I have spent a very spooky Sunday immersed in this wonderful Gothic novel, The Creeper and I have enjoyed every second! I read the novel in one sitting, because I just couldn't put it down. It gripped me from the opening pages and wouldn't let me go until the final horrific sentence.
The book is set in Ireland and has deep roots in Irish folklore. The author is Irish too and so reading his work is akin to listening to a master storyteller, with his natural Celtic flare for atmosphere and the mysterious. I just loved it. I love his writing style, which is poetic, lyrical and literary, like the Gothic novels of the Victorian era.
It's a difficult book to review without giving too much away, but it is basically about the legend of the Creeper, who stalks his victims for three nights, before murdering them on the fourth night. When two graduates are invited to investigate this legend for a large fee, they think they have struck gold. They have no idea that they will spend the rest of their days looking over their shoulders, or how their wealthy benefactor fits into the nightmare.
As the title would suggest, this novel is seriously creepy! It reminded me a little of the movie The Village. It has that same kind of mysterious little town that is lost in time and frozen in fear of an unknown monster, creeping around in the dark. At the same time, it has some lovely domestic details, especially the descriptions of the wealthy benefactor's study, which is the place where he hides, tucked away safely, hidden from all the danger. This offers the reader some much needed respite from the chilling suspense. It makes you wish you were in the study too, safe from the Creeper.
"The study's every aspect was warm and comforting, like a candle in a crimson room. Lighting was soft and a glossed mahogany prevailed throughout its fixtures and fittings. The shutters were hidden behind heavy burgundy curtains..."
There were some twists and turns in the plot that I didn't see coming, which always nice. I do like to be surprised by a spooky book and this one definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the ending, which tied everything up neatly and was extremely satisfying. All in all I would say that reading The Creeper has been a very eerie way to spend a chilly October day and as we edge ever closer to Samhain, this is the perfect book to read at this time of year. I have enjoyed it so much that I have immediately purchased another novel by this author called The Watchers, which I'm going to start reading right away. I just can't get enough of A M Shine's spine-chilling world building!
Both The Creeper and The Watchers are currently available to download on Kindle for just 99p. So on this crisp autumn day, treat yourself to a cup of hot chocolate and a spooky new book, from an authentic and original Gaelic storyteller. Happy Reading!
BB Marie x
AD; This book was sent to me by the publisher for the purposes of review. It is available now in hardcover, digital and audio formats.
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