lanternsjourney's review against another edition
5.0
This was the last book I read in 2020 and it was a happy, creepy, surprise! I love going into a book knowing zilch about the story. It started as a regular murder mystery pre civil war era, but it turned out to be so much more! It was a very quick, thrilling read and there were a few scenes that were absolutely frightening. Beneath Ash & Bone is the perfect winter chilling read!
directorpurry's review against another edition
2.0
CW:
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
I wanted to love this book. The premise is fantastic - snowed in murder mystery pre-Civil War - and the language used in the writing is excellent. Ward, regardless of my upcoming criticisms, is a really beautiful writer. He has a great way with words and I found it entirely captivating.
But I found myself becoming less and less enamored with the story as it went on.
I didn't feel like there was enough foreshadowing/planting of the story to come. The REALLY didn't work for me because it just wasn't planted early enough. It either should have been a more standard story and stayed the length it was OR been extended somewhat to build up the scary supernatural factors.
I felt like Sam jumped to conclusions when he picked out his suspects, he never brought us along for the investigative ride, which was really disappointing.
Also, a personal pet peeve, but please for the love of God stop trying to say you found demon names in the "Old Testament." There are no demons in Judaism. There are no demons in the Tanakh. I don't care what language you've translated it through, keep the demons in your own religious books please and thanks. Ugh.
But, all of this aside! I'm totally down to read another D. Alexander Ward book! The premise is just **chef's kiss** and the writing is lovely. A lot of people loved this book, as you can tell from the average rating, so please don't let my review scare you off. It's short enough that it's really worth the experience if you find yourself in possession of a copy.
Spoiler
child death, genital mutilation, rape, statutory rape, mental illness as villain, suicide, racism, insects, fire, (mentioned) parental death, (mentioned) infanticide, (mentioned) animal cruelty/harmActual rating: 2.5 stars
I wanted to love this book. The premise is fantastic - snowed in murder mystery pre-Civil War - and the language used in the writing is excellent. Ward, regardless of my upcoming criticisms, is a really beautiful writer. He has a great way with words and I found it entirely captivating.
But I found myself becoming less and less enamored with the story as it went on.
I didn't feel like there was enough foreshadowing/planting of the story to come. The
Spoiler
demon twistSpoiler
psychopathI felt like Sam jumped to conclusions when he picked out his suspects, he never brought us along for the investigative ride, which was really disappointing.
Also, a personal pet peeve, but please for the love of God stop trying to say you found demon names in the "Old Testament." There are no demons in Judaism. There are no demons in the Tanakh. I don't care what language you've translated it through, keep the demons in your own religious books please and thanks. Ugh.
But, all of this aside! I'm totally down to read another D. Alexander Ward book! The premise is just **chef's kiss** and the writing is lovely. A lot of people loved this book, as you can tell from the average rating, so please don't let my review scare you off. It's short enough that it's really worth the experience if you find yourself in possession of a copy.
spookishmommy's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. What great storytelling! I devoured this book. Murder and secrets and some seriously disturbing scenes.
thomaswjoyce's review against another edition
5.0
When you hear the name D. Alexander Ward, you may be forgiven for thinking “Oh, yeah. That editor guy!” After all, he certainly made an impact in 2016 when he co-edited two of the most critically-acclaimed anthologies of the year in Shadows Over Main Street Volume 1 (Originally from Hazardous Press, but a second edition is currently available from Cutting Block Books) and Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories (Crystal Lake Publishing) both with partner-in-crime Doug Murano. But Ward is also an accomplished author, with many short stories and novels under his belt. His editorial work aside, 2016 also saw the release of his novel Beneath Ash and Bone.
With Beneath Ash and Bone, Ward has created a riveting and entertainingly sinister murder mystery, full of complex characters and intriguing scenes plucked straight from our darkest nightmares. Lock is a very likeable protagonist, despite his flawed background (which only serves to make him a more complete character), and Ward’s descriptive prowess is always evident, whether he is crafting nightmarish scenes of horror or the gothic atmosphere of the estate or the wintry countryside surroundings. Beneath Ash and Bone is well worth your time and we can’t wait to see where Ward takes us next.
To read the full review, head over to This Is Horror
With Beneath Ash and Bone, Ward has created a riveting and entertainingly sinister murder mystery, full of complex characters and intriguing scenes plucked straight from our darkest nightmares. Lock is a very likeable protagonist, despite his flawed background (which only serves to make him a more complete character), and Ward’s descriptive prowess is always evident, whether he is crafting nightmarish scenes of horror or the gothic atmosphere of the estate or the wintry countryside surroundings. Beneath Ash and Bone is well worth your time and we can’t wait to see where Ward takes us next.
To read the full review, head over to This Is Horror
motherhorror's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes you read a book and you're like, "Why isn't this WAY more popular?!"
Beneath Ash & Bone by D. Alexander Ward is that book. First of all, the blurb across the cover from Ronald Malfi reads, "Engaging, resonant, smart and downright goddamn terrifying."
AND from Josh Malerman,
"I wanted to invite the narrator of Beneath Ash and Bone over to my house for whiskey and have him tell me the whole damn thing in person. Great voice."
I fully agree with both of those statements. The narrator, town sheriff Sam Lock is a new favorite literary character. He gets this story of a boy gone missing and travels out to the estate in the middle of winter to see what's what.
It's 1860 in Virginia before the Civil War.
The author does an impeccable job of setting, characterization and building suspense.
Sam Lock does not take any shit and yet, he's tender and observant. I enjoyed being in Sam's head as he tours the grounds, interviews witnesses and speculates on just about everything. I also falsely assumed where the story was going to go and so I was pleasantly surprised when the author pulled a few fast horror tropes on me.
I wanted to jump up out of my chair and applaud! I love being shocked and surprised.
I'm also adding this book to my growing list of stories under 200 pages that you could possibly devour in one sitting. If it wasn't for adulting and life stuff, I could have easily stayed with this one from start to finish--maybe only pausing to get snacks and coffee.
Unputdownable.
I'm recommending this one to fans of: Winter horror, historical fiction, suspense, murder mysteries, twists & turns, strong male protagonists you could easily develop a fictional crush on AND books to read in one sitting.
Beneath Ash & Bone by D. Alexander Ward is that book. First of all, the blurb across the cover from Ronald Malfi reads, "Engaging, resonant, smart and downright goddamn terrifying."
AND from Josh Malerman,
"I wanted to invite the narrator of Beneath Ash and Bone over to my house for whiskey and have him tell me the whole damn thing in person. Great voice."
I fully agree with both of those statements. The narrator, town sheriff Sam Lock is a new favorite literary character. He gets this story of a boy gone missing and travels out to the estate in the middle of winter to see what's what.
It's 1860 in Virginia before the Civil War.
The author does an impeccable job of setting, characterization and building suspense.
Sam Lock does not take any shit and yet, he's tender and observant. I enjoyed being in Sam's head as he tours the grounds, interviews witnesses and speculates on just about everything. I also falsely assumed where the story was going to go and so I was pleasantly surprised when the author pulled a few fast horror tropes on me.
I wanted to jump up out of my chair and applaud! I love being shocked and surprised.
I'm also adding this book to my growing list of stories under 200 pages that you could possibly devour in one sitting. If it wasn't for adulting and life stuff, I could have easily stayed with this one from start to finish--maybe only pausing to get snacks and coffee.
Unputdownable.
I'm recommending this one to fans of: Winter horror, historical fiction, suspense, murder mysteries, twists & turns, strong male protagonists you could easily develop a fictional crush on AND books to read in one sitting.
findingmontauk1's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book as part of a Night Worms subscription package. I may have never come across it any other way, which is bad because I think of all the other readers out there who may be missing out on this due to lack of knowledge. This book IS SO GOOD! I think all horror fans will devour this one. This book has family secrets, murder, twists, gore, etc. The book read like how it feels to sit next to a fire in a cabin during a thunderstorm with no electricity. My senses were on high alert the entire time and I felt like I could hear the floorboards creaking. This book got under my skin (ESPECIALLY THAT SCENE!!) and I can't stop thinking about it. 5 stars!
bookswithscrump's review
4.0
This was a haunting, eerie, fun horror story that gave me the chills. Taking place in the 1860's, this is a story of a rich, old family with secrets and a sheriff who tries to figure out what is happening. If you like dark murder mysteries, with a historical setting and some horror this one is for you! It was a great read, especially for December. 4 stars!
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