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The Devil's Mountain
From the author of React and Driving in the Dark comes a fresh slice of slow-boiling, psychological horror that will chill you to the bone.
Deep in Berlin's Grunewald forest, lurking in the silent winter fog, lies a man-made hill forged from the ruins of World War 2. On top of the hill stands an old spy station that's been empty since the fall of the Iron Curtain nearly 30 years ago.
Dylan and Nikki are a young, adventurous British couple who have just one more sight to check-off their abandoned Berlin list before they head home. Journey with them as they explore the darkened halls and corridors of a Cold War mausoleum caught between the past and the present- frozen in time. Journey with them to The Devil's Mountain, a place that will change their lives forever…
Deep in Berlin's Grunewald forest, lurking in the silent winter fog, lies a man-made hill forged from the ruins of World War 2. On top of the hill stands an old spy station that's been empty since the fall of the Iron Curtain nearly 30 years ago.
Dylan and Nikki are a young, adventurous British couple who have just one more sight to check-off their abandoned Berlin list before they head home. Journey with them as they explore the darkened halls and corridors of a Cold War mausoleum caught between the past and the present- frozen in time. Journey with them to The Devil's Mountain, a place that will change their lives forever…
49 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2022
16 people are currently reading
214 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 47 reviews
March 29, 2023
A great short-form psychological horror story.
'A narrow concrete stairwell—a tower—spiked out of the roof like a lighthouse and was imprisoned by another dishevelled, skeletal construct: a cylindrical tube which wrapped around the tall concrete, reaching up into the heavens and towering over the entire forest like a dystopian skyscraper.'
I love it when I pick up a book with which I had no or low expectations for it to then turn out to be a well-written, immersive and thoroughly entertaining experience. This story did that and much more.
Short stories can be particularly hit-and-miss, luckily for me, this was most definitely on the positive side of things. With sharp and descriptive writing from the onset, Harding's writing ability exceeded what I expected from him when it completely captivated me with its stark and almost dystopian imagery. Yes, maybe the plot itself was rather simplistic but this is a short story and almost by definition tends to air on the more straightforward side of plot development.
All in all, a really well-drawn short horror story.
'But here and now, in the clutches of the fog and the heart of winter, it was Salvador Dali and Stephen King, a foreboding thing of unnerving horror and twisted shadows, a chilling and surreal space where nothing lived but bad memories and sleeping ghosts.'
After reading this, I'll be sure to check out more of Jack Harding's work.
'A narrow concrete stairwell—a tower—spiked out of the roof like a lighthouse and was imprisoned by another dishevelled, skeletal construct: a cylindrical tube which wrapped around the tall concrete, reaching up into the heavens and towering over the entire forest like a dystopian skyscraper.'
I love it when I pick up a book with which I had no or low expectations for it to then turn out to be a well-written, immersive and thoroughly entertaining experience. This story did that and much more.
Short stories can be particularly hit-and-miss, luckily for me, this was most definitely on the positive side of things. With sharp and descriptive writing from the onset, Harding's writing ability exceeded what I expected from him when it completely captivated me with its stark and almost dystopian imagery. Yes, maybe the plot itself was rather simplistic but this is a short story and almost by definition tends to air on the more straightforward side of plot development.
All in all, a really well-drawn short horror story.
'But here and now, in the clutches of the fog and the heart of winter, it was Salvador Dali and Stephen King, a foreboding thing of unnerving horror and twisted shadows, a chilling and surreal space where nothing lived but bad memories and sleeping ghosts.'
After reading this, I'll be sure to check out more of Jack Harding's work.
October 25, 2022
3,5/5
Novella review ‘The Devil’s Mountain’ by @rocket.man.reads published by @darklitpress
http://looneybooks79.blog/2022/05/01/...
When a couple is exploring an abandoned site somewhere in the woods near Berlin, they stumble upon a dark figure, while the dark approaches! The Devil’s Mountain is a place you better avoid!
This story builds slowly towards an eerie conclusion. Dylan’s musings and fear in this dark tale give off a claustrophobic vibe. It has the same atmosphere as Cabin in the Woods or Cabin Fever, mixed with a little of Overlord’s Nazi remnants. Urban exploring can be a deadly thing that much is clear!
I wouldn’t read it in the dark, at night… and I don’t plan on wandering in woods alone in the dark either!
Novella review ‘The Devil’s Mountain’ by @rocket.man.reads published by @darklitpress
http://looneybooks79.blog/2022/05/01/...
When a couple is exploring an abandoned site somewhere in the woods near Berlin, they stumble upon a dark figure, while the dark approaches! The Devil’s Mountain is a place you better avoid!
This story builds slowly towards an eerie conclusion. Dylan’s musings and fear in this dark tale give off a claustrophobic vibe. It has the same atmosphere as Cabin in the Woods or Cabin Fever, mixed with a little of Overlord’s Nazi remnants. Urban exploring can be a deadly thing that much is clear!
I wouldn’t read it in the dark, at night… and I don’t plan on wandering in woods alone in the dark either!
April 12, 2022
I got this for free via the link @rocket.man.reads profile! This is a quick novella about a couple hiking in Berlin on The Devil's Mountain.
The setting makes this story, Dylan and girlfriend Nikki are hiking up The Devil's Mountain in the winter, it's a rough hike but they are headed to an abandoned field station at the top of the man made hill. There is an aggressive ticket attendant, shadowy figures and a growing sense of claustrophobia. Really great read and I googled Teufelsberg(The Devil's Mountain) after reading to look at the pictures and Harding does a great job with description! It's pretty creepy
The setting makes this story, Dylan and girlfriend Nikki are hiking up The Devil's Mountain in the winter, it's a rough hike but they are headed to an abandoned field station at the top of the man made hill. There is an aggressive ticket attendant, shadowy figures and a growing sense of claustrophobia. Really great read and I googled Teufelsberg(The Devil's Mountain) after reading to look at the pictures and Harding does a great job with description! It's pretty creepy
May 16, 2022
Funny, creepy, somehow disturbing and very chilling.
This story will take your breath away from the cold in your bones that will make you feel as we accompany a couple of sweethearts to visit the remains of a CIA base in the mountainous forests around Berlin.
What is left in those dilapidated buildings of concrete and sheet metal?
What are those hell of noises that seem to surround them?
This story will take your breath away from the cold in your bones that will make you feel as we accompany a couple of sweethearts to visit the remains of a CIA base in the mountainous forests around Berlin.
What is left in those dilapidated buildings of concrete and sheet metal?
What are those hell of noises that seem to surround them?
April 5, 2022
I was pleased to receive an advanced copy of The Devil's Mountain, a short story by Jack Harding.
The Devil's Mountain centres on a young couple on a holiday to Berlin, who are visiting an unusual place just outside the city. The premise is solid (who doesn't love discovering a new place?) but what keeps you hooked in is the characters - as the couple wander to their destination, we wander with them, picking up small anecdotes, thoughts and stories from them along the way as we get to know them.
As with Harding's other stories, though, there's a catch. Just as I found myself fully invested in the pair, came the subtle but striking suggestions that something was very, very wrong...
The horror of this story comes through in the gaps; what's not said, not seen, and not described - it really gave me chills! Slightly ambiguous endings are my favourite and this one was well thought-out and well-executed.
If you enjoyed Driving in the Dark, I think you'll like this one!
The Devil's Mountain centres on a young couple on a holiday to Berlin, who are visiting an unusual place just outside the city. The premise is solid (who doesn't love discovering a new place?) but what keeps you hooked in is the characters - as the couple wander to their destination, we wander with them, picking up small anecdotes, thoughts and stories from them along the way as we get to know them.
As with Harding's other stories, though, there's a catch. Just as I found myself fully invested in the pair, came the subtle but striking suggestions that something was very, very wrong...
The horror of this story comes through in the gaps; what's not said, not seen, and not described - it really gave me chills! Slightly ambiguous endings are my favourite and this one was well thought-out and well-executed.
If you enjoyed Driving in the Dark, I think you'll like this one!
March 14, 2022
I was fortunate to get an early look at this novella from a writer who is already proving hard to ignore, from just a handful of releases so far. In this chilling slow-burn, Jack Harding wants to take you to The Devil’s Mountain, an abandoned cold war relic just outside Berlin. At least, it appears to be abandoned. As we wade through the snow and the woods, pay our entry fee, and start to explore the place, you’ll soon feel the unease, the tension and the dread building. This is possibly the best thing Harding has released so far - it’s certainly the one that has burrowed furthest under my skin. By the time I got to the quite thrilling climax, I was just as scared by what Harding had left my own imagination to chew over as I was by what he’d actually written. To pull that off takes real talent and, at this stage in his fledgling career, real bravery. This guy is the real deal folks - I already know his next release will jump right to the top of my TBR the moment it drops.
April 29, 2025
I really enjoyed The Devil's Mountain. It's a novella that takes its time to build the setting and atmosphere, the characters are likeable, and writing is great. The first third felt a bit languid, but once past that, I was fully engaged in the story. By the time I finished, I wanted the book to be longer. I'll definitely have to check out more of Jack's work in the future.
June 17, 2022
3.5/5
Since the time when I started watching documentaries and later discovering more and more about history on the internet (I didn’t get internet until Grade 10 or so, 1996ish), I’ve always been fascinated with Hitler and the Nazi’s scope concerning both the sheer volume of buildings and bases they built, but also their supposed occult leanings. I don’t want to go down a conspiracy theory rabbit hole here, but I know I’m not the only one out there who sees an old, abandoned base covered in vines and let’s their brain wander to what could be lurking down there and what the Nazi’s might’ve conjured from somewhere else.
Which brings me to Harding’s ‘The Devil’s Mountain.’ This actually just came on my radar the other day, when Kev Harrison shared one of those ‘newsletter-sign-up-and-get-free-books’ posts. I clicked the link, scrolled through the listings and grabbed a couple, one being this one.
What I liked: The story follows Dylan and Nikki, recent love birds, who are travelling through Germany and visiting some historical sites. One such site is Teufelsberg, a former CIA station that was built on top of a former Nazi training site.
Harding does a great job of capturing the two in that amazing, beginning of a relationship state, flirting, joking and bantering frequently. Both Dylan and Nikki are likeable characters and the lead up to them arriving at the location was fun.
Once at the site, things grow ominous and claustrophobic, Harding doing a great job of keeping us on our toes as well as confused and second guessing everything.
The ending was a nice bit of fun, tying things together while still leaving enough unanswered to let our minds wander.
What I didn’t like: Two things stuck out for me. The first was, I felt like for the length of the story, it took far too long to actually get to the location and then the events at the location itself felt rushed. I would’ve loved it to be maybe 20% getting there, 70% there, 10% wrap up. Instead it was closer to 75% getting there, 20% there and 5% wrap up, so the events came off as really rushed.
Secondly, I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the overly descriptive moments. When the wind is described as ‘insinuating’ it felt like it was reaching for something that it never fully arrived at.
Why you should buy this: If you snagged this as a freebie, definitely get on it. Other wise, this is a quick, single sitting read that will have you hyperventilating. This was your classic 90 minute movie where a single frame isn’t wasted and the action comes fast and furious.
Since the time when I started watching documentaries and later discovering more and more about history on the internet (I didn’t get internet until Grade 10 or so, 1996ish), I’ve always been fascinated with Hitler and the Nazi’s scope concerning both the sheer volume of buildings and bases they built, but also their supposed occult leanings. I don’t want to go down a conspiracy theory rabbit hole here, but I know I’m not the only one out there who sees an old, abandoned base covered in vines and let’s their brain wander to what could be lurking down there and what the Nazi’s might’ve conjured from somewhere else.
Which brings me to Harding’s ‘The Devil’s Mountain.’ This actually just came on my radar the other day, when Kev Harrison shared one of those ‘newsletter-sign-up-and-get-free-books’ posts. I clicked the link, scrolled through the listings and grabbed a couple, one being this one.
What I liked: The story follows Dylan and Nikki, recent love birds, who are travelling through Germany and visiting some historical sites. One such site is Teufelsberg, a former CIA station that was built on top of a former Nazi training site.
Harding does a great job of capturing the two in that amazing, beginning of a relationship state, flirting, joking and bantering frequently. Both Dylan and Nikki are likeable characters and the lead up to them arriving at the location was fun.
Once at the site, things grow ominous and claustrophobic, Harding doing a great job of keeping us on our toes as well as confused and second guessing everything.
The ending was a nice bit of fun, tying things together while still leaving enough unanswered to let our minds wander.
What I didn’t like: Two things stuck out for me. The first was, I felt like for the length of the story, it took far too long to actually get to the location and then the events at the location itself felt rushed. I would’ve loved it to be maybe 20% getting there, 70% there, 10% wrap up. Instead it was closer to 75% getting there, 20% there and 5% wrap up, so the events came off as really rushed.
Secondly, I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the overly descriptive moments. When the wind is described as ‘insinuating’ it felt like it was reaching for something that it never fully arrived at.
Why you should buy this: If you snagged this as a freebie, definitely get on it. Other wise, this is a quick, single sitting read that will have you hyperventilating. This was your classic 90 minute movie where a single frame isn’t wasted and the action comes fast and furious.
April 29, 2022
Wow! He’s only gone and done it again!
This is a spooky and mysterious story that you just can’t help but find yourself becoming attached to the main characters in the matter of a few pages, as you read about a couples trip to a real life spooky abandoned German base.
I think what gets me about Harding’s writing is that every story offers something quite different to the last. To see such variation so early in a writers career is absolutely unreal.
This is a spooky and mysterious story that you just can’t help but find yourself becoming attached to the main characters in the matter of a few pages, as you read about a couples trip to a real life spooky abandoned German base.
I think what gets me about Harding’s writing is that every story offers something quite different to the last. To see such variation so early in a writers career is absolutely unreal.
March 14, 2022
As with many of Hardings stories I've read, It's very easy to relate to the characters. I felt like a fly on the wall of my own mind reading this , from the way they act, the dialogue they engage in, to their reactions and internal thoughts to what's going on, it felt like I could be the star of this story myself.
It makes for a much more interesting and invested read. The setting is right up my alley, elements of a bygone war with a modern twist . it's equal parts eerie, creepy and intriguing.
A good novella should always leave you wanting more, more context, that sense of "wait, but what happens next?" Is something that takes talent . Of which I've seen plenty of in my time reading the number of stories Harding has published to date .
Looking forward to the full release of this one, and to see what other people think.
As always, Thanks to Jack for trusting my opinion and providing me with a copy .
It makes for a much more interesting and invested read. The setting is right up my alley, elements of a bygone war with a modern twist . it's equal parts eerie, creepy and intriguing.
A good novella should always leave you wanting more, more context, that sense of "wait, but what happens next?" Is something that takes talent . Of which I've seen plenty of in my time reading the number of stories Harding has published to date .
Looking forward to the full release of this one, and to see what other people think.
As always, Thanks to Jack for trusting my opinion and providing me with a copy .
April 29, 2022
3.5 stars.
This was an enjoyable, creepy read. The writing is good. I did find that it was a bit "over" descriptive when it came to the building itself. I know it's only a short story and that's fine, but i just found myself getting distracted from the story.
It does get pretty creepy though, which is excellent.
This was an enjoyable, creepy read. The writing is good. I did find that it was a bit "over" descriptive when it came to the building itself. I know it's only a short story and that's fine, but i just found myself getting distracted from the story.
It does get pretty creepy though, which is excellent.
May 7, 2022
This novella was a pleasure to read, I couldn't put it down and wanted more when it was done. The author created a great visuals with his descriptions ( Stephen King ) like. Fast paced, with some anxiety thrown in for good measure. I will definitely be reading more Jack Harding!!!
June 17, 2022
"He was lost for words. Both of them were. Teufelsberg was eerily beautiful: a snapshot of Cold War history frozen in time that resembled what many people no doubt imagined Pripyat or certain parts of Russia to look like in the grey and silent winters; deserted, forsaken, cursed"
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Spoilers / Review for The Devil's Mountain
.
Deep in the Grunewald Forest in Berlin, Germany lies Teufelsberg aka the Devil's Mountain, a former CIA base, long since abandoned. Dylan and Nikki take a tour of the Devil's Mountain but what awaits them?...
.
Back in June I read Dark Lines (review for that in a bit) but The Devil's Mountain deserves it's own review
.
It's one of the best stories in the Dark Lines collection. The setting, combining the winter, fog and an abandoned CIA base all come together very nicely. Dylan and Nikki are superb leads and you can connect with them easily. The creeping darkness and fog and the mysterious man at the Mountain both really add to this story. It's fast paced but very good. The ending is a bit twisty turny but I really enjoyed it!
5/5 ⭐
.
Spoilers / Review for The Devil's Mountain
.
Deep in the Grunewald Forest in Berlin, Germany lies Teufelsberg aka the Devil's Mountain, a former CIA base, long since abandoned. Dylan and Nikki take a tour of the Devil's Mountain but what awaits them?...
.
Back in June I read Dark Lines (review for that in a bit) but The Devil's Mountain deserves it's own review
.
It's one of the best stories in the Dark Lines collection. The setting, combining the winter, fog and an abandoned CIA base all come together very nicely. Dylan and Nikki are superb leads and you can connect with them easily. The creeping darkness and fog and the mysterious man at the Mountain both really add to this story. It's fast paced but very good. The ending is a bit twisty turny but I really enjoyed it!
5/5 ⭐
May 8, 2022
Really enjoyed the plot! Didn’t know which way the story was going, add the suspense and wow! Rounded off well with a great ending.
Look forward to getting stuck into “Dark Lines” and more from the author.
Look forward to getting stuck into “Dark Lines” and more from the author.
April 29, 2022
During the 1980’s a wave of hyper-explicit genre fiction emerged, dubbed ‘splatterpunk’ by the horror press, that focused less on classical story spookiness than visceral expressions of extreme violence. Led by a vanguard of young, hip writers like Clive Barker, David J. Schow, Craig Spector and John Skipp, Richard Laymon and, later, Poppy. Z Brite, the loosely-defined movement instigated a polarizing split among the practitioners of literary terror. Some critical authors, most vocally notable being the late Charles Grant, lambasted the new gory aesthetic and advocated a return to more traditional forms of written fear in the vein of Shirley Jackson, Richard Matheson and Ray Bradbury, with their focus on atmosphere, mood, setting and character rather than imitative cinema slasher-style butchery. This so-called ‘quiet horror’ gained counter-revolutionary reactive traction against splatterpunk, but the echoes of that long ago Cold War between the two stalemated factions of frightful fiction remain. Questions of how far is too far to go in terms of story violence linger, and the steady rise in popularity of ‘slow-burn’ tales--itself influenced by films such as The VVitch, Midsommar, and The Lighthouse--have led to a similar surge in more meditative depictions of the macabre.
Portsmouth, UK writer Jack Harding’s novella, The Devil’s Mountain, recently released by DarkLit Press, is one such example of modern ‘quiet horror’. Steeped in foreboding, the plot centers on a digital-age British couple, fun lunkhead Dylan and his bratty-but-brainy girlfriend of four months, Nikki, as they visit Teufelsberg, the titular Devil’s Mountain, a remote, graffiti-tattooed Soviet Bloc-era intelligence base-turned-tourist-destination buried deep in what was once the East German forest. Much time and care is spent establishing the two protagonists and, in particular, their stark, wintry surroundings. Teulfelsberg as a structure, too, is described in vivid, Masque of the Red Death-like detail, its chilly corridors and crumbling granite glory given frigid life through Harding’s almost hypnotic prose. Alone on the base with only an hour before closing, a ticking countdown ramps up the unease the further Dylan and Nikki venture into the facility. At five o’clock the gates close, trapping anyone left inside for the night, and while Nikki assures there’s plenty of time for spelunking, once the pair become separated and Dylan sees a spectral figure among the ruins, getting out takes a back seat to simply staying alive.
The Devil’s Mountain seethes with mood. A shroud of dread is drawn over Dylan and Nikki’s early whimsical banter that only thickens as the novella progresses. If there’s any fault in the scenario it lies with the ending, specifically the fact that, given the meticulous set-up, there isn’t one in the conventional sense. Once separated, Dylan’s quest to locate his girlfriend literally screams to an abrupt halt, only for the storyline to pick up years later, leaving a purposefully-inserted black hole for readers to fall through. The intention is to allow the audience’s own anxieties to fill the gap, and to a certain extent the ploy works, yet the final result feels too jarring, too sudden, to be fully satisfying. It’s the ultimate in anti-climax, and diffuses the precisely-pieced machine Harding spent so much pain to construct; it’s horror so quiet it’s become mute, a vehicle stripped down so much that the engine refuses to turns over when readers need it to the most, and the unanswered questions and unresolved situation stifles the previously riveting tension.
That aside, The Devil’s Mountain is nonetheless an intriguing, well-crafted yarn, rife with trepidation, sparse, dark tone, a wonderfully unique setting, and stands as an example of what one can do to inspire shudders without slathering scenes in blood. For a quick shot of ominous escape during an otherwise average afternoon, a bookworm could do worse. A decent read overall.
Portsmouth, UK writer Jack Harding’s novella, The Devil’s Mountain, recently released by DarkLit Press, is one such example of modern ‘quiet horror’. Steeped in foreboding, the plot centers on a digital-age British couple, fun lunkhead Dylan and his bratty-but-brainy girlfriend of four months, Nikki, as they visit Teufelsberg, the titular Devil’s Mountain, a remote, graffiti-tattooed Soviet Bloc-era intelligence base-turned-tourist-destination buried deep in what was once the East German forest. Much time and care is spent establishing the two protagonists and, in particular, their stark, wintry surroundings. Teulfelsberg as a structure, too, is described in vivid, Masque of the Red Death-like detail, its chilly corridors and crumbling granite glory given frigid life through Harding’s almost hypnotic prose. Alone on the base with only an hour before closing, a ticking countdown ramps up the unease the further Dylan and Nikki venture into the facility. At five o’clock the gates close, trapping anyone left inside for the night, and while Nikki assures there’s plenty of time for spelunking, once the pair become separated and Dylan sees a spectral figure among the ruins, getting out takes a back seat to simply staying alive.
The Devil’s Mountain seethes with mood. A shroud of dread is drawn over Dylan and Nikki’s early whimsical banter that only thickens as the novella progresses. If there’s any fault in the scenario it lies with the ending, specifically the fact that, given the meticulous set-up, there isn’t one in the conventional sense. Once separated, Dylan’s quest to locate his girlfriend literally screams to an abrupt halt, only for the storyline to pick up years later, leaving a purposefully-inserted black hole for readers to fall through. The intention is to allow the audience’s own anxieties to fill the gap, and to a certain extent the ploy works, yet the final result feels too jarring, too sudden, to be fully satisfying. It’s the ultimate in anti-climax, and diffuses the precisely-pieced machine Harding spent so much pain to construct; it’s horror so quiet it’s become mute, a vehicle stripped down so much that the engine refuses to turns over when readers need it to the most, and the unanswered questions and unresolved situation stifles the previously riveting tension.
That aside, The Devil’s Mountain is nonetheless an intriguing, well-crafted yarn, rife with trepidation, sparse, dark tone, a wonderfully unique setting, and stands as an example of what one can do to inspire shudders without slathering scenes in blood. For a quick shot of ominous escape during an otherwise average afternoon, a bookworm could do worse. A decent read overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2022
From the author of ‘React’ and ‘Driving in the Dark’ comes this fresh slice of psychological horror that will take you on a tour so terrifying you will want to ditch your passport.
Dylan and Nikki are having the time of their lives on a romantic getaway to Berlin. Unbeknownst to the infatuated Brits, the last stop on their sightseeing tour may well be the last stop of their young lives. When the couple venture into a supposedly deserted spy station at Teufelsberg, they are unaware of the malevolence that awaits them…
I had the privilege of receiving an early copy of The Devils Mountain. Being already familiar with Hardings incredible work to date, I was certain I’d love this but it transpired I was woefully underprepared for just how blown away I would be!
Although TDM fits a genre in which readers may seek the gratification of an early scare to really grab them, the slow burn pacing works beautifully, largely due to the authenticity of the characters and their relationship.
Harding continues to build upon the stunning prose he effortlessly weaves throughout his previous work, the imagery creating perfect visuals in a readers mind of this fascinating location. There are elements of misdirection and ambiguity which could be frustrating in a less capable talent but Harding is a safe pair of hands who allows a readers imagination to fuel the terror.
The Devils Mountain is thrilling, gorgeously evocative and creepy as hell. If you venture to Teufelsberg with Dylan and Nikki wrap up warm, this story will chill you to the bone
Dylan and Nikki are having the time of their lives on a romantic getaway to Berlin. Unbeknownst to the infatuated Brits, the last stop on their sightseeing tour may well be the last stop of their young lives. When the couple venture into a supposedly deserted spy station at Teufelsberg, they are unaware of the malevolence that awaits them…
I had the privilege of receiving an early copy of The Devils Mountain. Being already familiar with Hardings incredible work to date, I was certain I’d love this but it transpired I was woefully underprepared for just how blown away I would be!
Although TDM fits a genre in which readers may seek the gratification of an early scare to really grab them, the slow burn pacing works beautifully, largely due to the authenticity of the characters and their relationship.
Harding continues to build upon the stunning prose he effortlessly weaves throughout his previous work, the imagery creating perfect visuals in a readers mind of this fascinating location. There are elements of misdirection and ambiguity which could be frustrating in a less capable talent but Harding is a safe pair of hands who allows a readers imagination to fuel the terror.
The Devils Mountain is thrilling, gorgeously evocative and creepy as hell. If you venture to Teufelsberg with Dylan and Nikki wrap up warm, this story will chill you to the bone
August 10, 2022
I read The Devil’s Mountain as part of Jack Harding’s Dark Lines collection and it was one of the stand outs of the collection.
The novella follows British couple Dylan and Nikki as the visit the Devil’s Mountain, a former intelligence base deep in Berlin’s Grunewald Forest.
Like much of Dark Lines, this novella is seeped in with a sense of impending doom, the atmosphere created is tense and unnerving.
The relationship between Dylan and Nikki plays out realistically, with some playful banter between the two and Dylan’s inner thoughts about the relationship show that honeymoon period of any early romance with the person you think is the one. These early scenes of the book also adds to the feeling that something is going to go terribly wrong.
One of things that stands out with Jack Harding’s stories is his scene setting descriptions of where the story takes place and this is on show again with The Devil’s Mountain, it really feeds into creating an atmosphere of dread as the characters explore Teulfelsberg.
Another cracking story from Jack Harding, check out Dark Lines for more like The Devil’s Mountain.
The novella follows British couple Dylan and Nikki as the visit the Devil’s Mountain, a former intelligence base deep in Berlin’s Grunewald Forest.
Like much of Dark Lines, this novella is seeped in with a sense of impending doom, the atmosphere created is tense and unnerving.
The relationship between Dylan and Nikki plays out realistically, with some playful banter between the two and Dylan’s inner thoughts about the relationship show that honeymoon period of any early romance with the person you think is the one. These early scenes of the book also adds to the feeling that something is going to go terribly wrong.
One of things that stands out with Jack Harding’s stories is his scene setting descriptions of where the story takes place and this is on show again with The Devil’s Mountain, it really feeds into creating an atmosphere of dread as the characters explore Teulfelsberg.
Another cracking story from Jack Harding, check out Dark Lines for more like The Devil’s Mountain.
April 9, 2022
Yet another haunting, atmospheric and superbly written story from an emerging talent who’s proving hard to ignore.
I’ve read everything (I think) that Harding has released so far and each tale has been better than the last.
The Devil’s Mountain is a slow burn but it’s totally worth it. The final third explodes into terrifying life only to finish on a somber note which left me reeling. The writing is, at times, beautiful and hypnotic and the dialogue and characters are superbly crafted. So believable and likeable.
I’m the kind of reader who enjoys ambiguity but only when it’s done with purpose. Here, Harding leaves just enough unsaid to make the mind fill in the blanks with its own horror and that’s not just a smart move, but it makes for a great ending. 5/5
I’ve read everything (I think) that Harding has released so far and each tale has been better than the last.
The Devil’s Mountain is a slow burn but it’s totally worth it. The final third explodes into terrifying life only to finish on a somber note which left me reeling. The writing is, at times, beautiful and hypnotic and the dialogue and characters are superbly crafted. So believable and likeable.
I’m the kind of reader who enjoys ambiguity but only when it’s done with purpose. Here, Harding leaves just enough unsaid to make the mind fill in the blanks with its own horror and that’s not just a smart move, but it makes for a great ending. 5/5
May 23, 2022
A nice slice of 'terror'
The premise behind this story is both interesting and original and the writing strong and fitting for the genre. Jack Harding paints a vivid scene which becomes easy to visualise which certainly helps. For me, however, I thought that the detail behind the couples relationship went into unnecessary depths - it would have been just as easy to identify with their relationship from fewer, well chosen sentences. Likewise I feel that Harding could have used greater detail to highlight the terror of the final scene on the mountain.
The ending, however, is strong, and reflects the long lasting impact of traumatic events.
A good, short read for anyone who prefers 'terror' to 'horror'.
The premise behind this story is both interesting and original and the writing strong and fitting for the genre. Jack Harding paints a vivid scene which becomes easy to visualise which certainly helps. For me, however, I thought that the detail behind the couples relationship went into unnecessary depths - it would have been just as easy to identify with their relationship from fewer, well chosen sentences. Likewise I feel that Harding could have used greater detail to highlight the terror of the final scene on the mountain.
The ending, however, is strong, and reflects the long lasting impact of traumatic events.
A good, short read for anyone who prefers 'terror' to 'horror'.
April 10, 2022
I was so hyped after reading Ripper Country that I went straight onto Jacks newest novella, The Devils Mountain, and what an absolute gem it is. I really didnt know where this one was gonna go.....well.....I thought I did, but Jack loves a twist and I didnt predict the ending. There isnt much I can say without giving away most of the story, so I urge you to download The Devils Mountain and see for yourself. I'm giving this little beaut 4 big shiny stars, its awesome!
June 8, 2022
A Spooky Delight
This is my first time reading this author and I was impressed. His first priority in The Devil's Mountain was establishing solid characters. Despite the short amount of time that we spend with them, the characters feel fleshed out and believable. His second priority is crafting the perfect atmosphere.
When the scares begin it's all a roller coaster from there. It's a tense little psychological thriller that expertly balances giving readers a glimpse of the horrors that thrive in the dark with the mystery of what other horrors await in the darkness.
This is my first time reading this author and I was impressed. His first priority in The Devil's Mountain was establishing solid characters. Despite the short amount of time that we spend with them, the characters feel fleshed out and believable. His second priority is crafting the perfect atmosphere.
When the scares begin it's all a roller coaster from there. It's a tense little psychological thriller that expertly balances giving readers a glimpse of the horrors that thrive in the dark with the mystery of what other horrors await in the darkness.
May 2, 2022
This was was such a good fun, cold, dark and claustrophobic story. Again Jacks writing impresses me massively. You can really feel the love and connection between Dylan and Nikki, feels like a really personal relationship and story from Jack. Another great piece of work from him and I'm really looking forward to his new book Dark Lines.
April 7, 2022
This is by far my favourite of Jack Harding's stories so far. The way Jack writes honestly makes me feel like I'm right there in the story. This story made me feel genuinely unsettled, and as it reached it's climax I could feel the anxiety and tension, even as I write this the adrenaline is still pumping. A quick read, yes, but definitely one not to be missed!
May 11, 2022
[Synopsis: Deep in Berlin’s Grunewald forest, lurking in the silent winter fog, lies a man-made hill forged from the ruins of World War 2. On top of the hill stands an old spy station that’s been empty since the fall of the Iron Curtain nearly 30 years ago. Dylan and Nikki are a young, adventurous British couple who have just one more sight to check off their abandoned Berlin list before they head home. A journey that will change their lives forever…]
I’ve been to Berlin, Germany only once in my life where a very cool taxi driver took me and a coworker on the best tourist adventure we could have asked for to get in spots and pictures on our last free night. Devil’s Mountain wasn’t on the list but reading this would give me pause to visit in the dark!
I’d describe The Devil’s Mountain as short, slow burn, atmospheric dread with a sad horror finish. You can feel something terrible is coming and while the author lingers on the environment he still gets across the emotions of the main character from start to finish in a subtle quiet manner. Solitude is reflected in varying states of hopefulness, panic, and mourning.
And here is what is also really cool. Given all the details attributed to the location the story takes place in I had to google it and yes, it’s a real place. So not only did I read a new story, find a new author, but also got to take a dive through the internets to learn more about Tuefelsberg (Devil’s Mountain). I think I’ll keep my visit virtual though.☠️
Thanks to Darklitpress for sharing a copy of this Novella with me to enjoy, read and review.
I’ve been to Berlin, Germany only once in my life where a very cool taxi driver took me and a coworker on the best tourist adventure we could have asked for to get in spots and pictures on our last free night. Devil’s Mountain wasn’t on the list but reading this would give me pause to visit in the dark!
I’d describe The Devil’s Mountain as short, slow burn, atmospheric dread with a sad horror finish. You can feel something terrible is coming and while the author lingers on the environment he still gets across the emotions of the main character from start to finish in a subtle quiet manner. Solitude is reflected in varying states of hopefulness, panic, and mourning.
And here is what is also really cool. Given all the details attributed to the location the story takes place in I had to google it and yes, it’s a real place. So not only did I read a new story, find a new author, but also got to take a dive through the internets to learn more about Tuefelsberg (Devil’s Mountain). I think I’ll keep my visit virtual though.☠️
Thanks to Darklitpress for sharing a copy of this Novella with me to enjoy, read and review.
June 3, 2022
This spooky novella was a free Kindle book on Amazon when I came across it. Gotta love free, right?
Quick summary: A young couple walks through a German forest to explore an abandoned spy station leftover from the Cold War.
This was a great short horror story. Harding is detailed & accurate with his descriptions (Devil's Mountain, or Teufelsberg, is a real place) without making it boring. The story itself is a slow burn, which sent my imagination & attempts to guess what would happen next into overdrive.
There's a bit of The Blair Witch Project vibe to the climax of the story & the author leaves just enough for your own imagination to fill in the gaps. This was a great example of how to write horror without the typical bloodbath.
Honestly I would give it 4.5 stars if Goodreads let us do half star ratings. Pretty much my only complaint is I want more spooks!
Quick summary: A young couple walks through a German forest to explore an abandoned spy station leftover from the Cold War.
This was a great short horror story. Harding is detailed & accurate with his descriptions (Devil's Mountain, or Teufelsberg, is a real place) without making it boring. The story itself is a slow burn, which sent my imagination & attempts to guess what would happen next into overdrive.
There's a bit of The Blair Witch Project vibe to the climax of the story & the author leaves just enough for your own imagination to fill in the gaps. This was a great example of how to write horror without the typical bloodbath.
Honestly I would give it 4.5 stars if Goodreads let us do half star ratings. Pretty much my only complaint is I want more spooks!
May 30, 2022
Slow burn quiet horror. Much better to read in one sitting.
A loved up couple exploring an abandoned spy station known as The Devil’s Mountain deep in Berlin’s Grunewalds forest.
I think some would say it’s a little ott on the descriptions of the abandoned structures, but I think it added to the sense of foreboding. And well, I really want to visit now. Maybe.
A loved up couple exploring an abandoned spy station known as The Devil’s Mountain deep in Berlin’s Grunewalds forest.
I think some would say it’s a little ott on the descriptions of the abandoned structures, but I think it added to the sense of foreboding. And well, I really want to visit now. Maybe.
November 2, 2022
3.5 rounded to 3 stars for Goodreads.
It wasn't a favourite of mine from Jack's stories, but the setting was written really well. The atmosphere just felt eerie and ominous.
The set-up of the location and the relationship was great, I could really picture myself being there. The terror of something lurking on the periphery followed by the panic of Nikki going missing had me on the edge of my seat.
Unfortunately, I then felt that things dropped off - it ended quite abruptly and left me with questions (that I can't add without spoilers). I think the main ending could have been expanded more, plus I'm a bit confused by the very very ending - not sure what that added. I'm also intrigued to know about who else ventured into it's jaws.
It wasn't a favourite of mine from Jack's stories, but the setting was written really well. The atmosphere just felt eerie and ominous.
The set-up of the location and the relationship was great, I could really picture myself being there. The terror of something lurking on the periphery followed by the panic of Nikki going missing had me on the edge of my seat.
Unfortunately, I then felt that things dropped off - it ended quite abruptly and left me with questions (that I can't add without spoilers). I think the main ending could have been expanded more, plus I'm a bit confused by the very very ending - not sure what that added. I'm also intrigued to know about who else ventured into it's jaws.
May 6, 2022
Another creepy good time from Mr. Harding.
August 29, 2022
(First published on StoryGraph August 2022)
The Devil's Mountain is a short yet slow-burning horror story that drips with atmosphere. I enjoyed imagining Harding's rich descriptions of the eerie, brutalist architecture and how it had been vandalized and neglected in the years since its abandonment. He writes Dylan and Nikki with high-spirited harmony, which increases the horror, since the reader already knows something horrible is about to happen to them. My only criticism is that I would have liked more description as to what that horrible thing actually was, since my imagination had been drifting to many possibilities. In all, I thought this was a unique and engaging story, with an environment that I would love to see depicted visually, since it was so interesting to try and picture it myself.
The Devil's Mountain is a short yet slow-burning horror story that drips with atmosphere. I enjoyed imagining Harding's rich descriptions of the eerie, brutalist architecture and how it had been vandalized and neglected in the years since its abandonment. He writes Dylan and Nikki with high-spirited harmony, which increases the horror, since the reader already knows something horrible is about to happen to them. My only criticism is that I would have liked more description as to what that horrible thing actually was, since my imagination had been drifting to many possibilities. In all, I thought this was a unique and engaging story, with an environment that I would love to see depicted visually, since it was so interesting to try and picture it myself.
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