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Badlands

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Surf. Sand. Smugglers. Murder. Willow has run as far as she can.

From her home.

From the friends she betrayed.

From the family who betrayed her.

From her own name.

But a cry for help will bring her back.

Back to face her family.

Back to face the sins of her past.

Back to face the darkness at the heart of Cornwall.

In the search for her sister, Willow will face deception and betrayal, before she’ll find love – and herself. But will she uncover how close the enemy is, or will she become another victim of the Badlands?

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 21, 2022

16 people are currently reading
37 people want to read

About the author

Gary Kruse

18 books13 followers
Gary Kruse is a multi-genre writer of flash fiction, short stories and novels. He lives with his family in Hornchurch on the Essex/London border.

He began writing as a teenager after seeing the Craft in the cinema and wondering what would happen if the coven of witches from the Craft came face to face with the Lost Boys (the vampires, not Peter Pan's crew!).

His work has appeared online and in print anthologies and his short story "Mirror Mirror" was shortlisted in the WriteHive 2021 Horror competition, and subsequently featured in the "Duplicitous" anthology.

His short story "Hope in the Dark" won first place in the November 2021 edition of the Writers' Forum Short Story competition.

His debut novel “Badlands” is published through Darkstroke on 21st January 2022.

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for A.C. Salter.
Author 22 books212 followers
March 14, 2023
A maelstrom of mayhem in a small Cornish Town

Badlands is a dark thriller pact with realistic scenes, deep characters and a turbulent story that not only matches the harshness of the coast but keeps the reader gripping tightly to their book. It was a fantastic read with a great plot and unexpected twists.

It’s everything you want from a thriller - and because it’s set in a place that I drive past a lot, it made it all the more fun.
Profile Image for Miriam Drori.
Author 12 books56 followers
May 3, 2022
What a roller coaster this story is! If you like dark stories, this is one for you.

The plot is intricate and well crafted, keeping you guessing until the very end. As questions are answered, more appear, and danger is everywhere. No one and nothing is as it seems. Yet, everything fits into place in the end.

The setting of Cornwall is amazing and so well described. I almost felt present at those rocks overlooking the sea.

All the writing is excellent, including the settings, the emotions and the dark scenes.

As an editor, I winced at the misuse of apostrophes, but as a reader, I was captivated from beginning to end. I admire readers who can read such books in succession. My next read will be a romance.
Profile Image for Danielle.
232 reviews13 followers
March 27, 2022
The captivating prose pull you immediately into the story, the surroundings are so well described you feel as though you’re seeing it and experiencing it for yourself. Kruse has created a sense of place perfectly.

Willow is the main protagonist, she is a complicated character who has been through an intense and traumatic childhood. Her straight-talking, no-nonsense approach has you warming to her, and I was rooting for her and hoping a good outcome was possible in the situation she finds herself in.

Neglectful parents, abusive step-parents and a damaging childhood lead to her running away as a teenager to save herself from the helpless situation she’s in. As a result, the main person she cares about, her sister Ellie, is left behind. Willow carries a lot of guilt and regret over the way her relationship with her sister evolves.

A coded message that only Ellie would know has Willow travelling half way around the world to get to her. Ellie’s not answering calls, hasn’t been seen in weeks, and it sounds like she’s in trouble. Willow embarks on an unrelenting, desperate journey fraught with danger to find her. We see the depth of her love for her sister and the lengths she’s willing to go to. Nothing is as it seems – there’s subterfuge, corruption, manipulation, and betrayal at play – will Willow be able to work out the truth in time?

I was gripped by Willow’s search for clues as to Ellie’s whereabouts, she questions the locals who know her, visits places she’s been to, and realises she may not know Ellie as well as she thought. The dots aren’t quite joining up and others seem to be disappearing.

I loved that the story’s told from multiple points of view. We get to see what’s happening and experience it from different characters’ perspectives which gives momentum to the narrative, and creates a sense of events flowing in real time. This increases the suspense and intrigue as we see glimpses of the overall picture although it remains a blur, and it raises so many questions!

I enjoyed getting to know the other characters – Goddard comes across as a caring, nice guy looking to help but is there more to him than meets the eye? The mysterious Raven is a violent, deranged character but where does she fit into the mix? Harrison and Ruby are likeable characters who want to help Willow and be there for her to support her in what she’s going through.

The plot is so well crafted – the truth is slowly revealed to the reader. There are so many interconnecting layers to the story, you pull on a thread and it keeps unravelling. I couldn’t stop reading as I needed to know the answers!

Many compelling themes are explored – how the people we love and depend on the most can be the ones to let us down, how we don’t always appreciate what we have until it’s a thing of the past, how one choice/action can spiral into unintended consequences, how knowledge can be wielded as a weapon, and the power of words and how they can’t be taken back once they are out in the world.

Kruse creates a raw, emotional, and at times, a dark and haunting story which engulfs the reader in its twisty clutches. It’s an addictive read that reels you in and culminates in a shocking and unpredictable outcome.

With thanks to @rararesources and @Krusegowerwrite for a place on the tour and the opportunity to read and review this book
Profile Image for Nicki.
620 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2022
Badlands is a dark, gritty and at times violent thriller that is set in Wales and follows a emotionally traumatised young women's desperate search for her missing sister. Six years had passed since Willow had fled her father's house and disappeared with no intention of ever returning but she had recently received a coded text message from Ellie which insinuated that her sister was in trouble. Overwhelmed by feelings of guilt,Willow found herself compelled to return to Wales and confront the people and bad memories of the past. She had hoped that her return would go unnoticed but she had hardly had time to settle into her room before certain people were expressing their concerns about the reasons for her return. People who had hidden secrets and were worried that Willow knew more about the dark deeds that were taking place under darkness within the stunning settings and beauty of the Welsh coastline than she should. Dangerous individuals who were prepared to do everything within their power to stop the truth from being uncovered.


This thrilling story is written predominantly from the perspectives of three vivid characters, Willow, another troubled young woman called Raven and charming and charismatic Reverend Richard Goddard. Many of the individuals who Willow encountered throughout the story were flawed, untrustworthy and harbouring various secrets. Despite having feelings of admiration for Willow's determination to uncover what had happened to Ellie, I also thought that she was rather unlikable at times. Raven was a bitter, cruel and twisted individual but despite her actions, I actually found myself feeling some sympathy towards her character by the time I had finished the book. I'm not justifying her actions in any way but was it really wrong of me to think of her as a vulnerable individual who had found themselves under the spell of a manipulative puppet master? 


What had happened to Ellie? Was she actually still alive? After Willow uncovers the truth, would she finally be able to move on from the traumas of the past and into a brighter, happier future?


Badlands is a intricately plotted, well written, intense, fast paced debut thriller that hooks the reader into Willow's story from the first page. The story is packed full of twists and turns,betrayals, deception, danger and edge of your seat scenes that rocket the reader's anxiety levels to the max. The author's characterisation of his cast characters was authentic and realistic as he cleverly and skilfully combined the beauty of the various settings for his story with the good and bad aspects of human nature. I would love to watch a film or tv adaptation of this gripping thriller. I loved being a passenger on Willow's dangerous and thrilling journey and look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future. Very very highly recommended
Profile Image for Storied Conversation.
611 reviews668 followers
March 22, 2022
Set in Wales, Badlands will keep you on the edge of your seat. Six years after Willow left her father's house, she receives a coded text message from her sister Ellie. Now guilt-ridden, Willow returns to Wales to figure out what has happened. The story that unfolds from her return is twisted, thrilling, and well written.

Williow is a troubled woman who would have rather stayed where she was but went home and faced her past in order to find out what happened to her sister. That takes a strength many of us don't have. Although there were times I didn't like her, I think that was necessary for the story to unfold.

We also meet Raven, who is bitter and just cruel in the truest sense of the word. Ruby and Reverend Goddard are both worth mentioning as well, because they are such well-written characters. Of course, we have all these people set against the backdrop of beautiful Wales. The details of the country around Willow are described so beautifully that you can picture it as you read. 

This is a story full of twists and turns and people with secrets. Willow can't trust anyone, and just when you think you know what has happened to Ellie, you will be surprised. I do need to mention that this is violent at times. I know that can be a trigger for some. All in all, this was an amazing debut novel.


I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.  This review was originally posted on Storied Conversation 
Profile Image for P.J. Mordant.
Author 4 books240 followers
April 5, 2022
Great debut!

Set in Cornwall - maybe a little counterintuitive considering the darkness we're about to discover -Badlands is a page-turning thriller from a great new voice in the genre.

The writing is fantastic; Kruse's ability to use a decent verb makes the narrative fair trip along, uncovering mystery and mayhem in his small village setting. The main characters are well drawn and authentic, driven by broken backgrounds and betrayals which are gradually uncovered as the plot unfolds giving the book a great noir vibe. Didn't have a clue what was going on until the end.

Had a few misgivings about the aliases. Even though this novel was as much about loss of identity as much as finding answers, I found them a tad contrived. Aaaaand I'm not sure I was fully invested in Willow-she wasn't particularly likeable (though, it has to be said, not a lot of the characters were, which always poses a difficulty for writers.) That said, I LOVED Goddard, an unequivocable bad sort despite the occasional signs of a conscience. Which made his final scene nicely layered and suitably dramatic.

All in all, a great debut. Kruse can write gritty. I hope the next one is even grittier.
Profile Image for Jessica.
1,632 reviews54 followers
March 24, 2022
Badlands by Gary Kruse is an emotional, atmospheric, thriller. It’s dark and gritty and kept me invested from start to finish. The writing is so compelling, I had trouble setting this down. It took me on quite an emotional rollercoaster, and I was glued to the pages.

I love stories that are character centered and Badlands definitely is. Each character has a purpose and the story wouldn’t have been able to be told properly without them. They felt real and it made the story even more addicting.

Badlands is an intricately plotted thriller that I’m super happy I read. This is my first read from this author and won’t be my last. I highly recommend giving it a read!

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
Profile Image for Richard Ayre.
Author 12 books27 followers
February 23, 2022
If there's one thing this story has, it's atmosphere. Coming from the other end of the country I have no idea what the south west is like (apart from a few holidays in the general area), but Kruse has created a sense of time and place brilliantly.
And what a place! When Willow returns to the home she ran from years before, she finds herself mixed up in murder and corruption, all of which is seemingly connected to her own damaged past. Willow must discover what has happened to her sister and at the same time stay alive.
The characters are wonderful; not just Willow, but her new found companion Ruby, the mysterious Raven and Rev. Goddard. All of these come across as three dimensional and, good or bad, they are believable.
The story is well written, fast-paced and very believable.
Dark, mysterious, and a cracking good book. I'm looking forward to the next story by Gary Kruse.
Profile Image for The Page Ladies Book Club.
1,807 reviews114 followers
March 26, 2022
Badlands by Gary Kruse is a fast paced dark thriller! This story is full of surprising twists and turns and everyone has a secret. Told from different points of views but Willow's story has a way of capturing the readers from the first chapter. But also the fact that the book has that realistic feel to it. Which always adds to the creepy factor when it comes to thrillers! The book is well written. And overall I really enjoyed this book. Everything about it made a great book and made it easy to read! I would love to read more by this author!

Thank you Rachel's Random Resources and Gary Kruse for sharing this great book with me!
Profile Image for Luke Allen.
Author 11 books23 followers
March 19, 2022
It’s always great to read a good thriller when there are so many of them on the market. Badlands doesn’t break new ground but it’s a muscular, sometimes nasty, thriller that has serious weight. Its the characters here that shine. Willow is a great protagonist, flawed, and sometimes unlikeable, but never less than fascinating. For a debut novel, this has the confidence of a veteran writer. I would highly, HIGHLY recommend.
Profile Image for Mary Kendall.
Author 9 books45 followers
July 7, 2022
This is a page turner! With a taut storyline, interesting characters and a compelling setting in Cornwall, I couldn't put it down and it had me guessing until the end. I especially liked the author's treatment of the main villain, a clergyman, in spooling out his motivations and making the reader see all sides. The mistaken and hidden identities aspect to the tale is masterfully done as well. A great debut!
Profile Image for Jenna Morrison.
Author 6 books21 followers
February 20, 2022
I loved this story! MC, Willow, is a super fascinating character who is on a very big mission. I rooted for her the entire time, and it was a fun read: a very gripping plot and a dark twist. All the characters are super complex, and and I couldn't put it down. And oh wow, that ending- I loved it!
7 reviews
March 21, 2022
A thrilling roller coaster of suspense. Well-developed characters twist and turn the plot. The story was well paced, satisfying the reader. I loved the setting and the sea breeze.
Profile Image for Erik.
Author 11 books137 followers
February 5, 2022
What an emotional read. You are immediately caught up in a drama that just won’t end. A wonderful, sad, happy, scary story. I highly recommend it
Profile Image for Niki.
186 reviews3 followers
March 25, 2022
Well I think it’s safe to say that Badlands starts with a huge bang and it just doesn’t stop. This is an absolute page turner with unconventional characters that are written superbly well. We get to the very heart of them but especially Willow. Willow is no longer the geeky girl who disappeared 6 years before, she is now a feisty young woman with her fiery red dreadlocks, tattoos and attitude. She has returned to the one place she never wanted to return. Will she find her sister? will she find any answers? did she make the wrong mistake in trusting certain people? so many unanswered questions, but you will find the answers in this forceful book, so really you’ll have to get hold of a copy. You won’t be disappointed.

Raven totally scared me yet by the end I really did understand why she had become so vicious. she is unhinged but with a smile and a level of cockiness that is very unnerving. Nobody should get on her wrong side. Not that it takes much, that’s for sure.

The storyline is skilfully written, taking into account how different the main characters are. Each one is described with a level of intensity that drives the story forward to a thrilling ending with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. This is a brilliant debut novel, hard-hitting with dark and twisted characters. I completely adored it. Yes it has some gory violence but I don’t mind that and actually it fits well into the intense drama that is unfolding. The perfect dark, thriller that you probably don’t want to read at bedtime, trust me you won’t sleep.
Profile Image for Ted Bun.
Author 91 books33 followers
July 4, 2022
A wow of a read, twisting from dark to darker as Willow tries to reconnect with the sister who didn't run away from the domestic abuse the two sisters faced.
Willow is called back from Australia by a cryptic message, a code, to her old stomping ground six years after she fled. Straight into a web of drugs, death, violence and politics.
Everybody, except one peripheral character, is heavily flawed and tainted by the events of the past. That probably includes Willow ...
I didn't find the characters endearing, it is a testament to the writing and the plot that I was kept awake, reading late into the night ... two nights running.
A recommended read!
Profile Image for Michelle Cook.
Author 2 books17 followers
May 15, 2022
Gritty, Compelling Cornish Noir

Cornwall is one of my favourite places in the UK, but I’ve never known it like this! Gary Kruse takes us in a dark tour of a Cornish underworld of drugs, corruption and murder. No one is who they say they are - from the flawed, complex protagonist to supposed pillars of the community. When the shocks come, they hit you full force, in stark contrast to the vivid descriptions of the beautiful landscape.

I absolutely loved this - what a debut. Looking forward to more from this talented author.
Profile Image for Rob Neto.
Author 20 books25 followers
June 11, 2023
Gary Kruse did a masterful job in writing this dark tale about the underworld of a small Cornish town. His descriptive words painted a thorough picture of the setting and characters. It was easy to imagine the surroundings of the area and the appearance of the characters. The main character is well developed and confronted with conflicts both from situations she finds herself in as well as within herself. The story reads well and keeps the reader wanting for more throughout. Looking forward to reading Bleak Waters.
598 reviews6 followers
Read
April 5, 2022
Well written, very engaging.

This was as gripping as promised. Chief villain was weaker than most. Some of the action sequences were short of life experience, but that's the nature of fiction.
Profile Image for S.L. Wilton.
Author 3 books13 followers
June 14, 2022
Kruse has put together a compelling, well thought out crime story. With believable characters acting on some nefarious motives, it's a page turner to the end.
Profile Image for Georgina.
62 reviews
August 29, 2022
This book has me hooked! The twists and turns you are taken on throughout this story mean you can't put this book down! So gripping!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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