I couldn't put this book down. The story had a tense atmosphere and the characters were well written.

Great book! It had all the fears of growing up. Make a choice. Turn the page or close the book. Enter the darkness if you wish!

These Things Linger mixes supernatural elements with psychological themes, diving into topics like grief, shame, and the afterlife. The setting is great and I loved the 90s horror vibe with characters conducting seances in a small town. But the jumping between past and present pulls me out of the moment and takes away from the suspense. I didn't feel connected to the main character because he is really passive amidst his terrible situation. There are some gory and dark scenes which I appreciate, but I wasn't a fan of the ending. Fans of grief horror would enjoy this!

These Things Linger possibly a favourite books resd this year.
Alex is dealing with the loss of his uncle, returning to his childhood town which he left behind and the about to become a father for the first time. With the grief he feels he decides to look for answers which will ultimately regret.
Fantastic read highly reccommend.

A truly unnerving tale of wickedness, depression is a monster but it's not the only one. Gruesome in the best ways, Voracious and vicious, this is the way horror is meant to be.

I really enjoyed Dan Franklin's writing style and absolutely loved our main characters internal dialogue. However I do feel like some things where simply put in for gore and shock? The end of the book felt a little lacking and it feels like there should've been added just a tiny bit more.

This book would work alot beter as a movie I feel like?

Very twisting and haunting. A great compact story of mixed emotions and surprises. The authors is making headway to be a great new addition to the world of horror fiction writing.

I adored The Eater of Gods but unfortunately this one didn’t do it for me. This review was delayed because I kept setting the book aside to read other things. I finally have given up and DNF this one. I wish I liked it but the story was not believable for me. It felt forced. The author had another new book that I got the ARC for though and that one I am really enjoying. There was just something about this one that I could not do. I appreciate being able to give it a shot though!

Fueled by grief and desperation, Alex reaches beyond the grave for solace. If you are a fan of Gage Greenwood and grief horror, this is another book you will devour. Dan Franklin does an excellent job of reeling the reader in and keeping them uncomfortable. The tension is palpable with every page as you race toward the conclusion. I loved the writing. Dan is equally gifted with brutal scenes as he is with suspense. There were several times I audibly gasped. My only complaint is the ending didn't quite land for me. Still, Dan is a phenomenal writer and I look forward to digging into more from him in the future.

A strong and solid story of grief and horror.

Definitely a story that will stick with you for the rest of your life.

Thank you #NetGalley for #TheseThingsLinger

A supernatural thriller that delves into the dark corners of the occult.. The story contains a couple of uncomfortable and unsettling encounters which make it a true horror novel.
Many thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a very atmospheric read that I would consider to have themes of the occult and grief.
Alex is raised by his Uncle after the death of his parents. After he leaves for college he does not look back until the death of his Uncle.
Sometimes going home again brings back memories from the past.
It also makes question, what would you do if you knew you could speak to your loved ones again?
I highly recommend this book. I was completely invested in this read.

A superb horror story of a ghost summoning gone wrong, a small town with secrets, and a soon-to-be father caught up in the whole thing. I enjoyed the quick pace of this supernatural tale, the unexpected body count, and the explosive ending. Kudos to the author!

A wonderfully emotive book with some horrifically spinechilling scenes that lingered in my mind long after I turned the last page. Franklin is destined for big things.

Occult Ritual going wrong. Sign me up. Interesting spin. Also has several layers of grief and love and a foundation of family.
It gets dark at times with some nice evil things mixed in.
I liked it overall.

This cosmic horror novel was terrifying but also left me gutted with its poignant insights into the cycle of poverty and shame. I felt for protagonist Alex. He moved away from his tough childhood to marry his college sweetheart and work as an engineer only to be drawn back home to his past of demons, both figurative and literal. I thought all the characters were well-developed and the descriptions cinematic.

After the death of the uncle who raised him, Alex Wilson wanted answers from the man and made amends. But his effort brought something else he was not ready to face.

I had conflicting feelings towards Alex. I sympathized with his plight, but at the same time, he brought it upon himself with his selfish acts. While towards the end I felt some of the scenes felt caricature, I enjoyed the overall story with how he dealt with the situations, especially in the psychological aspect.

These Things Linger is a story of desperation and consequences. It would appeal to readers who enjoy occult-based horror.

These things certainly do linger! That bathroom scene from early in the book creeped me out and stuck with me. I was intrigued by the ritual they performed. Who hasn't lost a loved one they wish they could see again or spend more time with? By the end of the book, I'd been sufficiently turned off of the idea. The descriptions of the entities were vivid and creepy. There was a lot of suspense and action while the reader waited to see if Alex could undo what he'd done. The ending wasn't quite what I'd expected but after some thought, I think it's the perfect ending for this wild ride.

Alex Wilson couldn’t wait to separate himself from his hometown and the man that raised him, but when his uncle dies, Alex is left with memories and regrets. In an attempt to get closure, Alex opens a portal meant to be kept closed.

“Don’t hurt anyone you don’t need to hurt, don’t steal, and don’t be a damn idiot.”

Narrated in Alex’s POV, he seems like an ordinary man moving on from the poverty and desperate cloud of his childhood, but it is also apparent he hasn’t sympathized with his uncle’s circumstances. By reenacting a black magic ritual, Alex is confronted with the horror of ghostly figures and monstrous spirits. When it escalates, Alex seeks help but and he gets more than he could have bargained for.

While I liked how Alex was far from perfect, having a little more background about him and Uncle Matty would have strengthened their connection. The horrific consequences proved to be greater than expected for Alex and the ending was fitting considering what was summoned.

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
Well. I'm pretty gutted after finishing These Things Linger. Bleak, but beautiful. Perfectly paced and well-written, but frantic. It's a beautiful meditation on grief on grief as well. I have a feeling that I'll be thinking about it for a long time. 5 stars