Book Review: Damned to Hell by Mike Salt
Title: Damned to Hell (Linkville Horror #1)
Author: Mike Salt
Release date: April 5th, 2023
*Disclosure – ‘Damned to Hell’ was published by DarkLit Press and was offered to me as a digital ARC. I have a novella releasing through DarkLit in 2024, but saying that, I declined accepting the ARC and preordered the three books in the series – at that time – and have recently purchased the fourth. This review is completely my own thoughts.*
In the last few years, DarkLit Press has been releasing some truly fantastic horror. From paranormal to pirate, they have you covered and I’ve become super excited to see what Andrew has coming up. I’m also very proud to have joined the DarkLit family and seeing the amazing things happening behind the scenes only furthers my excitement over the books being released. With Mike Salt’s ‘Linkville Horror Series,’ I wasn’t completely sure what I was jumping into when I ordered them. Was it a traditional series? Each book leading into the next. Or was it a ‘linked’ series (pun intended) where it takes place in and around the same neck of the woods, much like Alan Baxter’s phenomenal ‘Gulp’ novellas?
Having now read the first book, it is just that – a series of stories linked by location. Saying that, I’m sure familiar characters will pop up as I progress through the next three books that have been released.
What I liked: Ahhhhh, the classic Faustian Bargain. That’s where we find ourselves embroiled in for book one. The story follows Rob, a man who has hit the bottom of the barrel. His son has died, his wife has left him and cheap booze (and lots of it) are what fills his time as he struggles to continue with his life.
Then, an odd thing happens. He meets someone at work. A younger woman, Emily, who looks past his surface level of despair and recognizes his pain and appearance for what it is – grief. She wants to make a life with him, pull him out of the dumps, but he’s not ready.
And it’s here where Salt really kicks things off – by a friend of Rob’s asking him the age old question – “What are you willing to do to see your loved one again?”
And, seeing as this is a horror story, the answer should be obvious. “Anything.”
Rob of course, does what he needs to, to reset things and see his son again. But, like all Faustian Bargains, there is the unexpected Butterfly Effect, a ripple, that keeps messing things up and taking back what should never have been given in the first place. The idea of death missing its victim but swinging back around to collect later on, plays paramount throughout this and it continues all the way up to the very bitter end, where Salt gives us a fine capping of this tale.
What I didn’t like: To be fair, Salt solidly sets this one up, taking some time to get the ‘better life’ aspects in place. Some may find the opening quarter a bit slow, wanting brutality right off the hop, but patience is rewarded.
Additionally, Rob, at the beginning at last, is a complete scum bag. Unempathetic, willing to drive drunk and not caring about anyone but himself (and barely that), so you may find it hard to sympathize with him as the story progresses.
Why you should buy this: The story is fast-paced and if you’re a sucker for the ‘how far would you go’ narrative, this one will definitely have you riveted. Salt has created a great world already, one I’m excited to visit again, and seeing the haunted aspect he embedded into this story – very sneakily I’ll add – really ramped up the unnerving atmosphere that floods the entirety of this one.
4/5
