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Maggie's Grave
The small Scottish town of Auchenmullan is dead, and has been for years. It sits in the shadow of a mountain, forgotten and atrophying in the perpetual gloom.
Forty-seven residents are all that remain.
There's nothing to do there, nothing to see, except for a solitary grave near the top of the mountain.
MAGGIE WALL BURIED HERE AS A WITCH reads the faded inscription.
But sometimes the dead don't stay buried. Especially when they have unfinished business.
A relentless folk-horror nightmare from the author of The Forgotten Island, Maggie's Grave will disturb and shock in equal measure.
Forty-seven residents are all that remain.
There's nothing to do there, nothing to see, except for a solitary grave near the top of the mountain.
MAGGIE WALL BURIED HERE AS A WITCH reads the faded inscription.
But sometimes the dead don't stay buried. Especially when they have unfinished business.
A relentless folk-horror nightmare from the author of The Forgotten Island, Maggie's Grave will disturb and shock in equal measure.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2020
1082 people are currently reading
25231 people want to read
About the author
David Sodergren
21 books2,861 followersDavid Sodergren lives in Scotland with his wife Heather and his best friend, Boris the Pug.
Growing up, he was the kind of kid who collected rubber skeletons and lived for horror movies. Not much has changed since then.
His best known books include the gory and romantic fairy tale The Haar, the blood-drenched folk-horror Maggie’s Grave, and the analog-horror fever dream Rotten Tommy. David also writes under the pseudonym Carl John Lee, publishing splatterpunk
novels such as Psychic Teenage Bloodbath and Cannibal Vengeance.
Growing up, he was the kind of kid who collected rubber skeletons and lived for horror movies. Not much has changed since then.
His best known books include the gory and romantic fairy tale The Haar, the blood-drenched folk-horror Maggie’s Grave, and the analog-horror fever dream Rotten Tommy. David also writes under the pseudonym Carl John Lee, publishing splatterpunk
novels such as Psychic Teenage Bloodbath and Cannibal Vengeance.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,798 reviews
October 31, 2024
INSANE!! I think I still prefer The Haar, but this is perfect if you’re wanting that campy B horror movie feel in book form!! Its pretty brutal though- the way the author writes gore is just so freaking gnarly. I both can’t handle it and can’t get enough 😂
October 26, 2022
I think I got me a new favourite David Sodergren novel...
December 24, 2020
“There, in the window of Maggie’s cottage, flickered a single candle.”
You are guaranteed three things when you pick up any Sodergren book - there will be old-school horror vibes, there will be laughs... and there will be blood. Lots of it.
There are only 47 residents in the small Scottish town of Auchenmullan, where there is nothing to do, nothing to see, but a solitary grave near the top of a mountain. The faded inscription reads “Maggie Wall buried here as a witch”, but sometimes, the dead don’t stay buried...
Often I’m a little self-conscious when I post a gushing review for the latest Sodergren book, I’m falling into fangirl territory here, but I’m truly in awe of how he manages to consistently churn out these unique, fast-paced and, most importantly, FUN horror novels. I always have a blast when reading them - he is the master of combining creepy, disturbing shit with laugh out loud moments. I don’t know how he does it, he must be a wizard!
Every new Sodergren is my NEW favourite, as he somehow continually outdoes himself with each subsequent book. Maggie’s Grave has all of his qualities that I’ve come to know and love, such as strong yet flawed female protagonists, a real sense of place and, of course, balls to the wall, no holds-barred HORROR. And plenty of WTF moments! Just when I think Sodergren can’t possibly go any further, can’t go any darker, he does. And I love him for it.
I’m going to say nothing else - you’ll know by now if you’re a fan of his work. And if you have yet to discover the genius that is Sodergren, just know that Maggie’s Grave is one of the best horror novels I’ve read this year (it sits behind only The Fisherman). Basically you need it!
This is the book you MUST read this spooky season. 5 stars.
You are guaranteed three things when you pick up any Sodergren book - there will be old-school horror vibes, there will be laughs... and there will be blood. Lots of it.
There are only 47 residents in the small Scottish town of Auchenmullan, where there is nothing to do, nothing to see, but a solitary grave near the top of a mountain. The faded inscription reads “Maggie Wall buried here as a witch”, but sometimes, the dead don’t stay buried...
Often I’m a little self-conscious when I post a gushing review for the latest Sodergren book, I’m falling into fangirl territory here, but I’m truly in awe of how he manages to consistently churn out these unique, fast-paced and, most importantly, FUN horror novels. I always have a blast when reading them - he is the master of combining creepy, disturbing shit with laugh out loud moments. I don’t know how he does it, he must be a wizard!
Every new Sodergren is my NEW favourite, as he somehow continually outdoes himself with each subsequent book. Maggie’s Grave has all of his qualities that I’ve come to know and love, such as strong yet flawed female protagonists, a real sense of place and, of course, balls to the wall, no holds-barred HORROR. And plenty of WTF moments! Just when I think Sodergren can’t possibly go any further, can’t go any darker, he does. And I love him for it.
I’m going to say nothing else - you’ll know by now if you’re a fan of his work. And if you have yet to discover the genius that is Sodergren, just know that Maggie’s Grave is one of the best horror novels I’ve read this year (it sits behind only The Fisherman). Basically you need it!
This is the book you MUST read this spooky season. 5 stars.
April 27, 2023
This is my second book by David Sodergren (I read The Haar earlier this year) and I can say both were the reading equivalent of watching the movie Barbarian. I laughed, I was disgusted, I was creeped out, I said WTF out loud on more than once occasion, and I was surprised at how good of a time I had with the experience. High 4 stars. Some of the crazy was a little too over the top for me, but what a ride!
September 20, 2020
I'm honestly not surprised this time. David Sodergren has done it again, another 5 star Horror book. His previous books:
THE FORGOTTEN ISLAND
NIGHT SHOOT
DEAD GIRL BLUES
All 5 stars and now we can add MAGGIE'S GRAVE to this impressive record. Above all else, easily my favorite aspect of Sodergren's writing is the accessibility. I know that immediately upon opening one of his books, I will be drawn into the story and the pages will turn effortlessly and without notice; just the cinematic pictures in your mind.
I'm always a bit sad when I have to put the book aside for a moment but I always enjoy that feeling of anticipation and longing to pick it back up. Readers, you know that feeling! I love when I feel that way about a book--when you just can't wait to be back in the story and you look forward to it the whole time you're away.
MAGGIE'S GRAVE is the story of a small town in Scotland where everyone knows each other in a very ingrown sort of way. The town's teens have grown up together and they are up to their usual evening entertainment when they meet a stranger in a pub.
Overly eager to do something out of the norm and impress this visitor from the US, they decide to take her to a local grave.
Not just any grave...
The resident teens have heard the folkloric tales of MAGGIE'S GRAVE since childhood but they downplay the importance of the legend for the sake of some fun.
And that's what this book is, FUN.
Sodergren is so consistently reliable showcasing his best storytelling attributes: Lots of laughs, gross-out gore, classic-style, old-school horror, authentic dialog, an engrossing storyline and characters one can really invest in. All of this is present here and then some.
I love showing up to expect the unexpected and MAGGIE'S GRAVE delivers. If you're an avid horror fan and you've read THE WICKED by James Newman, this book would be shelved next to it--there are some very similar components. A small-town, folk-horror, action-packed, a relentless paced story with jaw-dropping, hair-raising moments you'll never forget! One scene, in particular, was so wild, I had to message some people and freak out over it.
This one is *perfect* to satisfy your "season of horror" cravings in October. Do NOT miss this!
THE FORGOTTEN ISLAND
NIGHT SHOOT
DEAD GIRL BLUES
All 5 stars and now we can add MAGGIE'S GRAVE to this impressive record. Above all else, easily my favorite aspect of Sodergren's writing is the accessibility. I know that immediately upon opening one of his books, I will be drawn into the story and the pages will turn effortlessly and without notice; just the cinematic pictures in your mind.
I'm always a bit sad when I have to put the book aside for a moment but I always enjoy that feeling of anticipation and longing to pick it back up. Readers, you know that feeling! I love when I feel that way about a book--when you just can't wait to be back in the story and you look forward to it the whole time you're away.
MAGGIE'S GRAVE is the story of a small town in Scotland where everyone knows each other in a very ingrown sort of way. The town's teens have grown up together and they are up to their usual evening entertainment when they meet a stranger in a pub.
Overly eager to do something out of the norm and impress this visitor from the US, they decide to take her to a local grave.
Not just any grave...
The resident teens have heard the folkloric tales of MAGGIE'S GRAVE since childhood but they downplay the importance of the legend for the sake of some fun.
And that's what this book is, FUN.
Sodergren is so consistently reliable showcasing his best storytelling attributes: Lots of laughs, gross-out gore, classic-style, old-school horror, authentic dialog, an engrossing storyline and characters one can really invest in. All of this is present here and then some.
I love showing up to expect the unexpected and MAGGIE'S GRAVE delivers. If you're an avid horror fan and you've read THE WICKED by James Newman, this book would be shelved next to it--there are some very similar components. A small-town, folk-horror, action-packed, a relentless paced story with jaw-dropping, hair-raising moments you'll never forget! One scene, in particular, was so wild, I had to message some people and freak out over it.
This one is *perfect* to satisfy your "season of horror" cravings in October. Do NOT miss this!
May 24, 2022
Pregnant Maggie, falsely accused of being a witch and having her unborn baby cut from her, seeks revenge for centuries after. Fun folk-horror with gore galore! Story based on a real grave in Perthshire, Scotland - The only monument in the UK dedicated to a witch.
June 28, 2025
I have become a huge fan of David Sodergren. His books are always well-paced, have solid characters, straightforward plots, and despite being a big of a journey at times, are always well worth the efforts. And this was no exception. Maggie was killed by townspeople who accused her of being a witch. Now there was a little confusion here, because there were several times where it was confirmed she was not a witch, but then the author would refer to her as a witch many times thereafter. And she was resurrected and had witch-like abilities. So that needed a bit more clarification for the reader. I was also unsure of Courtney's role, as she seemed to know what she was doing (No spoilers), but then she became a throw away sort of victim. And I don't recall anything beyond that point. Again, nothing big, but just some additional tidbits to make it all clear. But anyway, this little, devastated town still abides by old traditions, not even showing lenience to some of its own younger citizens. Maggie is brought back and and things go pretty berserk. This included some wonderful gore, involving liquifying people, bursting out of a woman's body, and even gravely injuring a man's genitals through his partner mid-coitus. Pretty gnarly stuff! I also really enjoyed the dynamics between Alice and Beth. Their relationship had a lot of ups and downs throughout, but ended on a really interesting note, which was fun to explore. Everyone else were sort of glorified victims, but that's all they needed to be. Maggie was terrifying and had a pronounced presence, even when she wasn't directly in a specific scene. Sodergren made sure to keep everything focused around the antagonist here, whether you were hating her actions or feeling empathetic to her plight. I don't give too many 5-star ratings, but David Sodergren is definitely on the short list of authors that I've given several to. Any fan of horror should be reading his books, whether it's this, The Forgotten Island, Dead Girl Blues, The Harr, or any of his other offerings.
February 8, 2024
3.5 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/-6tcNZLQJpg
This is a fun, witchy story. I have previously read the author's other novel, The Forgotten Island, so I was quite surprised how different this one was to that one.
The novel is over the top and quite ridiculous in places. Be prepared for a gory time. Honestly, the events of the middle were a bit much for me. It's the kind of scene where you either go along with it or you don't. I'm no prude, but the over the top setup was a little far-fetched for me.
Still, this was an easy fun read, and I would recommend it to horror readers who are open to crazy horror stories in the vein of Bentley Little.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the author.
Video Review: https://youtu.be/-6tcNZLQJpg
This is a fun, witchy story. I have previously read the author's other novel, The Forgotten Island, so I was quite surprised how different this one was to that one.
The novel is over the top and quite ridiculous in places. Be prepared for a gory time. Honestly, the events of the middle were a bit much for me. It's the kind of scene where you either go along with it or you don't. I'm no prude, but the over the top setup was a little far-fetched for me.
Still, this was an easy fun read, and I would recommend it to horror readers who are open to crazy horror stories in the vein of Bentley Little.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the author.
September 6, 2025
Fast paced, humorous at times, lots of gore, well developed characters, perfect atmosphere in a small Scottish village, and Maggie is horrifying!
Folk horror combined with classic slasher film vibes. If you are looking for a scary witch story with lots of carnage then this is for you!
Folk horror combined with classic slasher film vibes. If you are looking for a scary witch story with lots of carnage then this is for you!
September 22, 2024
Incredible. David Sodergren is VERY quickly becoming a new favorite author of mine! Full review coming soon!
Buddy read with Malli!
Buddy read with Malli!
September 6, 2025
A champion read, och aye the noo!
I am surprisingly impressed my Maggie's Grave and didn't expect it to be anywhere near as enjoyable. It's even better than The Haar with all its flaws and idiosyncrasies.
David Sodergren uses strong language that's off-putting, throwaway and scummy at first, but as you get used to his down to earth and overtly teenage writing style, it's the humor that elevates this book above standard splatterpunk fare.
Sodergren manages to hold it all together in a tale that's really well planned and thought out.
With a book as extreme and silly as this, there are of course loopholes and implausibilities, those moments of head shaking and no-no-no-no utterances, but every time that happens there is enough togetherness and careful planning to keep things on track.
I'm reminded of Grady Hendrix, but what I don't sometimes like about Grady is his mix of summer camp horror with daft implausibilities, whereas Sodergren hits hard but keeps things within plausible boundaries, especially considering the amount of silliness involved. Best of all, Maggie's Grave is filled with multiple irreverent, shocking and laugh out loud moments.
"Once you’ve seen a witch tear a man inside out from his arsehole, you’ve seen it all."
What a great job! A really well constructed book that had me glued to the pages for gratuitous depravity one minute, then guffawing the next, which is a really difficult combination to get right.
It's hard to say more without giving away spoilers, but one scene takes the base elements of Rosemary's Baby and turns that on its head with madcap humor and excessive gore:
"Stimulants? A mix CD? It sounded like they were teenagers on a weekend trip to Magaluf."
A book as madcap as this is rarely going to get 5 stars because that's reserved for truly exceptional novels that shake my world or develop that way over the years, but a very high 4 star rating nonetheless.
I had so much fun! Thanks for lightening up my world and emphasizing life as a giant crap shoot.
This is my second David Sodergren novel, I've got Rotten Tommy to come, and I've just bought The Forgotten Island to read after, maybe before that, I'm such a fan.
I am surprisingly impressed my Maggie's Grave and didn't expect it to be anywhere near as enjoyable. It's even better than The Haar with all its flaws and idiosyncrasies.
David Sodergren uses strong language that's off-putting, throwaway and scummy at first, but as you get used to his down to earth and overtly teenage writing style, it's the humor that elevates this book above standard splatterpunk fare.
Sodergren manages to hold it all together in a tale that's really well planned and thought out.
With a book as extreme and silly as this, there are of course loopholes and implausibilities, those moments of head shaking and no-no-no-no utterances, but every time that happens there is enough togetherness and careful planning to keep things on track.
I'm reminded of Grady Hendrix, but what I don't sometimes like about Grady is his mix of summer camp horror with daft implausibilities, whereas Sodergren hits hard but keeps things within plausible boundaries, especially considering the amount of silliness involved. Best of all, Maggie's Grave is filled with multiple irreverent, shocking and laugh out loud moments.
"Once you’ve seen a witch tear a man inside out from his arsehole, you’ve seen it all."
What a great job! A really well constructed book that had me glued to the pages for gratuitous depravity one minute, then guffawing the next, which is a really difficult combination to get right.
It's hard to say more without giving away spoilers, but one scene takes the base elements of Rosemary's Baby and turns that on its head with madcap humor and excessive gore:
"Stimulants? A mix CD? It sounded like they were teenagers on a weekend trip to Magaluf."
A book as madcap as this is rarely going to get 5 stars because that's reserved for truly exceptional novels that shake my world or develop that way over the years, but a very high 4 star rating nonetheless.
I had so much fun! Thanks for lightening up my world and emphasizing life as a giant crap shoot.
This is my second David Sodergren novel, I've got Rotten Tommy to come, and I've just bought The Forgotten Island to read after, maybe before that, I'm such a fan.
September 14, 2023
This book was a 4 stars until the ± 65% mark where there's an scene that was so out of the left field considering the nature of the story until that point and so ridiculously done (seriously, felt like the type of scene you write during a midnight overly caffeinated writing sesh knowing full well you're going to edit it out in the first rounds of edits) that I struggled to take any of it seriously afterward. That being said, this book reads like a wet puppet b movie and in that sense it does have a fair bit of charm and there's a few really good scenes.
August 6, 2025
So this starts off pretty brutal, be warned this isn't for the faint-hearted. We are back in the year 1657, where Maggie leads a solitary life in her cottage. This is a time where women who lived alone, were mostly branded as witches and were murdered with no fair trial. The 'menfolk' kill Maggie, and take her unborn baby from her body. Before Maggie dies she curses them all and their descendants.
Then we roll forward to the present, where we follow 4 young adults in their practically deserted town of Auchenmullan. Boyfriend and girlfriend Grady and Beth, and their 2 friends - Alice, who has recently had a baby and completing the friend group is Steve. Some of these characters are more likeable than others.
The friends were, at differing times seeing strange visions and hearing things that weren't there. The whole town just had an eerie, dank, dreary feel to it. Then one day all the parents start acting oddly and a town meeting is called. Then we come to THAT scene.. I'm glad a certain character put a stop to it ;)
A couple of situations were a bit eye rolling, for example, Beth letting Grady drive while high on drugs and with a mangled leg, I mean yeah... what could go wrong. I guess you always get those 'what are you doing' moments in horror, but it irks a bit nonetheless.
Overall though, this was a good old fashioned creepy folklore story, encompassing a witch seeking vengeance. Lots of nicely written horror, with plenty of blood and gore. The ending felt pretty satisfying, the whole story starts and ends with Maggie.
This is my second book by this Author, the first being The Haar, which I also enjoyed. I will definitely read more as I like their style of horror.
Rating this one a 3.5/5 but will round up.
Then we roll forward to the present, where we follow 4 young adults in their practically deserted town of Auchenmullan. Boyfriend and girlfriend Grady and Beth, and their 2 friends - Alice, who has recently had a baby and completing the friend group is Steve. Some of these characters are more likeable than others.
The friends were, at differing times seeing strange visions and hearing things that weren't there. The whole town just had an eerie, dank, dreary feel to it. Then one day all the parents start acting oddly and a town meeting is called. Then we come to THAT scene.. I'm glad a certain character put a stop to it ;)
A couple of situations were a bit eye rolling, for example, Beth letting Grady drive while high on drugs and with a mangled leg, I mean yeah... what could go wrong. I guess you always get those 'what are you doing' moments in horror, but it irks a bit nonetheless.
Overall though, this was a good old fashioned creepy folklore story, encompassing a witch seeking vengeance. Lots of nicely written horror, with plenty of blood and gore. The ending felt pretty satisfying, the whole story starts and ends with Maggie.
This is my second book by this Author, the first being The Haar, which I also enjoyed. I will definitely read more as I like their style of horror.
Rating this one a 3.5/5 but will round up.
January 13, 2021
If you haven’t added Maggie’s Grave to you TBR, then why the hell not? This is in my opinion the best example of a witchy folk tale horror out there. It brings it all to the table, Sodergren slaps it all down, liquified organs and all. The first couple of chapters are usually enough to decide whether a book is going to be for you…the author nailed it in one. I had a keen sense of foreboding, that small time village feel, residents knowing everything about you, talking about you, judging you. Sodergren nails it.
The shades of darkness is quite literally written on the wall.
Beth was one of those characters you just loved to hate. I’m not saying she was all bad, far from it. I could completely relate to her. Like her I have lived in a small highland village and it can be claustrophobic. Everyone seems to know your business before you do. It seems like many of the residents have no ambition to live anywhere else. That was never me, like Beth I wanted out. Beth epitomises the human condition. She gets carried away with bad thoughts and feelings even though she tries to batter them down. First impressions? I thought she treated everyone around her horribly – Alice and Grady especially. Even if I couldn’t understand why she did a thing, I could at least understand the thought behind it.
Maggie’s grave is bloody cinematic. A group of teenagers decide one night (I mean are they fucking crazy?) to trek up the mountain to visit Maggie’s cottage and grave. She was killed as a witch in 1657 and the tale of how she was buried is horrific. One of the teenagers is onto a promise and he’d literally do anything to have sex with this fresh American girl. The following scenes had me both gasping in shock but laughing at just how outrageous the scene must have looked in Beth’s eyes. (I have a sick sense of humour).
Maggie’s grave scared the living crap out of me. Little do the teens know the importance behind Maggie coming back. Just why is she stalking them? Disclaimer: I was seriously shocked behind her resurrection. This story would be amazing as a movie – Shudder you better be listening!
Maggie’s Grave is a tailspin of emotions. Once Sodergren hits the accelerator he doesn’t pause for breath. He cranks the tension and gore to breaking point.
The shades of darkness is quite literally written on the wall.
Beth was one of those characters you just loved to hate. I’m not saying she was all bad, far from it. I could completely relate to her. Like her I have lived in a small highland village and it can be claustrophobic. Everyone seems to know your business before you do. It seems like many of the residents have no ambition to live anywhere else. That was never me, like Beth I wanted out. Beth epitomises the human condition. She gets carried away with bad thoughts and feelings even though she tries to batter them down. First impressions? I thought she treated everyone around her horribly – Alice and Grady especially. Even if I couldn’t understand why she did a thing, I could at least understand the thought behind it.
Maggie’s grave is bloody cinematic. A group of teenagers decide one night (I mean are they fucking crazy?) to trek up the mountain to visit Maggie’s cottage and grave. She was killed as a witch in 1657 and the tale of how she was buried is horrific. One of the teenagers is onto a promise and he’d literally do anything to have sex with this fresh American girl. The following scenes had me both gasping in shock but laughing at just how outrageous the scene must have looked in Beth’s eyes. (I have a sick sense of humour).
Maggie’s grave scared the living crap out of me. Little do the teens know the importance behind Maggie coming back. Just why is she stalking them? Disclaimer: I was seriously shocked behind her resurrection. This story would be amazing as a movie – Shudder you better be listening!
Maggie’s Grave is a tailspin of emotions. Once Sodergren hits the accelerator he doesn’t pause for breath. He cranks the tension and gore to breaking point.
August 17, 2024
Hauntingly beautiful, well thought out characters, very gory and deserving deaths, and a great ending.
This author so far has managed to trick me into liking the characters and then WHAM! I forget I am reading a horror novel lol.
This author so far has managed to trick me into liking the characters and then WHAM! I forget I am reading a horror novel lol.
August 11, 2023
"Once you've seen a witch tear a man inside out from his arsehole, you've seen it all.."
Indeed! Wow, this one is full of angst and witchy revenge in the bloodiest of fashions! Sodergren is proving to be a pretty reliable source of gore and fun!
Indeed! Wow, this one is full of angst and witchy revenge in the bloodiest of fashions! Sodergren is proving to be a pretty reliable source of gore and fun!
July 14, 2024
for fans of the movie Barbarian, but done better
November 27, 2024
Maggie Wall, witch of Auchenmullan and, boy, does she have a way of introducing herself. Quite the scene, that, ehh, birth? Jesus fucking Christ on a bus, indeed. And she doesn't stop there. Such a delicious read. It doesn't waste time, has characters to scream for (or to), things get seriously disgusting here and there and it's funny in a deranged and sardonic kind of way at the same time. Yeah, I had a blast with this baby hunt.
🎵 You’re the First, the Last, My Everything 🎵
🎵 You’re the First, the Last, My Everything 🎵
June 6, 2024
This was frikken insanely awesome! Some scenes in this very dark, folk horror tale will remain seared in my mind forever. The first chapter kicks you in the guts. Then it is a kinda slow-burn build up of characters and tension. All I can say is that when the shit hits the fan it gets weird, bloody, nasty and I could not put the book down!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
October 10, 2023
Prepare to be plunged into the abyss of pure terror with David Sodergren's "Maggie's Grave." This horror novel is a relentless rollercoaster of fear that leaves readers sleepless, heart pounding, and utterly horrified.
Set in a small town haunted by an unspeakable evil, "Maggie's Grave" weaves a spine-tingling tale of darkness unleashed. Sodergren's writing grips your imagination from the very first page, masterfully building suspense and an eerie atmosphere that refuses to let go. The relentless tension keeps you on edge throughout the entire journey, leaving you breathless.
The characters in "Maggie's Grave" face unrelenting horrors, and their development is intricately woven into the story. You'll feel their terror and desperation as they confront the malevolence that surrounds them. Sodergren's vivid descriptions of nightmarish entities will sear themselves into your memory, tapping into your deepest fears.
This book pushes the boundaries of horror with its visceral and gruesome imagery, not for the faint of heart. "Maggie's Grave" is a bone-chilling masterpiece that delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche, delivering a haunting experience that lingers long after the book is closed. It's a descent into the very heart of darkness itself, and those brave enough to read it will be forever changed.
Set in a small town haunted by an unspeakable evil, "Maggie's Grave" weaves a spine-tingling tale of darkness unleashed. Sodergren's writing grips your imagination from the very first page, masterfully building suspense and an eerie atmosphere that refuses to let go. The relentless tension keeps you on edge throughout the entire journey, leaving you breathless.
The characters in "Maggie's Grave" face unrelenting horrors, and their development is intricately woven into the story. You'll feel their terror and desperation as they confront the malevolence that surrounds them. Sodergren's vivid descriptions of nightmarish entities will sear themselves into your memory, tapping into your deepest fears.
This book pushes the boundaries of horror with its visceral and gruesome imagery, not for the faint of heart. "Maggie's Grave" is a bone-chilling masterpiece that delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche, delivering a haunting experience that lingers long after the book is closed. It's a descent into the very heart of darkness itself, and those brave enough to read it will be forever changed.
October 18, 2025
Campy, fun, gory folklore that I would looooove to see made into a b-horror film
February 9, 2025
This was an excellent Super-Natural Hauntingly Scary Whopper of a Tale!! and OMG what an ending...I didn't see that one coming at me!!
Loads and loads of bloody gory nastiness going on throughout this book...and some particularly hard to stomach!!
If you haven't read this book yet...WHY THE BLOODY HELL NOT???
Stop reading the reviews RIGHT NOW!
Go buy it RIGHT NOW!
Read it RIGHT NOW or add to your TBR list RIGHT NOW!
This is good stuff, it's extremely well written with strong characters and earns 5 "BIG" shiny stars from me.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I loved this book ❤️❤️
Loads and loads of bloody gory nastiness going on throughout this book...and some particularly hard to stomach!!
If you haven't read this book yet...WHY THE BLOODY HELL NOT???
Stop reading the reviews RIGHT NOW!
Go buy it RIGHT NOW!
Read it RIGHT NOW or add to your TBR list RIGHT NOW!
This is good stuff, it's extremely well written with strong characters and earns 5 "BIG" shiny stars from me.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I loved this book ❤️❤️
January 16, 2021
Where's my baby?...
No spoilers. 3 stars. In the dwindling village of Auchenmullen (just see if you don't hit a mental roadblock each time this multi-syllable name pops up) Maggie Wall was unjustly burned as a witch in 1657...
... after her baby was cut from her womb...
By 2019 the population is down to 47 souls because anyone getting pregnant within city limits resurrects Maggie from her grave...
... where she roams the streets asking the villagers: Where's my baby?... and she will disembowel everyone she meets searching for the child...
The storyline of this novel was very pedestrian. It was like watching a B horror flick with its usual bloodfest, F-bombs, sex-crazed teens and an unstoppable witch/monster.
The vehicle for this yarn is the local legend of an accused witch who is innocent of the crimes and is pregnant. The story had its own tagline: Where's my baby? which reminded me of that old legend/joke of Bloody Fingers... you know, where the punchline is a hippie saying: Why don't you get some bandaids man!
Oh!... I must mention that there is one hilarious scene at 65% where I took a moment to LOL!
If you're into this kind of story, it's well-written. I just saw everything coming before it happened.
No spoilers. 3 stars. In the dwindling village of Auchenmullen (just see if you don't hit a mental roadblock each time this multi-syllable name pops up) Maggie Wall was unjustly burned as a witch in 1657...
... after her baby was cut from her womb...
By 2019 the population is down to 47 souls because anyone getting pregnant within city limits resurrects Maggie from her grave...
... where she roams the streets asking the villagers: Where's my baby?... and she will disembowel everyone she meets searching for the child...
The storyline of this novel was very pedestrian. It was like watching a B horror flick with its usual bloodfest, F-bombs, sex-crazed teens and an unstoppable witch/monster.
The vehicle for this yarn is the local legend of an accused witch who is innocent of the crimes and is pregnant. The story had its own tagline: Where's my baby? which reminded me of that old legend/joke of Bloody Fingers... you know, where the punchline is a hippie saying: Why don't you get some bandaids man!
Oh!... I must mention that there is one hilarious scene at 65% where I took a moment to LOL!
If you're into this kind of story, it's well-written. I just saw everything coming before it happened.
February 26, 2025
Fast-paced creature feature has a group of teenagers running from the unstoppable spirit of a vengeful witch in a small Scottish town. After some initial setup, the story is one long chase scene that reminded me of a small town The Terminator. It’s pretty much all action for the second half, with lots of blood, some very gruesome deaths, and occasional touches of humor. It’s nothing too complex but the execution is excellent and this one will surely have you biting your nails by the end.
December 11, 2024
This was bonkers but in a good way! I will definitely be checking the toilet before using the bathroom 🤣
May 12, 2025
What a bloody and crazy ride!
The pacing, characters and atmosphere in Maggie’s Grave is well done. The book really gets going at the 20% point and from that point on, it’s a fast-paced insane plot.
The gruesome deaths and gore are exactly what you would expect from a vengeful witch with unfinished business.
The blood and guts are offset by some decent laughs and Scottish humor. Thank goodness for that since it brings some levity to the swarming nightmare of gore.
The town of Auchenmullan is trying to forget the past and what they did to Maggie Wall back in the 17th century.
But Maggie hasn’t forgotten and is seeking revenge…
**(FYI: There’s a real memorial for a Maggie Wall in Dunning, Perthshire which is about an hour away from Edinburgh. It’s been there since 1657!!)**
When I found this out in the afterword, I was even happier getting to this one.
I've wanted to read something by David Sodergren for years. I love what he did by creating a fictional horror book for this local legend. So great!
The pacing, characters and atmosphere in Maggie’s Grave is well done. The book really gets going at the 20% point and from that point on, it’s a fast-paced insane plot.
The gruesome deaths and gore are exactly what you would expect from a vengeful witch with unfinished business.
The blood and guts are offset by some decent laughs and Scottish humor. Thank goodness for that since it brings some levity to the swarming nightmare of gore.
The town of Auchenmullan is trying to forget the past and what they did to Maggie Wall back in the 17th century.
But Maggie hasn’t forgotten and is seeking revenge…
**(FYI: There’s a real memorial for a Maggie Wall in Dunning, Perthshire which is about an hour away from Edinburgh. It’s been there since 1657!!)**
When I found this out in the afterword, I was even happier getting to this one.
I've wanted to read something by David Sodergren for years. I love what he did by creating a fictional horror book for this local legend. So great!
September 17, 2020
Review to come! Outstanding!
Read
December 23, 2023Imagine what you might get if you threw the movies Paranorman and Hot Fuzz into a blender with an unhealthy heaping of blood and guts, then whizzed it all up without the lid on, splattering every inch of the walls with entrails. That’s David Sodergren’s Maggie’s Grave. But it’s even more than that. It’s also a book about forgotten people in empty places, and about the cruelty of men towards women.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-horror-n...
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-horror-n...
January 2, 2025
Wow, a lot of great reviews for this book and it really fell flat for me.
I was really intrigued by the premise of the story and feel there is the foundation of a good book here but otherwise I had so many problems with too many plot points to list here. I felt like (most) everything fell into predictable tropes and honestly, the writing felt amateurish to me.
I’m obviously in the minority with my opinions here so maybe most other people will enjoy it. I, however, cannot recommend it.
I was really intrigued by the premise of the story and feel there is the foundation of a good book here but otherwise I had so many problems with too many plot points to list here. I felt like (most) everything fell into predictable tropes and honestly, the writing felt amateurish to me.
I’m obviously in the minority with my opinions here so maybe most other people will enjoy it. I, however, cannot recommend it.
May 8, 2021
Sodergren has sone it again. His books never disappoint. He's definitely an auto-buy author for me. If you dig lots of blood and guts in your horror, pick this one up ASAP.
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