This is a very slow burn of a horror story from the author of the excellent 'The Watchers'. The Creeper is the bogeyman of a folk tale or perhaps an urban legend that guarantees death will come to anyone who sees him three times. The story is very atmospheric but it is so, so slow. A decent read for horror fans who are looking for a quick read but I was kind of expecting a little bit more. 3.5 stars

2.5 rounded up to 3/5.


“They were just meant to be stories”

Renowned academic Dr Sparling seeks help with his project on a remote Irish village. Historical researchers Ben and Chloe are thrilled to be chosen – until they arrive.
The village is isolated and forgotten. There is no record of its history, its stories. There is no friendliness from the locals, only wary looks and whispers. The villagers lock down their homes at sundown.
It seems a nameless fear stalks the streets, but nobody will talk – nobody except one little girl. Her words strike dread into the hearts of the newcomers. Three times you see him. Each night he comes closer...
That night, Ben and Chloe see a sinister figure watching them. He is the Creeper. He is the nameless fear in the night. Stories keep him alive. And nothing will keep him away...

I really wanted this story to be better than it turned out to be. I was all over the creepy, forgotten village vibes and the urban legend feel of the ‘creeper’ but for me the story just didn’t evolve into the fright fest I wanted it to be.

More time was spent clunking about ravaged highlands and countryside to find out about the ‘creeper’ than the actual stalking of its victims which for me was a tad boring. I wanted more scares, and I wanted to really find out what or who the creeper was - which was never fully explained.

Slightly disappointed.

Sadly the Creeper fell a bit flat for me, I really struggled with it as it jumped around and I found it difficult to connect with the characters, maybe one to return to at a later date

This was a very intelligent horror. My first by AM Shine and it won’t be my last (I have The Watchers waiting to read). I did feel the pace was a little slower than I would have liked and it dragged in places, but once it got going, boy did it get going. The whole storyline had me hooked before I even picked up the book, it was such a creepy premise!

AM Shine is definitely one to watch if you like modern, intelligent horror! As with his debut novel, this has an original premise, and drips with atmosphere. At times, the prose is deliciously macabre and melodramatic – and totally in keeping with the genre.

If you haven’t yet read ‘The Watchers’ do yourself a favour and rectify that situation immediately. Because if you enjoy this one (The Creeper) then you’ll love his first novel even more.

I wasn’t particularly bowled over by The Creeper. I do love a scary read and the idea of a man you see three times, getting steadily closer each time until he is at your window was a good premise. It certainly kept me up at night as I stupidly decided to read the book on my own late at night.

However, I did have some issues with the book itself which stopped this from becoming a 5-star read for me. Firstly, it didn’t feel particularly original, not only the idea of an entity you see three times before it kills you but also the way that the curse spreads via someone telling you about it and the creepy, inbred village who lock their doors at night. It felt very much like I had read or seen it before. There wasn’t much about the book that surprised me either - you could see where it was going rather easily. The only twist I enjoyed was the one right at the end as we find out the truth about The Creeper but even that actually exposed a lot of plot holes earlier in the book and a lot of it doesn’t really make sense with that now in mind.

I also didn’t really feel like we got to know or empathised much with the main characters of Ben and Claire. Other than they study History and Archaeology and Ben has a child, we learn very little about them. This really stops the stakes from building as they get put into peril later in the plot. I found that I guessed what would happen to them early on and didn’t really connect or engage with them much. I think the order of the narrative didn’t help this. We started with them in the car together talking about the investigation which you didn’t have the knowledge to understand and then alternated between chapters of them meeting the professor and being told about the village. This didn’t really help to establish the characters or the plot very well.

Overall, The Creeper is a creepy read but felt very unoriginal with some bland characters and a twist that left a lot of plot-holes in its wake. Thank you to NetGalley & Head of Zeus for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A.M Shine has become an auto-read for me ever since reading The Watchers!

The Creeper was an absolutely Creepy read....no pun intended. It had a slower build-up than I would have preferred but the story definitely keep me on the edge wanting to know what would happen next.

I can say I did not see that coming!!

“They were just meant to be stories.“

Doctor Sparling’s email couldn’t have come at a better time. Stuck in a retail job since completing his masters in history, Ben is both bored and broke. Doctor Sparling wants to pay Ben and Chloe, an archaeologist, to visit a village where time has stood still. Of particular interest to Doctor Sparling is the legend of the creeper.

Confident in his interviewing abilities, Ben expects this job to be easy money but the locals aren’t exactly welcoming.

‘You shouldn’t have come here. There are some things that you shouldn’t know. Nobody should.’

The Watchers made me want to read more books by this author. The Creeper has confirmed that I need to read everything they ever write. Both books major in atmosphere, with a practically tangible dread and claustrophobic feel to them.

“You see him three times.”

This is a book that takes on superstition and the fear that accompanies it, but it’s not immediately clear if the threat is human or supernatural. The body horror in this book was cringeworthy in the best possible way.

As was my experience with The Watchers, I was conflicted as I read The Creeper, unsure if I was hoping everyone would die so I could witness the horror firsthand or if I wanted the characters to find a loophole that could possibly spare them.

Sometimes hope fades with the light.

Some beliefs are dangerous.

“‘Don’t forget about the uh-oh,’ he said.
‘Oh, the uh-oh is the best part.’”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.

My thanks to Head of Zeus, A.M.Shine and Netgalley.
I've been thinking on this review for a full day now and I'm still at a loss for words.😕
Mr. Shines last book "The Watchers" scared the poo outta me. This book? It just gave me the willies. The "creeps" if you will.
I wasn't fully.invested until the 50% mark. It was slow and lord knows that Ben got in my last nerve!
But, holy shit! Once this dang story started showing it's 50 shades of what the hey? I was in.
What this book has "eventually" is atmosphere.
I must say that I truly hated the last 10% of this book.
No spoilers, but it took my rating down.
No worries..This author is on my rarified list of author's to read.
Yes, I'd actually spend money to read more from Mr. Shine!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

***

I found myself immediately relating to Ben, being confident about school and wondering about others, existing in that space between grad school and my job as a professor. In those first few pages, I felt kinship with Ben, the lost, poor, struggling academic.

The story is a mixture of creepy and frustrating, but it was interesting to read. At times, it felt like it was dragging and that it could have been much shorter. Though, I do enjoy the idea here.

Much like his first novel, 'The Watchers,' A.M. Shine returns us to a phenomenally horrifying location. While this isn't a sequel in any way, shape or form, it is a thematic companion piece. Something in the woods that is waiting and lurking.

Look, if you've read any of my own work, you'll know my love of writing about the wilds and odd things that live within. Also, if you've followed my reviews, you'll know my love of reading about things that go bump in the trees. 'The Ritual' by Adam Nevill, 'The Homecoming' by Andrew Pyper, 'Those Who Came Before' by JH Moncrieff, and of course, Matt Wesolowski's 'Six Stories' series. Add in Shine's debut and you have yourself a solid batch of books to really prevent you from ever stepping foot in the wilderness.

Where Shine... uh... shines here, is the added layer of creepiness, which I'll discuss in a moment. I've mentioned recently my love of reading books that could fall into the 'archeological horror' movement and this one would sit firmly within that category, fighting for the crown.

What I liked: The story follows a reclusive rich man, who hires two professionals, fresh out of university, to head a remote town, cut off from the outside world. There, he says, is an abandoned church. He wants them to interview the townspeople and survey the area, finding out as much as they can while they're allowed there. Oh, and one more thing - he asks for them to try and find out about the stories they have regarding an entity known as the creeper.

It's from this point that Shine throws us into the fire. We follow Ben and Chloe as they hike to this isolated town and find a group of residents who are so dirty and unkept that you can practically smell them and feel the grime on your fingers while you read. But, one thing we've learned for many, many years - all the way back to movies such as 'Cannibal Holocaust' - is that the locals hate visitors and as such, their demise is put into motion.

What separates this novel from many others, is that the action leaves and comes back. We get to see how the myths are not forbidden from travelling past a certain point and we get to learn more about our main characters, the town itself and our reclusive Dr. Sparling.

The ending is brutal, horrible and spot-on perfect for what the book has detailed and how the plot has navigated the peaks and valleys of our characters journey.

What I didn't like: I was a bit let down, personally, by the 'reveal.' The shared knowledge of what our antagonist is and was didn't sit right for me, much in the same way some of Wesolowski's 'Six Stories' ended up not going as far as I had hoped they would.

Why you should buy this: Shine has quickly established himself as a must-read author for me. His books hum along and the stories are brutal, visceral and unputdownable. I devoured this one and once it sunk its fangs into me, it wouldn't let go.

Another winner from an author who needs to hurry up and put out another book!

**This review will feature on Kendall Reviews! **

This book was really slow at the beginning, and the jumping from different character perspectives was quite confusing at times but I did enjoy this book. The camping scene at the beginning had me shook I loved it, it was the right balance of psychological horror and thriller which was perfectly done. I have only rated this book three stars as I found it quite predictable and it was very slow to start with some questions still left unanswered. I would highly recommend this book if you’re into psychological horror and thrillers, it will definitely make you question things!

Easily one of my favorite horror books of the year. In this sophomore novel from A.M. Shine, he shows that he's not afraid to explore his characters and worlds in a different way.

The Watchers was fantastic and had some of the most terrifying creatures and interesting characters in recent memory. He continues his strong character development, and expands on it, with The Creeper. Ben and Chloe are characters you'll love and want to succeed. Their burgeoning relationship (from strangers to friends to survival partners) grows at a realistic and natural rate. Nothing here is forced and it all seems organic.

The titular creature is an urban legend from a very secluded undocumented village set deep in the creepy woods. Or is it just a legend? The author swings that question both ways throughout this novel leaving us to believe at some points but disbelieve at others.

The events leading up to the conclusion are spine tingling and nightmarish. You'll be on the edge of your seat from the start as secrets come to light and motivations are revealed.

The ending punched me like a baseball bat to the gut. It knocked the wind out of me and left me speechless in only the way a great unexpected horrific twist can. Kudos to the author for that vicious out-of-left-field jolt!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves horror done right!

I’m up for trying new horror authors that I haven’t heard of before. The title and cover interested me, both of which are very creepy. Unfortunately, the story didn’t do it for me. I need something realistic and convincing to hold on to and the old doctor and mysterious job offer didn’t sway me. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

Boy did this give me some trouble sleeping 😂

I read The Watchers last year and REALLY enjoyed it, so when I came across The Creeper I knew I had to get my hands on it — so for that, THANK YOU to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for allowing me an e-ARC.

After a really good opening chapter that introduced us briefly to the horror of The Creeper, things did slow down a fair amount. I struggled a little bit getting into the characters and story, until around the 30% mark where things kicked into gear. I remember The Watchers being similarly a bit slower to start, but I do feel I was gripped more tightly with that first book than this one.

HOWEVER. Once this book got going, IT GOT GOING. The creep level was amped up higher, there were several times I was gripping my kindle and casting furtive glances to my curtains as I read this in bed. Go in blind and persevere and you will not be disappointed. I felt anxious, trapped, and on edge as I read through certain scenes, which is exactly what I was hoping for! And the ending! Both upsetting and satisfying — work that one out 😂

I'll happily await more spooks from this author!

This wasn’t for me unfortunately. I thought that the writing was very atmospheric and tense. The author has a great ability to transport you into the world he is creating.
My issue was more with the pacing. I found it a little too slow for my liking, which for me have me too much time ti let my mind wander.
I would encourage anyone who enjoys a slow burn tense dark story to give this a go.

This is my second read by this author and I enjoyed this one just as much as the first. A M Shine balances horror and thrill really well. This book was so atmospheric in the way it was written and reminded me of so many creepy stories I’ve heard or told at sleepovers since I was younger. This was such a good take on urban legends and really did give me the creeps! Enjoyed it a lot.

Superstitions only survive if people believe in them

Do you remember when you were kid and an old aunt/grandparent/neighbour used to tell you all these stories that were designed to scare the crap out of you and make sure you didn’t go somewhere you weren’t supposed to? I know that I was always slightly traumatised by a story of a banshee who would be standing right outside your window and if you ever looked out at night, you were snatched up and eaten (ah childhood trauma at its best!) Well A.M. Shine’s The Creeper is going to make you remember all the crazy stories that you were told as a kid!

Set in Ireland, two academics- a historian and an archaeologist- receive an email from a mysterious Dr. Sparling asking to meet him to discuss a lucrative project that he is working on. Ben is broke, in a boring shop job, a million miles away from what he thought he would be doing when studying and excelling at his studies in history. He has a young daughter that he barely gets to see and sees Dr Sparling’s project as a way to escape from it all for a while. Chloe, the opinionated and feisty archaeologist is up for a challenge and they set off for a mysteriously isolated village, Tír Mallacht, that Sparling is obsessed with finding out more about.

When they arrive, the villagers are not welcoming. They lock themselves inside at sunset. When a little girl tells them about the Creeper, her words strike dread in the newcomers.. three times you see him. Each night he comes closer… Ben and Chloe see a mysterious dark figure that night and suddenly the nameless fear has a new target… and nothing will keep him away.

Full of suspense, atmospheric tension and general creepiness, I loved this story and Shine’s ability to immerse the reader into this terrifying world. Two people trained to look for facts are completely thrown when they become the target of the Creeper and I loved reading the development from rational to irrational when the facts just don’t support what they are seeing with their own two eyes.

The description of the village and its inhabitants; the smell, look and sounds emerging from that creepy space, is superbly written by the author. You feel that you are literally there standing with the protagonists, seeing the Creeper with your own eyes. I definitely get Jeepers Creepers vibes from the Creeper figure- and I must admit I didn’t exactly want to look out my window late at night when reading this story (a testament to a great horror!) I loved the psychological aspect of the story in terms of how the villagers existed in this constant fear.

A disturbing read and refreshing take on folklore and urban legends that will keep you feeling tense, nerves rattled and screaming internally at the main characters when they face the Creeper. There are some fabulous twists (a few that I had a feeling would happen but there were a few doozies that left me shocked!). The ending was perfection (no spoilers!)

4.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the arc. The Creeper will be released on 15th September, the perfect book to buy for spooky season.

Oh and whatever you do, don’t ever listen to creepy little children… you know that they are the beginning of the end in any good horror story!

This is my first read by A.M Shine and whilst I found the writing atmospheric and detailed I found this particular story wasn’t for me.

The story is quite a slow burn so it didn’t grasp my attention and unfortunately it didn’t make me want to pick it up.

A slow burner but I am glad I stuck with it. Another take on an urban legend. You do not mention him, if you do you see him three times then you die. That was it I was hooked. The subtle hints of terror and horror slowly ramp up until the exploding climax. One village's belief will kill anyone to keep their their secret. It starts of creepy, then dark and ends up terrifying. I have found a new author who is now a MUST READ!!!! I loved it!!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.