The Damnation Game

by David Brian

The dead are never lost for those willing to listen.

Kate Stringer is a woman in mourning, her murdered husband the latest victim of the notorious Catholic Jack slayer. A nationwide manhunt remains underway, but the serial killer continues to remain elusive. Now, unknown to her, Kate too has been targeted by the maniac. However, other forces are in play. Things moving in the shadows, with an agenda of their own...

From those broken places, where trauma and distress cloister, they watch with accusing eyes. And if they judge us, they may look to share their pain.

Genres: Horror

130 pages, Paperback

First published July 6, 2015

About the author

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-...

Once More with Feeling
"There are people in the house. They have the children. What should we do?"

Available October 17th, 2022. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDMCLZVQ

I was born into a world of horror... Well, not quite, but almost! To be more precise, my 'very sudden' arrival into this world came about via a broken cinema seat. It was a seat into which my heavily pregnant mother found herself wedged. Once it had collapsed beneath her bulk, the resulting chaos of attempting to free her - perhaps not surprisingly - induced a rather rapid labor.
Talk about a grand entrance.
I'm guessing it was something of a talking point among those present, and probably for many years after.
Oh, yeah, and the film that was showing? It was The Phantom Of The Opera!


I have had a fascination with all aspects of the horror genre since my childhood, and it is a major driving force in my desire to write entertaining stories.


Carmilla: The Wolves of Styria is my first novel; It's the story of Laura Bennett, who finds everything changes on the day a beautiful and mysterious stranger first enters her life...

A novel length re-imagining of J.S. Le Fanu's original novella, Carmilla: The Wolves of Styria draws on much of the original narrative, but also introduces an array of new Characters to bring a whole new level of horror, and tragedy, to the legend of Carmilla.

The novel is co-authored by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu and David Brian.

Collections of my short stories can be found in the fantasy books Dark Albion, Kaleen Rae, and The Cthulhu Child.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read!

This was a quick, fast paced short story that I finished in one sitting. The book grabbed me from the first page and didn't release me till the last page.

The story is about a woman that loses her husband from the result of a serial killer and she is trying to cope with life without him, but things take a bad turn as now she is in the sights of the killer as well.

The story takes an unexpected turn near the end of the book and the ending was not what I expected, but I did like the way the book ended as all I can say without giving away spoilers is: justice was done. Four stars for this one!

[Sarah Kingsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enthralling and thought provoking story which I read to completion in an evening. I have binged on David Brian's writing lately, and though I loved Carmilla: The Wolves of Styria, this runs a close second.
Perhaps closer to dark fiction than horror, and with a lurking tone of supernatural threat, The Damnation Game actually succeeded in making the Catholic Jack killer both creepy scary, and also a sympathetic character. By the end I cared as much for him as I did his victims.

[David Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so as I wrote this novella it's fair to assume that I'm exhibiting more than a touch of bias. But, honestly, I really enjoyed creating this thought provoking little nightmare.
A lonely widow, a serial killer on the prowl, disturbing goings on within the confines of a children's home, and something otherworldly lurking in the shadows. I hope you enjoy!

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one. It was short, to the point, and packed a punch.

We have a serial killer who's targeting priests due to his past abuse by the clergy. A woman and her husband happen to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, and things go from there. When things look bleakest, things take a turn for the supernatural.

Overall a strong piece of fiction with well developed characters, especially for a shorter work.

I recommend this for any fans of supernatural thrillers. I'll be checking out more of Mr. David Brian's work soon.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was a novella in which I felt for all the characters, good and bad alike. Kate Stringer is a woman mourning the murder of her husband--a man the police have yet to capture. Part of the story was told from her point of view, and part from that of the killer.

The problem I had with the story is that it was entirely too predictable. Once you know the killer's identity, it was all too easy to guess what brought him to do the things he had--even before the narration into his past began. An issue that has been in the news so often now, this didn't really add anything new to contemplate in regards to the storyline.

While Kate's emotions were still raw with her loss, her ultimate conclusion was still very predictable to me--I could pin-point the exact moment at which I "knew" how the story would end. To be fair, there were some things I didn't see coming, so I did round up for originality in those areas.

I will be reading another novella from this author, which has come more highly recommended, next.

*I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the Damnation Game by David Brian. This story has a female protagonist that is very easy to feel emotion toward, a story line that draws you in, and a killer who is craaaazy!

This is a short read, not very time consuming and well worth every minute. There is certainly material here that could have made for a larger story. I did, howerver, find myself literally engaged hoping that Kate would do, or not do something, or hoping for someone to help at certain points. Very fun for this to happen in a short story/novella/novelette. There is plenty of suspense, twist, and a surprise ending that kept me reading.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a new author to read that you may not be familiar with. I will be reading more from David Brian in the future.

[solitaryfossil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly gratifying Horror novella: short, sinister, and satisfying. Good character writing - not easy using the novella form. Enjoyed it!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cards on the table. I've previously bought, read and enjoyed a number of David Brian's books. I was offered this one free in exchange for an HONEST review.

I really enjoyed The Damnation Game. We are quickly drawn into the turmoil affecting Kate Stringer our protagonist. She is a woman attempting, and also struggling, to resurrect her life following the brutal murder of her husband. The story opens with Kate talking to Merrick, a friend who runs the bar she is drinking in. As she unloads her woes upon him, Merrick notices another customer watching them, and very soon things start to happen. The book has a strong supernatural plot-line so things get more than a little weird, but in a good way.
It is very difficult to give any in depth run downs of the plot, there are just too many variables and any one of them would be a spoiler. Suffice to say I loved this story. It does contain some violence, and when it first arrives it slaps you in the face with its spontaneous brutality. But more than that, this is a story that made me think about the nature of reality, the horrendous acts carried out behind closed doors, and what faces us all at our end. This books final pages will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of The Damnation Game in return for an Honest review.
Kate Stringer is a woman struggling to overcome a dreadful loss. Joel Miller is a young man plagued by his own ghosts of childhood. Now, during this one night, the events of both their pasts are destined to draw them together. For Kate, she is already on edge, she's knows there's a serial killer prowling the streets of Britain, but she doesn't realize the Catholic Jack killer isn't the only thing stalking her this night.
This was a nicely crafted slice of fiction. With well developed characters, and descriptive prose which demonstrated the authors writing chops, The Damnation Game was a fast paced pleasure to read. Late on there is a massive swerve in the plot, and at the time it seemed a real WTF moment. But actually it works beautifully!
I enjoyed everything about this book, but the final chapter and the epilogue provide a great wrap.

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Judging by reviews, almost seems like I've read a different book than everyone on here. Wanted to like this one, really, especially since the author has kindly provided a free review copy and shipped it all the way from England. But it just wasn't good. It wasn't abysmal per se, just pedestrian and bland and all too jejune. The first story was actually almost without any redeeming qualities, a sort of a serial killer drama with an ecclesiastic fetish and motivations as trite and cliché as the writing itself. The second story was an improvement, it showed originality and regard for proper grammar that went utterly ignored in its predecessor. Overall, this mostly served to remind me of why my tastes are drifting away from horror, because a lot of horror/dark fiction out there is much like this one. Well intended amateurish scribblings with nothing to offer. At least it's a quick read, though there are much more fun ways to spend an hour.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is for the paperback edition which was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for and honest review. This is it.

A pretty basic thriller that struggled with pacing at times and unfortunately was a little clichéd and bland for me. I was hoping for a more dastardly killer and bigger reveals. It ended up just ok.

Strangely enough the bonus story in the paperback version “Gloop!” was really good. While the first story was a bit elementary, the second showed much promise and was well thought out and realized in a short format. Well done.

*Please note that I purchased the e-book version of this one prior to receiving the paperback copy and it does not contain the bonus short story which is too bad because it is clearly the star of this one. 2 Stars for “The Damnation Game” and 3.5 Stars for “Gloop!”.

[Saradia Chatterjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate is distraught after witnessing the murder of her husband. She does not know that she is being noticed by the same killer. But there is more to it than just a homicidal maniac and brutal murders. Dark forces are at play behind the curtain that separates the real from the supernatural.

As the book description says, this book is an ‘unsettling slice of darkness’. The story does indeed send a shiver down one’s spine. A sinister presence is felt both by the characters and the reader throughout the course of the story. I was not very satisfied with the opening of the story but I’m glad I decided to read on. There are certain conversations which, I felt, didn’t quite fit in. Also, the characters didn’t appeal to me. But these factors aren’t essential when this book is concerned because it tells a frightening story and tells it well. The language is good and the suspense is maintained perfectly. Style of writing is quite important in thrillers and fantasies because it is what affects the reader’s experience. A brilliantly written thriller will force one to turn back and check for some mysterious creature lurking there. The thrill will not be felt by the reader if the writing is sketchy and drab. David Brian has done a great job of penning a story that scares even after it ends. There are many lovers of the fantasy genre and I’d recommend this book to all of them. The only reason why I’m not giving five stars is the presence of certain unnecessary conversations and my disappointment with the opening as I’ve mentioned before. Otherwise it’s a good read!

[Stephen Cordingley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this from the author in return for an honest review. Now I'll be honest here, the main reason I jumped in and offered my reviewing services was because I noticed that David Brian lives in the same county as myself. That being said, I have never met him, and other than a brief exchange of emails when I requested a copy of his book, we have never communicated before.
I enjoyed The Damnation Game immensely. It is a thrilling story involving a serial killer on the hunt for a woman who doesn't even realize she is being preyed upon, and a looming supernatural presence with a purpose of its own. Told from a number of different points of view, it is nicely paced, and with superbly detailed characterization for a short work. I thought the writing was good throughout, but the final pages particularly were masterful in their prose. As good as you will read anywhere.
Highly recommended.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Damnation Game by David Brian, although I'd describe it as being on the quieter side of horror. Still, a decently disturbing novella sized read.
The story follows events in the life of Kate Stringer, a woman trying to cope with the brutal murder of her husband. It also focuses on the man who committed that crime (along with several other killings, too). These two people are connected by a web of violence and loss, but they also have something else in common. A force, not of this world, is stalking both Kate and the killer. Soon they will both learn there is more to living than the things we experience in this material world.

[Abby Cornwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seemed a fairly straightforward story about a serial killer hunting down the wife of one of his previous victims, while at the same time both killer and potential victim are being tracked by (one or more) supernatural entities.
I thought this was going to be more gory than it was, but it was well written, it held my interest and I liked the way the characters were developed. I also really liked the ending.
Apparently I have to reveal that I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Dorothy Cotton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, though at times bleak and disturbing tale about the actions which impact a youngsters life, and how, in turn, these events will later affect the lives of others. I picked this up expecting horror but, even though there is a strong supernatural element to the story, I wouldn't necessarily classify it as such. However, what it is, is a dark and enthralling story that doesn't disappoint.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I intended to sit down and read a couple chapters of The Damnation Game, but I ended up reading this in one sitting. More dark fiction than horror, but 5-plus stars.

[David Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars. I wish this had been longer.

[Karl Ketts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book in exchange for an HONEST review.

The Damnation Game is primarily about a woman named Kate Stringer. I didn't initially like Kate, as she came across as a snarky bitch. Later we learn that her husband has been murdered, and as her story unfolded I began to feel more sympathy for the character. The pain she has gone through perhaps explains her sharp tongue. Unknown to Kate she too is in the sights of the killer, and as he stalks her a number of fast paced events happen, including a dark supernatural overtone to the whole story.

This was headed towards being a solid 4 or 5 star review, but late on the book takes a massive twist in the way events are played out. I'll be honest, it initially p**sed me right off as I thought the author was being lazy in trying to tie things up. I went to bed having awarded this story three stars. But I found myself thinking about it when I woke this morning, and thinking about it positively. In retrospect, I quite like how David Brian wrapped this book up. It worked. And both of the main characters stories carried darkly sinister overtones.

Overall, a well written, nicely paced story with interesting characters and an unusual plot. Maybe four and a bit stars.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging story about a woman trying to cope with the loss of her husband, and also the serial killer responsible for her husband's murder. Both of them are unaware they are being stalked by a supernatural being, and as the killers actions drive him towards the widow, an unearthly force closes on the both of them.
I read this expecting a horror story, and although it is definitely very dark in tone and content, it is not as fright filled and bloody in the manner I was expecting. However, for a novella the characters are very well drawn, and it is a story that held my interest throughout, and with a disturbing and thought provoking ending.

[David Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so as I wrote this novella it's fair to assume that I'm exhibiting more than a touch of bias. But, honestly, I really enjoyed creating this thought provoking little nightmare.
A lonely widow, a serial killer on the prowl, disturbing goings on within the confines of a children's home, and something otherworldly lurking in the shadows. I hope you enjoy!

[Kaddi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good novella type story about a woman trying to cope with losing her husband in devastating circumstances. Joe was murdered by the notorious Catholic Jack slayer, a serial killer with a completely skewed moral compass. Once the slayer sets his sights on Kate, then things look bleak, but little do either of them realize they are both being pursued by something not of this realm.
For something of this length, I thought the characters were very well defined, and the pacing of the story was excellent in leading to a memorable climax.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A serial killer with a grievance, a lonely widow finding solace in alcohol, and some unpleasant goings on in a children's home. Add to this a supernatural presence lurking with dark intent, and you have a novella that succeeds in packing a lot of story into its few pages.

[KarenMichelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read that held my interest and provided a damn good, creepy story.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to The Hellbound Heart (Hellraiser), Clive Barker offers a taste of things to come in The Damnation Game.
After serving only a partial sentence, ex-boxer and current convict, Marty Strauss receives a lucky break (or so it would seem) at the hands of Mr. Whitehead, an aging millionaire who had acquired much of his wealth during the aftermath of WW2 in Poland.
Whitehead's shady dealings in the exploitation and misery of others may have amassed him great fortunes, but at some cost and peril. Now in the twilight of his life, it seems that his past has come to haunt him. In his current need, Marty provides Whitehead with security as his private bodyguard. Knowing that if he is fired for failure to put Whitehead's life above his own will land him back in prison, Marty is highly motivated to meet all the elderly rich man's expectations.
Shortly after settling into Whitehead's mansion, Marty Strauss starts to get an unsettling taste of the horrors to come. Whitehead's odd daughter, Carys, becomes infatuated with Marty and their torrid affair sheds some light upon the damnation her father has brought upon himself. Strange happenings and supernatural forces push Marty to the limits of his sanity and beyond.
If you are a fan of the Hellraiser franchise, I highly recommend The Damnation Game. There are subtle (and not so subtle) attributes of The Hellbound Heart. One of my favorite is a character called The Razor Eater. I kept envisioning him as a prototype for the fat Cenobyte from Hellraiser. As you read, other parallels and shadows of the infamous horror film series will become apparent.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.
I feel bad for marking this down half a star, but I was expecting more of a police procedural story. Also, as it is about the hunt for a serial killer, I was hoping for more gore than there turned out to be. There is some violence, but I hoped for more of it.
On the plus side, I did enjoy the story and it held my interest. I also thought the author created and held an atmosphere of dread throughout proceedings. And I liked the explanation for the supernatural presence.

[Stella Abbrams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate's life is in turmoil. A few months earlier she witnessed the murder of her husband Joe, slaughtered by a maniac knife man. She hasn't realized yet, but the killer is now stalking her too. However, another force watches both of them, and they will soon learn there are 'different' things existing in this world. This was a good creepy tale and at the end I felt sorry both for Kate and her stalker.

[Mark Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this by mistake thinking it was something else. Overall it was a well written and spooky tale about karmic justice.

[Connor Savage · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing style is fine but mediocre, nothing is particularly surprising except that it did not attempt to veer into Clive Barker territory.

It feels reprehensible to include the child abuse by the Catholic Church whilst alluding in the ending to the idea god is present in the world without making any real attempt at exploring why god wouldn't intervene for innocent children or the first 11 victims of catholic jack.

[Michael Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story really did not grab me at all with this one, unfortunately. I can see why others might like it, it's by no means terrible, the author can certainly write and I've read other stories by him in the past that I've liked.

But nothing gelled with me in this one: not the characters, nor the setting, not the plot, and most especially not the resolution.