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The Tainted Isle: A Collection of Dark Gothic Tales
Victorian England: A contradictory time of industrial progression and superstitious doctrine.
After a brush with death, Solomon Whyte, driven by his fascination with the super-natural, tasks himself with investigating the origins of Britain’s darkest myths.
As he explores haunted locales, crosses paths with mythical beasts and discovers the resting place of King Arthur, what Solomon experiences will forever blur the lines between what is fact and what is fiction.
Mixing science with superstition, Solomon inadvertently paves the way for the future of paranormal investigation; his legacy will be that of Britain’s first paranormal investigator, discovering for himself the secrets of The Tainted Isle.
After a brush with death, Solomon Whyte, driven by his fascination with the super-natural, tasks himself with investigating the origins of Britain’s darkest myths.
As he explores haunted locales, crosses paths with mythical beasts and discovers the resting place of King Arthur, what Solomon experiences will forever blur the lines between what is fact and what is fiction.
Mixing science with superstition, Solomon inadvertently paves the way for the future of paranormal investigation; his legacy will be that of Britain’s first paranormal investigator, discovering for himself the secrets of The Tainted Isle.
228 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2019
13 people want to read
About the author
Dan Weatherer
32 books31 followersDan Weatherer is represented by The Cherry Weiner Literary Agency.
Award-winning author, Dan Weatherer, was first published by Haunted Magazine in Spring, 2013.
Aside from the publication of numerous short stories with a multitude of presses, his next major project was a solo collection of short stories titled The Soul That Screamed (Winner of the Preditors & Editors™ Readers' Poll ‘Best Anthology 2013’).
A further two collections Only the Good Burn Bright (Spring 2015, James Ward Kirk Fiction) and Neverlight (Spring 2016, Spectral Press) quickly followed. His first non-fiction book titled ‘What Dwells Within’ was released in the Autumn of 2015 and details the life’s work of paranormal investigator Jayne Harris.
In 2015, Dan was shortlisted for the prestigious position of Staffordshire Poet Laureate 2016-2018.
In 2017, Neverlight was shortlisted for the first annual Arnold Bennett Literary Prize. His fourth collection Just Eventide, was released in August 2017.
2017 also saw the release of Dan’s historical novella, ‘Crippen’, courtesy again of Spectral Press.
An accomplished playwright, Dan was winner of the 2017 Soundwork UK play competition, a finalist in the Blackshaw Showcase Award 2016, and a two-time finalist of the Congleton Players One Act Festival, 2016. Dan has had several of his plays appear at festivals and fringe events. The Dead Stage, a book detailing Dan’s experiences as a novice playwright was published courtesy of Crystal Lake Publishing in October, 2018
In 2019, Dan was nominated for a local Heroes award (The Sentinel) for his continued promotion of literacy and mental health issues in the city of Stoke on Trent.
2019 also saw the release of his non-fiction title Sounds of a Madman, where Dan discusses the issues surrounding living with Depression and Anxiety. The Necessary Evils followed in late October (Demain Press), followed by The Tainted Isle, Dan's debut novel, courtesy of PS Publishing.
Dan lives in Staffordshire, where is married to his wife and two children.
Award-winning author, Dan Weatherer, was first published by Haunted Magazine in Spring, 2013.
Aside from the publication of numerous short stories with a multitude of presses, his next major project was a solo collection of short stories titled The Soul That Screamed (Winner of the Preditors & Editors™ Readers' Poll ‘Best Anthology 2013’).
A further two collections Only the Good Burn Bright (Spring 2015, James Ward Kirk Fiction) and Neverlight (Spring 2016, Spectral Press) quickly followed. His first non-fiction book titled ‘What Dwells Within’ was released in the Autumn of 2015 and details the life’s work of paranormal investigator Jayne Harris.
In 2015, Dan was shortlisted for the prestigious position of Staffordshire Poet Laureate 2016-2018.
In 2017, Neverlight was shortlisted for the first annual Arnold Bennett Literary Prize. His fourth collection Just Eventide, was released in August 2017.
2017 also saw the release of Dan’s historical novella, ‘Crippen’, courtesy again of Spectral Press.
An accomplished playwright, Dan was winner of the 2017 Soundwork UK play competition, a finalist in the Blackshaw Showcase Award 2016, and a two-time finalist of the Congleton Players One Act Festival, 2016. Dan has had several of his plays appear at festivals and fringe events. The Dead Stage, a book detailing Dan’s experiences as a novice playwright was published courtesy of Crystal Lake Publishing in October, 2018
In 2019, Dan was nominated for a local Heroes award (The Sentinel) for his continued promotion of literacy and mental health issues in the city of Stoke on Trent.
2019 also saw the release of his non-fiction title Sounds of a Madman, where Dan discusses the issues surrounding living with Depression and Anxiety. The Necessary Evils followed in late October (Demain Press), followed by The Tainted Isle, Dan's debut novel, courtesy of PS Publishing.
Dan lives in Staffordshire, where is married to his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 27, 2020
Solomon Whyte, the son of a wealthy industrialist, has turned his back on the family business and taken on the role of a paranormal investigator. Here Whyte travels the length and breadth of Britain investigating the supernatural. A selection of these cases are documented here in the first volume of his memoirs The Tainted Isle.
The premise of this book had me very excited but the reality now I have snapped the book shut is of disappointment. Disappointment as Dan Weatherer is a fine writer, his world-building and imagery are superb, in Solomon Whyte he has created a wonderful character that has the whole ‘other’ world at his fingertips, with hundreds of myths and legends to investigate.
And it's here with the investigations that my main issue lies. I’ll be blunt, he doesn’t really investigate. As an example, Whyte has to investigate something that is scaring local workmen away from a building project. He arrives, visits a bar and is told the story of what the creature is and how it got to be in the local lake. Whyte stays overnight by the lake, sees the creature and reports back to his client that yes, he was correct there is indeed a ******* scaring the workers. Now that’s not investigating that confirming.
That’s not to say this book is a write-off, it’s anything but. As seeds for stories, I liked them all and I really enjoyed The Internment Of The Safe which featured an unusual occurrence on the way to a case in Devon. Whyte is joined in his carriage by a strange tall man, the owner of a mysterious box from which strange noises emit. Another case, The Haunting Of Fenton House was excellent and ripe for a full novella length rewrite in my opinion. There was so much here to play with and that's where my main frustration lies. The Tainted Isle contains many ideas/cases that are not given anywhere near enough flesh to their bones. Most of the stories have a wonderful introduction and middle, but fall a little flat in their conclusion. This lies with Whyte’s lack of investigating, bar a couple of cases all he really does is confirm events and leave.
The book really feels like its more about building Whyte as a character and for that it’s a success, so much so I want to read more featuring him.
Dan Weatherer has a fantastic platform now from which to launch Solomon Whyte, Paranormal Investigator.
The premise of this book had me very excited but the reality now I have snapped the book shut is of disappointment. Disappointment as Dan Weatherer is a fine writer, his world-building and imagery are superb, in Solomon Whyte he has created a wonderful character that has the whole ‘other’ world at his fingertips, with hundreds of myths and legends to investigate.
And it's here with the investigations that my main issue lies. I’ll be blunt, he doesn’t really investigate. As an example, Whyte has to investigate something that is scaring local workmen away from a building project. He arrives, visits a bar and is told the story of what the creature is and how it got to be in the local lake. Whyte stays overnight by the lake, sees the creature and reports back to his client that yes, he was correct there is indeed a ******* scaring the workers. Now that’s not investigating that confirming.
That’s not to say this book is a write-off, it’s anything but. As seeds for stories, I liked them all and I really enjoyed The Internment Of The Safe which featured an unusual occurrence on the way to a case in Devon. Whyte is joined in his carriage by a strange tall man, the owner of a mysterious box from which strange noises emit. Another case, The Haunting Of Fenton House was excellent and ripe for a full novella length rewrite in my opinion. There was so much here to play with and that's where my main frustration lies. The Tainted Isle contains many ideas/cases that are not given anywhere near enough flesh to their bones. Most of the stories have a wonderful introduction and middle, but fall a little flat in their conclusion. This lies with Whyte’s lack of investigating, bar a couple of cases all he really does is confirm events and leave.
The book really feels like its more about building Whyte as a character and for that it’s a success, so much so I want to read more featuring him.
Dan Weatherer has a fantastic platform now from which to launch Solomon Whyte, Paranormal Investigator.
February 21, 2020
The Tainted Isle is Dan Weatherer’s first full length novel and as such I think the way he’s gone about this is really quite clever.
Understanding his own limits and experience levels, he has crafted a novel by setting out the chapters like short stories. Within each, our main character Solomon Whyte, tells of his experiences of certain cases during his time as a paranormal investigator and also in between these we learn about the character’s own life, family and back story.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that each of the cases is actually part of UK Folklore, so it’s unusual stories I was already partly familiar with, with this character interjected. A very clever way to keep these stories alive.
Now, other reviewers have picked up on the fact that Whyte doesn’t exactly solve some of these cases, I have an argument for this and whilst I can see it from that perspective I’d like to share my view; I feel that if you were constructing a book of interesting stories, you might choose those that seemed the strangest rather than those which make you look the most successful. It really depends on what you’re looking to achieve from the book. Perhaps you don’t see the straightforward cases that you’ve been able to fix completely as particularly interesting. That’s just my spin on it.
I enjoyed the book, I think the format and concept is great, and with further Whyte adventures it can only improve. Weatherer writes this book with a similar Gentlemanly tone of which I’ve mentioned in reviews of both Lex H Jones and M R James so I’m very excited to explore more of Weatherer’s work.
Understanding his own limits and experience levels, he has crafted a novel by setting out the chapters like short stories. Within each, our main character Solomon Whyte, tells of his experiences of certain cases during his time as a paranormal investigator and also in between these we learn about the character’s own life, family and back story.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that each of the cases is actually part of UK Folklore, so it’s unusual stories I was already partly familiar with, with this character interjected. A very clever way to keep these stories alive.
Now, other reviewers have picked up on the fact that Whyte doesn’t exactly solve some of these cases, I have an argument for this and whilst I can see it from that perspective I’d like to share my view; I feel that if you were constructing a book of interesting stories, you might choose those that seemed the strangest rather than those which make you look the most successful. It really depends on what you’re looking to achieve from the book. Perhaps you don’t see the straightforward cases that you’ve been able to fix completely as particularly interesting. That’s just my spin on it.
I enjoyed the book, I think the format and concept is great, and with further Whyte adventures it can only improve. Weatherer writes this book with a similar Gentlemanly tone of which I’ve mentioned in reviews of both Lex H Jones and M R James so I’m very excited to explore more of Weatherer’s work.
May 31, 2023
Weatherer, Dan - Tainted Isle
Novel written as a series of journal entries from the late Victorian era to the “end of all that” and the onslaught of the Great War.
Young man, Solomon Whyte, is a budding supernatural investigator, although he categorizes his occupation as paranormal work.
“Paranormal” strikes me as a modernism, and is not the only one in this collection of pastiche adventures.
Duly noted, and yet the stories have their moments, especially the first clutch.
“The Dressmaker’s Mannequin” is a perfumed dream, vivid upon awakening, elusive soon after.
Unlike so many investigators, Whyte is fallible, faltering throughout the narrative. Mistakes, poor decisions, mistiming matters. Rather refreshing.
This is a nice collection, with haunting black and white illustrations scattered through the pages.
In addition, this seems suitable for young readers.
Novel written as a series of journal entries from the late Victorian era to the “end of all that” and the onslaught of the Great War.
Young man, Solomon Whyte, is a budding supernatural investigator, although he categorizes his occupation as paranormal work.
“Paranormal” strikes me as a modernism, and is not the only one in this collection of pastiche adventures.
Duly noted, and yet the stories have their moments, especially the first clutch.
“The Dressmaker’s Mannequin” is a perfumed dream, vivid upon awakening, elusive soon after.
Unlike so many investigators, Whyte is fallible, faltering throughout the narrative. Mistakes, poor decisions, mistiming matters. Rather refreshing.
This is a nice collection, with haunting black and white illustrations scattered through the pages.
In addition, this seems suitable for young readers.
May 17, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this collection of tales
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews