Title: This Does Not End Well

Author: Adrian J. Walker

Release date: June 13th, 2025

*Huge thanks to Adrian & Last Dog Books for a digital ARC of this one!*

JFC.

What. The. Hell. Did. I. Read.

Ok, let me back up.

Recently, I was perusing the interwebs, and thought – ‘wait a minute, what’s Adrian J. Walker’s next book?’ So, as one does, I sought out his website to see. A number of years ago, friend and fellow reviewer, Tony Jones, insisted I read Adrian’s ‘The End of the World Running Club.’ When Tony tells you to read a book, you listen. And I did. And it was marvelous. At the time of writing this, I still haven’t read the sequel, simply because there was no Kindle edition here in Canada (and I read purely ebooks these days). Saying that, I just had a lightbulb moment and realized I can get it direct from his website. Palm meet forehead. (Edited to add – the link leads to the Amazon UK page to buy the ebook, so I still can’t buy it. Wump. Wump.) But anyways, back then, I decided to explore Adrian’s bibliography and while I really liked ‘The End…’ I absolutely LOVED ‘The Human Son.’ In fact, that book is one of my all-time favorites.

When I found Adrian’s new website, I discovered that he was going the route Adam Nevill has gone, in that he’s taking back control of most, if not all of his books, and I greatly admire that. I bought a few ebooks, signed up for his newsletter, clicked the ‘support my writing’ button and supported, and was excited for his next book – ‘This Does Not End Well.’ When Adrian’s newsletter sent out an email about potential digital ARC’s available, I signed up immediately. So, huge thanks to Adrian for sending one.

Now, I’ve rambled on long enough about how this book ended up on my Kindle. Let’s talk about the book.

And JESUS. CHRIST. The BOOK.

Recently, I read Michael Wehunt’s upcoming novel, ‘The October Film Haunt,’ and that truly messed with me. Gave me nightmares – which is very, very rare for books to do – and it threw me for a loop.

At the same time as starting that book, I started this one. And I had to pause this one. From the very beginning – even from the ominous cover of this book – I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle reading both of those books at the same time. This book has a dirt to its prose. Its dirty. Once you start reading it, you’ll smell mildew and wonder if the corners of your rooms are moving or decaying.

This book.

Jesus.

What I liked: The story follows Adam – husband and father, who is dealing with some difficult things in life. His father has early onset Alzheimer’s, which seems to be progressing. His son was ruthlessly bullied at school. And he’s had a bit of a mental break, destroying Christmas. All these things lead to him and his wife, Roisin, making the decision, that for his sake and the family’s wellbeing, they’ll leave London and move to France.

Adam goes ahead to find a place, and after he locates the perfect family home for them, he’s getting ready to leave when the realtor suggests he look at one more place. A bit remote, amply land, and quiet.

Yes, dear reader, this is the moment where we all collectively scream – DON’T LOOK AT IT! But, as you all already know, he does. And Adam is immediately spellbound. The land is wonderful, the trees are pristine and the house – though old and in need of major work – is just what they’re looking for.

From this point on, the book grows darker. It’s as though Walker managed to weave his fingers into my Kindle settings and dim the light ever so slightly. Adam, along with his father and son, go ahead to the home, to prepare it for his wife and daughter’s arrival in a few weeks. They’ll set up the furniture, get the hot water going and stock the fridge with food. Except that doesn’t happen. Upon arrival, they learn the furniture is delayed, the drive is in such poor condition they can’t get oil delivered to get hot water and every single local refuses to make eye contact with them – those who bought that house.

Throughout, we see a spiral. Or rather, we experience it. And, if this had been an author not as seasoned and experienced as Walker, I could see how it would all fall apart. But it doesn’t. Christ, it doesn’t. And honestly, that’s what makes me the most frustrated about this whole thing. I wanted it to fall apart. I didn’t want to go along for the ride, see how the house and the land withered and clutched these three. I wanted to get to the end and scoff and say – ‘Ah, too bad, if only the ending hadn’t ruined it for me.’ Because the ending didn’t ruin anything. It made the book all the better and all that worse. Because this book consistently and thoroughly breaks the fourth wall. Just when you’re least expecting it – BAM – Adam speaks directly to you, and it’s that element that ruthlessly twists how this book reads.

The final quarter of this book is borderline schizophrenic. But pristine. Written with a full-throttle mental anxiety element that is only heightened by the journal-aspect of how this is written. And no, this isn’t epistolary, not in the traditional sense. But the way it’s written and told to the reader works so very well to unsettle and unnerve.

And like I mentioned, the ending of this is heartbreaking and fantastic and seriously phenomenally deranged.

What I didn’t like: While I did love the journal aspect, I did miss the traditional formatting of Chapter One, Chapter Two etc. etc. But even then, the journal formatting allowed for this book to unravel in a way it couldn’t have if it had chapters, so maybe just ignore what I said, ha!

Why you should buy this: Of the thousand of so books I’ve read in the last decade, very few books have effected me the way this one has. In fact, I could probably list maybe ten (?) maybe, that unnerved me to the level that this one did, but also emotionally effected me in the same way. The title isn’t misleading. It isn’t a ‘gotcha’ phrase or twisty take, the title is exactly what you’ll get. But Walker decides to absolutely mess with you, take you by the neck and hold you against the wall while you look into your own eyes and all the while you’ll be questioning whether any of that is happening or not. Because it isn’t. Because it is.

A novel that will force you to take a long, hot shower once done, this one also forces you to want to return right to the start and re-read it immediately upon finishing it. Because it’ll take hold of you. By the neck. With your own hand. And won’t let go. Or maybe it will. Or maybe it won’t.

Outstanding.

JFC.

Snag it at his website here;

https://www.adrianjwalker.com/books/detail/this-does-not-end-well

Title: Seed (Dark Walker Series Book 3)

Author: Shelly Campbell

Release date: June 13th, 2025

*Huge thanks to Eerie River for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

I have to admit, that way back in 2021, when I read ‘Gulf’ – and was blown away – I never could’ve predicted the scope of the world/world’s Campbell had waiting to unleash over the three book Dark Walker Series.

With ‘Gulf’ we had a – on the surface at least – simple story of a teenage boy who goes to a cabin with family and discovers something behind a door. It was phenomenal and when the sequel, ‘Breach,’ arrived a few years later, we got to see the door fully open and everything behind it and beyond exposed and out in the open.

So, beware – going forward, there may be inadvertent spoilers for book two (and a bit for book one) simply because we’re here, at book three of the series. I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise!

What I liked: The book picks up not long after book two – so here be potential spoilers! – and we find that David has survived being shot and the Embassy has saved his life. Though, he’s now stuck in what he calls his ‘hamster wheel,’ a clear glass, round cage designed to not let him ‘blip’ or travel between dimensions.

The book hangs on a few threads (not in a bad way!) to progress us along. First, David’s former team is being held hostage and the woman he loves (Charlie) is imprisoned. Second, his family is in danger, the darkness is growing closer and he doesn’t think it’ll take long until they’re found. And lastly, he needs to get out of here, and he can’t. His friend Cory visits, but things seem different and after he overhears a conversation between him and the one in charge of his imprisonment, he’s not sure who he can trust.

This all comes to a head when Cory helps David, David reveals he can blip  without the need of a touch piece and they head off to try and save David’s family.

From that point on, the novel becomes more of a revelatory piece, where we learn the truth of everything that’s gone on, who David is and we see him get to connect with family and Charlie and Cory.

With this shift, it took us from a bit of a harder sci-fi story and offered a heightened emotional aspect that was buried through the first two-thirds. To me, it was this softening of the characters and connection of family with events that elevated this finale of the series. It went from a solid ‘good’ to a ‘great’ conclusion, which made me so very, very happy.

Of course, the scenes with the dark walkers was pristine, and though they weren’t in here as much as previous books, it was their inclusion that also ramped things up in the best way possible.

The ending was touching and sad, and was a perfect way to close the door on everything that came before. I often get to the end of a series and think that I hope we’ll maybe see more down the line, but in this case, I think Shelly absolutely closed this one in the most perfect way possible and I’d be happy to see this concluded and closed. (Of course, if we get a fourth or related book, I’ll be reading it!)

What I didn’t like: There’s two things I want to address and the first isn’t really a ‘didn’t like.’ Having finished book three, I actually think a lot of the revelations that happened within would’ve been better, or heightened the stakes of David’s quest, if they’d occurred in book two. It’s hard not to discuss it – BECAUSE THAT’S MASSIVE SPOILERS! – but I think the things David learned and what Cory creates, would’ve been a fundamentally altering building block in book two and would’ve caused book three to be that much more emotionally charged. It all still works, but my brain screamed that too me once done!

The second thing – and this is just me closing something – but the character of Angus (whom I felt was particularly useless in book one!) returned briefly and I felt that once again, his inclusion wasn’t warranted, but it was fun to see what becomes of his character.

Why you should buy this: HEY YOU! YEAH YOU! THE ANNOYING READER WHO SAYS THEY WON’T START A SERIES UNTIL IT’S DONE BECAUSE ROTHFUSS AND GRRM HAVE TRAUMATIZED YOU! IT’S DONE! START IT NOW! But seriously, if you’ve not read book one, go grab it. If you’ve read the first two, you’re in for a treat with what Shelly does in book three. David is a phenomenal lead, Charlie is a great second and Cory makes for the dependable muscle, three elements that will have you rooting for success and crying when things go bad. The Dark Walker series was fantastic and to see this coming from a Canadian author and a Canadian press makes me smile even more!

Title: The October Film Haunt: A Novel

Author: Michael Wehunt

Release date: September 30th, 2025

*Huge thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Michael Wehunt for the digital ARC of this!*

Like many readers, my first foray into Michael’s work was through his phenomenal debut collection, ‘Greener Pastures.’ And, like many readers, one of the stories in that collection that stood out most to me was ‘October Film Haunt: Under the House.’ Told through multiple POV’s and using a found-footage narrative, it was unsettling like few stories before.

Fast forward almost a decade from when ‘Greener Pastures’ was released and Wehunt is delivering his debut novel, ‘The October Film Haunt,’ which excitedly jumps from where that story led us and carries us is a wildly imaginative and creepy journey.

I was beyond excited when this was announced, as Michael’s work is stunning, but while reading it, I came to realize this was written on another level all-together. Even for Michael. I say that, because in my long life of reading, very few books have ever invaded my dreams. Sure, I’ve had a lot of crazy dreams – and if I’m being honest, 99% of all of my dreams are apocalyptic, so there’s that to discuss with someone one day – but typically, whatever it is I’m reading, I don’t dream about. But this novel was different.

The last time I had such vivid, waking dreams that invaded my brain and held me so tightly was during the four-year period when I was researching (and joined) a cult on the dark web. I saw things there that deeply disturbed me, changed my beliefs about everything out there and settled into my psyche and decayed. And I haven’t felt that since leaving that group behind.

Until I read this book.

What I liked: The story follows Jorie Stroud. She’s fled her abusive husband with her son to remote Vermont to start again, while still on a self-imposed exile from her past life as a film blogger. Her, along with her friends Beth and Colin, used to have a blog where they dissected horror films, but also went to various locations where they took place to discuss them in greater detail. After an incident where Jorie fictionalized one such stay, birthing an urban legend life to an unknown film’s demon, a teenage girl died, and she holds herself accountable.

Things are moving along in her life now, though. She’s got some editing clients. Has a decent job at a local grocery store and she’d doing the best that she can for her and her son.

Until odd things begin. Teaser trailers for a supposed sequel to ‘Proof of Demons,’ the movie that Jorie, Beth and Colin brought to a larger group, pop up online. And though Colin died years prior, Jorie feels the need to contact Beth and try and reconnect, to see if anything’s happening to her.

Wehunt sets the stage marvelously. We get some extra players – Coleman, an older man with terminal cancer who suddenly realizes what happened to his brother when they were kids is related to this new movie. We get Jorie’s neighbor, Mrs. Compton, who is there to help take care of her son, but wavers between standoffish and ecstatic. And we get Trevor Henderson, creator of Siren Head, who created the original Pine Arch Creature in Proof of Demons, who starts to see the same people in green sheets with cameras, just like the rest of them.

As each chapter unravels and more pieces to the puzzle are revealed, Wehunt does a magnificent job of elevation your heart rate. You suddenly wonder if things within the book are actually going viral online, in the real world. It has to do with the meta elements, but also a harkening back to the old days when we all watched The Blair Witch Project and wondered if it was just a movie… or a documentary.

I want to go on and on about more elements, but I fear those will fall into spoiler territory, but I have to mention that the elements carried forward from Under the House, but also the supernatural creep that happens, was fantastic and perhaps the most powerful element within.

The last few chapters were perfect and the ending – though jarring – was quite possibly the best non-jump scare, jump scare I’ve ever read.

What I didn’t like: Often times, books with multiple POV’s that are switched from chapter to chapter seem to slow any momentum, and I found that to be the case for the first quarter. It felt like every time we were were on the cusp of some new details, the chapter ended and the next one started out with no tension or revving of an engine. Once things get established, that faded, but in the beginning I definitely noticed it.

As well, I personally wasn’t a fan of the Trevor Henderson meta character. Because I interact with him, DM occasionally and he’s been super kind to my son, his introduction took me far out of the ‘fiction’ aspect of the book. It’s the same thing when you’re reading a fantasy book or a horror book and a character pops up named in ode to one of your author friends and it kind of breaks the fourth wall. Saying that, the Trevor angle was fantastic and I just told myself to get over it, ha!

Why you should buy this:  This isn’t an easy read. No, it’s a heavy, weighted, cloud-covered story that sucks the air from the room and drops the temperature with ease. But such is the case with all Wehunt stories, no matter the length.

‘The October Film Haunt: A Novel’ does what few books ever do to me. It made me anxious and untrusting of random people on the street. It made me question whether this was ‘just a book,’ or was it part of a larger, meta, viral angle that has us all being played by Michael, who is sitting back with a grin on his face while moving the marionette strings.

Much like ‘The Blair Witch Project’ moved a generation of us moviegoers at the ends of the 90s, ‘The October Film Haunt’ is poised to usher in a similar movement for readers here in the mid 2020’s. I worry we may not be ready for it. But we should be.

The Pine Arch Creature is about to arrive.

The shadows are already moving.