Grayson Hale has been found dead in his prison cell by hanging. Stranger though is that his clothes are torn and claw marks are found all over his body.

Interest piqued? Mine sure was.

After searching the cell they find a manuscript he'd been working on to explain how he came to be in prison for the murder of his classmate, Liam Stewart.

It appears, according to Grayson, that the devil made him do it.

"What is this strange memoir? An imaginative fiction? A First-person account of one man's descent into madness? Or worse, a warning sent straight from the depths of hell?"

This book is a literary horror lovers dream come true. I kid you not. Impeccably written, Luke Dumas has proved one thing, he is fiercely intelligent and has spun a tail so intricate and so enthralling that it was difficult to turn away. I was completely spellbound. Now, I admit, this was a little bit bloated and could have been edited just a bit tighter. Goodreads claims this book is 368 pages, I'm not sure if that's correct or not as I was reading an arc copy on my kindle where no page count was provided, but typically a 368 page book is about 5 hours and this came in at just over 7 hours. There is a lot of text on the page so it's not a book you can hurry through. You must take your time and honestly that's probably for the best to fully appreciate what the author has done here even if part of you wants to hurry it along from time to time. I can be an impatient reader so that is no fault to the author. In fact, it should be viewed more as flattery because my need to know, my need to see this through to the end, had me almost as flustered as Grayson was in this story. And Grayson is one of the best unreliable narrators I've come across in awhile.

But the cherry on the sundae, if you will, is the ending. The absolutely mind blowing and chill inducing very last page left me utterly gobsmacked. Bravo, Mr. Dumas. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.

A clever book, with an interesting format (the excerpts adding context throughout) and plot, but a bit overwritten in places, and there were places in the middle that felt unnecessary. The beginning definitely had me hooked so I was bummed when I got to the middle and kept checking my percentage to see if I was getting any closer to being done.

It does pick up then, although I predicted the ending, and some of it felt a little unbelievable (even in the context of the type of story it is). Still there were elements that were chilling and downright scary. I enjoyed it and would recommend it if the premise sounds interesting for you.

Thrilling, haunting, tense, obsessive, poetically written, twisted.
 
Sometimes it’s impossible to pinpoint a story’s feeling, and I’m going to try it anyway. A History of Fear has hints of A Secret History combined with These Violent Delights (Micah Nemerever) and even Summer Sons. And still, the story isn’t like anything I’ve ever read.
 
A History of Fear is a book within a book. An editor, Daniella, gets access to a manuscript, Grayson Hale, a murderer who claimed the devil made him kill his classmate Liam, wrote before he died. Daniella decides to investigate Grayson’s story, and her investigation creates an evocative book containing the above-mentioned manuscript, interviews, emails, and even the prisoner’s psychologist's notes, almost written like a memoir.
 
What is true? Was Grayson possessed by the devil? Was he mentally ill? Was he psychotic? Questions that haunted me while reading the book. What do you do when you find parts of yourself, you didn’t know existed and even want to deny? What if you’re different en don’t accept yourself? What if you’re basically a good person and become a bad person who murders in the end?
 
This story is not what it seems like and Grayson is not who he seems like. I had some ideas, also about his father, that turned out to be right in the end. At times, I wanted to hug Grayson, a confused twenty-five-year-old coming from a very religious background, traumatized and seemingly mentally ill. At other times, creepy chills ran down my spine, and my brows knitted together in discomfort. Sometimes my stomach contracted. The Afterword gave me goosebumps, especially the last two letters. ‘The devil is alive, in you—in me.’ So true.

It has taken me a bit to write this review because I had trouble separating the idea of this book and the book itself. This novel provides an in-depth look into the mind and life of Grayson Hale, who after murdering his fellow classmate, claims the Devil made him do it. After Grayson is found hanged in his prison cell, his handwritten manuscript is uncovered; will it provide some insight for the motive of one of Scotland's most infamous murders? Was it really a work of the Devil?

I'll be honest, I enjoyed the idea of this book more than the book itself. It was just too wordy and over-written for my personal taste. The time period felt WAY off and it almost gave the book a pretentious, try-hard feel (though it is marked as literary suspense, after all). It felt like I had to reread each page multiple times because I just kept zoning out. In the end, many bits seems unnecessary (and just unnecessarily long-winded).

That's not to say I didn't enjoy some parts of this debut novel. Though not religious myself, I surprisingly enjoyed learning about Grayson's upbringing. The glimpses of his childhood were probably my favorite of the read. The idea was there. The conflict was there. I KNOW this book will be for some people and I encourage you to give it a try, but unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

Thank you @atriabooks and @Netgalley for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Have never read anything like this! I loved the depth and honestly it was scary, which is hard for a book to be these days! I think it could have been a tad shorter but that’s my only real “issue”. Enjoyed otherwise!

Has the feel of the classic possession stories with a dark academia twist. A recommended purchase for collections where horror is popular.

This very well written book about a man controlled by the devil actually scared me.
I couldn't read this before bedtime because it caused my mind to spiral.

The manuscript of Scotland's most infamous murderer, Grayson Hale, is discovered after he is found hanging in prison. This manuscript provides a detailed tour of Hale's descent into madness and evil. The proposition being that the devil himself forced Hale to commit his crimes. An interesting concept and one of the more inventive novels I've read. Creepy, for sure. Will appeal to horror fans.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The sentences and writing felt a bit choppy to me as though it didn’t flow well, but I had to finish to see where it went. It did wrap me into the storyline, and I did feel immersed in that atmosphere. I’m not sure the blood and excrement in the sheets w DB or Liam was necessary, and it didn’t seem to fit in with the rest. So, I’d like to try another book by the author because I saw good points, but this book wasn’t a 5 star read for me personally. Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

Gave this 3 stars because I loved the concept but it just fell a little flat for me. Timelines got a little distracting and the book was overwritten. I did like the twist at the end and the elements of creepiness.

Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity to do an ARC review!

DNF - I wanted to love this but ultimately, it wasn't for me. I'm sure that many other casual readers might appreciate this & it does seem they do, based solely on some of the reviews here.

Well, one thing is for sure. I'm pretty sure I've never read anything like this. I honestly don't know how to explain it, but I'm going to try anyway.

This an investigative analysis of one young man's psychological spiral and descent into mania, and eventually murder. All stemming from childhood abuse and repression due to extreme religion. Or is it?

Was he actually compelled by the devil to do evil? In Grayson Hale's own words, he provides a convincing narrative of how the world (including himself) is influenced by the adversary, providing research of the devil's historically strong presence in Scotland.

Reading this is to decide for yourself which perspective is true.
And it's a story that will leave you reeling.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of A History of Fear.

The premise sounded so creepy I had to request it and was (naturally) excited when my request was approved.

First, the title is misleading. It should be called The Devil is in Scotland.

Second, the main character, Grayson Hale, is the 'villain' yet not quite.

The author describes a neurotic, emotionally fragile young man who survived an emotionally and psychologically abusive childhood.

Sadly, I didn't find him a compelling main character; in fact; his anxious personality (I know his childhood was hard), was a turn off. He lacked confidence and self-esteem, making him a likely victim of the Devil.

Then, the writing. It was great, the author can write.

Except he wrote too much.

Readers get tons of exposition; mostly long-winded, unnecessary, descriptive paragraphs of Hale's strict, religious parents which made me wonder if the author has a beef against religion in general.

There is plenty of repetitive filler about the fiends that plague Hale, the satanophobia that rears its ugly head in his life when he least expects it.

The constant flashbacks to Hale's past and his unhappy childhood and distant father and callous mother disrupted the current narrative.

There is no comfortable transition from past and present, not to mention the excerpts from interview transcripts interspersed pulled me away from Hale's current narrative.

Then, there's the parts with DB. Those scenes are not scary, Not horror. They're actually pretty few and far in between and when something does happen, I go "huh." I'm not scared.

The author spends more time building Hale's fragile psyche but his interactions with DB is minuscule, compared to the plot

I was a little creeped out, especially when Hale is confronted with the possibility that he might have made up DB in his emotionally fragile state, but nothing about Hale and DB's interactions had me scared, not Exorcist scared.

As I mentioned, the writing was good, but oddly formal at times.

Also, Hale uses Scottish slang yet as an American, he would automatically use words like apartment for flat, line for queue, etc.

It was almost as if the author couldn't remember Hale is American. He hadn't been living in Scotland to adopt their vernacular so quickly.

I also had some questions when I finished A History of Fear.

Why was Hale's dad targeted by DB?
Why was the devil so intent that people in Scotland believe in him again?
What does Scotland have to do with the devil?

I really liked the premise and the author can write but an unlikable character, lengthy exposition, and no scares made this not the read I had hoped for.

🔥🔥🔥Review🔥🔥🔥

Thanks to @NetGalley and @atriabooks for the ARC of A History of Fear by Luke Dumas.

Grayson Hale, college student, murderer - Devil's Advocate? - was found hanging in his prison cell... handwritten manuscript by his side. A History of Fear explores the events surrounding the murder of Liam Stewart and Hale's steady decline as the reader is left wondering: Did the Devil make him do it?

Wow. I read the last line of this book and felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. It was as if I had all the pieces and they slammed together in my brain at the last word. This book was tense and creepy, peppered with uncertainty and a maddening amount of exposition. I was on a knife's edge...balancing between two beliefs...teetering one way and then the other but never falling completely in either direction. Even now I know what logic tells me happened and what my gut says...and they are not the same thing.

I actually enjoyed the first person POV... I don't think it could have been told as effectively any other way. I liked that the manuscript was interspersed with notes and interviews by the journalist because it contributed to the feelings of uncertainty... especially the tidbits we get about Grayson's childhood.

A History of Fear is an intense psychological thriller that I am definitely planning on buying in print. The only minor complaint I have is that it gets a little... wordy in parts, but overall I thought it was brilliant.

I look forward to reading more from Luke Dumas in the future.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#atriabooks #AHistoryofFear #netgalley #arcreadsandreviews #arcreadsofinstagram #TheDevilisinScotland #horror #psychologicalthriller #bookstagram #fivestarread

3.5 stars, but rounding up to 4 because I really liked the concept and the big “twist”, despite the overall mediocre ending.

A very interesting take on the “devil made me do it” type of story. I really felt like the book started off strong and it kept me interested even though it was a slow burn. But the closer I got to the end, it started to feel more rushed, which was kind of disappointing. BUT I will say that I never saw that last page twist coming (even though it was front and center alllll along throughout the book). Solid horror/psychological thriller book & I look forward to seeing what Luke Dumas does next after this debut. I wish there were more good horror books like this out there, because I would read them all the time! Creepy, intriguing, and unsettling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb:
Grayson Hale is accused of. murdering is friend Liam. Not long after being judged guilty, he is found dead in his cell with strange marks on his chest. He left a diary of what happened before the murder and a journalist decides to investigate the whole thing by interviewing relatives, psychologists and friends. She soon discovers two sides to a very strange story.

Review :
Oh. my. god.! It was weird, it was creepy, it was dark. This book makes you question everything. Is Grayson saying the truth? Is he a madman? Would his "friends" and relatives purposely lie to make him look bad? One thing is sure, he had hell of a life. pun intended.

I found the story to be sometimes slow paced and sometimes really fast paced. I feel like this would be the perfect book for fall, by the fireside during thunderstorm with a hot cup of tea. The ambience is so gloomy, you can almost smell the rain. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a strange gothic and dark novel.

Thank you to @NetGalley, @atriabooks and @thenewdumas for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is coming out in December 2022. Perfect for Christmas! 😉

I devoured this in a day....
Dumas's writing is gripping and a perfect.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary Copy

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Grayson Hale has been convicted of the murder of his classmate, however it isn’t entirely his fault. After all, the devil made him do it.

Desperate for money, Grayson Hale agrees to ghostwrite a book for a man called D.B, a man as mysterious and unsettling as they come. The premise of the book is simple - remind Scotland of the Devil’s existence. "MAKE THEM, every one of them, REMEMBER THE DEVIL"

Upon accepting the contract, Hale is initially cautious, thought desperation drives his research of devilry at the promise of enough money to fund his graduate studies. But what starts as a mere business transaction between the two soon twists and turns and spirals into something much more sinister. As he researches the history of fear of the devil, Grayson’s own past and religious trauma surfaces in the return of his satanophobia and delusions of fiends. And while the devil may be targeting him for his own reasons, Hale’s own slipping sense of reality marks others for target as well.

A History of Fear is a deeply disturbing work of psychological suspense that leaves the reader guessing until the very end. Even then, readers will wonder whether what they’ve read was real, if the facts presented can be trusted, or if it simply is all in their heads.

Dumas has proved himself a very talented and skilled storyteller, and I will be screaming my love for this book until it’s release. I cannot wait to see what else Dumas has in store for me.

I was really excited to read this one but it fell flat for me. I wanted more story and less "a history lesson of Scotland". Per the premise, I expected some history of Scotland and was actually looking forward to that but in reality, it was just too much history and not enough story for me.

A History of Fear by Luke Dumas has an interesting premise but sadly falls a little short in execution.
There are so many elements at play in this novel--childhood trauma, mental health, and identity plus a deal with the Devil and the effects it has on the main character Grayson Hale. Without giving too much away this book takes the old tack that the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was to convince people he doesn't exist.
It makes for an interesting story here with the reader going between believing Grayson's version of events and questioning his grasp of reality.
Where the book fell a little flat for me was that the time frame was hard to place--The story is told in such a way that we are reading a found manuscript written by Grayson Hale and the style is reminiscent of classic literature yet when Grayson describes his interaction with other characters it is in a much more contemporary voice. If the intention is to create a fog where we are not sure of the time period then it succeeds.
Thanks to #NetGalley, #AtriaBooks, and Luke Dumas for the ARC of #AHistoryofFear.