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Devondale
It was always there. Thirty years ago, Carter Springer left behind Devondale, a sleepy neighborhood in Lexington, Kentucky, for a big-city life in Atlanta. But he didn’t just leave behind his family—he also left behind his friends, a group the adults of the neighborhood once referred to as the Devondale Five. They were legends back then. They ran the neighborhood. They were inseparable.Until Carter abandoned them.It never left.He’s long set aside the memories he and his friends made on those winding streets. But when Richie, another member of the Five, dies under mysterious circumstances, Carter knows he must return to Devondale and pay his respects.It’s been waiting.Richie’s death raises more than just questions for the old gang. It also raises a lot of ghosts, turning the sleepy neighborhood from Carter’s memories into a nightmare. One he might never escape from.And now that he’s back… it’s hungry.Fans of Stephen King and Douglas Clegg will be on the edge of their seats for every moment of Mark Spears’ thrilling debut horror novel, Devondale.
316 pages, Paperback
Published May 24, 2017
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Mark Spears
34 books16 followersI was born in Lexington Kentucky, the same city that my books Finding Eve and Devondale are set in. You’ll also find Lexington, and several small cities around Kentucky, in The Legend of Catfish Joe and Other Stories. I had a pretty good childhood and enjoy writing about some of the adventures, and misadventures, that I had growing up. I currently maintain my own library of nearly 6,000 books, and if I live to be 200 years old I may actually read them all.
I begin writing during my middle school years, my first story a six page piece of fiction along the lines of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. I experienced my first public reading that year as I stood in front of my English class and read the entire story. Was the story memorable? Almost 25 years later I ran into a classmate who remembered the story and asked if I were still writing.
Unfortunately I didn’t get serious about my writing until 2006, when I enrolled in an MFA program. I’ve been writing daily for almost 12 years now. Some days are good and some are not so good. I’ve yet to send anything to a publisher, opting, for now, to self-publish.
I have a variety of interests outside of my writing, including reading, working out at the gym, playing volleyball, cruising, and hiking. My dream is to someday thru-hike the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail, a four to six month hike. Some of the quirky things I like: plain cheese cake, Iceland, staring at nature’s splendor, and my slobbering, 160 pound St. Bernard. Things that make me rub my chin: people who don’t say thank you when you hold a door open for them, politicians, and the world in general. My favorite thing, hands down, is spending time with family.
I begin writing during my middle school years, my first story a six page piece of fiction along the lines of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. I experienced my first public reading that year as I stood in front of my English class and read the entire story. Was the story memorable? Almost 25 years later I ran into a classmate who remembered the story and asked if I were still writing.
Unfortunately I didn’t get serious about my writing until 2006, when I enrolled in an MFA program. I’ve been writing daily for almost 12 years now. Some days are good and some are not so good. I’ve yet to send anything to a publisher, opting, for now, to self-publish.
I have a variety of interests outside of my writing, including reading, working out at the gym, playing volleyball, cruising, and hiking. My dream is to someday thru-hike the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail, a four to six month hike. Some of the quirky things I like: plain cheese cake, Iceland, staring at nature’s splendor, and my slobbering, 160 pound St. Bernard. Things that make me rub my chin: people who don’t say thank you when you hold a door open for them, politicians, and the world in general. My favorite thing, hands down, is spending time with family.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 30, 2019
This was a read that went quickly because I just couldn't put it down. It kept me up all night with me needing to know what was happening next and I would lose that sleep all over again. Carter is your main character that comes back to Lexington to bury one of crew from his youth. The Five is back together again, minus Richie who is being laid to rest, but he really isn't resting too much. I was so shocked at all the events that showed themselves and help set up the next chapter, the next move the group would make. There were villains, but it was almost overwhelming with excitement as you tried to guess who was actually the good and the bad. Although there were a few spelling and grammar errors that I wish were caught in editing, it did not take away from the experience I had as a reader. The story was fast paced, exciting, shocking, and just so fun to read. The ending, in my opinion, felt a little rushed, but I also feel that how it stopped left a lot of room for a sequel..that's just me, though!
November 8, 2017
I really loved Devondale. It was the perfect book for Halloween. Just the right amount of scary to keep the horror lover reading. The cover promised frightening and it delivered. The writing is tight and very well done.
Little does Carter know that when he goes home for a friend’s funeral, his life will be changed forever. He reunites with an old flame and gets into lots of twists and turns. I love the way Mark put everything together, and when the dead guy keeps following Carter around, the visual is great. The afterlife in this story is scarier than you’d ever want to imagine.
I highly recommend Devondale to anyone who likes to read horror. This one will scare you, that’s fo sho!
There are a couple of instances of formatting issues and some punctuation glitches but nothing that takes away from the story.
Little does Carter know that when he goes home for a friend’s funeral, his life will be changed forever. He reunites with an old flame and gets into lots of twists and turns. I love the way Mark put everything together, and when the dead guy keeps following Carter around, the visual is great. The afterlife in this story is scarier than you’d ever want to imagine.
I highly recommend Devondale to anyone who likes to read horror. This one will scare you, that’s fo sho!
There are a couple of instances of formatting issues and some punctuation glitches but nothing that takes away from the story.
November 7, 2017
A dark paranormal adventure that keeps you guessing, Mark Spears’ ‘Devondale’ is a tale that will have you afraid of your own shadow.
Mark leads you down a dimly lit path full of twists and turns and promptly frightens the daylights out of you in this unique murder story which explores the beyond.
While there were parts of the narrative which bumped me as a reader, overall Mark’s writing style is tidy and easy to follow. Death, the afterlife, the circumstances of the murder… all are explored with care, and the first person narrative puts you in the driver’s seat.
I’m not typically a person who picks up a novel with elements of horror, however I did end up enjoying ‘Devondale’.
If you’re a person who is a fan of horror to begin with, I definitely recommend this adventure for you!
Mark leads you down a dimly lit path full of twists and turns and promptly frightens the daylights out of you in this unique murder story which explores the beyond.
While there were parts of the narrative which bumped me as a reader, overall Mark’s writing style is tidy and easy to follow. Death, the afterlife, the circumstances of the murder… all are explored with care, and the first person narrative puts you in the driver’s seat.
I’m not typically a person who picks up a novel with elements of horror, however I did end up enjoying ‘Devondale’.
If you’re a person who is a fan of horror to begin with, I definitely recommend this adventure for you!
July 17, 2017
The book was fast reading and kept you on your toes in remembering who & what. Loved loved it. Living in Lexington and knowing the places written put an extra appreciation for this book. What a freaking imagination the author had, how he kept the story line in sequence displays a real skill of an author. Great reading, story line and characters mixed together to create a fantasy mystery type of book. Thanks for the read Mark. .
January 26, 2020
This is the 3rd book I've read written by Mark Spears; he has done a great job at writing a good book; I will definitely be reading more of his books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
January 16, 2022
I liked reading about the old neighborhood and very specific details of the hallway of my junior high school and the pink house across the street. Horror isn't my favorite genre but I found the story unique and I will definitely watch my back when I walk through this neighborhood again.
March 16, 2025
Devondale isn’t just a town—it’s a nightmare waiting to unfold. The story follows a man who stumbles upon a seemingly ordinary town, only to realize that something is deeply, horribly wrong. The deeper he digs, the darker things become, and soon, he’s caught in a twisted web of horror that feels inescapable.
Mark Spears doesn’t just tell a horror story; he creates an experience. The atmosphere is suffocating, the imagery is disturbing, and there’s an eerie sense of dread woven into every page. This isn’t your typical ghost story or slasher horror—this is psychological, grotesque, and deeply unsettling. It’s the kind of book that makes you second-guess that quiet little town you drive through on a road trip.
If you’re a fan of horror that leans into the disturbing and bizarre, Devondale will absolutely deliver. It’s unsettling in all the right ways.
Steve Rausch’s performance nails the eerie, creeping horror of this story. His voice adds a layer of unease that makes the tension even stronger. It’s not just about what’s being said—it’s about how he says it. The narration pulls you in, making you feel like you’re trapped in Devondale right along with the characters. If you’re an audiobook fan, this one’s definitely worth listening to.
If you’re a fan of authors like Thomas Ligotti or Clive Barker—those who blend psychological horror with deeply unsettling imagery—then Mark Spears is an author you’ll want to check out.
Devondale is a chilling, slow-burn horror that crawls into your brain and refuses to leave. It’s dark, disturbing, and absolutely worth the read.
Mark Spears doesn’t just tell a horror story; he creates an experience. The atmosphere is suffocating, the imagery is disturbing, and there’s an eerie sense of dread woven into every page. This isn’t your typical ghost story or slasher horror—this is psychological, grotesque, and deeply unsettling. It’s the kind of book that makes you second-guess that quiet little town you drive through on a road trip.
If you’re a fan of horror that leans into the disturbing and bizarre, Devondale will absolutely deliver. It’s unsettling in all the right ways.
Steve Rausch’s performance nails the eerie, creeping horror of this story. His voice adds a layer of unease that makes the tension even stronger. It’s not just about what’s being said—it’s about how he says it. The narration pulls you in, making you feel like you’re trapped in Devondale right along with the characters. If you’re an audiobook fan, this one’s definitely worth listening to.
If you’re a fan of authors like Thomas Ligotti or Clive Barker—those who blend psychological horror with deeply unsettling imagery—then Mark Spears is an author you’ll want to check out.
Devondale is a chilling, slow-burn horror that crawls into your brain and refuses to leave. It’s dark, disturbing, and absolutely worth the read.
July 20, 2025
Wow! Mark Spears really takes his readers on a wild ride with this one!
I didn’t know what to expect from this story and right until the last chapter, I was guessing what was real and what wasn’t. The story digs deep into aspects of the human psyche combined with hints at the paranormal world that kept me questioning everything.
The members of the Devondale Five think they’re just going back for the funeral of one of their own, but bizarre occurrences have them questioning their own sanity.
While the story has a nostalgic feel of returning home, revisiting your youth, and reconnecting with old friends, Richie’s death is not all that it seems and Carter’s efforts to find out what happened take him and the rest of the old gang uncover a downright creepy history that goes much farther than Devondale.
The audiobook is very well narrated and the story had me sitting in my car in the grocery store parking lot, needing to know what would happen next!
I didn’t know what to expect from this story and right until the last chapter, I was guessing what was real and what wasn’t. The story digs deep into aspects of the human psyche combined with hints at the paranormal world that kept me questioning everything.
The members of the Devondale Five think they’re just going back for the funeral of one of their own, but bizarre occurrences have them questioning their own sanity.
While the story has a nostalgic feel of returning home, revisiting your youth, and reconnecting with old friends, Richie’s death is not all that it seems and Carter’s efforts to find out what happened take him and the rest of the old gang uncover a downright creepy history that goes much farther than Devondale.
The audiobook is very well narrated and the story had me sitting in my car in the grocery store parking lot, needing to know what would happen next!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews