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The Exercise
August 1943. Forced to seek medical attention, Corporal Ray Ward and his squad are warmly welcomed at Sinclair House, a rehabilitation unit dealing with solders suffering from shell-shock.
But Sinclair House isn’t what it appears to be. Out in the orchards, blood-chilling screams can be heard from the locked Nissen huts and the sheer volume of armed, clearly agitated military personnel around the property seems excessive. Ward and his men know something very wrong is happening at this isolated country estate and soon find themselves caught up in the middle of terrifying events…
But Sinclair House isn’t what it appears to be. Out in the orchards, blood-chilling screams can be heard from the locked Nissen huts and the sheer volume of armed, clearly agitated military personnel around the property seems excessive. Ward and his men know something very wrong is happening at this isolated country estate and soon find themselves caught up in the middle of terrifying events…
- GenresHorror
68 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2021
4 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Mark West
67 books173 followersMark West was born in Northamptonshire in 1969. Writing stories since the age of eight, he discovered the small press in 1999 and since then, he’s published more than 90 stories in various publications around the world.
The Book Folks published his debut mainstream thriller DON’T GO BACK in February 2022. It was followed by WATCHING OVER YOU, THE HUNTER'S QUARRY, STILL WATERS RUN, A KILLER AMONGST US and WE WERE SEEN. His latest, TO SEE TOO MUCH, was published in November 2024. He is currently working on his next thriller novel.
His other works include:
Collections: “Strange Tales” (2003) and “Things We Leave Behind” (2017)
Horror Novels: “In The Rain With The Dead” (2005) and “Conjure” (2009)
Horror Chapbooks/Novelettes: “The Mill” (2011), “What Gets Left Behind” (2012), “The Goblin Glass” (2019) and “Mr Stix” (2019)
Horror Novellas: The Lost Film” (2015), “The Factory” (2016) and “The Exercise” (2021).
Dark Thriller Novellas: “Drive” (2014) and “Polly” (2017)
“Anatomy Of Death” (2013) was a Hersham Horror Books anthology edited by West.
Mark lives in Rothwell, with his wife Alison and their son, Matthew, where he is currently working on a new novel. He can be contacted via his website at www.markwest.org.uk
The Book Folks published his debut mainstream thriller DON’T GO BACK in February 2022. It was followed by WATCHING OVER YOU, THE HUNTER'S QUARRY, STILL WATERS RUN, A KILLER AMONGST US and WE WERE SEEN. His latest, TO SEE TOO MUCH, was published in November 2024. He is currently working on his next thriller novel.
His other works include:
Collections: “Strange Tales” (2003) and “Things We Leave Behind” (2017)
Horror Novels: “In The Rain With The Dead” (2005) and “Conjure” (2009)
Horror Chapbooks/Novelettes: “The Mill” (2011), “What Gets Left Behind” (2012), “The Goblin Glass” (2019) and “Mr Stix” (2019)
Horror Novellas: The Lost Film” (2015), “The Factory” (2016) and “The Exercise” (2021).
Dark Thriller Novellas: “Drive” (2014) and “Polly” (2017)
“Anatomy Of Death” (2013) was a Hersham Horror Books anthology edited by West.
Mark lives in Rothwell, with his wife Alison and their son, Matthew, where he is currently working on a new novel. He can be contacted via his website at www.markwest.org.uk
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 1, 2021
I loved everything about this novella by Mark West. This story takes place in 1943, in East Anglia and follows a group of soldiers taking part in an exercise. A squad of 5 men, led by a Corporal and a Lance Corporal are dropped off in a random location, given coordinates and have 22 hours to make it to the location without being seen, caught or otherwise compromised. This is a routine military exercise and for Corporal Ray Ward, he expects to carry it out without incident.
His men are well-suited to this task and he knew that each man on his squad brought his own unique skill set to the team, especially navigator, Arthur “Gracie” Fields, who could find any location with a map and a compass and his Lance Corporal, Joe Kelly, who brought 20 years of experience with him. Alan “Porky” James was the radio operator and was built strong and stocky enough to shoulder the heavy pack without complaint and last but not least, was Danny Price, otherwise known as “Half.”
The squad is brought to their starting point, given their set of coordinates and set off through the fields, towards an orchard. Once there, they consult their map, set their course and head out after a brief break. Their route takes them close to a river, almost hidden in the fields and Porky inadvertently falls into it, not realizing how close he was standing to a sharp drop-off right at the edge of the bank. They scramble to get him out of the water and to save the radio but Half ends up falling next and steps in a trap, a man-trap, a device that seems to be made almost like a bear-trap. He ends up severely wounded and not able to walk.
Not long after Corporal Ward sends two men after help, a car arrives and offers to take them to “Sinclair House '', which is an old estate being used as a rehabilitation unit for soldiers with shell-shock syndrome. The soldiers arrive quickly and Half is escorted away for medical treatment while the others are assigned rooms for the night. Appreciative of the reprieve and in good spirits now that Half is being treated, the other soldiers begin to dry out the radio and take a look around the grounds. Soon enough, Corporal Ward discovers that something doesn’t quite feel right about the Sinclair House, and Lance Corporal Kelly agrees. By nightfall, the small squad is in for the fight of their lives and nothing has prepared them for this battle. Nothing could have ever prepared them for the horrors hidden at Sinclair House.
I am giving this 5 stars for a fast-paced, well-written, story that pulls no punches.
His men are well-suited to this task and he knew that each man on his squad brought his own unique skill set to the team, especially navigator, Arthur “Gracie” Fields, who could find any location with a map and a compass and his Lance Corporal, Joe Kelly, who brought 20 years of experience with him. Alan “Porky” James was the radio operator and was built strong and stocky enough to shoulder the heavy pack without complaint and last but not least, was Danny Price, otherwise known as “Half.”
The squad is brought to their starting point, given their set of coordinates and set off through the fields, towards an orchard. Once there, they consult their map, set their course and head out after a brief break. Their route takes them close to a river, almost hidden in the fields and Porky inadvertently falls into it, not realizing how close he was standing to a sharp drop-off right at the edge of the bank. They scramble to get him out of the water and to save the radio but Half ends up falling next and steps in a trap, a man-trap, a device that seems to be made almost like a bear-trap. He ends up severely wounded and not able to walk.
Not long after Corporal Ward sends two men after help, a car arrives and offers to take them to “Sinclair House '', which is an old estate being used as a rehabilitation unit for soldiers with shell-shock syndrome. The soldiers arrive quickly and Half is escorted away for medical treatment while the others are assigned rooms for the night. Appreciative of the reprieve and in good spirits now that Half is being treated, the other soldiers begin to dry out the radio and take a look around the grounds. Soon enough, Corporal Ward discovers that something doesn’t quite feel right about the Sinclair House, and Lance Corporal Kelly agrees. By nightfall, the small squad is in for the fight of their lives and nothing has prepared them for this battle. Nothing could have ever prepared them for the horrors hidden at Sinclair House.
I am giving this 5 stars for a fast-paced, well-written, story that pulls no punches.
April 20, 2021
Review coming soon to Kendall Reviews
April 16, 2021
The Exercise is a perfectly executed horror novella, rich in atmosphere and dripping with period detail, adding to the enjoyment and authenticity. Mark West pulls the story together at a wonderful pace, whilst managing to wrong-foot us on the way. The characters are realistically likeable. West's prose is punchy and lean, leaving the reader wanting more, but this is to the novella's credit. I had a blast reading this and so it comes highly recommended.
April 18, 2021
Oh my god, but this is good.
I am not going to be able to say too much about this without giving away spoilers, but let's just say this isn't usually my favourite sub genre of horror because it is often cliche and lazy, but this is just great.
I am not going to be able to say too much about this without giving away spoilers, but let's just say this isn't usually my favourite sub genre of horror because it is often cliche and lazy, but this is just great.
March 22, 2021
The Exercise by Mark West is a perfect example of why the novella length is so suited to horror tales. The additional space allows for greater characterisation than might be possible in a short story which enables us to grow to like the protagonists and thus creates greater suspense when they are put in peril. West puts together a lovable bunch of rogues and chancers in his company of Home Guard soldiers and when they chance upon a secluded military hospital where all is not as it first appears the fun really begins. The author is a dab hand at horror both subtle and visceral and he spoils us here with plenty of both. Great fun and highly recommended.
April 6, 2021
This is an action packed little shocker. A book I blitz read in one sitting. Characters are established quickly and the setting gave me the vibe of the mansion in 28 Days Later. The plot and prose stay true to the time period and the detail is welcome without it crowding the plot.
Overall a blast of a read that escalates really quickly into something unpleasant
Overall a blast of a read that escalates really quickly into something unpleasant
April 15, 2021
I think this is a perfect example of how well utilitarian storytelling can work, and why the novella is such a great vehicle for horror. Just long enough to make your time worthwhile but short enough that it isn’t too much of a commitment. West does a great job setting up this story with some creepy atmosphere and fantastic description. And while I’d be lying if I didn’t say I would have liked it to be longer - I think that’s just a sign of how well executed this was. He gets to the heart of this and does a masterful job with the tools that are on the table. Really entertaining.
April 12, 2021
A fun read that escalates quickly. I read this in a couple of sittings. It zips along at a fast pace. It's the story of a group of 5 soldiers on an excercise in the Fens in 1943. When one of the soldiers is injured they have to take a refuge at a facility treating soldiers suffering from PTSD, but some of their treatments have somewhat shocking effects.
It's a well=plotted piece, with clues given as to what's going on which builds to a chaotic ending. Despite all of the characters being somewhat similar (as they're all soldiers, they have to be to some extent) West gives each their own personality, and the relationships between the men are important from the start. Lots to like about this one.
It's a well=plotted piece, with clues given as to what's going on which builds to a chaotic ending. Despite all of the characters being somewhat similar (as they're all soldiers, they have to be to some extent) West gives each their own personality, and the relationships between the men are important from the start. Lots to like about this one.
November 27, 2022
I read The Exercise last year. Can't remember when exactly, but I don't think it was long after it was released, which was in March. Even so, it stuck in my mind, and there are several reasons for that - some of which I won't reveal because they're spoilers.
What I can say about this novella is that it doesn't neatly fit into a genre. Which is a good thing, in my view. It can make it hard to market, but when a reader gets to it, the chances are they're going to find something that little bit different - which is reward in itself.
In this instance, the exercise in question is a training exercise taking place in the countryside during WWII. But things take a turn that surprises, even though the more astute purchaser will have already noted the book is classified as horror on Amazon. Because there's horror, and then there's horror.
I've already said there are no spoilers here, so I can only tell you to enjoy the anticipation as the tension gradually builds up ahead of the reveal. I've enjoyed several of Mark West's books, and this one took us into new realms very effectively. Since I read The Exercise, I've read a couple more of his, both full-length novels, in a different genre. The writing in those and this one is clear and effective. I will be reading more.
What I can say about this novella is that it doesn't neatly fit into a genre. Which is a good thing, in my view. It can make it hard to market, but when a reader gets to it, the chances are they're going to find something that little bit different - which is reward in itself.
In this instance, the exercise in question is a training exercise taking place in the countryside during WWII. But things take a turn that surprises, even though the more astute purchaser will have already noted the book is classified as horror on Amazon. Because there's horror, and then there's horror.
I've already said there are no spoilers here, so I can only tell you to enjoy the anticipation as the tension gradually builds up ahead of the reveal. I've enjoyed several of Mark West's books, and this one took us into new realms very effectively. Since I read The Exercise, I've read a couple more of his, both full-length novels, in a different genre. The writing in those and this one is clear and effective. I will be reading more.
April 29, 2023
For a short book, Mark West’s The Exercise has well realized characters with distinct personalities. Characters whose fates I really cared about. I could have easily spent a whole novel with them and considering the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, I would love if West decided to revisit the world of his book in another work.
The mystery here was really intriguing, and once the action starts, we get a nice bit of vivid gore. The Exercise is well paced and easy to get sucked into. I look forward to more from West.
The mystery here was really intriguing, and once the action starts, we get a nice bit of vivid gore. The Exercise is well paced and easy to get sucked into. I look forward to more from West.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews