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The Window
A haunted past…
…a terrifying future.
The present is a battleground for Mark’s mind, and possibly, his life.
Mark is a recovered drug addict, but after losing his parents in a freak accident, his life is set on a trajectory that he never would have guessed. Will he fall back into his old ways?
While fighting to keep hold of his sanity, strange occurrences start taking place almost as if he is following a well laid plan, and the same name keeps appearing at every turn. Who is The Family, and why does it seem like Mark’s parents were connected with this strange cult?
As the mystery begins to unravel, he unearths secrets rooted in control, manipulation, and blood. He must learn to conquer his own demons in order to face off against the pure evil lurking so close to home.
The shocking conclusion to this slow burning tale is sure to leave your jaw on the floor!
…a terrifying future.
The present is a battleground for Mark’s mind, and possibly, his life.
Mark is a recovered drug addict, but after losing his parents in a freak accident, his life is set on a trajectory that he never would have guessed. Will he fall back into his old ways?
While fighting to keep hold of his sanity, strange occurrences start taking place almost as if he is following a well laid plan, and the same name keeps appearing at every turn. Who is The Family, and why does it seem like Mark’s parents were connected with this strange cult?
As the mystery begins to unravel, he unearths secrets rooted in control, manipulation, and blood. He must learn to conquer his own demons in order to face off against the pure evil lurking so close to home.
The shocking conclusion to this slow burning tale is sure to leave your jaw on the floor!
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2020
101 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Gloom
9 books59 followersI'm an author who aims to deliver stories with horror and heart.
Check out my website and join the newsletter for a free novella to give you a taste of my writing.
I also host two podcasts:
-Into The Gloom
-Morbid History
Check out my website and join the newsletter for a free novella to give you a taste of my writing.
I also host two podcasts:
-Into The Gloom
-Morbid History
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 18, 2021
The Window Review
“All he'd experienced that night was utter madness. Sometimes it's best to fight fire with fire.” 🔥
Thomas Gloom’s THE WINDOW is the campy occult read every horror fan needs on their shelf. And, it’s one of my favorites that I’ve read this year!
I went into this book without even reading the summary. I am fortunate to know the author and just wanted to dive into this debut blindly. I'm so glad I did because it made every initial thought or assumption that much more thrilling when Gloom completely unraveled it.
We follow a recovering drug addict, Mark, as he navigates sobriety, past traumas, and unknown to himself, a dark path ahead. Mark’s family struggles, filled with death, secrets, and betrayal, allude to some of the best tropes of classic horror while playing on unique imagery and colors to conjure fright. The use of green brought me back to my favorite Vincent Price movie, The Diary of a Madman, Hammer Films, Goosebumps, and Tim Burton.
I also loved the mental health spin on THE WINDOW that delivered the heart needed to take scary books and movies beyond jump-scares and gore and into purposeful horror. I ached for Mark, relating to his outbursts, night terrors, and insomnia. Mark also had an odd tendency to laugh at situations that sent shivers throughout my body, only making the moment far more chilling.
Overall, THE WINDOW was an intelligent horror novel that felt built from the most iconic eras of the genre, with a personal exploration of trauma and the vulnerability in all of us that can drag us by the heels into the depths of chaos and mental instability.
I recommend THE WINDOW to fans of The Wicker Man (1975), horror stories with touch and go sanity, true crime stories like The Blood Countess and The Son of Sam.
“All he'd experienced that night was utter madness. Sometimes it's best to fight fire with fire.” 🔥
Thomas Gloom’s THE WINDOW is the campy occult read every horror fan needs on their shelf. And, it’s one of my favorites that I’ve read this year!
I went into this book without even reading the summary. I am fortunate to know the author and just wanted to dive into this debut blindly. I'm so glad I did because it made every initial thought or assumption that much more thrilling when Gloom completely unraveled it.
We follow a recovering drug addict, Mark, as he navigates sobriety, past traumas, and unknown to himself, a dark path ahead. Mark’s family struggles, filled with death, secrets, and betrayal, allude to some of the best tropes of classic horror while playing on unique imagery and colors to conjure fright. The use of green brought me back to my favorite Vincent Price movie, The Diary of a Madman, Hammer Films, Goosebumps, and Tim Burton.
I also loved the mental health spin on THE WINDOW that delivered the heart needed to take scary books and movies beyond jump-scares and gore and into purposeful horror. I ached for Mark, relating to his outbursts, night terrors, and insomnia. Mark also had an odd tendency to laugh at situations that sent shivers throughout my body, only making the moment far more chilling.
Overall, THE WINDOW was an intelligent horror novel that felt built from the most iconic eras of the genre, with a personal exploration of trauma and the vulnerability in all of us that can drag us by the heels into the depths of chaos and mental instability.
I recommend THE WINDOW to fans of The Wicker Man (1975), horror stories with touch and go sanity, true crime stories like The Blood Countess and The Son of Sam.
July 6, 2022
A horrific masterpiece..
Gloom takes you into the dark corners of a recovering addict's mind and exposes the pure terror that lurks there.
From the suspenseful plot, dynamic antiheroes, and seriously creepy scenes The Window, unveils what hides in the shadows of the people you think you know best.
AN ABSOLUTE MUST-READ!
Gloom takes you into the dark corners of a recovering addict's mind and exposes the pure terror that lurks there.
From the suspenseful plot, dynamic antiheroes, and seriously creepy scenes The Window, unveils what hides in the shadows of the people you think you know best.
AN ABSOLUTE MUST-READ!
July 4, 2025
A solid tale of trauma and guilt, delivering psychological horror that ultimately switches to bloody cult horror.
After the deaths of his parents, Mark's life is upheaved, and old mental scars are reopened. Trying to reconcile with his brother, he's assailed by nightmares and paranoia, and forced to confront the mistakes of his past.
I felt like the psychological aspects of this novel were where it was at its strongest. Throughout the pages, it was difficult to determine what was real and what was in Mark's head, and even how much of what he remembered was true.
When the cult aspect came in, it felt like these psychological struggles were somewhat thrown to the wayside, which was a shame.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. There was a lot of potential in the plot and characters, and it certainly locked me in and had me wanting to see where it was all headed. For me, though, the writing lacked subtlety at times, bordering on a lot of "telling", and I felt like a lot was just given to us rather than being hinted at.
In terms of writing style, I found that it had a "stop-start" quality to it, affecting the flow, and some of the dialogue felt slightly inorganic. These were not aspects that directly affected my reading, but they were noticeable to me.
For a debut novel (I think) this is a good introduction to the mind of the author. There is good imagination, solid understanding of what makes people tick, and I felt like the subject matter was handled sensitively. Whilst the psychological and cult aspects felt a little disjointed, both were engaging and had me invested in the story and characters. Perhaps a little more time to let the mystery get under my skin may have improved this, as it felt like some of those aspects were slightly rushed and handed to me without seeds being planted first, but overall, a fun and unsettling story that I certainly enjoyed.
After the deaths of his parents, Mark's life is upheaved, and old mental scars are reopened. Trying to reconcile with his brother, he's assailed by nightmares and paranoia, and forced to confront the mistakes of his past.
I felt like the psychological aspects of this novel were where it was at its strongest. Throughout the pages, it was difficult to determine what was real and what was in Mark's head, and even how much of what he remembered was true.
When the cult aspect came in, it felt like these psychological struggles were somewhat thrown to the wayside, which was a shame.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. There was a lot of potential in the plot and characters, and it certainly locked me in and had me wanting to see where it was all headed. For me, though, the writing lacked subtlety at times, bordering on a lot of "telling", and I felt like a lot was just given to us rather than being hinted at.
In terms of writing style, I found that it had a "stop-start" quality to it, affecting the flow, and some of the dialogue felt slightly inorganic. These were not aspects that directly affected my reading, but they were noticeable to me.
For a debut novel (I think) this is a good introduction to the mind of the author. There is good imagination, solid understanding of what makes people tick, and I felt like the subject matter was handled sensitively. Whilst the psychological and cult aspects felt a little disjointed, both were engaging and had me invested in the story and characters. Perhaps a little more time to let the mystery get under my skin may have improved this, as it felt like some of those aspects were slightly rushed and handed to me without seeds being planted first, but overall, a fun and unsettling story that I certainly enjoyed.
March 24, 2021
a story that's less about addiction and more about the aftermath and living with the choices we made during that fog, the window is a special book. whether Gloom wrote it purposefully this way or if this is just his style i don't know, but there is a detached feel from the prose. While we are set up to follow the main character's point of view, we're still kept at arm's length, as though hes guarded from the reader as well.
this is a wonderful trick and creates a sense of distrust while not necessarily falling into the unreliable narrator, but can work to it's detriment. there are some moments, monents of redemption or near redemption that would have been better suited with a more intimate feel.
that said, it's still a great story, with a very mild horror undercurrent that is patiently waiting for the second half of the story. not so much a twist as much as it is a switch flicking on and switching tracks to the next half of the story we dive into the weird. less a mystery and more a what the fuckery plot, this part speeds fast and hard.
where the beginning may have been a slow paced drama of addiction and grief, this was nonstop action. while there were some exposition dumps to get here, it was worth the wild but slow build up preceding it.
this is a wonderful trick and creates a sense of distrust while not necessarily falling into the unreliable narrator, but can work to it's detriment. there are some moments, monents of redemption or near redemption that would have been better suited with a more intimate feel.
that said, it's still a great story, with a very mild horror undercurrent that is patiently waiting for the second half of the story. not so much a twist as much as it is a switch flicking on and switching tracks to the next half of the story we dive into the weird. less a mystery and more a what the fuckery plot, this part speeds fast and hard.
where the beginning may have been a slow paced drama of addiction and grief, this was nonstop action. while there were some exposition dumps to get here, it was worth the wild but slow build up preceding it.
October 8, 2021
4.25 out of 5 Stars
This is the second novel I have read by this author. The first being a collection of short stories he wrote entitled "Stories with Horror and Heart: Volume 1"
I enjoyed Gloom's collection of short stories but found "The Window" to be a much more compelling and entertaining read, that kept me intrigued from beginning to end. Gloom's main character, Mark, was easy to sympathize with. A troubled and confused teen, who gets in with the wrong crowd, before experiencing a horrific event that leaves him traumatized.
"The Window" is certainly a slow burn novel. The first half focuses on Mark's past, poor (or inevitable?) decisions, that follow him for years afterwards, haunting his psyche, and impairing his ability to connect with people. Gloom paints an all-too-real picture of addiction, loss, heartbreak, anger, and regret, that is certain to strike an emotional chord or two. More than once I found myself shaking my head in shock, wondering how much of these details were based on personal experience.
I can not say much about the second half of the novel without ruining anything. But this is where things go from sad to creepy, as Mark seeks to find peace by taking a journey to his parents cabin, which is surrounded by mysterious woodlands.
As someone who loves slow-burn horror I really enjoyed this story. The pace may not be for everyone. But if you are willing to trade a few scares, for more in-depth character development, backstory, and witty dialogue, then you will not be disappointed.
That is not to say that there is any shortage of scary moments, it is simply to say that Gloom holds off until the end, and the end is pretty darn brilliant.
This is the second novel I have read by this author. The first being a collection of short stories he wrote entitled "Stories with Horror and Heart: Volume 1"
I enjoyed Gloom's collection of short stories but found "The Window" to be a much more compelling and entertaining read, that kept me intrigued from beginning to end. Gloom's main character, Mark, was easy to sympathize with. A troubled and confused teen, who gets in with the wrong crowd, before experiencing a horrific event that leaves him traumatized.
"The Window" is certainly a slow burn novel. The first half focuses on Mark's past, poor (or inevitable?) decisions, that follow him for years afterwards, haunting his psyche, and impairing his ability to connect with people. Gloom paints an all-too-real picture of addiction, loss, heartbreak, anger, and regret, that is certain to strike an emotional chord or two. More than once I found myself shaking my head in shock, wondering how much of these details were based on personal experience.
I can not say much about the second half of the novel without ruining anything. But this is where things go from sad to creepy, as Mark seeks to find peace by taking a journey to his parents cabin, which is surrounded by mysterious woodlands.
As someone who loves slow-burn horror I really enjoyed this story. The pace may not be for everyone. But if you are willing to trade a few scares, for more in-depth character development, backstory, and witty dialogue, then you will not be disappointed.
That is not to say that there is any shortage of scary moments, it is simply to say that Gloom holds off until the end, and the end is pretty darn brilliant.
March 18, 2023
A man with a troubled history loses his parents in a traumatic accident. As he struggles to recover he is forced to recollect parts of his past that have always haunted him, and in doing so he uncovers a much darker hidden truth.
This book sat on my TBR for far too long, and I'm glad I decided to pick it up. Reading Gloom's writing is vivid and emotional, and he has a knack for finding and pulling on the little splinters that will make you wince and bleed. This story packs a lot of heart, with themes of anger, regret, addiction, loss, grief, and the pain of deception. It also features a mysterious cult with some pretty messed up rituals, and if you've read any of my own writing, you know I'm all into that.
Gloom ends this book with a twist that I did not see coming. It is bleak and brief and pulls the rug out from under you, giving you no time to react. It was the best way to end the book, I feel, and I applaud the author for forgoing the happy ending for a much more satisfying conclusion.
This book sat on my TBR for far too long, and I'm glad I decided to pick it up. Reading Gloom's writing is vivid and emotional, and he has a knack for finding and pulling on the little splinters that will make you wince and bleed. This story packs a lot of heart, with themes of anger, regret, addiction, loss, grief, and the pain of deception. It also features a mysterious cult with some pretty messed up rituals, and if you've read any of my own writing, you know I'm all into that.
Gloom ends this book with a twist that I did not see coming. It is bleak and brief and pulls the rug out from under you, giving you no time to react. It was the best way to end the book, I feel, and I applaud the author for forgoing the happy ending for a much more satisfying conclusion.
March 1, 2022
Love a good cult story! Gloom’s writing reads easy, like a Goosebumps book cranked up an octave, allowing darker, adult themes to seep through. I had fun with the mystery of this one, though I wished the cult storyline had come into play earlier (it doesn’t really get going until the 2nd half). The first half is a time jumping character study on the main character which in itself is interesting though.
March 13, 2021
A fantastic story for anyone who likes cults and pure, unbridled suspense that will keep you on your toes and make your heart race. Highly recommend!
March 1, 2021
This book has it all. Horror, thriller, suspense, creepy and gore. This book is a must read.
April 4, 2021
Review originally published here, at Reedsy Discovery: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the...
Family isn't what it seems in this spooky and ominous small-town horror novel about psychological trauma, drug addiction, and cults.
After a seemingly normal day visiting the Mega Flea Market in small-town Hester, Kentucky with his parents, Mark Davidson's life comes crashing down in a single horrific moment. A car accident during a bad thunderstorm kills his parents, leaving Mark terribly injured but still alive--the event's only survivor. Unable to sleep and tormented by gruesome dreams and hallucinations related to the wreck, Mark starts to loose his grip on reality and lashes out with an uncharacteristic rage that alienates everyone around him. Despite knowing that medication might help, Mark is reluctant to take pills for a very viable reason: he's a drug addict in recovery.
Mark, the main character of Thomas Gloom's creepy and foreboding horror novel The Window, is in an incredibly precarious position: he wants to rebound and deal with his trauma without turning back to his addiction, but that will mean confronting his past mistakes--including his tense relationships with his older brother and his ex. And as if Mark's not struggling enough with his personal life, bizarre incidents and coincidences keep piling up around him. People in white robes seem to be following him, and he discovers a website about a cult called "The Family." And then there was his dad's strange dying request, about keeping a certain window at the house clean. Is there a connection between all these events and Mark's family, or is he just delusional?
Gloom's novel is not only an exceptionally scary tale about family secrets, but it's also a perfect depiction of the isolating stigma that addicts experience every day. Mark's psychological trauma after the accident looks similar to drug-induced psychosis, so everyone automatically assumes he's using again. People use Mark's addiction as an excuse to dismiss his concerns, and he has to fight incredibly hard to be taken seriously. Also, Mark's addiction doesn't only affect Mark: it also impacts his entire family. Unfortunately, in The Window, Mark's family decides to cope with his addiction in a truly dreadful way. Grief can make people do awful things.
Although the transitions between Mark's present situation and his past memories sometimes feel awkward and forced, overall The Window is a compelling, slow-burn read that really amps up for a satisfyingly blood-soaked and genuinely frightening conclusion. I'd certainly recommend reading this one with the lights on.
Family isn't what it seems in this spooky and ominous small-town horror novel about psychological trauma, drug addiction, and cults.
After a seemingly normal day visiting the Mega Flea Market in small-town Hester, Kentucky with his parents, Mark Davidson's life comes crashing down in a single horrific moment. A car accident during a bad thunderstorm kills his parents, leaving Mark terribly injured but still alive--the event's only survivor. Unable to sleep and tormented by gruesome dreams and hallucinations related to the wreck, Mark starts to loose his grip on reality and lashes out with an uncharacteristic rage that alienates everyone around him. Despite knowing that medication might help, Mark is reluctant to take pills for a very viable reason: he's a drug addict in recovery.
Mark, the main character of Thomas Gloom's creepy and foreboding horror novel The Window, is in an incredibly precarious position: he wants to rebound and deal with his trauma without turning back to his addiction, but that will mean confronting his past mistakes--including his tense relationships with his older brother and his ex. And as if Mark's not struggling enough with his personal life, bizarre incidents and coincidences keep piling up around him. People in white robes seem to be following him, and he discovers a website about a cult called "The Family." And then there was his dad's strange dying request, about keeping a certain window at the house clean. Is there a connection between all these events and Mark's family, or is he just delusional?
Gloom's novel is not only an exceptionally scary tale about family secrets, but it's also a perfect depiction of the isolating stigma that addicts experience every day. Mark's psychological trauma after the accident looks similar to drug-induced psychosis, so everyone automatically assumes he's using again. People use Mark's addiction as an excuse to dismiss his concerns, and he has to fight incredibly hard to be taken seriously. Also, Mark's addiction doesn't only affect Mark: it also impacts his entire family. Unfortunately, in The Window, Mark's family decides to cope with his addiction in a truly dreadful way. Grief can make people do awful things.
Although the transitions between Mark's present situation and his past memories sometimes feel awkward and forced, overall The Window is a compelling, slow-burn read that really amps up for a satisfyingly blood-soaked and genuinely frightening conclusion. I'd certainly recommend reading this one with the lights on.
January 14, 2023
A great short story horror with moments that make you look out the corner of your eye when alone in the dark. The narrators slightly distorted view of reality creates tension and unease whilst reading this book. The ending (although by no means bad or disliked) wasn’t what I expected, which for many readers might be exactly what they want from this novel. It’s short but filled with a lot of raw emotions, almost as if it were a memoir of lived experiences from the author themselves. Definitely a recommendation for anyone who enjoys an emotion packed novel with some graphic imagery and unexpected twists.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2022
Good read.
The story line starts out pretty intense but slows down a bit as u begin to learn about the main characters past who's name is Mark. Mark is traumatized due to past events and the things he is dealing with makes you wonder if he is truly well. The story starts to come together rather quickly then and u can forget about putting the book down to read later. Kept me on the edge of my seat and also up very late as I had to finish. Well written!
The story line starts out pretty intense but slows down a bit as u begin to learn about the main characters past who's name is Mark. Mark is traumatized due to past events and the things he is dealing with makes you wonder if he is truly well. The story starts to come together rather quickly then and u can forget about putting the book down to read later. Kept me on the edge of my seat and also up very late as I had to finish. Well written!
December 18, 2021
The window is not only a brillant slow burn cult horror novel, it’s also a fascinating journey through someone’s struggles with mental health, addiction and guilt. Gloom did a great job taking us deep into this terrifying nightmare.
October 24, 2022
Pretty good
A good suspenseful thriller. Quick, easy and interesting story. Could have been better, minor continuity errors and unbelievable elements. Also disappointed hints at supernatural twist didn't pan out. But overall a fun read.
A good suspenseful thriller. Quick, easy and interesting story. Could have been better, minor continuity errors and unbelievable elements. Also disappointed hints at supernatural twist didn't pan out. But overall a fun read.
December 5, 2022
Truly a Horror Story!
What makes it so horrible is that it could be true. There just might be a secret society that practices blood sacrifices. They might even be living in your neighborhood.
What makes it so horrible is that it could be true. There just might be a secret society that practices blood sacrifices. They might even be living in your neighborhood.
December 8, 2022
Bad book
At first I thought it was interesting, then boring, then just awful. It really was a jumbled mess & horrible ending with another bad book to finish the story.. Don't bother.
At first I thought it was interesting, then boring, then just awful. It really was a jumbled mess & horrible ending with another bad book to finish the story.. Don't bother.
January 14, 2023
Not sure how I feel
This story was ... different. There was a lot of focus on the main character's mental issues but the mystery itself did not feel real. It wasn't a scary book.
This story was ... different. There was a lot of focus on the main character's mental issues but the mystery itself did not feel real. It wasn't a scary book.
February 20, 2024
A Nail Biter
To the end! Good story, great characters, awesome pace the plot moved to, and a definite horror aspect throughout the book. Couldn't put it down once I started reading it.
To the end! Good story, great characters, awesome pace the plot moved to, and a definite horror aspect throughout the book. Couldn't put it down once I started reading it.
February 28, 2024
The Window is a well paced, creepy compelling read. Mixed with horror, I thought the themes of drug abuse, psychosis and grief were handled sensitively by the Author. A story full of twists and turns, the ending had a twist, which I didn't anticipate. Great read.
October 25, 2021
Didn't like
I found it a bit boring and hard to finish. Way to much detail and it didn't begin to get interesting until the end if the book.
I found it a bit boring and hard to finish. Way to much detail and it didn't begin to get interesting until the end if the book.
October 28, 2021
Unpredictable
The author did a great job keeping you
On your toes. I did not expect the ending. What a great story
The author did a great job keeping you
On your toes. I did not expect the ending. What a great story
October 30, 2021
My first reading of author Thomas Gloom, The Window, is fantastic. The plot was good, but the finish was shocking, I did not see that coming. Great read.
November 21, 2021
Amazing ending
The story is great all the way through but last 25% of the book Thomas cranks up the horror to 100 and it’s amazing!
The story is great all the way through but last 25% of the book Thomas cranks up the horror to 100 and it’s amazing!
May 31, 2022
This book was definitely a slow burn horror story. The plot was great but the story did seem to drag on for quite a bit.
December 21, 2022
Wow. I didn't like it at all. I'd rather not be terribly negative, so I'll leave it at that.
December 28, 2022
Starts off interesting then gets stupid
February 22, 2023
creepy
Although this was a good book, it was at times very slow. I felt the story could’ve ended soon than it dod
Although this was a good book, it was at times very slow. I felt the story could’ve ended soon than it dod
May 14, 2023
Short and unsettling. Not particularly scary though.
October 7, 2024
I was inclined to give this 2 stars. I enjoyed most of the story, but I didn't like the end.
December 18, 2022
Awful.
Badly written. I couldn't wait to finish reading it as hate to give up on a book but ths was dire
Badly written. I couldn't wait to finish reading it as hate to give up on a book but ths was dire
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews