I was really excited to read "Sins of the Father," as the premise sounded intriguing and the cover art was eye-catching. However, I have to say that I was disappointed with the execution of the story. While there were certainly some scary moments and tense scenes, overall the book felt disjointed and lacked a cohesive narrative.

The characters were not well-developed, and I found it difficult to connect with them or care about their fates. The pacing of the story was also uneven, with some parts dragging on for too long and others feeling rushed and underdeveloped.

Furthermore, I was disappointed with the ending of the book, as it felt abrupt and unsatisfying. It seemed like there were still too many unanswered questions and loose ends that needed to be tied up.

Overall, while "Sins of the Father" had some potential, I don't feel like it lived up to my expectations. It may still be worth a read for horror fans who are interested in exploring different takes on the haunted house trope, but for me, it fell short. 2/5 stars.

Sins of the Father by JG Faherty is an atmospheric story that definitely pays homage to Lovecraft. I absolutely loved the setting. It gives this dark mood that was dark and beautiful and creepy. I just loved it so much.

JG Faherty has a wonderful writing style. He draws the reader into the story and allows you to feel like you’re there, watching the events unfold. That is my favorite type of novel!

I don’t want to spend too long reviewing this. It is absolutely fantastic, and it deserves as many readers as possible. If you’re a fan of horror, creepy atmosphere, and brilliant characters, I think you’ll enjoy Sins of the Father.

*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*

Interesting look at the son having to atone for his father's mistakes/sins. As his father struggled to find a cure for cancer, going insane in the process, and ending up in an asylum, Henry tries to overcome the stigma his father has left and to make a life of his own. Horrifying, really!

‘Henry Gilman has spent years trying to separate himself from his father’s legacy of murder and insanity. Now he has the chance – all he has to do is figure out who’s been killing people in Innsmouth.’

Cosmic Horror? Yes, Please!

How the story plays out is a bit predictable early on. However, I wasn’t expecting that ending—loved it!

I had a blast reading SINS OF THE FATHER, and I can’t wait to see what Faherty comes up with next.

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for loaning me an eBook of SINS OF THE FATHER in exchange for an honest review.

JG Faherty is an author I will be putting on my watch-list without a doubt. It's not often that you get Lovecraftian authors who write stories that truly capture the essence of the world they're writing about or try to create something of their own which somewhat feels limited in scope and derails from the story material completely.

Faherty has written a novel set in Innsmouth with great reverence to the core characters and creatures that both live and lurk there, setting themselves up for another day's daily grind or plotting their next get-rich-quick scheme that often involves someone getting shot.

Written with an eye that focuses on an early London and how grimy, dirty, and dangerous those times were, Sins of the Father also has a typical protagonist who develops into something more as the story continues.

I’m a child of the 60s and 70s raised on a healthy diet of Hammer horror films. This novel reminds me of if Hammer Studios had filmed an adaptation of The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft except with modern practical special effects. That sounds crazy but this novel keeps your attention glued to the page and delivers with a capital D! There were 3 times I thought the novel was over and 3 times I was oh so wrong and that’s a good thing. Highly recommended for everyone’s reading enjoyment.

So I’m a big fan of HP Lovecraft and really wanted to read this book when I realised its set in Innsmouth, a place made famous by the author so clearly inspired by his work. I really wanted to see where the author went with the book, a nod to Lovecraft especially The Shadow over Innsmouth. This is a terrific read. I felt it was too short as I read it quickly and felt disappointed when I reached the end because I wanted to read on. The end hints there might be a sequel. I hope so because not everything is concluded in this book and I have a lot of questions. This is a fantastic example of a book that blends horror and science fiction. There are demons with tentacles, raising the dead and severe daddy issues. I loved this.

A perfect read for any Lovecraft fan. Great setting and world building, interesting characters and a plot that kept me on the edge till the end.
I liked the plot, the creepy atmosphere and the character development.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

WOW! WOW! WOW! A super-fantastic Lovecraftian spin! Even just the Mystery would have been fascinating, but the Denouement and on to the end are tremendously exciting/fascinating/engrossing/beautiful/Cosmic! (I can't point to where the story really caught fire for me, without spoiling!) Can we please have a sequel? I don't want to stop!


Welcome to Innsmouth. What you see is not what is; and what nightmares of Cosmic Horror you experience--may be reality.

“Not you, ma’am. I’m here for him.” Flannery pointed at me.
“Appears the apple don’t fall far from the crazy tree.”
The precise words the protagonist, Henry, does not want to hear. However, he has been carrying the weight of these words his whole life. Thus, begins Sins of Father by J G Faherty with the main character buried under the sins of his father.

The opening chapter is gory, action-packed, thrilling, and lays the foundation of a town gripped in the embrace of fog and a deadly plague. It is also fast-paced. To his credit, Faherty maintains the frenetic pace till the last page which helped me make short work of this book in three days.

The first half of the book unravels the burning question: what did Henry’s father do which made him a pariah among the people of Innsmouth? On the other hand, the second half deals with Henry’s dilemma when he is forced to choose between personal happiness and greater good resulting in a captivating story.

I wish I could tell what evil Henry is up against (as that would be a spoiler). However, the lead up to its revelation is suspenseful and laden with clues for the reader to draw her conclusions while Henry puts two and two together to realize the magnitude of horror he is up against.

At first, Sins of Father seems like a story of a son paying for his father’s crimes. However, the author soon springs a surprise. What’s more, the unexpected twists, sometimes tragic, keep on coming making the story better and darker.

The book charts Henry's descent into madness, just like his father, the very thing he loathed to become. While he starts as a good guy with a firm set of beliefs, by the midpoint of the book, his character transitions into the grey zone, thereby, increasing the mystery quotient of the story. Will Henry go down the same path as his father, or will he make different choices? The story ends in a cliff-hanger hinting towards the possibility of a sequel which I look forward to reading.
The book is entertaining from start to finish. Even if I did not always agree with the protagonist's actions, I could not help but be glued to the pages to find out what is next. Moreover, the Lovecraftian creatures in the novel are very well-described, enough to give the faint-hearted readers nightmares.

I will confess I am vaguely familiar with Lovecraft's works. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and had no difficulty in escaping to Innsmouth, the town where this story is set.

J G Faherty’s Sins of Father is perfect for fans of Lovecraft; however, those who are not, or even those who have never read Lovecraft will love reading this darkly atmospheric cosmic horror tale.
There are many gory scenes, so, pick it up if you have the stomach to handle these.

Sins of the Father is a lovecraftian period horror novel by author JG Faherty

Henry Gilman is a mortician and occasional coroner for the town of Innsmouth, in the early 20th century. He’s burdened by the legacy left by his father, who experimented on blasphemous reanimation techniques, and ended up institutionalized in Arkham Sanitorium.

Innsmouth has fallen victim to serial murders by strangulation, the latest of which was a policeman. Some townspeople evoke demons and ancient curses, but Henry Gilman is a man of science. His beliefs are shattered when he witnesses the murder of a man by a fishlike figure, more demon than man. He retrieves a book from the scene and, soon thereafter, two reanimated dead men enters the pub he’s drinking in, looking for the book, and killing one of his friends. It falls to Henry to convince the police he’s not to blame, as his father was, and to find a way to battle the new horror plaguing the town.

JG Faherty does a good job at adopting a style and vocabulary in line with Lovecraft’s and his circle. The book is a quick read, and the action starts without losing too much time in exposition. However, while Lovecraft and others, like Derleth, left to the reader the task of imagining most of the indicible eldritch horrors, Faherty is a little too specific. This causes creatures to read like giant squids rather than cousins of Dagon and Cthulhu. The same can be said for the locales. The atmosphere of Miskatonic University, for example, is laid a little too thick.

Another quirk, for me, is the main character. Henry Gilman isn’t very likable, sometimes even plain despicable, and this, from the start. Confronted with eldritch horrors, his main preoccupation remains getting the girl before his best friend can. Lovecraft often wrote unlikeable characters, especially as his own world views were skewed but, when we don’t care much about the main protagonist, and the secondary characters aren’t fleshed out, we don’t care much about what happens to them either.

The lovecraftian ambiance is there. The story follows all the beats you’re expecting. Maybe a little too much, as many of the twists can be guessed way before they occur. The author has also chosen to add elements to the Chthulu mythos, when existing ones could have been used (Dagon, his followers and acolytes, Herbert West’s works...)

All in all, it isn’t a bad read, but it doesn’t bring anything new or original to the plate. Still a good way to pass time for lovers of the non euclidian geometries.

Thanks to Flame Tree Press and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

This story is a huge homage to H.P. Lovecraft. The setting is in Innsmouth...so the tale includes Arkahm, the Miskatonic River & the University.... Definitely Lovecraft's stomping ground.

The Basics: Henry Gilman has lived under the stigma of atrocities committed by his father. His father was a doctor who descended into madness after Henry's mother died of cancer. His ultimate goal was to cure cancer, but the things he did in his madness were depraved and horrific. Henry does his best to make a life out of the tatters left behind after his father is put away in the asylum.....but given that he is in Innsmouth....well we all know a happily-ever-after is just not going to happen. Cue the undead, a monster lurking under the city, and other very Lovecraftian horrors. Turns out in order to save the one he loves, Henry might just have to share in his father's madness......

I enjoyed the first half of this novel better than the second half. There is a point where things switch gears a bit....and it just jarred me out of the story a bit too much. All in all, an enjoyable homage to Lovecraft. Very much in the horror genre. I loved the setting and the way the tale has a very Lovecraftian feel to it. Very dark and atmospheric.

All in all, a good horror story. I enjoyed it. This is the second book by JG Faherty that I've read. I will definitely be reading more of his writing!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Copied from my Goodreads:

Rated 3.5/5

This book was what I generally refer to as a hammock-read: something that is entertaining but doesn't really require too much thought to enjoy. I requested it because anything lovecraftian has my attention, and this book definitely delivered. I sort of doubt anyone with no clue about the mythos would enjoy this read, seeing how it mentions places, objects, happenings and institutions etc that are central to the world built around what Lovecraft created, and make little sense without some idea of the backstory.

At the very heart, this is less a mystery or a whodunit (as it may seem to be throughout the first third of the book), and more a reiteration of how actions have consequences, and that no one can really escape that fact.

The things that made me enjoy this book was mainly the ease with which I was pulled into the story, despite having to suspend my disbelief several times (many of the relationships seemed vague and shallow, probably because of the first-person narration that means that the reader will just have to accept that there is a past, yet it felt inconsequential a lot of the time), and the language was a little too on the nose sometimes for the period the story is supposed to be set in. The author definitely knows how to write a page-turner, with the pacing keeping the story from going stagnant.

The things that bring the rating down have mostly to do with the fact that I was never surprised or caught unawares by any of the supposed twists. The first major plot twist I had a hunch of from the beginning, and the rest I had figured out early on. I'm not sure of whether it is because I have read a lot of stories using similar twists, or if it's because the author telegraphed the twists too hard, but it did make my enjoyment of the plot go down every time I was proven right.

The book ends on what could well be a cliffhanger engaging enough to warrant a sequel, and I might end up reading that sequel as well, but I honestly don't think we need one.

TL; DR
Entertaining and easy read, with no surprises. For fans of stories set in the world of the lovecraftain mythos.

I received an e-book ARC copy of Sins of the Father from NetGalley and Flame Tree Press in return for my honest review, which follows below. I thank both for the opportunity.

I am rating this 5 stars.

I originally rated this 4 stars, wrote a review and posted it as my first approved ARC, I believe. After being lucky enough to have gotten a few more under my belt, I looked over this first review and was horrified by how unprofessional it was. I had not disclosed it was an ARC or who the publisher was, there was no star rating given. I was not comfortable leaving that kind of review. I am still evolving my writing style when leaving reviews; thankfully, I feel I do a better job now. So I re-read the book and am now re-writing the review.

I increased the rating a full star because the second reading, like with so many books or movies, revealed details that I maybe did not notice or retain the first time. I think this is intended to be the first in a series, and if I am right, I know I intend to keep reading. I do recommend this for fans of Lovecraftian mythos, but also for anyone that likes Gothic, eldritch horror. I could see giving this as a gift, and I have already re-read with pleasure.

I have been a fan of Cthulhu since I was a child, I remember my dad letting me read these beat up paperbacks with the name Lovecraft and strange creature art splashed across the cover. I ate those up, even if there were nightmares; I never told, afraid the books would be taken away until I was older (I was around twelve at the time) . When I was old enough to look into Lovecraft on my own… well, you know they say to never meet your heroes. He was a big ol’ racist. I didn’t read him for a long time, I still, if I’m honest, have volumes of his works but use them for reference more than anything. But a beautiful thing has been happening for years in the writing community, people are taking these creatures and myths created by a problematic man and making them new, relevant and wholly their own. Ruthanna Emrys is a perfect example of this. So when I saw this book with Innsmouth on the cover, I was excited to see how this author, JG Faherty, manipulated and changed the workings of a troublesome and out of touch, dead writer.

The protagonist, Henry, has fallen a bit from grace in the eyes of the townspeople. His father is the one guilty of committing crimes, but as the title says… Because of this, he was removed from being a medical student and has been working at the morgue. And business has been booming because of several murders, apparent strangulation as the method, staining Innsmouth. Henry has his doubts, but also knows his words will equal to nothing in the eyes of the community.

He has a woman that he is trying to woo, Flora, who is the sister of his friend Scott. She works as a barmaid, and one night on his way to see her he comes across an altercation in an alleyway. He sees a humanoid creature, that distressingly knows his name, uttering it before knocking him out. When he wakes he has only a dead body and a strange book keeping him company. I don’t want to give away the whole plot of the book, but things begin to get funky with the bodies of the already dead, and the rest unfolds from there.

There are many different creatures introduced in this novel, and I honestly had fan girl moments over each one. They were very well written, described in ways that made them easy to picture. The story arc for Henry was amazing, I can’t wait to see how that continues if there is another book. Through the book I just feel bad for Henry, he doesn’t have an easy time, what with being the town pariah, the only one fully aware of what is happening behind the scenes, and putting his life on the line for people that would rather spit on him; he’s having a bad time. As with all good stories, when I reached the end of this one, I wished for just a few more pages, one more paragraph. But as mentioned several times, I am hopeful that this is the beginning of a series, and this is not the last we have seen of this Innsmouth.

I was really impressed with this world, the connections to many mythos built in the confines of one novel. I also appreciated how there were strong male and female characters, not one or the other, a realistic display of the best and the worst of people represented between these pages. That realism adds a helpful connection to our world when you are writing about creatures from the stars that can change your very form. I look forward to what happens next.

The splendid bit of Lovecraftian horror hits all the right notes. Excellent voice, a great flawed narrator, and superb descriptions of the town and the dark places beneath it. Fast moving and grisly with excellent action scenes. Add a star if you are a Lovecraft fanatic.

Fatherty’s new release is a sort of mixed bag where I enjoyed large parts of it whilst at other times I felt it was slightly labour intensive to get through. Saying that, I really admire this book as well so I am very torn overall over this book which maybe a good thing.

The book is a huge dedication to Lovecraft surrounding his writing style, the mythology and place. This is where things can be a bit tricky as I admire Lovecraft and his overall plots but I seldom find him an enjoyable read. I admire the way he writes but I often get lost within the descriptive verses he writes. Fatherty here brings this style alive to reflect to the Lovecraftian style which is very admirable but within the same way I feel about Lovecraft, these writing styles have this affect with this book.

The characters are very well developed although the love interest is very underdeveloped and it was kind of hard to get your head around after the half point mark. As I don’t want to give anything away, let’s just say that it doesn’t always ring true. The main character is an unreliable narrator and as we are seeing everything through his eyes and emotions, we are sometimes left scratching our heads which I believe is what the writer wants us to feel and think.

The plot is very well conceived and although it changes gears in the second half, it works rather well. It seemed to track along at a fairly good pace though at times, there is some plot points that left me wondering why. This is kind of written in two parts with the lead up to the second had a lot of good ideas with the later part going off in another direction. This does keep the reader on his toes and left me a little off balanced but did enjoy once I was able to deal with the shift.

Overall, this is a very well-constructed book that pays homage and yet finds its own voice. This may not be the all-around crowd pleaser but fans of Lovecraft will love the style and story whilst the Stephen King crowd probably will not appreciate the style, structure and work of this novel. I personally really enjoyed it and although I found it as difficult as a Lovecraftian novel is for me, this hits all the points and improves on so many as well. This is a sure fire hit for the right readers.

This was too much of the 'horror' genre for my taste. The premise was a good one, someone wanting to make amends for his father's sins but in my view could have been executed better (pardon the pun) and was too far moving away from the crime drama that I like. I think others will enjoy this more!

SINS OF THE FATHER, by J.G. Faherty, is a Lovecraftian-style novel set back in the past. The setting near the town of Innsmouth, the Miskatonic University, and other Lovecraftian landmarks, interested me quite a bit. However, I expect that those not as familiar with Lovecraft's imagination might not fully appreciate all of the links.

"Believe in Science, Henry, not superstition . . . "

At a young age, Henry's mother passed away with a cancer eating away at her. His father--a doctor--grew obsessed with finding a cure. What he resorted to was an act so repulsive that he was sent to live the remainder of his life at the Asylum.

Sadly, Henry's own reputation suffered unjustly because of his infamous father.

". . . the shadows hid plenty of real evils . . . "

The novel quickly becomes a full-out homage to Lovecraft's ideas, in my opinion. While not a bad thing, per-say, I was hoping for a little more individuality in certain aspects.

Henry, and the other characters, just didn't work for me as well as I'd hoped they would. I thought Henry began as a solid individual with firm viewpoints, yet about half-way through the story he became very inconsistent and difficult to follow.

". . . Heaven and Hell exist . . . but they are just two dimensions among millions."

Some of the scenes--particularly in the first half--I found very well done and engaging. There was a different spin that made me want to read on. Unfortunately, at some point this changed, rendering our main character unreliable, the others less than intriguing, and the novel itself began to feel like a variation of previously read material.

". . . instead I became him . . . "

Overall, a strong start that held promise, but ultimately left me feeling less than satisfied. A large factor in this was that I didn't care any longer about any of the characters. Once that happened, everything else fell apart for me.

Perhaps others will connect more with this story than I did, as it did have some unique moments.

Sins Of The Father by JG Faherty
Sins Of The Father is an extension of the Lovecraft Universe. This includes historic sights such as Miskatonic University, Arkham Sanitarium and the town of Innsmouth where shadows hide plenty of real evils. Emerging as The Waterfront Killer, a string of very unusual murders have been discovered leading to a deadly web of jealousy and guilt by bloodline.
Written with that familiar first person Lovecraftian style, author JG Faherty brilliantly offers stomach-churning nightmares and rotted flesh abominations. He paints a perfect cinematic scenery with a limelight for roaming watery deaths and walking corpses that only The Ancient Ones could create. Rejoice in the origins of The Elder Gods and let them guide you through this Necronomicon of a book and relish the appalling tentacle toting monsters from the depths of hell. Enjoy!
Other works of JG Faherty include The Burning Time, nominated for an International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award and The Cure nominated for the Bram StokerAward for Superior Achievement in a novel. He has served as a trustee on the Horror Writers Association’s Board since 2011.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Sins of the Father by JG Faherty is as if Dr Frankenstein met HP Lovecraft to create a wild ride of thrills and chills. Henry Gilman is a lowly morgue attendant in the fictional town of Innsmouth in a time period that still remembers the horrors of the plague. He was a medical student, but was expelled and pretty much shunned after it was discovered that his father was attempting to reanimate the dead. One night Henry is out walking when he witnesses an attack which leads him into a murder mystery that he is determined to solve. During his investigation, he learns the truth about his father, himself, and how sometimes the journey to save the ones we love leads to a path of madness.
Sins of the Father was so much fun! I read it in one sitting and didn't want the story to end. I like how relatable Henry was as the main character and how we could empathize with some of the choices that he made, even when we the reader knew it was a bad decision. This was a very enjoyable mystery creature feature and a must read for fans of Lovecraftian horror.