. Well to be frank, is it a problem or a gift?
Amy Cavendish has a similar problem. In her case, she considers it a gift.
Vincent Stratton, believes he is the one holding together London’s underbelly of gangsters, criminals and thugs. Keeping the streets in check by using his stable of lost boys to keep him abreast of the comings and goings.
Devouring Dark by Alan Baxter is a fascinating character study, following three individuals as their fates intertwine. Baxter does such an amazing job at reducing the supernatural elements to a minimal that when they do rear up and get used, you find yourself yelling at the pages, cheering the characters on.
I personally am not a fan of gangster fiction. In fact I am not even a big fan of gangster related movies. Baxter lays out the details so well and so in tune with the overall story, that you quickly forget about these elements and in turn spend most of your time reading trying to figure out what you think the characters will do next. It is a phenomenal turn for the author to take something I typically wouldn’t sniff at and have me devour (pun intended) it over a few sittings.
The urban horror/urban fantasy aspects are handled by such a master story teller here, that the realistic outcomes at the end made me applaud. Baxter doesn’t let his characters get up and walk away. No this isn’t a video game or action movie. A broken nose or gunshot stays with the character and they need to continue on with it. The depth of imagery used here made many of these scenes stand out.
I recently picked up Manifest Recall by Alan, and after reading this book, I will be jumping in to that tale ASAP. If this book is on your maybe list, I highly suggest you change your mind and check it out. The cover art is gorgeous and the tale inside will have you flipping the pages well into the night.
Matt McLeod has a problem. Well to be frank, is it a problem or a gift?
Amy Cavendish has a similar problem. In her case, she considers it a gift.
Vincent Stratton, believes he is the one holding together London’s underbelly of gangsters, criminals and thugs. Keeping the streets in check by using his stable of lost boys to keep him abreast of the comings and goings.
Devouring Dark by Alan Baxter is a fascinating character study, following three individuals as their fates intertwine. Baxter does such an amazing job at reducing the supernatural elements to a minimal that when they do rear up and get used, you find yourself yelling at the pages, cheering the characters on.
I personally am not a fan of gangster fiction. In fact I am not even a big fan of gangster related movies. Baxter lays out the details so well and so in tune with the overall story, that you quickly forget about these elements and in turn spend most of your time reading trying to figure out what you think the characters will do next. It is a phenomenal turn for the author to take something I typically wouldn’t sniff at and have me devour (pun intended) it over a few sittings.
The urban horror/urban fantasy aspects are handled by such a master story teller here, that the realistic outcomes at the end made me applaud. Baxter doesn’t let his characters get up and walk away. No this isn’t a video game or action movie. A broken nose or gunshot stays with the character and they need to continue on with it. The depth of imagery used here made many of these scenes stand out.
I recently picked up Manifest Recall by Alan, and after reading this book, I will be jumping in to that tale ASAP. If this book is on your maybe list, I highly suggest you change your mind and check it out. The cover art is gorgeous and the tale inside will have you flipping the pages well into the night.
January 3, 2019
Have never read anything I didn't like from this author, and "Devouring Dark" is no exception. What you might think is just an interesting crime thriller has so many other great elements like horror, supernatural and plain excitement.
This book had me wanting to read just one more page before I put it down. Off to find more from the author now!
This book had me wanting to read just one more page before I put it down. Off to find more from the author now!
November 21, 2019
I’ve read and enjoyed several of Alan’s books and always happy to get my hands on another one. Especially when it’s a blend of crime story and horror of the supernatural kind.
Matt has a power. A dark one. He wields it in horrific fashion against those who commit horrendous crimes. Woe to those who deserve his kind of attention. I actually cringed at a scene in the first chapter.
Amy has a special power too. Though she uses it in a completely different way. I appreciated how the author included some things that I often thought about myself. Where and why do we draw the line? She came across as compassionate and brave.
Then there’s the mob boss. This is where the crime part of the story comes in. He knows of Matt’s talents. Seen his work. And wants him to be his assassin. Matt wants nothing to do with him and you can imagine how the mobster responds to his refusal.
Can you call a crime / horror story poetic, maybe even beautiful? You can when the author pens a story like Devouring Dark. Just like the cover, it’s dark yet lovely.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Matt has a power. A dark one. He wields it in horrific fashion against those who commit horrendous crimes. Woe to those who deserve his kind of attention. I actually cringed at a scene in the first chapter.
Amy has a special power too. Though she uses it in a completely different way. I appreciated how the author included some things that I often thought about myself. Where and why do we draw the line? She came across as compassionate and brave.
Then there’s the mob boss. This is where the crime part of the story comes in. He knows of Matt’s talents. Seen his work. And wants him to be his assassin. Matt wants nothing to do with him and you can imagine how the mobster responds to his refusal.
Can you call a crime / horror story poetic, maybe even beautiful? You can when the author pens a story like Devouring Dark. Just like the cover, it’s dark yet lovely.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
May 8, 2019
My first time reading this author, have had this one for awhile and was excited it finally hit the top of my pile. I didn’t know what to expect and as I got into the book it drew me in. Two characters have a unique relationship with death. Matt uses his to take down predators & scumbags while Amy eases the death of the sick & diseased storing their essence within her then delivering it to those she believes are deserving to suffer.
The author delivers great characters, good storyline and invites the reader into the dark and the inevitability of death. This edition held a bonus short story Shadows of the Lonely Dead. He wrote something that resonated with me, “we wouldn’t let our dogs and cats suffer like this but we’ll happily put our parents away to wither and waste into ignominy and despair.” Think on that for awhile!
The author delivers great characters, good storyline and invites the reader into the dark and the inevitability of death. This edition held a bonus short story Shadows of the Lonely Dead. He wrote something that resonated with me, “we wouldn’t let our dogs and cats suffer like this but we’ll happily put our parents away to wither and waste into ignominy and despair.” Think on that for awhile!
February 23, 2020
Succumb to the darkness. Matt battles his inner demons to help extinguish the scourge of the earth. Being recruited by a mob boss, he plans the bosses demise. Very gripping story, found myself entrenched in this book. Start to finish it took me 4 days to finish, enjoyed every twist and turn of Devouring Dark. I highly recommend this book by Alan Baxter as well as many of his other books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2019
With the exception of a few things I disliked, this was an enjoyable anti-hero story that I would like to see continued further. It has also introduced me to Baxter, another new author for my list of important names to remember.
December 18, 2021
Matt can harness the power of death and use it to destroy others (in a fairly gruesome way). He only uses his ability on bad people who in his mind truly deserve to die. A young boy employed by the local mob boss witnesses his ability and the mobster wants to use him as a weapon. Matt is desperate to find a way to get out of this situation. Amy can also harness the power of death in a different way. They are both surprised to discover that there is someone else like them.
I love the premise and thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is gruesome and creepy at times and funny at others. Matt and Amy are fantastic characters and I loved spending time with them. I was up late many times trying to find out what would happen and if Matt and Amy would survive and discover the truth about their abilities and where they came from.
I love the premise and thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is gruesome and creepy at times and funny at others. Matt and Amy are fantastic characters and I loved spending time with them. I was up late many times trying to find out what would happen and if Matt and Amy would survive and discover the truth about their abilities and where they came from.
December 20, 2018
I devoured this book! It grabbed me from the start and held me riveted until the end. I’ve enjoyed quite a few of Baxter’s books, but for me this is the best so far. It’s a gripping, unputdownable urban horror/crime novel, peopled with believable characters on a roller coaster ride. Highly recommend!
November 12, 2020
Alan Baxter’s Devouring Dark introduces us to Matt MacLeod, a man with a strange darkness inside of him. If he goes too long without letting it out, it hurts him. But when he lets it out it also hurts and debilitates him. If he directs the darkness into another person, it kills them, sucking the life from their bodies. He’s spent years finding and investigating terrible people who deserve to die, so that he can kill them with a clear conscience. Now someone saw him kill, and “the Boss,” Vince Stratton, is determined to turn him into a weapon by threatening his family. At the same time, Amy Cavendish, a hospice nurse, gently takes a darkness from the souls of the dying and stores it within her. When she finds someone who deserves a slow death, she equally gently releases the darkness into them, causing them to die of tumors within months. Soon Matt finds himself caught up in a world of mobsters, hit men, and corrupt cops. And at night, Amy sees to the needs of Vince’s father, Terry Stratton, while aware that he’ll be dying soon. Meanwhile, each time Amy uses her abilities, a mysterious dark figure gains solidity and menaces her.
The characters in this novel are wonderful. Amy and Matt make an unusual set of protagonists. Each of them has killed, though of course for only the best of reasons (or so they have decided). Corrupt cop Charlie Collins takes instructions and payments from just about every criminal enterprise in town, but he believes it’s warranted because it supposedly helps him concentrate on catching rapists and murderers who prey on everyday people. Because of the cast of characters, this story becomes a bit of a musing on why people kill, why people might feel they have to kill, whether evil means can be used to do good, and how they justify it to themselves, told within the framework of an unusual and creepy horror/thriller tale. (Without any preachiness or over-ruminating.)
Oh! Apropos of nothing, I love that the cop doesn’t have the stereotypical drinking problem. Instead, he has a cocaine problem (one that he doesn’t see as a problem), and that works very differently!
As always with Baxter books, the pacing is so on-point that you won’t even notice it. It’s a smooth-as-silk ride that builds up into wildness. The question of how our protagonists gained their mysterious “abilities” (curses?) gets some satisfaction, but not entirely, so it isn’t quite wrapped up in a bow. I thought we got just enough detail there, and it definitely changes some things.
All in all this is a great story of how cosmic horror can touch two small lives and spread outward from there.
Content note: briefly touches on the subject of child molestation and rape.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/11/r...
The characters in this novel are wonderful. Amy and Matt make an unusual set of protagonists. Each of them has killed, though of course for only the best of reasons (or so they have decided). Corrupt cop Charlie Collins takes instructions and payments from just about every criminal enterprise in town, but he believes it’s warranted because it supposedly helps him concentrate on catching rapists and murderers who prey on everyday people. Because of the cast of characters, this story becomes a bit of a musing on why people kill, why people might feel they have to kill, whether evil means can be used to do good, and how they justify it to themselves, told within the framework of an unusual and creepy horror/thriller tale. (Without any preachiness or over-ruminating.)
Oh! Apropos of nothing, I love that the cop doesn’t have the stereotypical drinking problem. Instead, he has a cocaine problem (one that he doesn’t see as a problem), and that works very differently!
As always with Baxter books, the pacing is so on-point that you won’t even notice it. It’s a smooth-as-silk ride that builds up into wildness. The question of how our protagonists gained their mysterious “abilities” (curses?) gets some satisfaction, but not entirely, so it isn’t quite wrapped up in a bow. I thought we got just enough detail there, and it definitely changes some things.
All in all this is a great story of how cosmic horror can touch two small lives and spread outward from there.
Content note: briefly touches on the subject of child molestation and rape.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/11/r...
February 19, 2019
I've been a fan of Alan Baxter since reading the Alex Caine novels and have since read most of his novel length work. I really enjoy the fast paced action and supernatural horror that he weaves together so well, keeping you turning the pages and cheering on the heroes.
I was expecting much the same from Devouring Dark, and whilst I certainly wasn't disappointed, there is plenty of the above, what I found was something deeper, more involving and ultimately even more satisfying than his previous, very entertaining novels.
The main protagonist is a fairly unassuming guy with a dark power that is slowly killing him, fairly standard stuff for this genre. However Baxter then weaves that with second protagonist with something similar but coming from an entirely different place, a palliative care nurse helping people exit this life and taking a little bit of their passing with her. Add in a gangster who is convinced he isn't one, a sprinkle of other characters who are anything but cardboard cutouts, and you have a thoroughly entertaining and somewhat disturbing tale.
As a bonus, my copy included the Australian Shadows Award winning short story Shadows of the Lonely Dead. This is the prequel to Devouring Dark and it was interesting to see where the original idea came from and where Baxter took it from there.
Baxter has taken a step forward with this novel, it offers something deeper and more profound than his previous works.
Highly recommended.
I was expecting much the same from Devouring Dark, and whilst I certainly wasn't disappointed, there is plenty of the above, what I found was something deeper, more involving and ultimately even more satisfying than his previous, very entertaining novels.
The main protagonist is a fairly unassuming guy with a dark power that is slowly killing him, fairly standard stuff for this genre. However Baxter then weaves that with second protagonist with something similar but coming from an entirely different place, a palliative care nurse helping people exit this life and taking a little bit of their passing with her. Add in a gangster who is convinced he isn't one, a sprinkle of other characters who are anything but cardboard cutouts, and you have a thoroughly entertaining and somewhat disturbing tale.
As a bonus, my copy included the Australian Shadows Award winning short story Shadows of the Lonely Dead. This is the prequel to Devouring Dark and it was interesting to see where the original idea came from and where Baxter took it from there.
Baxter has taken a step forward with this novel, it offers something deeper and more profound than his previous works.
Highly recommended.
March 5, 2019
Alan Baxter's Devouring Dark is a riveting tale of crime, guilt, death and punishment, set in London's urban sprawl.
Matt McLeod is a Scot who works in a factory, and his small guilt-wracked body contains a darkness, the power of death itself. He can choose to kill with a touch, and is on a path, a fine line between seeking redemption and self-destruction.
Vince Stratton is a pub owner and enterpreneur. He is engaged in a lot of dodgy dealings and has a lot of secrets.
Amy Cavendish is a palliative care nurse from Sydney. Like Matt, she is also far too familiar with death and is on her own mission to deliver it to deserving people.
Charlie Collins is a cop, a little bent - but then, aren't all the best ones? Collins has long wanted to put Stratton away, and when a strangely blackened corpse shows up, he just knows Stratton has something to do with it.
Their world collide in this dark tale. If any are lucky enough to make it out alive, they'll be forever changed. And forever scarred.
I really enjoyed this engaging story. The characters were excellent, relatable, believable. I love books where the characters aren't clear-cut good or bad, but have both positive and negative traits. And Baxter created a real sense of danger and increasing urgency as the tale approached the end.
I don't like to put spoilers in my reviews, so if you want to find out what happens, I urge you to read it yourself! I recommend Devouring Dark to anyone tho likes gritty and dark tales.
Matt McLeod is a Scot who works in a factory, and his small guilt-wracked body contains a darkness, the power of death itself. He can choose to kill with a touch, and is on a path, a fine line between seeking redemption and self-destruction.
Vince Stratton is a pub owner and enterpreneur. He is engaged in a lot of dodgy dealings and has a lot of secrets.
Amy Cavendish is a palliative care nurse from Sydney. Like Matt, she is also far too familiar with death and is on her own mission to deliver it to deserving people.
Charlie Collins is a cop, a little bent - but then, aren't all the best ones? Collins has long wanted to put Stratton away, and when a strangely blackened corpse shows up, he just knows Stratton has something to do with it.
Their world collide in this dark tale. If any are lucky enough to make it out alive, they'll be forever changed. And forever scarred.
I really enjoyed this engaging story. The characters were excellent, relatable, believable. I love books where the characters aren't clear-cut good or bad, but have both positive and negative traits. And Baxter created a real sense of danger and increasing urgency as the tale approached the end.
I don't like to put spoilers in my reviews, so if you want to find out what happens, I urge you to read it yourself! I recommend Devouring Dark to anyone tho likes gritty and dark tales.
November 28, 2018
This book is one of those books that you keep thinking about even when you aren't reading it. It gets into your head and you are wondering what is happening and where the story is going even when you aren't able to read. I found myself snatching a couple of pages here and there while my wife was trying on clothes at the shops. I felt like a drug addict. Just needing one more fix, then I'll be ok and I can stop reading.
The book itself is dark and gritty. The characters are rounded and interesting. Weaving a thrilling supernatural story around death and dying. Philosophical ideas are woven into the story about the nature of death and the existence of good and evil and the great leveler that we are all mortal. It feels like a Guy Ritchie movie with and eldritch twist. Snatch meets Clive Barker.
I can stop reading Alan Baxter any time I like. I don't have a problem...maybe just one more chapter?
The book itself is dark and gritty. The characters are rounded and interesting. Weaving a thrilling supernatural story around death and dying. Philosophical ideas are woven into the story about the nature of death and the existence of good and evil and the great leveler that we are all mortal. It feels like a Guy Ritchie movie with and eldritch twist. Snatch meets Clive Barker.
I can stop reading Alan Baxter any time I like. I don't have a problem...maybe just one more chapter?
November 10, 2018
The title could hardly be more apt!
This supernatural horror/urban fantasy pits a desperate man with a dark ability those against some savvy and heavy handed criminals.
Matt McLeod is trying to make do while doing some good with his dark gift, or curse.
He can help rid the world of some of its more evil elements but, when when someone witnesses his power, he is forced to help a criminal or face the consequences.
Enter Amy, an Aussie nurse who has her own (dark) secret and gets enmeshed in Matt’s troubles.
It’s a fast and thrilling ride through London and its underbelly, filled with supernatural, dark and foreboding powers, where some have to fight tooth an nail just to stay afloat. You are never sure where this dark tale may take you and who (or what) might win.
A thrilling must-read from the darker shelves of your bookstore.
This supernatural horror/urban fantasy pits a desperate man with a dark ability those against some savvy and heavy handed criminals.
Matt McLeod is trying to make do while doing some good with his dark gift, or curse.
He can help rid the world of some of its more evil elements but, when when someone witnesses his power, he is forced to help a criminal or face the consequences.
Enter Amy, an Aussie nurse who has her own (dark) secret and gets enmeshed in Matt’s troubles.
It’s a fast and thrilling ride through London and its underbelly, filled with supernatural, dark and foreboding powers, where some have to fight tooth an nail just to stay afloat. You are never sure where this dark tale may take you and who (or what) might win.
A thrilling must-read from the darker shelves of your bookstore.
February 25, 2019
While not a genre I often read I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I devoured it (hehe) within a few days and it only took that long as we were moving while I was trying to read.
I loved the concept of darkness that Baxter explored. Using it as a weapon and yet having it manifest in different ways between the two main characters was very clever.
I'm unsure if there are plans for this to be a series or not but I certainly hope so. While it finished well enough to be a stand-a-lone I still have questions. I want more Amy and Matt. More details into how their dark powers grow and evolve.
This is the first of Baxter's books I have read but I liked it so much I'm going to be adding the rest to my to be read pile for sure.
I devoured it (hehe) within a few days and it only took that long as we were moving while I was trying to read.
I loved the concept of darkness that Baxter explored. Using it as a weapon and yet having it manifest in different ways between the two main characters was very clever.
I'm unsure if there are plans for this to be a series or not but I certainly hope so. While it finished well enough to be a stand-a-lone I still have questions. I want more Amy and Matt. More details into how their dark powers grow and evolve.
This is the first of Baxter's books I have read but I liked it so much I'm going to be adding the rest to my to be read pile for sure.
July 28, 2019
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Al’s work; I have been for a long time.
But there’s something in his latest works that are different.
I don’t know what it is, but something has shifted in the nature of his stories. They’re darker, more visceral. They have more soul than his early works.
It is easy to ascribe this to the natural development of an author. But I think that it’s more likely that something has shifted in Al personally; he’s unlocked, perhaps, something deeper in himself, and that it’s this that’s giving his character more depth and shape.
In any case, you have to fucking read this book. I’m not going to tell you anything about it. Just read it, please.
It’s fucking amazing.
But there’s something in his latest works that are different.
I don’t know what it is, but something has shifted in the nature of his stories. They’re darker, more visceral. They have more soul than his early works.
It is easy to ascribe this to the natural development of an author. But I think that it’s more likely that something has shifted in Al personally; he’s unlocked, perhaps, something deeper in himself, and that it’s this that’s giving his character more depth and shape.
In any case, you have to fucking read this book. I’m not going to tell you anything about it. Just read it, please.
It’s fucking amazing.
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