Blogtour – The Creeper – AM Shine

The Creeper is a masterful tale of horror and suspense from one of Ireland’s most talented emerging authors.

Superstitions only survive if people believe in them…

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 seehim. 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…

Book Information: Print Length: 293 pages. Publisher: Head of Zeus – An Aries Book. Publication Date: 15 Sept 2022

A.M. Shine writes in the Gothic horror tradition. Born in Galway, Ireland, he received his Master’s Degree in History there before sharpening his quill and pursuing all things literary and macabre. His stories have won the Word Hut and Bookers Corner prizes and he is a member of the Irish Writers Centre. His debut novel, The Watchers, has been critically acclaimed. The Creeper is his second full-length novel.

Ellen Devonport has reviewed this book as part of the blogtour:

Ellen’s Review:

The Watchers by A.M Shine was one of my favourite reads of last year so I jumped at the chance of being able to read and review The Creeper as part of the blog tour.

The Creeper has everything I am looking for in a horror novel; creepy kids, a mysterious village filled with a rag tag group of individuals and an eccentric professor intent on getting to the bottom of a terrifying legend.

Three times you see him. Each night he comes closer…

I mean…that sentence alone is enough to give me the full on shivers!! I always think the scariest monster is the one that you don’t see or isn’t revealed until the very end of the book/film. This gives your imagination time to cook up the worst images possible and believe me even that won’t be enough to prepare you for the horrors that are to come. The prologue gives us a glimpse of how terrifying The Creeper is and I was HOOKED!

Dr Sparling (a reclusive academic) enlists Ben and Chloe (historian and archaeologist) to travel to Tír Mallacht, a remote Irish village, and investigate what the villagers know about The Creeper. It’s obvious the villagers are not willing to speak to either of them and quite rightly so as to even talk about his existence “summons him”. It seems Ben and Chloe are getting nowhere with their investigation when a little girl suddenly tells them the tale of The Creeper which ultimately means they become his next targets. As the village locks it’s doors to them they are left to hike through the dark and set up camp…it is here that they have their first visit from The Creeper. Ben tries to be logical about the encounter and chooses to believe the villagers are simply playing a prank but Chloe is convinced what they saw and that their days are numbered. If Chloe is right they only have a short time to solve the mystery before they are face to face with the terrifying Creeper!!

It is difficult to say much more about this book apart from be prepared to be shocked, repulsed and horrified.

A.M Shine is definitely a name to be watching and I look forward to reading all his future books! 

5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5.