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Thomas Bexley #1
A Shadow On The Lens
The Postmaster looked over my shoulder. As I turned to look I saw a flicker of movement from across the street. I felt unseen eyes peer at me.
He walked away without another word. I watched as he climbed onto his bicycle and sped away down the street. I turned back and looked over my shoulder.
Someone had been watching us.
1904. Thomas Bexley, one of the first forensic photographers, is called to the sleepy and remote Welsh village of Dinas Powys, several miles down the coast from the thriving port of Cardiff. A young girl by the name of Betsan Tilny has been found murdered in the woodland - her body bound and horribly burnt. But the crime scene appears to have been staged, and worse still: the locals are reluctant to help.
As the strange case unfolds, Thomas senses a growing presence watching him, and try as he may, the villagers seem intent on keeping their secret. Then one night, in the grip of a fever, he develops the photographic plates from the crime scene in a makeshift darkroom in the cellar of his lodgings. There, he finds a face dimly visible in the photographs; a face hovering around the body of the dead girl - the face of Betsan Tilny.
He walked away without another word. I watched as he climbed onto his bicycle and sped away down the street. I turned back and looked over my shoulder.
Someone had been watching us.
1904. Thomas Bexley, one of the first forensic photographers, is called to the sleepy and remote Welsh village of Dinas Powys, several miles down the coast from the thriving port of Cardiff. A young girl by the name of Betsan Tilny has been found murdered in the woodland - her body bound and horribly burnt. But the crime scene appears to have been staged, and worse still: the locals are reluctant to help.
As the strange case unfolds, Thomas senses a growing presence watching him, and try as he may, the villagers seem intent on keeping their secret. Then one night, in the grip of a fever, he develops the photographic plates from the crime scene in a makeshift darkroom in the cellar of his lodgings. There, he finds a face dimly visible in the photographs; a face hovering around the body of the dead girl - the face of Betsan Tilny.
288 pages, ebook
First published September 5, 2019
61 people are currently reading
1849 people want to read
About the author
Sam Hurcom
3 books48 followersSam Hurcom was born in Dinas Powys, South Wales in 1991. He studied Philosophy at Cardiff University, attaining both an undergraduate and master's degree. He has since had several short stories published, and has written and illustrated a number of children's books. Sam currently lives in the village he was raised in, close to the woodlands that have always inspired his writing.
A SHADOW ON THE LENS is Sam's debut novel.
A SHADOW ON THE LENS is Sam's debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
September 3, 2019
Isn’t this a lovely cover.
That’s all..........
That’s all..........
June 4, 2020
In 1904 forensic photography is in its infancy, but Thomas Bexley is already recognised as one of its foremost exponents. His experience in scene-of-crime examination has also honed his investigative skills such that, despite not being formally an “inspector” (as he will be the first to admit), he has been retained by Scotland Yard as a specialist investigator.
And so it is that on a bright summer’s day in June, he sets off to Dinas Powys, a rural village in South Wales, where he has been asked to assist with an inquiry into the gruesome murder of a young woman, Betsan Tilny. Bexley prides himself in being rational and scientific, with much confidence in his skills. He does not believe in God and still less in talk of spirits, ghosts and suchlike nonsense. So, when the villagers start to blame the quasi-ritual killing on the Calon Farw, the monster supposedly roaming the woodlands around the village, Bexley is quick to dismiss this talk as idle superstition. He is also equally unconvinced by the convenient thesis of Robert Cummings, head of the local council, that the murder has been carried out by an elusive “band of gypsies”.
Bexley’s confidence starts to ebb when he falls prey to strange visions and hallucinations which seriously challenge his certainties. Over the course of a feverish week in June, as he searches for the identity of the murder, he will face horrors human and supernatural: “it marked the change in my life, the death of the man I once was”.
My reactions to the novel were not unlike that of its protagonist. From the blurb, I was expecting a cosy, neo-Victorian murder mystery with a hint of the supernatural, my type of light summer read. With Bexley’s arrival at Dinas Powys, however, things take a decidedly sinister turn and the novel quickly moves into folk horror realm: the investigator is a rational outsider in a superstitious village where a young girl has been brutally murdered, a legendary monster is supposedly lurking in the woods, the inn where Bexley is staying could possibly be haunted and, to boot, the villagers clearly know more than they’re letting on. Bexley was not expecting his investigation to become so complicated – in my case, I did not expect the novel to become so unsettling. Shockingly for a supposed jaded fan of ghost stories, I found myself freaking out during a key scene in the crypt of an abandoned hamlet.
Sam Hurcom has published children’s stories. This is his debut novel, and I would suggest keeping it out of the reach of kids – it’s chilling stuff. I must admit that there were some aspects of the book which did not fully convince me. Thus, whilst the style generally has an “authentic” ring to it, there were some anachronisms here and there, including the use of “Ms.” for “Miss”, in a diary supposedly dating from 1904. One should also not expect much character development – as in much crime fiction, the story is mainly plot-driven.
Ultimately, however, the book delivers. And whilst A Shadow on the Lens is enjoyable as a “historical crime” novel, with plenty of red herrings along the way, what marks it from a crowded market is its unexpectedly dark, folk horror element which is conveyed very effectively. Huron, who was raised, and still lives, in Dinas Powys, claims to be inspired by the landscape of the area. If that’s the case, I would rather not roam there at night.
https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...
And so it is that on a bright summer’s day in June, he sets off to Dinas Powys, a rural village in South Wales, where he has been asked to assist with an inquiry into the gruesome murder of a young woman, Betsan Tilny. Bexley prides himself in being rational and scientific, with much confidence in his skills. He does not believe in God and still less in talk of spirits, ghosts and suchlike nonsense. So, when the villagers start to blame the quasi-ritual killing on the Calon Farw, the monster supposedly roaming the woodlands around the village, Bexley is quick to dismiss this talk as idle superstition. He is also equally unconvinced by the convenient thesis of Robert Cummings, head of the local council, that the murder has been carried out by an elusive “band of gypsies”.
Bexley’s confidence starts to ebb when he falls prey to strange visions and hallucinations which seriously challenge his certainties. Over the course of a feverish week in June, as he searches for the identity of the murder, he will face horrors human and supernatural: “it marked the change in my life, the death of the man I once was”.
My reactions to the novel were not unlike that of its protagonist. From the blurb, I was expecting a cosy, neo-Victorian murder mystery with a hint of the supernatural, my type of light summer read. With Bexley’s arrival at Dinas Powys, however, things take a decidedly sinister turn and the novel quickly moves into folk horror realm: the investigator is a rational outsider in a superstitious village where a young girl has been brutally murdered, a legendary monster is supposedly lurking in the woods, the inn where Bexley is staying could possibly be haunted and, to boot, the villagers clearly know more than they’re letting on. Bexley was not expecting his investigation to become so complicated – in my case, I did not expect the novel to become so unsettling. Shockingly for a supposed jaded fan of ghost stories, I found myself freaking out during a key scene in the crypt of an abandoned hamlet.
Sam Hurcom has published children’s stories. This is his debut novel, and I would suggest keeping it out of the reach of kids – it’s chilling stuff. I must admit that there were some aspects of the book which did not fully convince me. Thus, whilst the style generally has an “authentic” ring to it, there were some anachronisms here and there, including the use of “Ms.” for “Miss”, in a diary supposedly dating from 1904. One should also not expect much character development – as in much crime fiction, the story is mainly plot-driven.
Ultimately, however, the book delivers. And whilst A Shadow on the Lens is enjoyable as a “historical crime” novel, with plenty of red herrings along the way, what marks it from a crowded market is its unexpectedly dark, folk horror element which is conveyed very effectively. Huron, who was raised, and still lives, in Dinas Powys, claims to be inspired by the landscape of the area. If that’s the case, I would rather not roam there at night.
https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...
February 10, 2020
Meh.
As a photography nut, I was hoping to get some kind of inside look into the technicalities and methods of early 20th century photography, but no. The main character is supposed to be a professional photographer, but it's all tell, don't show (literally. The author, who probably is just as clueless about vintage photography as me, simply takes the "But I won't bore you with the details" route, which I find tremendously lazy and borderline insulting)... which incidentally applies to the rest of the book as well. The protagonist is just bland and featureless, as is the village itself -- no sense of atmosphere whatsoever. The villagers came across as your stock 60's horror movie personnel -- garish, clichéd and unconvincing, without any depth whatsoever.
I got very sick very quickly of the constant, über-heavy-handed foreboding the author employs; every couple of pages it's paragraphs of "if only I had known then", "when I look back upon this now, I can't believe (whatever)", "during my long sleepless nights", on and on with the relentless oh-poor-me-histrionics, but for me it all just rang hollow. It's never scary, it just *claims* to be; the protagonist keeps telling us how very, very frightened he is at various points in the story, like some literary game of Chinese whispers, but, well, I simply wasn't feeling it.
Stylistically it read like a debut novel as well; lots of redundant phrasing and repetitions, as when the protag goes on and on (AND ON) about his frickin' fever -- YES WE GET IT, YOU FEEL SICK! You felt sick two chapters ago, you felt sick two pages ago, you happened to mention that you still feel feverish *two bloody sentences* ago, WE REALLY REALLY GET IT, THANK YOU! If you happen to be a reader with the attention span of a goldfish, then this book is for you.
As a photography nut, I was hoping to get some kind of inside look into the technicalities and methods of early 20th century photography, but no. The main character is supposed to be a professional photographer, but it's all tell, don't show (literally. The author, who probably is just as clueless about vintage photography as me, simply takes the "But I won't bore you with the details" route, which I find tremendously lazy and borderline insulting)... which incidentally applies to the rest of the book as well. The protagonist is just bland and featureless, as is the village itself -- no sense of atmosphere whatsoever. The villagers came across as your stock 60's horror movie personnel -- garish, clichéd and unconvincing, without any depth whatsoever.
I got very sick very quickly of the constant, über-heavy-handed foreboding the author employs; every couple of pages it's paragraphs of "if only I had known then", "when I look back upon this now, I can't believe (whatever)", "during my long sleepless nights", on and on with the relentless oh-poor-me-histrionics, but for me it all just rang hollow. It's never scary, it just *claims* to be; the protagonist keeps telling us how very, very frightened he is at various points in the story, like some literary game of Chinese whispers, but, well, I simply wasn't feeling it.
Stylistically it read like a debut novel as well; lots of redundant phrasing and repetitions, as when the protag goes on and on (AND ON) about his frickin' fever -- YES WE GET IT, YOU FEEL SICK! You felt sick two chapters ago, you felt sick two pages ago, you happened to mention that you still feel feverish *two bloody sentences* ago, WE REALLY REALLY GET IT, THANK YOU! If you happen to be a reader with the attention span of a goldfish, then this book is for you.
December 1, 2019
Many decades before satellite notebooks and fiber-optic cable made even the remotest location accessible, forces of nature worked to isolate communities. Here, a monsoon-like storm has knocked out the finicky telegraph line, and halted train service to the town. Meanwhile, our hero realizes more and more that he needs to summon reenforcements as the plot grows thicker.
Not quite five stars as I found myself wanting to wrap things up a few chapters before the author does so. However, the writing itself held my attention well as we go from scene to scene. As luck would have it, during a bout of insomnia well after midnight I listened to one of the creepiest scenes I've run across (trapped in a makeshift crypt with a decomposing corpse). If you're a fan of horror (thriller), you'd love it! I'm hoping for another story from this author as the protagonist is one who'd be terrific for a series.
Speaking of terrific, the audio narration is first-rate. Reader truly brought the story to life - highly recommended!
Not quite five stars as I found myself wanting to wrap things up a few chapters before the author does so. However, the writing itself held my attention well as we go from scene to scene. As luck would have it, during a bout of insomnia well after midnight I listened to one of the creepiest scenes I've run across (trapped in a makeshift crypt with a decomposing corpse). If you're a fan of horror (thriller), you'd love it! I'm hoping for another story from this author as the protagonist is one who'd be terrific for a series.
Speaking of terrific, the audio narration is first-rate. Reader truly brought the story to life - highly recommended!
January 20, 2020
"So strange was all that happened, many cannot even begin to comprehend it. Yet still I write this. Believe me or do not - most think me as madman. On cold nights such as this, I often wish I were."
A Shadow On The Lens appealed to me with its promise of a historical gothic fiction with mystery and, cherry on the top, the character is a forensic photographer. The fact the cover looked amazing didn't hurt either, to be honest. For a debut novel, I was impressed. While this book doesn't bring anything new to the genres it touches, which might be why some people were disappointed, it still does it well. It's not a long book and the pages turned very fast once I began to read it. The author might not bring us a groundbreaking novel to the genre, but he knows how to write, he obviously loves the genre itself and managed to keep me on the edge on my seat, wanting absolutely to know what would happen next.
The writing feels very real, which makes some scenes (well, especially one) a bit creepy. You can easily enter this story and picture exactly what the narrator sees. Overall, this a success in my opinion, especially for a debut novel, and I hope to read more from this author in the future.
A Shadow On The Lens appealed to me with its promise of a historical gothic fiction with mystery and, cherry on the top, the character is a forensic photographer. The fact the cover looked amazing didn't hurt either, to be honest. For a debut novel, I was impressed. While this book doesn't bring anything new to the genres it touches, which might be why some people were disappointed, it still does it well. It's not a long book and the pages turned very fast once I began to read it. The author might not bring us a groundbreaking novel to the genre, but he knows how to write, he obviously loves the genre itself and managed to keep me on the edge on my seat, wanting absolutely to know what would happen next.
The writing feels very real, which makes some scenes (well, especially one) a bit creepy. You can easily enter this story and picture exactly what the narrator sees. Overall, this a success in my opinion, especially for a debut novel, and I hope to read more from this author in the future.
December 13, 2019
I really enjoyed this folk horror gothic thriller. It starts off with Bexley arriving in a small Welsh town to look into a murder of a teenage girl and them he seems to descend into a fever induced madness, seeing ghosts and envisioning a whole host of horrors. Nothing is what it seems and secrets are unearthed the more he digs. You can really sense the creepiness of the village and I wasn't expecting how it all eventually comes together. Bexley takes a bit of warming to and I wonder if some of that was his behaviour whilst in the throws of his fever rather that his natural state. Overall though really enjoyed reading something a little different and genuinely unsettling.
August 29, 2019
What a book!! Chilling and creepy. A crime occurred in 1904 and a young girl Betsan Tilny was found murdered in the woods. Thomas Bexley, a forensic photographer, who consulted with the police was called to take photographs. While developing them he found a shadow hovering over the girl. Was that the shadow on the Lens or the beginning of something creepy and evil entering this village?
My first book by Sam Hurcom, I expected a murder mystery, but what I got was a story which caused a shiver to start from the core of my being. I love horror and when this book showed signs of creeping into that genre, I could barely contain my excitement.
The author's writing blew my imagination away at the scenes that were set to scare me. Evil was never so gory as described in this prose. I loved how the tale of evil creature of Carlin Farw quickly overtook the minds of the people and the main character. Thomas Bexley was metamorphosed well from a man who didn't believe in supernatural to someone who, under the feverish hallucinations, changed his outlook, brought his strength to the forefront, and used all his courage to expose the murderer. Clues and twists made it more exciting.
Many scenes creeped me out as the author set forth an atmopshere so dank and dreary with superstitions flying. The book was the perfect example of sinister, dark gothic folk tale which had my heart dancing out in its strange rhythm. I didn't warm up to main character, but I sure warmed up to the atmosphere of this book where reality and beliefs clashed to produce this storm of a book.
My first book by Sam Hurcom, I expected a murder mystery, but what I got was a story which caused a shiver to start from the core of my being. I love horror and when this book showed signs of creeping into that genre, I could barely contain my excitement.
The author's writing blew my imagination away at the scenes that were set to scare me. Evil was never so gory as described in this prose. I loved how the tale of evil creature of Carlin Farw quickly overtook the minds of the people and the main character. Thomas Bexley was metamorphosed well from a man who didn't believe in supernatural to someone who, under the feverish hallucinations, changed his outlook, brought his strength to the forefront, and used all his courage to expose the murderer. Clues and twists made it more exciting.
Many scenes creeped me out as the author set forth an atmopshere so dank and dreary with superstitions flying. The book was the perfect example of sinister, dark gothic folk tale which had my heart dancing out in its strange rhythm. I didn't warm up to main character, but I sure warmed up to the atmosphere of this book where reality and beliefs clashed to produce this storm of a book.
April 3, 2021
We follow the story through the eyes of Thomas. A private investigator/photographer from London who is asked to assist in the murder investigation of Betsan Tilny. He is met with trepidation and suspicion in a very tight knit community. Just who has something to hide and why? Help comes from an unlikely source and some good twists and turns.
It did take me a while to get into the story as I thought it started off pretty slowly but it did pick up rapidly towards the end and I enjoyed the story. 3.5 stars rounded to 4...
It did take me a while to get into the story as I thought it started off pretty slowly but it did pick up rapidly towards the end and I enjoyed the story. 3.5 stars rounded to 4...
September 2, 2019
The Shadow on the Lens is an atmospheric, gothic, historical crime novel set in Wales. Narrated by the main character Thomas Bexley, a forensic photographer sent to the remote village Dinas Powys to investigate the death of a young woman, Betsan Tilny, who appears to have been brutally murdered. A soon as he arrives he realises that all is not as it first seems, there are secrets kept within the village and old susperstitions hinder his investigation. This is a wonderfully dark tale, with memorable characters and an unreliable narrator, culminating in a shocking conclusion.
Thomas Bexley is a unique, unreliable and incredibly interesting narrator of this dark and chilling murder investigation. In 1904 Forensic Photography is still a fairly new scientific breakthrough, but one that was life changing for the police. Thomas is more than just a photographer though, he is treated by the London Police as an honorary Inspector after his years of experience, which is why he finds himself in Wales on his own. Once there he becomes ill with a fever, but he won't let it stop his investigation and carries on regardless. This fever makes him have hallucinations, claiming to see the murdered girl in one of his photographic plates, and a paranoia that someone is watching him. This adds to the drama and suspense of the book, and leaves the reader and Thomas questioning what is real and what is not.
The setting of this book, in a small and quiet village, gives a feeling of claustrophobia. The villagers are distrustful of someone new in their midst and not willing to give anything away. They are very superstitious and believe an evil spirit, Calon Fawyr, is responsible for the murder of Betsan Tilny. The stormy weather, secrets, and unreliable narration add to the gothic and uneasy feel of this novel. The darkness only intensifies as the plot progresses and the investigation moves forward, building the tension and suspension that had me on the edge of my seat with my pulse raised.
The Shadow on the Lens is a superb historical crime thriller, with a dark gothic feel and a touch of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. Thomas Bexley is a brilliant narrator, his descent into a madness that comes from the fever adds suspense, apprehension, and uncertainty to the his investigation. This book is full of memorable characters and suspects, a creepy and atmospheric setting and a tense and thrilling plot; a spine tingling read.
Thomas Bexley is a unique, unreliable and incredibly interesting narrator of this dark and chilling murder investigation. In 1904 Forensic Photography is still a fairly new scientific breakthrough, but one that was life changing for the police. Thomas is more than just a photographer though, he is treated by the London Police as an honorary Inspector after his years of experience, which is why he finds himself in Wales on his own. Once there he becomes ill with a fever, but he won't let it stop his investigation and carries on regardless. This fever makes him have hallucinations, claiming to see the murdered girl in one of his photographic plates, and a paranoia that someone is watching him. This adds to the drama and suspense of the book, and leaves the reader and Thomas questioning what is real and what is not.
The setting of this book, in a small and quiet village, gives a feeling of claustrophobia. The villagers are distrustful of someone new in their midst and not willing to give anything away. They are very superstitious and believe an evil spirit, Calon Fawyr, is responsible for the murder of Betsan Tilny. The stormy weather, secrets, and unreliable narration add to the gothic and uneasy feel of this novel. The darkness only intensifies as the plot progresses and the investigation moves forward, building the tension and suspension that had me on the edge of my seat with my pulse raised.
The Shadow on the Lens is a superb historical crime thriller, with a dark gothic feel and a touch of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. Thomas Bexley is a brilliant narrator, his descent into a madness that comes from the fever adds suspense, apprehension, and uncertainty to the his investigation. This book is full of memorable characters and suspects, a creepy and atmospheric setting and a tense and thrilling plot; a spine tingling read.
July 22, 2019
A chilling story. This appears to start out as a straightforward murder mystery set in 1904, but soon becomes a supernatural thriller. It is very atmospheric and the crypt scene is pure gothic horror. The story starts off slowly but picks up pace in the second half. Once the momentum has built up, there are lots of plot twists.
Unfortunately I couldn't take to the main character. He was arrogant and rude. In addition, the minor characters were one dimensional.
Overall though it was a quick and interesting read.I
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
Unfortunately I couldn't take to the main character. He was arrogant and rude. In addition, the minor characters were one dimensional.
Overall though it was a quick and interesting read.I
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
October 27, 2021
Absolutely terrifying, action-packed and with twists and turns at every corner. I wish I could have written something like this! Only a few bits that niggled but apart from that, this was the perfect Halloween read.
September 15, 2019
Betsan Tilney has been murdered and her body burnt. Due to the local villagers superstitions, her body is being kept in an abandoned church. They feel the Death is the result of the demon, Calon Fawr.
Thomas Bexley, a forensic photographer is sent to document the evidence, but he is unwell with a fever and starts to see things …including a shape over the body in one of his photographs …or is it just a flaw?
He visits Bethan’s mother and while unwell he is certain she told him, “Do not look for her with your eyes”….
Will Thomas find the killer, or is there something even darker walking in the village?
This is a creepy, gothic supernatural mystery in the vein of Poe and Lovecraft, there are even rats scratching in the ceiling….if like a historical, supernatural mystery then you’ll love this.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Thomas Bexley, a forensic photographer is sent to document the evidence, but he is unwell with a fever and starts to see things …including a shape over the body in one of his photographs …or is it just a flaw?
He visits Bethan’s mother and while unwell he is certain she told him, “Do not look for her with your eyes”….
Will Thomas find the killer, or is there something even darker walking in the village?
This is a creepy, gothic supernatural mystery in the vein of Poe and Lovecraft, there are even rats scratching in the ceiling….if like a historical, supernatural mystery then you’ll love this.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
October 15, 2019
Thomas Bexley is a forensic photographer for the Met who is sent to a small village in Wales to investigate the killing of a teenage girl. The locals are closed mouthed and can't imagine it would be anyone from the village. Meanwhile, Bexley is fighting off a particularly vicious virus that is impacting on his judgement. This was a decent debut novel, I loved the front cover, but there were one or two minor issues I had. The novel is set in 1904 and the hero addressed an unmarried woman as Ms which didn't reach popularity until the 1970s and certainly wouldn't have been recognised in a small village. He also kept referring to a band of gypsies as travellers which seemed unlikely for the time period as most people wouldn't have known the difference. Other than that, nothing has put me off reading more from this author.
October 29, 2019
The sense of menace that you get from this book leaps out from the very first page. It’s gothic, it’s creepy, it’s set in the Victorian era… what more do you need? It’s basically the next Woman in Black.
In this case, we’re following Thomas Bexley, one of the first forensic photographers, as he’s called to the village of Dinas Powys to investigate the murder of a local girl, Betsan Tilny. But something’s amiss. The locals are shifty, and somebody is watching him. Even worse, the murder appears to have been staged. And then things take a dark turn…
Really, this book creeped me out. I was expecting a light paranormal murder mystery; what I got instead was something a lot more complex and dark. The story veers into folklore territory, and we start to learn more about a dark monster lurking in the woods. For a person that wrote children’s books prior to starting his career as a gothic author, Hurcom is a master at ratcheting up the tension: the creepy villagers, the oppressive atmosphere and the Victorian-style language gave me the real heebie-jeebies. I’m bad with horror at the best of times; this had me putting down the book a few times and taking a quick break.
A testament to the power of words and the danger of stories, this book is very definitely a gothic masterpiece. Hurcom plays on the reader’s nerves with an expert hand, and by the end, I was a wreck. 10/10 would Hallowe’en again.
In this case, we’re following Thomas Bexley, one of the first forensic photographers, as he’s called to the village of Dinas Powys to investigate the murder of a local girl, Betsan Tilny. But something’s amiss. The locals are shifty, and somebody is watching him. Even worse, the murder appears to have been staged. And then things take a dark turn…
Really, this book creeped me out. I was expecting a light paranormal murder mystery; what I got instead was something a lot more complex and dark. The story veers into folklore territory, and we start to learn more about a dark monster lurking in the woods. For a person that wrote children’s books prior to starting his career as a gothic author, Hurcom is a master at ratcheting up the tension: the creepy villagers, the oppressive atmosphere and the Victorian-style language gave me the real heebie-jeebies. I’m bad with horror at the best of times; this had me putting down the book a few times and taking a quick break.
A testament to the power of words and the danger of stories, this book is very definitely a gothic masterpiece. Hurcom plays on the reader’s nerves with an expert hand, and by the end, I was a wreck. 10/10 would Hallowe’en again.
December 27, 2020
A weird twisty fever dream with a somewhat disappointing ending. This whodunnit has paper thin suspects where the main character doesn't so much build evidence as thrash around bullying the villagers in between fits of delirium, then randomly accuse people for the last third of the book, before the murderer reveals themselves by waving evidence at him. The main character makes no deductions or progress and the case flounders in the water as slowly as he does until the murderer (and the reader) loses patience with his efforts.
April 4, 2024
A story that wants to be M.R. James but insists on being a Penny Dreadful. Forensic photographer and some sort of amateur crime investigator Thomas Bexley is sent to the Welsh village of Dinas Powys to run his dexterous mind over the murder of a young woman. In the process he is plunged into a supernatural nightmare. Or is he?
All the ingredients of old-style horror make an appearance. A gory corpse, hidden watchers, unseasonable weather, apparitions, scratching noises in the attic, the dead rising, even a dark and stormy night - well, two days actually. Through it all Thomas battles an hallucinatory fever and somehow manages to take his photographs, develop them and begin interviewing a village full of frightened and fearful people.
As a murder mystery, which the story eventually becomes, there are red herrings by the net full and so many shifty suspects that Dinas Powys starts to look like a village of the damned. As the author moves away from chilling spines and allows Thomas to be a crime investigator the story comes to life. However, as a police procedural the procedures are a little strange. I know there is more to it than this by the end, but would the Metropolitan Police authorise a photographer to travel to the scene of a serious crime unaccompanied? The body is photographed but otherwise left lying in the crypt of a disused church. Why was a coroner not informed? Thomas punches one of his suspects in the face, not in self defence but out of frustration, thus jeopardizing whatever case he has. The plot begins to look a little shaky. And occasionally the twenty-first century intrudes. When Thomas interviews the victim's mother she objects to the title of Mrs. His response is not to revert to Madam or Miss as a Victorian gent might do, but uses Ms. instead.
Despite the Penny Blood style at the beginning, with its dark doings down in the crypt and shimmering spectres, the novel develops into an interesting if not particularly believable crime novel. It could be worth a read around Hallowe'en.
All the ingredients of old-style horror make an appearance. A gory corpse, hidden watchers, unseasonable weather, apparitions, scratching noises in the attic, the dead rising, even a dark and stormy night - well, two days actually. Through it all Thomas battles an hallucinatory fever and somehow manages to take his photographs, develop them and begin interviewing a village full of frightened and fearful people.
As a murder mystery, which the story eventually becomes, there are red herrings by the net full and so many shifty suspects that Dinas Powys starts to look like a village of the damned. As the author moves away from chilling spines and allows Thomas to be a crime investigator the story comes to life. However, as a police procedural the procedures are a little strange. I know there is more to it than this by the end, but would the Metropolitan Police authorise a photographer to travel to the scene of a serious crime unaccompanied? The body is photographed but otherwise left lying in the crypt of a disused church. Why was a coroner not informed? Thomas punches one of his suspects in the face, not in self defence but out of frustration, thus jeopardizing whatever case he has. The plot begins to look a little shaky. And occasionally the twenty-first century intrudes. When Thomas interviews the victim's mother she objects to the title of Mrs. His response is not to revert to Madam or Miss as a Victorian gent might do, but uses Ms. instead.
Despite the Penny Blood style at the beginning, with its dark doings down in the crypt and shimmering spectres, the novel develops into an interesting if not particularly believable crime novel. It could be worth a read around Hallowe'en.
March 25, 2021
An eerie example of a gothic ghost/detective mash up.
I wish there had been way more info about early C20th photographic techniques and equipment though. . . I never imagined myself typing that sentence.
I wish there had been way more info about early C20th photographic techniques and equipment though. . . I never imagined myself typing that sentence.
January 20, 2025
Definitely a satisfying murder mystery, kept me guessing to the end, and wrapped up in a way that made complete sense. There was a stretch where it dragged on a little, but once that was over it was back to being great.
July 3, 2022
I really struggled to get into this book.
The first chapter or so was intriguing and I was quite excited as I love the gothic era.
After that up until the halfway point it was repetitive and had no building up of atmosphere. It was over expressive to the point I couldn’t build a scene in my head but merely got confused by all of the over the top explanations and lost interest so kept putting the book down.
Initially for me it was the basis of ‘Sleep Hollow’ in most cases…characters, place, environment, ghosts, backward small village in the 1900’s etc etc only it wasn’t a headless horseman doing the killing.
The second half of the book got more intriguing, it was nice to get away from the fact the main character had a fever and felt Ill throughout the first half of the book.
Momentum started to build and a few little twists were starting to take form… a lot of unanswered questions and a lot more could’ve been done. It was quite easy to predict at this point what was going to happen with a few characters and how they played their part. For instance the cheating father.
I’m glad I’ve read it, the cover is what drew me to it as I collect books and love anything gothic and Victorian.
I came close to giving up but persevered and I’m glad I did, it was a good book to read. I started to get quite excited with the last chapter as more suspense was building and was really looking forward to a huge twist but the ending was quite obvious and what you’d expect to be the end anyway so quite disappointing, the build up was bigger than it needed to be.
A who-dunnit set in Victorian times, worth a read but nothing that’s going to grip you from start to finish.
The first chapter or so was intriguing and I was quite excited as I love the gothic era.
After that up until the halfway point it was repetitive and had no building up of atmosphere. It was over expressive to the point I couldn’t build a scene in my head but merely got confused by all of the over the top explanations and lost interest so kept putting the book down.
Initially for me it was the basis of ‘Sleep Hollow’ in most cases…characters, place, environment, ghosts, backward small village in the 1900’s etc etc only it wasn’t a headless horseman doing the killing.
The second half of the book got more intriguing, it was nice to get away from the fact the main character had a fever and felt Ill throughout the first half of the book.
Momentum started to build and a few little twists were starting to take form… a lot of unanswered questions and a lot more could’ve been done. It was quite easy to predict at this point what was going to happen with a few characters and how they played their part. For instance the cheating father.
I’m glad I’ve read it, the cover is what drew me to it as I collect books and love anything gothic and Victorian.
I came close to giving up but persevered and I’m glad I did, it was a good book to read. I started to get quite excited with the last chapter as more suspense was building and was really looking forward to a huge twist but the ending was quite obvious and what you’d expect to be the end anyway so quite disappointing, the build up was bigger than it needed to be.
A who-dunnit set in Victorian times, worth a read but nothing that’s going to grip you from start to finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2020
A gothic style thriller set in 1904. Forensic photographer Thomas Bexley is called to the small village of Dinas Powys in Wales to investigate the horrific murder of a young girl. There he comes across suspicious minds and silent villagers who are not anything away, plus there appears to be some sort of presence. 👻
This story did take me quite a while to get into the swing of things, but I enjoyed it once I did. It’s a slow burner and the style of writing is very pertinent to the era it’s set in. It’s atmospheric and creepy with a hint of the supernatural. Thomas Bexley is an interesting narrator and I thought he really grew into his character by the end of the tale. I liked him! There’s an intriguing plot with a few twists and turns which kept me turning the pages. It did have me wondering what on earth was going on at times, but it all came together quite nicely by the conclusion of the book.
All in all an absorbing and gripping historical mystery and debut. I look forward to reading further work by Sam Hurcom.
This story did take me quite a while to get into the swing of things, but I enjoyed it once I did. It’s a slow burner and the style of writing is very pertinent to the era it’s set in. It’s atmospheric and creepy with a hint of the supernatural. Thomas Bexley is an interesting narrator and I thought he really grew into his character by the end of the tale. I liked him! There’s an intriguing plot with a few twists and turns which kept me turning the pages. It did have me wondering what on earth was going on at times, but it all came together quite nicely by the conclusion of the book.
All in all an absorbing and gripping historical mystery and debut. I look forward to reading further work by Sam Hurcom.
March 21, 2022
Oooh this book!! Can't believe I've only just realised I haven't reviewed it. I read this as a buddy read and I've never enjoyed having the crap scared out of me more.
Right from the get go you don't know if it's a supernatural case of just people being awful, Bexley suddenly falls ill and feels like he's constantly being watched. I had a lot of fun with this, the church cellar scene with the body gave me absolute chills and made me really restless in my seat. I could feel whatever was crawling over him too!!
It kept me guessing right till the end, was he going mad, the village making him sick?? No one seems interested in helping find out what happened to her. I definitely reading the next one, it's a year after the case and Bexley is a drunk and having visions of the dead. Sign me up
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Right from the get go you don't know if it's a supernatural case of just people being awful, Bexley suddenly falls ill and feels like he's constantly being watched. I had a lot of fun with this, the church cellar scene with the body gave me absolute chills and made me really restless in my seat. I could feel whatever was crawling over him too!!
It kept me guessing right till the end, was he going mad, the village making him sick?? No one seems interested in helping find out what happened to her. I definitely reading the next one, it's a year after the case and Bexley is a drunk and having visions of the dead. Sign me up
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November 4, 2020
3.5🌟
Enjoyable enough opener.
Enjoyable enough opener.
October 8, 2021
This was...not good.
The idea was solid and it had so much potential. But it did not meet any of it at all.
Thomas Bexley is not an inspector (something that he reminds everyone of all the time, and I don't know why), but he does take photographs for the police and help them track down killers. He is the first of his kind, and held in very high regard. Bexley is called to a small village in Wales where a young woman has been murdered and burned. Upon arriving, Bexley soon discovers that the village is a lot more than meets the eye, and its citizens are holding secrets that suggest a serial killer may be on the loose.
I did not like Bexley. Not only was he an unlikeable character, struggling with his power and masculinity that he resorts to physically attacking people, but he is an unreliable narrator. When you start doubting your protagonist over one thing, you start questioning all of it. I don't know if that was the intention to push up the general sense of unease, but it didn't seem so. He proved he was definitely not an investigator given his skills.
The paranormal element was almost non existent. Since the whole premise was about photographs, not much time was spent on actual photography or looking into the photos. We saw them though a fever haze, and that was about it. There were suspicions later on of something ghostly, but they did not eventuate into anything. And the ghost's power (if there was indeed a ghost) was very up and down. They could appear on camera, not to the human eye, but could somehow send telegrams to the living? That's just writing to fit the story you want to tell.
The mystery in itself didn't really have any sense of urgency. And the final reveal seemed a bit random and not really related to anything that made sense within the story. Someone addicted to killing, but yet it had been five years in between incidents? When before there were lots more victims? Doesn't make much sense.
One last thing before I wrap up; the whole thing was cliche. A small village out of the way, the cocky inspector, the evidence leading in different directions, the sickness, the storm and lack of contact with the outside world, and the final confrontation where the protagonist gets kidnapped by the villain who then explains all and admits to everything, and then the ending where everything is good again. It's pretty much the plot of a lot of thrillers or period mysteries I have read.
I would have loved some more stuff about the photographs, and how Bexley used them to solve crimes. Early on some believed that cameras stole a persons soul, so it's interesting to think ghosts could be captured on film. This book squandered that opportunity. His photos led him to dead ends, accusing the wrong person, and we don't even know if he even captured a ghost on film, and explored what that meant.
This was not gothic in any sense of the word. This was just a poorly conceived story written in a very sub par way.
The idea was solid and it had so much potential. But it did not meet any of it at all.
Thomas Bexley is not an inspector (something that he reminds everyone of all the time, and I don't know why), but he does take photographs for the police and help them track down killers. He is the first of his kind, and held in very high regard. Bexley is called to a small village in Wales where a young woman has been murdered and burned. Upon arriving, Bexley soon discovers that the village is a lot more than meets the eye, and its citizens are holding secrets that suggest a serial killer may be on the loose.
I did not like Bexley. Not only was he an unlikeable character, struggling with his power and masculinity that he resorts to physically attacking people, but he is an unreliable narrator. When you start doubting your protagonist over one thing, you start questioning all of it. I don't know if that was the intention to push up the general sense of unease, but it didn't seem so. He proved he was definitely not an investigator given his skills.
The paranormal element was almost non existent. Since the whole premise was about photographs, not much time was spent on actual photography or looking into the photos. We saw them though a fever haze, and that was about it. There were suspicions later on of something ghostly, but they did not eventuate into anything. And the ghost's power (if there was indeed a ghost) was very up and down. They could appear on camera, not to the human eye, but could somehow send telegrams to the living? That's just writing to fit the story you want to tell.
The mystery in itself didn't really have any sense of urgency. And the final reveal seemed a bit random and not really related to anything that made sense within the story. Someone addicted to killing, but yet it had been five years in between incidents? When before there were lots more victims? Doesn't make much sense.
One last thing before I wrap up; the whole thing was cliche. A small village out of the way, the cocky inspector, the evidence leading in different directions, the sickness, the storm and lack of contact with the outside world, and the final confrontation where the protagonist gets kidnapped by the villain who then explains all and admits to everything, and then the ending where everything is good again. It's pretty much the plot of a lot of thrillers or period mysteries I have read.
I would have loved some more stuff about the photographs, and how Bexley used them to solve crimes. Early on some believed that cameras stole a persons soul, so it's interesting to think ghosts could be captured on film. This book squandered that opportunity. His photos led him to dead ends, accusing the wrong person, and we don't even know if he even captured a ghost on film, and explored what that meant.
This was not gothic in any sense of the word. This was just a poorly conceived story written in a very sub par way.
May 27, 2020
I really liked this book and as it was a debut novel I was very impressed.
It is a gothic novel about a police officer, Thomas Bexley, who everyone thinks is an inspector, who visits the small welsh town of Dinas Powys, to investigate the recent murder of a young girl, Betsan Tilney. It is 1904 and forensic photography is very much in its infancy so imagine his surprise when on developing the negatives he sees the dead girl's image on the lens looking back at him.
The village is suspicious and won't help him while he is suffering from a violent fever while he is carrying out his work and the feeling of general unease, suspicion and that something is very, very wrong in the village spreads through the book.
This book was excellent and I'm sure Sam Hurcom will be a name to watch in the future. If you like your books gothic with mystery and haunting tales then this is for you for the last couple of pages alone...
It is a gothic novel about a police officer, Thomas Bexley, who everyone thinks is an inspector, who visits the small welsh town of Dinas Powys, to investigate the recent murder of a young girl, Betsan Tilney. It is 1904 and forensic photography is very much in its infancy so imagine his surprise when on developing the negatives he sees the dead girl's image on the lens looking back at him.
The village is suspicious and won't help him while he is suffering from a violent fever while he is carrying out his work and the feeling of general unease, suspicion and that something is very, very wrong in the village spreads through the book.
This book was excellent and I'm sure Sam Hurcom will be a name to watch in the future. If you like your books gothic with mystery and haunting tales then this is for you for the last couple of pages alone...
June 19, 2021
Set at the turn of the 19th century, this murder-mystery has a chilling undercurrent with a touch of the supernatural.
The protagonist sets out high from a celebrated success in his developing career as a pioneer forensic photographer for the Metropolitan police to give expertise to a case in a sleepy village in Wales.
The twists, turns and tales to be unravelled have an unnerving impact on the investigator as he fights a frightening fever that befalls him soon after his arrival.
As a first book, the author writes convincingly. He captures the determination, frustration and sense of being unnerved by the discoveries the protagonist makes. The book is enjoyable and entertaining, full of interesting characters with a satisfying conclusion.
The protagonist sets out high from a celebrated success in his developing career as a pioneer forensic photographer for the Metropolitan police to give expertise to a case in a sleepy village in Wales.
The twists, turns and tales to be unravelled have an unnerving impact on the investigator as he fights a frightening fever that befalls him soon after his arrival.
As a first book, the author writes convincingly. He captures the determination, frustration and sense of being unnerved by the discoveries the protagonist makes. The book is enjoyable and entertaining, full of interesting characters with a satisfying conclusion.
August 30, 2022
That was a ride, and a quite long one indeed. It took forever to finish, yet I enjoyed it a lot. The description was so detailed that it felt like watching a movie or playing a video game.
The who done it was smart and it actually cought me by surprise. I enjoyed reading the book and whenever I put it down to do important things, I keep thinking of when I'm going to go back to reading it.
I have read a couple of 2 and 3 stars lately that put me on a reading slump, thus I was so happy to finally read a good book.
The who done it was smart and it actually cought me by surprise. I enjoyed reading the book and whenever I put it down to do important things, I keep thinking of when I'm going to go back to reading it.
I have read a couple of 2 and 3 stars lately that put me on a reading slump, thus I was so happy to finally read a good book.
April 19, 2020
I really enjoyed how immersed I got with the era, I thought this was handled very well. The writing style and use of language had me right there, and I could picture the village clearly from the atmospheric descriptions. It took a little while for me to get into the story and the characters but the story did then build well for me. I don’t want to say anymore so I don’t give anything away!
February 24, 2026
I think this might actually be one of my favourite books of all time.
I really did not see *any* of the plot twists coming, and the setting, the writing style, the subject matter, oh my god… Just incredible. If you like detective novels, historical settings, and gothic horror, this is THE BOOK.
I love it so much I have a strong desire to go draw fanart of Thomas. The only downside of this book is that there only seems to be one sequel, when there should be fifty.
Sam Hurcom if you are reading this I am begging you on hands and knees to please write more of these.
I really did not see *any* of the plot twists coming, and the setting, the writing style, the subject matter, oh my god… Just incredible. If you like detective novels, historical settings, and gothic horror, this is THE BOOK.
I love it so much I have a strong desire to go draw fanart of Thomas. The only downside of this book is that there only seems to be one sequel, when there should be fifty.
Sam Hurcom if you are reading this I am begging you on hands and knees to please write more of these.
October 15, 2021
The last third of this book improved dramatically, meaning that there was a considerable amount of slogging. I have come to realize that there are many novels out there that really ought to be short stories or novellas. This is one of those books.
June 11, 2023
Never read a book by this author, but I will certainly look for more. For once, I didn't guess who the murderer was.
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