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The Anomaly Files #2
The Possession
Still recovering from the shocking revelations they uncovered deep in uncharted territory in the Grand Canyon, American myth and legend investigator Nolan Moore and his team take on a new mission, investigating a rumored case of witchcraft and possession.
Nolan hopes their new case, in a quaint village in the middle of the woods, will prove much more like those he and his team investigated prior to their trip to Kincaid's cavern. But as the residents accounts of strange phenomena add up, Nolan and company begin to suspect something all too real and dangerous may be at play. A force that may not be willing to let them escape the village unscathed.
Nolan hopes their new case, in a quaint village in the middle of the woods, will prove much more like those he and his team investigated prior to their trip to Kincaid's cavern. But as the residents accounts of strange phenomena add up, Nolan and company begin to suspect something all too real and dangerous may be at play. A force that may not be willing to let them escape the village unscathed.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2019
146 people are currently reading
3577 people want to read
About the author
Michael Rutger
5 books413 followersMichael Rutger is a screenwriter whose work has been optioned by major Hollywood studios. He lives in California with his wife and son.
Michael Rutger is a pen name for internationally bestselling author Michael Marshall.
Michael Rutger is a pen name for internationally bestselling author Michael Marshall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 417 reviews
June 11, 2019
Now the blurb for The Possession doesn't give you much to work on. A missing girl. Mysterious stone walls that defy explanation. Someone or something's clearly getting possessed. That's it. And if that's all you want to know, don't read any further than this paragraph. I'm not about to spoil anything, but there might be a few more hints hidden in my words than the book's teaser of a description. What I will say here is that this book is scary as hell and even funnier than that. If you have a chance to request it for review, go for it! It's proper entertainment.
So, for those that want to know more let me say that it's kinda like The Craft vs The Mist, with an ending reminiscent of a horror version of Inception. Everything about this seemed written specifically to scare me personally. In fact, the first half freaked me out so badly that I had to stay up past midnight to finish. Hoping, as is so often the case, that once I knew what was going on, it wouldn't be as scary. Well, that mostly worked. The first part is all about the rising tension and threatening atmosphere, with an additional splash of jump scare. The second is full on batshit crazy. Both sections worked for me, but the earlier bits are exceptional, quickly provoking a genuine fear of shadows and a serious aversion to looking in the bathroom mirror.
But what really makes the book is the team. Nolan, Ken, and the rest of the crew are back to investigate another 'mysterious' case for their YouTube series, cue Twilight Zone music. As you can imagine, everything gets a little out of hand. I said in my review of The Anomaly that Michael Rutger gets the tone and the humour exactly right, and that holds true here. It's so perfectly balanced, heart and horror, laugh out loud moments in the midst of terror. It's snarky and true and it makes everything feel possible..... The author doesn't get lost in the theatricals. It's not full of big pronouncements and gung-ho melodrama. Instead, this is a bunch of normal people dealing with a really shit situation. Again. It could be me and my friends. It could be you...
And that's precisely why it's the kind of book that makes you legitimately consider sleeping with the lights on.
If you want to feel like your heart is stuck in a vice and that there's probably something creeping in the shadows about to leap out and devour you at ANY TIME, this is the book for you.
If you want to belly laugh and chuckle uneasily and grimace a little and grit your teeth, then this is the book for you.
If you never want to leave the safe haven of your house and investigate mysteries because they're stupid and dangerous and people die, this is the book for you.
If you want to understand why Nolan Moore should never be your friend, family, or work colleague, this book is for you....
Most of all, if you want to find an author who plays on your darkest fears to give you an electrifyingly fear filled read, then this is the book for you.
I can't wait to see what trouble they get into next. It can't be any worse than this, right? RIGHT?
ARC via Netgalley
So, for those that want to know more let me say that it's kinda like The Craft vs The Mist, with an ending reminiscent of a horror version of Inception. Everything about this seemed written specifically to scare me personally. In fact, the first half freaked me out so badly that I had to stay up past midnight to finish. Hoping, as is so often the case, that once I knew what was going on, it wouldn't be as scary. Well, that mostly worked. The first part is all about the rising tension and threatening atmosphere, with an additional splash of jump scare. The second is full on batshit crazy. Both sections worked for me, but the earlier bits are exceptional, quickly provoking a genuine fear of shadows and a serious aversion to looking in the bathroom mirror.
But what really makes the book is the team. Nolan, Ken, and the rest of the crew are back to investigate another 'mysterious' case for their YouTube series, cue Twilight Zone music. As you can imagine, everything gets a little out of hand. I said in my review of The Anomaly that Michael Rutger gets the tone and the humour exactly right, and that holds true here. It's so perfectly balanced, heart and horror, laugh out loud moments in the midst of terror. It's snarky and true and it makes everything feel possible..... The author doesn't get lost in the theatricals. It's not full of big pronouncements and gung-ho melodrama. Instead, this is a bunch of normal people dealing with a really shit situation. Again. It could be me and my friends. It could be you...
And that's precisely why it's the kind of book that makes you legitimately consider sleeping with the lights on.
If you want to feel like your heart is stuck in a vice and that there's probably something creeping in the shadows about to leap out and devour you at ANY TIME, this is the book for you.
If you want to belly laugh and chuckle uneasily and grimace a little and grit your teeth, then this is the book for you.
If you never want to leave the safe haven of your house and investigate mysteries because they're stupid and dangerous and people die, this is the book for you.
If you want to understand why Nolan Moore should never be your friend, family, or work colleague, this book is for you....
Most of all, if you want to find an author who plays on your darkest fears to give you an electrifyingly fear filled read, then this is the book for you.
I can't wait to see what trouble they get into next. It can't be any worse than this, right? RIGHT?
ARC via Netgalley
August 17, 2019
I read The Anomaly, this book’s successor, back-to-back with this one, and I reviewed them together on instagram. From my thoughts:
I found each book creepy, gripping, fast-paced, a touch campy, and completely original. There’s adventure and tons of interest. Nolan Moore, one of the main characters, is an archaeologist with a docuseries, which always fascinates me. There’s tons of atmosphere, and overall, both books are compelling and so vividly real I thought it all was truly happening all around me. Reading these two books was an experience!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
I found each book creepy, gripping, fast-paced, a touch campy, and completely original. There’s adventure and tons of interest. Nolan Moore, one of the main characters, is an archaeologist with a docuseries, which always fascinates me. There’s tons of atmosphere, and overall, both books are compelling and so vividly real I thought it all was truly happening all around me. Reading these two books was an experience!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
January 11, 2021
"When you're not distracted by all the things you can see, it's easier to feel the presence of things that you can't."
This is the second instalment in The Anomaly Files series.
Nolan is the presenter for the seemingly doomed Youtube docuseries, The Anomaly Files, and their latest exploration seems to be following this trend. He brings his tribe of creators to a rural and unnoteworthy town to inspect the inexplicable ancient walls that line the bordering woodland. As curious as the mystery surrounding their creation might be, their latest episode is set to be another flop unless they can unearth some compelling narrative that is linked to them. Unluckily for them, they do.
This was another clever and engrossing read. I'm beginning to realise that this particular brand of mystery/sci-fi/horror is my favourite as it balances the inexplicable and chilling with the realistic and well-researched.
The setting only added to the believability of the events that occurred, as they were carefully crafted to ensure I could picture each scene in perfect vividity, even when the suspense grew and doing so was the furthest thing from what I actually wanted. This gloomy, tree-bordered town provided the most apt setting for terror-inducing, late-night reading.
Asides from the ever increasing threads of horror and suspense that run throughout the entire book, it was the characters that kept me reading. Nolan, Ken, Molly, and Pierre exemplify just why friendship groups in fiction, especially dysfunctional ones, are my favourite. I don't know what I adored most about them; the witty banter, the inside jokes, the petulant bickering, the ceaseless loyalty, or the evident love they all shared.
This was another faultless instalment in what is fast becoming one of the most fun, fast-paced, and chilling series I have ever experienced. Please let a third book be set for release, sometime soon!
This is the second instalment in The Anomaly Files series.
Nolan is the presenter for the seemingly doomed Youtube docuseries, The Anomaly Files, and their latest exploration seems to be following this trend. He brings his tribe of creators to a rural and unnoteworthy town to inspect the inexplicable ancient walls that line the bordering woodland. As curious as the mystery surrounding their creation might be, their latest episode is set to be another flop unless they can unearth some compelling narrative that is linked to them. Unluckily for them, they do.
This was another clever and engrossing read. I'm beginning to realise that this particular brand of mystery/sci-fi/horror is my favourite as it balances the inexplicable and chilling with the realistic and well-researched.
The setting only added to the believability of the events that occurred, as they were carefully crafted to ensure I could picture each scene in perfect vividity, even when the suspense grew and doing so was the furthest thing from what I actually wanted. This gloomy, tree-bordered town provided the most apt setting for terror-inducing, late-night reading.
Asides from the ever increasing threads of horror and suspense that run throughout the entire book, it was the characters that kept me reading. Nolan, Ken, Molly, and Pierre exemplify just why friendship groups in fiction, especially dysfunctional ones, are my favourite. I don't know what I adored most about them; the witty banter, the inside jokes, the petulant bickering, the ceaseless loyalty, or the evident love they all shared.
This was another faultless instalment in what is fast becoming one of the most fun, fast-paced, and chilling series I have ever experienced. Please let a third book be set for release, sometime soon!
November 3, 2019
2/5 stars
"To outrun the monster, you don't have to be the fastest. Just the second slowest. You're my safety mechanism".
Earlier this year, I picked up a thriller from a bargain-bin at the bookstore, based on nothing but an intriguing synopsis. It ended up being one of the most thrilling supernatural thrillers I’ve read to date. That book was The Anomaly by Michael Rutger, so when I found out there was a sequel on the way, in the form of The Possession, I knew I had to give that one a try as well. Unfortunately, with this novel, Michael Rutger went from one of the biggest surprises of the year, to one of the biggest disappointments, as I really didn’t enjoy The Possession.
The Possession picks up after the events in the Grand Canyon, with the team looking for a new case for their web-documentary The Anomaly Files. They find just what they’re looking for in the mystery surrounding a small village where strange phenomena seem to pile up. From the mysterious walls that seem to appear and disappear randomly throughout the surrounding forest, to a girl who went missing only to return under equally puzzling circumstances… The team may (again) have gotten in over their heads.
I enjoyed the story, the setting and the suspense of The Possession just fine. Both the setting and the plot are nothing we haven’t seen before, but are executed well and make for quite the page turner. I talked about Michael Rutgers knack for “cinematic writing” in my review of The Anomaly, and the same certainly holds true for its sequel as well.
The best about this sequel for me was the return to Nolan and his team, as I grew to love them and their witty, sarcastic banter over the course of the these books. The return of these characters, unfortunately also relates my disappointment with the novel:
This book works just fine on its own. It just doesn’t work as a sequel to The Anomaly.
Beware minor spoilers for The Anomaly from this point on.
Nolan and his team suffered horrific traumas during the events in the Grand Canyon. They went through terror beyond belief (both individually as well as as a group), they encountered things they didn’t even know could exist, and even lost friends in the caves. Experiences like that are bound to have repercussions, yet for these characters, they have none. In fact, The Possession ignores everything that happened before it, thereby trivializing the entirety of its predecessor in the process. Not only was there no sign of PTSD/grief/etc., all of the characters started off in the exact same place they were at the start of The Anomaly, undoing all the character growth since then. This made the two feel very incongruent.
The same problem extends to the worldbuilding. Both novels are rooted in the real world, with an added supernatural element. However, these supernatural elements are so different between the two novels, that it doesn’t feel like they belong in the same worldbuilding. Whilst The Anomaly’s mystery had a core in science-fiction and biology, The Possession has the same characters encounter straight up magic and ghosts. The Anomaly was more of an “Indiana-Jones-Meets-X-files”, where The Possession is more like “The-Craft-meets-The-Mist”… You might be able to see how those two feel mismatched in the same universe…
Although I was quite disappointed in The Possession, I still really enjoy the style of these stories and their witty cast, and I hope we’ll return to them in a third entry in the series. My only wish is that this becomes a series, rather than a set of separate-feeling novels that happen to share a cast…
"To outrun the monster, you don't have to be the fastest. Just the second slowest. You're my safety mechanism".
Earlier this year, I picked up a thriller from a bargain-bin at the bookstore, based on nothing but an intriguing synopsis. It ended up being one of the most thrilling supernatural thrillers I’ve read to date. That book was The Anomaly by Michael Rutger, so when I found out there was a sequel on the way, in the form of The Possession, I knew I had to give that one a try as well. Unfortunately, with this novel, Michael Rutger went from one of the biggest surprises of the year, to one of the biggest disappointments, as I really didn’t enjoy The Possession.
The Possession picks up after the events in the Grand Canyon, with the team looking for a new case for their web-documentary The Anomaly Files. They find just what they’re looking for in the mystery surrounding a small village where strange phenomena seem to pile up. From the mysterious walls that seem to appear and disappear randomly throughout the surrounding forest, to a girl who went missing only to return under equally puzzling circumstances… The team may (again) have gotten in over their heads.
I enjoyed the story, the setting and the suspense of The Possession just fine. Both the setting and the plot are nothing we haven’t seen before, but are executed well and make for quite the page turner. I talked about Michael Rutgers knack for “cinematic writing” in my review of The Anomaly, and the same certainly holds true for its sequel as well.
The best about this sequel for me was the return to Nolan and his team, as I grew to love them and their witty, sarcastic banter over the course of the these books. The return of these characters, unfortunately also relates my disappointment with the novel:
This book works just fine on its own. It just doesn’t work as a sequel to The Anomaly.
Beware minor spoilers for The Anomaly from this point on.
Nolan and his team suffered horrific traumas during the events in the Grand Canyon. They went through terror beyond belief (both individually as well as as a group), they encountered things they didn’t even know could exist, and even lost friends in the caves. Experiences like that are bound to have repercussions, yet for these characters, they have none. In fact, The Possession ignores everything that happened before it, thereby trivializing the entirety of its predecessor in the process. Not only was there no sign of PTSD/grief/etc., all of the characters started off in the exact same place they were at the start of The Anomaly, undoing all the character growth since then. This made the two feel very incongruent.
The same problem extends to the worldbuilding. Both novels are rooted in the real world, with an added supernatural element. However, these supernatural elements are so different between the two novels, that it doesn’t feel like they belong in the same worldbuilding. Whilst The Anomaly’s mystery had a core in science-fiction and biology, The Possession has the same characters encounter straight up magic and ghosts. The Anomaly was more of an “Indiana-Jones-Meets-X-files”, where The Possession is more like “The-Craft-meets-The-Mist”… You might be able to see how those two feel mismatched in the same universe…
Although I was quite disappointed in The Possession, I still really enjoy the style of these stories and their witty cast, and I hope we’ll return to them in a third entry in the series. My only wish is that this becomes a series, rather than a set of separate-feeling novels that happen to share a cast…
September 5, 2019
This was truly disappointing. What the fuck. I absolutely loved Rutgers first book in the series, The Anomaly, it was one of my favorite books of last year and I was so pumped for the “sequel” but this was just... a mess. It starts off with a lot of potential, the writing is good, the general outline of the story is intriguing but I’d say once you hit at least part two things go downhill. Fast.
I didn’t like the addition of Kristy, Nolan’s ex-wife, she was incredibly self absorbed and uninteresting. There’s so much of the story in her point of view yet I didn’t connect with her at all. I was sort of pissed with how much this became about her.
Also don’t get me started on how they pretty much didn’t talk about what happened in the Grand Canyon... like AT ALL. A PERSON DIED. and they just mention it like “whatever we’re not gonna dwell on it.” Oh and none of them seem at all effected by what happened like I was expecting some PTSD or something but nope they’re totally fine and unchanged.
It was just very discombobulated and I’m not sure exactly what the plot was really. It lost its way big time. Like it gets very messy and disconnected and people are getting knocked out and dreaming and then they’re awake but oh no there still dreaming... I was like eh is it over yet?? I didn’t care anymore and I pretty much skim read the last 30%.
So I’d recommend only reading the first book because that one actually scared me, it was fast paced, and stuck to the plot. (It can be read as a stand-alone)
I didn’t like the addition of Kristy, Nolan’s ex-wife, she was incredibly self absorbed and uninteresting. There’s so much of the story in her point of view yet I didn’t connect with her at all. I was sort of pissed with how much this became about her.
Also don’t get me started on how they pretty much didn’t talk about what happened in the Grand Canyon... like AT ALL. A PERSON DIED. and they just mention it like “whatever we’re not gonna dwell on it.” Oh and none of them seem at all effected by what happened like I was expecting some PTSD or something but nope they’re totally fine and unchanged.
It was just very discombobulated and I’m not sure exactly what the plot was really. It lost its way big time. Like it gets very messy and disconnected and people are getting knocked out and dreaming and then they’re awake but oh no there still dreaming... I was like eh is it over yet?? I didn’t care anymore and I pretty much skim read the last 30%.
So I’d recommend only reading the first book because that one actually scared me, it was fast paced, and stuck to the plot. (It can be read as a stand-alone)
August 25, 2020
Honestly? I loved this a lot, but it’s extremely different than the first in the series so I get the polarized rating. If you like creeping and constant suspense, this is the book for you.
Characters: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★
Suspense: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★
A note, as this is a series: The Possession is technically a sequel to The Anomaly, but to be honest it's a clear standalone and follows a very different horror template, so don't let that stop you. Jump right in to this one if you haven't read the first one, and if you've read The Anomaly....don't go in to this book expecting the same type of horror.
Our motley crew of documentary filmmakers are still recovering from the aftershocks of being trapped in a horror cave in the Grand Canyon, but the show must go on so they're still looking for new unsolved mysteries to film for their YouTube series, The Anomaly Files.
Nolan Moore, the documentary's face and head of research, has found something interesting: a bunch of stone walls, at varying heights and clearly man-made, spread throughout the United States that pre-date the settlers and pre-date the Native Americans that used walled structures. (Ok, you’re right, that sounds super boring - maybe it's just something that's interesting to him.) In typical Nolan fashion, he's curious about these walls. Why were they made? Why does no one care? How old are they? What were they supposed to keep out?
The rest of the documentary crew isn't convinced, but it sounds low risk and that's all that matters to them now—no more caves, forever, for them. They head to Birchlake, a small town near-ish to the confirmed Google Maps location of a few walls.
Coincidentally—or, maybe intentionally—Nolan's ex-wife, Kristy, is investigating a missing persons case in Birchlake. A girl disappeared there two weeks ago and hasn't been found. As Kristy tries to dig to the truth, the town of Birchlake starts to get...odd.
Nolan and Kristy's plots intersect in Birchlake and they realize that their two separate quests might not be that separate after all....and something is watching them.
And then the missing girl reappears. And things get wacky.
What I liked:
The spot on suspense. This is a slowly-paced horror novel that makes you feel every minute of its tension. Considering the first novel in the series was a wham-bam action horror, this was an interesting change of pace. I loved it, as it was still good, but I can see why we'd lose some folks right away with this bait and switch. The characters, again! Ken is my favorite still with his humor, but the entire team was still fantastic and I loved their approach to each situation. And, maybe controversially, I enjoyed the ending! It was weird, but at the same time you've got to remember how crazy outlandish The Anomaly was, so this was of a similar bent, just in a different context.
What I didn't like:
Kristy. I completely understand why she was included, and her presence is significant, but I just didn't jive with her POV and didn't appreciate how she changed the vibe of the Anomaly Files team—and took away the air time from Ken, who is the LOL humor in this. Hoping that this was her only appearance in the series, to be honest. I also struggled with the pacing a bit. Even though I knew this was a slow burn, small town horror, I still found myself trying to get the pages to turn faster for the first section. This might have been due to the large Kristy POV portions, or just the lack of of propelling narrative at the beginning. Either way, this issue was fixed by the middle so it wasn't a huge deal.
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Characters: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★
Suspense: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★
A note, as this is a series: The Possession is technically a sequel to The Anomaly, but to be honest it's a clear standalone and follows a very different horror template, so don't let that stop you. Jump right in to this one if you haven't read the first one, and if you've read The Anomaly....don't go in to this book expecting the same type of horror.
Our motley crew of documentary filmmakers are still recovering from the aftershocks of being trapped in a horror cave in the Grand Canyon, but the show must go on so they're still looking for new unsolved mysteries to film for their YouTube series, The Anomaly Files.
Nolan Moore, the documentary's face and head of research, has found something interesting: a bunch of stone walls, at varying heights and clearly man-made, spread throughout the United States that pre-date the settlers and pre-date the Native Americans that used walled structures. (Ok, you’re right, that sounds super boring - maybe it's just something that's interesting to him.) In typical Nolan fashion, he's curious about these walls. Why were they made? Why does no one care? How old are they? What were they supposed to keep out?
The rest of the documentary crew isn't convinced, but it sounds low risk and that's all that matters to them now—no more caves, forever, for them. They head to Birchlake, a small town near-ish to the confirmed Google Maps location of a few walls.
Coincidentally—or, maybe intentionally—Nolan's ex-wife, Kristy, is investigating a missing persons case in Birchlake. A girl disappeared there two weeks ago and hasn't been found. As Kristy tries to dig to the truth, the town of Birchlake starts to get...odd.
Nolan and Kristy's plots intersect in Birchlake and they realize that their two separate quests might not be that separate after all....and something is watching them.
And then the missing girl reappears. And things get wacky.
What I liked:
The spot on suspense. This is a slowly-paced horror novel that makes you feel every minute of its tension. Considering the first novel in the series was a wham-bam action horror, this was an interesting change of pace. I loved it, as it was still good, but I can see why we'd lose some folks right away with this bait and switch. The characters, again! Ken is my favorite still with his humor, but the entire team was still fantastic and I loved their approach to each situation. And, maybe controversially, I enjoyed the ending! It was weird, but at the same time you've got to remember how crazy outlandish The Anomaly was, so this was of a similar bent, just in a different context.
What I didn't like:
Kristy. I completely understand why she was included, and her presence is significant, but I just didn't jive with her POV and didn't appreciate how she changed the vibe of the Anomaly Files team—and took away the air time from Ken, who is the LOL humor in this. Hoping that this was her only appearance in the series, to be honest. I also struggled with the pacing a bit. Even though I knew this was a slow burn, small town horror, I still found myself trying to get the pages to turn faster for the first section. This might have been due to the large Kristy POV portions, or just the lack of of propelling narrative at the beginning. Either way, this issue was fixed by the middle so it wasn't a huge deal.
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May 16, 2020
This was my first taste of YouTuber Nolan Moore and his Anomaly Files and has made me want to seek out the first in the series.
The team are investigating a mysterious stone wall in the remote town of Birchlake.
Whilst their Nolan discovers that a teenage girl has gone missing, surely their must be a link?
Even though this is the second book in the series, I found it really easy to connect with Nolan and the rest of his team.
The mystery and tension nicely builds during the first half of the novel as the reader is slowly drawn in...
A really good strong mixture of humour and horror.
The team are investigating a mysterious stone wall in the remote town of Birchlake.
Whilst their Nolan discovers that a teenage girl has gone missing, surely their must be a link?
Even though this is the second book in the series, I found it really easy to connect with Nolan and the rest of his team.
The mystery and tension nicely builds during the first half of the novel as the reader is slowly drawn in...
A really good strong mixture of humour and horror.
July 31, 2019
I loved the first book and this was a huge disappointment after that. I was really looking forward to this one so it's really sad I didn't like this at all.
October 10, 2019
So creepy! Possession, witches, and spooky scenery makes for a great creepy book for Halloween season.
July 20, 2019
The Anomaly Files is back! The gang – Nolan, Ken, Molly and Pierre – are looking for their next big show, and they find it in a little town where a teenage girl has gone missing. This town is plagued with inexplicable occurrences that increase in menace, leaving the team with one agenda: getting out alive.
This was a weird one for me. I enjoyed it, but I was also disappointed with it too. I was really into getting into this sequel, but toward the end at about 70%, it went pear shaped and felt rather anticlimactic.
The Possession went out of its way to mention very little of the events in The Anomaly – literally, between the characters, its only mentioned in a couple of throwaway sentences, here and there. So, if you’re wanting to read this as a standalone, it will probably work, bearing in mind the odd detail from the first book. Unfortunately… this approach didn’t work for me, having read the first book. It removed that comradery and shared trauma sentiment between the characters and the reader, like we’d been in it together and we just don’t talk about almost life ending drama.
But like The Anomaly, the characters are at the heart of the book. Ken is one of the funniest characters I've read - I love his rugged sense of humour. As soon as his first dialogue came up, I was smiling. I felt like I was reunited with a friend I'd not seen in a while. All of the character interactions (but especially Ken’s) brought the same mirth and entertainment delivered in the first book.
The other big issue was I felt too much of the story focused on a philosophical debate centred on science vs. supernatural. Ultimately, yes, it tied into the overall story, but it was a chore to read with the amount of emphasis given to it, when the ultimate answer was clear before the story even began. The "Anomaly" Files either implied or guaranteed that.
Due to this, the plot unravelled with a veil of vagueness and confusion, that unfortunately for me, let this down. I found myself repeatedly reading pages whereby the end of the chapters, I was saying to myself, "wait, what’re you [the author] trying to say here?"
It just wasn’t clear enough. It reads like trying to see through fogged up glasses - you can’t get a sense of what’s in front of you.
I felt this issue was due to a conflicting approach in how the story was told. It’s narrated through a lense of "science answers all", but the story that's attempting to be pulled off wants to say "no it doesn't, at least not yet!"… I found the back and forth of indecision muddled the impact of the storytelling.
And in saying all this… I still enjoyed it. Granted, not as much as The Anomaly, but it definitely delivered a puzzling but likeable plot that engaged my mind for the majority of the story. Reading both of Rutger’s books is like trying to fathom the unfathomable – which is interesting and fun. I was fully invested in seeing where everything that happened was going… and of course, rooting for all the characters. I genuinely struggled with deciding what to rate this. I would like the series to continue and I’ll definitely keep an eye out for what’s coming next.
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*This honest review was possible through Netgalley providing me with an ARC from the publisher*
This was a weird one for me. I enjoyed it, but I was also disappointed with it too. I was really into getting into this sequel, but toward the end at about 70%, it went pear shaped and felt rather anticlimactic.
The Possession went out of its way to mention very little of the events in The Anomaly – literally, between the characters, its only mentioned in a couple of throwaway sentences, here and there. So, if you’re wanting to read this as a standalone, it will probably work, bearing in mind the odd detail from the first book. Unfortunately… this approach didn’t work for me, having read the first book. It removed that comradery and shared trauma sentiment between the characters and the reader, like we’d been in it together and we just don’t talk about almost life ending drama.
But like The Anomaly, the characters are at the heart of the book. Ken is one of the funniest characters I've read - I love his rugged sense of humour. As soon as his first dialogue came up, I was smiling. I felt like I was reunited with a friend I'd not seen in a while. All of the character interactions (but especially Ken’s) brought the same mirth and entertainment delivered in the first book.
The other big issue was I felt too much of the story focused on a philosophical debate centred on science vs. supernatural. Ultimately, yes, it tied into the overall story, but it was a chore to read with the amount of emphasis given to it, when the ultimate answer was clear before the story even began. The "Anomaly" Files either implied or guaranteed that.
Due to this, the plot unravelled with a veil of vagueness and confusion, that unfortunately for me, let this down. I found myself repeatedly reading pages whereby the end of the chapters, I was saying to myself, "wait, what’re you [the author] trying to say here?"
It just wasn’t clear enough. It reads like trying to see through fogged up glasses - you can’t get a sense of what’s in front of you.
I felt this issue was due to a conflicting approach in how the story was told. It’s narrated through a lense of "science answers all", but the story that's attempting to be pulled off wants to say "no it doesn't, at least not yet!"… I found the back and forth of indecision muddled the impact of the storytelling.
And in saying all this… I still enjoyed it. Granted, not as much as The Anomaly, but it definitely delivered a puzzling but likeable plot that engaged my mind for the majority of the story. Reading both of Rutger’s books is like trying to fathom the unfathomable – which is interesting and fun. I was fully invested in seeing where everything that happened was going… and of course, rooting for all the characters. I genuinely struggled with deciding what to rate this. I would like the series to continue and I’ll definitely keep an eye out for what’s coming next.
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*This honest review was possible through Netgalley providing me with an ARC from the publisher*
June 19, 2019
This is the 2nd in the series with Nolan Moore, amateur archaeologist and host of "The Anomaly Files" and his team producer and best friend, Ken, Molly (the group's "Girl Friday") and cameraman Pierre investigating another paranormal mystery for their YouTube series.
This time they travel to Northern California to investigate mysterious stone walls. Similar walls actually exist all over the planet - even under the sea - and yet very little is known about them.
What Nolan hasn't told his colleagues is that his ex-wife Kristy is already in the area, at the small town of Birchlake, checking out the disappearance of a teenage girl, Alaina Hixon. Kristy became intrigued with the case when an online photo of the missing girl produced several comments with the single word "Witch".
When Nolan arrives , he meets up with Kristy and soon they find Alaina wandering down the town's main street muttering that she was dead but has now returned.
Weird things start to happen in Birchlake as the story of the mysterious walls and Alaina's disappearance begin to converge. And then it gets really spooky.
On the plus side, I especially enjoy the dark humour in the banter between Nolan and his world-weary and cynical sidekick, Ken. And author Michael Rutger really knows how to ratchet up the tension. However, I felt that the story slowed and became confusing in places, particularly when one of the townspeople explains why everyone is experiencing strange feelings and seeing ghostly figures in and around the town. Despite the latter, Rutger's writing demands that you keep on reading. Many of Birchlake's residents have secrets but there are even darker secrets stretching back half a century which are slowly and scarily being revealed.
Although part of a series, this book can be read on its own.
As with the first book, this strange mix of archaeological and historical facts and fiction blends into a horror story that will make you think about what's real and what's imagined. For reasons that will become clear, don't read it just before you go to bed!
My thanks to the publisher Zaffre and to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
This time they travel to Northern California to investigate mysterious stone walls. Similar walls actually exist all over the planet - even under the sea - and yet very little is known about them.
What Nolan hasn't told his colleagues is that his ex-wife Kristy is already in the area, at the small town of Birchlake, checking out the disappearance of a teenage girl, Alaina Hixon. Kristy became intrigued with the case when an online photo of the missing girl produced several comments with the single word "Witch".
When Nolan arrives , he meets up with Kristy and soon they find Alaina wandering down the town's main street muttering that she was dead but has now returned.
Weird things start to happen in Birchlake as the story of the mysterious walls and Alaina's disappearance begin to converge. And then it gets really spooky.
On the plus side, I especially enjoy the dark humour in the banter between Nolan and his world-weary and cynical sidekick, Ken. And author Michael Rutger really knows how to ratchet up the tension. However, I felt that the story slowed and became confusing in places, particularly when one of the townspeople explains why everyone is experiencing strange feelings and seeing ghostly figures in and around the town. Despite the latter, Rutger's writing demands that you keep on reading. Many of Birchlake's residents have secrets but there are even darker secrets stretching back half a century which are slowly and scarily being revealed.
Although part of a series, this book can be read on its own.
As with the first book, this strange mix of archaeological and historical facts and fiction blends into a horror story that will make you think about what's real and what's imagined. For reasons that will become clear, don't read it just before you go to bed!
My thanks to the publisher Zaffre and to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
July 10, 2019
I was such a huge fan of The Anomaly and if anything The Posession is so much more..creepier, more addictive for sure.
I genuinely stayed up until 3am finishing it then regretted it because I couldn’t sleep, kept hearing things and seeing shadowy figures on the landing so in the end I didn’t bother and put every light in the house on then drank tea huddled in a blanket until dawn. Then I went to work. Everyone loved me that day as you can imagine…
ANYWAY my point being, this is absolutely beautifully done from the opening page to the final reckoning, so don’t start it until you have a chunk of time and preferably hours of daylight ahead, then sink into it and be afraid. Gorgeously afraid.
Descriptively this author has it all, the sense of what is going on around the characters is palpable, real in the moment and utterly gripping. It gets you by the throat and won’t let go, but added to that the writing is pure heaven, a delight of a page turner with layered characters you bond with all the way.
Then of course it terrifies the life out of you and you feel like you don’t even want to blink just in case. It’s a fantastic pay off because I love those books. Also if I ever see a random wall out in the country I’m hot footing it back to the city and taking no chances.
Perfection. They don’t come much better than this.
Highly Recommended.
August 7, 2019
Michael Marshall Smith is one of my favourite authors ('Only Forward' being one of my all time favourite books). He goes by many names. He has written "The Anomaly Files" under the pen name Michael Rutger.
I am disappointed to say that this is the first time a book of his has failed to impress me. So much so that I would bluntly caution other readers to not bother with this book. Instead, read the first one, "The Anomaly". It's exciting, suspenseful, and most importantly, coherent. All the things this book is not.
November 15, 2020
Basically, this series is a bit of fun, reminiscent of the early seasons of TV shows like the X-files, Supernatural etc - Our mismatched team investigates the mysterious and supernatural for their YouTube show The Anomaly Files.
Written with Michael Marshall Smith/Michael Rutger's wicked sense of humour and populated by a bunch of characters that probably don't deserve all that the author puts them through, this is a series I will continue to pick up in paperback as it is released in the future.
Many thanks to The Book Resort Box subscription service that introduced me to the one.
Written with Michael Marshall Smith/Michael Rutger's wicked sense of humour and populated by a bunch of characters that probably don't deserve all that the author puts them through, this is a series I will continue to pick up in paperback as it is released in the future.
Many thanks to The Book Resort Box subscription service that introduced me to the one.
Want to read
February 6, 2019In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday I will be look at The Possession by Michael Rutger, the sequel to one of the creepiest books I read last year, The Anomaly. Michael Rutger is an acclaimed author of horror and thrillers, having written a number of great novels over the years under a number of different names. The Anomaly was a particularly amazing book that placed a team of amateur myth hunters inside a genuine and over-the-top ancient mystery and a real-life conspiracy which they were forced to unravel in order to survive. In the second book, the team will face an entirely new challenge.
The new story sounds like a whole lot of fun, as the team once again finds themselves with a genuine anomaly. I really enjoyed the science fiction based horror story that featured in The Anomaly, and I am intrigued by the potential fantasy element to this story, as the synopsis makes it sound like they are encountering either demons or witches. If Rutger continues to follow the pattern established in The Anomaly, this book will feature some historical investigation as Nolan and his production team of side characters attempt to find the source of the mysterious events.
In the first book of this series, Rutger showed off his ability to craft a disturbing and memorable piece of horror, especially through his utilisation of the claustrophobic darkness that surrounded his characters in a cave. It will be interesting to see what in The Possession will inspire Rutger’s horror element, but I am sure it will be amazing. After falling in love with several of the characters from the first book, I am almost a little afraid to check The Possession out, as the chance of all of them surviving seems a little low.
The Possession by Michael Rutger has the potential to be a wildly thrilling piece of horror fiction, and I am very excited to see how the author creates another dark and chilling story. I am very tempted to check out this book’s audiobook format, especially if they get Brandon Williams to narrate it, as he did a superb job with The Anomaly, and his narration really helped to enhance the horror elements, especially the powerful lack of light around the characters. The Possession is very high up on my list of 2019 reads, and I am very much looking forward to listening to another excellent horror read.
For more great reviews, visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/02/06/...
The new story sounds like a whole lot of fun, as the team once again finds themselves with a genuine anomaly. I really enjoyed the science fiction based horror story that featured in The Anomaly, and I am intrigued by the potential fantasy element to this story, as the synopsis makes it sound like they are encountering either demons or witches. If Rutger continues to follow the pattern established in The Anomaly, this book will feature some historical investigation as Nolan and his production team of side characters attempt to find the source of the mysterious events.
In the first book of this series, Rutger showed off his ability to craft a disturbing and memorable piece of horror, especially through his utilisation of the claustrophobic darkness that surrounded his characters in a cave. It will be interesting to see what in The Possession will inspire Rutger’s horror element, but I am sure it will be amazing. After falling in love with several of the characters from the first book, I am almost a little afraid to check The Possession out, as the chance of all of them surviving seems a little low.
The Possession by Michael Rutger has the potential to be a wildly thrilling piece of horror fiction, and I am very excited to see how the author creates another dark and chilling story. I am very tempted to check out this book’s audiobook format, especially if they get Brandon Williams to narrate it, as he did a superb job with The Anomaly, and his narration really helped to enhance the horror elements, especially the powerful lack of light around the characters. The Possession is very high up on my list of 2019 reads, and I am very much looking forward to listening to another excellent horror read.
For more great reviews, visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/02/06/...
July 23, 2019
Set against the gloomy Northern Californian mountains, The Possession is a truly dark and eerie tale with a lot of creative and unique twists. It starts off with a slow burn, but once the evil forces come out to play it becomes a gripping, claustrophobic horror ride.
Review
First off can I just say what an utter kick it was to read a book that took place near where I grew up in Northern California? My hometown of San Jose (Go Sharks!) was mentioned several times, too.
There are actually walls throughout the region, often referred to as the “East Bay Walls,” and when I still lived in California my friends and I would sometimes hike along them. No one knows who built them or why but there are a lot of theories about their origins ranging from lost tribes to aliens to Native Americans building them to appease fault lines. The general consensus, though, is that they were most likely put there by Spanish and other European settlers who farmed and ranched out in the hills.
The Possession was a delightfully creepy read. I went into it knowing it was a horror story but when the “anomalies” actually started happening I was still pretty surprised and was shaken to my core. The forces simmering just beneath the surface of the small mountain town didn’t just do a number on the characters, but on the reader as well. It was a mind bending and totally unique ride. I’m still a little shaken up a few weeks on but in that good way the most awesome of horror stories get under your skin.
One of my favorite elements of the book is that they are a YouTube show investigating the paranormal. It’s a fantastic premise, one that’s highly relevant in this day and digital age. Although I kept having to stop myself from imagining them as the Ghostfacers from Supernatural.
Final Thoughts
I haven’t read the previous book, but I didn’t feel lost in this installment because the author did a great job introducing the backstory throughout the opening chapters. Overall it was an engaging and fascinating tale full of terror. If you’re looking for something to give you the chills, look no further than Noah and the Anomaly Files.
Read my full review on my blog!
Review
First off can I just say what an utter kick it was to read a book that took place near where I grew up in Northern California? My hometown of San Jose (Go Sharks!) was mentioned several times, too.
There are actually walls throughout the region, often referred to as the “East Bay Walls,” and when I still lived in California my friends and I would sometimes hike along them. No one knows who built them or why but there are a lot of theories about their origins ranging from lost tribes to aliens to Native Americans building them to appease fault lines. The general consensus, though, is that they were most likely put there by Spanish and other European settlers who farmed and ranched out in the hills.
The Possession was a delightfully creepy read. I went into it knowing it was a horror story but when the “anomalies” actually started happening I was still pretty surprised and was shaken to my core. The forces simmering just beneath the surface of the small mountain town didn’t just do a number on the characters, but on the reader as well. It was a mind bending and totally unique ride. I’m still a little shaken up a few weeks on but in that good way the most awesome of horror stories get under your skin.
One of my favorite elements of the book is that they are a YouTube show investigating the paranormal. It’s a fantastic premise, one that’s highly relevant in this day and digital age. Although I kept having to stop myself from imagining them as the Ghostfacers from Supernatural.
Final Thoughts
I haven’t read the previous book, but I didn’t feel lost in this installment because the author did a great job introducing the backstory throughout the opening chapters. Overall it was an engaging and fascinating tale full of terror. If you’re looking for something to give you the chills, look no further than Noah and the Anomaly Files.
Read my full review on my blog!
July 21, 2019
Well from the cover and it's title you'd expect this to be scary ,especially when it comes with the tag"for fans of Stephen King" errr no!! Now don't get me wrong, it starts off ok, girl gets in a car, girl goes missing, girl returns but isn't the same..and then it goes down hill faster than a tennis ball would, , The plot was none existent , the "spooky" ( and I use that lightly) happens in about chapter 45 and there are 63 very short chapters in the whole book.! Sorry but I've read scarier Goosebumps books than this..
July 29, 2019
So upsetting. I LOVE the first book in the Anomaly Files. It was so unique and kept my attention the whole time. I was pretty excited to be reading the second. However, this book didn't keep my attention at all. Good concept maybe but the middle had the same thing on repeat.
Mist, walls, staircase, person - repeat
Walls, thick mist, pass out, person - repeat
Person, mist, I think I know, mist again - repeat
I really didn't know, woods, mist, walls - repeat
So boring and hard to follow.
Mist, walls, staircase, person - repeat
Walls, thick mist, pass out, person - repeat
Person, mist, I think I know, mist again - repeat
I really didn't know, woods, mist, walls - repeat
So boring and hard to follow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2019
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/10/24/...
With the tease of ghostly possession as its premise, I thought this follow-up to The Anomaly would provide a creepier experience. But in fact, what we get is a more mysterious than scary scenario involving an isolated small town, its curious network of low stone walls that twist and turn across its wooded landscape, and a missing teenager. While The Possession lacks a lot of the intensity and body horror that made the first book such a chilling read, it did have its moments.
Also, in case you’re wondering, The Possession can be read as a standalone. Very few references are made to The Anomaly even though this book takes place not long after those events, following protagonist Nolan Moore and his team as they investigate another possible lead for their YouTube documentary series, The Anomaly Files. Of course, one major change we see in this novel is the addition of Kristy, Nolan’s ex-wife, who gains a prominent voice as a POV character. The story actually opens with her arrival in Birchlake, a quaint little village nestled in the hills of northern California. A journalist working on a piece about bullying, Kristy has come searching for more information on the disappearance of 14-year-old Alaina Hixon, whose social media accounts show signs that the girl may have a victim of harassment. One of her photos on Instagram has several comments calling her a witch, including a particularly threatening one telling Alaina that it was time for her to join her mother, who died in a car accident not too long ago.
But to Kristy’s frustration, her questions around town seem to lead nowhere, and worse, strange things suddenly start happening around her. Queue Nolan and The Anomaly Files crew, who come to Birchlake hoping to find an interesting angle to revive the falling ratings of their show, and the miles of mysterious stone walls in the region appear to fit the bill. For one thing, their unknown origins are certain to spawn some wild theories and speculation, and for another, at least this assignment should be a lot less deadly than their last one—or so they thought.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t find The Possession to be as good as The Anomaly, but to be fair, the first book had a lot going for it that this sequel didn’t, such as the claustrophobia of being below ground, a gruesome infection that can tear your body apart, or monsters in the dark that can strike at any second. Instead, what we have here is a more mundane scenario. After all, as far as mystery and thriller premises go, there’s certainly no shortage of small-town settings or missing person cases when it comes to this genre. In fact, the paranormal elements of the story did not emerge until much later, and the middle sections of the book were also plagued by several lulls which I thought made The Possession a lot slower and a lot less exciting and frightening.
So, if you’re going into this one expecting a horror thrill ride, like in The Anomaly, I think you’ll be disappointed. There’s not much here that would invoke the kind of visceral response and bone-deep fear I got from the first book. Instead, I found the tone of The Possession to be quite different in that it places more emphasis on the atmosphere of intrigue and mystery, and the vibes you get are more unsettling and confusing than outright scary.
I also wasn’t sure what to make of the extra POVs in this book. Aside from Kristy, we get bits of the story from a few additional perspectives, making Nolan’s role in this feel far less important. I didn’t feel there was sufficient development into his character, mainly because we spent the bulk of the time with Kristy, whose voice wasn’t as engaging, and in truth, I felt a little annoyed that we switched tack in this book to focus so much on her.
Still, things picked up in the second half. Not coincidentally, this was also when more of the speculative elements came into play. Admittedly, the story takes a baffling turn and becomes a lot more complicated at this point, but this was one of those rare cases where I thought the ambiguity actually helped. Not everything needs to be explained, and I felt that the vagueness added a dash of intrigue to the ending, though I know it’s probably not going to work for everyone.
Bottom line, if you enjoyed The Anomaly, you definitely owe it to yourself to give The Possession a try, keeping in mind the tone won’t be the same, and you also have a much less scary plot and setting. But if you don’t mind the change of pace, this could be well worth your time.
With the tease of ghostly possession as its premise, I thought this follow-up to The Anomaly would provide a creepier experience. But in fact, what we get is a more mysterious than scary scenario involving an isolated small town, its curious network of low stone walls that twist and turn across its wooded landscape, and a missing teenager. While The Possession lacks a lot of the intensity and body horror that made the first book such a chilling read, it did have its moments.
Also, in case you’re wondering, The Possession can be read as a standalone. Very few references are made to The Anomaly even though this book takes place not long after those events, following protagonist Nolan Moore and his team as they investigate another possible lead for their YouTube documentary series, The Anomaly Files. Of course, one major change we see in this novel is the addition of Kristy, Nolan’s ex-wife, who gains a prominent voice as a POV character. The story actually opens with her arrival in Birchlake, a quaint little village nestled in the hills of northern California. A journalist working on a piece about bullying, Kristy has come searching for more information on the disappearance of 14-year-old Alaina Hixon, whose social media accounts show signs that the girl may have a victim of harassment. One of her photos on Instagram has several comments calling her a witch, including a particularly threatening one telling Alaina that it was time for her to join her mother, who died in a car accident not too long ago.
But to Kristy’s frustration, her questions around town seem to lead nowhere, and worse, strange things suddenly start happening around her. Queue Nolan and The Anomaly Files crew, who come to Birchlake hoping to find an interesting angle to revive the falling ratings of their show, and the miles of mysterious stone walls in the region appear to fit the bill. For one thing, their unknown origins are certain to spawn some wild theories and speculation, and for another, at least this assignment should be a lot less deadly than their last one—or so they thought.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t find The Possession to be as good as The Anomaly, but to be fair, the first book had a lot going for it that this sequel didn’t, such as the claustrophobia of being below ground, a gruesome infection that can tear your body apart, or monsters in the dark that can strike at any second. Instead, what we have here is a more mundane scenario. After all, as far as mystery and thriller premises go, there’s certainly no shortage of small-town settings or missing person cases when it comes to this genre. In fact, the paranormal elements of the story did not emerge until much later, and the middle sections of the book were also plagued by several lulls which I thought made The Possession a lot slower and a lot less exciting and frightening.
So, if you’re going into this one expecting a horror thrill ride, like in The Anomaly, I think you’ll be disappointed. There’s not much here that would invoke the kind of visceral response and bone-deep fear I got from the first book. Instead, I found the tone of The Possession to be quite different in that it places more emphasis on the atmosphere of intrigue and mystery, and the vibes you get are more unsettling and confusing than outright scary.
I also wasn’t sure what to make of the extra POVs in this book. Aside from Kristy, we get bits of the story from a few additional perspectives, making Nolan’s role in this feel far less important. I didn’t feel there was sufficient development into his character, mainly because we spent the bulk of the time with Kristy, whose voice wasn’t as engaging, and in truth, I felt a little annoyed that we switched tack in this book to focus so much on her.
Still, things picked up in the second half. Not coincidentally, this was also when more of the speculative elements came into play. Admittedly, the story takes a baffling turn and becomes a lot more complicated at this point, but this was one of those rare cases where I thought the ambiguity actually helped. Not everything needs to be explained, and I felt that the vagueness added a dash of intrigue to the ending, though I know it’s probably not going to work for everyone.
Bottom line, if you enjoyed The Anomaly, you definitely owe it to yourself to give The Possession a try, keeping in mind the tone won’t be the same, and you also have a much less scary plot and setting. But if you don’t mind the change of pace, this could be well worth your time.
June 19, 2024
Stars: 5 out of 5.
I loved The Anomaly, the first book in the series, and this one was just as good. Yes, the story ended up being a little bit out there, but the cast of characters more than compensates for that.
Yes, the characters are the strongest part of this book and this series in general. I love Nolan, and Ken, and Molly, and Pierre. They feel like real people, but more importantly, they read like real friends and even found family to each other. Their interactions are genuine, and you can see that even when they are making fun of each other, there is a deep affection behind the jokes as well. And when push comes to shove, they don't hesitate to do anything they can to save and protect each other.
Kristi, on the other hand, I could care less about. In the previous book Nolan painted this picture of her as someone brilliant, much better at this journalist thing than he is. He made it sound like she was really good with people and had lots of friends and seemed like a nice person. Well, the reality we see in this book couldn't be farther from that picture. Kristi comes across as self-centered and unwilling to listen to anyone else's opinion. She does things without thinking them through and sometimes even when she knows that her actions will only make things worse. She also comes across as very judgmental of others while at the same time blind to her own shortcomings. Needless to say, I wasn't sad to see her go away at the end of the book.
And I think this particular characterization was intentional on the author's part. I think he wanted to show that sometimes our love blinds us to the shortcomings of the people closest to us even when those people hurt us. Nolan spent most of the previous book regretting what happened between him and Kristi and wishing they could find a way of mending this broken relationship. I think he got the much needed closure in this book, even if it wasn't the one he was hoping for.
The story itself was intriguing and even horrifying in a rather mind-bending kind of way. I love how the author takes a real world mystery, like the walls found all over the United States. Nobody knows who built them or when, or even what purpose they are supposed to serve. And then the author builds this elaborate story around that one real fact. And honestly, his explanation isn't any more farfetched than a lot of other conspiracy theories out there.
All in all, this was an enjoyable book, and I wouldn't mind following Nolan and crew for another adventure if the author ever decides to continue this series.
I loved The Anomaly, the first book in the series, and this one was just as good. Yes, the story ended up being a little bit out there, but the cast of characters more than compensates for that.
Yes, the characters are the strongest part of this book and this series in general. I love Nolan, and Ken, and Molly, and Pierre. They feel like real people, but more importantly, they read like real friends and even found family to each other. Their interactions are genuine, and you can see that even when they are making fun of each other, there is a deep affection behind the jokes as well. And when push comes to shove, they don't hesitate to do anything they can to save and protect each other.
Kristi, on the other hand, I could care less about. In the previous book Nolan painted this picture of her as someone brilliant, much better at this journalist thing than he is. He made it sound like she was really good with people and had lots of friends and seemed like a nice person. Well, the reality we see in this book couldn't be farther from that picture. Kristi comes across as self-centered and unwilling to listen to anyone else's opinion. She does things without thinking them through and sometimes even when she knows that her actions will only make things worse. She also comes across as very judgmental of others while at the same time blind to her own shortcomings. Needless to say, I wasn't sad to see her go away at the end of the book.
And I think this particular characterization was intentional on the author's part. I think he wanted to show that sometimes our love blinds us to the shortcomings of the people closest to us even when those people hurt us. Nolan spent most of the previous book regretting what happened between him and Kristi and wishing they could find a way of mending this broken relationship. I think he got the much needed closure in this book, even if it wasn't the one he was hoping for.
The story itself was intriguing and even horrifying in a rather mind-bending kind of way. I love how the author takes a real world mystery, like the walls found all over the United States. Nobody knows who built them or when, or even what purpose they are supposed to serve. And then the author builds this elaborate story around that one real fact. And honestly, his explanation isn't any more farfetched than a lot of other conspiracy theories out there.
All in all, this was an enjoyable book, and I wouldn't mind following Nolan and crew for another adventure if the author ever decides to continue this series.
July 15, 2019
As suspense goes, this one’s an epic success. Absolutely. No. Doubt. About. It.
It’s time to wave goodbye to the world as you know it and find yourself 110% absorbed, as THIS is what I call a helluva attention grabbing book – which I’m convinced is an actual phenomenon by itself, as it caused the last 24 hours to pass in what feels like the blink of an eye.
The narration is a gift. It’s snappy, moody and so damned effective. The end of every, single chapter is clipped at THE most perfect moment, only to be picked up again at an even better one. There’s a genuine addictive enticement for you to read more, more, and then some more – I literally couldn’t get enough of this one.
Every character lives, breathes, and tries REALLY, REALLY hard to behave rationally in the face the inexplicable, even if it’s crept into their personal space and has practically taken up residence. But their reactions aren’t just those of characters in a book. They’re believable in EVERYTHING they do: they freak out, make realistically dumb judgements, and react to especially unnerving situations in ways you could easily see yourself doing.
Nolan and Co. makes fiction feel totally and utterly real by chasing shadows we all convince ourselves aren’t real. It’s pretty safe to say that I love, love, love this author and I’m HUGELY excited to get my hands on the next book!
(I received a copy of this title courtesy of the publisher via their Readers’ First website and it was my absolute pleasure to voluntarily read and review it. Thank you.)
It’s time to wave goodbye to the world as you know it and find yourself 110% absorbed, as THIS is what I call a helluva attention grabbing book – which I’m convinced is an actual phenomenon by itself, as it caused the last 24 hours to pass in what feels like the blink of an eye.
The narration is a gift. It’s snappy, moody and so damned effective. The end of every, single chapter is clipped at THE most perfect moment, only to be picked up again at an even better one. There’s a genuine addictive enticement for you to read more, more, and then some more – I literally couldn’t get enough of this one.
Every character lives, breathes, and tries REALLY, REALLY hard to behave rationally in the face the inexplicable, even if it’s crept into their personal space and has practically taken up residence. But their reactions aren’t just those of characters in a book. They’re believable in EVERYTHING they do: they freak out, make realistically dumb judgements, and react to especially unnerving situations in ways you could easily see yourself doing.
Nolan and Co. makes fiction feel totally and utterly real by chasing shadows we all convince ourselves aren’t real. It’s pretty safe to say that I love, love, love this author and I’m HUGELY excited to get my hands on the next book!
(I received a copy of this title courtesy of the publisher via their Readers’ First website and it was my absolute pleasure to voluntarily read and review it. Thank you.)
July 25, 2019
The Possession – Sleep with the light on
The Possession by Michael Rutger is the second in the series of The Anomaly Files, but you do not need to read the series in sequence. The Possession could quite easily be a standalone book, as either as part of a series or on its own it will last a long time on your memory.
Nolan Moore is an archaeologist and conspiracy theory nut who produces his own You tube documentary series. He has travelled to a New England village, that is ‘quaint’ and he has brought, Ken, Molly and Pierre that make the team up. They are looking for general weirdness, something different, they certainly know what their audience likes. What they get is not quite what they expected. Moore’s ex also makes an appearance who is investigating the disappearance of young girl. Both investigations merge and delivers a roller coaster ride, that may make you want to sleep with the lights on.
With a mixture of tense, and gripping thriller horror, to at times where you will laugh out loud. The Possession will keep you on edge throughout but is an excellent read.
The Possession by Michael Rutger is the second in the series of The Anomaly Files, but you do not need to read the series in sequence. The Possession could quite easily be a standalone book, as either as part of a series or on its own it will last a long time on your memory.
Nolan Moore is an archaeologist and conspiracy theory nut who produces his own You tube documentary series. He has travelled to a New England village, that is ‘quaint’ and he has brought, Ken, Molly and Pierre that make the team up. They are looking for general weirdness, something different, they certainly know what their audience likes. What they get is not quite what they expected. Moore’s ex also makes an appearance who is investigating the disappearance of young girl. Both investigations merge and delivers a roller coaster ride, that may make you want to sleep with the lights on.
With a mixture of tense, and gripping thriller horror, to at times where you will laugh out loud. The Possession will keep you on edge throughout but is an excellent read.
December 14, 2020
Likable but somewhat disappointing second entry in the Anomaly File series which finds Nolan and the crew joining Nolan's estranged wife Kristy in an investigation of a young girl's disappearance, which may be related to some strange wall structures and a witchcraft connection. The story takes a bit to get going and is confusing at times towards the end when the characters encounter some weird doings and begin to see things that may or may not be there. It touches on a few interesting concepts but doesn't quite deliver on them, including the role of witches in society. The writing is top-notch and the characters help propel the story but it's not as good as it could have been. I enjoyed the first one, The Anomaly, much more. The ending strongly suggests a third entry. I liked it but didn't love it.
January 14, 2025
Another 3.5 rounded up.
I’m really annoyed this guy has only written 2 books in this series. They’re just plain good fun. Like the first book, this is old school creepy supernatural stuff, with historical ‘facts’ that actually seem plausible.
But it’s the characters that make it work. They’re a likeable bunch, and again, like The Anomaly, they behave like normal humans do. There are no unnecessary heroics or idiocy here. It’s so refreshing.
I’d love another book.
I’m really annoyed this guy has only written 2 books in this series. They’re just plain good fun. Like the first book, this is old school creepy supernatural stuff, with historical ‘facts’ that actually seem plausible.
But it’s the characters that make it work. They’re a likeable bunch, and again, like The Anomaly, they behave like normal humans do. There are no unnecessary heroics or idiocy here. It’s so refreshing.
I’d love another book.
February 12, 2022
The Possession is a story that is best enjoyed whilst surrounded by a fuck ton of people. Just make sure you know those people well, make sure their personalities don’t change at the drop of a hat. This was a story that reminded me of a mash-up of Inception and The Twilight zone. The people that we love and cherish are like home to us, we see safety in their eyes, a warm hug after a bad day is sometimes all we need to feel better.
Tragedy has struck a small town in the middle of the woods after a teenage girl has gone missing. There’s no sign of her anywhere, and the girls that were the last to see her are cagey and adamant that they did everything possible to find her. Podcast creators, Nolan, Ken, and the rest of the crew head to the area to check out some unexplained structures that seem to date back to medieval times. A decision Nolan made after discovering his ex-wife is in the area investigating the disappearance of the missing girl, Alaina. The case is deeply personal to her and slowly she gets in too deep. How on earth do you move on when the fog clears and every corner you investigate reminds you of what you’ve lost?
Nolan has a polarising relationship with his ex-wife. It’s clear that they aren’t remotely over each other but the two can’t seem to bridge the gap that is needed to move forward, whether that’s separately or together. Both the study of the strange wall-like structures in the woods and the missing girl seem like the perfect opportunity for them both to be in the same place at the same time, but will it push them together or irrepressibly apart?
The Possession is a fantastic novel of both strengthening relationships and a palpable sense of tension mounting – think of a coiled spring ready to be let go. The plot was excellent, and I spent a good majority of it walking on hot coals. I was interested in the wall angle and just how all the little threads came together was both clever and terrifying. The second half of the story unsettled me with the ethereal presence the story took on. Everything about the entire story just works, it’s the tale of two halves, family, and fear.
The Possession is that damn scary because it feels REAL. We aren’t reading about pretentious characters that are overinflated, these characters could be you and your friends. You and your friends dealing with an extremely terrifying ordeal and trying to stay loyal to those you love.
The Possession gave me the right details and gave me a precise image of what the author imagined. I closed my eyes and prayed to the bookish gods that these realistic characters would make it to the end.
Reality bends into the sinister. A dark and twisting narrative that will have you avoiding mirrors for all eternity.
Tragedy has struck a small town in the middle of the woods after a teenage girl has gone missing. There’s no sign of her anywhere, and the girls that were the last to see her are cagey and adamant that they did everything possible to find her. Podcast creators, Nolan, Ken, and the rest of the crew head to the area to check out some unexplained structures that seem to date back to medieval times. A decision Nolan made after discovering his ex-wife is in the area investigating the disappearance of the missing girl, Alaina. The case is deeply personal to her and slowly she gets in too deep. How on earth do you move on when the fog clears and every corner you investigate reminds you of what you’ve lost?
Nolan has a polarising relationship with his ex-wife. It’s clear that they aren’t remotely over each other but the two can’t seem to bridge the gap that is needed to move forward, whether that’s separately or together. Both the study of the strange wall-like structures in the woods and the missing girl seem like the perfect opportunity for them both to be in the same place at the same time, but will it push them together or irrepressibly apart?
The Possession is a fantastic novel of both strengthening relationships and a palpable sense of tension mounting – think of a coiled spring ready to be let go. The plot was excellent, and I spent a good majority of it walking on hot coals. I was interested in the wall angle and just how all the little threads came together was both clever and terrifying. The second half of the story unsettled me with the ethereal presence the story took on. Everything about the entire story just works, it’s the tale of two halves, family, and fear.
The Possession is that damn scary because it feels REAL. We aren’t reading about pretentious characters that are overinflated, these characters could be you and your friends. You and your friends dealing with an extremely terrifying ordeal and trying to stay loyal to those you love.
The Possession gave me the right details and gave me a precise image of what the author imagined. I closed my eyes and prayed to the bookish gods that these realistic characters would make it to the end.
Reality bends into the sinister. A dark and twisting narrative that will have you avoiding mirrors for all eternity.
August 1, 2021
I knew from the first book in this series (The Anomaly) that this author has a bit of a meandering pace, but I still enjoyed the story. The sequel also has a meandering pace. And I got kind of bored before we finally got "there." Then when we got "there", it didn't entirely make sense. And when I did get to the ending, I'm still wasn't sure the story made sense. Not in a meaty kind of way to chew on over time, but in a lack of internal logic kind of way. And I sort of hated the ex-wife character and felt the book could have omitted her completely.
But, yes, as you are thinking, let's back up for a moment. Nolan Moore and his team have a YouTube show about the scientific examination of paranormal phenomena, a show that barely missed getting picked up by cable. When Nolan hears from his estranged wife, a reporter investigating a missing girl in Northern California, he not so coincidentally decides to go to the same town she's in to do a story on mysterious walls in the area. As Nolan will explain in a wordy monologue, these type of walls really do exist, like the Big Circles in Jordan or the Berkeley Mystery Walls in California.
Although his team (a director, cameraman, and sound tech) are wise to Nolan's true motives for dragging them hence, they do start experiencing strange phenomena: seeing things, hearing things, a mysterious fog. Then the missing girl returns and things start to get weirder. Then one of their crew disappears.
I think this story might work better visually, like it if were to be directed in the style of Legion if you've seen that show.
(I'm not giving anything away, there are no X-Men in this book.)
As it is, it's just a bit too convoluted and leisurely of a read. I do like the characters (other than Kristy, the ex-wife), so I may still read the next book in the series.
But, yes, as you are thinking, let's back up for a moment. Nolan Moore and his team have a YouTube show about the scientific examination of paranormal phenomena, a show that barely missed getting picked up by cable. When Nolan hears from his estranged wife, a reporter investigating a missing girl in Northern California, he not so coincidentally decides to go to the same town she's in to do a story on mysterious walls in the area. As Nolan will explain in a wordy monologue, these type of walls really do exist, like the Big Circles in Jordan or the Berkeley Mystery Walls in California.
Although his team (a director, cameraman, and sound tech) are wise to Nolan's true motives for dragging them hence, they do start experiencing strange phenomena: seeing things, hearing things, a mysterious fog. Then the missing girl returns and things start to get weirder. Then one of their crew disappears.
I think this story might work better visually, like it if were to be directed in the style of Legion if you've seen that show.
(I'm not giving anything away, there are no X-Men in this book.)
As it is, it's just a bit too convoluted and leisurely of a read. I do like the characters (other than Kristy, the ex-wife), so I may still read the next book in the series.
September 2, 2019
Having loved the first book in this series, The Anomaly, I was oddly disappointed with this second outing. There were decisions made to approach this book in a way that it could be read as a stand-alone, without needing any knowledge from previous books, and while I understand the reasoning, I struggled with the actual application.
First off, the events in book one are so momentous, it's impossible that these characters aren't fundamentally changed by them. But in picking this up, they're just back to filming another episode of a failing Youtube channel, following a lead on some peculiar landmarks.
Secondly, while "The Possession" approaches some pretty spectacular ideas, the stakes don't measure up to those encountered in book one. In fact in some of the more critical moments in this novel when the "baddies" are at the doors, it felt more like all they could do was rattle those chains rather than actually have a physical impact on our nefarious group, taking the stakes and lessening them even further.
Lastly, the entire tale really has no fundamental impact on the world at large. While introducing the group "The Knack," which may come back in future books, I was surprised that this was book 2 and not book 17, when all of the really good ideas have been explored and readers are ready for a throw-away stand-alone adventure that doesn't have any bearing on the larger story taking place over the series. And that's what this felt like--one of those episodes in the X-Files that doesn't advance the conspiracy theories or political or alien agendas, but has a cool concept and is easily resolved in a single episode.
The great thing about all of this? There are a lot of readers who will dig this and might even prefer the stand-alone nature of the story. The walls built in cities in the middle of nowhere is a fascinating topic, and there are some fun ideas here to explore. Unfortunately, to me this felt more like a quick draft thrown together because deadlines were due rather than the innovative and world-building launching pad book one created. As a fan of MMS, I'll be hesitantly optimistic with the next book in the series, but if it's more of the same I'll likely be bowing out at that point.
First off, the events in book one are so momentous, it's impossible that these characters aren't fundamentally changed by them. But in picking this up, they're just back to filming another episode of a failing Youtube channel, following a lead on some peculiar landmarks.
Secondly, while "The Possession" approaches some pretty spectacular ideas, the stakes don't measure up to those encountered in book one. In fact in some of the more critical moments in this novel when the "baddies" are at the doors, it felt more like all they could do was rattle those chains rather than actually have a physical impact on our nefarious group, taking the stakes and lessening them even further.
Lastly, the entire tale really has no fundamental impact on the world at large. While introducing the group "The Knack," which may come back in future books, I was surprised that this was book 2 and not book 17, when all of the really good ideas have been explored and readers are ready for a throw-away stand-alone adventure that doesn't have any bearing on the larger story taking place over the series. And that's what this felt like--one of those episodes in the X-Files that doesn't advance the conspiracy theories or political or alien agendas, but has a cool concept and is easily resolved in a single episode.
The great thing about all of this? There are a lot of readers who will dig this and might even prefer the stand-alone nature of the story. The walls built in cities in the middle of nowhere is a fascinating topic, and there are some fun ideas here to explore. Unfortunately, to me this felt more like a quick draft thrown together because deadlines were due rather than the innovative and world-building launching pad book one created. As a fan of MMS, I'll be hesitantly optimistic with the next book in the series, but if it's more of the same I'll likely be bowing out at that point.
June 22, 2019
This is a great, creepy (and fun) read from Michael Marshall, writing as Michael Rutger. It is a solid summer read that moves quickly, and evokes dread through a captivating mystery without delving too far into the macabre.
The book is a sequel of sorts to THE ANOMALY, but readers need not have read that book to appreciate and enjoy this one. That book was like Indiana Jones meets the X-Files, and this one is more X-Files meets The Exorcist (but worry not you faint-of-heart readers, the horror is creepy and engaging without being grotesque or overly intense).
Give it a read and enjoy some chilly shivers in the hot summer heat.
The book is a sequel of sorts to THE ANOMALY, but readers need not have read that book to appreciate and enjoy this one. That book was like Indiana Jones meets the X-Files, and this one is more X-Files meets The Exorcist (but worry not you faint-of-heart readers, the horror is creepy and engaging without being grotesque or overly intense).
Give it a read and enjoy some chilly shivers in the hot summer heat.
November 5, 2021
You know when you're reading a book and you're just completely lost, but you aren't sure if it's you or the book? Like, am I just not smart enough to understand what is going on? Or is this book just super confusing in general? Yaaaaaa, well that's how I felt throughout this entire read. I just seriously didn't understand any of it, like not one thing. You're probably wondering why I continued to read this book if I was so confused. I don't have an answer for you, because I just don't know🤣. ★★ very confused stars.
August 2, 2019
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
The Possession is the second book in The Anomaly Files series by Rutger and I have to admit that I haven’t read the first, The Anomaly! It didn’t hinder my reading experience or my enjoyment of The Possession though. Events from the first book are mentioned but they are merely background noise and referenced only in passing.
Nolan Moore is the host of the YouTube show The Anomaly Files that investigates unexplained and unsolved mysteries.
Kristy Reardon, journalist and Nolan’s ex-wife is in the isolated town of Birchlake, Northern California looking into the disappearance of fourteen-year-old Alaina Hixon. Ten days ago Alaina vanished while walking with two friends in the forest that surrounds the town. One moment she was there, the next, gone.
With the knowledge that Kristy is in Birchlake Nolan (he forgets, on purpose to tell the rest of the crew) pitches an idea for an Anomaly Files show to Ken (the director) about investigating the little-known mystery of the ancient stone walls of the area. Walls that are randomly shaped in height, length and size with no discernible rhyme or reason to there placement or reason for existing. Random walls are a phenomenon that occurs throughout the known world.
The disappearance of Alaina and the stone walls that Nolan wants to investigate are linked. As Kristy, Nolan and The Anomaly Files crew spend more time in Birchlake. As the two storylines converge and as they come together, the truth about both the walls and Alaina’s disappearance like a blurred picture coming into focus starts to become clearer.
When an eerie and otherworldly swirling mist descends, rolls in and closes off Birchlake. The town feels claustrophobic, is shrouded and people (both residents and The Anomaly Files crew members) start acting strangely, random and unexplained noises are heard and shadowy figures, some human, others not are glimpsed through the thick soup of the mist.
I liked the characters in The Possession Kristy, Nolan and the crew of The Anomaly Files, Molly, the assistant producer, Pierre, the cameraman and Ken, the director. Nolan is a decent leading man, likeable and an all-around good guy but out of all of them, Ken was my favourite. He had spent twenty-five years directing commercials and low-budget horror films and now he directs The Anomaly Files. He is English, blunt and gruff with plenty of brusque retorts and quips. There’s a familiarity to the whole group, the banter and the camaraderie that they share. But, Ken and Nolan together are far and away the best and the back and forth between the two is often brilliant.
Birchlake is a fantastic setting, surrounded by secluded dwellings, forests, mountains and a river it is an out-of-the-way and remote town with a small population. Rutger does a fine job of evoking both the environment of the area and of the attitudes and flavour of the small-town community and the townsfolk. Many of whom are cold and unfriendly with a reticence to let them in, to talk to the outsiders, to Kristy and The Anomaly Files crew about Alaina or about the walls and the secrets of the local area.
When you see them, old walls are not something that you really pay attention too, they are just there, they simply are. Walls are barriers, they offer containment and they keep things in. Walls are barriers, they offer protection and they keep things out. Rutger does a good job of making the stone walls in The Possession creepy, mysterious and intriguing.
The writing in The Possession flows well and is of decent quality as is the characterisation (there’s enough depth for you to get a feel for all of those involved in the story) and the pacing. I did feel like the story lulled in the middle section (only slightly) but, it is akin to the calm before the storm. As the darkness falls and as the tension intensifies the last half of the book is chilling, gripping and edge-of-your-seat reading.
There is an unsettling feeling throughout the duration of The Possession, something ominous hidden just out of sight. The Possession is an atmospheric thriller that travels down some dark and stormy roads delving into the supernatural and witchcraft. It has creepiness in abundance and it is highly entertaining.
The Possession is the second book in The Anomaly Files series by Rutger and I have to admit that I haven’t read the first, The Anomaly! It didn’t hinder my reading experience or my enjoyment of The Possession though. Events from the first book are mentioned but they are merely background noise and referenced only in passing.
Nolan Moore is the host of the YouTube show The Anomaly Files that investigates unexplained and unsolved mysteries.
Kristy Reardon, journalist and Nolan’s ex-wife is in the isolated town of Birchlake, Northern California looking into the disappearance of fourteen-year-old Alaina Hixon. Ten days ago Alaina vanished while walking with two friends in the forest that surrounds the town. One moment she was there, the next, gone.
With the knowledge that Kristy is in Birchlake Nolan (he forgets, on purpose to tell the rest of the crew) pitches an idea for an Anomaly Files show to Ken (the director) about investigating the little-known mystery of the ancient stone walls of the area. Walls that are randomly shaped in height, length and size with no discernible rhyme or reason to there placement or reason for existing. Random walls are a phenomenon that occurs throughout the known world.
The disappearance of Alaina and the stone walls that Nolan wants to investigate are linked. As Kristy, Nolan and The Anomaly Files crew spend more time in Birchlake. As the two storylines converge and as they come together, the truth about both the walls and Alaina’s disappearance like a blurred picture coming into focus starts to become clearer.
When an eerie and otherworldly swirling mist descends, rolls in and closes off Birchlake. The town feels claustrophobic, is shrouded and people (both residents and The Anomaly Files crew members) start acting strangely, random and unexplained noises are heard and shadowy figures, some human, others not are glimpsed through the thick soup of the mist.
I liked the characters in The Possession Kristy, Nolan and the crew of The Anomaly Files, Molly, the assistant producer, Pierre, the cameraman and Ken, the director. Nolan is a decent leading man, likeable and an all-around good guy but out of all of them, Ken was my favourite. He had spent twenty-five years directing commercials and low-budget horror films and now he directs The Anomaly Files. He is English, blunt and gruff with plenty of brusque retorts and quips. There’s a familiarity to the whole group, the banter and the camaraderie that they share. But, Ken and Nolan together are far and away the best and the back and forth between the two is often brilliant.
Birchlake is a fantastic setting, surrounded by secluded dwellings, forests, mountains and a river it is an out-of-the-way and remote town with a small population. Rutger does a fine job of evoking both the environment of the area and of the attitudes and flavour of the small-town community and the townsfolk. Many of whom are cold and unfriendly with a reticence to let them in, to talk to the outsiders, to Kristy and The Anomaly Files crew about Alaina or about the walls and the secrets of the local area.
When you see them, old walls are not something that you really pay attention too, they are just there, they simply are. Walls are barriers, they offer containment and they keep things in. Walls are barriers, they offer protection and they keep things out. Rutger does a good job of making the stone walls in The Possession creepy, mysterious and intriguing.
The writing in The Possession flows well and is of decent quality as is the characterisation (there’s enough depth for you to get a feel for all of those involved in the story) and the pacing. I did feel like the story lulled in the middle section (only slightly) but, it is akin to the calm before the storm. As the darkness falls and as the tension intensifies the last half of the book is chilling, gripping and edge-of-your-seat reading.
There is an unsettling feeling throughout the duration of The Possession, something ominous hidden just out of sight. The Possession is an atmospheric thriller that travels down some dark and stormy roads delving into the supernatural and witchcraft. It has creepiness in abundance and it is highly entertaining.
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