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The Neverglades: Volume One
Mark Hannigan is a homicide detective in the isolated town of Pacific Glade, located in the dense forest regions of Washington. The town is so shut off from the rest of the world that it has earned the nickname “Neverglades” from its longtime residents. The Neverglades are no stranger to bizarre and inexplicable events, and Hannigan has seen plenty of things on the police force that seem to defy earthly explanation.
Enter the Inspector. A mysterious figure always seen with a cigar and fedora, this otherworldly detective knows more about the workings of the Neverglades than any human being rightly should. There’s a rip in reality around Pacific Glade, he says, making it a breeding ground for the strange and supernatural, and the Inspector is just one of many entities who have managed to slip through.
In these nine interwoven stories, Hannigan and the Inspector traverse the haunted grounds of the Neverglades, where it's going to take everything they've got to make it out alive. Time paradoxes, pocket universes, giant dream-weaving crabs and star-snuffing leviathans - it's a lot for one measly little human to handle. But with an eldritch abomination by his side, Hannigan just might stand a chance.
Enter the Inspector. A mysterious figure always seen with a cigar and fedora, this otherworldly detective knows more about the workings of the Neverglades than any human being rightly should. There’s a rip in reality around Pacific Glade, he says, making it a breeding ground for the strange and supernatural, and the Inspector is just one of many entities who have managed to slip through.
In these nine interwoven stories, Hannigan and the Inspector traverse the haunted grounds of the Neverglades, where it's going to take everything they've got to make it out alive. Time paradoxes, pocket universes, giant dream-weaving crabs and star-snuffing leviathans - it's a lot for one measly little human to handle. But with an eldritch abomination by his side, Hannigan just might stand a chance.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2019
149 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 16, 2020
I bumped into this book on Amazon while purchasing the "Tales from the Gas Station" series and this was recommended. All i can say is that it's a really great book. Very well developed characters with a great story. What's not to love?
October 2, 2019
It's good!
It's really good, I enjoyed it. Some parts were a little long with description, but overall I enjoyed the book.
It's really good, I enjoyed it. Some parts were a little long with description, but overall I enjoyed the book.
July 16, 2021
This was a great book. Really well written. I liked the fact that it was lots of little stories (with an underlying theme running through) because it made them all fast paced and full of action. I thought the purple moon and the mountain assylum story (can't remember its title) were a bit weird. Great to read but the endings were unsatisfactory on those two. The others were well done.
Mark Hannigan was more storyteller, less hero throughout the book, and it did annoy me a bit because I wanted him to be better. I liked him enough to want to see him shine on occasion. He was a detective who had let himself go a bit fitness-wise and relied very heavily on his gun, even when it was pretty useless. He tended to give up quickly when everything fell apart and usually needed others to save him in the end. He was well-written, though. Very human. Loved his family. Enjoyed being a detective. A good match for The Inspector.
If you like "The X-Files" type stories, this is worth reading.
Mark Hannigan was more storyteller, less hero throughout the book, and it did annoy me a bit because I wanted him to be better. I liked him enough to want to see him shine on occasion. He was a detective who had let himself go a bit fitness-wise and relied very heavily on his gun, even when it was pretty useless. He tended to give up quickly when everything fell apart and usually needed others to save him in the end. He was well-written, though. Very human. Loved his family. Enjoyed being a detective. A good match for The Inspector.
If you like "The X-Files" type stories, this is worth reading.
November 12, 2020
It was ok but I guess I am not into horror based sci fi.
April 13, 2024
Creepypasta
Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One by Jack Townsend
A Lonely Broadcast: Book One by Kel Byron
The Neverglades: Volume One by David Farrow.
Wiki defines “creepypasta” as:
"A creepypasta is a horror-related legend which has been shared around the Internet.[1][2][3] The term creepypasta has since become a catch-all term for any horror content posted onto the Internet.[4] These entries are often brief, user-generated, paranormal stories that are intended to frighten readers. The subjects of creepypasta vary widely and can include topics such as ghosts, cryptids, murder, suicide, zombies, aliens, rituals to summon entities, haunted television shows, and video games.[1] Creepypastas range in length from a single paragraph to extended multi-part series that can span multiple media types, some lasting for years.[4]"
The three books I picked out seem to fit this category. They started out as internet blogs, are in the horror genre, and are part of a series.
Tales from the Gas Station was the most entertaining by far. It occupied a horror zone adjacent to the weirdness of “Welcome to Night Vale.” Night Vale is a podcast that features developing news reports from a small town in the American Southwest. It has secret police, para-dimensional visitors, UFOs, and every other kind of conspiracy that the tin-foil hat brigade imagines emanates from Area 51.
The Gas Station in Townsend’s story sits in the woods outside an unnamed small American town with dark, spooky forests. It is an area where cultists have compounds in the neighborhood, eldritch gods build enclaves, and the odd serial killer might wander in for a slushie. Jack is the protagonist of the story. He’s dying of some odd ailment, so he doesn’t engage much with his life. Things happen around Jack, who refuses to admit surprise or much interest because it would involve him in the life he is shortly to exit.
The existential weirdness and the nonchalant attitude of Jack are a great part of the charm of this story.
In addition, a plot, character development, conflict, and growth emerge in the story, which was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed this story. It wasn’t great literature, but it was entertaining.
I found A Lonely Broadcast less worthwhile. Evelyn McKinnon returns to Pinehaven to work in a radio station in an old first tower on the outskirt of another small American town surrounded by dark, spooky woods. This story has no humor, as Evelyn discovers that the forest is haunted. The haunting seems to be composed of equal parts of The Fog by Stephen King and Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer. Dead things don’t stay dead in the forest. They come back mutated and kill the living. The townspeople seem to know this to a greater or lesser extent but it is kept mostly quiet. The radio station where Evelyn works is a warning station against the macabre.
I found the story far beyond my tolerance for willing suspension of disbelief. Evelyn is the twenty-eighth person to work at the station – the others having been killed – but station management is still sending in people to get killed? Evelyn grew up in the town, and her father was killed fighting the mystery, but Evelyn knew nothing about what was going on? There was no orientation for Evelyn about what to expect? The government hasn’t evacuated the entire area and sent in a pacification force? In the first part of the book, Evelyn gets a call on the air from somebody who it turns out was her best friend, but she didn’t know the person when she got the call?
The Lonely Broadcast series seems to be well-received. It is now in multiple sequels. To me, though, it was not original enough to hold my interest.
Likewise, I did not finish The Neverglades by David Farrow. In this book, we have another secluded, remote, small American town hiding in the pine forests of the Pacific Northwest. The main character is a local police detective who runs into weird deaths. He’s helped out by a seven-foot-tall being who wears a fedora, smokes a cigar, and goes by “the Inspector.” This being is from another dimension. It turns out that the “Neverglades,” as the area is called, is an arena for interdimensional incursions.
I didn’t find the mysteries very compelling. It seemed like the stories I read were designed to bring in the Inspector, who can then unravel the mystery. There was nothing wrong with the stories. I didn’t find the characters or plots compelling. Though, if Scoobie Doo is your kind of thing, this might be your kind of thing.
Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One by Jack Townsend
A Lonely Broadcast: Book One by Kel Byron
The Neverglades: Volume One by David Farrow.
Wiki defines “creepypasta” as:
"A creepypasta is a horror-related legend which has been shared around the Internet.[1][2][3] The term creepypasta has since become a catch-all term for any horror content posted onto the Internet.[4] These entries are often brief, user-generated, paranormal stories that are intended to frighten readers. The subjects of creepypasta vary widely and can include topics such as ghosts, cryptids, murder, suicide, zombies, aliens, rituals to summon entities, haunted television shows, and video games.[1] Creepypastas range in length from a single paragraph to extended multi-part series that can span multiple media types, some lasting for years.[4]"
The three books I picked out seem to fit this category. They started out as internet blogs, are in the horror genre, and are part of a series.
Tales from the Gas Station was the most entertaining by far. It occupied a horror zone adjacent to the weirdness of “Welcome to Night Vale.” Night Vale is a podcast that features developing news reports from a small town in the American Southwest. It has secret police, para-dimensional visitors, UFOs, and every other kind of conspiracy that the tin-foil hat brigade imagines emanates from Area 51.
The Gas Station in Townsend’s story sits in the woods outside an unnamed small American town with dark, spooky forests. It is an area where cultists have compounds in the neighborhood, eldritch gods build enclaves, and the odd serial killer might wander in for a slushie. Jack is the protagonist of the story. He’s dying of some odd ailment, so he doesn’t engage much with his life. Things happen around Jack, who refuses to admit surprise or much interest because it would involve him in the life he is shortly to exit.
The existential weirdness and the nonchalant attitude of Jack are a great part of the charm of this story.
In addition, a plot, character development, conflict, and growth emerge in the story, which was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed this story. It wasn’t great literature, but it was entertaining.
I found A Lonely Broadcast less worthwhile. Evelyn McKinnon returns to Pinehaven to work in a radio station in an old first tower on the outskirt of another small American town surrounded by dark, spooky woods. This story has no humor, as Evelyn discovers that the forest is haunted. The haunting seems to be composed of equal parts of The Fog by Stephen King and Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer. Dead things don’t stay dead in the forest. They come back mutated and kill the living. The townspeople seem to know this to a greater or lesser extent but it is kept mostly quiet. The radio station where Evelyn works is a warning station against the macabre.
I found the story far beyond my tolerance for willing suspension of disbelief. Evelyn is the twenty-eighth person to work at the station – the others having been killed – but station management is still sending in people to get killed? Evelyn grew up in the town, and her father was killed fighting the mystery, but Evelyn knew nothing about what was going on? There was no orientation for Evelyn about what to expect? The government hasn’t evacuated the entire area and sent in a pacification force? In the first part of the book, Evelyn gets a call on the air from somebody who it turns out was her best friend, but she didn’t know the person when she got the call?
The Lonely Broadcast series seems to be well-received. It is now in multiple sequels. To me, though, it was not original enough to hold my interest.
Likewise, I did not finish The Neverglades by David Farrow. In this book, we have another secluded, remote, small American town hiding in the pine forests of the Pacific Northwest. The main character is a local police detective who runs into weird deaths. He’s helped out by a seven-foot-tall being who wears a fedora, smokes a cigar, and goes by “the Inspector.” This being is from another dimension. It turns out that the “Neverglades,” as the area is called, is an arena for interdimensional incursions.
I didn’t find the mysteries very compelling. It seemed like the stories I read were designed to bring in the Inspector, who can then unravel the mystery. There was nothing wrong with the stories. I didn’t find the characters or plots compelling. Though, if Scoobie Doo is your kind of thing, this might be your kind of thing.
July 30, 2025
I got this recommended by Kindle after Tales from the Gas Station and bought this After Reading the Premise and thinking „generic, but if correctly executed could be good.
Pros:
-I liked that the Stories were episodic but also had an overaching Plot line making it easy to read it in Chunks
-the ideas for some of the Stories and Monsters were really good (I especially liked „remember me“ (hope the title is correct) (the one with implanted false memories)
-
-:
Flat characters and hardly any backstory (the most interesting is the inspector who imho should have been the maincharacter since he seems the only character who is not a Gary stu like his partner but seemingly has to/wants to atone for something bad he did. Also, Mark Hannigan is a superficial hypocritical ass.
Serioiusly, he already knew and accepted his partner was not human already but to lose it and stop trusting him over his (admittedly monstrous) height ?(his eyes alone are the size of the Moon).
-also, I didńt get the Inspektors power/limitations (he can seemingly create stuff out of thin air and do other magic bs, but he cannot (help) close a dimensional rift? Why did Mark (Even though i do not like him) have to sacrifice himself? Makes no Sense to me.
Pros:
-I liked that the Stories were episodic but also had an overaching Plot line making it easy to read it in Chunks
-the ideas for some of the Stories and Monsters were really good (I especially liked „remember me“ (hope the title is correct) (the one with implanted false memories)
-
-:
Flat characters and hardly any backstory (the most interesting is the inspector who imho should have been the maincharacter since he seems the only character who is not a Gary stu like his partner but seemingly has to/wants to atone for something bad he did. Also, Mark Hannigan is a superficial hypocritical ass.
Serioiusly, he already knew and accepted his partner was not human already but to lose it and stop trusting him over his (admittedly monstrous) height ?(his eyes alone are the size of the Moon).
-also, I didńt get the Inspektors power/limitations (he can seemingly create stuff out of thin air and do other magic bs, but he cannot (help) close a dimensional rift? Why did Mark (Even though i do not like him) have to sacrifice himself? Makes no Sense to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2024
Hello I am the cleverbooktokwitch and thanks to a close friend of mine i was recommended this book. So i bought all 3 books and barely dove in with floaties into the 1st. With said friend cackling in the background. So i just finished the book, i am NOT okay...and im here to tell you why without spoiling.
So buckle up cause im writing this while said friend is observing and...maybe smirking like the joker.
The plot varies from case to case but they are all connected in some shape or form.Each case has its own cryptid to mess about and find out in the case and how the case in theory could be solved.
Would i reccomend anything before reading? Yes! Tissues...and a decent amount of canada dry.
The characters without spoiling each share a flavor into this melting pot of cryptid. My favorite being the inspector.
All and all i give thee 5 stars if i could it would be 10!
So buckle up cause im writing this while said friend is observing and...maybe smirking like the joker.
The plot varies from case to case but they are all connected in some shape or form.Each case has its own cryptid to mess about and find out in the case and how the case in theory could be solved.
Would i reccomend anything before reading? Yes! Tissues...and a decent amount of canada dry.
The characters without spoiling each share a flavor into this melting pot of cryptid. My favorite being the inspector.
All and all i give thee 5 stars if i could it would be 10!
July 10, 2021
I liked this book, which to me was a series of short stories around a detective out of his depth until he teams up with the inspector around a series of bizarre deaths. So a sci-fi/horror/fantasy series of tales which are well written, although it is a shame that the method of telling the stories doesn’t come out until the end. Don’t though go looking for the reason or it will spoil the rest of the book.
April 11, 2022
A Unique Set of Characters In An Improbable Setting...
Okay, I'm hooked. This was a well-realized story with a unique set of characters in a wildly improbable (maybe) setting. Posed as a police procedural/mystery with an otherworldly twist. Each chapter in this first volume delves deeper into strange occurrences that are affecting life in the Neverglades. Thoroughly enjoyed it - makes for a great read!
Okay, I'm hooked. This was a well-realized story with a unique set of characters in a wildly improbable (maybe) setting. Posed as a police procedural/mystery with an otherworldly twist. Each chapter in this first volume delves deeper into strange occurrences that are affecting life in the Neverglades. Thoroughly enjoyed it - makes for a great read!
April 14, 2022
Absolutely outstanding work. I listened to MrCreepypasta's narration of it, which I highly recommend, and I plan to get my hands on copies of the books as soon as I can. This story is so beautifully written, the emotions are palpable in the writing, and it's realistic in the mistakes the characters make. The characters are loveable, and each tale has you on the edge of your seat until it comes to a conclusion.
June 5, 2022
Hmmm...There were some things to like here. The characters were alright and the town/setting were good, even if they hinted a bit too much at a Stranger Things vibe. Not sure, but something was just "off" while I was reading this. Not sure if it was because it was told in kind of a series of short stories, or if the dialogue seemed like it came from a videogame (lacked polish). Not really sure. Was okay and I think I'd try Volume 2, but not right away.
July 19, 2021
WOW
I’m not one for science fiction, but this book grabbed my attention & held onto it until the words on the page is started to blur. I let my eyes rest and went back to reading. My Kindle tells me I have 2% left before it stops.
I’m not one for science fiction, but this book grabbed my attention & held onto it until the words on the page is started to blur. I let my eyes rest and went back to reading. My Kindle tells me I have 2% left before it stops.
July 24, 2021
I thought it would be more like Uncanny Valley. Instead it was total fantasy with an inspector potent creature that could solve things without much clues. It went to far for me and though I made it through, I won’t be reading further books.
August 14, 2021
Loved it!
I really enjoyed this book. It had well developed characters. A great storyline. There was some swearing, but it wasn't a lot. It didn't bother me. It's a great sci-fi book. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. It had well developed characters. A great storyline. There was some swearing, but it wasn't a lot. It didn't bother me. It's a great sci-fi book. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
October 13, 2021
If short stories ate your thing
It read like a bunch of short stories which is not my thing but it did tie together at the end . I will not read the other books in the series because it is not my cup of tea. Good concept but the format is lacking.
It read like a bunch of short stories which is not my thing but it did tie together at the end . I will not read the other books in the series because it is not my cup of tea. Good concept but the format is lacking.
October 17, 2021
Very interesting stories of a small town way too close to the line between dimensions. Creepier stories than I generally read, but it kept me going through each to find out what horrors would visit the town.
November 14, 2021
Kind of disappointed with this book. It was OK, but I didn’t love it. It was more like a book of short stories than a novel. I didn’t have a strong attachment to any of the characters. I’ll probably pass on book 2.
October 12, 2022
The Glade where I would not want to live
I love the stories of the glade. So imaginative, so creative. The inspector is a great character. Harrigan is as brave as I could never be. Hale, Harrigan!
I love the stories of the glade. So imaginative, so creative. The inspector is a great character. Harrigan is as brave as I could never be. Hale, Harrigan!
August 28, 2020
4/5, giving it 5 for visibility
Great "detective in over his head in a supernatural town" with a twist. Fast, episodic story arcs. Glad I found this!
Great "detective in over his head in a supernatural town" with a twist. Fast, episodic story arcs. Glad I found this!
July 12, 2021
Sublime
August 6, 2021
Different from my usual fare
A weighty tale. From the first short to the last, the dynamic tension held. This author knows how to tell a good yarn
A weighty tale. From the first short to the last, the dynamic tension held. This author knows how to tell a good yarn
November 24, 2021
Based on reviews a lot of people liked this. I liked the basic premise of this, but the rest was not for me. I will be passing on the remaining books.
May 11, 2022
Very much like the Twilight Zone. I love the tone and the short story format
July 27, 2022
I really loved the first few stories. I think it was a great idea to have a buddy cop procedural where one of the cops is an Eldrich Horror.
I was disappointed in the last three stories.
I was disappointed in the last three stories.
March 24, 2023
This book was a fun detective, weird horror mashup. Looking forward to reading more stories set in this town.
August 21, 2024
At first, I stumbled across the audiobook on YouTube and it was basically love at first sight (or in this case, at the first time listening). I bought the book a few years back to support the author and re-read it recently. It reminded me of how much I love this book again.
The fast-paced writing works incredibly well with the action scenes and something I learned to really appreciate later on is the representation and unique characters. They truly feel like they have a live of their own.
This is my favorite book so I'd highly recommend checking it out! The audiobook by Mr. Creepypasta is on YouTube and it's not too long so I'd really recommend listening in.
The fast-paced writing works incredibly well with the action scenes and something I learned to really appreciate later on is the representation and unique characters. They truly feel like they have a live of their own.
This is my favorite book so I'd highly recommend checking it out! The audiobook by Mr. Creepypasta is on YouTube and it's not too long so I'd really recommend listening in.
February 2, 2025
Fun old creepypasta turned book
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews