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Beneath Still Waters
Librarian's Note: An alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here.
Fifty years ago, the town of Gouldens Falls was evacuated, flooded, and submerged under two hundred feet of water. Along with its secrets. Just as well it was buried. There was always something not quite right about that town.
Today, on the anniversary of its watery fate, the man-made lake that was once Gouldens Falls is the source of fascination for a visiting journalist. And a cause for alarm. Because something else is down there. Something evil. And on this special anniversary, it's going to surface.
Fifty years ago, the town of Gouldens Falls was evacuated, flooded, and submerged under two hundred feet of water. Along with its secrets. Just as well it was buried. There was always something not quite right about that town.
Today, on the anniversary of its watery fate, the man-made lake that was once Gouldens Falls is the source of fascination for a visiting journalist. And a cause for alarm. Because something else is down there. Something evil. And on this special anniversary, it's going to surface.
300 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 6, 1989
6 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Matthew J. Costello
46 books5 followersMatthew John Costello (born 1948) is an American horror, Gothic, and science fiction writer. His articles have appeared in publications including the Los Angeles Times and Sports Illustrated. He scripted Trilobyte's bestselling CD-ROM interactive dramas The 7th Guest and its sequel The 11th Hour, as well as many other video games.
(source: Wikipedia)
(source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 28, 2024
This reads like a screen play, and it has been adopted as a film. While Beneath Still Waters started strong, it quickly became bogged down a bit with too many POVs and the ending felt seriously rushed. I have read a few Costello horror novels from the 80s; I believe he moved on to write film novelizations which seems apt.
Basically, Costello serves up a 'big evil in a small town' story here. The prologue takes us back to 1936 when the town of Gouldens Falls, evacuated, is due to be flooded over by a new dam. 50 years later, the real story kicks in. Our main protagonist, a reporter named Dan, heads out to the town next to the dam, with a short-term contract to write about the submerged town and the festivities for the 50th anniversary of the dam. Dan quickly hooks up with Susan, a reporter from the local rag and they decide to compare and share notes. None the characters were really developed, with Costello relying upon stereotypes out the wazoo.
While our main characters engage in a budding romance (ham handed and gag worthy), Costello oscillates the story among a large cast-- the dour police chief, the terrorized dam engineer, the philandering mayor and his doxy, among many others. Obviously, something strange is going down around the dammed lake; people are disappearing, sucked under the waters, and even a cop diving team from NYC 'goes missing'. We also have our antagonist, Parks, travelling from Europe back to his old stomping ground, obviously up to no good...
Costello can spin a tale, but despite the novelty of the dam and flooded town, Beneath shamelessly employs old horror tropes and meanders into Catholic horror territory. The denouement was cheesy and predictable. My Berkley edition was also plagued by typos, which was annoying. For the first third of this, I was thinking 4 stars, but by the end, maybe two, so I will go with three watery stars. 😎
Basically, Costello serves up a 'big evil in a small town' story here. The prologue takes us back to 1936 when the town of Gouldens Falls, evacuated, is due to be flooded over by a new dam. 50 years later, the real story kicks in. Our main protagonist, a reporter named Dan, heads out to the town next to the dam, with a short-term contract to write about the submerged town and the festivities for the 50th anniversary of the dam. Dan quickly hooks up with Susan, a reporter from the local rag and they decide to compare and share notes. None the characters were really developed, with Costello relying upon stereotypes out the wazoo.
While our main characters engage in a budding romance (ham handed and gag worthy), Costello oscillates the story among a large cast-- the dour police chief, the terrorized dam engineer, the philandering mayor and his doxy, among many others. Obviously, something strange is going down around the dammed lake; people are disappearing, sucked under the waters, and even a cop diving team from NYC 'goes missing'. We also have our antagonist, Parks, travelling from Europe back to his old stomping ground, obviously up to no good...
Costello can spin a tale, but despite the novelty of the dam and flooded town, Beneath shamelessly employs old horror tropes and meanders into Catholic horror territory. The denouement was cheesy and predictable. My Berkley edition was also plagued by typos, which was annoying. For the first third of this, I was thinking 4 stars, but by the end, maybe two, so I will go with three watery stars. 😎
July 3, 2009
This book has a great premise: a town that was once home to a terrible evil, has been evacuated and flooded beneath a dammed-up reservoir. Now, 50 years later, the evil force stirs beneath the waters once more and threatens the new town that was built downstream. Beneath Still Waters is an enjoyable read, but it doesn't quite live up to the promise of its premise. While the scenes themselves are well-enough written, the juxtaposition between them is often jarring, with too little context given to situate the reader with the new scene's characters or setting. I thought the book was well-paced up until the ending, which suddenly became too fast and abrupt. I would have liked to see the conclusion play out in more detail and on a grander scale. Nonetheless, I did like this book and would be interested in reading some of Costello's other works.
April 28, 2009
I really enjoyed this book, from the very beginning all the way to the very end. While reading I would get chills going up my spine. I don't think I will ever enjoy going into water that I can not see through!
June 10, 2014
The town of Goulden's Falls, long sunken beneath the surface of a man-made lake, harbors a terrible secret. As the fiftieth anniversary of the dam approaches, the forgotten horror awakens, drawing two independent journalists into its orbit.
This is one of those cheap paperback originals with garish covers that there seemed to be so many of in the 80s. Largely forgotten, they now gather dust on the shelves of used book stores if they still exist at all. This novel actually succeeds as an efficient, effective little thriller for much of its length. By the end, however, it becomes clear that author Matthew J. Costello has no way to end it other than by falling back on the hoariest of B-movie cliches. Until that point, though, it evokes some pretty good shudders, particularly in scenes wherein divers explore the submerged town.
This is one of those cheap paperback originals with garish covers that there seemed to be so many of in the 80s. Largely forgotten, they now gather dust on the shelves of used book stores if they still exist at all. This novel actually succeeds as an efficient, effective little thriller for much of its length. By the end, however, it becomes clear that author Matthew J. Costello has no way to end it other than by falling back on the hoariest of B-movie cliches. Until that point, though, it evokes some pretty good shudders, particularly in scenes wherein divers explore the submerged town.
February 5, 2024
This was the sort of book I was looking for all year last year. Haunted lake, minimum horniness, no rape. The big bad Costello chose to use wasn't totally original, but the fact that he didn't fall back on Satanists as villains was absolutely refreshing. I actually feel like Costello could have spent some more time on the backstory, it could have easily been it's own book.
December 3, 2017
Though this title brings back the 80's horror,there is hardly any life in it.The characters are not that standout especially. As we read this book we are unable to recall any particular characters indeed. Totally not my type of book.
July 13, 2018
Pretty good little horror novel from 1989. Just how in the world did a tiny town end up at the bottom of a lake? Read it and find out. Not a lot of blood and gore, this story is a more of an in-your-face creep.
August 17, 2020
A great summer read. I really enjoyed this book. Easy to read quickly, the pacing was really good. The ending was a little lackluster, a huge build up that seemed to be resolved a little too easily but other than that it was a fun read. Something to think about while swimming at the lake...
February 13, 2020
The build up was good enough, but when I hit the point when there was only 25 pages left and a lot to be addressed and dealt with, I knew it was gonna turn into a stinker.
May 15, 2022
Has a nice build with the story but it never really goes anywhere and the ending just kind of happens. Also not very scary at all.
October 25, 2022
I found the set up and back story to be five stars, what a great premise. The underwater diving scenes to Gouldens Falls added a lot to the story as well. Wish the ending wasn't so rushed and fleshed out a little better but still a wonderful read!!
November 7, 2023
A pretty good horror thriller that scratched at my thalassophobia.
September 12, 2018
I bought this book from a market sale about 10 years ago. I didn't really have any expectations... it was just a cheap book.
THE WORLD: It's set in an American small town called Gouldens Falls.
CHARACTERS: There is no main character per se as the book follows several inhabitants of this tiny village. We follow and get a bit into the lives of Dan Quarry, Teresa and Clara Borgia, and Mordecai Salas. According to the book Gouldens Falls was submerged on purpose because something evil was killing people in the town. Now, 50 years later the same evil force has awaken again and is threatening the lives of these people and the whole town.
ROMANCE: No romance.
GOOD: The good thing was probably the premise. It was a good idea to convert into horror/thriller but the delivery was lacking. The pace was good enough although the end felt rushed.
BAD: The bad was... the poor delivery. The book doesn't take enough time to dwell into details of how the town was submerged, on how the evil force was awaken exactly, why some people did what they did... etc. Details were lacking. At the same time, the opposite happen at the end of the book were the ending felt very rushed. It felt as "okay done with it" and we are left with a "but what now?". There isn't really a good, satisfactory, conclusion.
OVERALL: I give it 3 stars. Kind of entertaining but feels like one of those 80s cheap movies. In fact, it is actually a movie (though critics are not very good) and the book was written in 1989. A lot has rained since then. I kept that in mind.
—P.S. I Love That Book!
THE WORLD: It's set in an American small town called Gouldens Falls.
CHARACTERS: There is no main character per se as the book follows several inhabitants of this tiny village. We follow and get a bit into the lives of Dan Quarry, Teresa and Clara Borgia, and Mordecai Salas. According to the book Gouldens Falls was submerged on purpose because something evil was killing people in the town. Now, 50 years later the same evil force has awaken again and is threatening the lives of these people and the whole town.
ROMANCE: No romance.
GOOD: The good thing was probably the premise. It was a good idea to convert into horror/thriller but the delivery was lacking. The pace was good enough although the end felt rushed.
BAD: The bad was... the poor delivery. The book doesn't take enough time to dwell into details of how the town was submerged, on how the evil force was awaken exactly, why some people did what they did... etc. Details were lacking. At the same time, the opposite happen at the end of the book were the ending felt very rushed. It felt as "okay done with it" and we are left with a "but what now?". There isn't really a good, satisfactory, conclusion.
OVERALL: I give it 3 stars. Kind of entertaining but feels like one of those 80s cheap movies. In fact, it is actually a movie (though critics are not very good) and the book was written in 1989. A lot has rained since then. I kept that in mind.
—P.S. I Love That Book!
June 10, 2013
The town of Goulden's Falls, long sunken beneath the surface of a man-made lake, harbors a terrible secret. As the fiftieth anniversary of the dam approaches, the forgotten horror awakens, drawing two independent journalists into its orbit.
This is one of those cheap paperback originals with garish covers that there seemed to be so many of in the 80s. Largely forgotten, they now gather dust on the shelves of used book stores if they still exist at all. This novel actually succeeds as an efficient, effective little thriller for much of its length. By the end, however, it becomes clear that author Matthew J. Costello has no way to end it other than by falling back on the hoariest of B-movie cliches. Until that point, though, it evokes some pretty good shudders, particularly in scenes wherein divers explore the submerged town.
This is one of those cheap paperback originals with garish covers that there seemed to be so many of in the 80s. Largely forgotten, they now gather dust on the shelves of used book stores if they still exist at all. This novel actually succeeds as an efficient, effective little thriller for much of its length. By the end, however, it becomes clear that author Matthew J. Costello has no way to end it other than by falling back on the hoariest of B-movie cliches. Until that point, though, it evokes some pretty good shudders, particularly in scenes wherein divers explore the submerged town.
January 24, 2011
Saw the movie ages ago, decided when I saw this book at the used book store that I'd give the book a read.
It was entertaining and enjoyable, I love this general type of story anyway..the ones that are just perfect for the "B" movies.. :) Definitely worse stories out there to spend a few hours reading.
It was entertaining and enjoyable, I love this general type of story anyway..the ones that are just perfect for the "B" movies.. :) Definitely worse stories out there to spend a few hours reading.
February 10, 2012
This was really enjoyable. Fast paced, good story, no fluff. Yes, definitely fits the typical horror movie mold, but I happen to love horror movies. If you're looking for a complex read, lots of imagery and the like, look elsewhere... I feel the need for a part 2 though.
May 22, 2013
Very well written horror novel. This book was original and interesting. I definitely will read more of Costello's work.
March 13, 2017
I wasn't expecting to like this book but I did.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews