Cages

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.

Dark, Gritty
Secrets and lies abound in this dark and gritty suspense with a well crafted cast and a pacy storyline with an excellent sense of time and place and a carefully worked backdrop. Much to like here and a dark element of humour to lighten some bleak moments.