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Beneath the Dark
Jon Pearce is the only police officer on two small islands off of the coast of England; a beautiful and popular tourist spot during the high season, but cold and desolate during the winter months. He finds himself in over his head after a series of unexplained incidents leave various islanders terrorised, and against his better judgement, he is forced to call in Ed Thorn, a renowned paranormal investigator.
Together, Ed and Jon discover that the victims of the paranormal incidents are suffering terrible consequences, specific to their own worst fears, and are being left in circumstances that are excruciating to bear.
They must enlist the help of Dr Dina Melnyk, a lecturer in Occult Studies and an old friend of Ed’s: she thinks she might know what it is that plagues and threatens them – and it is worse than they ever could have imagined – but not necessarily how to destroy it. Can they find who unleashed the evil entity and discover how to stop it before it reaches the mainland?
"An atmospheric, character-driven paranormal mystery...if you’re into occult tales that burn slow with dread, you need to read this."
- Chris Miller, Award Winning Author of ‘The Damned Ones’ & ‘Dust’
Together, Ed and Jon discover that the victims of the paranormal incidents are suffering terrible consequences, specific to their own worst fears, and are being left in circumstances that are excruciating to bear.
They must enlist the help of Dr Dina Melnyk, a lecturer in Occult Studies and an old friend of Ed’s: she thinks she might know what it is that plagues and threatens them – and it is worse than they ever could have imagined – but not necessarily how to destroy it. Can they find who unleashed the evil entity and discover how to stop it before it reaches the mainland?
"An atmospheric, character-driven paranormal mystery...if you’re into occult tales that burn slow with dread, you need to read this."
- Chris Miller, Award Winning Author of ‘The Damned Ones’ & ‘Dust’
- GenresHorror
301 pages, Paperback
Published March 29, 2022
3 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Ian Backhouse
4 books42 followersUnique Journey from Police Firearms Officer to Horror Author whilst Battling Bipolar
As a former firearms officer with the Metropolitan Police, my journey from law enforcement to literature has been nothing short of extraordinary. I spent 12 years in the force, and having been a drummer since I was 8, I continued to play in London and make some great contacts.
When I left, despite being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and complex trauma, I began drumming and teaching professionally. Alongside both these chapters in my life I had always written and and in 2019 I retired from drumming to work towards this as a career. In 2022, I was published by Cranthorpe Miller. I was genuinely shocked when my debut novel, 'Beneath The Dark' sold over 300 copies in its first two months - numbers not often seen for a first-time author. I followed this with 'Alice Malign' in 2023, which received rave reviews, and a tremendous growth in readers. Again, I was astounded but it was also a wonderful feeling! I'm now preparing for the release of 'Whisper A Prayer', continuing the story with characters from Beneath The Dark at the request of so many readers who wanted a sequel.
What I hope sets me apart is not only my writing itself, but also my unwavering determination in the face of personal adversity. Living with bipolar disorder, I've used my experience to inspire others, showing that it's possible to pursue your dreams despite mental health challenges. As I often say, “I want people to see that even with bipolar disorder, amazing things are possible.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 18, 2023
First of all, I want to start this review by thanking the author, Ian Backhouse, for sending me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. I am forever grateful.
Beneath the Dark is a thrilling and fast paced novel. Even though it is mainly categorized as a horror, it felt a bit more like a thriller for me personally. I enjoyed it from start to finish.
The story starts with Frank Bernie. He loves living on the Island. Enjoys running on the beach and enjoys running his museum for a steady income. But that night he sees and hears things and is scared out of his mind. He also gets hurt.
And that is where the story kickstarts. Several locals experience paranormal/unexplained events and people get scared.
Jon, the local officer, is involved from the get go. And as the story progresses he gets help from Ed, Dina and several local people.
I love the chapters through the eyes of several characters. The chapters of the people who experience the paranormal occurrences, those broke my heart. I felt the fear they felt. How your worst nightmares come through. And how utterly destroying that is.
I love the no nonsense approach towards the occurances. And I love the trust and connection the investigative team had.
The book is fast paced and it held my attention the entire way. I also like how it ended. It gave me a sort of grin on my face, haha.
4 big stars for this enjoyable thriller/horror story!
Beneath the Dark is a thrilling and fast paced novel. Even though it is mainly categorized as a horror, it felt a bit more like a thriller for me personally. I enjoyed it from start to finish.
The story starts with Frank Bernie. He loves living on the Island. Enjoys running on the beach and enjoys running his museum for a steady income. But that night he sees and hears things and is scared out of his mind. He also gets hurt.
And that is where the story kickstarts. Several locals experience paranormal/unexplained events and people get scared.
Jon, the local officer, is involved from the get go. And as the story progresses he gets help from Ed, Dina and several local people.
I love the chapters through the eyes of several characters. The chapters of the people who experience the paranormal occurrences, those broke my heart. I felt the fear they felt. How your worst nightmares come through. And how utterly destroying that is.
I love the no nonsense approach towards the occurances. And I love the trust and connection the investigative team had.
The book is fast paced and it held my attention the entire way. I also like how it ended. It gave me a sort of grin on my face, haha.
4 big stars for this enjoyable thriller/horror story!
March 17, 2022
I think this is my first paranormal book and I actually enjoyed it.
I liked the characters and the flow of the writing but something just felt missing to me.
Perhaps I was expecting to be completely spooked by this.
Solid 4 stars
I liked the characters and the flow of the writing but something just felt missing to me.
Perhaps I was expecting to be completely spooked by this.
Solid 4 stars
January 28, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5
It has been a while since a book has literally made the hair on my neck stand up, but this one did it! There were several scenes that literally terrified me. A horror novel infused with a thriller/crime vibe this was a great hybrid, complete with interesting characters. Thoroughly enjoyed and really liked the pace and jump between the main storyline and the terrifying episodes experienced by the dark’s unsuspecting victims.
It has been a while since a book has literally made the hair on my neck stand up, but this one did it! There were several scenes that literally terrified me. A horror novel infused with a thriller/crime vibe this was a great hybrid, complete with interesting characters. Thoroughly enjoyed and really liked the pace and jump between the main storyline and the terrifying episodes experienced by the dark’s unsuspecting victims.
February 4, 2022
Any story that begins with a man pissing himself in terror, you know is going to be remarkable.
Officer Jon Pearce is a one-man police force guarding a tiny tourist town scattered over a pair of islands off the coast of England. When citizens of the town fall victim to strange attacks he’s joined by Ed Thorn, a (sceptic) paranormal investigator with a top rate in disproving paranormal claims. Joined by a handful of locals and an occult researcher friend of Ed’s, they must figure out what is plaguing the town and how to stop it.
Backhouse is generous with his words, painting stark museums and lush libraries with his descriptions. He has a tremendous ability to create eerie scenarios and controls the pace with a deft hand. Every time I began to feel things were moving a bit slowly, I’d get walloped by something more intense and immediate. His ability to blend everyday life with paranormal activity lends an overall sense of realness to the story – there is no overblown fantasy.
“Beneath the Dark” is a character-driven, psychological horror. I hate to compare authors to Other authors but the way he sets up his characters and focuses his chapters reminds me a lot of Stephen King. This is not to say their writing styles are alike At All – just that I’m getting the same well-rounded satisfaction from the various perspectives. This is great storytelling. The diction-lover in me adores his word choices. “Suddenly and environment that had felt so clement and benign became so sullied by a simple change in lighting, sending a small shiver down her spine.” I did find the climax/ending it a little lacking in intensity, but it seemed very appropriate to the overall atmosphere of the book (and I loved it anyway).
More suspenseful and eerie than frightening, I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal thrillers
(I received a free copy of this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Officer Jon Pearce is a one-man police force guarding a tiny tourist town scattered over a pair of islands off the coast of England. When citizens of the town fall victim to strange attacks he’s joined by Ed Thorn, a (sceptic) paranormal investigator with a top rate in disproving paranormal claims. Joined by a handful of locals and an occult researcher friend of Ed’s, they must figure out what is plaguing the town and how to stop it.
Backhouse is generous with his words, painting stark museums and lush libraries with his descriptions. He has a tremendous ability to create eerie scenarios and controls the pace with a deft hand. Every time I began to feel things were moving a bit slowly, I’d get walloped by something more intense and immediate. His ability to blend everyday life with paranormal activity lends an overall sense of realness to the story – there is no overblown fantasy.
“Beneath the Dark” is a character-driven, psychological horror. I hate to compare authors to Other authors but the way he sets up his characters and focuses his chapters reminds me a lot of Stephen King. This is not to say their writing styles are alike At All – just that I’m getting the same well-rounded satisfaction from the various perspectives. This is great storytelling. The diction-lover in me adores his word choices. “Suddenly and environment that had felt so clement and benign became so sullied by a simple change in lighting, sending a small shiver down her spine.” I did find the climax/ending it a little lacking in intensity, but it seemed very appropriate to the overall atmosphere of the book (and I loved it anyway).
More suspenseful and eerie than frightening, I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal thrillers
(I received a free copy of this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
April 29, 2022
This horror mystery is built around the loves and fears of the characters in it. Even better, it gives you enough insight into the characters for you to be able to puzzle out the mystery yourself.
My full video review with detailed thoughts is at https://youtu.be/u59KqqJaLEw?t=374
In this book, in 1995 a secluded British island is being haunted. People are being attacked by ghosts, strange mold is appearing, and no one understands what is causing it. Our story centers on Jon (the single police officer on the island) and Ed (a paranormal debunker called in to help). However, the story spans much wider than just the two of them as other people on the island get pulled into the action.
This story follows many different characters, and has to set each of them up thoroughly. Within a few pages of following a character, you know their loves and fears and emotional state. Most of the time, this is accomplished by just telling you this information and backstory. I think this is one of those times where the writing advice, "show, don't tell," is wrong. We are mostly just told about these characters, and it's an efficient way to get us on board with them without sacrificing the fast pace in the process. This efficient dictation fits the straightforward tone of the novel.
While reading, I kept getting the feeling that this book wasn't exactly written for me. It takes place before I was even born and is filled with slang terms that I had to look up. This isn't a flaw (it's not like the world revolves around me), but just an observation. If you were a person nostalgic for isolated-British-island-in-the-90's, you would probably like this book a lot more than I did. For me, the sense of place was so strong in this story that it left me behind and confused fairly often.
Thank you to Cranthorpe Millner and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
My full video review with detailed thoughts is at https://youtu.be/u59KqqJaLEw?t=374
In this book, in 1995 a secluded British island is being haunted. People are being attacked by ghosts, strange mold is appearing, and no one understands what is causing it. Our story centers on Jon (the single police officer on the island) and Ed (a paranormal debunker called in to help). However, the story spans much wider than just the two of them as other people on the island get pulled into the action.
This story follows many different characters, and has to set each of them up thoroughly. Within a few pages of following a character, you know their loves and fears and emotional state. Most of the time, this is accomplished by just telling you this information and backstory. I think this is one of those times where the writing advice, "show, don't tell," is wrong. We are mostly just told about these characters, and it's an efficient way to get us on board with them without sacrificing the fast pace in the process. This efficient dictation fits the straightforward tone of the novel.
While reading, I kept getting the feeling that this book wasn't exactly written for me. It takes place before I was even born and is filled with slang terms that I had to look up. This isn't a flaw (it's not like the world revolves around me), but just an observation. If you were a person nostalgic for isolated-British-island-in-the-90's, you would probably like this book a lot more than I did. For me, the sense of place was so strong in this story that it left me behind and confused fairly often.
Thank you to Cranthorpe Millner and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
March 9, 2022
I want to thank Ian Backhouse for sending me the ARC copy of his debut novel in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 29 Mar 2022
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/ Paranormal
🖤 Supernatural
🖤Who done it mystery with paranormal twist.
🖤 Multiple points of view.
🖤 Medium paced.
🖤 Something gone wrong.
My thoughts 💭💭:
WOW! I never thought that I'll enjoy detective and investigation story.
Ian is great story teller he kept me engaged with all the characters all the time, not just that but feel their pain and frustration. I loved the way he rotate between the characters points of view that kept me at the edge of my seat all the time want to know what's going to happen next. The plot and the idea is really good
It really felt to me that I was watching a TV show from the way Ian describing and explaining every detail makes you feel you are there, and after I finished the book I thought that would be great on TV.
⚠️ Contant worning grif and lost of loved ones.
Publication date: 29 Mar 2022
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/ Paranormal
🖤 Supernatural
🖤Who done it mystery with paranormal twist.
🖤 Multiple points of view.
🖤 Medium paced.
🖤 Something gone wrong.
My thoughts 💭💭:
WOW! I never thought that I'll enjoy detective and investigation story.
Ian is great story teller he kept me engaged with all the characters all the time, not just that but feel their pain and frustration. I loved the way he rotate between the characters points of view that kept me at the edge of my seat all the time want to know what's going to happen next. The plot and the idea is really good
It really felt to me that I was watching a TV show from the way Ian describing and explaining every detail makes you feel you are there, and after I finished the book I thought that would be great on TV.
⚠️ Contant worning grif and lost of loved ones.
February 11, 2022
Perhaps the lid of a Ouija Board should have the warning, "Beware all who enter here." Beneath the Dark was a cautionary tale of dappling in things to reach "the other side". It turns our, there's the other side, and then the middle side-so to speak and the "below" and nothing from below is ever, ever supposed to reach our plane. The things from below aren't souls or demons, but worse. Now someone on the island has dabbled and little by little a crack has formed and a strain has risen to the human plan to torment the living and search for the one who let it in. The creepy description of this thing from below was nailed home to me by the description, "it was never human, but if it could smile-it would".
Fortunately, a few humans figure out what is happening and find the means to fight back. You have to read the book to find out if, and how, successful this was. Finally, there is the last lesson....even smart people can be so stupid and you want to grab a certain character by the collar and say "did you learn nothing, you idiot?"
A great book. I had been in a bit of a slump and missed that "Oh, boy, I get to get up and read my book" feeling. This book brought that back for me.
Thank you #netgalley for the ARC of #BeneathTheDark and to #IanBlackhouse for the great storytelling.
Fortunately, a few humans figure out what is happening and find the means to fight back. You have to read the book to find out if, and how, successful this was. Finally, there is the last lesson....even smart people can be so stupid and you want to grab a certain character by the collar and say "did you learn nothing, you idiot?"
A great book. I had been in a bit of a slump and missed that "Oh, boy, I get to get up and read my book" feeling. This book brought that back for me.
Thank you #netgalley for the ARC of #BeneathTheDark and to #IanBlackhouse for the great storytelling.
February 22, 2022
I’ve had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for Beneath the Dark by Ian Backhouse that will hit the shelves on 29 March. The story follows local police officer Jon Pearce following a trail of mysterious events that is shaking a small island community outside the British coast. It starts at the local museum, where the owner is found with severe head injuries but against all odds alive. The events at the museum has all the hallmarks of a haunting but there are signs of something even more remarkable going on. More unusual events follow, one more sinister than the next, and Jon must finally admit that he needs expertise that is not taught at police academy. With reinforcements from an expert in debunking paranormal events, they try to piece together what is going on and this will lead them down a very dangerous path, beneath the dark.
I really enjoyed this fast-paced novel that is full of darkness both in the form of the evil humans are capable of and the suggestion of something beyond our own dimension. The book reminded me of James Herbert’s novels but without the out-dated representation of women that really irks me with Herbert’s books. In this novel, the females kicks ass! If you enjoy dark fiction with supernatural elements you’ll enjoy this one.
I really enjoyed this fast-paced novel that is full of darkness both in the form of the evil humans are capable of and the suggestion of something beyond our own dimension. The book reminded me of James Herbert’s novels but without the out-dated representation of women that really irks me with Herbert’s books. In this novel, the females kicks ass! If you enjoy dark fiction with supernatural elements you’ll enjoy this one.
February 28, 2022
Horror is one of my all time favourite genres, but with horror, it has to be done right. I find you either get it spot on and it's pure genius or it's the worse thing you have ever read and makes no sense at all.
Ian kindly sent me a copy of Beneath the Dark and basically day 1 I read 77 pages and had a nightmare that night! The first part was truly terrifying and gave me the heebie jeebies, you could picture it all in so much detail. Another positive for me was the book flowed solidly through the storyline and didn't go off subject and there certainly weren't any page filler chapters! I loved all the victims backstories and why they were targeted by this mysterious presence, was it love? Was it hate? The main characters all come together well around midway through the book and by then you have got to know them and the chemistry they have is one of my favourite parts of the book. The ending, true movie style, what a cliffhanger!
This was Ian's first book and I can tell they are only going to get better and better. Job well done.
If you want an introduction to Horror without going too hard-core, this book would be perfect!
Ian kindly sent me a copy of Beneath the Dark and basically day 1 I read 77 pages and had a nightmare that night! The first part was truly terrifying and gave me the heebie jeebies, you could picture it all in so much detail. Another positive for me was the book flowed solidly through the storyline and didn't go off subject and there certainly weren't any page filler chapters! I loved all the victims backstories and why they were targeted by this mysterious presence, was it love? Was it hate? The main characters all come together well around midway through the book and by then you have got to know them and the chemistry they have is one of my favourite parts of the book. The ending, true movie style, what a cliffhanger!
This was Ian's first book and I can tell they are only going to get better and better. Job well done.
If you want an introduction to Horror without going too hard-core, this book would be perfect!
March 17, 2023
The beginning was hard for me to follow. Every chapter focused on a new character, and it was hard to see how everyone was going to tie together. At about the 30% mark it started coming together and I enjoyed the book more from that point. The book had a creepy, dark atmosphere. I can't say it was very scary to me. We really don't see the demon, just the results of his actions. I would have liked to see more scares and a more fleshed out evil. The main characters Jon, Ed and Dina, were likable and helped drive the story.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
February 6, 2022
This book was dark, captivating and had me jumping at shadows! Even as the pieces come together, you are still left questioning what is ‘real’ and what is not. If you like psychological thrillers with a paranormal twist, this book is a must on your reading list.
Though Jon and paranormal investigator Ed Thorn, and occult expert Dina Melnyk are the threads that move the plot forward, the story is told through many other perspectives as well. The reader sees the attacks from the victims’ perspectives and each episode plays on the doubts and fears of that individual. They are poignant and masterfully blur the lines of reality in absolutely terrifying ways. Jon, Ed, and Dina’s perspectives are interspersed between these and other snippets from various townsfolk. Despite the constant jumping around, Backhouse manages to tell a bone chilling and cohesive story that will keep you guessing.
It is clear that the heart of the storytelling is in different characters’ experiences with both the islands and the entity. The way the story unfolds is intriguing and clever; however, it also makes it take longer for things to start coming together. In addition, some of Jon’s and Ed’s sections seem flat compared to others. These are both minor complaints and did not taint my overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, this psychological/paranormal thriller was an unexpected delight to read. Though it is clear that there is a paranormal entity involved, this story does touch on mental health. Additionally, some characters experience serious injury that is graphically described.
Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!
Though Jon and paranormal investigator Ed Thorn, and occult expert Dina Melnyk are the threads that move the plot forward, the story is told through many other perspectives as well. The reader sees the attacks from the victims’ perspectives and each episode plays on the doubts and fears of that individual. They are poignant and masterfully blur the lines of reality in absolutely terrifying ways. Jon, Ed, and Dina’s perspectives are interspersed between these and other snippets from various townsfolk. Despite the constant jumping around, Backhouse manages to tell a bone chilling and cohesive story that will keep you guessing.
It is clear that the heart of the storytelling is in different characters’ experiences with both the islands and the entity. The way the story unfolds is intriguing and clever; however, it also makes it take longer for things to start coming together. In addition, some of Jon’s and Ed’s sections seem flat compared to others. These are both minor complaints and did not taint my overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, this psychological/paranormal thriller was an unexpected delight to read. Though it is clear that there is a paranormal entity involved, this story does touch on mental health. Additionally, some characters experience serious injury that is graphically described.
Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!
February 17, 2022
I wish I could enter half stars on Goodreads because I would rate this book at 3.5 stars instead of 3. I enjoyed the premise and the creation of all the complex characters, but for me, it felt like something was missing or detached in the storyline.
The first sixteen chapters don't weave smoothly into each other as much as I would've liked. I found myself being confused on characters names and the situations they were in because they were separate from each other until midway through the book. Once the creepy occult happenings started to become more clear and the characters relied on each other the story felt more connected.
The main characters banter and the relationships they form was probably my favorite part of the book. I enjoy being able to see the characters interacting in my head while I read. It makes the book feel more like a movie for me.
All in all I enjoyed this book and I'm thankful to the publishers and NetGalley for letting me have a chance to read and review the book!
The first sixteen chapters don't weave smoothly into each other as much as I would've liked. I found myself being confused on characters names and the situations they were in because they were separate from each other until midway through the book. Once the creepy occult happenings started to become more clear and the characters relied on each other the story felt more connected.
The main characters banter and the relationships they form was probably my favorite part of the book. I enjoy being able to see the characters interacting in my head while I read. It makes the book feel more like a movie for me.
All in all I enjoyed this book and I'm thankful to the publishers and NetGalley for letting me have a chance to read and review the book!
February 3, 2022
Could not put it down! I read this book pretty much straight through from beginning to end (literally- even whilst walking my dogs!) I am a big fan of psychological thrillers, and so when I read the summary, I was all in- and Backhouse did not disappoint,. The character development was superb; and so while the reader (very much like the characters) found the events unbelievable, they were all extremely relatable., and most, save one, were sympathetic individuals whom I found myself connecting with. So it was tremendous mix of we've all been there every day occurrences and this absolutely could not happen in a million years scenarios. In essence, this novel brings us to the brink of our greatest fears on so many levels. Also I rather enjoyed this author's writing style- quite clever. I will be reading as much as I can by this author moving forward.
February 17, 2022
Beneath the Dark begins strong and scary with something stalking people. It eventually becomes a horror story that relies on belief from a group as it takes a religious turn. Unfortunately, that weakened the story for me, bringing my review down from 5 stars to 4. Still, it was a good read, and those who are interested in a religious element in their horror should love it.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
March 29, 2022
This book had me hooked from the first page,read it in two sittings,just couldn’t put it down!! If you’re a fan of the creepy/paranormal/supernatural then we’re sure you’ll enjoy this book as much as we did!! Can’t recommend this highly enough!!
February 5, 2023
This was amazing, I LOVE supernatural horror so I was so excited for it, I think this book has so many elements of genres I love, horror, thriller and mystery, I really enjoyed this and want to definitley read more by this author! This book gave me The Conjuring meshed with Midsummer Murders, I highly recommend!
January 25, 2023
An enjoyable book with just enough horror and mystery to keep you reading. The characters where tangible with enough back story to make them interesting but not too much that made the story boring.
I’ve read quite a few debut novels that where not particularly well written and not very concise but this one is very good, a real page turner. I’m looking forward to a second book from Ian.
I’ve read quite a few debut novels that where not particularly well written and not very concise but this one is very good, a real page turner. I’m looking forward to a second book from Ian.
April 16, 2022
The first thing that struck me was that this book feels as if Ian Backhouse has been writing for years, not a debut novel. It is fluid, fluent and well-crafted. It's also very accessible, with just the right amount of description to keep readers' minds drawn into the locations he depicts. The author also knows how to create atmosphere! Given today's wizardry in film and tv, I often wonder about whether books can keep up with consumers' thirst for drama and tension, fed by ever-increasing clever technologies for small and large screen; but there's no lack of this here, created skilfully in words - a genuine accomplishment. The pace is spot on too: there are moments when I found myself enjoying the scenery and getting to know the characters and moments when I couldn't but skim read because I wanted to know what would happen next. And speaking of characters, I really hope that Mr Backhouse will write more about his lead protagonists as they are people that come out of the page and into your room in such a way that I want to keep their company some more. There's a good balance between the pseudo science, the occult and the rational to create mystery (and it's clever that one of the main characters prefers to see his work as an investigator of "supernatural" events rather than the "paranormal".) There are no moments that you consider the characters, the plot or the explanations to be out of kilter with the momentum and feel - again, a remarkable achievement.
All in all a superb debut novel. Highly recommended - I eagerly await In Backhouse's next one!
p.s. the paper is lovely in the hand too - so congratulations to whomever chose the finish......
All in all a superb debut novel. Highly recommended - I eagerly await In Backhouse's next one!
p.s. the paper is lovely in the hand too - so congratulations to whomever chose the finish......
March 4, 2022
On an English island, a horror is stalking the residents who all have a secret to hide. Local police officer Jon Pearce calls in paranormal investigator Ed Thorn and Dr Dina Melnyk, a lecturer in the Occult, to help.
This is a fast-paced book with elements of Stephen King and James Herbert. The horror parts are at the forefront during the first few chapters, becoming more suspenseful as a small team consisting of locals and the two investigators race against time to find the cause of the encroaching evil.
It is a quick read and there were parts I was hoping could be fleshed out and some further character development but these are minor gripes. Hopefully there are plans to revisit the island and some of these characters, especially Dr Dina Melnyk who has an interesting backstory via her father's work. Overall this is a really good read and is well recommended.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review
This is a fast-paced book with elements of Stephen King and James Herbert. The horror parts are at the forefront during the first few chapters, becoming more suspenseful as a small team consisting of locals and the two investigators race against time to find the cause of the encroaching evil.
It is a quick read and there were parts I was hoping could be fleshed out and some further character development but these are minor gripes. Hopefully there are plans to revisit the island and some of these characters, especially Dr Dina Melnyk who has an interesting backstory via her father's work. Overall this is a really good read and is well recommended.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review
March 6, 2022
As someone who used to devour any show relating to ghosts/ghost hunting, this book was absolutely brilliant! I love how there was always something going on whether it be more paranormal events on the island or cutting back to Jon and his attempts at finding out what is going on.
Normally I struggle with lots of characters and viewpoints but because I could associate certain people with certain places I found it a lot easier to keep track. Not once was I bored reading this. I never thought I'd get jump-scared by a book but I was proven wrong. This is surprisingly my first book based on a paranormal investigation and all I can say is: I want more!
One last thing to say - thank goodness the nonce gets his comeuppance!
Normally I struggle with lots of characters and viewpoints but because I could associate certain people with certain places I found it a lot easier to keep track. Not once was I bored reading this. I never thought I'd get jump-scared by a book but I was proven wrong. This is surprisingly my first book based on a paranormal investigation and all I can say is: I want more!
One last thing to say - thank goodness the nonce gets his comeuppance!
March 17, 2022
I’ve been reading horror for decades, but I admit in the last few years, I’ve hardly read the genre like I used to. I saw this, and I liked the blurb and requested it. At first, I had a little trouble with some of the words that were used because it took place in England with unfamiliar words. I normally don’t have a problem with that, but for some reason I did in this one. However, it didn’t take long to get in the swing of things. This was a well-written atmospheric book filled with chilling moments, but there isn’t as much as I’d like especially when bad things happened to people I didn’t care about. However, this was a pretty good book. 3 ½ stars rounded up to 4. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
April 4, 2022
Classic Horror
PAPERBACK EDITION
It is so rare to read such a book that immediately immerses you, so quickly into realistic characters and a remote windswept island of horror as 'Beneath the Dark'. This book is a rollercoaster of a scary tale that keeps you reading on and on. The plot twists and turns with a hint of malevolent evil in every chapter, building to a climax unexpected, this surely is a page turner like no other, and believe me, I know as an avid horror story reader, from Poe to Herbert and Lovecraft to Hutson...This début novel has it all and some, It will keep you on the edge of your seat from Chapter 1 onwards, I can only envy the author Ian Backhouse his inevitable success..
PAPERBACK EDITION
It is so rare to read such a book that immediately immerses you, so quickly into realistic characters and a remote windswept island of horror as 'Beneath the Dark'. This book is a rollercoaster of a scary tale that keeps you reading on and on. The plot twists and turns with a hint of malevolent evil in every chapter, building to a climax unexpected, this surely is a page turner like no other, and believe me, I know as an avid horror story reader, from Poe to Herbert and Lovecraft to Hutson...This début novel has it all and some, It will keep you on the edge of your seat from Chapter 1 onwards, I can only envy the author Ian Backhouse his inevitable success..
March 3, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for the eARC.
There are too many characters in this book that are not given any time to breathe or be introduced or grow. Jon, police officer with a heart-of-gold! fights for screen time with Ed the depressed paranormal investigator who barely exists and adds nothing to the story. Ed's purpose is to get Dr Dina, the occult studies professor into the story. And Dr. Dina's role is to exposit the theory of multiple layers of soul-reality, and then suddenly find an old familial connection that will immediately seal away the demon-entity back to the soul-layer Under-Hell. There are other "nice" characters, but they are for all their car-chase-in-the-woods escapades, unimportant and might as well not have had names or even existed.
The problem is that there is no depth or story beat that isn't immediately undercut with monotony. Scenes move like a TV movie, from event to event, with little time for any kind of grounding or for the characters to feel or think anything. There is only plot, and it must move forward at all costs; there is no drama or comedy, there is only the plot. I do not know who any of these characters are, I do not know what they want, I do not know what they would see if they were confronted by the book's antagonist: an entity that shows you and then takes away from you the only joy or hope left in your life.
That's not to say there aren't good things to the book (I would have stopped reading otherwise): the chapter viewing George the verger's experience with the demon-entity in the church is the crown-jewel of this book; affecting and terrifying and brilliantly executed. Sympathy and depth of character! I also found the scene of Jon in Lucas' house to have been properly ramping up the dread and horror of confronting the demon-entity.
But it's all immediately thrown away a chapter or two later: George's fears and anxieties about being ostracized from the only community he has ever felt at home with is immediately put to rest and ensured twice over to the reader that their sympathy is misplaced, he will be fine. And Jon's escapade into Lucas' home is closed off with car chases and an entire chapter of "Dina said the words in the book, and more wind blew through the cellar". Egregiously, we never even see Jon or Ed or Dina or the ancillary characters even glimpse the horrors of the demon-entity in their presence at the end. It's just 5 pages of meaningless words, and the entity is sent back to Under-Hell... except maybe not if anyone ever finds the photocopied summoning script that they conveniently forgot to burn!
There are too many characters in this book that are not given any time to breathe or be introduced or grow. Jon, police officer with a heart-of-gold! fights for screen time with Ed the depressed paranormal investigator who barely exists and adds nothing to the story. Ed's purpose is to get Dr Dina, the occult studies professor into the story. And Dr. Dina's role is to exposit the theory of multiple layers of soul-reality, and then suddenly find an old familial connection that will immediately seal away the demon-entity back to the soul-layer Under-Hell. There are other "nice" characters, but they are for all their car-chase-in-the-woods escapades, unimportant and might as well not have had names or even existed.
The problem is that there is no depth or story beat that isn't immediately undercut with monotony. Scenes move like a TV movie, from event to event, with little time for any kind of grounding or for the characters to feel or think anything. There is only plot, and it must move forward at all costs; there is no drama or comedy, there is only the plot. I do not know who any of these characters are, I do not know what they want, I do not know what they would see if they were confronted by the book's antagonist: an entity that shows you and then takes away from you the only joy or hope left in your life.
That's not to say there aren't good things to the book (I would have stopped reading otherwise): the chapter viewing George the verger's experience with the demon-entity in the church is the crown-jewel of this book; affecting and terrifying and brilliantly executed. Sympathy and depth of character! I also found the scene of Jon in Lucas' house to have been properly ramping up the dread and horror of confronting the demon-entity.
But it's all immediately thrown away a chapter or two later: George's fears and anxieties about being ostracized from the only community he has ever felt at home with is immediately put to rest and ensured twice over to the reader that their sympathy is misplaced, he will be fine. And Jon's escapade into Lucas' home is closed off with car chases and an entire chapter of "Dina said the words in the book, and more wind blew through the cellar". Egregiously, we never even see Jon or Ed or Dina or the ancillary characters even glimpse the horrors of the demon-entity in their presence at the end. It's just 5 pages of meaningless words, and the entity is sent back to Under-Hell... except maybe not if anyone ever finds the photocopied summoning script that they conveniently forgot to burn!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2022
"Raw instinct drew it towards the source of the power. A power which effervesced from an abundance of sources that had begun to materalise and conjoin, triggering an innate, irreversible compulsion to peel and wrench and tear itself up and away from its primeval roots towards it.
Life.
Sentence.
Self.
It did not understand how, but it could feel the acute force, calling it up from the depths and knew it offered such."
On a remote island off the coast of England, Jon Pearce is the only police officer. It is a vacation hot-spot during the warm and sunny months but when Winter comes, it is cold and desolate. After a series of unknown incidents, Jon is forced against his better judgement to call for the support of paranormal investigator - Ed Thorn. They discover that the islanders experiencing these paranormal incidents are specific to their own worst fears and are suffering terrible consequences. To understand what is happening, Ed calls in an old friend of his, Dr Dina Melnyk, a lecturer in Occult Studies. Together, they must find the untamed evil and stomp it out. But...at what cost?
BENEATH THE DARK is a cross/multi-genre story covering bases in the mystery, paranormal, horror and thriller realms. When I was reading this novel, I got serious Conjuring vibes, especially with the opening couple of chapters. It is told from multiple perspectives which I'm aware can be a hit or a miss with some readers. I personally love them. Highly recommend this novel if you're a fan of the supernatural, horror and the occult. It'll make you think twice about using a ouija board. I wouldn't want to be a resident on this island. A big thank you to Ian Backhouse and Cranthorpe Millner for sending me an eARC copy!
Life.
Sentence.
Self.
It did not understand how, but it could feel the acute force, calling it up from the depths and knew it offered such."
On a remote island off the coast of England, Jon Pearce is the only police officer. It is a vacation hot-spot during the warm and sunny months but when Winter comes, it is cold and desolate. After a series of unknown incidents, Jon is forced against his better judgement to call for the support of paranormal investigator - Ed Thorn. They discover that the islanders experiencing these paranormal incidents are specific to their own worst fears and are suffering terrible consequences. To understand what is happening, Ed calls in an old friend of his, Dr Dina Melnyk, a lecturer in Occult Studies. Together, they must find the untamed evil and stomp it out. But...at what cost?
BENEATH THE DARK is a cross/multi-genre story covering bases in the mystery, paranormal, horror and thriller realms. When I was reading this novel, I got serious Conjuring vibes, especially with the opening couple of chapters. It is told from multiple perspectives which I'm aware can be a hit or a miss with some readers. I personally love them. Highly recommend this novel if you're a fan of the supernatural, horror and the occult. It'll make you think twice about using a ouija board. I wouldn't want to be a resident on this island. A big thank you to Ian Backhouse and Cranthorpe Millner for sending me an eARC copy!
February 18, 2023
This is a supernatural horror book set on a smallish island and it involves a summoning ritual gone very wrong.
Strange unexplained events happen to a handful of people over the course of a few days. Events that don't kill them, but leaves them far worse off. No spoilers but these things will have a torturous effect on them for the rest of their lives.
The local police officer, a paranormal "debunker", a college professor, and a couple of others have to find a way to determine where this "thing" came from and how to stop it before it affects everyone.
This book has a really cool creature with an interesting background that was a welcome relief from the standard ghost, spectre, goblin variety. There's a sense of dread that lingers throughout the narrative as we begin to put the pieces in place along with the characters as this is something they're not prepared for.
The characters themselves are varied and each one adds to the overall enjoyment of the story. And, once we learn what must be done to stop the evil, it's a roller coaster ride of terror right up until the final page.
This is a shorter novel and doesn't waste words with laborious descriptions of every nook and cranny so the pacing is spot on and it doesn't overstay it's welcome.
If you're looking for a scary creepy short read that'll be different from other supernatural stories, I recommend this one!
Strange unexplained events happen to a handful of people over the course of a few days. Events that don't kill them, but leaves them far worse off. No spoilers but these things will have a torturous effect on them for the rest of their lives.
The local police officer, a paranormal "debunker", a college professor, and a couple of others have to find a way to determine where this "thing" came from and how to stop it before it affects everyone.
This book has a really cool creature with an interesting background that was a welcome relief from the standard ghost, spectre, goblin variety. There's a sense of dread that lingers throughout the narrative as we begin to put the pieces in place along with the characters as this is something they're not prepared for.
The characters themselves are varied and each one adds to the overall enjoyment of the story. And, once we learn what must be done to stop the evil, it's a roller coaster ride of terror right up until the final page.
This is a shorter novel and doesn't waste words with laborious descriptions of every nook and cranny so the pacing is spot on and it doesn't overstay it's welcome.
If you're looking for a scary creepy short read that'll be different from other supernatural stories, I recommend this one!
March 27, 2023
I love books with small town settings and paranormal investigations. Beneath the Dark satisfies both of those things. On a small island, inexplicable incidents are happening to the residents. The nature of these events defies the known laws of physics and natural order. A motley crew of investigators try to unravel the mystery and stop the consequences from extending beyond the island.
One of the things I really appreciated about this book is that it went against the grain regarding the typical paranormal investigation trope. Specifically, when things go weird, the characters actually communicate with others about what is going on. I found that take refreshing, and it allowed the plot to progress in unique ways. I loved the character driven narrative. Overall, Beneath the Dark was a great read and I will be checking out other works written by Ian Backhouse.
Thanks to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One of the things I really appreciated about this book is that it went against the grain regarding the typical paranormal investigation trope. Specifically, when things go weird, the characters actually communicate with others about what is going on. I found that take refreshing, and it allowed the plot to progress in unique ways. I loved the character driven narrative. Overall, Beneath the Dark was a great read and I will be checking out other works written by Ian Backhouse.
Thanks to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2023
Beneath The Dark is surprisingly my first Paranormal horror/ thriller, and i must say I absolutely loved it.
I devoured the novel within two days of receiving it.
Firstly, the writing style is so easy to follow. It's simple yet detailed, allowing you to follow the story without effort.
I don't want to give anything away as the novel jumps straight into the activities/action. This element is what kept me hooked from the beginning.
This novel covers a lot of genres, supernatural, paranormal, crime, thriller.. so much that I didn't expect a single novel to hold.
I was engaged throughout and felt the characterisation was fantastic. You were able to see the lives of the characters in the moment they were experiencing it, and for that, I do feel this novel could and should be a tv series.
I read quite a few books, and this one is one I would thoroughly insist as a recommendation.
I devoured the novel within two days of receiving it.
Firstly, the writing style is so easy to follow. It's simple yet detailed, allowing you to follow the story without effort.
I don't want to give anything away as the novel jumps straight into the activities/action. This element is what kept me hooked from the beginning.
This novel covers a lot of genres, supernatural, paranormal, crime, thriller.. so much that I didn't expect a single novel to hold.
I was engaged throughout and felt the characterisation was fantastic. You were able to see the lives of the characters in the moment they were experiencing it, and for that, I do feel this novel could and should be a tv series.
I read quite a few books, and this one is one I would thoroughly insist as a recommendation.
June 12, 2022
Beneath the Dark is a surprise read. I wasn’t expecting this to be a book I’d really enjoy, but I did. While it’s a story about a paranormal existence which follows the experiences of a group of different people who are affected by the phenomenon, it’s also a well written, enticing tale. The dialogue is excellent and the plot has enough twists and interest to keep the pages turning. It is well written and the story moves along at a good pace.
My only criticism of this book is that it needs a tidy-up edit. Throughout it is sprinkled with typing errors and in a couple of places the story doesn’t flow as well as it could.
Overall this is a worthwhile read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different in their reading.
My only criticism of this book is that it needs a tidy-up edit. Throughout it is sprinkled with typing errors and in a couple of places the story doesn’t flow as well as it could.
Overall this is a worthwhile read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different in their reading.
February 19, 2023
This was a fun read. You are given information in the Prologue so you think you have an idea of what is going to happen and then immediately everything goes left and upside down and not where you were looking at all. It slowed down just a little in the middle where they are doing the fact finding, but that's pretty much on par for this type of book and the ending was Awesome! Nuff said. I would absolutely recommend this book to a friend.
March 18, 2022
3.5 ⭐
Big thanks to Ian Backhouse for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Beneath the Dark comes out on March 29th 2022.
Beneath the Dark is a fast paste paranormal investigation that kind of reminded me of the TV Show Supernatural. Often times during the book, the way the suspense was implemented made me feel like I was reading a movie instead of a book without the wanted effect. Some parts were unnecessary and I felt like the ending was a little rushed.
I really wanted to get attached to the main detective but didn't know enough about him in order to relate to him. While other characters have more depth, Officer Pearce doesn't really have any back story.
I had trouble seeing the usefulness of Ed, the paranormal investigator. I don't feel like he brought much to the story apart from bringing in another character who had much more answers. I would have liked to see less of Ed and more of Dr. Dina.
In the end, I still found this book entertaining. I loved that it is fast paste and how I wanted to read more to find out how it turned out. A particular scene that takes place in a church gave me chills!
If you are fan of TV shows like Supernatural, I suggest you give this book a look. I think you might enjoy it quite a bit!
Big thanks to Ian Backhouse for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Beneath the Dark comes out on March 29th 2022.
Beneath the Dark is a fast paste paranormal investigation that kind of reminded me of the TV Show Supernatural. Often times during the book, the way the suspense was implemented made me feel like I was reading a movie instead of a book without the wanted effect. Some parts were unnecessary and I felt like the ending was a little rushed.
I really wanted to get attached to the main detective but didn't know enough about him in order to relate to him. While other characters have more depth, Officer Pearce doesn't really have any back story.
I had trouble seeing the usefulness of Ed, the paranormal investigator. I don't feel like he brought much to the story apart from bringing in another character who had much more answers. I would have liked to see less of Ed and more of Dr. Dina.
In the end, I still found this book entertaining. I loved that it is fast paste and how I wanted to read more to find out how it turned out. A particular scene that takes place in a church gave me chills!
If you are fan of TV shows like Supernatural, I suggest you give this book a look. I think you might enjoy it quite a bit!
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