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Dark Lines: Haunting Tales of Horror
From the author of Ripper Country comes sixteen tales of psychological horror, each more frightening than the last. Venture into a dark and brooding world of twists and turns where things are rarely as they seem, and terror reigns supreme…
A mother is haunted by an apocalyptic vision…a husband banished to the couch is awoken by a bump in the night…a vampire catches up with an old friend…a brooding man-child suffers some unpleasant side-effects from a new medication…an office worker’s routine commute home turns out to be anything but…
Let Jack Harding take you on a perilous journey into the nightmare-inducing landscape he has crafted for your enjoyment. Dark Lines is a versatile and gut-wrenching collection that will stir your senses, and stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
A mother is haunted by an apocalyptic vision…a husband banished to the couch is awoken by a bump in the night…a vampire catches up with an old friend…a brooding man-child suffers some unpleasant side-effects from a new medication…an office worker’s routine commute home turns out to be anything but…
Let Jack Harding take you on a perilous journey into the nightmare-inducing landscape he has crafted for your enjoyment. Dark Lines is a versatile and gut-wrenching collection that will stir your senses, and stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
100 people are currently reading
517 people want to read
About the author
Jack Harding
12 books127 followersJack was born in Portsmouth, U.K. in 1989. One June day in 2021, the impulse to write a short story came to him suddenly after a particularly vivid nightmare. That first short story, The Cat’s Meat Man, was published in a horror anthology several months later. More stories followed, and by the end of the summer, he had a total of ten short stories, one novelette, and three poems to his name which were subsequently published as a collection by Blood Rites Publishing in January 2022. That collection was Ripper Country.
In the autumn of 2021, Jack self-published the short stories React and Driving in the Dark, both of which were met with largely positive reviews. His second collection of short stories, Dark Lines, was published in the spring of 2022 by DarkLit Press. Jack has also had stories featured in the horror anthologies, Dead of Night and Terror in the Trench, in addition to pieces of flash fiction appearing in the collections, Slice of Paradise and 206 Word Stories.
His third collection of short stories, Warning Signs, is slated for release in the autumn.
His favorite authors are Ray Bradbury, Stephen King and Richard Matheson.
Instagram: @rocket.man.reads
In the autumn of 2021, Jack self-published the short stories React and Driving in the Dark, both of which were met with largely positive reviews. His second collection of short stories, Dark Lines, was published in the spring of 2022 by DarkLit Press. Jack has also had stories featured in the horror anthologies, Dead of Night and Terror in the Trench, in addition to pieces of flash fiction appearing in the collections, Slice of Paradise and 206 Word Stories.
His third collection of short stories, Warning Signs, is slated for release in the autumn.
His favorite authors are Ray Bradbury, Stephen King and Richard Matheson.
Instagram: @rocket.man.reads
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 13, 2022
Sixteen brilliant stories of a very talented author. It started full throttle with his masterpiece "React" but the other tales were carefully composed and well plotted too. Creepy gems with partly hard twists and spellbinding prose. Thank you Jack for providing me with an advance copy of your book. It was a pleasure to read it, not just for killing time (one of the stories here). Highly recommended stuff!
May 11, 2022
An incredible collection that I was honoured to be asked to write the introduction for! Harding taps into all kinds of horror in here - from psychological horror to post-apocalyptic to good old vampires… but each story has its own fresh and unique take. Similarities to Bradbury can also be made in terms of the beautifully descriptive and atmospheric writing. Short story collections where every single story is effective are a rarity, but Harding has achieved this impressive feat!
October 31, 2022
I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of these stories and they genuinely blew me away.
I stumbled onto this author when he was looking for beta readers for his first set of short stories and have become a huge fan.
Harding is a truly versatile writer which in someone so new to the game is all the more impressive. I think Dark Lines really illustrates just how much potential he has. It’s a collection of stories that will make you feel pretty much every emotion and each story manages to have its own unique atmosphere. The most impressive thing though, once again, is just how quickly you form attachments with the characters.
An absolutely superb set of stories that I’m looking forward to reading again.
I stumbled onto this author when he was looking for beta readers for his first set of short stories and have become a huge fan.
Harding is a truly versatile writer which in someone so new to the game is all the more impressive. I think Dark Lines really illustrates just how much potential he has. It’s a collection of stories that will make you feel pretty much every emotion and each story manages to have its own unique atmosphere. The most impressive thing though, once again, is just how quickly you form attachments with the characters.
An absolutely superb set of stories that I’m looking forward to reading again.
April 19, 2022
In terms of books I’ve been most excited about getting to read this year, Jack Harding’s collection Dark Lines is probably second only to new Stephen King stuff on my list, so getting the chance to devour it early in exchange for a review was a chance I had to take. Having loved his other book - Ripper Country - which came out earlier this year, it was a thrill to step back into this guy’s head and read more from him.
Jack is an unashamed devotee to the art of the short story and if you’re looking for a headline takeaway from this review, then have this; Dark Lines is a terrific piece of work that really does the short story format proud and underlines - emphatically - what a talent its author is.
Across these 16 stories, you’ll face twists and turns, you’ll feel scared and unnerved, and you will be hooked throughout with a heightened pulse and a blurred view of what is real and what isn’t. And whether you take the stories one at a time or binge the whole thing in a couple of sittings like I did, the result is the same…you’ll have a lovely time.
One of the beauties of this being a collection of short stories is that it works in the same way as an album might. And, just as if Jack were releasing an album, some singles have already appeared out there in the wider world. That means there’s every chance you’ve already read React, The Devil’s Mountain, and Driving in the Dark, or you may have caught The Vagabond or The End of the Line in the different collections in which they first appeared. For all of these ones, even having read them before, they still pack a punch and are fantastic stories.
I’ve also been fortunate enough to be a beta reader for some of Jack’s stories, notably Roxie and Silent Treatment. Both of these stories I loved first time around, and enjoyed them even more here. Despite knowing the punchlines for both of them, I was still kept guessing on this second read, which just emphasises how well put together they are.
But, what I was most keen to get to was stuff I’d not read before. I was not disappointed. Foot of the Bed was a chiller that makes sleep paralysis sound even more terrifying than I already imagine it would be, Killing Time was a spooky tease, while Portsdown Ridge was packed full of beautiful, haunting prose that gave the collection a fitting end and sees Jack enjoying his writing and indulging in his love of Bradbury.
I also have to give special shout-outs for Cells, which genuinely made me laugh out loud, and Be a Man, the finale of which was crushingly devastating.
Overall, this is a magnificent collection and one of the best things I’ve read this year. It will probably still be one of the best things I’ve read all year by the time we get to the end of it. If you thought Ripper Country was good, this is even better, and is a powerful statement of intent from one of indie horror’s brightest sparks. Don’t sleep on this book, or this author!
Jack is an unashamed devotee to the art of the short story and if you’re looking for a headline takeaway from this review, then have this; Dark Lines is a terrific piece of work that really does the short story format proud and underlines - emphatically - what a talent its author is.
Across these 16 stories, you’ll face twists and turns, you’ll feel scared and unnerved, and you will be hooked throughout with a heightened pulse and a blurred view of what is real and what isn’t. And whether you take the stories one at a time or binge the whole thing in a couple of sittings like I did, the result is the same…you’ll have a lovely time.
One of the beauties of this being a collection of short stories is that it works in the same way as an album might. And, just as if Jack were releasing an album, some singles have already appeared out there in the wider world. That means there’s every chance you’ve already read React, The Devil’s Mountain, and Driving in the Dark, or you may have caught The Vagabond or The End of the Line in the different collections in which they first appeared. For all of these ones, even having read them before, they still pack a punch and are fantastic stories.
I’ve also been fortunate enough to be a beta reader for some of Jack’s stories, notably Roxie and Silent Treatment. Both of these stories I loved first time around, and enjoyed them even more here. Despite knowing the punchlines for both of them, I was still kept guessing on this second read, which just emphasises how well put together they are.
But, what I was most keen to get to was stuff I’d not read before. I was not disappointed. Foot of the Bed was a chiller that makes sleep paralysis sound even more terrifying than I already imagine it would be, Killing Time was a spooky tease, while Portsdown Ridge was packed full of beautiful, haunting prose that gave the collection a fitting end and sees Jack enjoying his writing and indulging in his love of Bradbury.
I also have to give special shout-outs for Cells, which genuinely made me laugh out loud, and Be a Man, the finale of which was crushingly devastating.
Overall, this is a magnificent collection and one of the best things I’ve read this year. It will probably still be one of the best things I’ve read all year by the time we get to the end of it. If you thought Ripper Country was good, this is even better, and is a powerful statement of intent from one of indie horror’s brightest sparks. Don’t sleep on this book, or this author!
April 27, 2022
Thank you so much for letting me read The ARC, Jack. I had the best time reading your new book 🖤
Jack Harding is definitely another reason why I love short horror stories so much. There's so much details in so little words and it's fascinating. Each story is channeling different possible nightmares and all of them are very captivating.
This is an author who obviously reads a lot and it shows. Little Stephen King vibes here, little existentialism there and even a tiny bit of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea (that was epic). I mean this is something a book nerd and lover of classics like me always enjoys.
It makes me really happy seeing where the Indie horror is heading. These are genuine life stories about ordinary people in abnormal situations. Situations that made my skin crawl.
Jack Harding is definitely another reason why I love short horror stories so much. There's so much details in so little words and it's fascinating. Each story is channeling different possible nightmares and all of them are very captivating.
This is an author who obviously reads a lot and it shows. Little Stephen King vibes here, little existentialism there and even a tiny bit of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea (that was epic). I mean this is something a book nerd and lover of classics like me always enjoys.
It makes me really happy seeing where the Indie horror is heading. These are genuine life stories about ordinary people in abnormal situations. Situations that made my skin crawl.
September 19, 2022
This collection is a great mix of horror and psychological thriller! It’s fast paced and addicting. Just when you think what’s going on, a twist will come in to drop your jaw!
May 13, 2022
What a fun horror collection!! So many good ones here so definitely would recommend picking up. As with all collections, some I liked more than others. The one that will stick with me the most is the one about the spiders because NO... I can't do insects or arachnids - this is why I'll be cremated over being buried. Don't @ me. Hahah
But seriously folks, there's a lot to get out of this and there's definitely something for everyone so pick it up and enjoy it! Whether you do that in one sitting or devour a story at a time. Either way, keep those lights on.
But seriously folks, there's a lot to get out of this and there's definitely something for everyone so pick it up and enjoy it! Whether you do that in one sitting or devour a story at a time. Either way, keep those lights on.
December 17, 2022
Subtle horror for grown ups.
An excellent collection of stories, full of twists and turns. Well crafted plots, both atmospheric and absorbing. No explicit blood and guts, the actual horror being left to the individual reader's own imagination. This dark and mysterious collection is of the highest quality, which I can heartily recommend.
An excellent collection of stories, full of twists and turns. Well crafted plots, both atmospheric and absorbing. No explicit blood and guts, the actual horror being left to the individual reader's own imagination. This dark and mysterious collection is of the highest quality, which I can heartily recommend.
August 25, 2022
Dark Lines is a collection of short stories from the mind of ‘Ripper Country’ author Jack Harding.
While Ripper Country’s stories were interconnected and set in the same locale, Dark Lines features 16 stand alone psychological tales.
Like Ripper Country, Jack Harding’s ability to create tense atmospheres in a short period of time feeds so much into the tales he’s telling, however with Dark Lines not having the interconnected element to it, he is able to recreate this feeling of dread time and time again without the benefit of the reader already being introduced to the characters already.
I feel that Dark Lines takes a more grounded approach to the ‘horror’ it’s creating, the stories feel more like they are looking into the internal psychological struggles of it’s characters and explore some real life horrors.
I quickly got the feeling of an impending sense of doom to each story, feeling the characters were heading towards something that is going to break them.
More than once I felt personally attacked by the stories....a story about a guy with sleep paralysis thats worried his feet are out of the covers in bed, giant spiders and a description of a crazy ex that I immediately sent a picture of to my partner and sister, this again hints that Dark Lines hits more at the a human level of horror rather than the standard supernatural horrors.
It’s hard to pin point stand out stories in the collection as the are all excellent in their own way, I just recommend you put up Dark Lines and enjoy the ride.
While Ripper Country’s stories were interconnected and set in the same locale, Dark Lines features 16 stand alone psychological tales.
Like Ripper Country, Jack Harding’s ability to create tense atmospheres in a short period of time feeds so much into the tales he’s telling, however with Dark Lines not having the interconnected element to it, he is able to recreate this feeling of dread time and time again without the benefit of the reader already being introduced to the characters already.
I feel that Dark Lines takes a more grounded approach to the ‘horror’ it’s creating, the stories feel more like they are looking into the internal psychological struggles of it’s characters and explore some real life horrors.
I quickly got the feeling of an impending sense of doom to each story, feeling the characters were heading towards something that is going to break them.
More than once I felt personally attacked by the stories....a story about a guy with sleep paralysis thats worried his feet are out of the covers in bed, giant spiders and a description of a crazy ex that I immediately sent a picture of to my partner and sister, this again hints that Dark Lines hits more at the a human level of horror rather than the standard supernatural horrors.
It’s hard to pin point stand out stories in the collection as the are all excellent in their own way, I just recommend you put up Dark Lines and enjoy the ride.
July 24, 2022
Dark Lines is a collection of short horror stories, from vampires to spiders to apocalyptic visions and to ones particularly interesting to me, nightmares and sleep paralysis!
Jack Harding has a way with words that brings these stories to life, from the character development to the descriptions of the surroundings. The twists and turns were out of this world and some, completely unexpected. They have you wanting to return to the first page to see if you missed anything obvious on the way!
"Roxie" was one in particular that caught me way off guard! It was incredibly smart.
As someone who suffers with sleep paralysis, I found "The Shadow of a Dream" very interesting!
"The Devil's Mountain" was probably my favourite, not just because the name, but because it was genuinely creepy! I would love more on that one with some answers. Super intrigued and could honestly feel the panic of what was happening!
There were also some heart tugging ones too.
"Roxie" and "Driving in the Dark" come to mind.
I highly recommend this collection of horror stories. There are some intense themes and you may want to check the content warnings, however, they do contain big spoilers and if you can manage it, I'd say don't look because the twists really are gasp worthy!
Jack Harding has a way with words that brings these stories to life, from the character development to the descriptions of the surroundings. The twists and turns were out of this world and some, completely unexpected. They have you wanting to return to the first page to see if you missed anything obvious on the way!
"Roxie" was one in particular that caught me way off guard! It was incredibly smart.
As someone who suffers with sleep paralysis, I found "The Shadow of a Dream" very interesting!
"The Devil's Mountain" was probably my favourite, not just because the name, but because it was genuinely creepy! I would love more on that one with some answers. Super intrigued and could honestly feel the panic of what was happening!
There were also some heart tugging ones too.
"Roxie" and "Driving in the Dark" come to mind.
I highly recommend this collection of horror stories. There are some intense themes and you may want to check the content warnings, however, they do contain big spoilers and if you can manage it, I'd say don't look because the twists really are gasp worthy!
May 4, 2022
Touching, heartfelt, and sinister, DARK LINES is haunting in the way that it will creep quietly under your skin until it reaches your heart - whilst somehow also making you laugh and shiver at the same time.
This short story collection is psychological horror fiction with a modern setting. Each story has strong, clear characters and heartbreaking, chilling hooks that will really stay with you. They’re small, clever twists on the short tales that are smart without trying to trip the reader up - they had me rereading passages at times just to catch the clues!
My favourite stories are:
🔥Portsdown Ridge
🔥Silent Treatment
🔥The Devil’s Mountain
🔥Driving in the Dark
I would recommend this to anyone who likes
- short fiction
- horror with a twist
- stories that will keep you guessing
- characters that you will feel for
This short story collection is psychological horror fiction with a modern setting. Each story has strong, clear characters and heartbreaking, chilling hooks that will really stay with you. They’re small, clever twists on the short tales that are smart without trying to trip the reader up - they had me rereading passages at times just to catch the clues!
My favourite stories are:
🔥Portsdown Ridge
🔥Silent Treatment
🔥The Devil’s Mountain
🔥Driving in the Dark
I would recommend this to anyone who likes
- short fiction
- horror with a twist
- stories that will keep you guessing
- characters that you will feel for
May 4, 2022
Another incredible collection by Jack. Some of these I've already had the pleasure of reading and absolutely adored. React, The Vagabond (personal favourite) Roxie (gut wrenching) Driving in the Dark... incredible story and so well constructed and Portsdown Ridge.... mind blowing also recently The Devils Mountain....absolutely incredible stories so knowing these stories and a few already released I knew this book would be a hit. Little did I know there were going to be MORE absolutely incredible, horrific and panick attack inducing stories. Some that will almost certainly have hallucinating in your bedroom..... I'm talking to you The Foot Of The Bed..
& The Shadow Of A Dream. Anyways this is another 5 star book, I'm not surprised really when you have a new young author writing like a well seasoned author. So talented, writing like a King a Bradbury and a Beaumont..
& The Shadow Of A Dream. Anyways this is another 5 star book, I'm not surprised really when you have a new young author writing like a well seasoned author. So talented, writing like a King a Bradbury and a Beaumont..
May 3, 2022
From the very first time I read a story by Jack Harding, I knew he would be one of my favorite indie authors ever! It was such a great discovery, so I was so anxious to read this first compilation of horror short stories, which includes React and Driving in the Dark, ones of my favorites.
Reading them is like facing all of our fears at once, with a plot twist in each story that makes you feel more surprised than the last one. It’s a never ending mountain of emotions page by page.
Also ambienced in the most common and at the same time, terrorific scenarios, Jack Harding proves that anything is what it seems to be. So be aware of the dark lines of your mind!🔥
Reading them is like facing all of our fears at once, with a plot twist in each story that makes you feel more surprised than the last one. It’s a never ending mountain of emotions page by page.
Also ambienced in the most common and at the same time, terrorific scenarios, Jack Harding proves that anything is what it seems to be. So be aware of the dark lines of your mind!🔥
May 7, 2022
I’m not an “approach with caution” kind of reader. I will dive in, headfirst, and hope the author either crafts wings or, at the very least, will catch me before I plummet into a literary abyss and my brain does a gruesome Jackson Pollock should I reach the end. However, I went into Dark Lines with something akin to hesitation. I knew three of the stories in the new collection were incredible – I had the privilege to beta ‘The Devils Mountain’ which, along with the suspenseful ‘React’ and the masterclass in writing that is ‘Driving in the Dark,’ is five star– so there was no issue of confidence in Harding’s latest offering. My concern was solely that Harding’s previous collection ‘Ripper Country’ is, in my mind, a flawless masterpiece. I was genuinely terrified of having an Icarus moment this time around.
But these wings aren’t made of wax, dear readers. What Harding has achieved with ‘Dark Lines’ is nothing short of miraculous. What could have felt like a collection of stand-alone stories that lacked cohesion was instead a beautifully executed creep through the darkest corners of the mind of an exquisite storyteller. From the visuals of the cover and the illustrations within, to the pacing and the uniqueness of each tale, I felt as though I was sat around a campfire being enchanted and terrified by ghost stories. Haunting tales of horror, indeed!
Harding translates characters from a suggestion of just that, a character, into a complex and authentic human being that so many of us can relate to despite their extraordinary circumstances. I read widely and eclectically, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt, Harding’s character work is some of the best I have ever read in thirty plus years of consuming every written word I can lay my eyes on.
An element of the collection that worked superbly for me was impactful endings. ‘The Doctors Note’ stands out for me in this regard because of how well it was done. That final line was explosive but done almost serenely, the sense of sadness and the unknown (or what he knew was coming whichever way you look at it) had numbed the character to a point he felt at peace with the decision he made, exercising the only control he felt he had left.
There are so many goosebump inducing endings woven through the collection. ‘React’ ‘The Foot of the Bed’ and ‘Be a Man’ are three whose closing words will ricochet around my head like Harding just volleyed a squash ball into my cranium.
My personal favourite story was ‘Portsdown Ridge’, a story that could have felt bleak but was full of heart. In the midst of devastation there is always that place of solitude, a place we go to find peace, to find ourselves. In the worst of times there is that place where we seek that chink of hope. Many times, I have sought out inspiration whilst watching the cerulean palettes, whether it be from above as it grazes the Portsmouth skyline or the sea as its rolls off her shores. ‘Portsdown Ridge’ moved me to tears, as did ‘Roxie’ which is a twisty, horrific tale of abuse. ‘The Vagabond’ was another that in one line turned the story on its head and brought the fright factor screaming up like a banshee to herald some deaths
Throughout all his work, description has been one of the sharpest tools in Harding’s toolbox. The effortless way he will introduce simile to really lure a reader into visualising what he wants to show them is reflective of how adept he is in creating a backdrop to his terrifying narrative.
What Harding has done with ‘Dark Lines’ is deliver the unforgettable. Truly frightening and sometimes heart-breaking tales of psychological horror. A nightmarish landscape mapped out by an exceptional writer. The terrain is perilous but the journey is a remarkable one that will stay with a reader long after the end. It will be with you long after lights out…
But these wings aren’t made of wax, dear readers. What Harding has achieved with ‘Dark Lines’ is nothing short of miraculous. What could have felt like a collection of stand-alone stories that lacked cohesion was instead a beautifully executed creep through the darkest corners of the mind of an exquisite storyteller. From the visuals of the cover and the illustrations within, to the pacing and the uniqueness of each tale, I felt as though I was sat around a campfire being enchanted and terrified by ghost stories. Haunting tales of horror, indeed!
Harding translates characters from a suggestion of just that, a character, into a complex and authentic human being that so many of us can relate to despite their extraordinary circumstances. I read widely and eclectically, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt, Harding’s character work is some of the best I have ever read in thirty plus years of consuming every written word I can lay my eyes on.
An element of the collection that worked superbly for me was impactful endings. ‘The Doctors Note’ stands out for me in this regard because of how well it was done. That final line was explosive but done almost serenely, the sense of sadness and the unknown (or what he knew was coming whichever way you look at it) had numbed the character to a point he felt at peace with the decision he made, exercising the only control he felt he had left.
There are so many goosebump inducing endings woven through the collection. ‘React’ ‘The Foot of the Bed’ and ‘Be a Man’ are three whose closing words will ricochet around my head like Harding just volleyed a squash ball into my cranium.
My personal favourite story was ‘Portsdown Ridge’, a story that could have felt bleak but was full of heart. In the midst of devastation there is always that place of solitude, a place we go to find peace, to find ourselves. In the worst of times there is that place where we seek that chink of hope. Many times, I have sought out inspiration whilst watching the cerulean palettes, whether it be from above as it grazes the Portsmouth skyline or the sea as its rolls off her shores. ‘Portsdown Ridge’ moved me to tears, as did ‘Roxie’ which is a twisty, horrific tale of abuse. ‘The Vagabond’ was another that in one line turned the story on its head and brought the fright factor screaming up like a banshee to herald some deaths
Throughout all his work, description has been one of the sharpest tools in Harding’s toolbox. The effortless way he will introduce simile to really lure a reader into visualising what he wants to show them is reflective of how adept he is in creating a backdrop to his terrifying narrative.
What Harding has done with ‘Dark Lines’ is deliver the unforgettable. Truly frightening and sometimes heart-breaking tales of psychological horror. A nightmarish landscape mapped out by an exceptional writer. The terrain is perilous but the journey is a remarkable one that will stay with a reader long after the end. It will be with you long after lights out…
January 1, 2023
Jack Harding's collection has horror stories that go all over the place. Several of them are more of the "horror of people" variety and a few are more of the "horrors of the mind" sort, with a few monstrous or otherworldly horror. Nothing particularly bad about the writing, but not much that really captivated me either. I'd call this an average collection which I'll round up to 3*.
August 23, 2022
A strong variety of dark stories told by a powerful voice!
May 6, 2022
A sinister collection of highly entertaining and largely effective short stories that range from fast-paced psycho’ horrors to slow-burning chillers that teeter on the brink of speculative fiction. Some serious, some tongue in cheek, all worth a read despite a couple feeling out of place.
Stories like React, The Foot of the Bed, Silent Treatment, The Devil’s Mountain, Shadow of a Dream, Cells, Roxie and Driving in the Dark were all first-rate. I enjoyed them immensely. They were unique and unnerving in there own way. Kinda like tiny episodes of black mirror or the twilight zone with some great twists. The Vagaond was also very clever- a bit of a head-scratcher but I think I get what the author was going for. One of the more non horror based stories (Be A Man) was probably the stand out for me. A handful of the other shorter tales like After Eight, Sadie’s Snake and A Doctor’s Note were good but kinda felt a little out of place. The final story (Portsdown Ridge) was a beautiful piece of writing, a really great way to close out the collection.
Stories like React, The Foot of the Bed, Silent Treatment, The Devil’s Mountain, Shadow of a Dream, Cells, Roxie and Driving in the Dark were all first-rate. I enjoyed them immensely. They were unique and unnerving in there own way. Kinda like tiny episodes of black mirror or the twilight zone with some great twists. The Vagaond was also very clever- a bit of a head-scratcher but I think I get what the author was going for. One of the more non horror based stories (Be A Man) was probably the stand out for me. A handful of the other shorter tales like After Eight, Sadie’s Snake and A Doctor’s Note were good but kinda felt a little out of place. The final story (Portsdown Ridge) was a beautiful piece of writing, a really great way to close out the collection.
May 18, 2022
Incredible
There was so much to love about this collection of short stories by Harding. The illustrations that appeared with each story we're fantastic and gave an added depth to each story.
Every story was great but a few stood out for me personally. There was the Vagabond that followed a young traveller who says that he is many years older than could be believed. The story about Sleep Paralysis resonated with me because I have had bouts of it myself for an extended period of time. His description of it and imagination with it made for a very fun read.
The story that stood out the most for me and hit me right in the feels was Driving in the Dark. A man is describing his commute home from work before the long Christmas break. He is looking forward to finally popping the question to his girlfriend and the whole thing is just so relatable and well written.
I will definitely be looking forward to more from Harding. Dark Lines is well worth the price of admission.
There was so much to love about this collection of short stories by Harding. The illustrations that appeared with each story we're fantastic and gave an added depth to each story.
Every story was great but a few stood out for me personally. There was the Vagabond that followed a young traveller who says that he is many years older than could be believed. The story about Sleep Paralysis resonated with me because I have had bouts of it myself for an extended period of time. His description of it and imagination with it made for a very fun read.
The story that stood out the most for me and hit me right in the feels was Driving in the Dark. A man is describing his commute home from work before the long Christmas break. He is looking forward to finally popping the question to his girlfriend and the whole thing is just so relatable and well written.
I will definitely be looking forward to more from Harding. Dark Lines is well worth the price of admission.
January 1, 2023
These stories blew my mind. Nothing is ever like it seems. I was in awe every time the story ended and I was like damn.
Roxie was my favourite story of them all. I’m still crying about it.
Check trigger warnings before reading.
Roxie was my favourite story of them all. I’m still crying about it.
Check trigger warnings before reading.
August 5, 2022
I hate to vote down on emerging authors, but the narrative was excruciatingly cheap
May 13, 2022
I’d already read Harding’s short stories React, Driving in the Dark and The Devil’s Mountain (loved them all) as well as his first book Ripper Country (again, loved it) so I was excited to dive into this collection of his work. And boy, did it live up to my expectations. I even read the aforementioned short stories again and they were actually even better second time around. Lots of variety and finesse on display here in a dark collection that contains something for every horror fan. Much like Ripper Country in that respect. This is really great stuff.
November 18, 2022
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The thing is, I really wanted to read this anthology one story per day; however, I didn’t think it possible with the situation of my reading schedule. Add to that, the amount of books I am “currently reading” is quite mental that it feels like reading is more of a chore than anything else. Nevertheless, it doesn’t affect my reading much as multiple books allow myself to freely jump through reads whenever I feel off with one book in particular.
The beginning story was not the most interesting and it gave me a sense of dread. Not because the story was scary, but more so because I had a feeling that I will not enjoy the entirety of the collection if the opening short didn’t click with me. And it became a reality, similar to the overall motif of the story.
In fact, I got through this book without remembering anything in particular from the stories — aside from that story about a couple who went somewhere in Germany and it all went haywire from there. I remembered it quite well from the fact that it was so full of filler that I eventually lost track that it was even a horror story that I am reading. I was so disappointed with that story that I ended up visualizing every part of it whenever I think of the book. It’s not even the title story! Honestly, most of the stories lack the eerie atmosphere that I wanted the stories to have and that weird thought that not even a single one of the stories stuck with me really shocked me.
What I did love about this collection is how they followed a distorted rhythm in the theme of dreaming — whether it be actually dreaming, outside of body experience, or dreaming in the sense of hallucinating. The story stuck with this one singular theme that the consistency of it was absolutely entertaining. It allowed the readers to get a glimpse on the capacity of one single subject to become more. It was fun to watch as the author plays with his work.
It is rather unfortunate that I didn’t connect with the writing as much as I would like. I saw great potential with the style and it was obvious that there was great thought placed upon the theme surrounding the stories. I enjoy the motive surrounding mentality and dreams and how capable Jack Harding was in creating a myriad of work with one singular topic.
See this and other reviews in my blog.
The thing is, I really wanted to read this anthology one story per day; however, I didn’t think it possible with the situation of my reading schedule. Add to that, the amount of books I am “currently reading” is quite mental that it feels like reading is more of a chore than anything else. Nevertheless, it doesn’t affect my reading much as multiple books allow myself to freely jump through reads whenever I feel off with one book in particular.
The beginning story was not the most interesting and it gave me a sense of dread. Not because the story was scary, but more so because I had a feeling that I will not enjoy the entirety of the collection if the opening short didn’t click with me. And it became a reality, similar to the overall motif of the story.
In fact, I got through this book without remembering anything in particular from the stories — aside from that story about a couple who went somewhere in Germany and it all went haywire from there. I remembered it quite well from the fact that it was so full of filler that I eventually lost track that it was even a horror story that I am reading. I was so disappointed with that story that I ended up visualizing every part of it whenever I think of the book. It’s not even the title story! Honestly, most of the stories lack the eerie atmosphere that I wanted the stories to have and that weird thought that not even a single one of the stories stuck with me really shocked me.
What I did love about this collection is how they followed a distorted rhythm in the theme of dreaming — whether it be actually dreaming, outside of body experience, or dreaming in the sense of hallucinating. The story stuck with this one singular theme that the consistency of it was absolutely entertaining. It allowed the readers to get a glimpse on the capacity of one single subject to become more. It was fun to watch as the author plays with his work.
It is rather unfortunate that I didn’t connect with the writing as much as I would like. I saw great potential with the style and it was obvious that there was great thought placed upon the theme surrounding the stories. I enjoy the motive surrounding mentality and dreams and how capable Jack Harding was in creating a myriad of work with one singular topic.
See this and other reviews in my blog.
October 7, 2022
What an incredible compilation of psychological horror stories.
I have had the pleasure of reading Ripper Country and some other short stories by Jack Harding and was blown away by his talent as a new author. I was so excited to see that Thomas Gloom had narrated Dark Lines on audible and Thomas makes every story an attention grabber.
My favourites would have to be "Roxie", "The Foot Of The Bed" and "Driving In The Dark", which I'll give no spoilers for.
Dark lines gives the reader a more impending sense of dread as each story spirals darker into the characters consciousness ready for them to snap.
This is a collection that although is a mixed bag, is worth more than the amount of stars I can give it.
I have had the pleasure of reading Ripper Country and some other short stories by Jack Harding and was blown away by his talent as a new author. I was so excited to see that Thomas Gloom had narrated Dark Lines on audible and Thomas makes every story an attention grabber.
My favourites would have to be "Roxie", "The Foot Of The Bed" and "Driving In The Dark", which I'll give no spoilers for.
Dark lines gives the reader a more impending sense of dread as each story spirals darker into the characters consciousness ready for them to snap.
This is a collection that although is a mixed bag, is worth more than the amount of stars I can give it.
September 11, 2022
3.5 stars. Some of the horror in this short story collection truly scared me. After Eight, Roxie and Silent Treatment were my favourites and I had such a fun, creepy time reading this for the most part. Some of the stories had great twists that i didn’t see coming and there were some really interesting psychological elements explored.
There were a few stories in here that didn’t really work for me and that I felt really dragged. But that’s what I would expect from a story collection as it’s rare to like every story. I would definitely still recommend this one as overall it was a good reading experience.
There were a few stories in here that didn’t really work for me and that I felt really dragged. But that’s what I would expect from a story collection as it’s rare to like every story. I would definitely still recommend this one as overall it was a good reading experience.
August 6, 2022
Having read Ripper Country recently, I was expecting the same level of craftsmanship with this collection also, and it met my expectations. I really enjoy Jack Harding's writing style, a fine blend of literary and genre fiction; it's very modern, but at the same time abundant in symbolic language. I loved the unpredictable and chilling outcome of most stories and the moral lessons that lingered.
I have a few favorites: Roxie, Be a Man, The Vagabond, but my top choice is The End of the Line. It was so evocative and moody, I just couldn't shake it off for a while, and that was fine.
I have a few favorites: Roxie, Be a Man, The Vagabond, but my top choice is The End of the Line. It was so evocative and moody, I just couldn't shake it off for a while, and that was fine.
January 9, 2023
I was given a chance to listen to the audiobook of this collection by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. First 5 star review of 2023 and in all honesty I truly loved every minute of this collection. The stories were fun to listen to and really brought about some heart racing moments for me. The narrator made these stories really jump off the page and gave them that movie quality that my brain and ears needed. I couldn’t stop listening to it and wish that there had been more stories. I look forward to reading/listening to more from this author and narrator.
July 2, 2022
Jack Harding is a great writer, no doubt about that. His prose jumps off the page. I have to admit that this collection wasn’t for me, not really my style, but I still enjoyed it throughout, and also what the hell do I know? And like I said before, the writing is just so damn good. While I was reading I kept thinking about how I can’t wait to read a Harding novel or his previous collection Ripper Country, so maybe that’ll be next up.
May 29, 2022
Although I only gave this 3 stars it was still a good read, there were some good short stories in here. Like the vagabond and the driving one, but there were also some less-interesting ones that seemed to be page after page of filler like the two kids in Germany. I'd definitely read more of his books in the future in the hope that the filler is toned down!
May 11, 2022
3.5 from me.
A very good collection of short tales. Some emotional, some creepy. I did really enjoy some of the stories but others not so much. My favs were Killing Time and Roxie, they really stood out thanks to the twists.
A very good collection of short tales. Some emotional, some creepy. I did really enjoy some of the stories but others not so much. My favs were Killing Time and Roxie, they really stood out thanks to the twists.
July 25, 2022
Jack Harding is an author I became aware of through Dark Lit press, both through his inclusion in the “Slice of Paradise” anthology with his flash piece “She waits”, and through Dark Lit’s promotion of him with giveaways and Author Spotlights (If I remember correctly). When Dark Lit then produced a collection of Jack’s works, I jumped at the chance to read it – my thanks go to both Dark Lit and Jack for the ARC of Dark Lines, this is my honest review and it has been in no way biased by receiving a free copy.
Firstly, one thing all of the stories have in common (or most of them), is Jack’s penchant for perceptional twists – a lot of the stories complete themselves by panning out at the end of the story to reveal that the MC is not as you assumed – they are revealed to be the opposite of what you thought they were (and I’m not listing examples here so as not to spoil those twists). The gut punch to a lot of the stories is the realization that what you had assumed was wrong, and the story you just read needs to be read again in light of the new information. It works - I will say that after two stories in succession with that effect I braced myself for the shoe drop in every story, and quite often, the shoe dropped. The work itself though sells the book – each story is tight, polished, well thought out, and wonderfully constructed.
Jack can write very compelling shorts.
Harding utilizes description as a set card in his poker hand, and it’s generally the first card he plays. The setting descriptions in almost all of the shorts are in-depth, poetic, atmospheric, and detailed – smells, sounds, and textures, it’s all included to build the background to the horror Jack then injects into each story. Sometimes that horror is ambiguous, “A doctor’s note” for example requires the reader to take the logical step to interpret “made his way down to the ground floor” correctly – which scored kudos points from me, I’m a fan of allowing the reader to complete logical thought-trains themselves, my phrase “Let the reader think, dammit!” was not said in vain – there are others out there that believe the same, Dan Howarth tapped into that idea with his short “Dustin”, and Jack continues the tradition here. By that I am not saying I own the idea, I ascribe to it, as do many.
Highlights for me were “Silent treatment” and “The foot of the bed”, both utilizing the perspective change to hit home their messages. The longer “Driving in the dark” - itself a stand-alone novella included here as a part of the collection – was a nice addition, again a perception change as a smack at the end.
This collection is pretty solid. The style of the pieces is consistent, and as such, I think it’s a collection best read slowly, say one story a day, to really appreciate it. The writing is tight, the prose poetic and descriptive, and Jack does love to play with reader expectations.
The range here was broad, the writing easy to read.
This is (for me) a great introduction to Jack’s writing. I’d love to read something of his with a little more meat, there’s no room for doubt here that Harding has mastered the short-with-a-twist, I’m going to need to read a longer novella by him to see what he does with a larger palate and horror that has a slower build.
Yeah, I’m impressed. Harding’s a thinker, and I like that. I’m giving this 5 ⭐ ‘s because of the scope of imagination required here to construct the shorts in the way Jack did.
Excellent work.
Firstly, one thing all of the stories have in common (or most of them), is Jack’s penchant for perceptional twists – a lot of the stories complete themselves by panning out at the end of the story to reveal that the MC is not as you assumed – they are revealed to be the opposite of what you thought they were (and I’m not listing examples here so as not to spoil those twists). The gut punch to a lot of the stories is the realization that what you had assumed was wrong, and the story you just read needs to be read again in light of the new information. It works - I will say that after two stories in succession with that effect I braced myself for the shoe drop in every story, and quite often, the shoe dropped. The work itself though sells the book – each story is tight, polished, well thought out, and wonderfully constructed.
Jack can write very compelling shorts.
Harding utilizes description as a set card in his poker hand, and it’s generally the first card he plays. The setting descriptions in almost all of the shorts are in-depth, poetic, atmospheric, and detailed – smells, sounds, and textures, it’s all included to build the background to the horror Jack then injects into each story. Sometimes that horror is ambiguous, “A doctor’s note” for example requires the reader to take the logical step to interpret “made his way down to the ground floor” correctly – which scored kudos points from me, I’m a fan of allowing the reader to complete logical thought-trains themselves, my phrase “Let the reader think, dammit!” was not said in vain – there are others out there that believe the same, Dan Howarth tapped into that idea with his short “Dustin”, and Jack continues the tradition here. By that I am not saying I own the idea, I ascribe to it, as do many.
Highlights for me were “Silent treatment” and “The foot of the bed”, both utilizing the perspective change to hit home their messages. The longer “Driving in the dark” - itself a stand-alone novella included here as a part of the collection – was a nice addition, again a perception change as a smack at the end.
This collection is pretty solid. The style of the pieces is consistent, and as such, I think it’s a collection best read slowly, say one story a day, to really appreciate it. The writing is tight, the prose poetic and descriptive, and Jack does love to play with reader expectations.
The range here was broad, the writing easy to read.
This is (for me) a great introduction to Jack’s writing. I’d love to read something of his with a little more meat, there’s no room for doubt here that Harding has mastered the short-with-a-twist, I’m going to need to read a longer novella by him to see what he does with a larger palate and horror that has a slower build.
Yeah, I’m impressed. Harding’s a thinker, and I like that. I’m giving this 5 ⭐ ‘s because of the scope of imagination required here to construct the shorts in the way Jack did.
Excellent work.
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