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The Long View
They say the Dead don't tell tales, but it depends on who's doing the listening......
Ever since Sophie Lydon was a little girl she's been able to speak with the dead, a gift she inherited from her late mother and grandmother. Now it's just Sophie and her dad, looking after her uncle and the family funeral business. She tries to carry on her mother's work, the tradition of guiding lost souls into the afterlife, but it's hard and sometimes scary without her mother's guidance.
And the latest crop of arrivals in the mortuary have something new to say, bringing her disturbing messages from the place between living and dying, the vast hinterland across which all souls must walk. The Long View.
A killer has been awoken in the town of High Towers, where Sophie lives. A killer with links to Sophie's past, a killer known to the voice of The Long View.
And it's coming for Sophie......
Welcome to THE LONG VIEW, a new tale of supernatural terror that will chill your blood....
Ever since Sophie Lydon was a little girl she's been able to speak with the dead, a gift she inherited from her late mother and grandmother. Now it's just Sophie and her dad, looking after her uncle and the family funeral business. She tries to carry on her mother's work, the tradition of guiding lost souls into the afterlife, but it's hard and sometimes scary without her mother's guidance.
And the latest crop of arrivals in the mortuary have something new to say, bringing her disturbing messages from the place between living and dying, the vast hinterland across which all souls must walk. The Long View.
A killer has been awoken in the town of High Towers, where Sophie lives. A killer with links to Sophie's past, a killer known to the voice of The Long View.
And it's coming for Sophie......
Welcome to THE LONG VIEW, a new tale of supernatural terror that will chill your blood....
- GenresHorror
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2021
15 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 8, 2021
Fifteen-year-old Sophie Lydon's father is an undertaker, which is somewhat disturbing for a girl who can communicate with the recently deceased. The gift was inherited from her mother, now dead; Sophie lives with her father and her mute, intellectually disabled uncle. Life is not easy for her, and being bullied at school by the cool queen of the class, Cassie, makes it a whole lot worse. Then again, Cassie has her own problems.
Bob Curran is a former detective who grew obsessed with the work of a serial killer, and is sure that an unnamed evil lies beneath his crimes, one that has not yet been laid to rest. Then the murders begin again...
I very much liked the concept of 'the Long View', a long, long walk after death, destination unknown, during which the walkers are tempted by offers of rest and comfort. This is an unusual story, and unpredictable, which is always a plus. The characterisation is good, particularly Cassie and Bob, and the plot is cleverly worked out.
The story has an omniscient narrator, which did not always work for me; it's a hard style to carry off, as too often it can slide into confusing 'head-hopping' - this is when one minute the reader is inside Sophie's head, the next inside Bob's. This can be executed convincingly, but in this book there were no gaps between 'heads'; a row of asterisks before the next person's POV can make all the difference. Similarly, when there is a time gap, or a change in setting, so that the reader doesn't think, 'hang on a minute, isn't she supposed to be in a kitchen in the day time? How come it's suddenly all dark?'. I think it could have used the eyes of an experienced editor, for this reason. However, the person who recommended it to me was not bothered by these aspects, so you may not be, either!
Recommended to those who love a dark paranormal story, and who are not too squeamish - it's far from grisly but there is a fair bit of well-written graphic detail about the murders.
Bob Curran is a former detective who grew obsessed with the work of a serial killer, and is sure that an unnamed evil lies beneath his crimes, one that has not yet been laid to rest. Then the murders begin again...
I very much liked the concept of 'the Long View', a long, long walk after death, destination unknown, during which the walkers are tempted by offers of rest and comfort. This is an unusual story, and unpredictable, which is always a plus. The characterisation is good, particularly Cassie and Bob, and the plot is cleverly worked out.
The story has an omniscient narrator, which did not always work for me; it's a hard style to carry off, as too often it can slide into confusing 'head-hopping' - this is when one minute the reader is inside Sophie's head, the next inside Bob's. This can be executed convincingly, but in this book there were no gaps between 'heads'; a row of asterisks before the next person's POV can make all the difference. Similarly, when there is a time gap, or a change in setting, so that the reader doesn't think, 'hang on a minute, isn't she supposed to be in a kitchen in the day time? How come it's suddenly all dark?'. I think it could have used the eyes of an experienced editor, for this reason. However, the person who recommended it to me was not bothered by these aspects, so you may not be, either!
Recommended to those who love a dark paranormal story, and who are not too squeamish - it's far from grisly but there is a fair bit of well-written graphic detail about the murders.
February 4, 2021
Grisly & Gripping!
'The Long View' by Mark Hurst is great horror material - spooky, gory, grisly, discomforting & gripping. Had this novel been a little shorter, I might have binge-read it in a day.
The plot follows Sophie, an asocial teenager that can see the dead and even talk to them, just like her mom. The author weaves an interesting tale of what happens between the living & the dead, with a serial killer thrown in the mix.
I said the book was discomforting because there's some brutal bullying that isn't very comfortable to read. There is also some graphic violence that kind of comes with horror territory, so is absolutely justified. All I am trying to say is that "The Long View' is not for the faint-hearted. But if you are a horror enthusiast, you will probably love the book.
I have read the author's previous work "The Nasties", and "The Long View" is way more intense, with detailed descriptions that give you a clear vision of the author's imagination. The descriptions are so vivid that the story plays like a movie in your head.
I felt like the climax was slightly long drawn, but it wraps up quite neatly, with a witty little twist at the end. It's a 5/5 from me.
'The Long View' by Mark Hurst is great horror material - spooky, gory, grisly, discomforting & gripping. Had this novel been a little shorter, I might have binge-read it in a day.
The plot follows Sophie, an asocial teenager that can see the dead and even talk to them, just like her mom. The author weaves an interesting tale of what happens between the living & the dead, with a serial killer thrown in the mix.
I said the book was discomforting because there's some brutal bullying that isn't very comfortable to read. There is also some graphic violence that kind of comes with horror territory, so is absolutely justified. All I am trying to say is that "The Long View' is not for the faint-hearted. But if you are a horror enthusiast, you will probably love the book.
I have read the author's previous work "The Nasties", and "The Long View" is way more intense, with detailed descriptions that give you a clear vision of the author's imagination. The descriptions are so vivid that the story plays like a movie in your head.
I felt like the climax was slightly long drawn, but it wraps up quite neatly, with a witty little twist at the end. It's a 5/5 from me.
April 1, 2023
One door closed but in her mind another opened.
Sophie Lydon inherited the ability to talk to the dead and helps guide lost souls to their final destination. She doesn't know where they go, but an in-between realm her late mother called The Long View has to be walked by deceased souls to reach the other side. Sophie's father runs a mortuary, which gives her easy access to the recently deceased as she tries her best to help them as her mother once did. When she's not guiding spirits, she helps care for her uncle Seamus and must avoid a disturbingly violent bully from school, who seems obsessed with her.
Bob Curran is a famed retired police officer who helped put away a murderer. The problem is, though the murderer is now dead and gone, Bob is not so sure that death has stopped him. When grotesque murders start popping up in High Towers once again, Bob must ask himself if there's a copycat on the loose, or if the dead killer has somehow cheated death. And Sophie might be key to solving the case.
I enjoyed the overall story, but I think this book could've been elevated by additional editing. There were some head-hopping issues that were distracting, and though I know that an omniscient view is difficult to write, there could've been more polishing to fix this issue. I think editing would've also helped with clarity in certain areas. On a positive note, if you're looking for a book with some truly horrific crime scenes and a unique take on what happens to us after we die, then this book will give you the fright you're looking for.
Sophie Lydon inherited the ability to talk to the dead and helps guide lost souls to their final destination. She doesn't know where they go, but an in-between realm her late mother called The Long View has to be walked by deceased souls to reach the other side. Sophie's father runs a mortuary, which gives her easy access to the recently deceased as she tries her best to help them as her mother once did. When she's not guiding spirits, she helps care for her uncle Seamus and must avoid a disturbingly violent bully from school, who seems obsessed with her.
Bob Curran is a famed retired police officer who helped put away a murderer. The problem is, though the murderer is now dead and gone, Bob is not so sure that death has stopped him. When grotesque murders start popping up in High Towers once again, Bob must ask himself if there's a copycat on the loose, or if the dead killer has somehow cheated death. And Sophie might be key to solving the case.
I enjoyed the overall story, but I think this book could've been elevated by additional editing. There were some head-hopping issues that were distracting, and though I know that an omniscient view is difficult to write, there could've been more polishing to fix this issue. I think editing would've also helped with clarity in certain areas. On a positive note, if you're looking for a book with some truly horrific crime scenes and a unique take on what happens to us after we die, then this book will give you the fright you're looking for.
July 20, 2021
The cover is what grabbed my interest, the prose is what held it. Haunting and beautiful in its descriptions—particularly those that are otherworldly. A fresh and imaginative take on what lies beyond and the dangers that try to tempt us one last time along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and pacing, and the ending took me by (pleasant) surprise.
There was a bit of “head hopping” that lead to some double takes at times and I think it could benefit from having a marker of some sort to help signal to the reader that the perspective is changing, but over all an incredible story that sticks with you and one I’m thrilled to have picked up.
There was a bit of “head hopping” that lead to some double takes at times and I think it could benefit from having a marker of some sort to help signal to the reader that the perspective is changing, but over all an incredible story that sticks with you and one I’m thrilled to have picked up.
June 10, 2022
A great read. Not my usual genre but it kept me interested and turning the pages. Sophie was a likeable character who immediately captured the reader's attention with her strong nature. I loved the twists throughout the story. There was some head hopping and changes of POV which took a few sentences to realise who you were reading about. However, it didn't distract from the well-written plot and gritty scenes.
December 15, 2022
Not usually a fan of horror set in modern times but this was really enjoyable, in a weird and twisted kind of way. The vague cosmic threat of the 'Old Ones' and the supernatural family elements are something I always like and I found the characters believeable and (mostly, except from when they weren't meant to be) likeable. A couple of punctuation issues around comma splicing and POV head-hopping instances, but overall, a good read!
July 7, 2021
So good
I was captivated from the first page to the last. The author had great command of the story and just pulled me along. Cannot recommend enough!
I was captivated from the first page to the last. The author had great command of the story and just pulled me along. Cannot recommend enough!
November 3, 2022
A moving and creepy read, with a lot of suspense and unexpected twists. I was constantly surprised by this book, part detective story, part rumination on what awaits us after death. Highly recommend!
August 30, 2021
An incredibly good read
An incredibly good read which follows Sophie, a young girl with a supernatural secret, along a path that ultimately leads her to the other side - The Long View. But a dark creature has its own plans, its own secrets, and will gruesomly spill blood to steer Sophie towards its own goals unless she can stop it.
Mark Hurst has a real talent for writing clever pros which only adds to this page turning story. And I can't wait to read what he writes next...
An incredibly good read which follows Sophie, a young girl with a supernatural secret, along a path that ultimately leads her to the other side - The Long View. But a dark creature has its own plans, its own secrets, and will gruesomly spill blood to steer Sophie towards its own goals unless she can stop it.
Mark Hurst has a real talent for writing clever pros which only adds to this page turning story. And I can't wait to read what he writes next...
June 13, 2022
Fantastic book that was incredibly easy to read, the plot was thought out so well that it emphasised the suspense all the way through. I’ve always been interested in the after life and to see it written through Mark’s eyes in a twisted more discomforted way was just the book I never knew I needed. Death, communication and pain was portrayed interestingly with a huge sprinkle of creepiness. I adored the protagonist Sophie following her talents of speaking to the dead, and her grasp on death from such a young age made it feel so normal.
Twists and turns at every corner. Such a captivating read
September 13, 2021
I enjoyed this story. I thought the moments of tension were done very well. The scene where Cassie ambushes Sophie, for example, was very engaging to read. The Afterlife world was extremely well done. The reason it fell short of being a 5-star book, for me, is because it didn't feel like it had been looked over by an editor, beta readers, or critique partners. There were a few things like POVs, sentence structure, inconsistencies, and general typos that took me out of the story on occasion. However, the story was good enough to overcome these. I'm not sure if the Cassie redemption arc worked for me, but that didn't affect my rating.
Overall, it was a great read, and I would read more from this author.
Overall, it was a great read, and I would read more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2021
A story so captivating I ate it in a day and a half! Hurst has one hell of a grasp on death and pain and it's insanely real to read. I was convinced this book was going to be one of my favorite sci-fi reads after starting the first chapter.
That and the villains! Hurst invents these eerily massive and wretched creature-like villains that lack all humanity and obey only the order of the View. The mention of them had me shriveled in my seat, cowering like a child, begging Sophie not to go to them...
“Hell was busy, the Devil had a new sidekick.” (page 75)
If you're up for suspense, horror, and a wicked great ending, pick this up!! You won't be able to put it down.
That and the villains! Hurst invents these eerily massive and wretched creature-like villains that lack all humanity and obey only the order of the View. The mention of them had me shriveled in my seat, cowering like a child, begging Sophie not to go to them...
“Hell was busy, the Devil had a new sidekick.” (page 75)
If you're up for suspense, horror, and a wicked great ending, pick this up!! You won't be able to put it down.
March 10, 2021
Highly recommended!
A bullied teenager that is able to speak with the dead, Sophie is learning life fast. But not only souls are passning through, a rabid killer is raising the stakes in this skillfully written story.
Menacing, twisting & enthralling, read at your (eyes) own risk.
A bullied teenager that is able to speak with the dead, Sophie is learning life fast. But not only souls are passning through, a rabid killer is raising the stakes in this skillfully written story.
Menacing, twisting & enthralling, read at your (eyes) own risk.
July 28, 2021
Life and death
Sophie talks to the dead. She sends them on their way to The Long View. Mark Hurst had created not just a mystery but something that just might keep you up nights. If you are a fan of Stephen King you will love this!
Sophie talks to the dead. She sends them on their way to The Long View. Mark Hurst had created not just a mystery but something that just might keep you up nights. If you are a fan of Stephen King you will love this!
August 25, 2023
Great horror elements and solid character development. Part detective story, part ghost story, with a serial killer thrown in for good measure. This book is excellently written from beginning to end.
August 30, 2022
Hauntingly good, a horror you will find hard to put down.
Highly recommend if you are looking for something ghostly and supernatural.
Highly recommend if you are looking for something ghostly and supernatural.
December 10, 2024
Not my genre. Took a while to get into it and the mistakes and language were a bit distracting. The last third of the book seemed to be better written.
December 2, 2022
Very strong effort. The writing is excellent and the horror elements work well. Bit slow at the beginning but it suitably ramps up as shit hits the fan. Definitely interested to see what the author does next.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews