Devouring Dark

Finalist for the Aurealis Award, Ditmar Award, and Australian Shadows Award!

Devouring Dark is a powerful tale of crime and death, cleverly crafted and flawlessly executed. I’m a fan of Alan Baxter and Devouring Dark is a perfect example of why. Do yourself a favor and join me for some shivers.” – James A. Moore, author of Seven Forges and the Serenity Falls trilogy.

Matt McLeod is a man plagued since childhood by a malevolent darkness that threatens to consume him. Following a lifetime spent wrestling for control over this lethal onslaught, he’s learned to wield his mysterious skill to achieve an odious goal: retribution as a supernatural vigilante.

When one such hit goes bad, McLeod finds himself ensnared in a multi-tentacled criminal enterprise caught between a corrupt cop and a brutal mobster. His only promise of salvation may be a bewitching young woman who shares his dark talent but has murderous designs of her own.

Devouring Dark is a genre-smashing supernatural thriller that masterfully blends elements of crime and horror in an adrenaline-fueled, life-or-death rollercoaster ride that’s emblematic of the fiction from award-winning author Alan Baxter.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Grey Matter Press
ISBN: 978-1940658988

 

 

2018 Aurealis Awards
FINALIST Best Fantasy Novel

2018 Ditmar Awards
FINALIST Best Novel

2018 Australian Shadows Awards
FINALIST Best Novel

Praise for Devouring Dark

“…goddamn, this was a super badass book…it hooked me in straight away, and the last 100 pages (or so) of this book were OFF THE FUCKING RAILS!!” – Grimdark Dad

“…wow did this book make me think the Netflix people should get right on it right quick!” – The Horror Fiction Review

“…a master storyteller… 5 out 5 stars” – Kendall Reviews

“DEVOURING DARK is a slick, modern, “Supernatural-Crime Noir-Urban Horror” story. Alan Baxter has joined the ranks of new favorite authors…” – Mother Horror

“Rarely have I seen a dark supernatural thriller examine the matter of death and darkness in the way that Alan Baxter’s Devouring Dark managed to do.” – Fantasy Sci-Fi Focus

“With its intense atmosphere and shredding climax, Devouring Dark shows what can be achieved by eschewing cliché and confronting fear face on. Some readers may find it confronting, even difficult in places. But, for those who seek to peer into the darkness (by the light of a good, reading lamp), it is a rewarding experience.” – Tabula Rasa

“…an engaging and fast-paced read. It was well written, had some funny portions to help break up the darkness and an ending I could get behind. Also, the premise was original and that’s hard to find these days. Highly recommended!” – Horror After Dark

“Grab a shot of vodka and get ready to immerse yourself in darkness. Devouring Dark spins a sticky tale of redemption where the line between good and evil is rarely clear… There’s much to think about long after the final page. Join me and devour the dark.” – Sci-Fi & Scary

“Devouring Dark is a brilliant noir supernatural horror mash which will have you hooked from the start and all the way through. I loved it.” – Housewife of Horror

“I found it hard to put down Devouring Dark, it’s a gritty tale of inner darkness w ith characters that drag you in and keep you watching open-mouthed as they justify unspeakable acts to appease their own inner demons. I can’t wait to see what Baxter writes next. Five stars.” – Aussie Speculative Fiction

“There is a lot to like about Devouring Dark, especially if you are into grimdark (grey characters, making a decision between bad and worse) and dark fantasy… I could hardly put it down and couldn’t wait to get back reading it. The atmosphere, the complexity of the characters and the curiosity just sucks you in. Devouring Dark is a gritty, tension filled read from the start until the end.” – Grimdark Magazine.

“…a fantastic thriller and perfect for a quick read to mix up the genres. It might start a little slow but give it a chance because you will end up reading it into the wee hours of the morning.” – The Bibliophagist.

Devouring Dark is a powerful tale of crime and death, cleverly crafted and flawlessly executed. I’m a fan of Alan Baxter and Devouring Dark is a perfect example of why. Do yourself a favor and join me for some shivers.” – James A. Moore author of Seven Forges and the Serenity Falls trilogy.

“Action-packed yet emotionally resonant, Devouring Dark held me to the last page.” – World Fantasy Convention Guest of Honor, Kaaron Warren, Shirley Jackson Award-winner and author of Tide of Stone.

Devouring Dark is a thrilling mix of crime and horror, a book that somehow defies either description yet embraces both. It moves like a juggernaut, thundering towards an intense, emotional conclusion. I devoured Alan Baxter’s dark; you should too.” – Gary McMahon, author of Pretty Little Dead Things.

“Baxter handles a complex story with the skill one has grown to expect from his novels, with intriguing characters, crisply pointed dialogue, events violent and excruciating, and landscapes as dark and murky as the tale he tells. Devouring Dark encompasses horror and redemption, evil and good and the sometimes-tenuous boundaries between the two.” – Michael Collings

“As always with Baxter books, the pacing is so on-point that you won’t even notice it. It’s a smooth-as-silk ride that builds up into wildness… All in all this is a great story of how cosmic horror can touch two small lives and spread outward from there. 5 out of 5.” – Errant Dreams

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