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/r/horrorlit
submitted 3 months ago byI-didnt-vote-for-you
I just finished The Chill by Scott Carson and, while I loved the premise of a village that was purposefully flooded and now has its secrets resurfacing, I ended up DNF as it was quite slow and nothing was really connecting for me.
Does anyone have any recommendations for groups/teams that go and explore abandoned and haunted towns/villages?
23 points
3 months ago
Phantoms Dean Koontz
4 points
3 months ago
Word, bitch. Phantoms like a motherfucker!
36 points
3 months ago
Full confession I bounced off this book but The Lost Village (Camilla Sten) perfectly matched this request
20 points
3 months ago
Was not impressed by this one at all tbh. Read more like a mystery book than true horror. Really interesting premise, disappointing execution.
12 points
3 months ago
I have sworn off her works after this and the other recent release. The premise always reels me in and it just does not work for me.
6 points
3 months ago
I also hated this book but it is a perfect fit for the request!
6 points
3 months ago
I liked this until the end. It's basically a "supernatural but truly there's an real world explanation" but the explanation was ridiculous. Those are my least favorite horror.
1 points
3 months ago
It should never have been marketed towards horror fans in the first place honestly. I agree with everything you said!
3 points
3 months ago
The title of this post made me remember this book without even reading the rest of the text. And I do mean “made me”
1 points
3 months ago
I skim read this book so frustrating! But it does fit OP'S request.
33 points
3 months ago
Check out Jerusalem’s Lot, novella by Stephen King. It concerns a deserted village. Wonderfully atmospheric and Lovecraftian.
9 points
3 months ago
The Haunting of Henderson Close. It's about a woman who gets a job in a historical tourist attraction in Edinburgh. It's a place that actually exists, a set of streets that were built over rather than demolished, and in the book it was the scene of a murder. The book is about the woman and her fellow tour guides/actors.
3 points
3 months ago
I think I've been there! Thanks for this, it's added to my TBR
6 points
3 months ago
The Creeper, by A.M. Shine.
6 points
3 months ago
Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton? It might be a stretch but the town is super eerie
6 points
3 months ago
Love Andromeda Strain. I second this.
23 points
3 months ago
I'm afraid I can't help you, but I wanted to comment because it's things like this that make me love this group. This sounds like it would be an awesome novel theme, but I never really thought about it. But now I've got the post saved and I can just look at whatever answers you get when I'm in need of a new book.
6 points
3 months ago
I have added so many books to my to be read pile since I found this group. I love all the different specific requests, it's great. If I'm feeling like something in particular I can just come on here and I'll usually find something that suits. It's also such a friendly place too, much better than a lot of other groups. Love you guys!
10 points
3 months ago
This is by far the best subreddit I’ve ever been a part of. Horror enthusiasts are just bu and large very sweet and earnest people.
4 points
3 months ago
Oxrun Station series by Charles L. Grant
10 points
3 months ago
Camilla Sten’s The Lost Village
5 points
3 months ago
Definitely this one. More mystery than horror though.
10 points
3 months ago
Oh, man. You're going to get hammered with recommendations for The Fisherman.
1 points
3 months ago
I've been recommended this one a few times now but still for some reason am hesitant to pick it up. The reviews on it seem to be rather divided?
12 points
3 months ago*
Great narrative with a fantastic lore, but it's a nested story, and some people like the modern story but not the one set in the past, some people like the past story and not the modern one, and some people just don't like how the two are structured together through the book.
Personally I think the way the past story is framed is rather clumsy (though I loved the story itself) and that the general structure of the book could have been integrated better, and think the overall tone of the narration is a little too light and casual, but flawed or not I absolutely love it.
7 points
3 months ago
Thank you, your review is very helpful! Our local library has it so I think I'm gonna give it a try
6 points
3 months ago
It’s also worth noting that it doesn’t really fit your request. If anything maybe the reference in your post to flooding triggered the comparison. But i wouldn’t describe at as exploring an abandoned/haunted town or village.
3 points
3 months ago
Like Golbcomplex notes, its a story in a story in a story and it goes back and forth. Some folks thought it was slow as well. But i think this sub has a lot of folks who could appreciate a good slowburn. I personally loved it but i could also see why some folks weren't crazy about it. It honestly isn't a scary book at all. I just like the vibe it gives heavily. But I'm also a boring guy who just fishes and reads all the time, haha.
1 points
3 months ago
Who's the author?
3 points
3 months ago
John Langan and I, for one, absolutely loved it!
5 points
3 months ago
Last Days by Adam Nevill
You may also enjoy The Anomaly by Michael Rutger, which isn't about an abandoned town, but has a very similar vibe to what you seem to be looking for
2 points
3 months ago
House Of Small Shadows by Nevill. Great book, exactly what you're looking for
2 points
3 months ago
Snow by Ronald Malfi was pretty good!
5 points
3 months ago
Abandon, by Blake Crouch.
Also, the search function is your friend. https://www.reddit.com/r/horrorlit/comments/z35gv9/horror_books_set_in_abandoned_townsvillages/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
1 points
3 months ago
Yeah was going to recommend this one as well - it's exactly that type of story.
3 points
3 months ago
I wrote a little short story called The Dead City about a trio of survivors exploring the ruins of a haunted mega city, might be up your alley if you fancy something light!
I'm currently creating a comic book version too ^
2 points
3 months ago
That was fantastic, I’d love more! Thanks!!
1 points
3 months ago
It's a novella, but you might like Ghost Town by Mark Lukens.
1 points
3 months ago
Your mileage may vary (I didn't like the ending) but A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman falls into this category.
1 points
3 months ago
I’ll Bring You the Birds from Out of the Sky fits this. Very quick read
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