Blog Tour, Q&A, and Book Review: Amongst the Mists

BOOK DESCRIPTION

It was the most anticipated summer break of their young lives. 

For Bran Lampshire, that summer of 1986 would be far different. The lure of a wilderness adventure sends him and his friends on a troublesome journey that would see them far from home and into the isolated shadows of the Sleathton Estate. In a forgotten land where nature thrives, an unexplained mist settles upon the shaded grounds. And stories were told of events so chilling, they were forcibly buried over time.

Lose yourself beneath the endless trees. And discover that legends are sometimes so much more than ghost stories.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and bred in the county of Staffordshire. Matt is a keen reader of classical, horror and fantasy literature and enjoys writing in the style of traditional ghost stories. During his working life, Matt joined the ambulance service in 2009, transporting critically ill patients all over the UK. After writing his first novel, Matt was welcomed into the family of Question Mark Press publishing and now dedicates his time on future releases. His hobbies include genealogy and hiking, and he enjoys spending time with his wife, Emma, his children, and his family.

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BOOK REVIEW

Bran and his friend Marcus are going on an adventurous trek from their town of Bonhil Dale into the wilderness surrounding the mysterious Sleathton Estate.  Marcus has planned a 9-day hike and decides to also bring along Jack, an odd new boy in town, much to Bran’s displeasure.  The three boys hike into the woods and meet an old man, Gregory, who takes them to his house for the night.  When one of the boys disappears, Gregory begins to tell a story of children disappearing in the swamps and mists of the forest.  Blended into the novel in separate chapters is the story of a missing girl, Olivia, who is chasing a ghostly voice through the same forest.  

Amongst the Mists is a clever mix of paranormal and horror fiction with a heavy dose of folklore and sprinklings of the crime/thriller genre.  M.L. Rayner perfectly blends ghostly figures, mythical creatures, and mysterious characters into a hair-raising but clever tale.  The mystery will keep you guessing until the end, and the cliffhangers between chapters raise the alarm level even more.  The fates of the children collide and the ending is surprising and unexpected. The author’s note at the end is not to be missed as he tells of myths and legends that influenced this book.  Fans of horror and the paranormal, bring your imagination and a flashlight, and be prepared for some terror, because we are about to travel into the Mists. 

I received a free copy of this book via Zooloo’s Book Tours. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Links To Buy

Amazon UK

Amazon US

*Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read the ebook for free.

Q&A WITH AUTHOR M.L. RAYNER

Let’s go beyond the bio.  Tell us something about yourself we might not know after reading your bio. 

I love comic cons and collecting signed memorabilia. I usually attend these conventions three or four times a year.  

You mention your inspiration for Amongst the Mists in your author’s note at the end.  Could you share a little of that inspiration for our readers?

Many local stories can just get lost in time. I think there are so many tales of myths and ghosts that many don’t realise there is an element of truth to them. For Amongst the Mists I wanted to capture a little bit of old story telling. 

As a reader, I find that genres cross many lines.  While some classify your books as horror, I would classify them also as paranormal/magical realism.  This one has some of the crime/thriller genre in it as well.  How would you classify it?

I would agree with you. Although I set out to purely write a short story of *something* in the woods, it exploded into something much more. The idea I had for this book was horror. But yes, you’re quite right. There is a good slice of Paranormal and crime involved. If I had to pick I would lean towards Paranormal

This is something I’ve always wanted to ask a writer of paranormal/ghost stories: These stories are supposed to be a little scary.  Do you ever scare yourself while writing these stories?

I can get Goosebumps from time to time. Its all down to the image you create in your head. You have to translate that to paper and hope the reader envisions the same. 

I have read your previous book, Echoes of Home, as well as this one.  Tell our readers about your previous work and what you might be working on next.

Echoes of home  is written in the style of a classic ghost story, and as clean as I could make it. After reading plenty of horror novels I wanted to write something based on not just ghosts but the unsettling sense of isolation. My first book is very special to me and includes a very powerful, yet true backstory. 

What’s up next – I am currently writing my first YA horror book which will be part of the new Question Mark Horror series. I believe it is due for release around March next year.

As your writing journey continues, what are some things you have learned that you can share with other authors?

Help is always at hand. I am involved with a very supportive group of authors and admins that all support each other. Try and share your work to gain feedback and don’t be put down by advice.