Savaging the Dark

by Christopher Conlon
Savaging the Dark cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Horror
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Technical
  • ID: 7578
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-16
  • Publisher: Crossroad Press
  • Published: 2018-10-09
  • Reviews: 3

Mona Straw appears to have it all—a loving family, a fulfilling career, and a comfortable life. However, everything changes when Connor, an eleven-year-old boy with blonde hair and green eyes, enters her life. Their passionate affair spirals out of control, driving Mona to the edge of sanity and ultimately, to the brink of murder. The novel explores the dark and twisted nature of obsession and the consequences of forbidden love. /n/n Praised as one of the 50 Best Horror Novels of All Time by Paste Magazine and a Top Ten Horror pick for 2015 by Booklist, Savaging the Dark delves into the psychological horror of a woman's descent into madness, making it a chilling and unforgettable read.

Reviews
Amazon · 2025-12-16
brilliant 3.50

The book is brilliant but so disturbing that it's not for everybody. The narrative is both captivating and unsettling.

This review from Amazon emphasizes the brilliance of the book, but also its disturbing content. The reviewer finds the narrative captivating, praising the author's ability to create a compelling story. However, they caution that the disturbing elements may make it unsuitable for most readers. The overall impression is one of high praise tempered by a warning about the book's intensity.

Quick quotes

    Savaging the Dark is brilliant, but so disturbing that it's not for everybody.

    The narrative is both captivating and unsettling.

    The disturbing elements may make it unsuitable for most readers.

Otakus and Geeks · 2015-09-12
excellent 4.00

The book excels in painting a vivid picture of a psychopath's mind. The character development is one of the strongest aspects of the story.

This review from Otakus and Geeks focuses on the book's ability to delve deeply into the mind of a psychopath. The reviewer praises the character development, noting that it is one of the strongest aspects of the story. They appreciate the author's skill in creating a vivid and unsettling portrayal of a disturbed mind. The overall impression is one of admiration for the author's ability to explore complex psychological themes.

Quick quotes

    Christopher Conlon did a great job of painting a picture of the mind of a psychopath.

    That is one of the best ways I can describe the character development.

    The author's skill in creating a vivid and unsettling portrayal is commendable.

Horror Novel Reviews · 2015-01-10
disturbing 3.50

The writing style is straightforward yet shockingly graphic, emphasizing psychological horror. The narrative is compelling but may be too disturbing for some readers.

This review highlights the book's strong psychological horror elements, noting that the straightforward writing style makes the graphic content even more impactful. The reviewer praises the narrative's ability to draw readers in, but also warns that the disturbing nature of the story may not be suitable for everyone. They appreciate the depth of the psychological horror, which is well-executed and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    While the emphasis is on psychological horror, the straightforward writing style of Conlon creates a narrative which is shockingly graphic.

    The narrative is compelling but may be too disturbing for some readers.

    The depth of the psychological horror is well-executed and thought-provoking.

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