Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for this gripping psychological thriller and horror story. This is my first book by David Mark. I recently learned about him from highly positive reviews on Goodreads and Amazon and was pleased to learn that he has many previous books to pursue. That is how one writes a terrifying, shudder-inducing horror story. There are injuries and murder, but also intense mind games. The author is a skilled wordsmith. He provides deep insight into the minds, hearts and fears of his characters.

There is heightened interaction and tension at a prison where a class on creative writing is being held. Rufus Orton teaches a classroom of convicts at the urging of the most devoted fan of his books. She is a prison officer, Annabeth Harris. Rufus once had a literary book published that critics mostly praised. This book is now on sale for about 99cents, and his subsequent writings have led him down the path to failure, despair and indebtedness. He accepted the six-week teaching job due to Annabeth's flattery and the need for paying work.

He finds himself in front of a classroom of inmates who resent convict Griffin Cox's inclusion in the class. He is in another section of the prison, secluded because he is a convicted sex offender. He somehow managed to join the others in the creative writing class but normally would not be permitted, mainly to ensure his own safety. He claims to be innocent. Police detectives suspect him for the disappearance of several missing exceptional and talented teenagers, but their bodies have never been found.

Annabeth holds some dark secrets that if revealed, would ruin her promising career and the lives of herself and her teenaged son. Griffin Cox begins to strongly hint that he knows all about her grim and damaging past. His knowledge leaves her anxious and distraught. Her state of mind leads to the end of her growing friendship with Rufus Orton, the writer whose books she loves.

What happens next leads to some dark and horrific twists, danger and some ghastly surprises. Highly recommended for readers who would enjoy an unusual and exceptional work of horror and riveting suspense.

Thank you Netgalley and Canongate Books for the eARC.
Annabeth Harris, a prison officer and rising star at HMP Holderness, manages to secure a teaching stint for creative writing to interested inmates, by her favorite author Rufus Orton. Rufus, no longer that relevant and in need of money, reluctantly takes the job.
Annabeth has been living under the radar, hiding a terrible secret, but she and her son have finally settled down and she rather likes her job, hoping to rise up the ranks.
Griffin Cox, a suspected child killer, manages to be part of the class and plots and schemes to escape.
The three characters clash and form a deadly triangle that uproots all their lives.
Mr. Mark has created a stunning standalone that is riveting, creepy and amazing. I have loved every standalone of his, they are outstanding. Each of them is so different, they're brilliant... how does he come up with these stories!?
The ending is a mindbender and left me with the hope I would meet Annabeth again. And with regret I realized it would probably be at least a year before I could sink into a book of his again.
Highly recommended, 5+++ stars!