Five Star Review for Stormwreck

This is a  lovely review for STORMWRECK that was just posted. Thank you to Lorraine for taking the time.

 

"5.0 out of 5 stars Be prepared..., 14 Feb 2012

By 

This review is from: Stormwreck (Kindle Edition)

Going through all of Darren Humphries books to select the one I was going to read first, I went for Stormwreck as it was the one that was most likely to appeal to me, as I like everything weird and spooky. I thought I'd familiarise myself with the writer by reading something from my favourite genre before moving on to something sci-fi or humoristic. I was even more enthusiastic at the idea of reading it as other group members who had read it and who knew my tastes in books thought it was a book for me. And boy were they right !

What really stuck me with this book, is how it doesn't give the feeling of being "fast-paced" somehow. You would think the fact that the events happen over a few hours only (and there are quite a few things going on), all on a background of violent storm, would give the book a very rapid rhythm, but instead I found that the main feeling was that of oppressiveness, of gloom, something that makes you feel claustrophobic even though you're there, with all the characters, on a beautiful Cornish cove.

That said, you can't help but notice how the story builds up with the storm, how the evil grows, how scared the villagers become, and how more and more drawn-in you become as a reader.

This book is definitely a different experience from what I've had so far. You don't get excited as such to get to know what happens at the end, you want to get there because you want that feeling to end, that weight to lift off, you want to disperse that cloud of mystery. It could be very easy I guess to write a novel that would just state the facts, but I think the whole atmosphere thing is created with skill, and is what sets this book apart from the other horror/mystery/paranormal books I've read in my life.

It's all very hard to explain, it's really something you really need to feel for yourself ! "

New Five Star Review for STORMWRECK

I received this rather remarkable review whilst away. It's rather more erudite than I would suggest the book is!

"5.0 out of 5 stars Spooktastic!, 22 Dec 2011

ByJenny Shaw

The essence of horror is lack of control. True horror shows us that our safe, secure little world over which we have power and in which events are predictable - or at least logical - is nothing but a comforting fairy-tale. It harks back to some long-forgotten race memory in which life could be snuffed out in an instant in a world that did not always make sense.

So what better setting for a horror story than an isolated community in the teeth of a massive and potentially deadly story. Throw in a long forgotten secret, give early indications that Supernatural is Permitted and, for good measure, cut the cast of characters off from the rest of civilisation.

It's an excellent set-up and in Darren Humphries' masterly hands becomes a highly compelling and satisfying read. As a narrator he is authoritative but never obtrusive, his characters are rounded and sympathetic and the whole thing trips along with an ease that will have you reading all night."


Wow, who'd have thought I'd ever get the phrase 'masterly hands' used in a review of my work? Not me that's for sure.

Five Star Review For Stormwreck

Just received another five star review for STORMWRECK on amazon.co.uk

It really is an amazing one and  I am very grateful to the reviewer.

"This book is one of the best I have read this year. It is the sort of book that builds page after page & very quickly you not only feel you know the characters but you are transported to Cornwall with it's beautiful coastline.
The book is a tale of the Supernatural but does not go beyond the bounds of reality, it is quite a long read but unlike many novels of this length it does not loose it's way half way through & you find that your heart is in your mouth for most of the story. I do hope that Mr Humphries will be writing more novels in this genre as he is so talented & it would be a gerat shame if he didn't treat us to another wonderfully dark tale in the future.
I can't praise Stormwreck enough, if you haven't read it yet then do so, it would be such a shame not to read such a wonderfully written story that will keep you happy for hours & leave you wanting more from this talented author."

Five Star review for STORMWRECK

STORMWRECK has been pretty much one of the least noticed of my books, not least because it is so unlike any of the other stuff that I have done. It's a bit like the comedy stars saying that they want to be serious actors. They might be good at making us laugh, but can they make us take them seriously?

Well this review might give an answer.

5.0 out of 5 stars Unputdownability!, 10 Nov 2011

By 

Ignite  (East Yorkshire, UK)

This review is from: Stormwreck (Kindle Edition)

Darren Humphries is best known for his funny fantasy books but looking through his titles this one leapt out as being something very different. I liked the product description so I bought it. I am SO glad I did. It is a supernatural thriller, serious, clever, exciting - I can't praise it enough. It's fast paced and by 40% I was on the edge of my chair, biting my fingers! By 50% it felt like the climax had been reached. I wondered how he could keep the tension up for the second half of the book. He didn't. He increased it, ratcheted it up gradually. What a story!

This is certainly far from the author's usual genre but I sincerely hope he will take this direction again. He has hidden depths. Don't continue to hide them Mr Humphries - lets have more of your serious, dark side!

New books available in paperback on Amazon.com

Others of my books are now available on Amazon.com in an attempt to stave off the silly advertising of Origin.

You can now get To Infinity (and maybe that's far enough), The Sword In The Tree, Stormwreck and New York City Legend all for prices that aren't even a tenth of the ridiculous asking price of the Origin listings.

It's only paperbacks that are listed, though. For the hardbacks you still have to go to www.lulu.com . I'd get the hardbacks listed as well but that $75 a shot and almost the price of buying one of the Origin books. Considering the amount that I sell, it really wouldn't be worth the effort.

If the paperbacks took off, however...