What do you think?
Rate this book
Darkness Demands
When writer John Newton receives a mysterious note containing the bizarre request that he should leave a bar of chocolate on one of the gravestones in the local churchyard, he doesn't take much notice. But, as he is about to discover, the consequences of not complying with the anonymous demand can be truly appalling. A newcomer to the picturesque Yorkshire village of Skelbrooke, John comes to realize that its inhabitants harbour a terrifying secret. And as the demands escalate in intensity, so John must face his worst nightmare come true. With this, his eighth nerve-shattering novel of supernatural suspense, Simon Clark triumphantly confirms his reputation as "one of the most exciting British horror writers around."
Hardcover
First published January 28, 2001
5 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
About the author
Simon Clark
215 books300 followersBorn, 20th April, 1958, Simon Clark is the author of such highly regarded horror novels as Nailed By The Heart, Blood Crazy, Darker, Vampyrrhic and The Fall, while his short stories have been collected in Blood & Grit and Salt Snake & Other Bloody Cuts. He has also written prose material for the internationally famous rock band U2.
Raised in a family of storytellers – family legend told of a stolen human skull buried beneath the Clark garage – he sold his first ghost story to a radio station in his teens. Before becoming a full-time writer he held a variety of day jobs, that have involved strawberry picking, supermarket shelf stacking, office work, and scripting video promos.
He lives with his wife and two children in mystical territory that lies on the border of Robin Hood country in England.
Raised in a family of storytellers – family legend told of a stolen human skull buried beneath the Clark garage – he sold his first ghost story to a radio station in his teens. Before becoming a full-time writer he held a variety of day jobs, that have involved strawberry picking, supermarket shelf stacking, office work, and scripting video promos.
He lives with his wife and two children in mystical territory that lies on the border of Robin Hood country in England.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 22, 2021
I heard a fair amount of buzz regarding SC and after three lackluster reads, SC finally demonstrates that he can write an engaging horror novel with DD! DD is classic small town horror with an interesting premise and a great setting. Our main protagonist, John Newton, is a writer living in the small town of Skelbrooke with his wife, teenage son and younger daughter. They just moved to a 'new' house in Skelbrooke after the success of one of his novels-- John is finally on the cusp of the big time and the former mill house they move into has a lot of character, including glass panels in the floor so people can see the water moving under the house. Also in the town of Skelbrooke is a huge necropolis, now defunct, with something like 80,000 bodies in crypts and buried. SC really gives a feel for the town and especially the necropolis, which is close to his house.
I am usually not very taken by novels that feature a writer as the MC, but SC does a good job with this so I will let it go. John is struggling for ideas for his follow up to his latest best seller and we are introduced to the day to day life of the family. One day, John finds a strange note on the rear porch demanding that he place a pound of chocolate on a certain grave in the necropolis or else! John at first dismisses this as a prank, but ensuing notes follow and he starts to obey the demands-- what does he have to lose after all? A pound of chocolate, a beer, a ball, etc., the various demands are trivial after all! Further, having not complied with the first note, his daughter had a serious bike accident, and John wonders if this is linked. He decides to take no chances. He is intrigued, however, about the notes, for it seems many others in town are also complying. No one will say much, however, until he gets a bit from his aging, somewhat senile neighbor, who tells him he must comply. Further, he is contacted by a woman, now in her 80s, who gives him a history of the last time this happened-- over 70 years ago!
Enough with the plot. SC turns in an atmospheric novel here with enough mystery and open ended questions that really satisfies, building tension steadily up to the final denouement. I was surprised by the ending, which also demonstrates that SC has some chops. Recommended for horror fans! 4 spooky stars.
I am usually not very taken by novels that feature a writer as the MC, but SC does a good job with this so I will let it go. John is struggling for ideas for his follow up to his latest best seller and we are introduced to the day to day life of the family. One day, John finds a strange note on the rear porch demanding that he place a pound of chocolate on a certain grave in the necropolis or else! John at first dismisses this as a prank, but ensuing notes follow and he starts to obey the demands-- what does he have to lose after all? A pound of chocolate, a beer, a ball, etc., the various demands are trivial after all! Further, having not complied with the first note, his daughter had a serious bike accident, and John wonders if this is linked. He decides to take no chances. He is intrigued, however, about the notes, for it seems many others in town are also complying. No one will say much, however, until he gets a bit from his aging, somewhat senile neighbor, who tells him he must comply. Further, he is contacted by a woman, now in her 80s, who gives him a history of the last time this happened-- over 70 years ago!
Enough with the plot. SC turns in an atmospheric novel here with enough mystery and open ended questions that really satisfies, building tension steadily up to the final denouement. I was surprised by the ending, which also demonstrates that SC has some chops. Recommended for horror fans! 4 spooky stars.
September 30, 2025
Good suburban horror / haunted town story. This was my first time reading Brit novelist Simon Clark, and I liked his direct writing style. The writing is not super British. Feel free to make whatever you want out of that comment.
The story focuses on the Newton family and some of the other residents of small-town Shelbrooke. The “haunted town” aspect is here but Clark does not try to in cram too many characters. The story stays small with an underlying creep factor.
Speaking of creep, Clark hooked me immediately. The opening chapter set the tone and kept the whole thing moving.
The novel is low on the gore score. Clark writes children and teenagers well. There was very little filler.
The ending is a downer.
The story focuses on the Newton family and some of the other residents of small-town Shelbrooke. The “haunted town” aspect is here but Clark does not try to in cram too many characters. The story stays small with an underlying creep factor.
Speaking of creep, Clark hooked me immediately. The opening chapter set the tone and kept the whole thing moving.
The novel is low on the gore score. Clark writes children and teenagers well. There was very little filler.
The ending is a downer.
November 28, 2009
I picked this book up at a used bookstore and didn't know anything about it or the author.
Darkness Demands is a chilling story about a writer who moves to a new neighborhood near an ancient cemetery. He starts finding little notes demanding that he leave simple offerings--such as chocolate--on one of the graves. He scoffs at them at first, but in talking with the villagers he discovers that not doing as Baby Bones requests will result in some nasty retribution not only for him and his family, but for his friends and neighbors, too. Trying to keep up with the increasing demands in a timely manner forces him to choose between two horrifying lesser evils.
I was reminded of this book when I saw that Clark has a new book coming out in December called Ghost Monster. I'll definitely be reading that one.
Darkness Demands is a chilling story about a writer who moves to a new neighborhood near an ancient cemetery. He starts finding little notes demanding that he leave simple offerings--such as chocolate--on one of the graves. He scoffs at them at first, but in talking with the villagers he discovers that not doing as Baby Bones requests will result in some nasty retribution not only for him and his family, but for his friends and neighbors, too. Trying to keep up with the increasing demands in a timely manner forces him to choose between two horrifying lesser evils.
I was reminded of this book when I saw that Clark has a new book coming out in December called Ghost Monster. I'll definitely be reading that one.
October 28, 2025
I can tell you what I liked best in this book......the Necropolis itself. The Gothic imagery of the abandoned cemetery and the lavish Victorian era monuments is very haunting in and of itself. I picture it looking much like the old section of London's Highgate.
Beyond that, this is a well-paced and inventive folk horror tale. The story was well constructed and I couldn't guess where it was going or how it would end; but it was satisfying when I finally arrived there.
Beyond that, this is a well-paced and inventive folk horror tale. The story was well constructed and I couldn't guess where it was going or how it would end; but it was satisfying when I finally arrived there.
September 15, 2010
I liked this book.It also had a good ending.The main protagonist was well fleshed out.You could really experience all of the difficulties that he had to go through.The only bad thing about the book were a little unrealistic situations throughout the book.
March 2, 2010
This is the first Simon Clark book that I have read. I really like this one a lot. The cemetary was especially creepy. A real page-turner!
October 3, 2019
Every corner of this novel was brilliant! (And it's a good thing, too, because I'd nearly kicked this author to the curb after a couple that were mildly disappointing and one that was horrendous.) It seems that what Simon Clark needed were multiple story lines to keep him busy. When a book has just one idea, he beats it into oblivion.
It's somewhat in the tradition of the Asian horror (like The Ring) that was a craze around the same time this was written, where you have to solve the mystery of what the ghost's problem exactly is ... but not quite. But it feels like those did. And a good detective/investigative ghost story is one of my favorite things, so this was right up my alley.
I guess I'm stuck with keeping reading Simon Clark, and I'll just have to live with the risk of being disappointed sometimes in order to, potentially, read something as great as this again.
It's somewhat in the tradition of the Asian horror (like The Ring) that was a craze around the same time this was written, where you have to solve the mystery of what the ghost's problem exactly is ... but not quite. But it feels like those did. And a good detective/investigative ghost story is one of my favorite things, so this was right up my alley.
I guess I'm stuck with keeping reading Simon Clark, and I'll just have to live with the risk of being disappointed sometimes in order to, potentially, read something as great as this again.
November 10, 2016
It was an interesting story and I liked the way the author builds the suspense. I'm not quite sure why the author felt it was so important to throw in some gratuitous sex scenes - in fact, there doesn't seem to be any reason for the chapter depicting the son's relationship with his new girlfriend except for the sex. So that means a few useless chapters, but you don't realize you've been bamboozled until you finish the book and stop to think about it. I wish the ending had been a little stronger... a lot of questions were left unanswered.
July 1, 2025
If you’re a fan of Stephen king style horror/thrillers then this is a cheap easy fast paced read. The story and setting are terrific…. The plot is solid… the characters relatable if not fully fleshed out.
Unfortunately, like the protagonist in the book, the author seems to be rushing to meet an editorial deadline. After spending 3/4 of the book harnessing some generally well done fear and anxiety, the book spirals into a hurried and vacant ending. It feels rushed and sophomoric.
This book is good in a pinch for a slightly scary vacation read but that’s about it.
Unfortunately, like the protagonist in the book, the author seems to be rushing to meet an editorial deadline. After spending 3/4 of the book harnessing some generally well done fear and anxiety, the book spirals into a hurried and vacant ending. It feels rushed and sophomoric.
This book is good in a pinch for a slightly scary vacation read but that’s about it.
May 19, 2025
The book in some aspects, is kind of similar to the movie Sinister with Ethan Hawke. Sad ending.
April 25, 2010
Soyons clair dès le départ : je suis très très loin d'être un fan de littérature de terreur, et c'est un miracle que Bragelonne ait réussi à m'en faire apprécier un !
Je fais un vrai blocage sur ce type de livre : ils ne me font tout simplement pas peur, pitié plutôt (exception faite à Lovecraft et aux premiers Anne Rice).
Alors qu'est-ce qui a bien pu me faire aimer ce roman ? Et bien dans un premier temps, ces 330 pages se boivent comme du petit lait, si bien que j'ai même eu l'impression de n'avoir lu qu'une nouvelle quand c'était fini. Clark à une écriture nerveuse, rapide, directe et sans chichis, ça se lit très bien et extrêmement vite. Le scénario est soigné et laisse un goût amer dans la bouche, et les personnages suffisamment attachants pour les rendre précieux aux lecteurs. Tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour un petit cauchemar duquel vous viendrez à bout en un week-end.
Ne vous en privez pas si la couverture vous interpelle...
Je fais un vrai blocage sur ce type de livre : ils ne me font tout simplement pas peur, pitié plutôt (exception faite à Lovecraft et aux premiers Anne Rice).
Alors qu'est-ce qui a bien pu me faire aimer ce roman ? Et bien dans un premier temps, ces 330 pages se boivent comme du petit lait, si bien que j'ai même eu l'impression de n'avoir lu qu'une nouvelle quand c'était fini. Clark à une écriture nerveuse, rapide, directe et sans chichis, ça se lit très bien et extrêmement vite. Le scénario est soigné et laisse un goût amer dans la bouche, et les personnages suffisamment attachants pour les rendre précieux aux lecteurs. Tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour un petit cauchemar duquel vous viendrez à bout en un week-end.
Ne vous en privez pas si la couverture vous interpelle...
April 18, 2010
It has been a while, but I enjoyed this book immensely. The main character, a writer named John Newton has recently moved with his family to a new house. Shortly thereafter he begins receiving notes requesting some very odd items, and requesting the articles be left in a certain place in the neighborhood cemetary. The book goes from creepy to completely horrific as the demands escalate and the history of the cemetary unfolds. Other residents come forth, and suddenly, poor John is past the point of no return. This is one truly bone chilling book.Darkness DemandsDarkness Demands
September 20, 2012
While I didn't exactly enjoy the author's writing style--it was a bit simplistic and almost like a children's book--I have to admit this was a good, solid, scary read. I watch a lot of horror movies and read a lot of horror novels, and this was one the few that actually gave me nightmares, for which I sincerely salute the author. Well done!
January 9, 2016
I really wasn't feeling this book. I started it in October and here I am in January finally finishing it. It was a load of old nothing to be honest, I didn't get a feel for any of the characters, and it also creeped me out how older male authors write about 16/17 year old girls, like that was the most disturbing part of this 'horror'.
x
x
March 13, 2018
I loved this book and this horror genre.
June 20, 2010
There is a great story within a story in this book, but I found the overall story lacking in comparison.
May 8, 2011
Another win from Mr Clark. Great, creepy, breathtaking horror...
May 7, 2014
Two and a half stars, kept me interested without being much in the way of horror
September 19, 2015
Ok
The story was interesting but nothing happened. I kind of like it because of the end but.... it was predictable
The story was interesting but nothing happened. I kind of like it because of the end but.... it was predictable
December 18, 2015
Really interesting story that blends traditional horror and mystery. One of Clark's finest.
April 14, 2008
Horror
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews