Darlington Woods

by Mike Dellosso

Rob Shields has just lost his wife and son. Battling depression, denial, and an irrational fear of darkness, Rob travels to the small town of Mayfield, MD to check out a house he has inherited from his great aunt Wilda, a woman he has never even met. There in Mayfield strange things begin to happen that lead Rob to believe his son, Jimmy, is not really dead. After a restless night and eerie dream, Rob is convinced the answer to the mystery surrounding Jimmy’s disappearance and alleged death is to be found in a village called Darlington, a town found on no map. Teaming up with a quirky local waitress who insists she has been there, Shields begins his quest to find the truth about the town and his son. In Darlington, Rob and Juli come face to face with the town’s secret, creatures called Darklings inhabit the night and instill paralyzing fear in Darlington’s citizens. Their search for Jimmy leads them into the woods surrounding Darlington where, once in, there seems to be no way out.  

Genres: Christian Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2010

About the author

Mike Dellosso is the author of numerous novels of suspense, including Kill Devil, Centralia, Darkness Follows, Darlington Woods, and Scream. Mike is a popular conference and workshop teacher and an adjunct professor of creative writing. He lives in Hanover, PA, with his wife and five daughters. Mike is also a healthcare worker and survivor of colon cancer.

Reviews

[Nora St Laurent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t normally read scary books like this one because I’m a chicken at heart! This book is ACFW’S Book Club pick for February 2011. I’m in the ACFW book club and leading the discussion so I’m committed to reading this book. I’m thankful for the review copy of this book from the author.

I’m so glad I read the author notes before I started reading the first chapter of this book. It gave me a glimpse into the author’s heart when he said, “Let’s talk about monsters, shall we? Let’s just sit-down and spend a little time in conversation about things that go bump in the night and images that haunt us while we sleep peacefully in our beds…I believe in monsters. I’ve seen them, even battled them. And no, I assure you, I’m not crazy.

The monsters of which I speak are around us every day and come in varying forms. They are called cancer…Parkinson’s juvenile arthritis. Monsters’ called abuse, murder and neglect…the web they spin, the wounds they carve, the hatchet they swing all go by the same name: fear.

Mikes words drew me in and gave me a clue that I was about to read something heartfelt, unnerving, and unusual about fear and what it looks like? I was right, here’s what Rob says, “When fear rules you, when it calls the shots, tells you what you can and can not do, when it paralyzes you for days on end and robs you of the freedom others enjoy so carelessly; that’s crazy.”


Mike wrote in several points of view which made the story move along. The pov’s were Rob, Julie, Mary Jane, Jimmy and Waxman. This helped to create quite a suspenseful, creepy tale of how fear got a strong hold of the minds, emotions and lives of a whole town. Switching pov’s helped me be able to read this scary story. I have to say that had this author stayed in Jimmy’s point of view the whole book I wouldn’t have made it past chapter one. It would have just been too creepy and horrific to read a whole book through little Jimmy’s eyes.

Rob Shields is a man on the edge. His wife was murdered three months ago and his son Jimmy is missing. Rob is convinced that his son is in the town of Darlington. Rob starts to question his own sanity as he struggles with knowing the difference between nightmares and real life. It’s getting hard for him to know when the nightmare stops and reality begins.

Rob stops at a restaurant and asks for directions to Darlington; people get fearful and nobody wants to talk. Then a mysterious man leaves a note with directions on Rob's table. Julie, his waitress, says she’d like to help him find his son. This seemed odd, but everything about this town and adventure was odd. I did enjoy Julie’s character and the comic relief she provided with lines like this, “This is a problem I don’t think duct tape could solve.”

Mike’s wit, compassion and effective story-telling through the many different points of view and how they all wrestled with fear was intriguing given the fact this author went face to face with the cancer monster while writing this book. I enjoyed the twists, turns, suspense and the “aha” moments when truth was brought to life in the middle of the darkness. I rooted for Rob and Juli as they fought fear and looked it in the face, and saw there was hope of breaking the chains of fear and living free of its grip. God is always with us. When we shine our light inside the darkness (fear), that darkness has to leave. It’s not welcome anymore. I really enjoy this aspect of the story. It’s strong, powerful and oh so real! Treat yourself to something unusual that will have you look at fear and monsters in a whole new light!

Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsored by publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not thrilled with the story, but looking at it metaphorically, I can see the story line meaning demons and the devil attacking us on a daily basis. The struggles we all go through and the satisfaction the devil gets from those. How we shine our "LIGHT" is how we get through these struggles and only obtaining a victory when Jesus is on our side, as he is the "LIGHT".

OUR light is non-existent unless we have HIM. All good things come to those who believe in Him! Through the horror of the story if you read between the lines, that is what the author is trying to get across to the reader.

I agree wholeheartedly, its just that the story was a bit of an odd one and made no sense. The enemy isn't clear but I suppose that's the point, its meant to be the devil. I liked other books by this author way better.

[Brandi ;) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won the book through GR 1st reads. I don't ever like to look a gift horse in the mouth and I am very, very appreciative that I was picked to recieve a free book. That said, I can't help it if I just didn't like a book, won or not. This book wasn't horrible by any means and I'm more in the way of 'kind of liked it' if that was a catagory. Maybe 2 3/4ish stars. Whatever, point is I just couldn't get into the book, it never grabbed me.
It has a great deal of mystical-in-a-way/horror writing that I generally like and the parts of horror that were in it was good. It had a lot of promise.
Ok, honestly I just couldn't get around all the praying. There, I said it. This doesn't mean I'm a nonchristian, eh, well, maybe a little. I believe in a higher power, or more or less a higher energy, just not the same one that was very present all through out this book. Don't judge me and please don't try to save my soul, I have my own opinions about life and 'God' and they are set, you won't change them.
In this book there were these absolutely horrible creatures called Darklings. They were scary beyond belief. The author actually had me very intrigued and disgusted by these things. I wanted to know more about them, but they were never fully explained. Where did they come from? Why were they in the story to begin with? Did the final light at the end kill them off or what, they just decided to leave the town alone after all those years?
There is also a very evil man that does very bad things. The explination given for why he was so bad just wasn't satisfying to me. He got into the occult? Really?
And the main character, what if he had decided he believed in another faith instead of the christian God? Guess he would be dead cause that's the only faith that's right.
Ah, let's not go down that road. I will refrain, everyone has there own opinions and beliefs, I will not knock anyone for what goes on in there head.
Basically, this book was not for me. If all the praying and deity references were removed then maybe I would think differently. I just didn't enjoy rolling my eyes at almost every other page. BUT as always, this book might be the best book ever according to you, if you like Christian Horror, so read it and form your own opinion.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.99 Stars (just kidding . . . Lol)

My friend, Dina, and I read this book at the same time. I found the book a little slow in the beginning, but -- WOW!!! -- when it started moving, it really got going and then didn't stop providing the thrills. I promised myself I would read more by this author after reading his "7 Hours" novella, "Rearview." It's taken a while but I am eager to read more. Dellosso ranks with Travis Thrasher (The Solitary Tales, Isolation) and Frank Peretti (This Present Darkness, Piercing the Darkness) in my book.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fast paced spooky thriller with a strong Christian slant. I love Dellosso's style of writing, which totally sets the tone of the creepy town of Darlington. I'll be checking out more books by this author.

[Shawn Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't see the twist coming. Good Christian fiction read.

[Lilian Penuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. I found these creatures they were talking about kind of weird but it all played out in the end. There was a HUGE plot twist at the end that explained everything I was confused about. I had this book for a while actually and tried getting myself to read it but I couldn’t. About 3 years later I finally got myself to read it and it was AMAZING. I definitely recommend this book if you’re into Horror.

[Symon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rob Shields has just lost his wife and son. Battling depression, denial, and an irrational fear of darkness, Rob travels to the small town of Mayfield, MD to check out a house he has inherited from his great aunt Wilda, a woman he has never even met. There in Mayfield strange things begin to happen that lead Rob to believe his son, Jimmy, is not really dead.

After a restless night and eerie dream, Rob is convinced the answer to the mystery surrounding Jimmy's disappearance and alleged death is to be found in a village called Darlington, a town found on no map.

Teaming up with a quirky local waitress who insists she has been there, Shields begins his quest to find the truth about the town and his son. In Darlington, Rob and Juli come face to face with the town’s secret, creatures called Darklings inhabit the night and instill paralyzing fear in Darlington’s citizens. Their search for Jimmy leads them into the woods surrounding Darlington where, once in, there seems to be no way out.

I sat down on the sofa this afternoon and read the last half of the book in a couple of hours and I didn't even get distracted by the kids, the TV, or my boisterous parrot, which can only mean one thing: Darlington Woods is good... real good.

This is Mike Dellosso's third published novel and his best yet. If you want to get an idea of the tone of this book, think 'I am Legend' meets 'The Gremlins' in a creepy forest.

Dellosso has a very unique style of weaving faith themes through his books... not preachy, clinched or familiar, but still punchy and profound. Darlington Woods' grand theme is about facing and overcoming fear and it achieves it’s message on a number of levels. Not an obvious allegory, but the more I think about it; a very powerful, and personal one.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like Darlington Woods are not usually my first choice for reading, but I wanted to try something different, so I gave it a try. I had a little trouble understanding how a book like this could be inspirational, that is, until I actually read it. Not only was Darlington Woods a fantastic story, but it was also very inspirational. It has a message that all readers will be able to understand and relate to.

I tend to be very sensitive to the books I read, more so than I am to movies and T.V shows, and this book did give me some nightmares. But, I was expecting that and I think that is the mark of a really good book if it stays with me even while I’m not reading it. It wasn’t quite as scary as I was expecting, which is good. Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty in this book that made my skin crawl, which made it a very fast paced and suspenseful book. Mike Dellosso knows how to write scary. He knows how to bring out those things that we all fear. He is also very good at adding a little comic relief when it is needed. Juli added a nice balance of lightness, faith and humor to the story which really helped with some of the darker moments.

Overall, Darlington Woods is an excellent book, much better than I was expecting. There was such a wonderful balance of suspense, fear and inspiration that makes this book a must read even if this is not your genre of choice. The message Darlington Woods has to tell is one all Christians need to hear. And, in regards to the Foreword – a job very well done Mike!

[Christy Trever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darlington Woods by Mike Dellosso is another arrow in the author's growing quiver of stellar horror fiction. Rob Shields is still trying to recover from the brutal murders of his wife Kelley and son Jimmy when he is called to a small town in Maryland to claim a house left to him by a great-aunt he never met. Once there, the images and instinct that Jimmy is still alive become so real that he must follow them wherever they lead, even to the forgotten town of Darlington. So tiny it doesn't even exist on maps, and the locals refuse to give him directions until a young waitress named Juli steps up and agrees to help him find the town, because she knows that this is her calling. Dellosso is second to none in his descriptions of scary beasts as well as creating a slowly tightening noose of suspense around the reader. I wish that this book had about 100 more pages. There were some aspects of the plot that seemed rushed. When Rob admits to a phobia about the dark, it was a stunning admission because there is no previous foreshadowing of this major plot point. However, in describing how people are changed by fear and how it can rule a life, the story excels. Darlington Woods is definitely a pulse-pounding thriller, it just needed more development of the backstory.

[Daphne Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Something evil is drawing them here..."

One small statement to draw me into a fantastical story about Rob and Juli.

I've read The Hunted and Scream by Mike Dellosso; and I was not disappointed in Darlington Woods. In fact, Darlington Woods seem by far the best I've read of Mr. Dellosso's books.

His story of Rob searching for his lost son and meeting more than he imagined contained the suspenseful page turning storyline of Stephen King. The combination of supernatural and natural captured the thriller essence of Dean Koontz. The imagery and faith aspect of the book is pure Mike Dellosso.

He blends symbolism, faith, and the darkness of humanity into a masterfully written tale that surpasses Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti. Bringing to life the horror of evilness and its determination to bind all of humanity plus the simple acceptance of faith and grace and its love for all humanity leaves the reader with a spiritual message that lasts long after the book is shelved.

A simple story with depth of character and symbolism, Mike Dellosso has written an amazing book about the power of God.

Want a good huddle-in-your-chair-thriller? Read Darlington Woods and remember...let your light shine!

[Pam]

In Darlington Woods, Mike Dellosso sets the tone for a dark and creepy story on the very first page. From that point on the suspense and tension build to a climax near the end. Not only do things go bump in the night in this book, but they scream, chase, and attack. A tale of spiritual warfare, Darlington Woods vividly portrays the battle between darkness and light.

Told through several points of view, the narrative is easily followed and moves at a breathtaking tempo through riveting conflicts and mental anguish. The primary characters are well developed and gained my sympathy and support early in the story. Supporting characters play their roles to perfection. Just as I thought I had everything figured out, a new surprise would pop up - everything is definitely not as it seems in this story.

Darlington Woods is a story about fear and its debilitating power. Mike is an expert at achieving the perfect balance between a suspenseful story and spiritual content. The spiritual truths about the power of Christ over evil are woven unobtrusively throughout the story and make the difference between a great book and an average one.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Shields lost his wife and son. Battling denial, an irrational fear of the and depression. After he has an eerie dream he convinces himself that the answer to his son's disappearance is in Darlinton, a town not found on any map. After teaming up with Juli a quirky waitress he meets when he goes to look at a house left to him by a great aunt. He has never been there to his knowledge. But the house seems familair. Juli says she knows where Darlington is but what she doesn,t tell him is that once in the woods surrounding the town where, once in there seems no way out. This is the first book i have read by author Mike Dellosso, It,s a taut spine- tingling suspense story. W ith a spiritual message . Now i want to read his other books the Hunted and Scream.

[Scott Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this book off of a goodreads giveaway and wasn't sure how it would go. I'm not very religious and tend to get turned off when things get too preachy. Not so here. While there are religious references and an exploration of the power of faith, it does so in a very mild manner. The plot is intriguing and the characters well developed. I was worried that my TBR pile might drop below 50, but now I can add a few more books by Dellosso and give myself a little extra padding. :)
Thanks Mike and I look forward to reading more!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off I didn't even know it was Christian horror, didn't know there was such a thing. The book wasn't bad, but the unanswered questions drove me nuts! Like what are the darklings, yea they described what they look like but what are they? Are they humans that live in the forest and went crazy or are they kinda like demons? And where did they come from? I did like the twist in the book when Rob figures everything out.

[Claudia (CJ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Won this book from first reads. Rob Shields after loosing his wife and son, goes to a small town where he has inherited a house. Well I was sure surprised to find I would really like a book like this. Lets say a Christian themed horror, suspense thriller read.

Can't decide if I should give it a 4 or 5 so I am for now going with a 4 for now.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mesmerizing horror story of love, loss, and fear, and finding the courage to face and conquer our fears. Darlington Woods is my first read by Dellosso--first ever Christian horror, for that matter--and I'm looking forward to other books by the author.

[Denise Bucklew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book that once I finally took time to read more than few chapters I didn't stop until I finished!!! Loved it even though it was a thriller. The book reminds you that with God's help you have no fear!!!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story. While I was able to guess at much of the revelations, there were some that I hadn't seen coming. The story itself was engaging and suspenseful. And the main message about the power of fear is excellently done. I'm very glad I read this.

[Margaret Chind]

*Thanks to Strang Book Group for providing a copy for review through FIRST Wild Card Tours.*

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, Christian horror.suspense novel. I really enjoyed it.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought back my enjoyment for reading for pleasure. There's much to be said about this book but the fact that I regained a lost pleasure says more to me.

[Anya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Creepy and kind of pointless. Sad, because I wanted to like it. It had enough content for a short story but he kept going on and on and on...

[Ashley Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is much like Frank Peretti books. not my taste, but well written.

[Kelly Liberto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Mike's novel as a suspense writer. You know you can't help editing as you go along...

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like this author but I was disappointed in this book. At first I couldn't put it down but then well how do I put this...the main character was just...stupid.

[Amy]

I'm going to have to read this another time. Couldn't get into it :(

[John Denny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book that i read over the summer and is really all around a good experience, really hope this was a series!

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

so good.