"The Devil is in Scotland.

Grayson Hale, the most infamous murderer in Scotland, is better known by a different name: the Devil's Advocate. The twenty-five-year-old American grad student rose to instant notoriety when he confessed to the slaughter of his classmate Liam Stewart, claiming the Devil made him do it.

When Hale is found hanged in his prison cell, officers uncover a handwritten manuscript that promises to answer the question that's haunted the nation for years: was Hale a lunatic, or had he been telling the truth all along?

Unnervingly, Hale doesn't fit the bill of a killer. The first-person narrative that centers this novel reveals an acerbic young atheist, newly enrolled at the University of Edinburgh to carry on the legacy of his recently deceased father. In need of cash, he takes a job ghostwriting a mysterious book for a dark stranger, but has misgivings when the project begins to reawaken his satanophobia, a rare condition that causes him to live in terror that the Devil is after him. As he struggles to disentangle fact from fear, Grayson's world is turned upside-down after events force him to confront his growing suspicion that he's working for the one he has feared all this time - and that the book is only the beginning of their partnership.

A History of Fear is a propulsive foray into the darkness of the human psyche, marrying dread-inducing atmosphere and heart-palpitating storytelling."

Read this to find out if Grayson's satanophobia was justified!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. This is a creepy one, but I loved the story of killer Hale. The devil made him do it, is his excuse. When he turns up dead the mystery furthers.. 5 stars for this excellent thruller.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"A History of Fear" is a story about an American guy named Grayson who murders a Scottish guy and then claims the Devil made him do it. The reader's job is to try and determine whether or not that's true.

This is a really hard book to rate because the way it's written is so unusual. It would also be wrong to say that I enjoyed it, but it's absolutely worth reading. Let's discuss.

Dumas did really well using the novel's structure to support the story. AHoF is a book within a book within a book. There's the 1) actual book, wherein the narrator is the main reporter on our MC's case, who is writing a 2) literary nonfiction account of what happened. She does so using a 3) confessional autobiography the MC wrote in jail following his murder conviction, shortly before his suspicious death. Large sections of the autobiography are broken up by snippets of interviews the narrator is having with secondary and tertiary characters. All in all, the sense of being both in the MC's head and simultaneously outside of it really emphasized that 1) this is the most unreliable narrator of all time and 2) the "truth" of the situation is highly unclear.

Scanning some other reviews, it looks like a common complaint is about the, frankly, purple prose. I get why this will be a turnoff for some readers as I typically hate purple prose myself. However, the writing style is used very pointedly to show just how pretentious Grayson is, as well as emphasizing his mental state, adding to the development of his character. I feel safe in this assertion since the parts of the book that aren't pulled from Grayson's autobiography have a very different writing style. In this light, it was easier to accept the over-the-top prose.

This book almost lost me right at the very end. One of the things I really liked about AHoF is the respect shown to the reader. It's not spoonfed to you whether Grayson is actually being targeted by the devil or simply suffering from severe mental illness and trauma after being abused. So many novels today feel the need to spell things out for the reader, so I really appreciated that AHoF didn't. Then, in the faux-Afterword, the narrator freaking sums it up for the reader! Ultimately, there is enough of a wink and a nod left at the finale that I didn't feel Dumas ruined his own book, but I did knock a star off for it.

All in all, "A History of Fear" is a dark, twisted read about a tormented person, whether that torment is coming from a demonic force or his own illness and trauma. It's engaging, if a bit longer than it needed to be, and a novel I can see myself recommending to anyone who wants a spooky text for Fall.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of A History of Fear by Luke Dumas. This story starts out about an infamous murderer named Grayson Hale. Hale confessed to killing a classmate years ago, claiming, "the devil made him do it." Then Hale is found hanged in his cell leaving a manuscript that promises to answer questions regarding his sanity. There is more to this story, but overall this is the gist. I didn't love this story, but I do think Dumas is a good writer.

A History of Fear reveals one man’s descent into madness.

Scotland, 2017: Grayson Hale, an American grad student, callously murdered his classmate, blaming the devil for his actions.

Following his sentence, that should have been that. However, nineteen months after his conviction, guards find Hale’s lifeless body in solitary confinement at Her Majesty’s Prison Edinburgh, a high-security prison.

Authorities dismiss his death as self-inflicted. But, a few days later, a 200-page manuscript surfaces written by Hale.

It’s up to the reader to decide if Hale was telling the truth or if his childhood fear of the devil sent him on this downward spiral.

In addition to Hale’s manuscript, the story’s structure is a mix of notes, transcripts, interviews, and news clippings.

I enjoyed this story, but unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped. The pacing was slightly inconsistent. However, things picked up in the final third, and I could not put it down. But then again, one of the big reveals could have been handled better. The breadcrumbs were there, but I never thought it would go in that direction, especially since the book is set in contemporary times. It was more depressing than anything else. I now know what Pink was getting at in her review.

On another note, the writing was excellent and engaging. Although, I was marginally less interested in Hale’s past and more so in his time in Scotland.

This book wasn’t terribly scary, but it has some graphic content that may disturb some readers.

I would definitely consider reading more from the author in the future. I see there’s already another one releasing sometime next year.

3.5 rounded down.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

This is a whopper of a debut for Luke Dumas! Written in literary fiction style, this story is a “book within a book” with a heavy, spine tingling undertone. Our main character, Grayson Hale, has been accused and arrested for killing his classmate while studying abroad. He writes a journal while incarcerated and before his death, and through his words, the mystery is unraveled about whether the devil actually made him do it as he claimed or is there something more creepy going on? Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available for purchase on December 6, 2022.

This one started out quickly grabbing my attention. It was definitely creepy and perfect for a Fall read. Overall, I thought it was too long and I felt myself skimming at times. Give it a try for Spooky season!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

Devilishly dark and fiendishly ferocious, A History Of Fear is a psychological/horror tale that immediately seizes your attention and takes you on a ride to hell and back. Luke Dumas has crafted a killer debut novel that is one hell of a fascinating and unforgettable story.

Grayson Hale, a young American pursuing his PhD in Scotland, was convicted of murdering one of his classmates and was serving a life sentence in prison. While that is enough content to keep the tabloids going for months, his claim that the devil made him do it added fuel to the fire. And when he’s found dead, hanging in his cell with strange markings on his body, the thirst for more info becomes insatiable. Lucky for the public, a manuscript containing Grayson’s life story is found in his cell and promises to shed light on his childhood, his mental state, the crime he committed and his relationship with the so-called devil. Now it’s up to one reporter to add context to the manuscript and publish the story for all to consume. Then maybe the question of whether Grayson was insane or if he was telling the truth can finally be answered. Regardless of the answer, one thing is for certain…the devil is front and center in the consciousness of the Scottish people.

The way A History Of Fear is structured as a book within a book is incredibly well done and is what makes it so excellent. It’s captivating to read the first-person account from Grayson Hale on his experience, with editorial notes added to share court proceedings, interview transcripts, psychological evaluations and academic research as a mechanism to provide context and other points of view. This framework allows the reader to view the whole picture from various angles, rather than just take the convicted murderer’s word on what happened. It adds credibility to a story that might be easy to dismiss initially as the ravings of a lunatic, making it – and Grayson – seem more rational and his actions more conceivable the more you read. A clever approach by the author to explore the topic of the devil’s existence in an intelligent, contemplative and a realistic non-fantasy manner.

And one last thing – the ending of this book has me shook. Like mouth agape muttering “holy shit!” several times kind of shook. A blindsiding moment of pure genius that adds a whole other layer to the story. A haymaker delivered with the last few keystrokes. Bravo Luke Dumas!

A History Of Fear is the perfect novel for those who crave murder mysteries, psychological thrillers and horror stories. It blends all three into a phenomenal story that will burrow into your brain and set up shop for a few months. Which means maybe the greatest trick the devil ever pulled wasn’t convincing the world he didn’t exist, rather it was making sure we remember and fear his existence for all eternity.

Pros: I thought this book had a unique premise of a murderer who says the Devil made him do it and found the role of religion throughout to be interesting. I liked the format of this book, which was the “murderer’s manuscript” interrupted at times by “editor’s notes.” I love a book set in Scotland and enjoyed learning more about its justice system.

Cons: I didn’t connect with this book. If I hadn’t been reading it for NetGalley, I think I would have DNFed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book.

I couldn't wait to find out what was happening, but I never wanted this book to end!
A highly agitating, consuming story told by an increasingly unreliable narrator, yet with just enough hints to make the reader question their own interpretation of events.
Well written, well-played!

3.5 rounded to 4

My mind is reeling from that ending. Although slow to start, around the 30% mark A History of Fear pulled me into its dark whirlpool of religion, murder, childhood traumas, repression, and the question of madness. Here we have the examination of the main character’s psychological descent to murder and madness, or perhaps, mania – but was it really madness or is the devil real?

As a reader, we read Grayson Hale’s own account of what happened, interjected with “Editor’s Note” where we discover interviews and e-mails brimming with information that provoke questions about Grayson’s account of events. Was his world, his actions, truly influenced by the adversary himself?

It is up to you to decide which narrative is true.

Swarming with a dark atmosphere, a historical backdrop of Scotland’s relationship with the devil, and a question of realities, this was eerie read.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily because books are cool!

Thank you NetGalley & Luke Dumas for the early copy of A History of Fear. This psychological thriller was exactly what you need to get yourself in the mood for spooky season. Grayson Hale is an American going to school for his masters in Edinburgh, Scotland escaping his overly religious (somewhat cultish) family. Hale is convicted with the murder of his classmate Liam and this story is his manuscript explaining his defense that the Devil made him do it.

We are taken on a ride throughout Hale's whole life. How he did everything for some attention from his father, to his mother keeping him at arms length because she saw something inherently evil in him from a young age and his abusive brother. With all these in play, teenage Hale develops satanophobia and starts having monstrous visions and blackouts. Fast forward to adult Hale in Edinburgh he meets a sinister man named D.B. who commissions him to write a book on the Devil and things start to unravel from there.

This book was a bit slow to start, but with Dumas's gothic-style writing you end up sucked into the whirlwind mind of Grayson Hale, I felt like I was Alice in Wonderland tumbling down the rabbit hole. You catch yourself repeatedly thinking, "What is real and what is not?" Without spoiling anything, there is a theme that is written into this book that ultimately pushes you to be the Real You and never hold anything back. I gave this book a 3.5 and def recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Luke Dumas for the advanced copy of A History of Fear in exchange for my honest review.

I unfortunately DNF'd this one about 35% in. I wasn't connecting to the story and it felt like a chore to pick it back up. I will of course not be reviewing on consumer sites outside of NetGalley.

part psychological thriller, part Supernatural horror… This is just what I needed for the halloween season! This is a very unique take on a classic unreliable narrator story, and you never really fully know what was real and what was just inside our narrator’s head. Grayson, although fucked up, was a very captivating character and the story unfolded brilliantly. A very impressive debut novel, and I look forward to reading what comes next from Dumas.

***the phrase ‘I summoned an Uber’ being used 3 times throughout the book made me giggle tho

A History of Fear by Luke Dumas is a strong debut that looks at evil in its many forms, from the religious to the secular.

This is basically a "found manuscript" story with holes in that manuscript being filled by a journalist. The story of the protagonist's life coupled with the events just prior to his crime is presented in very clear prose. Though overwritten in places, the ways in which anxiety and panic are expressed were especially effective.

I found part of the big reveal to be problematic for me. I can't go into detail without giving away the story, but I am uncomfortable with feeling like it fits into old harmful stereotypes. I think Hale's personal history is supposed to mitigate this, but I don't think it succeeded.

Recommended for readers who like a more subtle horror-ish story. This is one of those books that will either pull you in right away or it probably isn't your cup of tea.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

Interesting story with some aspects I really enjoyed, especially the cultish background of the character.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advance copy to read and review.

So this was WEIRD but overall it sucked me in.

At first I wasn’t so sure. Some of the 1st person descriptions of other characters in the narrator’s orbit were a bit uncomfortable (mostly fatphobic) and once you notice it’s hard to unsee, so I wasn’t sure this was going to be for me, but as the book goes on it read to me as kind of a subtle hint to the narrator’s mental state, that he isn’t necessarily a good person, that he comes from this horrifically culty and repressive upbringing that WOULD teach him to think in cruel ways like that, and for what it’s worth the descriptions like that did seem to drop off as the narrative kicked in. It doesn’t make them any less uncomfortable, but it’s not as jarring when there’s so much going on.

The narrative style is very reminiscent of gothic literature, overly dramatic and aggrandizing, and I can see why some people wouldn’t care for this but it worked for me, it created an atmosphere very ominous and tense, downright spooky even, that worked for the tone of the book and allowed me to get sucked in.

Ultimately, this is a wild ride. At times reminiscent of Palahniuk’s Fight Club and at other’s its own tightly knotted ball of supernatural dread, it got its claws in me and I read over half the book in a weekend. So if that’s your thing, go forth and have fun.

A story that will have you questioning fiction from reality

A history of fear is the story of Grayson Hale, an american Student in Scotland dubbed as the devils advocate after the slaying of his classmate Liam Stewart, in his confession, Grayson tells the cops the devil made him do it.

The story gives us a glimpse through the narrator and what led to the killing of a young man at the hands of Grayson. His family, god fearing folks that created their own church in their hometown where his father withholds his affection and his mother, seeing something sinister in Grayson keeps him at arms length and away from his brother. Grayson grows up feeling wrong, like he's done something evil without haven't done anything at all, the only explanation is that he has been touched by the devil and is constantly being lured by him. Throughout his teens Grayson becomes satanophobic, fearing the devil and seeing his minions are after him. Grayson tries to connect with his father still but after his fathers suicide he makes the jump to go to college and then going for a masters program in Scotland; it is here where he meets a strange man, D.B who tasks him with helping him write a manuscript about the devil.

Grayson begins to spiral and soon keeps having blackouts and visions of monsters clawing at him, he has no friends and his employer seems to elude him. Fearing the worst and seeing no other solution he begins to write the manuscript that only makes him worse and after a confrontation with Liam he is charged for his murder.

Throughout the story I was so compelled to keep reading, the story was super propulsive and was multi-layered, the protagonist was truly troubled and I wanted to see how his story would end and even then, there are so many surprises that i kept being surprised to the very end!
SPOILER ALERT!
My one note was that the big dark secret that is related to the devil is that Graysons dad was gay, and Grayson was also a repressed homosexual; and though a very original story since that was the biggest plot point, as a gay man this made me feel some type of way. Homosexuality has historically been seen as a sin and evil and this kind of just reverberated that message. still the story was fun and would recommend it.

This book was complicated for me. I did not enjoy it from the start. The writing was bordering on pretentious for me. I only stuck with it because a friend insisted that it was amazing, but I was definitely let down. The additions at the end of the chapters didn’t really provide much to the story itself, and it tried way too hard.