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A History of Fear
An eerie literary suspense debut following the harrowing downfall of a tortured graduate student who’s been nicknamed the Devil’s Advocate for his sensational crime: murdering a classmate, then claiming the Devil made him do it.
The Devil is in Scotland.
Grayson Hale, the most infamous murderer in Scotland, is better known by a different name: the Devil’s Advocate. The twenty-five-year-old American grad student rose to instant notoriety when he confessed to the slaughter of his classmate Liam Stewart, claiming the Devil made him do it.
When Hale is found hanged in his prison cell, officers uncover a handwritten manuscript that promises to answer the question that’s haunted the nation for years: was Hale a lunatic, or had he been telling the truth all along?
Unnervingly, Hale doesn’t fit the bill of a killer. The first-person narrative that centers this novel reveals an acerbic young atheist, newly enrolled at the University of Edinburgh to carry on the legacy of his recently deceased father. In need of cash, he takes a job ghostwriting a mysterious book for a dark stranger, but has misgivings when the project begins to reawaken his satanophobia, a rare condition that causes him to live in terror that the Devil is after him. As he struggles to disentangle fact from fear, Grayson’s world is turned upside-down after events force him to confront his growing suspicion that he’s working for the one he has feared all this time—and that the book is only the beginning of their partnership.
A History of Fear is a propulsive foray into the darkness of the human psyche, marrying dread-inducing atmosphere and heart-palpitating storytelling.
The Devil is in Scotland.
Grayson Hale, the most infamous murderer in Scotland, is better known by a different name: the Devil’s Advocate. The twenty-five-year-old American grad student rose to instant notoriety when he confessed to the slaughter of his classmate Liam Stewart, claiming the Devil made him do it.
When Hale is found hanged in his prison cell, officers uncover a handwritten manuscript that promises to answer the question that’s haunted the nation for years: was Hale a lunatic, or had he been telling the truth all along?
Unnervingly, Hale doesn’t fit the bill of a killer. The first-person narrative that centers this novel reveals an acerbic young atheist, newly enrolled at the University of Edinburgh to carry on the legacy of his recently deceased father. In need of cash, he takes a job ghostwriting a mysterious book for a dark stranger, but has misgivings when the project begins to reawaken his satanophobia, a rare condition that causes him to live in terror that the Devil is after him. As he struggles to disentangle fact from fear, Grayson’s world is turned upside-down after events force him to confront his growing suspicion that he’s working for the one he has feared all this time—and that the book is only the beginning of their partnership.
A History of Fear is a propulsive foray into the darkness of the human psyche, marrying dread-inducing atmosphere and heart-palpitating storytelling.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2022
398 people are currently reading
26260 people want to read
About the author
Luke Dumas
5 books360 followersLuke Dumas is the USA Today bestselling author of Nothing Tastes as Good, The Paleontologist, and A History of Fear.
He is the winner of a 2024 ITW Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original, was nominated for the Silver Falchion Award for Best Supernatural, and his work has been optioned for film and TV.
He received his master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh, and has worked in nonprofit philanthropy for more than a decade with organizations including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the American Red Cross.
Luke was born and raised in San Diego, California, where he lives with his husband and dogs and works for a biomedical research institute.
He is the winner of a 2024 ITW Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original, was nominated for the Silver Falchion Award for Best Supernatural, and his work has been optioned for film and TV.
He received his master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh, and has worked in nonprofit philanthropy for more than a decade with organizations including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the American Red Cross.
Luke was born and raised in San Diego, California, where he lives with his husband and dogs and works for a biomedical research institute.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 818 reviews
August 12, 2022
well, one thing is for sure. im pretty sure ive never read anything like this. i honestly dont know how to explain it, but im going to try anyway.
this an investigative analysis of one young mans psychological spiral and descent into mania, and eventually murder. all stemming from childhood abuse and repression due to extreme religion. or is it?
was he actually compelled by the devil to do evil? in grayson hales own words, he provides a convincing narrative of how the world (including himself) is influenced by the adversary, providing research of the devils historically strong presence in scotland.
reading this is to decide for yourself which perspective is true.
and its a story that will leave you reeling.
thank you, atria books, for the ARC!
↠ 4 stars
this an investigative analysis of one young mans psychological spiral and descent into mania, and eventually murder. all stemming from childhood abuse and repression due to extreme religion. or is it?
was he actually compelled by the devil to do evil? in grayson hales own words, he provides a convincing narrative of how the world (including himself) is influenced by the adversary, providing research of the devils historically strong presence in scotland.
reading this is to decide for yourself which perspective is true.
and its a story that will leave you reeling.
thank you, atria books, for the ARC!
↠ 4 stars
May 5, 2022
Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Writing: 2/5 | Plot: 2/5 | Ending: 1/5
THE PLOT
After Grayson Hale, aka the Devil's Advocate who was found guilty of murdering his college classmate Liam Stewart, dies by suicide in his prison cell, his handwritten manuscript is found. Amongst the pages, supplemented with emails, interviews, and the prison psychologist's notes, we find out if the devil really made Hale kill.
MY OPINION
WELP. This book had me in the first 8% but I ate my words shortly afterward. That smell wasn't the scent of a banger... but deceit. This is a generous 2 stars because I liked what the author was trying to say, but I did NOT like how he said it.
- This book was heavily overwritten and long-winded. The information presented in the first 45% could've been whittled down to 15%. You can glean what's going on very early on in the book, yet the author stretches out the reveal waaaayyyy too long. JUST GET TO THE POINT. Also, writing things like "I summoned an Uber" in an attempt to keep this book "literary" was lol. How about you summon the point of this long-ass chapter.
- The murder took place in 2016 yet it feels like this was Salem Witch Trials days. I really felt like this was some 1970s story but then he'd be on Reddit so I was confused. For example, there's a scene where he comes out of a p0rno shop...??? In 2016??? Ok.
- Lots of hand holding at the end. Everything was neatly explained and wrapped up. For a book that tried so hard to be an enigmatic puzzle, having everything explained to you like you're 6 years old didn't really fit the vibe.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: interesting premise. Cool format with the book within a book supplemented by extra info.
Cons: super long-winded, overwritten, spoon-fed ending, "twist" is easy to clock, references/events that didn't suit the time period
Writing: 2/5 | Plot: 2/5 | Ending: 1/5
THE PLOT
After Grayson Hale, aka the Devil's Advocate who was found guilty of murdering his college classmate Liam Stewart, dies by suicide in his prison cell, his handwritten manuscript is found. Amongst the pages, supplemented with emails, interviews, and the prison psychologist's notes, we find out if the devil really made Hale kill.
MY OPINION
WELP. This book had me in the first 8% but I ate my words shortly afterward. That smell wasn't the scent of a banger... but deceit. This is a generous 2 stars because I liked what the author was trying to say, but I did NOT like how he said it.
- This book was heavily overwritten and long-winded. The information presented in the first 45% could've been whittled down to 15%. You can glean what's going on very early on in the book, yet the author stretches out the reveal waaaayyyy too long. JUST GET TO THE POINT. Also, writing things like "I summoned an Uber" in an attempt to keep this book "literary" was lol. How about you summon the point of this long-ass chapter.
- The murder took place in 2016 yet it feels like this was Salem Witch Trials days. I really felt like this was some 1970s story but then he'd be on Reddit so I was confused. For example, there's a scene where he comes out of a p0rno shop...??? In 2016??? Ok.
- Lots of hand holding at the end. Everything was neatly explained and wrapped up. For a book that tried so hard to be an enigmatic puzzle, having everything explained to you like you're 6 years old didn't really fit the vibe.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: interesting premise. Cool format with the book within a book supplemented by extra info.
Cons: super long-winded, overwritten, spoon-fed ending, "twist" is easy to clock, references/events that didn't suit the time period
October 7, 2022
Grayson Hale has been found dead in his prison cell by hanging. Stranger though is that his clothes are torn and claw marks are found all over his body.
Interest piqued? Mine sure was.
After searching the cell they find a manuscript he'd been working on to explain how he came to be in prison for the murder of his classmate, Liam Stewart.
It appears, according to Grayson, that the devil made him do it.
"What is this strange memoir? An imaginative fiction? A First-person account of one man's descent into madness? Or worse, a warning sent straight from the depths of hell?"
This book is a literary horror lovers dream come true. I kid you not. Impeccably written, Luke Dumas has proven one thing, he is fiercely intelligent and has spun a tail so intricate and so enthralling that it was difficult to turn away. I was completely spellbound. Now, I admit, this was a little bit bloated and could have been edited just a bit tighter. Goodreads claims this book is 368 pages, I'm not sure if that's correct or not as I was reading an arc copy on my kindle where no page count was provided, but typically a 368 page book is about 5 hours and this came in at just over 7 hours. There is a lot of text on the page so it's not a book you can hurry through. You must take your time and honestly that's probably for the best to fully appreciate what the author has done here even if part of you wants to hurry it along from time to time. I can be an impatient reader so that is no fault to the author. In fact, it should be viewed more as flattery because my need to know, my need to see this through to the end, had me almost as flustered as Grayson was in this story. And Grayson is one of the best unreliable narrators I've come across in awhile.
But the cherry on the sundae, if you will, is the ending. The absolutely mind blowing and chill inducing very last page left me utterly gobsmacked. Bravo, Mr. Dumas. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.
Interest piqued? Mine sure was.
After searching the cell they find a manuscript he'd been working on to explain how he came to be in prison for the murder of his classmate, Liam Stewart.
It appears, according to Grayson, that the devil made him do it.
"What is this strange memoir? An imaginative fiction? A First-person account of one man's descent into madness? Or worse, a warning sent straight from the depths of hell?"
This book is a literary horror lovers dream come true. I kid you not. Impeccably written, Luke Dumas has proven one thing, he is fiercely intelligent and has spun a tail so intricate and so enthralling that it was difficult to turn away. I was completely spellbound. Now, I admit, this was a little bit bloated and could have been edited just a bit tighter. Goodreads claims this book is 368 pages, I'm not sure if that's correct or not as I was reading an arc copy on my kindle where no page count was provided, but typically a 368 page book is about 5 hours and this came in at just over 7 hours. There is a lot of text on the page so it's not a book you can hurry through. You must take your time and honestly that's probably for the best to fully appreciate what the author has done here even if part of you wants to hurry it along from time to time. I can be an impatient reader so that is no fault to the author. In fact, it should be viewed more as flattery because my need to know, my need to see this through to the end, had me almost as flustered as Grayson was in this story. And Grayson is one of the best unreliable narrators I've come across in awhile.
But the cherry on the sundae, if you will, is the ending. The absolutely mind blowing and chill inducing very last page left me utterly gobsmacked. Bravo, Mr. Dumas. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.
January 17, 2023
A History of Fear by Luke Dumas (debut novel)
Release Date: December 6th, 2022
General Genre: Horror, Thriller, Suspense
Subgenre/Themes: Crime-Thriller, Cult-like church, spiritual abuse, the Devil, paranoia, phobias, mental illness, college life, Scotland, Ghostwriting, LBGTQIA+
Writing Style: First Person POV, Intricately plotted, epistolary & narrative
What You Need to Know: Grayson Hale, the most infamous murderer in Scotland, is better known by a different name: the Devil's Advocate. The twenty-five-year-old American grad student rose to instant notoriety when he confessed to the slaughter of his classmate Liam Stewart, claiming the Devil made him do it.
My Reading Experience: Highest marks for an enjoyable reading experience. I read this over a three-day weekend. Anytime I set this book down, I was thinking about it, anticipating my return to it. Dumas unfolds a complicated murder mystery with exciting, layered, compelling storytelling that fluctuates back and forth between first person POV narrative with a sympathetic character named Grayson Hale and chapters that read like notes from a criminal investigation. As the story progresses, Dumas delves deeper into Grayson’s psyche as it relates to his childhood and complicated relationships with his family members as well as his adult relationships with fellow students at school and his flatmate.
Simultaneously, the notes from the trial uncover startling truths. Key people closest to Grayson give interviews that wildly contradict Grayson’s narrative. The reading experience is deliciously torn between what we know Grayson is experiencing and what we actually think is happening as well as clues and revelations we are picking up along the way from the investigation. It’s absolutely genius.
Bonus points for this book’s setting in Edinburgh, Scotland. I loved the atmosphere it brought to this tale.
Final Recommendation: Perfect for fans who love to devour a complex, atmospheric murder mystery with supernatural elements. Did the Devil make him do it?
Comps: The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper, Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, the movie Primal Fear, and The Outsider by Stephen King
Release Date: December 6th, 2022
General Genre: Horror, Thriller, Suspense
Subgenre/Themes: Crime-Thriller, Cult-like church, spiritual abuse, the Devil, paranoia, phobias, mental illness, college life, Scotland, Ghostwriting, LBGTQIA+
Writing Style: First Person POV, Intricately plotted, epistolary & narrative
What You Need to Know: Grayson Hale, the most infamous murderer in Scotland, is better known by a different name: the Devil's Advocate. The twenty-five-year-old American grad student rose to instant notoriety when he confessed to the slaughter of his classmate Liam Stewart, claiming the Devil made him do it.
My Reading Experience: Highest marks for an enjoyable reading experience. I read this over a three-day weekend. Anytime I set this book down, I was thinking about it, anticipating my return to it. Dumas unfolds a complicated murder mystery with exciting, layered, compelling storytelling that fluctuates back and forth between first person POV narrative with a sympathetic character named Grayson Hale and chapters that read like notes from a criminal investigation. As the story progresses, Dumas delves deeper into Grayson’s psyche as it relates to his childhood and complicated relationships with his family members as well as his adult relationships with fellow students at school and his flatmate.
Simultaneously, the notes from the trial uncover startling truths. Key people closest to Grayson give interviews that wildly contradict Grayson’s narrative. The reading experience is deliciously torn between what we know Grayson is experiencing and what we actually think is happening as well as clues and revelations we are picking up along the way from the investigation. It’s absolutely genius.
Bonus points for this book’s setting in Edinburgh, Scotland. I loved the atmosphere it brought to this tale.
Final Recommendation: Perfect for fans who love to devour a complex, atmospheric murder mystery with supernatural elements. Did the Devil make him do it?
Comps: The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper, Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, the movie Primal Fear, and The Outsider by Stephen King
December 10, 2022
A History of Fear reveals one man’s descent into madness.
Scotland, 2017: Grayson Hale, an American grad student, callously murdered his classmate, blaming the devil for his actions.
Following his sentence, that should have been that. However, nineteen months after his conviction, guards find Hale’s lifeless body in solitary confinement at Her Majesty’s Prison Edinburgh, a high-security prison.
Authorities dismiss his death as self-inflicted. But, a few days later, a 200-page manuscript surfaces written by Hale.
It’s up to the reader to decide if Hale was telling the truth or if his childhood fear of the devil sent him on this downward spiral.
In addition to Hale’s manuscript, the story’s structure is a mix of notes, transcripts, interviews, and news clippings.
I enjoyed this story, but unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped. The pacing was slightly inconsistent. However, things picked up in the final third, and I could not put it down. But then again, one of the big reveals could have been handled better. The breadcrumbs were there, but I never thought it would go in that direction, especially since the book is set in contemporary times. It was more depressing than anything else. I now know what Pink was getting at in her review.
On another note, the writing was excellent and engaging. Although, I was marginally less interested in Hale’s past and more so in his time in Scotland.
This book wasn’t terribly scary, but it has some graphic content that may disturb some readers.
I would definitely consider reading more from the author in the future. I see there’s already another one releasing sometime next year.
3.5 rounded down.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
Scotland, 2017: Grayson Hale, an American grad student, callously murdered his classmate, blaming the devil for his actions.
Following his sentence, that should have been that. However, nineteen months after his conviction, guards find Hale’s lifeless body in solitary confinement at Her Majesty’s Prison Edinburgh, a high-security prison.
Authorities dismiss his death as self-inflicted. But, a few days later, a 200-page manuscript surfaces written by Hale.
It’s up to the reader to decide if Hale was telling the truth or if his childhood fear of the devil sent him on this downward spiral.
In addition to Hale’s manuscript, the story’s structure is a mix of notes, transcripts, interviews, and news clippings.
I enjoyed this story, but unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped. The pacing was slightly inconsistent. However, things picked up in the final third, and I could not put it down. But then again, one of the big reveals could have been handled better. The breadcrumbs were there, but I never thought it would go in that direction, especially since the book is set in contemporary times. It was more depressing than anything else. I now know what Pink was getting at in her review.
On another note, the writing was excellent and engaging. Although, I was marginally less interested in Hale’s past and more so in his time in Scotland.
This book wasn’t terribly scary, but it has some graphic content that may disturb some readers.
I would definitely consider reading more from the author in the future. I see there’s already another one releasing sometime next year.
3.5 rounded down.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
September 13, 2022
I truly found an awesome psychological suspense novel that I’ve been craving so badly! Luke Dumas‘ debut novel A HISTORY OF FEAR scared me in so many ways because it is a psychological mind F. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this book.
A History of Fear is a book within a book, with our main characters being Daniella, an editor bringing light to the disturbing crime in Scotland committed by Grayson Hale. Grayson is an American living in Scotland, studying in school and escaping the religious fundamentalist family he’s left behind. After Grayson was arrested and convicted for murdering his classmate, he began writing a journal that was uncovered by Daniella prior to his death in prison. Does Grayson’s journal help explain Grayson’s side or does it show something more sinister?
This book was incredible and creeped me out so much. A History of Fear was so scary because many of the book shows a variety of sides to the conflict (or in this case, murder) at hand. I can’t say more than that. But I will say this book kept me on the edge of my seat and the last page of the book shook me to my core. Pay attention to everything.
A History of Fear is a book within a book, with our main characters being Daniella, an editor bringing light to the disturbing crime in Scotland committed by Grayson Hale. Grayson is an American living in Scotland, studying in school and escaping the religious fundamentalist family he’s left behind. After Grayson was arrested and convicted for murdering his classmate, he began writing a journal that was uncovered by Daniella prior to his death in prison. Does Grayson’s journal help explain Grayson’s side or does it show something more sinister?
This book was incredible and creeped me out so much. A History of Fear was so scary because many of the book shows a variety of sides to the conflict (or in this case, murder) at hand. I can’t say more than that. But I will say this book kept me on the edge of my seat and the last page of the book shook me to my core. Pay attention to everything.
December 20, 2022
The Devil made him do it. Or did he?
Grayson Hale, the killer known as the Devil’s Advocate, is found hanged in his prison cell in Scotland. Convicted of murdering his fellow grad school classmate, Grayson has fervently claimed for months that the Devil made him do it. But could this be true? Or is Grayson no more than a madman?
Fortunately, the mystery that has plagued Scotland may finally be solved. For in his cell, Grayson leaves behind a handwritten manuscript that promises to answer one very important question: did the Devil make him do it?
Oh my. As much as one can truly *love* a horror novel, I love A History of Fear, the debut from Luke Dumas.
It’s atmospheric and creepy as all get out. And it’s one of those novels that just gets better and better, the further you read along. The writing is more literary in style, too, befitting the personality of Grayson quite well, and the story is masterfully plotted, tight, and complex.
(A side note about the horror: while it is mostly of the psychological variety, there is gruesomeness to it. Be cautious as a few scenes may leave you queasy.)
Most impressive, though, is the ambivalence of it all. Dumas walks the line of supernatural versus lunacy so well that I can’t count the number of times I changed my opinion about whether Grayson is mentally ill or tormented by the Devil, and my vacillation continued up until the final page. (Do not, whatever you do, peek at the ending.)
A History of Fear will certainly go down as one of my favorite reads of the year. Please write more, Mr. Dumas. And soon.
My sincerest appreciation to Luke Dumas, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
Grayson Hale, the killer known as the Devil’s Advocate, is found hanged in his prison cell in Scotland. Convicted of murdering his fellow grad school classmate, Grayson has fervently claimed for months that the Devil made him do it. But could this be true? Or is Grayson no more than a madman?
Fortunately, the mystery that has plagued Scotland may finally be solved. For in his cell, Grayson leaves behind a handwritten manuscript that promises to answer one very important question: did the Devil make him do it?
Oh my. As much as one can truly *love* a horror novel, I love A History of Fear, the debut from Luke Dumas.
It’s atmospheric and creepy as all get out. And it’s one of those novels that just gets better and better, the further you read along. The writing is more literary in style, too, befitting the personality of Grayson quite well, and the story is masterfully plotted, tight, and complex.
(A side note about the horror: while it is mostly of the psychological variety, there is gruesomeness to it. Be cautious as a few scenes may leave you queasy.)
Most impressive, though, is the ambivalence of it all. Dumas walks the line of supernatural versus lunacy so well that I can’t count the number of times I changed my opinion about whether Grayson is mentally ill or tormented by the Devil, and my vacillation continued up until the final page. (Do not, whatever you do, peek at the ending.)
A History of Fear will certainly go down as one of my favorite reads of the year. Please write more, Mr. Dumas. And soon.
My sincerest appreciation to Luke Dumas, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
March 4, 2023
The Devil is in Scotland.
Grayson Hale has been accused and found guilty of killing his classmate Liam Stewart. Grayson justifies the killing by saying that the Devil made him do it. Over a year later, he is found dead in his cell by suicide.
After his death, a manuscript written by him comes to light. From it, we learn that Grayson's father was a pastor and that his life was not easy growing up. As a kid, Grayson was terrified of the devil and anything related to him. As a teenager, he became an atheist.
When his father passes. Grayson decides to go to Scotland, a place his father had visited as a young man. Grayson believes living there will bring him closer to his father. Then a stranger asks him to become a ghostwriter for a novel about the devil. This act will forever change the course of his short life.
To be honest, I was disappointed. The story was not scary. I found the narrative to be repetitive. The pace was also too slow. I did feel terrible for Grayson. He had a terrible life and a worse ending.
Cliffhanger: No
2.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Grayson Hale has been accused and found guilty of killing his classmate Liam Stewart. Grayson justifies the killing by saying that the Devil made him do it. Over a year later, he is found dead in his cell by suicide.
After his death, a manuscript written by him comes to light. From it, we learn that Grayson's father was a pastor and that his life was not easy growing up. As a kid, Grayson was terrified of the devil and anything related to him. As a teenager, he became an atheist.
When his father passes. Grayson decides to go to Scotland, a place his father had visited as a young man. Grayson believes living there will bring him closer to his father. Then a stranger asks him to become a ghostwriter for a novel about the devil. This act will forever change the course of his short life.
To be honest, I was disappointed. The story was not scary. I found the narrative to be repetitive. The pace was also too slow. I did feel terrible for Grayson. He had a terrible life and a worse ending.
Cliffhanger: No
2.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
December 31, 2024
Reread December 2024. Original review (July 2022): I raced through this so quickly I barely paused for breath. It’s that good. An absolutely gripping narrative about the truth behind a murder, it’s about repression, religion, the dangers of denying oneself and generational trauma. But it’s also just a really fucking good ghost story, brimming with atmosphere, full of the kind of creeping, swirling uncertainty that makes great horror. It walks a tricky path – balancing real emotional damage/confusion and a supernatural threat – with grace and, it seems, ease, while the pure intrigue and tension generated by the central question (is Grayson Hale really communing with the Devil?) never let up. One of those books I wanted to start again as soon as I’d finished.
I received an advance review copy of A History of Fear from the publisher through Edelweiss.
I received an advance review copy of A History of Fear from the publisher through Edelweiss.
June 6, 2025
4,5⭐️
Pardon my French but I feel like I’ve had my mind fucked raw and I’m confused about liking it. This truly is my kind of story - a psychological mystery/litfic (I honestly have no idea) with horror elements and a sinister and unsettling atmosphere.
This book is basically a fictional manuscript of a convicted young man Grayson Hale who murdered Liam Steward, his friend (??) and a classmate at the University of Scotland. Grayson was known as the Devil’s Advocate because of his claims that the “Devil made him do it”. This memoir was released after his suicide in his cell, with the editor’s additions in the form of mixed media - interviews, witness accounts, trial testimonies, and articles, all of which make you question absolutely everything you’ve just read.
The storytelling isn’t linear, and the prose can be a bit dense and meandering at times, but I thoroughly enjoyed this psycho ride. I love convincing unreliable narrators and Grayson was the epitome of that.
Frankly, this book will definitely stalk my thoughts for some time. I feel emotionally wrung out. I still have so many questions and theories I need to discuss, but mainly, I feel like I witnessed a tragedy of one’s mind. What do you call a rapid descent to madness if even the starting point was nowhere near sane?
This book truly managed to keep me on my toes; even when I was quite certain of what happened and what was and wasn’t real, I still went "HUH 👁️👄👁️" not even fifteen pages from the end.
I would recommend it to everyone who liked These Violent Delights (Micah Nemerever), for Grayson reminded me a lot of Paul, and to my fellow readers who enjoy having their brains scrambled after finishing the book. I don’t think I did this story justice with my review, but still, if you pick it up... enjoy 😈😈
Pardon my French but I feel like I’ve had my mind fucked raw and I’m confused about liking it. This truly is my kind of story - a psychological mystery/litfic (I honestly have no idea) with horror elements and a sinister and unsettling atmosphere.
This book is basically a fictional manuscript of a convicted young man Grayson Hale who murdered Liam Steward, his friend (??) and a classmate at the University of Scotland. Grayson was known as the Devil’s Advocate because of his claims that the “Devil made him do it”. This memoir was released after his suicide in his cell, with the editor’s additions in the form of mixed media - interviews, witness accounts, trial testimonies, and articles, all of which make you question absolutely everything you’ve just read.
The storytelling isn’t linear, and the prose can be a bit dense and meandering at times, but I thoroughly enjoyed this psycho ride. I love convincing unreliable narrators and Grayson was the epitome of that.
Frankly, this book will definitely stalk my thoughts for some time. I feel emotionally wrung out. I still have so many questions and theories I need to discuss, but mainly, I feel like I witnessed a tragedy of one’s mind. What do you call a rapid descent to madness if even the starting point was nowhere near sane?
This book truly managed to keep me on my toes; even when I was quite certain of what happened and what was and wasn’t real, I still went "HUH 👁️👄👁️" not even fifteen pages from the end.
I would recommend it to everyone who liked These Violent Delights (Micah Nemerever), for Grayson reminded me a lot of Paul, and to my fellow readers who enjoy having their brains scrambled after finishing the book. I don’t think I did this story justice with my review, but still, if you pick it up... enjoy 😈😈
February 11, 2023
Grayson Hale is the main actor of a murder case that shook Scotland in 2017; the 25 year old American postgraduate at the University of Edinburgh confessed to have killed Liam Stewart, one of his classmates, but refused any gullibility as he claimed the Devil, disguised as the man Donald Blackburn, or DB, made him do it. He also refused to plead not guilty due to insanity, because he does not accept he has a mental problem and his story is what it is.
This book consists of Grayson's diary entries, excerpts from testimonies from his trial, newspaper clippings, and interviews a journalist conducts and assembled into one book that shows Grayson's story from all possible perspectives.
Abuse any animal long enough and eventually it'll bite.
Grayson's childhood is a highly sad and tragic one – growing up in an insanely religious family, he was psychologically and physically abused by his brother and mother and let down by the indifference and passivity of his father, a Catholic minister, whom he admires. Poor Grayson does not stand a chance from the very start. When he turns twelve, his father gifts him a book called “Jack and the Devil's Horn” which terrifies but intrigues him at the same time and leaves an irrevocable imprint on him.
In order to further his academic career as well as to find out about his father's mysterious college years he takes on a program at the University of Edinburgh. There he meets DB who promises him a very high sum of money to write a book about the Devil, so that Scotland would remember the existence of him. Grayson has a very torn approach to the book he would later entitle “A History of Fear: The Devil in Scottish Culture and Literature” - on one hand he really needs the money on the other he is freaked out by DB. When scary things start to happen around him, wherever he goes bad things happen and he first vaguely guesses, later resoundingly knows it's because of DB. He gradually turns into a kind of dark, byronic figure and from there on it's his downfall, really.
Because the Devil was putting visions in my head, or because my head was conjuring visions of the Devil?
A History of Fear could have profited from a little more subtlety – the narration, especially towards the final quart, tends towards spoon-feeding the readers, while they most probably already have connected all the dots. For example, the little parable “Jack and the Devil's Horn”, which is given in full text in chapter 30, needs no further explanation at all, as the parallels between the tale and the happenings in the book are quite obvious, and that realization, although something someone would put in their diary, was way too much for this book. There are many examples like this, especially in the end, when the mystery is solved.
But, there were more sides to this book I enjoyed than not, like its main character Grayson. Although not exactly likable, tormented, tortured characters are interesting to me and Grayson ticks that box. The inside of his head is obviously not a happy place, the weight of mental health problems was heavy and yet the story is still intriguing enough to make one wonder if it really was the devil and Grayson is nothing but a tragic pawn.
I like that the author evidently knows Scotland and conveys the perspective of a stranger in Edinburgh really well and credibly.
Finally, the very last line of the book comes with a killer twist which really took me by surprise, that was a delight!
I would definitely recommend reading this book for anyone digging psychological horror. Although not as optimistic and perfect, it is slightly reminiscent of Last House on Needless Street, but a hardcore darker version of that, if that helps.
This book consists of Grayson's diary entries, excerpts from testimonies from his trial, newspaper clippings, and interviews a journalist conducts and assembled into one book that shows Grayson's story from all possible perspectives.
Abuse any animal long enough and eventually it'll bite.
Grayson's childhood is a highly sad and tragic one – growing up in an insanely religious family, he was psychologically and physically abused by his brother and mother and let down by the indifference and passivity of his father, a Catholic minister, whom he admires. Poor Grayson does not stand a chance from the very start. When he turns twelve, his father gifts him a book called “Jack and the Devil's Horn” which terrifies but intrigues him at the same time and leaves an irrevocable imprint on him.
In order to further his academic career as well as to find out about his father's mysterious college years he takes on a program at the University of Edinburgh. There he meets DB who promises him a very high sum of money to write a book about the Devil, so that Scotland would remember the existence of him. Grayson has a very torn approach to the book he would later entitle “A History of Fear: The Devil in Scottish Culture and Literature” - on one hand he really needs the money on the other he is freaked out by DB. When scary things start to happen around him, wherever he goes bad things happen and he first vaguely guesses, later resoundingly knows it's because of DB. He gradually turns into a kind of dark, byronic figure and from there on it's his downfall, really.
Because the Devil was putting visions in my head, or because my head was conjuring visions of the Devil?
A History of Fear could have profited from a little more subtlety – the narration, especially towards the final quart, tends towards spoon-feeding the readers, while they most probably already have connected all the dots. For example, the little parable “Jack and the Devil's Horn”, which is given in full text in chapter 30, needs no further explanation at all, as the parallels between the tale and the happenings in the book are quite obvious, and that realization, although something someone would put in their diary, was way too much for this book. There are many examples like this, especially in the end, when the mystery is solved.
But, there were more sides to this book I enjoyed than not, like its main character Grayson. Although not exactly likable, tormented, tortured characters are interesting to me and Grayson ticks that box. The inside of his head is obviously not a happy place, the weight of mental health problems was heavy and yet the story is still intriguing enough to make one wonder if it really was the devil and Grayson is nothing but a tragic pawn.
I like that the author evidently knows Scotland and conveys the perspective of a stranger in Edinburgh really well and credibly.
Finally, the very last line of the book comes with a killer twist which really took me by surprise, that was a delight!
I would definitely recommend reading this book for anyone digging psychological horror. Although not as optimistic and perfect, it is slightly reminiscent of Last House on Needless Street, but a hardcore darker version of that, if that helps.
October 14, 2022
Thrilling, haunting, tense, obsessive, poetically written, twisted.
Sometimes it’s impossible to pinpoint a story’s feeling, and I’m going to try it anyway. A History of Fear has hints of A Secret History combined with These Violent Delights (Micah Nemerever) and even Summer Sons. And still, the story isn’t like anything I’ve ever read.
A History of Fear is a book within a book. An editor, Daniella, gets access to a manuscript, Grayson Hale, a murderer who claimed the devil made him kill his classmate Liam, wrote before he died. Daniella decides to investigate Grayson’s story, and her investigation creates an evocative book containing the above-mentioned manuscript, interviews, emails, and even the prisoner’s psychologist's notes, almost written like a memoir.
What is true? Was Grayson possessed by the devil? Was he mentally ill? Was he psychotic? Questions that haunted me while reading the book. What do you do when you find parts of yourself, you didn’t know existed and even want to deny? What if you’re different en don’t accept yourself? What if you’re basically a good person and become a bad person who murders in the end?
This story is not what it seems like and Grayson is not who he seems like. I had some ideas, also about his father, that turned out to be right in the end. At times, I wanted to hug Grayson, a confused twenty-five-year-old coming from a very religious background, traumatized and seemingly mentally ill. At other times, creepy chills ran down my spine, and my brows knitted together in discomfort. Sometimes my stomach contracted. The Afterword gave me goosebumps, especially the last two letters. The devil is alive, in you—in me. So true.
I received an ARC from Atria Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Sometimes it’s impossible to pinpoint a story’s feeling, and I’m going to try it anyway. A History of Fear has hints of A Secret History combined with These Violent Delights (Micah Nemerever) and even Summer Sons. And still, the story isn’t like anything I’ve ever read.
A History of Fear is a book within a book. An editor, Daniella, gets access to a manuscript, Grayson Hale, a murderer who claimed the devil made him kill his classmate Liam, wrote before he died. Daniella decides to investigate Grayson’s story, and her investigation creates an evocative book containing the above-mentioned manuscript, interviews, emails, and even the prisoner’s psychologist's notes, almost written like a memoir.
What is true? Was Grayson possessed by the devil? Was he mentally ill? Was he psychotic? Questions that haunted me while reading the book. What do you do when you find parts of yourself, you didn’t know existed and even want to deny? What if you’re different en don’t accept yourself? What if you’re basically a good person and become a bad person who murders in the end?
This story is not what it seems like and Grayson is not who he seems like. I had some ideas, also about his father, that turned out to be right in the end. At times, I wanted to hug Grayson, a confused twenty-five-year-old coming from a very religious background, traumatized and seemingly mentally ill. At other times, creepy chills ran down my spine, and my brows knitted together in discomfort. Sometimes my stomach contracted. The Afterword gave me goosebumps, especially the last two letters. The devil is alive, in you—in me. So true.
I received an ARC from Atria Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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December 17, 2022
4.0 stars
It's always a delight to find a smart new horror novel. Told in a unique multi-perspective narrative, this weaves together this novel in an unconventional storytelling style.
I did receive a physical ARC, but I did sample the audiobook, which was incredibly well produced. The multiple narratives really bring the story to life and help to differentiate the various elements of the novel.
This a slow burning character study novel which is a style that does not always work for me but did in this case. I can definitely see the comparisons to Paul Tremblay since this is another literary novel with a slow psychological build. Admittedly it took a little while to get into and some sections grabbed my attention more than others, but the reveals towards the end were very unsettling.
I wish I had gotten this novel into my hands soon because it certainly should have been a contender for my best books published in 2022.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy slow burning psychological horror told in a unique format.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
It's always a delight to find a smart new horror novel. Told in a unique multi-perspective narrative, this weaves together this novel in an unconventional storytelling style.
I did receive a physical ARC, but I did sample the audiobook, which was incredibly well produced. The multiple narratives really bring the story to life and help to differentiate the various elements of the novel.
This a slow burning character study novel which is a style that does not always work for me but did in this case. I can definitely see the comparisons to Paul Tremblay since this is another literary novel with a slow psychological build. Admittedly it took a little while to get into and some sections grabbed my attention more than others, but the reveals towards the end were very unsettling.
I wish I had gotten this novel into my hands soon because it certainly should have been a contender for my best books published in 2022.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy slow burning psychological horror told in a unique format.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 28, 2023
this is one of the most underrated books I've read all year WOW. the writing is stunning, the twists had my jaw in hell (no pun intended), and the mixed media helps maintain engagement. plus i heard the Edinburgh vibes are fully accurate so there's that in and of itself.
for fans of The Last House on Needless Street, Babel, or Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison.
⚠️ check trigger warnings though⚠️
for fans of The Last House on Needless Street, Babel, or Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison.
⚠️ check trigger warnings though⚠️
April 17, 2023
4.5*
Naježila sam se ceeeela na kraju. Bukvalno sam progutala ovu knjigu. Opčinila me je, nisam znala kako da je ispustim iz ruku. I iako ima svojih mana, stvarno me baš briga, nisam je čitala da bih je kritikovala već iz zabave, a ovo je bukvalno savršen horor za mene.
Drži me uzbuđenje i to se vidi po ovome kako pišem, ali ok. Ovo je zapravo horor misterija u kojoj pokušavamo da skontamo da li je glavni lik ubio čoveka jer mu je, kako kaže, Đavo rekao da to uradi, ili je prosto lud. A to moramo da zaključimo iz njegovih spisa, praktično celog njegovog života. Što znači - nepouzdani narator. Tako da, good luck
Naježila sam se ceeeela na kraju. Bukvalno sam progutala ovu knjigu. Opčinila me je, nisam znala kako da je ispustim iz ruku. I iako ima svojih mana, stvarno me baš briga, nisam je čitala da bih je kritikovala već iz zabave, a ovo je bukvalno savršen horor za mene.
Drži me uzbuđenje i to se vidi po ovome kako pišem, ali ok. Ovo je zapravo horor misterija u kojoj pokušavamo da skontamo da li je glavni lik ubio čoveka jer mu je, kako kaže, Đavo rekao da to uradi, ili je prosto lud. A to moramo da zaključimo iz njegovih spisa, praktično celog njegovog života. Što znači - nepouzdani narator. Tako da, good luck
November 26, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: December 6, 2022
The Devil is in Scotland. After Grayson Hale killed his friend, Liam, and claimed the “devil made him do it” he rose to infamy as “The Devil’s Advocate”. After his death, a manuscript is found in his cell, detailing Hale’s childhood, where he suffered from intense satanophobia (fear of the Devil) and religious abuse and the events that led to the murder. Through transcripts from witnesses and those who knew Grayson, and Grayson’s own telling, only one question remains- did the Devil really possess Grayson?
“A History is Fear” by debut author Luke Dumas intrigued me right from the start. I adore tales of demonic possession, in both books and films, and this one read like a Hollywood movie. Grayson narrates it posthumously, although there are sections collected by the editor where the reader hears from Grayson’s childhood friends and family about his upbringing and Hale’s strange behaviours and obsessions. Then of course, enter the mysterious D.B, who hires Hale to compose his manuscript, and you have an utterly intense and addictive tale.
Right from the start, Grayson’s sanity is questioned but of course, not enough to actually sway the reader. Throughout the novel, Dumas leaves enough evidence for both sides, leading to the “mentally insane or possessed” debate that is the very basis of this novel, while making either argument utterly believable.
I loved Grayson as a character as he was both relatable and heartbreakingly human. I’m a little biased maybe, but books based in Scotland tend to be some of my favourites, and I loved the Scottish folklore and demonic history of Scotland Dumas provided.
As a debut novel, this is a hands down winner and I am looking forward to Dumas’ next release.
Expected publication date: December 6, 2022
The Devil is in Scotland. After Grayson Hale killed his friend, Liam, and claimed the “devil made him do it” he rose to infamy as “The Devil’s Advocate”. After his death, a manuscript is found in his cell, detailing Hale’s childhood, where he suffered from intense satanophobia (fear of the Devil) and religious abuse and the events that led to the murder. Through transcripts from witnesses and those who knew Grayson, and Grayson’s own telling, only one question remains- did the Devil really possess Grayson?
“A History is Fear” by debut author Luke Dumas intrigued me right from the start. I adore tales of demonic possession, in both books and films, and this one read like a Hollywood movie. Grayson narrates it posthumously, although there are sections collected by the editor where the reader hears from Grayson’s childhood friends and family about his upbringing and Hale’s strange behaviours and obsessions. Then of course, enter the mysterious D.B, who hires Hale to compose his manuscript, and you have an utterly intense and addictive tale.
Right from the start, Grayson’s sanity is questioned but of course, not enough to actually sway the reader. Throughout the novel, Dumas leaves enough evidence for both sides, leading to the “mentally insane or possessed” debate that is the very basis of this novel, while making either argument utterly believable.
I loved Grayson as a character as he was both relatable and heartbreakingly human. I’m a little biased maybe, but books based in Scotland tend to be some of my favourites, and I loved the Scottish folklore and demonic history of Scotland Dumas provided.
As a debut novel, this is a hands down winner and I am looking forward to Dumas’ next release.
November 18, 2022
25-year-old American grad student Grayson Hale, who notoriously murdered his classmate Liam Stewart, is found hanged in his prison cell. Officers notice his clothes are torn and there are strange claw marks all over Liam’s body. Next to Grayson’s body is a manuscript where he claimed that the devil forced him to murder Liam.
Was Grayson a psychopath all along, or was he telling the truth?
A History of Fear is a slow build literary and psychological thriller mixed with truly terrifying horror elements. I didn't realize until after reading that this book contains a massive twist that left me reeling. I cannot remember the last time a book left me in utter shock and disbelief as this one has (but in the best way).
As a jaded lifetime horror reader, it takes a lot to truly scare me but several moments in A History of Fear left me looking over my shoulder and genuinely creeped out. The book contains some supernatural elements but nothing too outlandish or unbelievable. I love an original story with a unique plot and characterization so I've tried to compare this book to other reads but I truly have never read anything even remotely close to it. Like Dumas did a fantastic job creating his debut novel and I see a very bright future for him!
Fans of psychological thrillers as well as horror readers will love A History of Fear. A History of Fear by Luke Dumas will be available on December 6, 2022. A massive thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
Was Grayson a psychopath all along, or was he telling the truth?
A History of Fear is a slow build literary and psychological thriller mixed with truly terrifying horror elements. I didn't realize until after reading that this book contains a massive twist that left me reeling. I cannot remember the last time a book left me in utter shock and disbelief as this one has (but in the best way).
As a jaded lifetime horror reader, it takes a lot to truly scare me but several moments in A History of Fear left me looking over my shoulder and genuinely creeped out. The book contains some supernatural elements but nothing too outlandish or unbelievable. I love an original story with a unique plot and characterization so I've tried to compare this book to other reads but I truly have never read anything even remotely close to it. Like Dumas did a fantastic job creating his debut novel and I see a very bright future for him!
Fans of psychological thrillers as well as horror readers will love A History of Fear. A History of Fear by Luke Dumas will be available on December 6, 2022. A massive thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
February 23, 2024
3.5, rated up. I really wish Goodreads would get with the program with half star ratings, because I was really torn which way to go on this one, but I think this deserves a bump up. I think a lot of the 1 star ratings I read were unfair. This is a slow burn. I love a good slow burn in horror, hence my love of Stephen King. But this was SLOW out of the gate. It has a heavy literary quality about it, and there is flowery language which is cool to see in a horror, but it did drag more than I cared for in the beginning. I can understand some lower ratings based on that.
Around a third of the way in, the story really picked up. By halfway in, I couldn't put it down but did because I was scared! I have been reading horror forever, and this genuinely had me skeeved out. I think this is a great debut novel with well done character development. Some of these characters are total a-holes, and this was done well. Some I was vacillating back and forth, and that was done really well too. This has a heavy mixed media element which I loved.
Around a third of the way in, the story really picked up. By halfway in, I couldn't put it down but did because I was scared! I have been reading horror forever, and this genuinely had me skeeved out. I think this is a great debut novel with well done character development. Some of these characters are total a-holes, and this was done well. Some I was vacillating back and forth, and that was done really well too. This has a heavy mixed media element which I loved.
August 13, 2025
To describe this book in a word: Ensconced.
Ensconced: How featured character Grayson Hale is brought up in the church. His family’s Christianity is passed from one generation to the next like a curse, imbuing more poison into them than faith. Their lives are limited by fears and prejudices, so strong that even escaping as far as Scotland offers no freedom.
Ensconced: How Grayson is trapped within himself. With everything about himself being dictated to him by those around him, he can’t truly know his mind. He can’t pursue his passions. He can’t recognize his needs. And his truth is so foreign to him, it sounds like a stranger. Like a devil…
Ensconced: How the reader becomes enveloped into this story. Writing so atmospheric you feel yourself lost in Edinburgh, a loner with no place to sit. You feel the of Halloween and the warmth of Christmas. You can taste the salt and sand of San Diego.
And a stranger to your own mind as you try to puzzle out this tale of longing, repression, possession… and fear.
Ensconced: How featured character Grayson Hale is brought up in the church. His family’s Christianity is passed from one generation to the next like a curse, imbuing more poison into them than faith. Their lives are limited by fears and prejudices, so strong that even escaping as far as Scotland offers no freedom.
Ensconced: How Grayson is trapped within himself. With everything about himself being dictated to him by those around him, he can’t truly know his mind. He can’t pursue his passions. He can’t recognize his needs. And his truth is so foreign to him, it sounds like a stranger. Like a devil…
Ensconced: How the reader becomes enveloped into this story. Writing so atmospheric you feel yourself lost in Edinburgh, a loner with no place to sit. You feel the of Halloween and the warmth of Christmas. You can taste the salt and sand of San Diego.
And a stranger to your own mind as you try to puzzle out this tale of longing, repression, possession… and fear.
January 5, 2023
DNF at 85 pages in....it's way too 'wordy' and SLOW for me to justify continuing. It could just be literary fiction isn't for me, as I seem to be in the minority in this opinion. Anyway, moving on!
June 9, 2022
The Devil is in Scotland, and he want you to know all about him. That’s the basic premise of this debut novel which, to its credit, is anything but basic.
Oh no, this is a twisted descent into madness rendered so vividly, so terrifyingly, that you’ll have difficulty putting it down.
Is it a perfect book? No, not by any means. But it’s a really, really good one.
So, onto details…
A young man from a heavily religious and severely traumatizing upbringing comes to Scotland to attend University. The Devil finds him and commissions him to write a book about him.
(How strongly does it echo Angel’s Game? Very strongly. But present-day Scotland is a far cry from post WWII Barcelona, so there’s that.)
Anyway, the young man is terrified of the project for it has every potential to rekindle his once crippling phobia, but is desperate for money and so he reluctantly takes it on and finds himself spiraling further and further out of control.
But that’s actually the before story. The book stars with the aftermath, so we know just how far the spiraling went. So far that he became a notorious “Devil made him do it” murderer nicknamed Devil’s Advocate, went to prison for it and died there.
The book is an account assembled by a journalist with interest in the case. It comprises the young man’s own narrative allegedly found afterwards and interviews and testimonies of people relevant to the case.
The separate elements add up into a cohesive and riveting sum total. A novel as intense and as bleak and as unsettling as any dark psychological fiction/literary horror fans might wish for.
The atmosphere is perfect. The madness is technicolor. The way the author writes about panic attacks and anxiety is right on the money.
The only detractor here for me was the way the homosexual angle was handled. And hey, before you start the accusations of homophobia, hear me out. Nothing against it, but here in this novel it was so freaking heavy-handed. The rest of the novel is terrifically subtle in that is he or isn’t he going mad and what is lurking in those shadows way. But the homosexual aspect is layered in so thickly as too almost be clumsy with it. And yes, unlike the rest of the plot, you can see it coming from across the Atlantic. It ends up almost preachy with it. Disappointingly so for such an otherwise strong novel.
The author obviously did that old “write what you know” thing here. Being a homosexual American man who attended a University in Scotland, he created a protagonist he could understand and recognize. But not subtly. And agenda heavy.
But aside from that, the novel worked really well. So well written, so creepy, so engaging. Definitely something fans ought to check out. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Oh no, this is a twisted descent into madness rendered so vividly, so terrifyingly, that you’ll have difficulty putting it down.
Is it a perfect book? No, not by any means. But it’s a really, really good one.
So, onto details…
A young man from a heavily religious and severely traumatizing upbringing comes to Scotland to attend University. The Devil finds him and commissions him to write a book about him.
(How strongly does it echo Angel’s Game? Very strongly. But present-day Scotland is a far cry from post WWII Barcelona, so there’s that.)
Anyway, the young man is terrified of the project for it has every potential to rekindle his once crippling phobia, but is desperate for money and so he reluctantly takes it on and finds himself spiraling further and further out of control.
But that’s actually the before story. The book stars with the aftermath, so we know just how far the spiraling went. So far that he became a notorious “Devil made him do it” murderer nicknamed Devil’s Advocate, went to prison for it and died there.
The book is an account assembled by a journalist with interest in the case. It comprises the young man’s own narrative allegedly found afterwards and interviews and testimonies of people relevant to the case.
The separate elements add up into a cohesive and riveting sum total. A novel as intense and as bleak and as unsettling as any dark psychological fiction/literary horror fans might wish for.
The atmosphere is perfect. The madness is technicolor. The way the author writes about panic attacks and anxiety is right on the money.
The only detractor here for me was the way the homosexual angle was handled. And hey, before you start the accusations of homophobia, hear me out. Nothing against it, but here in this novel it was so freaking heavy-handed. The rest of the novel is terrifically subtle in that is he or isn’t he going mad and what is lurking in those shadows way. But the homosexual aspect is layered in so thickly as too almost be clumsy with it. And yes, unlike the rest of the plot, you can see it coming from across the Atlantic. It ends up almost preachy with it. Disappointingly so for such an otherwise strong novel.
The author obviously did that old “write what you know” thing here. Being a homosexual American man who attended a University in Scotland, he created a protagonist he could understand and recognize. But not subtly. And agenda heavy.
But aside from that, the novel worked really well. So well written, so creepy, so engaging. Definitely something fans ought to check out. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
February 7, 2023
“The sinister, psychedelic beat of a Twenty One Pilots song flooded my room.”
And it’s heathens .. this is so unserious
And it’s heathens .. this is so unserious
December 6, 2025
A slow descent into madness… Or could it be the devil?
Grayson Hale was found dead in his prison cell, leaving behind his tell-all manuscript. He’s tried to convince everyone that the devil made him kill one of his classmates. Did the devil make Grayson commit the murder or was it just him all along?
The story is told mainly through Grayson’s manuscript with some interspersed documents from his editor. We learn about his childhood living with his family in a cult in the US all the way through to his current studies in Scotland. The Scottish atmosphere was a perfect backdrop as it contributed to the eerieness factor a ton. Grayson himself is a very complicated character as is evident by the manuscript.
This was a very slow burn, but one that kept me turning the pages. It definitely was a unique premise using the manuscript as the tool to show Grayson’s story. Just when you think you know which way the book is going, it takes another turn. As for that ending….it was….a success! I never like endings so this is a very rare occurrence☺️
This is my second novel by Dumas and I’ve really liked both of them. They have been super unique and seem to have a mix of real life horrors and issues combined with the unknown.
Grayson Hale was found dead in his prison cell, leaving behind his tell-all manuscript. He’s tried to convince everyone that the devil made him kill one of his classmates. Did the devil make Grayson commit the murder or was it just him all along?
The story is told mainly through Grayson’s manuscript with some interspersed documents from his editor. We learn about his childhood living with his family in a cult in the US all the way through to his current studies in Scotland. The Scottish atmosphere was a perfect backdrop as it contributed to the eerieness factor a ton. Grayson himself is a very complicated character as is evident by the manuscript.
This was a very slow burn, but one that kept me turning the pages. It definitely was a unique premise using the manuscript as the tool to show Grayson’s story. Just when you think you know which way the book is going, it takes another turn. As for that ending….it was….a success! I never like endings so this is a very rare occurrence☺️
This is my second novel by Dumas and I’ve really liked both of them. They have been super unique and seem to have a mix of real life horrors and issues combined with the unknown.
February 22, 2022
I am the world's biggest scaredy-cat. I don’t like scary movies with their haunted children's choirs. But the premise of A HISTORY OF FEAR was so intriguing, I had to try. I’m happy to report, I read this incredibly gripping novel in one weekend — albeit with the lights on and several soothing episodes of Queer Eye along the way.
Grayson Hale has been arrested for the shocking murder of his classmate and claims, rather preposterously, that the devil made him do it. The book intercuts between a memoir of his account — written from prison — and the observations of a journalist, Daniella Barclay, trying to make sense of his story.
Raised by a cruel and unloving family in a Pentecostal-like church for which his pathologically distant father was a pastor, Grayson was afflicted with a phobic fear of satan as a teen. While pursuing graduate studies in Scotland, he becomes convinced The Adversary (as his father referred to him) is seducing him to commit heinous crimes that will remind people of His power. As the story unfolds, it becomes unclear whether Grayson is, in fact, bedeviled by Beelzebub or simply suffering from grand delusions. Daniella presents evidence — court documents, interview transcripts — that alternately corroborate and contradict Grayson’s version of events.
Beautifully constructed, Dumas adopts a voice for Grayson that conveys a painful detachment from his true nature. What emerges is a heartbreaking and unnerving portrait of a man literally at war with his demons. Highly recommended.
Grayson Hale has been arrested for the shocking murder of his classmate and claims, rather preposterously, that the devil made him do it. The book intercuts between a memoir of his account — written from prison — and the observations of a journalist, Daniella Barclay, trying to make sense of his story.
Raised by a cruel and unloving family in a Pentecostal-like church for which his pathologically distant father was a pastor, Grayson was afflicted with a phobic fear of satan as a teen. While pursuing graduate studies in Scotland, he becomes convinced The Adversary (as his father referred to him) is seducing him to commit heinous crimes that will remind people of His power. As the story unfolds, it becomes unclear whether Grayson is, in fact, bedeviled by Beelzebub or simply suffering from grand delusions. Daniella presents evidence — court documents, interview transcripts — that alternately corroborate and contradict Grayson’s version of events.
Beautifully constructed, Dumas adopts a voice for Grayson that conveys a painful detachment from his true nature. What emerges is a heartbreaking and unnerving portrait of a man literally at war with his demons. Highly recommended.
December 29, 2022
I should have stopped reading about a quarter of the way into the book when I realized where this was going, but this book was recommended on a list of Good Horror from 2022, and had so many rave 5 star reviews saying it was "gripping" and "innovative" (Narrator: It was neither of those things), so surely it was only making me think I knew where it was going.
I mean a book published THIS MONTH couldn't really be regurgitating a hackneyed trope from the 90's, right?
By the time I realized that, no, it really was, I was nearly done, and I figured I hadn't hate finished a book in a while, so why not.
VAUGE SPOILERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH
This book equates queerness with Satan. Sure, its technically the fictional villain that does this, and there is an attempt by the fictional editor to cast it as a "poor little repressed gay man kills the object of his affections", but the book does not MEANIGFULLY attempt to counteract this narrative aside from the last 3 pages. So... that sucks.
Are we not past this? If this book had been published 20 years ago I guess I would understand, but I also wouldn't have read it. But it was published in December of 2022!?! I also would like to argue that this book should not be tagged as LGBT, as the protagonist identifies (however arguably incorrectly) as straight for the entirety of the book.
Also there is some fatphobia at points.
If you really want to read a faux auto-biography-of-a-dead-man supernatural horror novel, read The Last Days of Jack Sparks instead. That one is at least scary.
I mean a book published THIS MONTH couldn't really be regurgitating a hackneyed trope from the 90's, right?
By the time I realized that, no, it really was, I was nearly done, and I figured I hadn't hate finished a book in a while, so why not.
VAUGE SPOILERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH
This book equates queerness with Satan. Sure, its technically the fictional villain that does this, and there is an attempt by the fictional editor to cast it as a "poor little repressed gay man kills the object of his affections", but the book does not MEANIGFULLY attempt to counteract this narrative aside from the last 3 pages. So... that sucks.
Are we not past this? If this book had been published 20 years ago I guess I would understand, but I also wouldn't have read it. But it was published in December of 2022!?! I also would like to argue that this book should not be tagged as LGBT, as the protagonist identifies (however arguably incorrectly) as straight for the entirety of the book.
Also there is some fatphobia at points.
If you really want to read a faux auto-biography-of-a-dead-man supernatural horror novel, read The Last Days of Jack Sparks instead. That one is at least scary.
Read
January 11, 2023men be like i’m fighting demons and the demon is bisexuality
January 17, 2023
Thank you SO much @ScaredStraightReads and Atria Books for the gifted book
I was over the moon excited when I won A HISTORY OF FEAR in the #scaredstraightreads book club giveaway! I had heard many wonderful things about this book, so I counted the minutes until it arrived (wink, wink). Guess what I did after I received it? I READ IT
I devoured this book!!! The story centers around an editor in Scotland (Daniella) who uncovered new information about a crime. Grayson Hale was convicted of a terrible crime - he killed one of his classmates while studying abroad. Daniella found Hale’s journal, which he wrote into up until his death in prison. Is everything exactly what it seems?
If you enjoy clever stories that feature a “book within a book” that will stick with you long after you finish, then A HISTORY OF FEAR, is a must read! Highly recommended!
I was over the moon excited when I won A HISTORY OF FEAR in the #scaredstraightreads book club giveaway! I had heard many wonderful things about this book, so I counted the minutes until it arrived (wink, wink). Guess what I did after I received it? I READ IT
I devoured this book!!! The story centers around an editor in Scotland (Daniella) who uncovered new information about a crime. Grayson Hale was convicted of a terrible crime - he killed one of his classmates while studying abroad. Daniella found Hale’s journal, which he wrote into up until his death in prison. Is everything exactly what it seems?
If you enjoy clever stories that feature a “book within a book” that will stick with you long after you finish, then A HISTORY OF FEAR, is a must read! Highly recommended!
June 14, 2022
A History of Fear is a lyrical work of psychological suspense and horror that makes the reader question what's real and what isn't.
Many horror books attempt to wrestle with playing with the reader- making it a mystery if the monsters are all in the head of the protagonist, or a very real force. Few pull it off. Thankfully, A History of Fear manages to take the concept and leave the reader guessing until the very end- was it real all along, or another sad tale of mental illness and familial pressures? Part of this is due to the book's pacing, tense and fast without feeling as though too much is happening at once. The other part is thanks to the novel's lyrical quality, prose that flows artistically without being cloying.
Without giving too much away, props should also be given for the wake Dumas handles one of the central conflicts-religious trauma, abuse, and sexuality. Again, there's a lot of potential for an author to completely fumble the situation, making light or mockery of such heavy topics, but the way its handled is ultimately completely realistic and also tragic.
This is a book of cold autumn nights, of leaves changing and the drip of rain. Scary stories are told round the fire, but one with the ring of reality is scariest of all.
Many horror books attempt to wrestle with playing with the reader- making it a mystery if the monsters are all in the head of the protagonist, or a very real force. Few pull it off. Thankfully, A History of Fear manages to take the concept and leave the reader guessing until the very end- was it real all along, or another sad tale of mental illness and familial pressures? Part of this is due to the book's pacing, tense and fast without feeling as though too much is happening at once. The other part is thanks to the novel's lyrical quality, prose that flows artistically without being cloying.
Without giving too much away, props should also be given for the wake Dumas handles one of the central conflicts-religious trauma, abuse, and sexuality. Again, there's a lot of potential for an author to completely fumble the situation, making light or mockery of such heavy topics, but the way its handled is ultimately completely realistic and also tragic.
This is a book of cold autumn nights, of leaves changing and the drip of rain. Scary stories are told round the fire, but one with the ring of reality is scariest of all.
May 3, 2022
Finished it two days ago. The last line . . . MAN THE AUTHOR GOT ME GOOD. I was blind!!!
This one was so twisty and creepy and messed with my head..at some points I wasn't sure who to trust exactly. Sometimes I was annoyed by Grayson's voice--fucking know-it-all (which I think one review was trying to get at)--BUT that didn't mean I didn't like him/didn't understand him. IMO, it came from a place of insecurity, he was clearly overcomepensating; I would NOT want to live with his family and all that emotional abuse.
But that last line...omfg!!!!
(also realized that I share a name with the victim. HOPEFULLY NOT THE SAME FATE!!!!)
This one was so twisty and creepy and messed with my head..at some points I wasn't sure who to trust exactly. Sometimes I was annoyed by Grayson's voice--fucking know-it-all (which I think one review was trying to get at)--BUT that didn't mean I didn't like him/didn't understand him. IMO, it came from a place of insecurity, he was clearly overcomepensating; I would NOT want to live with his family and all that emotional abuse.
But that last line...omfg!!!!
(also realized that I share a name with the victim. HOPEFULLY NOT THE SAME FATE!!!!)
January 22, 2023
The low reviews are wrong. The book isn't bad because its homophobic. Depending on your reading, the book is critiquing the kind of conservative Christianity that shames and abuses people in the LGBTQ+ community -- a way of thinking that has not at all died out and that, in the world of the book, either drives a young man to insanity and murder or makes him miserable enough to become fertile stomping ground for the literal devil.
The book also isn't bad because it's set in the wrong time period. I'm kind of dumbfounded that so many readers said this. The story is being told from the perspective of a character who wants to sound especially literary in his writing. It's just the POV.
No, the reason the book is (kind of) bad is because it's (kind of) boring -- too boring to carry the heaviness of some of the awful things that happen. You know what happens from the opening section, and then you read about it happening exactly like the opening laid out, and then it's over. The twist ends up being that there is no twist, and as far as twists go, that's disappointing.
Horror books are fascinating because no one, including Stephen fuckin' King, can land the ending. If it leads to a battle with an actual monster, the reader thinks it sounds dumb on the page. If it stays kind of atmospheric and open-ended, the reader wants the pieces to come together to amount to something more. Like, can anyone name a single contemporary horror novel that lands it?
To be totally fair, though, that last line did get me. I literally LOL'ed. The book kind of just feels like an extremely long set-up for that final punchline.
The book also isn't bad because it's set in the wrong time period. I'm kind of dumbfounded that so many readers said this. The story is being told from the perspective of a character who wants to sound especially literary in his writing. It's just the POV.
No, the reason the book is (kind of) bad is because it's (kind of) boring -- too boring to carry the heaviness of some of the awful things that happen. You know what happens from the opening section, and then you read about it happening exactly like the opening laid out, and then it's over. The twist ends up being that there is no twist, and as far as twists go, that's disappointing.
Horror books are fascinating because no one, including Stephen fuckin' King, can land the ending. If it leads to a battle with an actual monster, the reader thinks it sounds dumb on the page. If it stays kind of atmospheric and open-ended, the reader wants the pieces to come together to amount to something more. Like, can anyone name a single contemporary horror novel that lands it?
To be totally fair, though, that last line did get me. I literally LOL'ed. The book kind of just feels like an extremely long set-up for that final punchline.
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