This was an awesome first psychological horror for me!

The story hooked me in from the very beginning. I loved the way Hawkins wrote this story! Like others have mentioned, it is more plot driven than character driven. However, I felt attached to these characters quite fast and kept clinging to hope throughout the story that they would be okay.

This book is perfect for anyone looking for a fast paced suspenseful horror novel that is a man vs natural occurrence.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the digital ARC!

Downpour is one of those books you just cannot put down once you start reading them. It matches an acute sense of pacing with stunning character development and a plot that is truly terrifying.

Reading this novel, I could tell Christopher Hawkins has done his homework. The pairing of American gothic tradition and contemporary psychological horror (think Bird Box or Stephen King with an actual good ending) kept me chained to my Kobo.

It's rare to see a horror story that actually makes sense, and Downpour delivers.

When it rains, it pours... This statement could not be any more true for the main character of this book: Scott's marriage is falling apart and so is the old farmhouse he has inherited from his father. Everything is crumbling around him, and when an odd raincloud moves in over the house, things become even more devastating. Scott finds himself in a race against the elements, trying to keep his two children and his wife safe against the rain. In this book, not even the dog is safe (fair warning without spoilers).

Hawkins really knows how to set a scene. The entirety of Downpour takes place in and around Scott's old family home and I felt like I was a fly on the wall, witnessing the horrifying events. The story is bleak and unsettling and I found myself rubbing goosebumps off my arms more than once. The book reminded me a bit of Bird Box (different story, but that same unsettling feeling and the helplessness of everyone involved). If you're looking for a quick and creepy read, then Downpour is for you. Just prepare to have your heart ripped out!

Nightmares, this will give you nightmares. A cloud formation rolls in and it starts to rain. But it’s not rain and if you get wet (person, animal, anything) you will no longer be the same. It’s so unsettling because it feels like this shit could really happen. You feel how desperate the situation is, how hopeless. Great book. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC

This is exactly what I was in the mood for: creepy, atmospheric, page-turning! The detail was outstanding, I felt like I was in that house with them. The inner turmoil of the main character was written so well and emotionally spot-on.

Downpour follows a story about a farmhouse in rural Illinois which is hit by a sudden storm that brings along a relentless and unnatural rain. The rain corrodes everything it touches and transforms people into monsters. Trapped inside his dilapidated home is a father who must prevent his family from falling apart. However, the rain lures them outside, and not everyone wants to stay in. The father is haunted by memories of loss and must overcome his past to protect his family. But the rain is unyielding, and the clock is ticking.

I was debating between 3 and 4 stars on this one because characters really grew on me and I found the tension building in the first half so well done. However, the second half left me wanting a little bit more and I found myself slowly loosing interest as it was a little bit repetitive. Aside from that, I really enjoyed it for what it was, there was great character focus and development, especially with the turmoil they were facing. Plot was steady and subject matter was highly original.

I loved this book! Wild, fact paced with a chilling turn of events. I love a new take on horror and this definitely delivered!

Describe this book in one word: Bleak...

Downpour is an atmospheric and depressing horror novel focused on a man whose marriage, relationship with his kids, and farmhouse are all crumbling around him. The addition of an otherworldly storm, the rain of which affects everything it touches, only makes things worse. You'll be left thinking after it ends and you'll never look at rain the same way again.

A debut horror novel from Christopher Hawkins about a family struggling financially and suddenly, encounters an odd rain cloud one day that is more menacing than anyone could have imagined. As it grows, and as more pop up over the country, the rain pouring down from it begins to have a strange, terrible effect on those that come into contact with it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Highly recommended.

A really dark, slow-burning horror novel. Loved the atmosphere and the idea for the story was just fantastic. This should satisfy those who crave eerie, unnerving books.

This is my second book by this author and again, I was so surprised. I actually think I enjoyed this one a lot more than Suburban monsters. Maybe because SM was a collection of stories and I felt a bit detached to some of them. But this one was a consistent, gut-wrenching and compelling story from the get go.
The atmosphere was crazy good, the details, the pacing... I was so hooked that I actually read it in 4 hours.
Rating it 4 stars, because the book was very plot-driven, and I felt that some characters and subplots were lacking a bit. But overall, outstanding job. Can't wait to read more by him.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not sure if it’s because I recently watched Knock at the Cabin (aka The Cabin at the End of the World, by Paul Tremblay) but as I read Christopher Hawkins’ Downpour last week, it played like an M. Night Shyamalan movie in my head😳. One location in one day with serious wtf-is-happening vibes. I loved it!

Man vs Nature is a favourite sub-genre of mine lately so this scary AF rainstorm was definitely a hit for me and the family dynamic struggle throughout the story was intense. I read the entire thing in one sitting.

I read Hawkins short story collection Suburban Monsters earlier this year and enjoyed it as well. I can’t wait to see what he does next:)

I ended up really enjoying Downpour by Christopher Hawkins!

I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn't put it down!
It was really atmospheric and well written.
Also that ending was really good!

I highly recommend this book especially to anyone looking for a new great horror read!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so good. I read the ARC and can't wait for it to come out so it can get the recognition it deserves. It was so ominous from the very first chapter on. The characters were so interesting and their dynamics kept me hooked. I did not expect the ending at all! The last few chapters in particular made my skin crawl.

Downpour is an unputdownable man vs. nature horror story that perfects the creepy undertone “that something isn’t quite right here.” Writer Christopher Hawkins gets us straight into the action. Our protagonist, Scott, is an Average Joe, a middle-aged father to two kids and a dog, who is still living on his late father’s farm with his wife. He seems to have marital issues at the forefront of his mind—that is until he sees the cloud.

Scott knows immediately that this isn’t just any cloud, and the reader is able to feel his tension build through Hawkins' writing. Hawkins is always one step ahead, using his prose to let the reader know something spooky is coming without overtly saying it.

Even before any news or information hits, Scott knows in his gut that this is no normal cloud, and that whatever it is, it poses a threat to himself and his family. We get to watch the battle of Scott’s family against this natural phenomenon while also seeing flashbacks into Scott’s childhood and the ever-present marital issues popping up.

The pacing in this book is very quick—I read it in several hours and simply could NOT stop reading. It is action-packed from the first page to the last. Time is not explicitly stated, but we are led to believe the events unfold over the course of a day or two—a timeline that is hard to execute, but Hawkins nails it.

This book is perfect for anyone looking for a very suspenseful horror novel that involves a natural phenomenon as a character in itself. Fans of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening will likely enjoy this book even more!

Overall, I very much enjoyed it and finished it very quickly. While a few flashbacks or minor plot points don’t seem to play a big role at the end, it didn't take away from the story. This novel is definitely more plot-driven than character-driven, but we are given just enough details on the characters and their backstories to be invested in them. 5 stars from this reviewer! Thank you to NetGalley and author for this ARC!

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.

What a storm! DOWNPOUR by Christopher Hawkins is an atmospheric, mesmerizing story of a family in crisis. A couple's marriage is failing apart just like the isolated farmhouse in which they live. Both the house and the marriage have been left to corrode for far too long. At first when a strange cloud appears, it's a simple curious blip in an otherwise regular day for Scott, Dana, and their children Jacob and Tallie. But then the rain begins to fall and what seemed unusual quickly turns ominous. There is something about this storm that feels different, if not downright dangerous. Dana is drawn to the rain, feeling freed by the touch of it on her skin, while Scott huddles under the sagging farmhouse porch determined to keep himself and his children away from the unrelenting downpour.

DOWNPOUR is a tightly constructed novel of haunted memories, missed opportunities, and infinite regrets. Hawkins has made the rain into a character, one both sinister and purposeful as it comes into connection with the family. It's a tension filled story that will keep readers guessing, initially as to whether or not the storm is really a threat or a delusion brought on by Scott's past.

Thanks to Netgalley and Christopher Hawkins for this ARC.
Pub Date: 03 Oct 2023

My rating: 3.5/ Stars

All throughout this book I felt a heavy sense of claustrophobia and stuffiness. I was kept on the edge of my seat for many scenes in Downpour. There are some descriptions in this book that have stayed with me for longer than I would have hoped for. But isn’t that what makes a good horror? I just hope that I never see a dark rain cloud again …

It is a real slow-burn, but it makes its way under your skin and has you squirming as you try and read as fast as you can to see what is about to come next.

There were some heart breaking scenes as Scott tries to figure out how to save his family as his whole world continues to fall apart around him. All the while he is haunted by his insecurities that are fueled by his dead father’s voice inside his head.

I loved how the entire story takes place over a few hours and in the same location. The ending is heartbreaking, haunting and beautiful. I honestly don’t know if I am happy or sad about it.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys slow-burn horrors and thrillers. Please look up the trigger warnings for this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Christopher Hawkins for this free eARC. This review is my honest opinion.

I've pretty lucky where I live, that I don't have to worry about tornados, hurricanes or earthquakes...but I do get a lot of rain. If that rain were something other than natural, I'd be in dire straits. That makes this story terrifying, because as a father, I feel the desperation of trying to keep my family safe. Christopher Hawkins doesn't hold back with this family and their downward spiral that began before the rain. A true horror with some science fiction elements, and the darker side of human nature as well. This is Christopher's first novel but I also highly recommend his book of short stories titled Suburban Monsters. Thanks to Netgalley and Mr. Hawkins for allowing me to read this book ahead of release.

Thank you to Net Galley and Christopher for the ARC!

This book broke my heart in the most beautifully haunting way. More detailed review coming soon!