Book Review: DROWNED SORROW by Vanessa Morgan

"Something terrible is happening in Moonlight Creek"

I recently had the pleasure of reading the book DROWNED SORROW by Vanessa Morgan.  I am not a huge reader, but will start a book from time to time, and usually it takes me a long time to finish.  That was not the case with DROWNED SORROW.  This book is an easy read and was one I found very hard to put down.  When I did put it down, I couldn't wait until I had time to pick it up again and continue the read.  This is also a book that the phrase "Don't judge a book by it's cover" was made for.  When I first saw it, I immediately thought it was going to be a book about aliens or something of the sort.  The person/creature on the front has an alien vibe to it, and the shiny luminaries in the background looked celestial to me.  Upon further review I can tell that is sparkles off the water, but just at first glance you might pass this book up thinking it was something it wasn't.  Good thing I didn't do that, as I would have missed out on what is one hell of a good Horror novel  (that has nothing to do with aliens, of course).  Before I go any further, here is the basic synopsis from the book's official website:

Megan Blackwood has just lost her only son in a terrible accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping a change of scenery might help to put her life and that of her daughter back together.

But something odd is going on in Moonlight Creek.
When rain falls over the village, its inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the place deserted with the first rays of sunshine.
Beneath the lake’s surface, an eerie presence watches … and waits …. Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn’t bode well for visitors.
By the time Megan realizes that her life, as well as that of her daughter, is in danger, it may be too late to escape.

This is definitely one of the better Horror novels I have read in quite some time.  I know it sounds cliche to compare Horror authors to Stephen King, but I saw a reviewer call Mrs. Morgan the "female Stephen King" and I can't argue with that.  DROWNED SORROW reminded me of and old school Stephen King story.  The story telling is simple enough, yet very descriptive.  With every scene I read, I was able to picture it in my mind, just like I was watching a movie (speaking of that, someone needs to make a movie of this book asap). 
There are some really creepy aspects in this story. As you might can tell from the plot synopsis above, the story involves the creepy town of Moonlight Creek, and also the water....the rain, and the lake.  Water actually becomes a character in itself, in many different fashions and forms.  I knew this was going to be an interesting story when Megan and her daughter Jenna first arrived in Moonlight Creek, and went to the small general store to buy some things.  Inside were shelves and shelves of nothing but bottled water.  It seems these residents don't need to much of anything except water.   The book is full of creepy scenes and situations, all somehow centered around the water.  Another thing I found very creepy about the residents of Moonlight Creek is that when it is bright and sunny outside, the small village is like a ghost town.  When it is cloudy and rainy, though, you will find the town alive and in full swing, with people going about their lives and filling the streets. 
I wont say much more about this book, as I don't want to spoil it for you, but take my word and pick up a copy of this book if you are a fan of Horror fiction!  You will not be disappointed!


CLICK HERE to purchase the book from Llumina Press
CLICK HERE to visit the book's official website
CLICK HERE to visit author Vanessa Morgan's Blog