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Neolithic
The discovery of a young boy's body, brutally murdered and preserved for thousands of years in a Scottish peat bog, brings with it more than a find of a lifetime for archaeologist Mirin Hassan. After the death of her husband, Mirin wants life to get back to normal for her and her young son. But media attention and professional rivalries become the least of her worries. Something other than cameras followed the corpse back to the university. A malevolent force grows unseen. The weather turns biblical. Violence and death spread beyond the university. Could it be connected with the strange discovery? The city grasps for a rational explanation, but time is up. Chaos has arrived, as Mirin realises some things should stay buried.
Book 1 in the FRIGHT NIGHT series of bone chillers, Neolithica is the breakout novel from horror author Dan Soule. A mix of Dean Koontz and James Herbert, with a dash of Lovecraft. Buy it now if you're a fan of bestsellers like Phantoms, Darkfall and The Rats.
Book 1 in the FRIGHT NIGHT series of bone chillers, Neolithica is the breakout novel from horror author Dan Soule. A mix of Dean Koontz and James Herbert, with a dash of Lovecraft. Buy it now if you're a fan of bestsellers like Phantoms, Darkfall and The Rats.
- GenresHorror
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2020
97 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Dan Soule
23 books56 followersDan is a horror author, who was born and raised in Nottinghamshire, England, growing up in a small cathedral town called Southwell. He moved to Glasgow, Scotland aged 19 and met his now wife, a Northern Irish girl. Hence, Dan now lives in Northern Ireland on the beautiful Antrim Coast, with his wife and two children, Cassie the cat and Jessie the dog. His author website with a bonus book is www.dansoule.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 31, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Is archaeological-horror making a return? Or is it just that randomly in my TBR ordering and release dates, I’ve stumbled upon a number of books in the last couple years that feature “an ancient discovery” as the main plot point?
Over the last few years, I’ve read ‘Curse of the Viking King‘ by Russell James, ‘Ararat‘ by Christopher Golden, ‘The Reddening‘ by Adam LG Nevill, ‘The Mourner’s Cradle‘ by Tommy B. Smith and ‘Tomb of Gods‘ by Brian Moreland. That’s just what I read. There are countless other releases that have been unleashed into the world that focus on a discovery that opens up a supernatural world.
Now, enter another – ”Neolithica‘ by Dan Soule. Recently, I read his excellent ‘Witchopper‘ and with the praise ‘Neolithica‘ had received, I was all too happy to return to his writing.
What I liked: If you haven’t figured it out yet, ‘Neolithica‘ revolves around a discovery. We get introduced to Mirin, returning to work following a tragedy. Trying to find where she fits in the University’s department. She’d been in line to be Department Head, but after taking time to grieve, that position was filled by a colleague. As a horrific incident happens, this discovery is made and from there, things go super dark.
Soule has a fantastic way of keeping this book grounded in reality while building this hauntingly dark story. Mirin is an intriguing character, one that I really enjoyed watching her story arc play out.
The backstory or mythological elements of this are really well done and shows me just how intriguing Soule is as a writer, now having read both this and ‘Witchopper.’
What I didn’t like: It took me a little bit to get into the story, but once I did it was a rampage through the last 75% or so. Nothing major, just at first the hooks didn’t grab me immediately.
Why you should buy this: Soule has created a really great, dark read. Full of emotion and carnage. He does a great job of building this story chapter by chapter. I loved that in the afterword he stated that he had a different ending originally and has included a link to go read it. I personally haven’t checked that out yet, but it shows just how multi-layered this story is that you could come to two different endings here.
Is archaeological-horror making a return? Or is it just that randomly in my TBR ordering and release dates, I’ve stumbled upon a number of books in the last couple years that feature “an ancient discovery” as the main plot point?
Over the last few years, I’ve read ‘Curse of the Viking King‘ by Russell James, ‘Ararat‘ by Christopher Golden, ‘The Reddening‘ by Adam LG Nevill, ‘The Mourner’s Cradle‘ by Tommy B. Smith and ‘Tomb of Gods‘ by Brian Moreland. That’s just what I read. There are countless other releases that have been unleashed into the world that focus on a discovery that opens up a supernatural world.
Now, enter another – ”Neolithica‘ by Dan Soule. Recently, I read his excellent ‘Witchopper‘ and with the praise ‘Neolithica‘ had received, I was all too happy to return to his writing.
What I liked: If you haven’t figured it out yet, ‘Neolithica‘ revolves around a discovery. We get introduced to Mirin, returning to work following a tragedy. Trying to find where she fits in the University’s department. She’d been in line to be Department Head, but after taking time to grieve, that position was filled by a colleague. As a horrific incident happens, this discovery is made and from there, things go super dark.
Soule has a fantastic way of keeping this book grounded in reality while building this hauntingly dark story. Mirin is an intriguing character, one that I really enjoyed watching her story arc play out.
The backstory or mythological elements of this are really well done and shows me just how intriguing Soule is as a writer, now having read both this and ‘Witchopper.’
What I didn’t like: It took me a little bit to get into the story, but once I did it was a rampage through the last 75% or so. Nothing major, just at first the hooks didn’t grab me immediately.
Why you should buy this: Soule has created a really great, dark read. Full of emotion and carnage. He does a great job of building this story chapter by chapter. I loved that in the afterword he stated that he had a different ending originally and has included a link to go read it. I personally haven’t checked that out yet, but it shows just how multi-layered this story is that you could come to two different endings here.
January 7, 2020
Full disclosure, I know the author and so got to read an early version of this in the run up to Christmas. But I promise, this is a ‘good read’. I’m not particularly a fan of horror, especially not when written by Dan because it tends to make me feel creeped out in my flat when I’m home alone, but this book touches on lots of different themes and interests. The horror bits are proper horrifying, the twists are well done, and even though I finished reading this a month ago, the characters and ideas are still pinging around in my head. It’s a great page turner, and well worth a go!
January 28, 2022
I don't write reviews very often, however I feel that this book deserves a few words of appreciation. It's a beautifully written story with engaging characters and cleverly intertwining sub plots. I would recommend this book to horror readers and lovers of apocalyptic fiction.
January 7, 2020
Since the passing of James Herbert and the gradual decline of Shaun Hutson’s power as staples in the British Horror Scene. I’ve been hankering for someone to step into that rather large void; which has been left vacant for some time now, by in my opinion two of the brightest and loudest voices that we’ve had to shout about from our little island in the realms of horror fiction.
That void has now been filled by author Dan Soule and his debut offering Neolithica – which seeps into the horror market like a deathly fringe, a poisonous noxious gas that can’t wait for you to taste its dark offerings and consume your very souls.
Neolithica shows that the British Horror Scene is alive and well – that the mantel that Hutson and Herbert had shouldered for so long has been passed onto a writer who understands all that has gone before him, that has borrowed the best from the best and blended it into an intoxicating cocktail of macabre offerings – but all the while providing us a unique tale, that you would be forgiven for thinking it had been penned by one of these masters of the genre – such is the adeptness on show in Dan Soule’s debut novel.
- Neolithica is a horrific masterpiece! -
Neolithica has that very retro horror vibe about it, think 70’s and 80’s horror at its best (think Paperbacks from Hell) and you’d be in the right ballpark or graveyard, this story is cut from that very cloth. Soule is open about it too, he’s not trying to hoodwink you into anything else, if anything he’s trying to warn you – you just need to see the stunning cover to know this is going to be retro horror and dark to its very core. Expect strange happenings, expect carnage, expect grisly deaths and the darkest of horrors – but most of all come expectant as this novel delivers on all your horror needs and wants – it’s an exceptional horror debut, which I’d champion horror fans to consume, it has a very cult feel to it and shows a very promising career starting to bloom for a new voice in horror writing!
‘A bog body of perfectly preserved Neolithic boy is dug up from a Scottish peat bog. Archaeologists are called in to investigate a discovery of a lifetime, however, even on the day it is found death follows in the boy’s wake.’
Our protagonist sets out on a journey of discovery, to investigate this bog body – but through this discovery it leads her to a personal revelation which she’d done so well to bury. Like a dead body in a lake it floats to the surface, waiting for an inquisitive hand to reach out and touch it, before it upends and reveals the ghastliness that had remained obscured. Soule has done a marvellous job at creating fully realised characters and with a large pool of individuals each has enough time allotted to them within the story to ensure the reader is invested in each of their fates.
I’m not going to lie, some of the scientific stuff that takes place within the story was lost on me, but it made it interesting as I had to look these things up and discovered more than I expected. But Soule also balances this academia with a rich and easy to read prose, which wraps itself around your throat and drags you through the book – kicking, screaming and pleading! This is a debut not to be missed.
‘Neolithica is a masterful meditation on horror and grief – A cult horror smash, which conjures up the very best from Hutson and Herbert – a terrifying must read for all horror fans!’
That void has now been filled by author Dan Soule and his debut offering Neolithica – which seeps into the horror market like a deathly fringe, a poisonous noxious gas that can’t wait for you to taste its dark offerings and consume your very souls.
Neolithica shows that the British Horror Scene is alive and well – that the mantel that Hutson and Herbert had shouldered for so long has been passed onto a writer who understands all that has gone before him, that has borrowed the best from the best and blended it into an intoxicating cocktail of macabre offerings – but all the while providing us a unique tale, that you would be forgiven for thinking it had been penned by one of these masters of the genre – such is the adeptness on show in Dan Soule’s debut novel.
- Neolithica is a horrific masterpiece! -
Neolithica has that very retro horror vibe about it, think 70’s and 80’s horror at its best (think Paperbacks from Hell) and you’d be in the right ballpark or graveyard, this story is cut from that very cloth. Soule is open about it too, he’s not trying to hoodwink you into anything else, if anything he’s trying to warn you – you just need to see the stunning cover to know this is going to be retro horror and dark to its very core. Expect strange happenings, expect carnage, expect grisly deaths and the darkest of horrors – but most of all come expectant as this novel delivers on all your horror needs and wants – it’s an exceptional horror debut, which I’d champion horror fans to consume, it has a very cult feel to it and shows a very promising career starting to bloom for a new voice in horror writing!
‘A bog body of perfectly preserved Neolithic boy is dug up from a Scottish peat bog. Archaeologists are called in to investigate a discovery of a lifetime, however, even on the day it is found death follows in the boy’s wake.’
Our protagonist sets out on a journey of discovery, to investigate this bog body – but through this discovery it leads her to a personal revelation which she’d done so well to bury. Like a dead body in a lake it floats to the surface, waiting for an inquisitive hand to reach out and touch it, before it upends and reveals the ghastliness that had remained obscured. Soule has done a marvellous job at creating fully realised characters and with a large pool of individuals each has enough time allotted to them within the story to ensure the reader is invested in each of their fates.
I’m not going to lie, some of the scientific stuff that takes place within the story was lost on me, but it made it interesting as I had to look these things up and discovered more than I expected. But Soule also balances this academia with a rich and easy to read prose, which wraps itself around your throat and drags you through the book – kicking, screaming and pleading! This is a debut not to be missed.
‘Neolithica is a masterful meditation on horror and grief – A cult horror smash, which conjures up the very best from Hutson and Herbert – a terrifying must read for all horror fans!’
August 1, 2022
This was my second Dan Soule novel and it won't be my last.
He writes some strange stories based in somewhat fantasy and reality..mired in a bit of history. I love the story, its strange setting made me care about the main characters..Many twists and a satisfying
ending...Bravo
He writes some strange stories based in somewhat fantasy and reality..mired in a bit of history. I love the story, its strange setting made me care about the main characters..Many twists and a satisfying
ending...Bravo
January 7, 2020
This book will appeal to fans of Hames Herbert, old-school King, and Dean Koontz. It's a brilliant story with some truly compelling characters. The ending is phenomenal in particular, where the past is relived in a way we don't expect - moving and powerful. Top notch horror. I see Dan making a big impact on the horror scene.
January 27, 2022
Couldn't out it down!
Really did enjoy this book from beginning to end.
When I did have to sleep, first thing in the morning, had to get back into it!
Highly recommend you read! 😱
Really did enjoy this book from beginning to end.
When I did have to sleep, first thing in the morning, had to get back into it!
Highly recommend you read! 😱
July 17, 2020
Horror at its best!
You know those movies you watch through splayed fingers because you KNOW something horrible is about to happen but not what? Welcome to Neolithica. Soule takes you on a well planned journey escalating ever higher and higher in exquisitely described havoc and mayhem, throwing in a bombshell or two you never see coming for good measure. Keep the lights on with this one.
You know those movies you watch through splayed fingers because you KNOW something horrible is about to happen but not what? Welcome to Neolithica. Soule takes you on a well planned journey escalating ever higher and higher in exquisitely described havoc and mayhem, throwing in a bombshell or two you never see coming for good measure. Keep the lights on with this one.
January 23, 2021
When I realized this involved a bog body I was hooked! I find the preserved bodies found in bogs fascinating! I remember reading about Tollund Man. Interesting stuff!
Mr. Soule brings us a bog body of a boy which shows evidence of being brutally murdered, his body covered in what appears to be ancient languages. He is extracted, taken to a University research lab but more is brought forth than just the body! For me there was never a dull moment! The author takes the reader through one horrific event right into another. Destruction, mayhem, crows, green fog, frogs raining down, packs of attacking dogs and cats, and deadly weather events!
Underlying all this is the incredible sense of loss suffered by the main character Mirin. Mirin’s tragedy pulls the reader in and is a great example of why I read horror! I will definitely read more from this author. I will never look at a crow the same way ever again!
Mr. Soule brings us a bog body of a boy which shows evidence of being brutally murdered, his body covered in what appears to be ancient languages. He is extracted, taken to a University research lab but more is brought forth than just the body! For me there was never a dull moment! The author takes the reader through one horrific event right into another. Destruction, mayhem, crows, green fog, frogs raining down, packs of attacking dogs and cats, and deadly weather events!
Underlying all this is the incredible sense of loss suffered by the main character Mirin. Mirin’s tragedy pulls the reader in and is a great example of why I read horror! I will definitely read more from this author. I will never look at a crow the same way ever again!
January 12, 2020
I had no idea what this story was about before turning on the first page. I never read blurps or excerps, prefering to get the surprise of the story rather than a map as to where I might have to step. I usually do not like surprises in life, but I do adore to get them in books. This book was no exception and it's narrative kept me glued to the story from the start to the end.
First of all, this story has many elements that I adore already, making this a definitive favorite for me. From archaeology, bog people and horror, all three subjects are bound to find me in it's viscinity and this book truly kept me enraptured in it's storyline to the point I almost dreamed about it at night.
The main characters never left me, especialy the archaeological find in the book that will soon turn the city the main characters live in, into a war zone. The horror felt real, as was the mystery as to who was truly what, and how the main characters had to fight this supernatural foe in order to not only survive the foe, but what was happening all around them at the same time.
I absolutely adored reading this book by Dan Soule, a new author for me that so far have been adoring all that he has been publishing as of late.
So, if you love history, archaeology, mysteries, bog people, supernatural events as well as a good dose of horror, you will adore this book. I promise you that the bog will call to you like nothing ever has in your life. Happy reading!
First of all, this story has many elements that I adore already, making this a definitive favorite for me. From archaeology, bog people and horror, all three subjects are bound to find me in it's viscinity and this book truly kept me enraptured in it's storyline to the point I almost dreamed about it at night.
The main characters never left me, especialy the archaeological find in the book that will soon turn the city the main characters live in, into a war zone. The horror felt real, as was the mystery as to who was truly what, and how the main characters had to fight this supernatural foe in order to not only survive the foe, but what was happening all around them at the same time.
I absolutely adored reading this book by Dan Soule, a new author for me that so far have been adoring all that he has been publishing as of late.
So, if you love history, archaeology, mysteries, bog people, supernatural events as well as a good dose of horror, you will adore this book. I promise you that the bog will call to you like nothing ever has in your life. Happy reading!
January 20, 2020
I had no idea what this story was about before turning on the first page. I never read blurps or excerps, prefering to get the surprise of the story rather than a map as to where I might have to step. I usually do not like surprises in life, but I do adore to get them in books. This book was no exception and it's narrative kept me glued to the story from the start to the end.
First of all, this story has many elements that I adore already, making this a definitive favorite for me. From archaeology, bog people and horror, all three subjects are bound to find me in it's viscinity and this book truly kept me enraptured in it's storyline to the point I almost dreamed about it at night.
The main characters never left me, especialy the archaeological find in the book that will soon turn the city the main characters live in, into a war zone. The horror felt real, as was the mystery as to who was truly what, and how the main characters had to fight this supernatural foe in order to not only survive the foe, but what was happening all around them at the same time.
I absolutely adored reading this book by Dan Soule, a new author for me that so far have been adoring all that he has been publishing as of late.
So, if you love history, archaeology, mysteries, bog people, supernatural events as well as a good dose of horror, you will adore this book. I promise you that the bog will call to you like nothing ever has in your life. Happy reading!
First of all, this story has many elements that I adore already, making this a definitive favorite for me. From archaeology, bog people and horror, all three subjects are bound to find me in it's viscinity and this book truly kept me enraptured in it's storyline to the point I almost dreamed about it at night.
The main characters never left me, especialy the archaeological find in the book that will soon turn the city the main characters live in, into a war zone. The horror felt real, as was the mystery as to who was truly what, and how the main characters had to fight this supernatural foe in order to not only survive the foe, but what was happening all around them at the same time.
I absolutely adored reading this book by Dan Soule, a new author for me that so far have been adoring all that he has been publishing as of late.
So, if you love history, archaeology, mysteries, bog people, supernatural events as well as a good dose of horror, you will adore this book. I promise you that the bog will call to you like nothing ever has in your life. Happy reading!
November 17, 2020
In the mood for a immersive and bittersweet thriller to keep you up on dark and stormy nights?! Then, Neolithica is for you. From the off, I read this book obsessively. Each chapter's punchy vignette keeps the story moving at a frantic pace, all the while building up a rich emotional tapestry populated with complex characters and set against a vibrantly imagined Glasgow. Strongly recommend to anyone looking for a solid bit of escapism during the challenges of 2020. Neolithica reminds us that it could always be much, much worse...
January 20, 2020
Some things should stay buried...
The discovery of a young boy's body, brutally murdered and preserved for thousands of years in a Scottish peat bog, brings with it more than a find of a lifetime for archaeologist Mirin Hassan. After the death of her husband, Mirin wants life to get back to normal for her and her young son. But media attention and professional rivalries become the least of her worries. Something other than cameras followed the corpse back to the university. A malevolent force grows unseen. The weather turns biblical. Violence and death spread beyond the university. Could it be connected with the strange discovery? The city grasps for a rational explanation, but time is up. Chaos has arrived, as Mirin realises some things should stay buried.
Book 1 in the FRIGHT NIGHT series of bone chillers, Neolithica is the breakout novel from horror author Dan Soule.
This is a wonderful start to this thrilling new series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
The discovery of a young boy's body, brutally murdered and preserved for thousands of years in a Scottish peat bog, brings with it more than a find of a lifetime for archaeologist Mirin Hassan. After the death of her husband, Mirin wants life to get back to normal for her and her young son. But media attention and professional rivalries become the least of her worries. Something other than cameras followed the corpse back to the university. A malevolent force grows unseen. The weather turns biblical. Violence and death spread beyond the university. Could it be connected with the strange discovery? The city grasps for a rational explanation, but time is up. Chaos has arrived, as Mirin realises some things should stay buried.
Book 1 in the FRIGHT NIGHT series of bone chillers, Neolithica is the breakout novel from horror author Dan Soule.
This is a wonderful start to this thrilling new series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
March 13, 2020
World-building is exceptionally well done, and characters are very well developed. Heat scale is a zero, violence is medium but combined with the creepiness, and eerie atmosphere the violence seemed a lot higher. For the first time in a long long time I was creeped out, and scared after reading a book. There were a couple of days I literally had to force myself to pick up and begin reading the book again. I could not stop reading this book, because I had received it for free from the author for an honest review plus I had to finish it to find out what happened in the end. I think the author hit on the combination of instinctual fear that we are all born with and that leads back to early man. Adding everything together this book had an incredible amount of research done to finish and fine-tune the plot. The tension continues to build until the very end. I highly recommend this book to everyone it is a tension-filled page turner, one you won't easily put down, and when you do put it down you leave a light on to sleep.
November 4, 2022
After a Bog Body, seemingly that of a sacrificed boy, is discovered, chaos ensues as those in the immediate area succumb to an orgy of violence. Into this our protagonists, Dip, a policeman injured during the melee and through visions triggered by the exhumation knows the ancient evil the child represents, and Mirrin, an archaeologist from the university scarred by her own personal tragedy, fight to stop the boy's influence which is the catalyst for spreading violence and murder throughout the city. A third major player might be the city of Glasgow itself. Soule expertly sprinkles its characters and geography into the novel in a very satisfying and believable way. This a real place with real people exposed to mounting horrors. The story moves along at a feverish pace as it builds to a fittingly bloody and violent ending. This is a great read which I highly recommend.
October 9, 2020
This is a stunning book!
The cast of characters, the format and scope remind me of Crichton or Preston and Child at their very best. However, I’ve never been as thoroughly satisfied by a book by those authors as I was by Neolithica.
The characters are great, and Jackie Chan, the pug, and Mary, the homeless woman who can talk to birds, stole my heart.
The pacing is good, starting with a punch and building to a fantastic conclusion. Everything makes sense within the world, so I found the tale very satisfying. I also liked the glimpses of a possible past, and I loved the more spiritual elements that were at the backbone of the novel.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The cast of characters, the format and scope remind me of Crichton or Preston and Child at their very best. However, I’ve never been as thoroughly satisfied by a book by those authors as I was by Neolithica.
The characters are great, and Jackie Chan, the pug, and Mary, the homeless woman who can talk to birds, stole my heart.
The pacing is good, starting with a punch and building to a fantastic conclusion. Everything makes sense within the world, so I found the tale very satisfying. I also liked the glimpses of a possible past, and I loved the more spiritual elements that were at the backbone of the novel.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2022
A very gratifying dive into the mud, (not something I usually do). Bog bodies in general are so interesting, but this one is ...more, much more,
I knew as this story unfolded, that it would be intriguing and creepy. I wasn't wrong. The folk tale, myth whatever you want to call it, is brutal and that comes across quite quickly. I really liked the main character, Mirrin, and all the other characters played their part well. An ending that is very satisfying, makes this an all around a great book. A very gifted storyteller, and most likely a bit of a freak if we're being real.
I knew as this story unfolded, that it would be intriguing and creepy. I wasn't wrong. The folk tale, myth whatever you want to call it, is brutal and that comes across quite quickly. I really liked the main character, Mirrin, and all the other characters played their part well. An ending that is very satisfying, makes this an all around a great book. A very gifted storyteller, and most likely a bit of a freak if we're being real.
January 21, 2020
An interesting debut novel to a new series
A incredibly well preserved body of a boy estimated to be twelve thousand years old is found in a bog near Glasgow emits pure evil and death and destruction to the people who come in contact with the boy.In a fast moving novel we discover what various characters in the novel have to the growth in power of the wee boy. Is there any person who can stop the revenge and terror of the wee boy? Highly recommended.
A incredibly well preserved body of a boy estimated to be twelve thousand years old is found in a bog near Glasgow emits pure evil and death and destruction to the people who come in contact with the boy.In a fast moving novel we discover what various characters in the novel have to the growth in power of the wee boy. Is there any person who can stop the revenge and terror of the wee boy? Highly recommended.
August 29, 2020
Neolithica announces in Dan Soule a bold new star in the horror firmament - a tale of aeons-old evil and loss and yearning that reaches across time to our primal human origins, yet is grounded confidently in our world of contemporary concerns and anxieties. Washed by currents real and metaphorical, buffeted by hot passions and dark fears, Neolithica is a prize find for fans of Aliens, Dark Water, and anyone who wants midnight shocks underpinned by a human story of real sympathy and substance.
March 7, 2020
Well written and intriguing. Dan Soule spins a fine tale of horror that leaves a reader hungry to learn more as you turn each page. Mixing the call of old sacred customs and the impart of modern technology the discovery of an ancient body archaeologist Mirin Hassan has the find of a lifetime only to realize that there are somethings you should leave buried.
April 6, 2021
A gripper
Five stars given because from page 1 I was hooked right up to the very last page. To be able to see each character in my mind is a job not a lot of authors can do. Dan Soule is a master of description. Well worth your time to read this story.
Five stars given because from page 1 I was hooked right up to the very last page. To be able to see each character in my mind is a job not a lot of authors can do. Dan Soule is a master of description. Well worth your time to read this story.
January 21, 2020
Loved this. The story grabs you and keeps you reading.
December 2, 2021
This book had me spellbound from beginning to end. The characters were absolutely amazing and I enjoyed the storyline.
January 21, 2020
Since the passing of James Herbert and the gradual decline of Shaun Hutson’s power as staples in the British Horror Scene. I’ve been hankering for someone to step into that rather large void; which has been left vacant for some time now, by in my opinion two of the brightest and loudest voices that we’ve had to shout about from our little island in the realms of horror fiction.
That void has now been filled by author Dan Soule and his debut offering Neolithica – which seeps into the horror market like a deathly fringe, a poisonous noxious gas that can’t wait for you to taste its dark offerings and consume your very souls.
Neolithica shows that the British Horror Scene is alive and well – that the mantel that Hutson and Herbert had shouldered for so long has been passed onto a writer who understands all that has gone before him, that has borrowed the best from the best and blended it into an intoxicating cocktail of macabre offerings – but all the while providing us a unique tale, that you would be forgiven for thinking it had been penned by one of these masters of the genre – such is the adeptness on show in Dan Soule’s debut novel.
- Neolithica is a horrific masterpiece! -
Neolithica has that very retro horror vibe about it, think 70’s and 80’s horror at its best (think Paperbacks from Hell) and you’d be in the right ballpark or graveyard, this story is cut from that very cloth. Soule is open about it too, he’s not trying to hoodwink you into anything else, if anything he’s trying to warn you – you just need to see the stunning cover to know this is going to be retro horror and dark to its very core. Expect strange happenings, expect carnage, expect grisly deaths and the darkest of horrors – but most of all come expectant as this novel delivers on all your horror needs and wants – it’s an exceptional horror debut, which I’d champion horror fans to consume, it has a very cult feel to it and shows a very promising career starting to bloom for a new voice in horror writing!
‘A bog body of perfectly preserved Neolithic boy is dug up from a Scottish peat bog. Archaeologists are called in to investigate a discovery of a lifetime, however, even on the day it is found death follows in the boy’s wake.’
Our protagonist sets out on a journey of discovery, to investigate this bog body – but through this discovery it leads her to a personal revelation which she’d done so well to bury. Like a dead body in a lake it floats to the surface, waiting for an inquisitive hand to reach out and touch it, before it upends and reveals the ghastliness that had remained obscured. Soule has done a marvellous job at creating fully realised characters and with a large pool of individuals each has enough time allotted to them within the story to ensure the reader is invested in each of their fates.
I’m not going to lie, some of the scientific stuff that takes place within the story was lost on me, but it made it interesting as I had to look these things up and discovered more than I expected. But Soule also balances this academia with a rich and easy to read prose, which wraps itself around your throat and drags you through the book – kicking, screaming and pleading! This is a debut not to be missed.
‘Neolithica is a masterful meditation on horror and grief – A cult horror smash, which conjures up the very best from Hutson and Herbert – a terrifying must read for all horror fans!’
Merged review:
Since the passing of James Herbert and the gradual decline of Shaun Hutson’s power as staples in the British Horror Scene. I’ve been hankering for someone to step into that rather large void; which has been left vacant for some time now, by in my opinion two of the brightest and loudest voices that we’ve had to shout about from our little island in the realms of horror fiction.
That void has now been filled by author Dan Soule and his debut offering Neolithica – which seeps into the horror market like a deathly fringe, a poisonous noxious gas that can’t wait for you to taste its dark offerings and consume your very souls.
Neolithica shows that the British Horror Scene is alive and well – that the mantel that Hutson and Herbert had shouldered for so long has been passed onto a writer who understands all that has gone before him, that has borrowed the best from the best and blended it into an intoxicating cocktail of macabre offerings – but all the while providing us a unique tale, that you would be forgiven for thinking it had been penned by one of these masters of the genre – such is the adeptness on show in Dan Soule’s debut novel.
- Neolithica is a horrific masterpiece! -
Neolithica has that very retro horror vibe about it, think 70’s and 80’s horror at its best (think Paperbacks from Hell) and you’d be in the right ballpark or graveyard, this story is cut from that very cloth. Soule is open about it too, he’s not trying to hoodwink you into anything else, if anything he’s trying to warn you – you just need to see the stunning cover to know this is going to be retro horror and dark to its very core. Expect strange happenings, expect carnage, expect grisly deaths and the darkest of horrors – but most of all come expectant as this novel delivers on all your horror needs and wants – it’s an exceptional horror debut, which I’d champion horror fans to consume, it has a very cult feel to it and shows a very promising career starting to bloom for a new voice in horror writing!
‘A bog body of perfectly preserved Neolithic boy is dug up from a Scottish peat bog. Archaeologists are called in to investigate a discovery of a lifetime, however, even on the day it is found death follows in the boy’s wake.’
Our protagonist sets out on a journey of discovery, to investigate this bog body – but through this discovery it leads her to a personal revelation which she’d done so well to bury. Like a dead body in a lake it floats to the surface, waiting for an inquisitive hand to reach out and touch it, before it upends and reveals the ghastliness that had remained obscured. Soule has done a marvellous job at creating fully realised characters and with a large pool of individuals each has enough time allotted to them within the story to ensure the reader is invested in each of their fates.
I’m not going to lie, some of the scientific stuff that takes place within the story was lost on me, but it made it interesting as I had to look these things up and discovered more than I expected. But Soule also balances this academia with a rich and easy to read prose, which wraps itself around your throat and drags you through the book – kicking, screaming and pleading! This is a debut not to be missed.
‘Neolithica is a masterful meditation on horror and grief – A cult horror smash, which conjures up the very best from Hutson and Herbert – a terrifying must read for all horror fans!’
That void has now been filled by author Dan Soule and his debut offering Neolithica – which seeps into the horror market like a deathly fringe, a poisonous noxious gas that can’t wait for you to taste its dark offerings and consume your very souls.
Neolithica shows that the British Horror Scene is alive and well – that the mantel that Hutson and Herbert had shouldered for so long has been passed onto a writer who understands all that has gone before him, that has borrowed the best from the best and blended it into an intoxicating cocktail of macabre offerings – but all the while providing us a unique tale, that you would be forgiven for thinking it had been penned by one of these masters of the genre – such is the adeptness on show in Dan Soule’s debut novel.
- Neolithica is a horrific masterpiece! -
Neolithica has that very retro horror vibe about it, think 70’s and 80’s horror at its best (think Paperbacks from Hell) and you’d be in the right ballpark or graveyard, this story is cut from that very cloth. Soule is open about it too, he’s not trying to hoodwink you into anything else, if anything he’s trying to warn you – you just need to see the stunning cover to know this is going to be retro horror and dark to its very core. Expect strange happenings, expect carnage, expect grisly deaths and the darkest of horrors – but most of all come expectant as this novel delivers on all your horror needs and wants – it’s an exceptional horror debut, which I’d champion horror fans to consume, it has a very cult feel to it and shows a very promising career starting to bloom for a new voice in horror writing!
‘A bog body of perfectly preserved Neolithic boy is dug up from a Scottish peat bog. Archaeologists are called in to investigate a discovery of a lifetime, however, even on the day it is found death follows in the boy’s wake.’
Our protagonist sets out on a journey of discovery, to investigate this bog body – but through this discovery it leads her to a personal revelation which she’d done so well to bury. Like a dead body in a lake it floats to the surface, waiting for an inquisitive hand to reach out and touch it, before it upends and reveals the ghastliness that had remained obscured. Soule has done a marvellous job at creating fully realised characters and with a large pool of individuals each has enough time allotted to them within the story to ensure the reader is invested in each of their fates.
I’m not going to lie, some of the scientific stuff that takes place within the story was lost on me, but it made it interesting as I had to look these things up and discovered more than I expected. But Soule also balances this academia with a rich and easy to read prose, which wraps itself around your throat and drags you through the book – kicking, screaming and pleading! This is a debut not to be missed.
‘Neolithica is a masterful meditation on horror and grief – A cult horror smash, which conjures up the very best from Hutson and Herbert – a terrifying must read for all horror fans!’
Merged review:
Since the passing of James Herbert and the gradual decline of Shaun Hutson’s power as staples in the British Horror Scene. I’ve been hankering for someone to step into that rather large void; which has been left vacant for some time now, by in my opinion two of the brightest and loudest voices that we’ve had to shout about from our little island in the realms of horror fiction.
That void has now been filled by author Dan Soule and his debut offering Neolithica – which seeps into the horror market like a deathly fringe, a poisonous noxious gas that can’t wait for you to taste its dark offerings and consume your very souls.
Neolithica shows that the British Horror Scene is alive and well – that the mantel that Hutson and Herbert had shouldered for so long has been passed onto a writer who understands all that has gone before him, that has borrowed the best from the best and blended it into an intoxicating cocktail of macabre offerings – but all the while providing us a unique tale, that you would be forgiven for thinking it had been penned by one of these masters of the genre – such is the adeptness on show in Dan Soule’s debut novel.
- Neolithica is a horrific masterpiece! -
Neolithica has that very retro horror vibe about it, think 70’s and 80’s horror at its best (think Paperbacks from Hell) and you’d be in the right ballpark or graveyard, this story is cut from that very cloth. Soule is open about it too, he’s not trying to hoodwink you into anything else, if anything he’s trying to warn you – you just need to see the stunning cover to know this is going to be retro horror and dark to its very core. Expect strange happenings, expect carnage, expect grisly deaths and the darkest of horrors – but most of all come expectant as this novel delivers on all your horror needs and wants – it’s an exceptional horror debut, which I’d champion horror fans to consume, it has a very cult feel to it and shows a very promising career starting to bloom for a new voice in horror writing!
‘A bog body of perfectly preserved Neolithic boy is dug up from a Scottish peat bog. Archaeologists are called in to investigate a discovery of a lifetime, however, even on the day it is found death follows in the boy’s wake.’
Our protagonist sets out on a journey of discovery, to investigate this bog body – but through this discovery it leads her to a personal revelation which she’d done so well to bury. Like a dead body in a lake it floats to the surface, waiting for an inquisitive hand to reach out and touch it, before it upends and reveals the ghastliness that had remained obscured. Soule has done a marvellous job at creating fully realised characters and with a large pool of individuals each has enough time allotted to them within the story to ensure the reader is invested in each of their fates.
I’m not going to lie, some of the scientific stuff that takes place within the story was lost on me, but it made it interesting as I had to look these things up and discovered more than I expected. But Soule also balances this academia with a rich and easy to read prose, which wraps itself around your throat and drags you through the book – kicking, screaming and pleading! This is a debut not to be missed.
‘Neolithica is a masterful meditation on horror and grief – A cult horror smash, which conjures up the very best from Hutson and Herbert – a terrifying must read for all horror fans!’
October 25, 2020
What’s clear to me is that Dan isn’t just an excellent horror writer; he’s a huge fan of the genre. This shows in Neolithica, as it’s a gleefully dark, twisted apocalyptic tale, but thoroughly researched and crafted to a very high quality. The way Dan sets the scene is just delicious, and the more extreme moments give you just enough to keep you thinking long after you’re finished reading. To think Dan is a relatively up and coming horror writer is ludicrous to me; if his books are this good now, the future does look scary indeed.
November 20, 2023
Solid, fun, dark read
Good writing makes this story an excellent one to pass the time. The author doesn't back down at any point, providing a satisfying conclusion for his characters.
Pick up the book. This one is fun and worth the time.
Good writing makes this story an excellent one to pass the time. The author doesn't back down at any point, providing a satisfying conclusion for his characters.
Pick up the book. This one is fun and worth the time.
November 17, 2025
A brilliant read I couldn't put down
Wow amazing read loved the story and great characters I love what Dan as done and brought horror back to urban legends and myths back to life I'll definitely read more of Dan's works
Wow amazing read loved the story and great characters I love what Dan as done and brought horror back to urban legends and myths back to life I'll definitely read more of Dan's works
July 20, 2023
Very goof
Keeps you interested throughout.Very well written and keeps you wondering whatcha going to happen next.Would thoroughly recommend and will read more by this author
Keeps you interested throughout.Very well written and keeps you wondering whatcha going to happen next.Would thoroughly recommend and will read more by this author
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