The Dark Thing
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Get 3 months for £0.99/mo
The Dark Thing
Buy Now for £18.99
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Narrated by:
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Christian Leatherman
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By:
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John Ashley
About this listen
The son of a schizophrenic, Jared Gordon has lived his entire life with a genetic time bomb coded into his DNA. So when the night terrors and hallucinations arrive in force, it seems undeniable that the same disease responsible for his father’s suicide is to blame.
But a bizarre reunion with his estranged brother and a journal from their father resurface chilling childhood memories that cast his current experiences in a sinister new light. To have any hope of salvation, Jared must find proof whether the nightmare he’s living is a descent into madness or an assault from a supernatural force more ancient and evil than Hell itself. Yet at every turn, the answer only grows more impossible to believe, upending his view of himself, his past, and the very nature of reality.
Worst of all is the growing suspicion that his youngest daughter Elena – an eccentric little girl prone to strange and sometimes unsettling behaviors – may be responsible for setting into motion a cataclysm that began decades before she was born.
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Listener received this title free
Stories with a questionable/unreliable MC are one of my favorite types of books. The Dark Thing did not disappoint. With a family history of mental health problems, it’s hard to tell exactly which of Jared’s experiences are real.
This was a well-written and intense debut novel. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator did a fantastic job as well.
Intense
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I should begin by letting you know I've been in a reading slump for 2 and a bit months, so when John approached me with an opportunity to listen to his debut novel, I figured I had nothing to lose.
This book is split into 2 volumes, giving a pov of our 2 main characters. Volume 1 was enthralling and hard to press pause.
The themes surround mental health and generational trauma combined with horror. Mental health and horror can work so well if done right, and as a fully fledged member, I tend to be dubious, as few can do it right, and John nailed it. The blurred lines, the "family curse," the questioning of self and whether it's your mental health or something more sinister.
I've read a few books that over the past year that blend mental health and the supernatural, but none have resonated as this did with me. John tackled it with such empathy and understanding without making it cliched or using it as more of a novelty with stereotypical tropes.
The book is fast-paced, leaving you, the reader, unable to put the book down (or hit pause in my case). It was exciting, emotional, and dark!
The narration was superb, and the switches between characters old and young were brilliant! It elevated the storytelling!
This is hands down my favourite book of the year. I've already ordered a hard copy, as this book deserves space on your shelf. It's still hard to believe that this is a debut. John Ashley is a name I'll be looking forward to seeing what's to come.
A must listen!!!
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