A cast of complex characters in a wonderfully haunting setting, atmospheric and completely engrossing. ( )

Ben and Eddie are young music composers. They have been chosen to write the score for a big horror movie. Unfortunately, Ben is the real songwriter and doesn't have anything even started. Eddie then suggests that they go to The Sorrows, an island that had some gruesome murders back in 1925, to maybe get a feel for some horrific songs.
They get to the island and have two other people with them. Claire is a composer trying to make a name for herself and Eva is unknown to any of the others.
Mysterious things start to happen on this island and you will have to read to find out what. ( )

The premise sounded simple enough as I settled in to read what I expected to be a spooky but not unusual tale of a haunted castle. I should have known after my last foray into horror with Jonathan Janz (The Siren and The Specter) that this is not an author who does "simple." While this book is heavy with supernatural horror, it also showcases the fact that sometimes the worst monsters are of the human variety. It frazzled my nerves and had me terrified over whether or not the characters I cared about would survive, while simultaneously wishing a horrific death to those who deserved one.
5 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy for review. ( )

What a creepy atmospheric book this turned out to be as author, Jonathan Janz normally has me creeped out whenever I read one of his books and this one did not disappoint!

There is an island called The Sorrows that is located not too far from the coastline of California which has a castle that has been abandoned for a very long time. There were murders that happened in the castle back in the 1920's along with something happening to a research team in the 1970's and the castle was shut down to avoid anything bad happening to anyone else.

When two film composers Eddie and Ben are offered a chance to stay in the castle for a month from the owner, they jump at the chance to go as they are wanting to film a horror movie and what better place to get inspiration than to stay in a supposedly haunted castle.

Eddie and Ben decide to take along two female companions, Eva and Claire, so that they can all take advantage of the opportunity to be in the castle. The only way to get to the island is by helicopter so there is a little trepidation among Eva and Claire as they worry if something should happen then a rescue is impossible as there is no phone and internet communications available on the island.

The castle has new visitors and it has been a very long time since fresh meat walked through its doors. Something has been dormant for a long time, but it has now woken up when it realizes that tenants have arrived.

What is laying in wait at The Sorrows? What have Eddie and Ben walked into? Does anyone survive The Sorrows? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!

Very atmospheric haunting book and some chapters have a journal that was written describing the history of the island from the past which gives more insight of how the castle came to be haunted.

Mysterious, suspenseful, fast paced and the last half of the book was action packed which drove up the fear rating for me keeping me glued to my kindle as I wanted to see what would happen next!

Giving this one four stars for keeping me creeped out through most of the book! ( )

This book surely was written just for me!!! It was right up the "Ghost Story Junkie's" alley. Ben and Eddie are composers who specialize in film scores. They’ve just been hired to score a major new horror movie, but Ben has writer’s block. Eddie thinks that spending some time in a castle on an island off the coast of Northern California will help Ben get his groove back. But no one has lived there since a bunch of people were killed there in the 20’s. Only one way on or off the island...what could possibly go wrong? Horror, gore, and more ensue. I wish we had been able to find out a little more about the entity and the island’s multiple mysteries since as I still had questions in the end. I see there is a sequel called Castle of Sorrows, so maybe we will find out more. It feels like there’s more to this island and I will definitely be scheduling a return trip! ( )