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The Clearing
In 1976, four boys walked into a jungle. Only three came back alive. Haunted by terrifying childhood memories he doesn't fully understand, journalist Nate Mason returns to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia where he grew up. Back then, as the son of a diplomat, he was part of an elite social circle. But during a weekend of whispered secrets and dares in a decaying jungle mansion staffed by the descendants of slaves, Nate's innocence was torn apart. The survivors of that gathering blamed what happened on a myth, an unseen terror from the bush. No one believed them. But now. almost forty years later, is the truth finally about to come out? Within hours of arriving back on the island, Nate becomes convinced he's being followed. He soon discovers that his search for answers could cost him his sanity as well as his life, as he realises that some childhood nightmares never go away. Can childhood nightmares haunt you for the rest of your life? How much do you need to believe in a monster for it to become real? The Clearing is a dark and atmospheric psychological thriller, full of intrigue, terror and superstition, which examines our deepest fears of the unknown. A potent mix of the friendship and bravery of Stand By Me and the betrayals and fear of Angel Heart.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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About the author
Dan Newman
45 books15 followersDan Newman has spent much of his…. Jeez. Look at that. I’m giving myself the third-person treatment. Let's not pretend I have "people" to man this site. We both know it's me.
The basics; I’m an Englishman by birth, a Canadian by immigration, and amalgam of several wonderful places in Southern Africa by virtue of the time I’ve spent there growing up.
I’m a citizen of the beach thanks to my formative years spent in the Caribbean, and I’m a self described Australian enviator (yeah, I made that word up – what of it?
It means someone who envies all that someone else has), thanks to the time I spent there at Grad school, and the hours and days I spent trying desperately to look like I knew what I was doing on a surfboard
The basics; I’m an Englishman by birth, a Canadian by immigration, and amalgam of several wonderful places in Southern Africa by virtue of the time I’ve spent there growing up.
I’m a citizen of the beach thanks to my formative years spent in the Caribbean, and I’m a self described Australian enviator (yeah, I made that word up – what of it?
It means someone who envies all that someone else has), thanks to the time I spent there at Grad school, and the hours and days I spent trying desperately to look like I knew what I was doing on a surfboard
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 14, 2013
Have you ever met a person who was trying to make a point but they just kept talking in circles? That's how I felt about this book. The first few pages of The Clearing were shocking and intense - a great start. But for me, the story lost its momentum after it flashed back to present day and never seemed to regain that same energy.
I wanted to know what happened to the boy who was killed in the jungle, but had it figured out before getting halfway through the book. The description says the boys blamed the death on a mythical monster and no one believed them, but that's not what happened in the story. They never talked to anyone about what happened and how the boy was killed was the secret Nate had carried for so long. A little misleading. The motive for the murder was obvious, but it never seemed to ring true for me. Without giving anything away, maybe a little more information about the character relationships and their background would have helped.
The author's descriptions of St. Lucia portrayed a beautiful tropical setting, but I felt as if they sometimes overshadowed what was happening in the story. I enjoyed the interactions between the boys when they were younger and thought the author captured the mischievousness and dynamics of that age group very accurately. Nate had also experienced tremendous loss in his adult life and his emotions were portrayed quite well.
Overall, I liked this book, but maybe if the description had been more accurate, I would have had different expectations before reading it.
This review was based on a digital ARC from the publisher by NetGalley.
I wanted to know what happened to the boy who was killed in the jungle, but had it figured out before getting halfway through the book. The description says the boys blamed the death on a mythical monster and no one believed them, but that's not what happened in the story. They never talked to anyone about what happened and how the boy was killed was the secret Nate had carried for so long. A little misleading. The motive for the murder was obvious, but it never seemed to ring true for me. Without giving anything away, maybe a little more information about the character relationships and their background would have helped.
The author's descriptions of St. Lucia portrayed a beautiful tropical setting, but I felt as if they sometimes overshadowed what was happening in the story. I enjoyed the interactions between the boys when they were younger and thought the author captured the mischievousness and dynamics of that age group very accurately. Nate had also experienced tremendous loss in his adult life and his emotions were portrayed quite well.
Overall, I liked this book, but maybe if the description had been more accurate, I would have had different expectations before reading it.
This review was based on a digital ARC from the publisher by NetGalley.
April 21, 2016
I found the varying time frames, and the back and forth among three throughout the book a bit confusing, and I also thought it diluted the suspense and tension of the book. The story follows a man from his 13 year old self when he is the son of a diplomat on St. Lucia to this man 20 years later, and then to the present day which is about three years later than the second time frame. As a thirteen year old boy an event happened when he was with his three other friends that has haunted him and his family for years. After Nate's father commits suicide twenty-three years later, he realizes that he just go back to St. Lucia to put some old ghosts to rest. When he arrives he finds out that the old crime is still very much front and centre. I think the book fell short in the dark and atmospheric tone that the author is trying to create. Lack of continuity and jerky time changing within the book cause this.
June 13, 2016
When I review a book it is my practise, if possible, not to read anything about the book but just to jump straight in. I read this book and thought it was wonderful. I then read the Amazon and Goodreads pages on the book and was surprised at some of the previous reviews.
It is not the book that is at fault. The problem is the publisher’s marketing material which misleadingly describes the book as “… a dark … psychological thriller…”
The Clearing is an atmospheric story of Nate who in middle age is drawn back to St. Lucia where a tragic event took place in his childhood. He feels that this event has adversely affected his life and the lives of those close to him, so in an attempt to put things right he enlists the help of a local journalist and returns to seek truth and justice.
Although written in the third person the book follows the lead character throughout, chronicling his actions and thoughts. It starts dramatically in the immediate aftermath of that event nearly 40 years before, and I was drawn in during those few pages.
Generally the book then tells two stories alongside each other; the days leading up to the tragic event, and Nate’s visit in the current time. Early in the book the action also covered other events in Nate’s life which some reviewers have found confusing, but for me they only added to the intrigue.
I have never been to the Caribbean but I appreciated the descriptions of St. Lucia as seen through Nate’s eyes as a boy and as a middle aged man. In particular I liked the contrast between old and new, some good small details like the nutmeg shells and the lives of the descendants of the former slaves.
So was this a book about the supernatural? I do not believe it was. True, some of the older islanders still followed the old beliefs and the boys had their own fears which were fuelled by the controlling plantation owner but what happened to the older Nate was man made and I never felt that it was anything more than that.
I thought that the quality of writing was very good. It read easily and fluently, and as far as I could see there were no spelling or grammar errors.
If you want a dark psychological thriller this may not be the book for you, but if you want a well told mystery tale with Caribbean flavour this is a good read. I have happily given it five stars.
Reviewed by Clive at www.whisperingstories.com
It is not the book that is at fault. The problem is the publisher’s marketing material which misleadingly describes the book as “… a dark … psychological thriller…”
The Clearing is an atmospheric story of Nate who in middle age is drawn back to St. Lucia where a tragic event took place in his childhood. He feels that this event has adversely affected his life and the lives of those close to him, so in an attempt to put things right he enlists the help of a local journalist and returns to seek truth and justice.
Although written in the third person the book follows the lead character throughout, chronicling his actions and thoughts. It starts dramatically in the immediate aftermath of that event nearly 40 years before, and I was drawn in during those few pages.
Generally the book then tells two stories alongside each other; the days leading up to the tragic event, and Nate’s visit in the current time. Early in the book the action also covered other events in Nate’s life which some reviewers have found confusing, but for me they only added to the intrigue.
I have never been to the Caribbean but I appreciated the descriptions of St. Lucia as seen through Nate’s eyes as a boy and as a middle aged man. In particular I liked the contrast between old and new, some good small details like the nutmeg shells and the lives of the descendants of the former slaves.
So was this a book about the supernatural? I do not believe it was. True, some of the older islanders still followed the old beliefs and the boys had their own fears which were fuelled by the controlling plantation owner but what happened to the older Nate was man made and I never felt that it was anything more than that.
I thought that the quality of writing was very good. It read easily and fluently, and as far as I could see there were no spelling or grammar errors.
If you want a dark psychological thriller this may not be the book for you, but if you want a well told mystery tale with Caribbean flavour this is a good read. I have happily given it five stars.
Reviewed by Clive at www.whisperingstories.com
October 31, 2013
In The Clearing by Dan Newman chapters alternate between three different times in Nate Mason's life, the past, recent past and present day. In the past, 1976, he was a twelve year old boy playing with his friends, Tristan, Pip, and Richard, on the island of St. Lucia. The boys went into the jungle to play but only three of them came out alive. The youngest, 10 year old Richard, was left behind, dead. In the recent past we learn of a more contemporary tragedy in Nate's life. The current chapters deal with Nate going back to St. Lucia, trying to come to terms with what happened in 1976 and in the recent past.
In 1976 it seemed clear that the monster, the bolum, may have been responsible for many of the bad events. Even in the present there is some kind of black magic/voodoo trailing along Nate's path, out to get him. In fact, even other heartbreaking events in Nate's past may be somehow traced back to that tragic day in 1976. Once Nate steps foot on the island it seems something or someone is systematically trying to harm him.
While Newman is certainly a competent writer technically, The Clearing seemed circuitous in the delivery. There seemed to be too much information in the back story that Newman wanted to share which made the delivery of the story a bit ponderous to get through all the meandering at times. It starts out strong and then lags until almost half way at which point it picks up only to slow down again. I think this might have been solved to some degree if more of the back story was told in those chapters and some of the superfluous details were pared out. In the end the novel felt uneven to me, not really terrifying, and the ending was a bit anticlimactic.
Newman excels at his descriptions of island life and capturing the dialect of the natives in the text. He does manage to set an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. You will also care about what happens to Nate. Although a comparison to Stand by Me isn't warranted, this is certainly a novel for this time of year.
Recommended
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Angry Robot via Netgalley for review purposes.
In 1976 it seemed clear that the monster, the bolum, may have been responsible for many of the bad events. Even in the present there is some kind of black magic/voodoo trailing along Nate's path, out to get him. In fact, even other heartbreaking events in Nate's past may be somehow traced back to that tragic day in 1976. Once Nate steps foot on the island it seems something or someone is systematically trying to harm him.
While Newman is certainly a competent writer technically, The Clearing seemed circuitous in the delivery. There seemed to be too much information in the back story that Newman wanted to share which made the delivery of the story a bit ponderous to get through all the meandering at times. It starts out strong and then lags until almost half way at which point it picks up only to slow down again. I think this might have been solved to some degree if more of the back story was told in those chapters and some of the superfluous details were pared out. In the end the novel felt uneven to me, not really terrifying, and the ending was a bit anticlimactic.
Newman excels at his descriptions of island life and capturing the dialect of the natives in the text. He does manage to set an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. You will also care about what happens to Nate. Although a comparison to Stand by Me isn't warranted, this is certainly a novel for this time of year.
Recommended
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Angry Robot via Netgalley for review purposes.
November 4, 2014
Dan Newman’s The Clearing centres around the return of Nate – beset by recent tragedies – to the island of Saint Lucia where he spent time as a boy.
Slowly we learn the story behind Nate’s early years on the island and of his friendship with fellow foreigner Pip and locals (and cousins) Tristan and Richard.
Charismatic and occasional-tormenter Tristan is akin to island royalty and revered by the three other boys. His heritage is synonymous with the island and when the boys have an opportunity to visit his remote plantation home they jump at the chance. However the old house and surrounding rainforest harbour secrets which unsettle the boys; and then an event takes place, which changes their lives forever.
I enjoyed this novel, but you kinda know what’s coming by the time the great childhood-incident-reveal takes place. I think it’s also pretty easy to guess who’s behind the attacks on adult Nate.
The Caribbean and island of Saint Lucia – from its current glamour to its remote and eerily beautiful forests – are expertly described by Newman and the sense of place in the novel is very strong.
Read the entire review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
Slowly we learn the story behind Nate’s early years on the island and of his friendship with fellow foreigner Pip and locals (and cousins) Tristan and Richard.
Charismatic and occasional-tormenter Tristan is akin to island royalty and revered by the three other boys. His heritage is synonymous with the island and when the boys have an opportunity to visit his remote plantation home they jump at the chance. However the old house and surrounding rainforest harbour secrets which unsettle the boys; and then an event takes place, which changes their lives forever.
I enjoyed this novel, but you kinda know what’s coming by the time the great childhood-incident-reveal takes place. I think it’s also pretty easy to guess who’s behind the attacks on adult Nate.
The Caribbean and island of Saint Lucia – from its current glamour to its remote and eerily beautiful forests – are expertly described by Newman and the sense of place in the novel is very strong.
Read the entire review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
January 3, 2017
I wanted to like this story but the writing was really repetitive and it took forever to get anywhere in the book. Maybe it's just my personal impatience but I feel it could have moved along quicker. The mysterious thing lingering in the jungle wasn't revealed until about 3/4ths into the story and even then his impact on the story wasn't even worth his mentioning. The ending was very anti climatic.
August 5, 2016
Excellent read...loved the movement between times in Nate's life...kept the momentum and suspense. The ending was great....Bolom! I couldn't put it down! Well done Dan and congratulations on your first of what I'm sure will be many more novels to come..... Sequel????
March 12, 2020
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.0 of 5
Dan Newman's The Clearing is billed as an eerie thriller, and the book opens with a murder, which definitely has a strong, eerie overtone and was perfect for pulling me into this story. Unfortunately, the rest of the book was quite flat.
Nate, a young man, travels back to the island of St. Lucia, where his father has recently committed suicide. But the suicide of a diplomat is not the story here. As a young teen, Nate was caught up in an incident in which he and three friends went off alone into the wilderness of the island, but one of the boys didn't return. Now he has to not only face the shock of his father's death, but a past that has haunted him for many years, as well as the almost animalistic nature of the island itself.
The narration of the book bounces back and forth from the era when the teen boys discovered the brutal truth of death, to the present day, with Nate trying to come to terms with his past on St. Lucia. This back and forth storytelling is not uncommon, but I didn't find it necessary. In fact, I tended to find the story of the past much more interesting than the present. The teen Nate was wide-eyed and impressionable, and what he sees has the strength and horror the way a good horror thriller should be. The older Nate is clumsy and remarkably unsure of himself. I really wanted to skip these chapters.
There is a lot of time spent on create a mood or an atmosphere for the book. Getting the proper mood for this sort of thriller is really important, but it definitely should not be all-consuming, and the story just develops too slowly to really be engaging.
The back and forth nature of the narrative was distracting and I didn't quite understand why we were going back and forth. Typically, about the time I wonder 'why' in a book, the author will reveal something that lets us know why this has been important. I didn't get that here. I really felt I had two distinct stories going.
I was mostly bored with this book, except for the opening chapter and one chapter about three-quarters of the way in, when something finally happened.
This is not recommended.
Looking for a good book? The Clearing, by Dan Newman, is a moody, dark thriller that spends more time on creating the mood than it does on developing a story.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Dan Newman's The Clearing is billed as an eerie thriller, and the book opens with a murder, which definitely has a strong, eerie overtone and was perfect for pulling me into this story. Unfortunately, the rest of the book was quite flat.
Nate, a young man, travels back to the island of St. Lucia, where his father has recently committed suicide. But the suicide of a diplomat is not the story here. As a young teen, Nate was caught up in an incident in which he and three friends went off alone into the wilderness of the island, but one of the boys didn't return. Now he has to not only face the shock of his father's death, but a past that has haunted him for many years, as well as the almost animalistic nature of the island itself.
The narration of the book bounces back and forth from the era when the teen boys discovered the brutal truth of death, to the present day, with Nate trying to come to terms with his past on St. Lucia. This back and forth storytelling is not uncommon, but I didn't find it necessary. In fact, I tended to find the story of the past much more interesting than the present. The teen Nate was wide-eyed and impressionable, and what he sees has the strength and horror the way a good horror thriller should be. The older Nate is clumsy and remarkably unsure of himself. I really wanted to skip these chapters.
There is a lot of time spent on create a mood or an atmosphere for the book. Getting the proper mood for this sort of thriller is really important, but it definitely should not be all-consuming, and the story just develops too slowly to really be engaging.
The back and forth nature of the narrative was distracting and I didn't quite understand why we were going back and forth. Typically, about the time I wonder 'why' in a book, the author will reveal something that lets us know why this has been important. I didn't get that here. I really felt I had two distinct stories going.
I was mostly bored with this book, except for the opening chapter and one chapter about three-quarters of the way in, when something finally happened.
This is not recommended.
Looking for a good book? The Clearing, by Dan Newman, is a moody, dark thriller that spends more time on creating the mood than it does on developing a story.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2018
I enjoyed this book. It was grabbing from the first and I was hooked. It was a compelling tale that didn't
want to let me go to bed. I finishd far faster than I sould have. This is an excellent read and should be savored.
want to let me go to bed. I finishd far faster than I sould have. This is an excellent read and should be savored.
June 8, 2018
I received this book from GoodReads Giveaways- It was really good not to give anything away but I love the twists. It can be kind of confusing going from past to present but not too bad.
October 15, 2013
We follow Nate who returns several years later on the island - where he lived a dramatic story in his youth - to end a series of galleys in his life that are bound to the famous event. We follow him but at different times through flashbacks (at the time of the event when he lived in the island, at a crucial period of his recent past and nowadays). What may seem confusing actually let us understand the current events, the reason for his return to the island and to be closer to him. Because we discover the young boy, full of joy, excitement and terror, we learn to appreciate him, we want to protect him (I confess : the fact that I'm the mother of a pre-teen of the same age had a lot to play in this part !)
Facts, old and new, are discovered along the story. There's that idea that we can't understand the present without knowing the past and that premise is good. There is also a supernatural hand (it is an island!) Voodoo is never far away, odd situations are never exactly explained but are well designed to create a distressing condition for Nate who don't understand them because he's not native. Nor are we, so we very well put ourselves in his shoes, living a surreal adventure (have you ever get a chicken leg thrown in your face?). We do not understand but we feel very uncomfortable. So there is a rise of feelings of discomfort, fear and misunderstanding well conducted by the author, who knows the islands, having lived there.
There are some lengthy parts although the space does not falter. How so? It takes a lot of time for Nate to get to his goal and of course many things happen but at times I felt that the author could have not included some mishaps. Fortunately, the atmosphere of the book, how Newman tells the story and the back and forth in time are so well done that every time I began to find it long, the story bounced, the pace accelerated and I was reconciled with the book.
Nate wishes to return to the place of origin of his bad luck to solve all his problems. I admit that when I discovered why he wanted to go back I found it a bit superfluous. The fear experienced by the children is enough to explain their tell at the time and Nate's desire to return was largely explicable by his guilt associated with the event 25 years ago. The end is not as thrilling than is suggested by the story, even if the author manages to make it more enjoyable by adding a final touch of mystery.
One of the characters in the book (if you can talk about character) is the island itself. Certainly there are other people in the novel but in my opinion the island holds the upper hand with Nate. The author has described it as scary as a spot paradise. As much with a joyful atmosphere as a strange one and just as simple in relationships than full of several customs and beliefs that complicate things. We understand and share the joy of Nate who revisit some places, the longing for his childhood but also his fear. That island has two sides to its coin and it can turn very quickly!
In a nutshell
A good novel with its particular and pleasant atmosphere. A character we learn to like, an island that puts a spell on you. I give it a 3.5/5.
My thought on closing the book: what a good dive into the Culture of the islands!
(Originally posted at vanessa-s-bookshelves.blogspot.ca)
Facts, old and new, are discovered along the story. There's that idea that we can't understand the present without knowing the past and that premise is good. There is also a supernatural hand (it is an island!) Voodoo is never far away, odd situations are never exactly explained but are well designed to create a distressing condition for Nate who don't understand them because he's not native. Nor are we, so we very well put ourselves in his shoes, living a surreal adventure (have you ever get a chicken leg thrown in your face?). We do not understand but we feel very uncomfortable. So there is a rise of feelings of discomfort, fear and misunderstanding well conducted by the author, who knows the islands, having lived there.
There are some lengthy parts although the space does not falter. How so? It takes a lot of time for Nate to get to his goal and of course many things happen but at times I felt that the author could have not included some mishaps. Fortunately, the atmosphere of the book, how Newman tells the story and the back and forth in time are so well done that every time I began to find it long, the story bounced, the pace accelerated and I was reconciled with the book.
Nate wishes to return to the place of origin of his bad luck to solve all his problems. I admit that when I discovered why he wanted to go back I found it a bit superfluous. The fear experienced by the children is enough to explain their tell at the time and Nate's desire to return was largely explicable by his guilt associated with the event 25 years ago. The end is not as thrilling than is suggested by the story, even if the author manages to make it more enjoyable by adding a final touch of mystery.
One of the characters in the book (if you can talk about character) is the island itself. Certainly there are other people in the novel but in my opinion the island holds the upper hand with Nate. The author has described it as scary as a spot paradise. As much with a joyful atmosphere as a strange one and just as simple in relationships than full of several customs and beliefs that complicate things. We understand and share the joy of Nate who revisit some places, the longing for his childhood but also his fear. That island has two sides to its coin and it can turn very quickly!
In a nutshell
A good novel with its particular and pleasant atmosphere. A character we learn to like, an island that puts a spell on you. I give it a 3.5/5.
My thought on closing the book: what a good dive into the Culture of the islands!
(Originally posted at vanessa-s-bookshelves.blogspot.ca)
December 20, 2013
The Clearing has one of the best stories I've read this year. It's a shame the execution of the book grated against my nerves.
When he was young, Nate lived on St. Lucia, a Caribbean island that looks like a paradise. Within the jungle there are secrets though, and Nate has been holding onto one for decades. The island doesn't seem to welcome his return.
I was very enthusiastic when starting The Clearing. The story sounded like a mash-up of a thriller and Stephen King-esque characterisation and creepiness. There was plenty atmosphere and creepiness, and the characters are diverse and fun. The narrative constantly flashes between different times in Nate's life, which might confuse some readers, but it really added to the feel of the story in my opinion. Nate is a bit mentally unstable, and although it took me some time to get used to it, it made him more interesting.
The Clearing has a mix of thriller and paranormal elements, mainly infusing island beliefs into the story. I loved what he was going for, but at one point about halfway the story went downhill for me. Readers are pretty clever. At least, I'd like to think I'm pretty clever. When a detail is described, I will remember that detail for at least a few pages, especially when reading a thriller. The Clearing, however, doesn't seem to think the reader has this ability. We constantly get hit on the head with extremely unsubtle hints, hammering details that are VERY VERY IMPORTANT into it. It doesn't help that Nate constantly has these revelations that go like this: "He clearly understood now that she would never heal from these wounds". Don't tell us she will never heal. Show it to us. We don't need to be told these kind of simple truths, especially not over and over again.
It's a shame really, because the meat of the story is amazing. I wish the execution was more subtle. The reader wants to feel good about himself for finding out the message of a book, he doesn't want everything to be spelled out for him. I like to close my eyes and forget about the writing in The Clearing, and to just let the atmosphere and events of the book drift before my mind's eye.
When he was young, Nate lived on St. Lucia, a Caribbean island that looks like a paradise. Within the jungle there are secrets though, and Nate has been holding onto one for decades. The island doesn't seem to welcome his return.
I was very enthusiastic when starting The Clearing. The story sounded like a mash-up of a thriller and Stephen King-esque characterisation and creepiness. There was plenty atmosphere and creepiness, and the characters are diverse and fun. The narrative constantly flashes between different times in Nate's life, which might confuse some readers, but it really added to the feel of the story in my opinion. Nate is a bit mentally unstable, and although it took me some time to get used to it, it made him more interesting.
The Clearing has a mix of thriller and paranormal elements, mainly infusing island beliefs into the story. I loved what he was going for, but at one point about halfway the story went downhill for me. Readers are pretty clever. At least, I'd like to think I'm pretty clever. When a detail is described, I will remember that detail for at least a few pages, especially when reading a thriller. The Clearing, however, doesn't seem to think the reader has this ability. We constantly get hit on the head with extremely unsubtle hints, hammering details that are VERY VERY IMPORTANT into it. It doesn't help that Nate constantly has these revelations that go like this: "He clearly understood now that she would never heal from these wounds". Don't tell us she will never heal. Show it to us. We don't need to be told these kind of simple truths, especially not over and over again.
It's a shame really, because the meat of the story is amazing. I wish the execution was more subtle. The reader wants to feel good about himself for finding out the message of a book, he doesn't want everything to be spelled out for him. I like to close my eyes and forget about the writing in The Clearing, and to just let the atmosphere and events of the book drift before my mind's eye.
August 15, 2014
I may sound like a broken record but I wish writers edited their texts or had someone who knows what they’re doing do so. This story jumps from the narrator’s past as a child on the Caribbean Island of St Lucia to his adult self’s recent past in the US to the present in which he has returned to his ghosts on the Island. The story begins with 3 boys looking at the body of a fourth lying by a body of water. It jumps to the death of the narrator’s own son and then has him return to the island to rehash ghosts of the past. The story jumps in nightmare fashion from the past to the present seeming to grudgingly give up its details. The story draws on the influence of rich island families, local voodoo, and superstition. The author keeps the reader in the dark as to the exact details of the murder at the centre of this story until the very end.
November 19, 2013
Digging up the past is never easy. Nate decides its time and ventures back to a place that had both pleasant and enduring memories....but also a dark secret. Island traditions run deep, but Nate did not believe...it took hard life lessons to conjure up courage enough to face the truth....the book explores the impact of decisions made...there dreadful impact and how we, at some age, want to address head on....there is karma in life, and sometimes we find it in msyterious places....even amoung the nutmegs....
I really enjoyed this one and it certainly keeps you on your toes.
I really enjoyed this one and it certainly keeps you on your toes.
April 15, 2016
Terrifying and suspenseful
This book grabbed me from the very start. I love a book that catches the reader's attention and never lets it go. I read this book until I finished it, and then I was disappointed that it was over. Yes, it's that kind of book. Newman is an incredible storyteller, and telling the tale of Nate Mason, as he is in the present and what happened in the past as the two seemed joined together, is incredible. His band of childhood friends are not the same as they were because of that one fateful moment. Ahh, and they are in paradise, where there's a cure for everything.
This book grabbed me from the very start. I love a book that catches the reader's attention and never lets it go. I read this book until I finished it, and then I was disappointed that it was over. Yes, it's that kind of book. Newman is an incredible storyteller, and telling the tale of Nate Mason, as he is in the present and what happened in the past as the two seemed joined together, is incredible. His band of childhood friends are not the same as they were because of that one fateful moment. Ahh, and they are in paradise, where there's a cure for everything.
dnf
March 11, 2014A great start, and then it got really slow, but I was willing to stick with it, if it weren't for the language. The setting (St. Lucia) was fabulous, and I really wanted to see how it turned out.
Advance copy received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Advance copy received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2013
A great read, got me hooked from the first page, suspenseful, poignant, beautifully written. I felt that I was in that clearing with those 4 young boys. Cant wait for the sequel. Bravo to Dan Newman on his first ( am I'm sure to be many more) publication
December 26, 2013
This book I have enjoyed reading but with it going between three differs times it did confuse me some as to were we were. Would recommend this book but advise to read a couple of time to find out what was missed the first time around
May 10, 2014
Really good story.
Lots of suspense, a little mystery and lots of drama. I even enjoyed the flashbacks going back to different eras - which I don't normally like; it made sense with this story. Would recommend it to most people.
Lots of suspense, a little mystery and lots of drama. I even enjoyed the flashbacks going back to different eras - which I don't normally like; it made sense with this story. Would recommend it to most people.
January 4, 2015
I liked this book - dark and spooky and a touch of the fantastic. Characters are believable and vivid. Only quibble is the different time lines make it a little confusing at times.
September 25, 2015
Really Enjoyed this book.
May 16, 2016
A thrilling story with interesting characters. I loved the magical realism interwoven with the plot. Loved his book!
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