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Barbara Cottrell
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Darkness Below (The Shadows of Miskatonic Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Barbara Cottrell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 109 ratings
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2023 Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Winner in the Fiction - Horror genre!

Nightmares. Disappearances. Suicide.

Fall semester is always a challenging time at Miskatonic University. All Ellen Logan wants to do is pass her classes while holding down a bad job at a New Age bookstore.

But when a former roommate jumps to her death from the university clocktower and another friend vanishes, leaving her with a mysterious book, she embarks on her own investigation. With the help of renowned professor Andrew Carter, she uncovers evidence of a murderous cult, a terrifying creature, and a ghost who knows far too much about her. To survive, Ellen and Carter must descend into the Darkness Below to stop the forces that threaten to tear their world apart.

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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Shadows of Miskatonic
  2. Print length
    330 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 13, 2023
  5. File size
    4.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I never thought in my lifetime I'd read a Lovecraftian story that was such a delightfully fast-paced and fun read as Cottrell's Darkness Below." - Michael Arnzen, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Grave Markings and Proverbs for Monsters

"Darkness Below by Barbara Cottrell is a compelling and unnerving exploration of Lovecraftian horror set in the grounds of Miskatonic University." -IndieReader 4.8 stars

"Cottrell does wonders giving Ellen a natural, up-to-date voice, freshening up the familiar mythos.... readers who relish this milieu be eager for the promised followup." -booklife Editor's Pick

"In Darkness Below, Barbara Cottrell takes Lovecraft back to school and drags the Cthulhu Mythos into the 21st century.... Fans of Kij Johnson's The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe and Victor LaValle's The Ballad of Black Tom will enjoy this eldritch adventure." -Ross E. Lockhart, editor of The Book of Cthulhu and Cthulhu Fhtagn!

"Darkness Below mixes elements of fantasy, horror, and mystery. The combination is unsettling and captivating... Highly recommended. The rest of the series cannot arrive soon enough."-James Sabata, Author of Caduceus

"A goosebump-inducing dark fantasy set at a supernatural institute of higher learning." -Kirkus Reviews

"Darkness Below by Barbara Cottrell is one of the best paranormal horror stories I've read in a while.... Barbara Cottrell has created a magnificent world steeped in art, emotions, and the supernatural." -Reader's Favorite 5 stars

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BV7LG3T7
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vanishing Edge Press (March 13, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 13, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 330 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 109 ratings

About the author

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Barbara Cottrell

Barbara Cottrell

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Barbara Cottrell gave up her career as a professor to pursue her true passion: writing weird fiction. She is the author of Darkness Below and is a lifetime member of the Horror Writers Association. She enjoys presenting her work in unusual venues like Mystery Writers in the Mausoleum and Word Horde Emporium of The Weird and Fantastic. She also served as a judge on the Redwood Writer Anthologies Redemption: Stories from the Edge, Endeavor: Stories of Struggle and Perseverance, and helped edit Remember When and On Fire. She lives in Sonoma County on a not-at-all-haunted vineyard. When she isn’t exploring the dark side, she makes wine with her husband, Lance.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
109 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging with interesting and relatable world. They appreciate the fast-paced, well-written novel that flows easily. Readers praise the characters as well-developed and believable. The book is described as a great read about university life. Customers also mention that the humor is quirky and witty.

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StorytellingPacingCharacter depthReadabilityGenreHumor
16 customers mention "Storytelling"16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storytelling with its twists and turns. They find the world relatable, and the background details enrich the story. The book blends fantasy, horror, mystery, and adventure with a fresh writing style that adds new dimensions of horror to the universe.

"...perfect tone with her Miskatonic - a world that is rich with historical and cultural details, balanced and sharpened with pop-culture references and..." Read more

"...It's a mostly complete story (there are a few loose ends that will presumably be addressed in the later books)." Read more

"...into the 21st Century, while retaining the mystery and creepiness of the original stories...." Read more

"...The story comes alive in a contemporary fashion as we explore Miskatonic’s dark past and current menaces through it's many characters I thoroughly..." Read more

13 customers mention "Pacing"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has a fast-paced and engaging story. They say it flows easily, holds their attention, and the dialogue keeps things moving nicely.

"...And, you guessed it. I was really - and happily surprised how it held my attention, didn't veer too much into the real weirdness I anticipated and I..." Read more

"...The book (like Ellen) is grounded and witty. Much of the narrative is dialogue driven, which keeps things moving nicely...." Read more

"...It's fast-paced and engaging, and worth the 99 cent cost...." Read more

"...The story itself is a solid creation and moves along smoothly to a solid conclusion...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character depth"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the characters' depth and personality. They find the protagonist Ellen intelligent and strong, drawing them into the story.

"...Our protagonist, Ellen Logan, is such a great character...." Read more

"...Why? This was a story that had characters with depth and personality and not simply people whose objective was to make you feel creepy...." Read more

"...wonderful job updating the Lovecraft genre with Ellen, its smart-ass college protagonist. The book (like Ellen) is grounded and witty...." Read more

"...twists and turns allowed me to get to know the various and interesting characters!..." Read more

8 customers mention "Readability"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the believable characters and the smooth storyline that moves along smoothly to a satisfying conclusion. The author does a masterful job of bringing Miskatonic into the 21st century while maintaining its respect for the original work and defining her own style.

"...seeing the awesome cover art with nasty tentacled monster and loved every page of it!..." Read more

"...She does a magnificent job of bringing Miskatonic into the 21st Century, while retaining the mystery and creepiness of the original stories...." Read more

"...in fact have avoided it, 'til this was recommended as a good read about university life & more..." Read more

"...The main characters, Ellen and Carter, are well developed and believable. This very well-written novel flows easily; I could not put it down...." Read more

3 customers mention "Genre"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's cosmic horror and modern take on the H.P. Lovecraft genre. They find it a fantastic foray into the world of cosmic horror with a smart college protagonist.

"...It does a wonderful job updating the Lovecraft genre with Ellen, its smart-ass college protagonist. The book (like Ellen) is grounded and witty...." Read more

"Darkness Below is a fantastic foray into the world of cosmic horror and suspense, taking the reader on a thrill ride into (and under) the world of..." Read more

"Fantastic 21st Century take on the world of H.P. Lovecraft..." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it quirky, funny, and dark.

"...The book (like Ellen) is grounded and witty. Much of the narrative is dialogue driven, which keeps things moving nicely...." Read more

"I loved it! The humor was dark and sharp and the characters were built for personal investment...." Read more

"Absolutely recommend this book to those of you who enjoy quirky, funny, and dark novels. Just such an enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to more!" Read more

I Could Not Put This Book Down!
5 out of 5 stars
I Could Not Put This Book Down!
I have never in my life devoured a book as quickly as I read Darkness Below. Cottrell has masterfully crafted a quick-paced, engaging mystery that left me guessing what was next for our protagonists until the very end. I am counting the days until Thin Places is released in October!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • BrayB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this blend of fantasy, horror and mystery/adventure
    Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I am a casual HP Lovecraft fan. I have read some of his short stories and seen a lot of movies that have taken inspiration from his work. Gave this book a try after seeing the awesome cover art with nasty tentacled monster and loved every page of it!

    The author does an excellent job establishing the setting of Miskatonic University, Arkaham, the New England climate, and the stores and homes that inhabit it. Our protagonist, Ellen Logan, is such a great character. It was easy to get invested in her journey through the story trying to figure out what is happening to her friends, what is haunting the community and really figuring out secrets of her own past. Carter is interesting and tough to read for most of the story. Hard to exactly pin down his motives and whether he is actually trying to help Ellen.

    Lastly the creature and fantastical elements were pitch perfect. The monsters when they do appear have impact and devastation creating real stakes whenever they show up. Then there is the ghostly and psychic elements that really tie everything together that are unique and at times emotional given their connection to history.

    Just ordered the sequel. Cannot wait to read it!
    One person found this helpful
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  • thomas f.
    4.0 out of 5 stars The author had me by page two
    Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2023
    Not sure what I was getting into (It's been a long time since I read a horror story), I was hooked on Darkness Below by page 2. The author has a knack for capturing so much action, terror, affection and contemporary reflection in the dialogue of her characters. The plot is tight, well paced and punctuated with surprising twists. As I couldn't resist, I am happy to report, that Darkness Below stands up well to a second reading.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Fred Goldfarb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Horror? Sci-fi? Never, but this book hit the marks and I'll be back
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book was recommended to me by a friend. I explained that I like fiction, historical fiction..could be Ken Follett or Hemingway or Lee Childs or Robert Caro, etc and what made him think I would like this. I read Dune 40 years ago and that was it. But at his insistence, i delved in on a hot day that was perfect for finding a cool spot. And, you guessed it. I was really - and happily surprised how it held my attention, didn't veer too much into the real weirdness I anticipated and I'm about to buy the next one in the series.

    Why? This was a story that had characters with depth and personality and not simply people whose objective was to make you feel creepy. I followed the pace of the book and spent most of the afternoon enjoying it. It's a different world than I am accustomed to but it is fiction like so many other books I enjoy and instead of cynically dismissing it, I just immersed myself in this "world" and time went by quickly. I feel strange now adding Ms Cottrell's name to a list of favorite authors and I'll read the next to be sure, but from a person who isn't a fan of Star wars, the Hobbit (believe it or not!) or other classics, I am impressed that the author grabbed my attention in a skillful manner and we'll see after the next book. But, this world have been opened to me and I'll venture a little deeper......but Ernest and Robert Caro need not worry, they will always be my A list of books. Take a chance and check it out. I think you will be glad you did.
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  • Lauren Sefton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Miskatonic Comes to Life
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book is hard to put down! Darkness Below is a fun, creepy, fast-paced read. It does a wonderful job updating the Lovecraft genre with Ellen, its smart-ass college protagonist. The book (like Ellen) is grounded and witty. Much of the narrative is dialogue driven, which keeps things moving nicely. The author hits the perfect tone with her Miskatonic - a world that is rich with historical and cultural details, balanced and sharpened with pop-culture references and the requisite college-gothic cast of characters. I thought of Neil Gaiman's "Shoggoth's Old Peculiar" for its mix of light and dark, past and present - the dissonance that I think makes a truly great horror novel. This one sticks with you long past when you put it down, and I really look forward to reading more in this series.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • randym
    3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining enough, but...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I don't think I'll be reading any more in this series.

    Partly because the second installment is $5, not 99 cents, and partly because I don't care for the romantic elements. Just a personal quirk. I like romance, and I like horror, but I don't like them mixed together. I'm particularly squicked because she's a student and he's her teacher. They don't actually go there in this book, but it looks like they're headed there, and it's just not something I want to witness.

    It's fast-paced and engaging, and worth the 99 cent cost. It's a mostly complete story (there are a few loose ends that will presumably be addressed in the later books).
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  • AJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic 21st Century take on the world of H.P. Lovecraft
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Barbara Cottrell dived headlong into the world of H.P. Lovecraft, and created a work that is both respectful and true to his work while also defining her own particular style. She does a magnificent job of bringing Miskatonic into the 21st Century, while retaining the mystery and creepiness of the original stories. The character development seemed slow at first, but after finishing the book, I realized that she had to move slowly. Her characters are extremely complex people, and they need time to come to life. The story itself is a solid creation and moves along smoothly to a solid conclusion. I definitely enjoyed this book, but I was utterly riveted by her teaser for the next book in the series. I can’t wait for the next book to be released so I can find out what happens!
    3 people found this helpful
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