This is my second novella by Mr. Fry and very different from “Emergence.” Where “Emergence” was sort of Jamesian (at least in terms of the ambiguity of the supernatural aspects) and drew its interest from the interior emotional landscape of the characters, “Lurker” is in your face horror. Rip your face off horror is even more apt. Greatly enjoyed both novellas and will be following Mr. Fry’s career and wonder what the next book will be like.

I hate to give away plots so I rarely discuss them but I can give a few details without harming the enjoyment. Basically the Mr. and Mrs. have gone through some tough, emotional times and have tried what could be called a “geographical solution.” Move somewhere without the memories. However people can change along with environments and Meg is now suspicious that her husband Harry is having an affair. She gets a clear case of tunnel vision, focusing on her husband, even though signs around her are mounting that concerns about marital infidelity is distracting her from something much more sinister and dangerous that is happening around her. Creepy stuff, folks. Fans of Lovecraft and writers of his ilk will eat this one up. I sure did. It is the combination of the worldly and the otherworldly that did it for me in this one.

Congratulations again to Mr. Fry and to Darkfuse, who introduced me to this writer and turned out yet another great novella. I just renewed my membership.
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This was a strange, bleak story.

A couple moves to the shore, after suffering through a terrible tragedy. They are trying to start anew and where else better to do that than by the sea?

Meg's husband regularly leaves her to her own devices while he works hard to support the household. Something he never lets her forget. Meg decides to spend this time exploring her new surroundings, which happen to include some old mines.

As Meg begins poking around her new neighborhood, things start to happen. Strange noises, strange feelings, strange visions coming out of nowhere. Not to mention the strange handprints all over the back of the house near her bedroom window.

Were these things actually happening or were they signs of the already deteriorating mental state of Meg? You will have to read this and see for yourself.

Overall, this was an atmospheric read with a gothic, Lovecraftian feel to it. I enjoyed it and I think you would too. Recommended! ( )

What I did enjoy about this book was the very English feel, the raw northeast coastline which was a great setting for a somewhat disturbing tale involving Meg and Harry...escaping from the big city to a special little bolthole on the coast. As the story develops we learn that all is not well with Meg and Harry, they have a sadness from the past and Harry is keeping a secret into the future. If we add to this mix a frightening evil stretching back to the historical miners of the 19th century then the result is an enjoyable read and a pleasant way to spend a dark winter evening in the hands of a great storyteller...... ( )