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Once: A Belmouth Tale
The out-of-season English seaside town of Belmouth seemed like the perfect venue for a Storytelling Festival. Until the killings started.
At first, Festival Organiser and Storyteller Dan Edwards isn’t that concerned by the news reports. But then it becomes obvious that the Festival is connected in some way. More importantly, the stories he is telling appear to be coming to life…
Once: A Belmouth Tale combines traditional folk tales with modern horror to create a journey into one man’s nightmare, one that will have him doubting everything and change his life irrevocably.
Not all stories end with Happily Ever After.
At first, Festival Organiser and Storyteller Dan Edwards isn’t that concerned by the news reports. But then it becomes obvious that the Festival is connected in some way. More importantly, the stories he is telling appear to be coming to life…
Once: A Belmouth Tale combines traditional folk tales with modern horror to create a journey into one man’s nightmare, one that will have him doubting everything and change his life irrevocably.
Not all stories end with Happily Ever After.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2019
8 people want to read
About the author
David J. Thacker
5 books1 followerDavid J Thacker is the author of a play for Young People ('S.O. T. – Save Our Theatre'), performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2001, and has penned the Libretto for a modern Oratorio in 2000 (no mean feat when you can’t read music). He also co-wrote and directed the 2014 Retro Hugo Awards Ceremony for the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention, LonCon3, and directed the 2014 Hugo Awards Ceremony at the same event.
'The Red House' was his first long-form piece of published work. A novel - 'Once: A Belmouth Tale' -was published in August 2019.
In 2022, he co-wrote 'The Welsh Hercules: Snapshots of a Strongman's Life' with Steven Blockley, and released a new novella, 'The Last Rat Child'
'The Red House' was his first long-form piece of published work. A novel - 'Once: A Belmouth Tale' -was published in August 2019.
In 2022, he co-wrote 'The Welsh Hercules: Snapshots of a Strongman's Life' with Steven Blockley, and released a new novella, 'The Last Rat Child'
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 7, 2019
The setting is one of the major strengths of David J. Thacker's Once: A Belmouth Tale and it had me guessing which out of season English seaside town ‘Belmouth’ was based upon. In the endnotes the author drops a few hints but does not specify. When my daughter was smaller we visited most of these seaside towns, so there is a good chance I have been there. The pubs are atmospherically and vividly described, as are the windswept deserted streets, the ritual of stopping for a ‘fish-supper’ on the way home and the driving rain lashing in from the sea. The wintry seaside town can be an empty and cold place. Welcome to England everyone! Home sweet home to many.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
December 7, 2020
This review can also be found at www.scifiandscary.com
Settle down at a cosy English Pub in the seaside town of Belmouth. Oh! And there's a festival for storytellers arranged, you LOVE stories! So, why not have a listen, it sounds harmless enough.
This book has been the first book that I have picked up in a very long time (because I haven't been reading too much and because I haven’t had much luck when it comes to choosing great books lately,) that has honestly been a pleasure to read. I had initially read the blurb and thought I had Thacker pegged and I didn't. Even once I had started reading, I thought I could guess what was coming, but Thacker pulled the wool over my eyes; especially when it came to how the novel ended, because it felt honest and real, and I give applause for that. I'm still thinking about it now.
The tales of folklore throughout keep the pace of the novel moving evenly and with plenty of suspense, they are told in a mesmerising fashion through Dan (our protagonist) enough to almost hypnotise listeners, and me, the reader. Most of those folklore tales I haven't myself heard about before which now has me interested in learning even more about them and how different they may have been portrayed by Thacker in Once.
The illustrations were also nice and creepy and I would have loved even more of those! It was cool to see how @Dansmonsters drew the pictures compared to how I was seeing things in my head. (I LOVE @Dansmonsters drawings, they are super spooky and you should definitely check them out if you haven't seen any before!)
This book gets 4 stars from me, and if you need some easy to read horror that feels new, I recommend this one!
Disclaimer: A free copy of this book was offered for review consideration
Settle down at a cosy English Pub in the seaside town of Belmouth. Oh! And there's a festival for storytellers arranged, you LOVE stories! So, why not have a listen, it sounds harmless enough.
This book has been the first book that I have picked up in a very long time (because I haven't been reading too much and because I haven’t had much luck when it comes to choosing great books lately,) that has honestly been a pleasure to read. I had initially read the blurb and thought I had Thacker pegged and I didn't. Even once I had started reading, I thought I could guess what was coming, but Thacker pulled the wool over my eyes; especially when it came to how the novel ended, because it felt honest and real, and I give applause for that. I'm still thinking about it now.
The tales of folklore throughout keep the pace of the novel moving evenly and with plenty of suspense, they are told in a mesmerising fashion through Dan (our protagonist) enough to almost hypnotise listeners, and me, the reader. Most of those folklore tales I haven't myself heard about before which now has me interested in learning even more about them and how different they may have been portrayed by Thacker in Once.
The illustrations were also nice and creepy and I would have loved even more of those! It was cool to see how @Dansmonsters drew the pictures compared to how I was seeing things in my head. (I LOVE @Dansmonsters drawings, they are super spooky and you should definitely check them out if you haven't seen any before!)
This book gets 4 stars from me, and if you need some easy to read horror that feels new, I recommend this one!
Disclaimer: A free copy of this book was offered for review consideration
February 19, 2020
3.5⭐️ ‘Once: a Belmouth Tale’
It all begins with a word... Dan is a fabulous story teller who mesmerises his audience with his dark and local legends.
Belmouth first storytelling has been all set up, people are gathering to listen to Dan and his fellow tellers at pubs, schools and bookshops. That night at the pub, Dan felt as if the story he told was knew to himself, being able to remember when he first heard about it.
All of a sudden, the coastal town is victim of unprecedented and mysterious murders.
I was really excited to receive this novel by the author himself, who contacted me and offered a copy. I really like the opportunity of supporting self published authors.
💭My thoughts 💭
I believe the premise of this novel to be amazing, as a folklorist I was delighted to read about different archetypical characters as the Old hag or Nuckalavee and enjoyed the way in which they were introduced to the story.
My second favourite aspect was the complexity of the extended metaphor of the storyteller as a weaver of stories that interact with the collective consciousness and cultural beliefs. How we human kind dote with factuality those things which we believe in. Also, the circularity of the story was a key factor to make full sense of the pattern of both novel and the storytelling within...
My least favourite aspect of the novel was that I felt like there were scenes where things were over explained, which was unnecessary.
I would recommend this book to horror and gore folklore lovers!
It all begins with a word... Dan is a fabulous story teller who mesmerises his audience with his dark and local legends.
Belmouth first storytelling has been all set up, people are gathering to listen to Dan and his fellow tellers at pubs, schools and bookshops. That night at the pub, Dan felt as if the story he told was knew to himself, being able to remember when he first heard about it.
All of a sudden, the coastal town is victim of unprecedented and mysterious murders.
I was really excited to receive this novel by the author himself, who contacted me and offered a copy. I really like the opportunity of supporting self published authors.
💭My thoughts 💭
I believe the premise of this novel to be amazing, as a folklorist I was delighted to read about different archetypical characters as the Old hag or Nuckalavee and enjoyed the way in which they were introduced to the story.
My second favourite aspect was the complexity of the extended metaphor of the storyteller as a weaver of stories that interact with the collective consciousness and cultural beliefs. How we human kind dote with factuality those things which we believe in. Also, the circularity of the story was a key factor to make full sense of the pattern of both novel and the storytelling within...
My least favourite aspect of the novel was that I felt like there were scenes where things were over explained, which was unnecessary.
I would recommend this book to horror and gore folklore lovers!
August 25, 2020
A really enjoyable horror novel with enough originality to keep the interest going throughout. Well drawn characters, the chills are nicely done avoiding any cliches.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews