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Black Mamba
Daddy, there's a man in our room...
This is the chilling announcement Alfie hears one night, when he wakes in his quiet, suburban house to find his twin daughters at the foot of his bed. It's been nine months since Pippa - their mother - suddenly died and they've been unsettled ever since, so Alfie assumes they've probably had a nightmare. Still, he goes to check to reassure the girls. As expected he finds no man, but in the following days the girls begin to refer to someone called Black Mamba. What seemingly begins as an imaginary friend quickly develops into something darker, more obsessive, potentially violent. Alfie finds himself struggling to cope, and so he turns to Julia - Pippa's twin and a psychotherapist - for help. But as Black Mamba's coils tighten around the girls, Alfie and Julia must contend with their own unspoken sense of loss, their unacknowledged attraction to one another, and the true character of the presence poisoning the twins' minds...
A darkling tale of tragedy, hauntings and sexual desire, Black Mamba is a novel of a father's love for his struggling daughters, and a widower's growing love for a woman after his wife's death. With smart, gothicky touches and a large and generous challenge to our assumptions of what and who constitutes a modern family, it explores both the limits we'll go to for our children and the sunken taboos of grief - of how erotics can still exist, and can even be life giving, after suffering loss.
This is the chilling announcement Alfie hears one night, when he wakes in his quiet, suburban house to find his twin daughters at the foot of his bed. It's been nine months since Pippa - their mother - suddenly died and they've been unsettled ever since, so Alfie assumes they've probably had a nightmare. Still, he goes to check to reassure the girls. As expected he finds no man, but in the following days the girls begin to refer to someone called Black Mamba. What seemingly begins as an imaginary friend quickly develops into something darker, more obsessive, potentially violent. Alfie finds himself struggling to cope, and so he turns to Julia - Pippa's twin and a psychotherapist - for help. But as Black Mamba's coils tighten around the girls, Alfie and Julia must contend with their own unspoken sense of loss, their unacknowledged attraction to one another, and the true character of the presence poisoning the twins' minds...
A darkling tale of tragedy, hauntings and sexual desire, Black Mamba is a novel of a father's love for his struggling daughters, and a widower's growing love for a woman after his wife's death. With smart, gothicky touches and a large and generous challenge to our assumptions of what and who constitutes a modern family, it explores both the limits we'll go to for our children and the sunken taboos of grief - of how erotics can still exist, and can even be life giving, after suffering loss.
320 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
July 5, 2022
I can honestly say I have never read anything like this before, but I loved it!
Black Mamba tells a dark tale of grief. A family torn apart when their mother dies. The father and his twin daughters grapple to continue living. But Black Mamba turns up, an imaginary friend with a dark side.
I read this book whilst trying to process my own grief and found it quite helpful. It was such a raw and dark portrayal of grief. The name of the loved one I lost also happened to be the name of one of the characters, which was strangely cathartic whilst making my heart ache. Even though I devoured this book, I still feel like I don’t fully understand it. I almost feel it needs further digesting, although I may never get the full answers. I actually like this aspect to it, it’s a very thought provoking read.
This is definitely a creepy book. It has a horror aspect to it that I absolutely loved although it may be a bit much for some people. My biggest issue with this book was that I couldn’t connect to any of the characters. I know that they are going through the darkest time of their life, so they aren’t meant to show their best side. It just made it hard for me to root for any of them. That being said, I absolutely loved the plot and didn’t want to put this book down. Black Mamba is the author’s debut novel and it has left me thoroughly excited to see what they do next. I think this is a book that will stay with me for a long time…even if it’s just because I can’t sleep!
I recommend this to any fans of Horror who are looking for something a little deeper. I want to thank Readers First, Atlantic Books and William Friend for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.
Black Mamba tells a dark tale of grief. A family torn apart when their mother dies. The father and his twin daughters grapple to continue living. But Black Mamba turns up, an imaginary friend with a dark side.
I read this book whilst trying to process my own grief and found it quite helpful. It was such a raw and dark portrayal of grief. The name of the loved one I lost also happened to be the name of one of the characters, which was strangely cathartic whilst making my heart ache. Even though I devoured this book, I still feel like I don’t fully understand it. I almost feel it needs further digesting, although I may never get the full answers. I actually like this aspect to it, it’s a very thought provoking read.
This is definitely a creepy book. It has a horror aspect to it that I absolutely loved although it may be a bit much for some people. My biggest issue with this book was that I couldn’t connect to any of the characters. I know that they are going through the darkest time of their life, so they aren’t meant to show their best side. It just made it hard for me to root for any of them. That being said, I absolutely loved the plot and didn’t want to put this book down. Black Mamba is the author’s debut novel and it has left me thoroughly excited to see what they do next. I think this is a book that will stay with me for a long time…even if it’s just because I can’t sleep!
I recommend this to any fans of Horror who are looking for something a little deeper. I want to thank Readers First, Atlantic Books and William Friend for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.
June 13, 2022
You know those books that tick so many of your favourite trope boxes? Well, this one did that for me. I went into it expecting a creepy story about twins, grief, and a sinister imaginary friend but ended up getting so much more than that!
I feel like we see the unsettling twins and imaginary friend trope a lot in horror, however, it can still creep me out when it's done right, and it was in this one! There were a number of moments in this that put me on edge and genuinely gave me a little spook. I also really like grief as a topic in horror, I feel like it adds an element of unreliability to the characters, which is another thing I enjoyed in this.
However, not only were these parts of the story excellent, we quickly come to realise that there is a second storyline based around the mother's family. We are given glimpses into their mother and aunt's childhood and we start to see a pattern emerging. This second storyline is where we got some more of my favourite horror tropes pop up so I was really excited to see how the stories were going to come together. It's safe to say, this did not disappoint!
I will say the pacing felt a little off in places. I couldn't always quite work out the timeline of events. I don't think this necessarily had a huge negative impact on the plot in any way, it just gave me that feeling of being lost a few times. Also to note, the ending (which I absolutely adored) is one that's ambiguous, and I know this is something a lot of readers don't enjoy, so it's worth pointing out!
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Black Mamba. I feel like horror is one of the most subjective genres so it always feels that little more rewarding when you love it. I had such a fun time reading this fast-paced novel, and I will definitely be checking out future releases from William Friend - a solid & unnerving debut!
Ad-pr product from Atlantic Books. Out now!
I feel like we see the unsettling twins and imaginary friend trope a lot in horror, however, it can still creep me out when it's done right, and it was in this one! There were a number of moments in this that put me on edge and genuinely gave me a little spook. I also really like grief as a topic in horror, I feel like it adds an element of unreliability to the characters, which is another thing I enjoyed in this.
However, not only were these parts of the story excellent, we quickly come to realise that there is a second storyline based around the mother's family. We are given glimpses into their mother and aunt's childhood and we start to see a pattern emerging. This second storyline is where we got some more of my favourite horror tropes pop up so I was really excited to see how the stories were going to come together. It's safe to say, this did not disappoint!
I will say the pacing felt a little off in places. I couldn't always quite work out the timeline of events. I don't think this necessarily had a huge negative impact on the plot in any way, it just gave me that feeling of being lost a few times. Also to note, the ending (which I absolutely adored) is one that's ambiguous, and I know this is something a lot of readers don't enjoy, so it's worth pointing out!
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Black Mamba. I feel like horror is one of the most subjective genres so it always feels that little more rewarding when you love it. I had such a fun time reading this fast-paced novel, and I will definitely be checking out future releases from William Friend - a solid & unnerving debut!
Ad-pr product from Atlantic Books. Out now!
May 10, 2022
The proof copy of Black Mamba came with a gummy snake to eat and some black tissue paper. Well, that set the scene. Chilling and disturbing - why do I read these things haha. This was a good one. Twins who see things, see a man in their room at night. Imagine being the parent woken up to hear them say they have seen a man? The mystery deepens when this man seems to be with them during the waking day too.
y fuse and builds in atmosphere. I'm just not sure about the end. Have I understood this right? It's the kind of novel where you are never sure you know what is going on. Imaginary friends or something more sinister? It's just that ending. It's got me thinking...
June 4, 2022
I’d give this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads and Amazon.
There are some unsettling scenes in this book, creepy set pieces with the twins and their connectedness. There was a little too much head hopping for me in each chapter and because the voices were quite similar at points I had to remind myself who was talking - but it wasn’t as bad as some other reviews make it out to be.
I was a little disappointed with the conclusion - it just seemed to finish with a six months later and how things happened or ended were not really explained.
But I enjoyed it - it has a readability to it that made me read 160 pages in on sitting… the creepiness of the twins and Black Mamba were done well and caused a few shivers!
Solid debut… check it out!
There are some unsettling scenes in this book, creepy set pieces with the twins and their connectedness. There was a little too much head hopping for me in each chapter and because the voices were quite similar at points I had to remind myself who was talking - but it wasn’t as bad as some other reviews make it out to be.
I was a little disappointed with the conclusion - it just seemed to finish with a six months later and how things happened or ended were not really explained.
But I enjoyed it - it has a readability to it that made me read 160 pages in on sitting… the creepiness of the twins and Black Mamba were done well and caused a few shivers!
Solid debut… check it out!
July 10, 2022
I really like this - it had so much stuff I like - ominous figures, creepy twins, religious weirdness! There was something missing for me that would tip it over to a five star but I tore through it compulsively. Brava! (et cetera)
October 2, 2022
This was fuuuuuucked UP. I loved it.
January 1, 2024
First 50 percent I was thinking we were on for a 5 star read but the second half let me down :( It felt as though Friend didn't know how he wanted to end the story when he began it. 3 stars 🌟
March 14, 2026
Black Mamba is a slow-tightening coil of grief, dread, and psychological unease that blurs the line between haunting and the fragile mind of a family in mourning.
What I loved most was how William Friend entwines unspoken grief with psychological torment. The novel constantly asks whether the horror is supernatural or simply the way loss fractures the mind. The ambiguous ending works beautifully, refusing to hand readers an easy answer and instead leaving that lingering, uncomfortable possibility that something truly was there all along.
There’s also a bold exploration of taboo emotions, particularly the complicated intimacy between Alfie and Julia, that adds another unsettling layer to the story. It’s gothic, eerie, and emotionally raw.
What I loved most was how William Friend entwines unspoken grief with psychological torment. The novel constantly asks whether the horror is supernatural or simply the way loss fractures the mind. The ambiguous ending works beautifully, refusing to hand readers an easy answer and instead leaving that lingering, uncomfortable possibility that something truly was there all along.
There’s also a bold exploration of taboo emotions, particularly the complicated intimacy between Alfie and Julia, that adds another unsettling layer to the story. It’s gothic, eerie, and emotionally raw.
June 1, 2023
Recommended to fans of The Haunting of Hill House or We Have Always Lived in the Castle.
The story of a family with multiple unnatural deaths in their past. Sets of female twins. A house which appears to be alive. And a mysterious man-like figure who can transform into a snake, and can only be seen only by the young girls.
All the elements you need for a creepy, eerie and gothic tale.
Told in first person narrative, with chapters alternating between the widowed father, Alife, and Julia, the sister of his deceased wife. Their lives are connected by Julia’s mother, Alfie’s overbearing mother-in-law, and the twin daughters, Julia’s nieces.
You can imagine this as a noir film, with much of the narrative told in voiceover, with lots of cigarette smoke and whisky on ice.
Things also get a little sexy between Alfie and Julia, she is her dead sisters twin and perhaps fill a void in Alfie’s life.
A dark look into grief, loss, and those who left to continue their lives after tragedy befalls a family.
Dark as it is, it’s an enjoyable read with a good plot and rounded, believable characters.
The story of a family with multiple unnatural deaths in their past. Sets of female twins. A house which appears to be alive. And a mysterious man-like figure who can transform into a snake, and can only be seen only by the young girls.
All the elements you need for a creepy, eerie and gothic tale.
Told in first person narrative, with chapters alternating between the widowed father, Alife, and Julia, the sister of his deceased wife. Their lives are connected by Julia’s mother, Alfie’s overbearing mother-in-law, and the twin daughters, Julia’s nieces.
You can imagine this as a noir film, with much of the narrative told in voiceover, with lots of cigarette smoke and whisky on ice.
Things also get a little sexy between Alfie and Julia, she is her dead sisters twin and perhaps fill a void in Alfie’s life.
A dark look into grief, loss, and those who left to continue their lives after tragedy befalls a family.
Dark as it is, it’s an enjoyable read with a good plot and rounded, believable characters.
May 28, 2022
I received a free copy of this book from Readers First in exchange for an honest review.
I would say, on balance, it’s a 3.5.
I was really looking forward to reading this book, having been drawn in by the synopsis originally, but I feel a bit let down.
The story is very good, the twists were a little twisty and I wished for just a little more at the end of the story. It felt a little rushed.
Some of the story was a little muddled, and it felt as though some details weren’t filtered through and there was some guessing to do on my part, and this was part of the reason I felt the ending could have used a little more work.
The story started off quite slowly but quickly picked up, and as I say was very good it was just let down by little details.
I would say, on balance, it’s a 3.5.
I was really looking forward to reading this book, having been drawn in by the synopsis originally, but I feel a bit let down.
The story is very good, the twists were a little twisty and I wished for just a little more at the end of the story. It felt a little rushed.
Some of the story was a little muddled, and it felt as though some details weren’t filtered through and there was some guessing to do on my part, and this was part of the reason I felt the ending could have used a little more work.
The story started off quite slowly but quickly picked up, and as I say was very good it was just let down by little details.
November 15, 2023
This book made me go, “Ohhh no. Ohhhh god. No. No!” out loud in my house, alone, reading it. I also read it in just one sitting. It was spooky as hell and I loved it.
March 8, 2022
Black Mamba follows a father, Alfie, and his twin daughters in the aftermath of their mother's tragic passing. One day, the girls start talking about their new invisible friend, Black Mamba; a man that can transform himself into various animals and is only visible to the girls. Though seemingly innocent at first, Back Mamba's presence starts to draw stranger behaviour from the twins, beginning to drive a wedge between Alfie and his daughters. As things fall apart, their aunt Julia, twin of their deceased mother, is called upon to help the family. But, in doing so, she must confront the long-hidden demons from her and her sister's own past.
Black Mamba is, in essence, a haunted house story. But it also examines how the people that inhabit this house are themselves haunted; by loss, by grief, by longing, by jealousy. The emotions that the characters go through felt very real to me, something that Friend taps into extremely well. That sense of reality... that this could happen.
I think my biggest praise has to be Friend's writing style. His language was beautiful without being overly-flowery; he seems to have chosen the perfect words and reading through this story was effortless. Everything felt delicate, well-crafted, classic, as if I were holding a fine little china trinket in my hand rather than a story. I could picture the character's world and identify with their struggles. Even their more mundane thoughts rang true.
I would read this novel mostly on my commute to and from work though, as it started to grip me more, I began reading it before bed. I have to admit that, upon turning out the light, some of the imagery actually stuck with me. As a lover of horror, it takes a lot to get under my skin; but the sense of unease, of wrongness, in Black Mamba is permeating and there are some genuine scares. I would recommend this to anyone that has an interest in classic ghost stories.
Something that might rub some people up the wrong way, however, is the ending. While I had no problem with it at all, and actually enjoyed a lot of the ambiguity, I think some could feel a little cheated. If you are not a fan of ambiguous endings, be aware that you could be left wanting more. A lot of threads are left untied. However, I would say that the sum of the book is still worth investing in, even if you were to be let down by the lack of resolution.
Overall, a gorgeous, intricate story. To me, this reads as a new classic. Whilst the general idea behind it may not be original, in practice, Friend has crafted something that feels very much its own. Now I can only wait excitedly for whatever he has in store for us next.
Black Mamba is, in essence, a haunted house story. But it also examines how the people that inhabit this house are themselves haunted; by loss, by grief, by longing, by jealousy. The emotions that the characters go through felt very real to me, something that Friend taps into extremely well. That sense of reality... that this could happen.
I think my biggest praise has to be Friend's writing style. His language was beautiful without being overly-flowery; he seems to have chosen the perfect words and reading through this story was effortless. Everything felt delicate, well-crafted, classic, as if I were holding a fine little china trinket in my hand rather than a story. I could picture the character's world and identify with their struggles. Even their more mundane thoughts rang true.
I would read this novel mostly on my commute to and from work though, as it started to grip me more, I began reading it before bed. I have to admit that, upon turning out the light, some of the imagery actually stuck with me. As a lover of horror, it takes a lot to get under my skin; but the sense of unease, of wrongness, in Black Mamba is permeating and there are some genuine scares. I would recommend this to anyone that has an interest in classic ghost stories.
Something that might rub some people up the wrong way, however, is the ending. While I had no problem with it at all, and actually enjoyed a lot of the ambiguity, I think some could feel a little cheated. If you are not a fan of ambiguous endings, be aware that you could be left wanting more. A lot of threads are left untied. However, I would say that the sum of the book is still worth investing in, even if you were to be let down by the lack of resolution.
Overall, a gorgeous, intricate story. To me, this reads as a new classic. Whilst the general idea behind it may not be original, in practice, Friend has crafted something that feels very much its own. Now I can only wait excitedly for whatever he has in store for us next.
July 28, 2022
“Daddy, there’s a man in our room…”
William Friend’s first novel tells the story of Alfie, he has been looking after his twin daughters since the sudden death of their mother Pippa. The girls begin to tell him of a man being in their room and soon this becomes an imaginary friend. The girls call it Black Mamba, who can take shape of many things from animals to the human form. The presence of this friend begins to invade every aspect of Alfie’s life and he notices the changes in his daughter’s behaviour whilst also grieving himself. He turns to Julia, Pippa’s twin who is a psychotherapist for insight into what is going on. Here begins an intense journey into the lives of the family to answer the question what is the Black Mamba?
This was one of those novels I could not put down and ended up reading it a lot sooner than I anticipated. It was gripping, disturbing, dark and shocking in many ways.
It handles a lot of themes from grief at the loss of a partner, mother, sister, it explored love of a father for his daughters, desire that one twin has for her brother in law and beliefs on death and the afterlife. All of these are wrapped up in horror. From page to page there is a feeling of foreboding dread which pulls the reader into the story.
I tried to figure out what Black Mamba was and how it is connected to Alfie’s family, the more I read the more I thought I had nailed it. It was only as I got close to the end I had figured it out however the ending still shocked me.
This story is quite raw and relatable in many ways, I enjoyed the way in which the story was told with many twists and how in depth the character studies were. An interesting and disturbing horror novel definitely worth checking out.
William Friend’s first novel tells the story of Alfie, he has been looking after his twin daughters since the sudden death of their mother Pippa. The girls begin to tell him of a man being in their room and soon this becomes an imaginary friend. The girls call it Black Mamba, who can take shape of many things from animals to the human form. The presence of this friend begins to invade every aspect of Alfie’s life and he notices the changes in his daughter’s behaviour whilst also grieving himself. He turns to Julia, Pippa’s twin who is a psychotherapist for insight into what is going on. Here begins an intense journey into the lives of the family to answer the question what is the Black Mamba?
This was one of those novels I could not put down and ended up reading it a lot sooner than I anticipated. It was gripping, disturbing, dark and shocking in many ways.
It handles a lot of themes from grief at the loss of a partner, mother, sister, it explored love of a father for his daughters, desire that one twin has for her brother in law and beliefs on death and the afterlife. All of these are wrapped up in horror. From page to page there is a feeling of foreboding dread which pulls the reader into the story.
I tried to figure out what Black Mamba was and how it is connected to Alfie’s family, the more I read the more I thought I had nailed it. It was only as I got close to the end I had figured it out however the ending still shocked me.
This story is quite raw and relatable in many ways, I enjoyed the way in which the story was told with many twists and how in depth the character studies were. An interesting and disturbing horror novel definitely worth checking out.
May 30, 2022
Alfie is the father of twin girls Sylvie and Cassia, but now he has gone from a stable family environment to single father when his partner Pippa suddenly died.
He know he isn't coping well with even day to day domesticity but he finally cracks and calls in the children's aunt Julia when they reveal to him that they have been having a "visitor" to their room later at night.
Cue, the entrance of Black mamba into their lives.
Assuming at first it's just an imaginary friend and a delayed reaction to the loss of their mother things quickly escalate into more dangerous territory.
Black mamba is coming to take them away.
Terrified and unsure what to do Alfie and Julia find themselves embroiled in a battle against a supernatural being that is asserting his dominance and malignancy and threatening the well being and lives of his children.
But is this a battle they can win?
This was a dark, chilling debut novel and if this is the quality of his work I'm really looking forward to his next offering.
Would be a great Halloween read.
He know he isn't coping well with even day to day domesticity but he finally cracks and calls in the children's aunt Julia when they reveal to him that they have been having a "visitor" to their room later at night.
Cue, the entrance of Black mamba into their lives.
Assuming at first it's just an imaginary friend and a delayed reaction to the loss of their mother things quickly escalate into more dangerous territory.
Black mamba is coming to take them away.
Terrified and unsure what to do Alfie and Julia find themselves embroiled in a battle against a supernatural being that is asserting his dominance and malignancy and threatening the well being and lives of his children.
But is this a battle they can win?
This was a dark, chilling debut novel and if this is the quality of his work I'm really looking forward to his next offering.
Would be a great Halloween read.
May 23, 2022
Deliciously gothic!
"Daddy, there's a man in our room."
This is the chilling announcement that jolts Alfie awake one night, as his twin daughters are stood at the foot of his bed. Though he finds no man lurking in their room, the girls soon start to refer to someone called Black Mamba; their new 'friend.'
Alfie lives with his daughters, Cassia & Slyvie, in Hart house. His partner, and their mother, Pippa, died recently and suddenly. So when the girls start talking about their new friend, Black Mamba, Alfie assumes it's just a coping mechanism.
However, when the situation starts to become insidious, he turns to Julia, Pippa's twin & psychotherapist, for help.
Pippa and Alfie must face their own grief, the unspoken attraction between them, and who or what Balck Mamba truly is.
This story is deliciously gothic; an ambiguous and claustrophobic chiller.
It builds up the tense & dread slowly, causing the primal fear to heighten.
"Daddy, there's a man in our room."
This is the chilling announcement that jolts Alfie awake one night, as his twin daughters are stood at the foot of his bed. Though he finds no man lurking in their room, the girls soon start to refer to someone called Black Mamba; their new 'friend.'
Alfie lives with his daughters, Cassia & Slyvie, in Hart house. His partner, and their mother, Pippa, died recently and suddenly. So when the girls start talking about their new friend, Black Mamba, Alfie assumes it's just a coping mechanism.
However, when the situation starts to become insidious, he turns to Julia, Pippa's twin & psychotherapist, for help.
Pippa and Alfie must face their own grief, the unspoken attraction between them, and who or what Balck Mamba truly is.
This story is deliciously gothic; an ambiguous and claustrophobic chiller.
It builds up the tense & dread slowly, causing the primal fear to heighten.
May 25, 2022
This was a very sinister novel from the first chapter.
Alfie recently lost his wife Pippa, he is left with his twin girls and life has started to fall apart.
He isn't coping so calls the children's aunt Julia in for help and also a professional opinion as Sylvie abd Cassia are very troubled girls, they have told their father that Black mamba is in their room at night.
Assuming this is some childhood game or imaginary friend Alfie is reassured by Julia assuring him he is probably right.
But this is no imaginary friend, Black mamba is there for a reason, he is coming for the girls.
But can the combined forces of both Julia and Alfie thwart this evil friend's plans to take control of his daughters?
For a debut novel this was so exciting and it felt more accomplished than someone's first book, chilling and horiffying in a subtle, slow way that really gets under the reader's skin.
A great read.
Alfie recently lost his wife Pippa, he is left with his twin girls and life has started to fall apart.
He isn't coping so calls the children's aunt Julia in for help and also a professional opinion as Sylvie abd Cassia are very troubled girls, they have told their father that Black mamba is in their room at night.
Assuming this is some childhood game or imaginary friend Alfie is reassured by Julia assuring him he is probably right.
But this is no imaginary friend, Black mamba is there for a reason, he is coming for the girls.
But can the combined forces of both Julia and Alfie thwart this evil friend's plans to take control of his daughters?
For a debut novel this was so exciting and it felt more accomplished than someone's first book, chilling and horiffying in a subtle, slow way that really gets under the reader's skin.
A great read.
August 15, 2024
This psychological horror deals with grief and how different people deal with it.
Twins were great and creepy at times, Dad was super annoying. He needed someone to come and slap him in a face 🙄 Still not sure how I feel about Julia.
I think the best character here is Black Mamba.
Great premise for a book, although nothing new really. This type of a story appears in many movies. It’s was enjoyable.
Veeery slow burn. I kept waiting for the big finale which in my opinion never really happened (or not as big and dramatic as I would want) and it kind of left me a bit disappointed ☹️ I was hoping for 3-3.5 stars (still with 90 pages left to read) but ended up rating it 2 because it really dragged towards the end to the point that I started skimming the text 🥱
Not horrible, but definitely not memorable.
Ok one day later…
Changed the star rating to 3.
I actually liked it 😂
Twins were great and creepy at times, Dad was super annoying. He needed someone to come and slap him in a face 🙄 Still not sure how I feel about Julia.
I think the best character here is Black Mamba.
Great premise for a book, although nothing new really. This type of a story appears in many movies. It’s was enjoyable.
Veeery slow burn. I kept waiting for the big finale which in my opinion never really happened (or not as big and dramatic as I would want) and it kind of left me a bit disappointed ☹️ I was hoping for 3-3.5 stars (still with 90 pages left to read) but ended up rating it 2 because it really dragged towards the end to the point that I started skimming the text 🥱
Not horrible, but definitely not memorable.
Ok one day later…
Changed the star rating to 3.
I actually liked it 😂
June 22, 2022
This one had me torn between not wanting to put it down and then not wanting to pick it up, as I didn't want it to end!!
I was stupid enough to start reading this at night, certainly gave me the chills. I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder, it had me majorly in edge. I'm normaly pretty good at figuring out how the story will go, but on a few occasions I found myself wondering which direction it would take.
I cant imagine how hard it all was on Alfie. But I did find him a little annoying now and then. Black mamba is terrifying, just picturing what my reaction would be if my children were saying what the twins were saying, I'll be packing us up and out the door 😅
I'm really looking forward to seeing more by William England. I'm eager to read more from him!
I was stupid enough to start reading this at night, certainly gave me the chills. I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder, it had me majorly in edge. I'm normaly pretty good at figuring out how the story will go, but on a few occasions I found myself wondering which direction it would take.
I cant imagine how hard it all was on Alfie. But I did find him a little annoying now and then. Black mamba is terrifying, just picturing what my reaction would be if my children were saying what the twins were saying, I'll be packing us up and out the door 😅
I'm really looking forward to seeing more by William England. I'm eager to read more from him!
February 28, 2022
Black Mamba is a horror novel about grief and the bond between twins, as a father tries to deal with the strange figure his daughters see. After his wife Pippa's death, Alfie is struggling to care for his twin daughters. When they tell him they saw a man in their room, a man Alfie can find no trace of, he isn't sure what to do, especially when this shadowy figure, Black Mamba, starts interrupting the family's life. Alfie turns to Pippa's twin sister Julia, and psychotherapist and also dealing with the death of her sister, to try and unravel what the twins are doing, but they are drawn into a strange world of ghosts and belief.
The book is told from Alfie and Julia's points of view, moving between the present and glimpses of the past, especially Julia and Pippa's childhood, to build up a picture of a family grieving, but also a family, particularly Julia and Pippa's parents, caught up in belief. There's the rational world of psychotherapy and a less clear world of belief in demons and ghosts, through Julia's mother's church and her dead father's belief in mediumship. The book explores why people might believe in things, especially after loss, combining that with ideas of a cursed house and connections between twins.
I liked the atmosphere of this book, with an unnerving sense of whether or not there was something more supernatural going on or not, and the way it played on ideas of what is a family. I felt like there could've been more about the church that Julia and Pippa's mother was part of, and they grew up as part of, as it felt like you never quite knew enough about it. However, the ambiguity of the book was also a strength, including the morality of many of the adults in the book, who are flawed and tied up in their own ideas, and the ending has an eerie chill, bringing together the ideas of doubleness found throughout.
If you like slow burn literary horror that focuses on grief and family, Black Mamba does that well, though it's not a book that is actually scary, but more lightly menacing. Some of the subplot twists are quite predictable, but the ending does leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth.
The book is told from Alfie and Julia's points of view, moving between the present and glimpses of the past, especially Julia and Pippa's childhood, to build up a picture of a family grieving, but also a family, particularly Julia and Pippa's parents, caught up in belief. There's the rational world of psychotherapy and a less clear world of belief in demons and ghosts, through Julia's mother's church and her dead father's belief in mediumship. The book explores why people might believe in things, especially after loss, combining that with ideas of a cursed house and connections between twins.
I liked the atmosphere of this book, with an unnerving sense of whether or not there was something more supernatural going on or not, and the way it played on ideas of what is a family. I felt like there could've been more about the church that Julia and Pippa's mother was part of, and they grew up as part of, as it felt like you never quite knew enough about it. However, the ambiguity of the book was also a strength, including the morality of many of the adults in the book, who are flawed and tied up in their own ideas, and the ending has an eerie chill, bringing together the ideas of doubleness found throughout.
If you like slow burn literary horror that focuses on grief and family, Black Mamba does that well, though it's not a book that is actually scary, but more lightly menacing. Some of the subplot twists are quite predictable, but the ending does leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth.
June 25, 2022
3.5 stars.
Nine months after losing their mother, twin girls, Sylvie and Cassia see a strange man in their room. Unable to find the strange man known as Black Mamba, their father, Alfie turns to their late mother’s sister and psychiatrist to find answers before it’s too late.
What is causing this unnatural phenomenon? Or who is causing it? And why this family?
As soon as I picked this one up I knew it was really gonna be something special. The creepy factor started pretty much instantaneously. It’s not continuously creepy though instead focusing on the little moments which definitely had more effect.
This one is a very unique read as it also deals with some tough issues that’s going on within the family. There’s definitely some mystery surrounding the family which unravels the more you go on throughout the story. The story flicks back and forth between Alfie and Julia. This gives us a better sense of the family, they seem to have been through a fair bit with the loss of their father which shows. It delves a bit into their background as a family as well as their relationships with each other. There’s a few raunchy moments as well but nothing that deviated from the story too much.
This one really had me scared and enticed at the same time. It’s definitely not one you should be reading in the dark though. For anyone who does get scared easily like me and wanting to hide behind the cushions, I did find myself able to carry on through this one and I actually really enjoyed the creepy factor to this one. I definitely felt worried for the family that you come to know.
A spine chilling and riveting read, filled with mystery and intrigue.
Nine months after losing their mother, twin girls, Sylvie and Cassia see a strange man in their room. Unable to find the strange man known as Black Mamba, their father, Alfie turns to their late mother’s sister and psychiatrist to find answers before it’s too late.
What is causing this unnatural phenomenon? Or who is causing it? And why this family?
As soon as I picked this one up I knew it was really gonna be something special. The creepy factor started pretty much instantaneously. It’s not continuously creepy though instead focusing on the little moments which definitely had more effect.
This one is a very unique read as it also deals with some tough issues that’s going on within the family. There’s definitely some mystery surrounding the family which unravels the more you go on throughout the story. The story flicks back and forth between Alfie and Julia. This gives us a better sense of the family, they seem to have been through a fair bit with the loss of their father which shows. It delves a bit into their background as a family as well as their relationships with each other. There’s a few raunchy moments as well but nothing that deviated from the story too much.
This one really had me scared and enticed at the same time. It’s definitely not one you should be reading in the dark though. For anyone who does get scared easily like me and wanting to hide behind the cushions, I did find myself able to carry on through this one and I actually really enjoyed the creepy factor to this one. I definitely felt worried for the family that you come to know.
A spine chilling and riveting read, filled with mystery and intrigue.
August 27, 2022
Ok so I was very intrigued about this one, but didn’t really have a clue what it was about going in - and I’m still not sure I know now but it was still a great little creepy read!
After the tragic death of their mother, Alfie’s twin daughters began seeing a man in the house - Black Mamba. He’s their new friend, and can change from man to snake to bear, and keeps them safe whilst their dad is too consumed by grief to care for them properly. Except soon, Black Mamba starts to hurt the girls and cause them to hurt each other. So Alfie calls on his late wife’s sister, Julia, to come and speak to the girls and work out what’s going on. Tormented by her feelings for Alfie, and by the memories of the house which the girls now call home, will Julia be able to help before it’s too late?
Sorry if that summary is rubbish but I felt like I understood what was going on less and less as the story progressed! It started off quite clearly and was very intriguing but by the end I have to admit I was scratching my head trying to figure out what the actual deal with Black Mamba was.
But that’s not to say it wasn’t a good read - if you’re looking for something chilling and atmospheric then it’s worth a read. I don’t know what it is about the addition of young children (and twins in particular!) which makes these stories so much freakier but I was spooked! But it’s also an exploration of many important things, like grief, family, religion and memory. Still not sure about that weird sex scene (genuinely had no idea what was going on and I don’t mean in a birds and the bees way) but overall it was a decent read.
After the tragic death of their mother, Alfie’s twin daughters began seeing a man in the house - Black Mamba. He’s their new friend, and can change from man to snake to bear, and keeps them safe whilst their dad is too consumed by grief to care for them properly. Except soon, Black Mamba starts to hurt the girls and cause them to hurt each other. So Alfie calls on his late wife’s sister, Julia, to come and speak to the girls and work out what’s going on. Tormented by her feelings for Alfie, and by the memories of the house which the girls now call home, will Julia be able to help before it’s too late?
Sorry if that summary is rubbish but I felt like I understood what was going on less and less as the story progressed! It started off quite clearly and was very intriguing but by the end I have to admit I was scratching my head trying to figure out what the actual deal with Black Mamba was.
But that’s not to say it wasn’t a good read - if you’re looking for something chilling and atmospheric then it’s worth a read. I don’t know what it is about the addition of young children (and twins in particular!) which makes these stories so much freakier but I was spooked! But it’s also an exploration of many important things, like grief, family, religion and memory. Still not sure about that weird sex scene (genuinely had no idea what was going on and I don’t mean in a birds and the bees way) but overall it was a decent read.
May 15, 2022
3.5 stars for the story, that extra 0.5 for the good writing.
When I saw the book, I was fascinated by the cover because it seemed very cool. I was even more intrigued by the plot, so I had to claim it in Readers First.
After a bit of a struggle of getting it out of my post box, I started reading it immediately.
The book itself is not very scary or horrifying, but disturbing because you are not quite sure what the hell is happening, but want to know what happens next. This book made me feel the same as when I watched those speculative documentaries on children who had memories "from their past lives", a bit troubled by the story but curious.
Other than book a good horror book, it looked at grief and how families deal with it, which is essentially what Black Mamba is based on. There is a lot that plays in the story and you are given quite some detail about it, but more in depth into Pippa and Julia's childhood would complete the story even more.
I was expecting this book to have some odd supernatural things, but it did leave you with a sense of the story not being done, and the interpretation is quite open. Maybe a sequel?
I enjoyed this book quite a lot and it was a quick read. Also gorgeous, gorgeous cover
When I saw the book, I was fascinated by the cover because it seemed very cool. I was even more intrigued by the plot, so I had to claim it in Readers First.
After a bit of a struggle of getting it out of my post box, I started reading it immediately.
The book itself is not very scary or horrifying, but disturbing because you are not quite sure what the hell is happening, but want to know what happens next. This book made me feel the same as when I watched those speculative documentaries on children who had memories "from their past lives", a bit troubled by the story but curious.
Other than book a good horror book, it looked at grief and how families deal with it, which is essentially what Black Mamba is based on. There is a lot that plays in the story and you are given quite some detail about it, but more in depth into Pippa and Julia's childhood would complete the story even more.
I was expecting this book to have some odd supernatural things, but it did leave you with a sense of the story not being done, and the interpretation is quite open. Maybe a sequel?
I enjoyed this book quite a lot and it was a quick read. Also gorgeous, gorgeous cover
August 27, 2023
Ooh this book was so creepy! It has all the perfect ingredients for a scary horror story. Creepy twins seeing a man in their room at night, a father struggling to cope after losing his wife, a strange old house and a family history of weird accidents oh and a bit of religion thrown in!
Black Mamba put me so on edge. I think it helped that I read it late at night in the dark on my kindle! Everytime my toddler made a noise I jumped out of my skin!
This is a story about grief. About a family struggling to cope with loss and how that can manifest itself in children. But also it is super spooky and weird and the ending leaves you a bit unsure of what actually has happened!
Despite not reading a lot of horror I am always trying to find a book that actually scares me and I've got to say this one hit the spot for me. I felt so uneasy the whole time and there was a few spine chilling moments! Also it's written really well and is so easy to become absorbed into. Some horror books can be really out there and difficult to understand but this wasn't like that at all! Definitely recommend this one if you're looking for something a bit creepy!
Black Mamba put me so on edge. I think it helped that I read it late at night in the dark on my kindle! Everytime my toddler made a noise I jumped out of my skin!
This is a story about grief. About a family struggling to cope with loss and how that can manifest itself in children. But also it is super spooky and weird and the ending leaves you a bit unsure of what actually has happened!
Despite not reading a lot of horror I am always trying to find a book that actually scares me and I've got to say this one hit the spot for me. I felt so uneasy the whole time and there was a few spine chilling moments! Also it's written really well and is so easy to become absorbed into. Some horror books can be really out there and difficult to understand but this wasn't like that at all! Definitely recommend this one if you're looking for something a bit creepy!
July 23, 2022
'Black Mamba' by William Friend is not the usual book I'd pick up to read, however something in the cover design drew my attention and I checked out the blurb. I'm not a horror reader, I live alone and with my active imagination, I'd rather not conjure up the idea of things lurking in the attic, or creeping against the windows. But as it's summer, and nights are lighter - I thought I'd be brave. Although, this book has a horror vibe, there's much more depth to it than I'd originally anticipated.
Grief is really the structure that holds this story together, and it's an usual book in many ways. That's not ignoring the horror genre and the creepiness that also haunts the narrative. I must admit to skimming a few times and keeping the lights on. I find the idea of imaginary friends more creepy than comforting, and I do find identical twins rather unsettling. However it's the raw exploration of grief that held me to the pages. I'd definitely recommend this book to readers, who enjoy a creepy horror with substance.
Grief is really the structure that holds this story together, and it's an usual book in many ways. That's not ignoring the horror genre and the creepiness that also haunts the narrative. I must admit to skimming a few times and keeping the lights on. I find the idea of imaginary friends more creepy than comforting, and I do find identical twins rather unsettling. However it's the raw exploration of grief that held me to the pages. I'd definitely recommend this book to readers, who enjoy a creepy horror with substance.
June 11, 2023
"There are unspoken rules when I spar with my mother; we can needle each other but only with falsehoods. The truth is always off limits".
Black Mamba is a psychological thriller that reads initially as a horror but as the story unveils, becomes more confusing and deeply entwines the present with the past. The book relies on old favourites, such as twin connections, imaginary friends, a death in the family and estranged family members, and it slaps.
"When I tried to give the eulogy, it drowned beneath the weight of her wails. The church was too small, no one else's grief could fit".
Mixed between the horror and the suspense, are well worded paragraphs breaking down the difficulty of familial conflict, grief and the stages of moving on.
Black Mamba is a creepy one. Imagine you're watching a horror - you can fast forward. With a book, that's not really an option. You have to read it if you don't want to lose context. My advice? Read with the light on.
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc.
Black Mamba is a psychological thriller that reads initially as a horror but as the story unveils, becomes more confusing and deeply entwines the present with the past. The book relies on old favourites, such as twin connections, imaginary friends, a death in the family and estranged family members, and it slaps.
"When I tried to give the eulogy, it drowned beneath the weight of her wails. The church was too small, no one else's grief could fit".
Mixed between the horror and the suspense, are well worded paragraphs breaking down the difficulty of familial conflict, grief and the stages of moving on.
Black Mamba is a creepy one. Imagine you're watching a horror - you can fast forward. With a book, that's not really an option. You have to read it if you don't want to lose context. My advice? Read with the light on.
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc.
February 2, 2024
A dark tale of grief set within “Harte House”, we meet Alifie, a grieving father and his twin daughters, Cassia and Silvie. Their mother, Pippa, has died, the second death to take place within the house. The twins begin experiencing nightly visits from a man whom they call “Black Mamba”, assumed to be an imaginary friend they’ve developed to help them cope with their grief. Soon Black Mamba becomes a part of daily life much to Alfie’s dismay, struggling with his own grief and trying to hold it together for the twins. Their aunt Julia, a psychotherapist, steps in to help and tries to make sense of the girls experience. The story is told from both Alfie’s and Julia’s perspectives.
This book was chilling, the gradual build up of tension, the eerie setting and the claustrophobic feel. I was really left feeling unsettled which I suppose was the authors intention. It’s definitely one for reflection, it’s not very clear cut, open to interpretation, very difficult to know which way it will go and how it will end. I enjoyed it and will look out for more from the author.
May 29, 2022
I’ve got to say it was definitely worth a read. Immediately you are introduced to this dark nightmare which flows throughout the book, leaving behind an unsettling sensation. It’s a book about grief and the aftermath of losing someone close.
We are sucked into a world where we see how Alfie deals with his loss, following along the journey Alfie goes through emotionally after losing his wife Pippa. His twin girls (Cassia and Sylvie) were the first two to discover this shadow. When his twins informed him that there was a strange man in their room, he was put in a difficult situation of trying to figure out what to do, this being because he could not find any trace of someone being there.
What I truly like about this book is that it gives you an insight into more than one character, allowing you to easily see perspectives from two sides of a story. I would most certainly recommend for anyone who’s looking for a slow burning horror.
We are sucked into a world where we see how Alfie deals with his loss, following along the journey Alfie goes through emotionally after losing his wife Pippa. His twin girls (Cassia and Sylvie) were the first two to discover this shadow. When his twins informed him that there was a strange man in their room, he was put in a difficult situation of trying to figure out what to do, this being because he could not find any trace of someone being there.
What I truly like about this book is that it gives you an insight into more than one character, allowing you to easily see perspectives from two sides of a story. I would most certainly recommend for anyone who’s looking for a slow burning horror.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2022
Black Mamba is a riveting book that - once you start reading - is hard to put down, with the question of whether the title creature is real or imagined keeping the reader guessing until the novel's conclusion.
It deals with themes such as loss - not least that of Pippa as a wife, mother, sister and daughter after an "accident" nine months before the events in this particular story - as well as twinship and the power of recurring dreams (and how these impact on the way characters behave).
I also thought the way the story was written - with the first person point of view switching (sometimes in the same chapter) between Alfie and Julia, whose unspoken romance provides an ongoing subplot - was reminiscent of a pair of talking heads reliving their experiences in a documentary, so this could be the sort of book which works well as a film or TV adaptation.
It deals with themes such as loss - not least that of Pippa as a wife, mother, sister and daughter after an "accident" nine months before the events in this particular story - as well as twinship and the power of recurring dreams (and how these impact on the way characters behave).
I also thought the way the story was written - with the first person point of view switching (sometimes in the same chapter) between Alfie and Julia, whose unspoken romance provides an ongoing subplot - was reminiscent of a pair of talking heads reliving their experiences in a documentary, so this could be the sort of book which works well as a film or TV adaptation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2022
Beautiful slow build of unease and terror, absolutely gripping read. The focus on family and intergenerational trauma tied in with the presence of Black Mamba was brilliant. All round fantastic as a horror novel that relies on growing dread rather than cheap scares.
April 10, 2023
Interesting book!
When Alfie's twin girls create a imaginary friend after their Mom's passing, no one is surprised. When Black Mamba begins to take over, the family must come together to overcome his forces.
When Alfie's twin girls create a imaginary friend after their Mom's passing, no one is surprised. When Black Mamba begins to take over, the family must come together to overcome his forces.
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