The Red Scowl

by European P. Douglas

The Black Death is approaching... but is there something more fearful in the forest outside the village?

Outside an isolated forest community, by the forbidden cursed 'Red Scowl', tracks are discovered that resemble no known animal. Fearful of getting in trouble with the village leader, Mor and Beathan keep this discovery to themselves.

Soon, however, Mor grows more alarmed as news of a great pestilence arrives and he wonders if these two things are somehow linked. He wants to speak up -- just as he wanted to speak up when a woman he loved from afar was burned as a witch --- but Mor is a simple man, and the more cunning Beathan keeps him quiet.

Storms, murder, a witch hunt, old secrets and something monstrous in the mist follow, before a stranger comes to the village.

Is he is the devil? Does he carry the plague? Is he responsible for all the ills that have befallen them?

Most imporant of all -- did he come from within The Red Scowl?

Genres: Horror, Audiobook

105 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2021

About the author

Be sure to follow European on BookBub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/profile/europ...

Reviews

[Kirsty Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

[European Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always seem to get five starts from myself! Well done me :)

[Catherine Stratman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black plague and Red Mist

Mr Douglas has done it again. His class of horror stories are so much different. They are not the blood and guts type, but much more insidious. His stories get into your head and make you read until the very end. This story was set in the primitive past and follows a village that burns witches at the stake, has to deal with the black plague, and a red mist curse. Very entertaining read.

I received an ARC. This is my honest review.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the tradition of Epic Fantasy but with in-depth characterization, THE RED SCOWL is the touching tale of a small village where work is tough but life is mostly content. Since the burning of the witch Medbh, villagers are commanded to avoid the forbidden zone known as the Red Scowl. But something there is, as villager feckless hero Mor discovers, that refuses to confine itself to the territory of the Red Scowl.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Ireland, at the onset of the plague, this is a story of a village and its inhabitants, a story of a curse and the insidious advance of sickness.

Full of suspense, intriguing and eerie, this is a great horror story, holding itself not by gore and blood, but by the atmosphere and good writing.

Sadly, I didn't really enjoy Jack Clancy's narration but, nevertheless, the story is well worthy of your time.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good historical piece involving the arrival of the plague in a European village. The author captured the era with great skill, especially the human frailties and behaviors. I was very impressed with the whole tone/setting and the creativity that is needed to create such an engaging work. I am really starting to love this author's work after what I thought was a shaky start.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Ireland during the plague, it's a story of fear and ignorance ruling the times. A village fighting for survival - a woman called a witch therefore burned at the stake - and the guilt one mean feels for not helping her. A frightening story that will have you seeing "Red" in your dreams. Superbly written. Highly Recommended.

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review is based on an earlier review from December 2021 when I read an advance reader copy of The Red Scowl, and then recently when I listened to a review copy of the audiobook, I received from the author through StoryOrigin.

I have come to expect two things when I read any stories by Mr. Douglas. First, I am going to be entertained from beginning to end, and second, I’m going to be transported to places where there is an element of horror and a ton of suspense. The Red Scowl not only fulfilled both of my expectations it exceeded them in ways I hadn’t expected – and no, I also won’t share why because I’m not into providing spoilers. I’ll just say this story wasn’t what I had expected before I started it and as I read, I morphed into a story that set its hooks into me and refused to let go until that last sentence. Jack Clancy’s narration of this story not only brought it to life, but it seemed to fill in areas that I may not have focused on when I originally read the story.

[Korra II Allison Baskerville · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be a bit biased here, as I’ve reviewed every single European P. Douglas audiobook that’s available. But I enjoyed the hell out of this. It has this distinct witch hunt vibe going on, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was paranoia on the part of the uneducated, simple people of the village; or was there something more to it? Despite being such a short story, it does a fine job of establishing the world and characters. The village and its inhabitants all feel like they could really exist and we’ve been given a window into their lives.

Aside from one dialogue loop, the narration was perfect. It was crisp, clean, and easy to follow. The narrator did a fine job of bringing the cast to life and personality to the characters.

NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.

[Lauren Ruta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read! I liked the background and that it told the story from Mor and Beathan’s perspective to build up the story.

I think some of the spins in the story are written well and provide good suspense with the book, and I especially like that this is a horror book where most people at the end of the book are no longer alive. There isn’t a happy ending for everyone, which some authors like to include.

The only reason this is a 4 star is because I found several different spelling and grammar issues in the Kindle version that I read. They were easy to navigate and meant that I could still continue with the story and know what was going on.

Progression with Mor’s character is great, starting as someone who could be a little shy, helpful yet reserved, and then turned into an angry, revenge seeking person was great to read, especially with the context provided.

[blueyed_cntry_girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW European has done a fantastic job writing this entertaining, horror with suspense story. You get transported back to Ireland into a small village where they work hard to maintain their simple lives. That is until they burn a witch and she curses the land. The Red Scowl is a place of mystery and not to be messed with. The characters are believable and once you start to read you won’t stop until it’s over. Great Job European!!

I received this as an ARC and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Stuart Sear · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Red Scowl European Douglas
I have just finished The Red Scowl and as always you have not disappointed us with another great Irish tale, I love the characters and the time line it was set in I was there with them in the huts and mud and felt the cold and what a great finish leaving it up to the reader to decide what finish they wanted great read more please

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Scowl, my seventh read from author European P. Douglas. A well-written, entertaining short read. 2-hours 57-minutes/105-pages. Jack Clancy's narration adds to this supernatural thriller's enjoyment. “I received a free Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. CREEPY. Plague. Witches. Monsters. All combine to make a satisfying and nerve-tingling story! I liked the ending and would like to find out what ends up happening to Mor. Awesome book!

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Black Death and quarantine, men abusing their power, wars. Life hasn't really changed. And the accusation of witch. Well written