Horror Book Review: Down The Deep Dark Hole By Matt Shaw

If you're claustrophobic, you may find this week's Horror Book a little too unnerving.

Matt Shaw's DOWN THE DEEP DARK HOLE is a tense, psychological thriller that has garnered several positive reviews and even made it to the bestsellers list in British and Irish Fiction.

Published in May, this short story is only 58 pages long but it will keep you on the edge as you read it.

Many customers have found this book to be a surprising page-turner and found it to be dark enough for horror fans to enjoy.

The only criticism was about the book not being longer and the readers hoped the beginning had more details.

Quick Book Review of DOWN THE DEEP, DARK HOLE

The book begins with a woman waking up in the dark. Her environment is unknown to her, so she must depend on her sense of smell and sound to determine what dangers may lurk around her.

As she grows thirsty, she tries to find comfort in a memory that can distract her from her current predicament.

But soon enough, that memory turns dark and unpleasant.

We then learn what happened before she ended up in the dark place.

She had gone grocery shopping so that she could prepare a special meal for her husband Simon who has been stressed at work.

There is a lot of rush and she realizes her plans may go awry but soon enough she is on her way out.

In the parking lot, she notices a van right next to her car and considers it an inconvenience to get inside her own car.

But that is when her thoughts trail off.

Presumably she gets kidnapped?

The sample ends here just as the plot gets intriguing. You may be left with a lot of questions mostly about the identity of this woman, and why she's in this dark place. Who has kept her here?

Since some readers have mentioned a surprising twist, perhaps it is related to her husband Simon?

The author capably describes the scene and makes the woman, the protagonist, relatable where her thought process is concerned.

Not many writers are able to humanise their characters and often we are subjected to Mary Sues and Marty Stus.

However, the author could have worked the beginning a little better.  The writing becomes seamless only in the second half of the first chapter.

But the chapters are short and the writing flows well soon enough to engage you even though you may feel that nothing of importance is happening.

But if anything, we learn he character thinks and are linked to her innermost thoughts.

To Read or Not to Read?

This book seems promising because of the premise, the book cover and the curiosity that descends upon you when the sample ends.

It is definitely a must-read.

                          Get the Book