Dark Choir by Paul Melhuish Is a Treat For Horror Fans
Tales of those taking revenge from beyond the grave are unique as they give audiences a sense of terror but also fulfillment that a grim justice has been served. Readers will no doubt know exactly that feeling after reading Dark Choir by Paul Melhuish. This book will take readers to a lot of dark and uncomfortable places which will no doubt be a treat for any horror fans.
After the death of his estranged mother, Dan is reluctantly forced back to his hometown to get everything in order. While he is more than happy to get away from his nagging fiancé and see his sister Lindsay; he is destroyed to learn Reverend Widdowson who condoned and encouraged Dan’s abusive mother remains. Not only is Widdowson still there, but through blackmail and intimidation he seems to have the entire community under his thumb. Coinciding with Dan’s return something supernatural and powerful seems to be stirring at the old abandoned mental hospital in town. The abusive staff who once worked there find themselves haunted by the ominous message “CHOIR” and a vengeful phantom. Dan finds himself drawn into these events, and with his sister’s nurse Alison by his side he is bound to find out what has angered the souls of the old asylum.
I remember a wise man once saying that there is nothing scarier than a monster who thinks they are right with God (that wise man was Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly). Reverend Widdowson fits that bill to perfection. No matter what heinous action he takes in the book, he can sleep soundly at night because he firmly believes that what he does is to further God’s kingdom.
This worked for me on two levels. On the first level he is just a despicable baddie, that readers will be eager for he and his cronies to suffer supernatural retribution. On the other it makes it easier to get behind, the protagonist Dan, who is not the most instantly endearing of characters. Nor should he be, he is likable enough that you feel where he is coming from. Over the course of the book he does grow on you as he gets closer to Alison who draws out his best qualities. Of all the characters in this cast, Alison truly becomes one readers will be drawn to. She’s someone who the ability to analyze the truth in any situation, and it comes from a genuine place of kindness and empathy. Her character arc through Dark Choir is nothing short of fascinating and by the end you may not know how you feel about her.
The climax of Dark Choir enters into violent Grand Guignol-inspired madness which departs from the more subtle Gothic creepiness which led up to it. But it feels earned and truly makes for a wild and macabre finish to the book. As someone who loves seeing equal representation in entertainment, applaud the fact that author, Paul Melhuish includes a good number of characters with disabilities. They are genuinely written as well-rounded people and prove to be hugely important to the tale. Melhuish does a perfect job of wrapping everything up, but still leaving some nice lingering mystery for the reader to have in the back of their mind after its over.
We received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
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