The debut book of David Grayson is a short one-hour unique mix of mystery, horror and thriller that leaves readers anxious to turn the page.
Synopsis:
An infamous Sanatorium with a bad reputation hidden in the Appalachian mountains. A man who’s wrongfully found himself there by the noble actions of his past. As he begins to witness strange events he cannot explain, he soon realises that the true horrors lie not inside his prison walls; but outside in the woods of the mountain. As time starts running out and danger starts to close in, he will have to fight for his freedom and, ultimately, his survival.
ROBINSON ????? – “It’s a good short read that you can finish in a few hours. The atmosphere outside the asylum is very intriguing and explained very well; you almost feel like you are there yourself. I also like how Ed observed a lot of the key events from his window, it really felt like the story was from his point of view and everything was described very strongly. Would’ve been great if it was a bit longer though.”
Chris S.???? – “Very intriguing atmosphere and storyline explained in great detail – I definitely sensed some elements of the movie Wrong Turn in the plot and I think some inspiration has been drawn from it. It’s a good balance of suspense and mystery that makes for an interesting read.”
Mikey ????? – “The suspense in this book is written very well and built up gradually – which is exactly what you want. The storyline is very unique and he’s created a mysterious atmosphere which you feel at times as if you are in it, mainly because it’s very well described and the storyline is explained from the main character’s point of view, who comes off a relatable person in some ways. It makes for a great short horror read – although for me it was more of a suspense/mystery than horror, which actually came as a nice surprise.”
Free on 10th - 14th Aug 23
Reviews:
" An interesting mix of horror, which makes for a fun hour of reading."
Reviewer: Angel for Bookangel.
Ed is a patient at an Asylum, deep in the wilderness having been transferred from a Rehabilitation centre. His days are quiet as he tries to avoid trouble, but his nights are plagued by PTSD and the horrors of the Gulf War that he experienced. One night he sees a light out beyond the walls, but when he tries to report it, it is brushed aside. Matters become worse, when the monthly delivery truck does not arrive and meals and medication are rationed out. Then the communications tower is burned down and the corpse of the guard sent to find help is discovered. Fear turns to terror, when the power is cut during the lockdown and those who have been watching, and cutting off the area, attack and look to kill everyone inside. Ed knows that if he does not find his way out, he will be as dead as every other patient, doctor and guard still hiding in the asylum.
This is a short horror story, although it settles on the more visceral than the psychological. The plot slowly ratchets up the tension as more odd things keep happening until the reasons behind it are revealed. As more incidents occur, you can feel the nervousness and fear of the residents. Then the attack is fast, brutal, and becomes a running battle for survival. Of the characters, only Ed is really given much background, which is impactful and does impact his judgement and actions, but everyone else is there to provide colour to the scene in one way or another. The writing is excellent and pulls the reader from scene to scene, you can feel the progress of time leading to the frantic conclusion. Both the slow, creeping, horror and the attack on the Asylum, grip the imagination and pull the reader from page to page. The formatting of the book is fine, and I didn't see any major spelling or grammar mistakes that took me out of the story.
On the downside, the plot never explains where these attackers are from or even what they are, and the reader is left to make their best guess about it. Also Ed's cell mate is mentioned several times but during the main attack is never seen or heard, which leaves you to wonder why so much emphasis was placed on him to begin with. The writing holds up extremely well, but is let down by the anomalies in the plot. Also while the writing is great, it is a shame the book did not decide what kind of horror it is going for.
An interesting mix of horror, which makes for a fun hour of reading.
Rating: 3Quicklink to this review
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