Cover Image: The Searching Dead

The Searching Dead

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Member Reviews

While it has its moments of tension, and good potential, the characters lack depth, making it challenging to fully invest in their fates. The pacing was also inconsistent, with slow sections that diminished the overall momentum.

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An odd piece of throwback Horror that is a delightful read for the type of Horror reader who would rather be creeped out than grossed out.

This is fun and while largely dependent on standard Horror tropes, Campbell is so stellar at creating atmosphere that the sense of anticipation for the reader isn’t diminished by predictable plot threads.

I enjoy this sort of old fashioned, more traditional breed of Horror that relies more on suspense and dread than overt violence to keep the reader on their toes.

Campbell is better than most working in the genre as a writer as well, and that comes through here perhaps moreso than in many of his previous novels.

I loved the setting here and the premise is pretty can’t-miss for the genre.

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While I enjoyed the ride for a majority of the novel, the payoff was kind of a letdown. Maybe the other parts of this trilogy will win me over. Recommended.

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Such an amazing horror read. There is definitely a reason he is such a great horror author! This one did not disappoint like all the rest. All the creepy feels, vibes, and atmosphere set the tone and he executed the storytelling with force. Highly highly recommended!

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ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ

Ramsey Campbell - The Searching Dead

This was my second book from horror legend Ramsey Campbell, and unfortunately it was a bit of a struggle for me - not entirely Mr Campbell’s fault, let me explain.
I started The a searching Dead many moons ago, at when my TBR book shelves were at an all time high so ebooks were out on the back burner.
I picked it up, put it down. Picked it back up again, put it down again, forgot about it, went back to it, you see the picture?
This is a slow burn book, with nice creepy elements but a little too scarce for me.
The Searching Dead would benefit from sitting and reading through in a matter of days, not months (many months) like I have.
The storyline is interesting, if a little slow the characters are believable and the writing descriptive.

Overall, despite my fitful reading I would give The Searching Dead 3/5

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There's a reason Ramsey Campbell is considered a master of horror.

The Searching Dead is told through the narrative of Dominic Sheldrake and set in the 50's. Sheldrake attends Catholic school and is part of The Tremendous Three with his two friends Jim and Bobby. Sheldrake takes a liking to his teacher Mr Noble who has been accused of being part of a Spiritualist church. The Tremendous Three step up to the task of snooping to find out what's really going on with Mr Noble.

In classic Ramsey Campbell style, this book is very character driven with a slow onset of eerie dread to help build that atmosphere. Though not a lot of straight up horror scenes, the unsettling comes in terms of thinking you're being followed and neighbors talking to their dead loved ones. I think the narration in first person through such a young character fits well for this book. The character overhears conversations and sees things no one else expects him to observe which just adds to ominous atmosphere of the book. I'm really looking forward to reading books 2 & 3 in the trilogy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Liverpool just after World War II and three students (the Tremendous Three), best friends Dominic Sheldrake, Jimmy, and Bobby (Roberta), are discovering that there is something dark and maybe sinister about Mr. Noble. Noble had been their teacher who, after bringing in his father to talk about his experiences in the war, suggested a trip to France so that the class might visit some battlefields. But Dominick believes that Mr. Noble is looking for a way to commune with the dead. The Tremendous Three recognize that it may be up to them to stop Mr. Noble, but Noble is always one step ahead and the teachers at their religious schools see only the need to put a damper on some overly-imaginative students.

When it comes to dark fantasy or horror, there are only a handful of authors whose work I will delightfully look for and Ramsey Campbell is high on that list.

This is not splatterpunk or horror that makes you jump from a sudden shock. This is a slow, methodical horror that creeps up on you and is at your heels before you even know it's coming.

The book is rich with story. There's a supernatural element to the horror but it is balanced so delicately with the 'modern' horrors of WWII that are still fresh in peoples' minds. Our narrator is only a teen at this time, and because of this the unknown horrors of what his teacher is doing are the stronger, more frightening reality. For him the war is already a thing of the past, something he experiences second-hand.

The trusted guardian, the teacher Mr. Noble, is a perfect foil for Dominick and his friends. They know him, he seems like a good man, but they also feel as though they know him better than anyone else and no one seems to be taking their concerns seriously.

The horror here is honest and deep but this is really a story about character - Dominick's character, specifically. How do we behave under such circumstances? How do we remember these things?

Looking for a good book? If you are looking for a dark, fast read, then this is not the book for you. But if you want to read something that will grow on you and imbue your soul with a little darkness, then Ramsey Campbell's The Searching Dead is the book you should read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

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It has been awhile since I read Ramsey Campbell. I have to admit that I had truly forgotten what a talented writer he is.
Set in the 1950s Liverpool, The Searching Dead concerns the coming of age of Dominic Sheldrake, and his strange Spiritualist schoolteacher.
Although I found the beginning a little slow, I soon found myself enthralled with Dominic's story and ended up reading the book straight through. The slow build up adds to the suspense.
Cosmic horror is my favorite theme in horror novels and Ramsey Campbell has it down to a fine art.

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“The Three Births of Daoloth” series is a trilogy that was previously released in hardcover, limited editions by PS Publishing. Now, the series is getting a reprint by Flame Tree Press and is poised to get a whole new fanbase for this epic, cosmic horror story.

Book one, The Searching Dead, is a coming-of-age tale from the narrator’s perspective. Dominic Sheldrake lives in post-war Liverpool during the fifties. He is joined by two friends Jim and Roberta and they nickname themselves, the Tremendous Three.

Dominic’s bedroom window overlooks a cemetery (how creepy is that?) and he begins to see a strange young man wandering the grounds. He later suspects this same man has positioned himself into the lives of several people in their small community — including Dom’s new history teacher and possibly his neighbor’s new “church” leader.

In classic coming-of-age form, Ramsey Campbell sends this group of friends to search out answers about the mysterious nature of this stranger among them. Even though it’s a bit of a slow burn, the intriguing nature of the story is wildly engaging. At the end of every chapter I wanted more, which speaks to the perfect nature of the pace.

The details of the setting and the personality of the main protagonist are so rich I wondered if anything I was reading was autobiographical. It’s that convincing. Also, I must mention how obvious it is that Campbell has been working at his craft for decades. I was in the hands of a seasoned storyteller. Having spent most of 2020 reading stories from up and coming authors, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge what it feels like to read a book from someone who has been telling horror stories for generations and has a back catalog of literally hundreds of books and stories; prolific to say the very least.

I have only just begun my journey into cosmic horror. I read my first (The Fisherman by John Langan) only a few years ago and have come to appreciate the genre.

Clearly, Campbell reaches back into Lovecraftian mythos to infuse this trilogy with familiar mystical elements. In learning more about this series, I discovered that the narrator will age over the course of the next two books. In Born to the Dark, Dom is married and they have a son — the boy is plagued by some kind of night terrors that manifest as physical episodes. Dom is troubled and feels like the darkness he encountered in his young life might have returned. I’m so excited for the rest of this series! I highly recommend this trilogy for new Ramsey Campbell fans like myself. This seems like the best possible introduction to his body of work.

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Dominic was just an ordinary schoolboy in 1950’s Liverpool, having adventures with his 2 best mates, never giving his parents a moment’s worry. Then a new teacher starts at his school and suddenly his life is no longer normal. Creepy and menacing from the cover onwards. I loved it! The terror builds notch by notch and is so descriptive that it’s as if the reader is the 4th member of the gang. I didn’t realise this was the first of a trilogy and am definitely looking forward to the other two books. Literally a “dreadful” book!

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So, all of my Ramsey Campbell experiences thus far have been slow burn sort of British countryside-type horror novels (you can see another example here, where I reviewed 2020’s The Wise Friend). I’m really into that. To people who are accustomed to the more modern take on horror writing, you may find yourself frustrated at the pacing. But if you’re looking for something paced more like a gothic horror, you’d probably really dig Campbell’s work.

The man writes like he’s penning a gothic novel as well. It’s such a treat to read.

he Searching Dead has a lot of story going on. It’s just shy of 300 pages, and the pacing feels fairly slow (in a good way; I hope I’ve established that), but somehow Campbell still manages to jam pack it with more story than seems possible. I mean, this is a very big story. You might say it is a story on a…cosmic scale.

I’m sorry. Terrible. That was terrible.

But all joking aside, The Searching Dead sets up the beginning of The Three Births of Daoloth trilogy. And it sets it up powerfully. Although the other two books (Born in the Dark and The Way of the Worm) have also previously been published by PS Publishing, they will likewise be reprinted by FTP. Born in the Dark is slated for release in September 2021, and The Way of the Worm arrives at some point after (no release date yet).

The main cast, Dom, Jim and Bobby are a lot of fun. Well, Jim is kind of a wet blanket, but Dom is a budding spec-fic author who writes books about himself and his friends (they’re the Tremendous Three), and Bobby is a budding free-thinking feminist which I absolutely adore. And Mr. Noble and his family are quite the troubling group.

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Okay, first review in forever quarantine put me in a black place where I couldn't focus and couldn't get in to any books. This is the first book I couldn't put down..... it's a mash between juvenile novel... a book in a book and horror. Loved it. Also history!!!!!!

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This is the first in a series and I can't wait to read the next stories as this one is brilliant.
It's creepy, gripping and fascinating.
The descriptions of post-war Liverpool are great and I loved the character development and the world building.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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Imagine if The Famous Five inhabited the world of Stranger Things but that world was 1952 Liverpool. Are you curious?

Dominic lives a quiet life with his parents in a Liverpool that is still recovering from the ravages of WWII. He has two close friends Bobby (Roberta) and Jim, the three of them form the Tremendous Three. Dominic and Jim start a new school, one that is very religious and comes with a very odd teacher in the shape of Mr Noble.

Christian Noble is an odd chap, intense and very creepy. On a school trip to France, Dominic witnesses strange nighttime behaviour of his teacher and starts keeping an eye his teacher and his weird ways.

Meanwhile, one of Dominic’s neighbours Mrs Norris is acting oddly, she has started attending a local spiritual church, something that is much frowned upon by Dominic’s parents. Mrs Norris has lost her husband and this church is going to put her in touch with him. According to Mrs Norris, her deceased husband has started talking to her but as her behaviour grows increasingly weird. Dominic worries for her.

They discover that Mr Noble also attends the same church as Mrs Norris. From that moment on the Tremendous Three watch his every movement hoping they will be led to this strange church. Is the strange behaviour of Mr Noble linked to Mrs Norris?

This is a slow burn read, you do need to stick with it but the chilling atmosphere combined with the curiosity and detective work of the kids makes this such a rewarding read. It is book one in a trilogy, so I’m curious to see where this goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Dominic and his two school mates, Jim and Bobby, are the self proclaimed Tremendous Three. There’s nothing they can’t handle. Having said that...with the smells of school hallways, uniforms and crowded classrooms comes an unearthing of an undefined shapeless presence that can only be found within the boundaries of darkness. These discoveries ultimately open a Pandora’s Box of secrecies that only the dead bestow.

Can a deceased loved one come back from the grave? Would it be inappropriate to restore someone dear to you that has departed? Members of a congregation known as The Trinity Church seem to have thoroughly explored what lies beyond. These identified ghostly existences carry a disturbing momentum towards purgatory and the afterlife. The Searching Dead takes the reader on a journey of unrelenting devotion, youthful courage and unsettling hidden secrets.

Ramsey Campbell sets the appropriate mood by using his writing skills as a gateway to sinister forces. Surrounding school and religion with darkness, the dead and elongated shadows of dread throughout the pages. This riveting slow burn of a story cleverly encompasses terrifying apparitions, skeptical revelations and metaphoric horrors. Its past, present and future anecdotes combined with the haunting unknown makes this a highly creepy read.

The Searching Dead is the first book of the Three Births of Daoloth trilogy. It’s a spooky read that winds its way through spiritual paths leading right up to the cemetery gates. When you hear the dead call out from the graveyards...will you answer?

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This story had some of my favorite horror elements; coming of age and the spirit world.

It begins thru the eyes of Dominic Sheldrake. A young man attending a school with strict teachers, who lives in a home with watchful parents. Thru his journey into adolescence we meet his two friends Jim and Bobby, and learn of his suspicions towards one of his teachers and the dark nature of that teachers actions.


What I enjoyed about this one is how truly moody and atmospheric it was. It’s clear Campbell is a veteran in the trade and he paints such beautiful scenes all on his own unique canvas. I felt transported onto that canvas at times, a part of the brushstrokes intermingling with the grooves and creases of the very landscape itself.

“𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.”

What I didn’t enjoy... well, at times it just felt like not much was happening. I felt it was a bit drawn out, and that It didn’t grab me like I would want it to. It felt more like a very long prelude to what is to come.

Now. That being said, the idea of the story and Campbells writing has me wanting to read on in the series to see where it goes. Even though I didn’t love this one as a whole, I loved a lot of the elements. And I definitely want to read other works by Campbell. His writing style definitely has my attention.

I give The Searching Dead 💀 💀💀

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The Searching Dead would be the first of an upcoming series by Ramsey Campbell.

I was more than excited to get my hands on this since I have heard so much about Ramsey’s writing in the horror genre.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this title. I will continue to try future works by this author, but this title didn’t hold me.

I am one for detail and I love coming of age stories, but this one had a background that doesn’t suit me which is war. War stories have never held me well in the past but I thought maybe this book would change that for me.

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Once upon a time (or otherwise known as my teenage years), I was addicted to horror paperbacks that I would buy at a now-defunct used bookshop. Being a loner, I would carry a paperback either in a jacket or pants pocket, and if I ever had a free moment, I would read my heart out. One of the authors I discovered back then was Ramsey Campbell, the author of The Parasite, The Claw, and The Hungry Moon.

Recently, Flame Tree Press released Campbell's THE SEARCHING DEAD (book 1 in The Three Births of Daoloth trilogy) on paperback, hardback, and eBooks formats. (FYI - A few years ago, PS Publishing published the trilogy as limited-releases.) A new edition of the sequel, Born to the Dark, will come out this Fall, followed by the final book, The Way of the Worm, at a later date.

Set in post-WWII Liverpool, THE SEARCHING DEAD centers on a young wannabe writer Dominic Sheldrake, who witnesses a mysterious figure pulling something up from the ground in a cemetery. Later, when Dominic begins his first year at "The Holy Ghost School" grammar school, he suspects his teacher, Mr. Christian Noble, is the man from the cemetery. Believing something is at fowl, Dominic and his pals Jim and Bobby are determined to learn what deep dark secrets Mr. Noble is hiding from everyone.


Final Thoughts

Ramsey Campbell is one of the masters of the horror genre - and his talents shine bright in THE SEARCHING DEAD with his unique descriptive narrative that places the reader right beside the young protagonist, Dominic Sheldrake, a deeply enriched, likable character. The coming-to-age story started a little slow for my usual tastes. However, the pacing picked up within a few chapters, many thanks to Ramsey Campbell's gifted talent for creating beautiful descriptions and lively dialogue. There are haunting and gut-turning scenes that stayed in my mind long after I read them.

Overall, THE SEARCHING DEAD is a must-read for any horror fan.

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The evocation of Liverpool in the early 1950s - still scarred by the blitz - is hauntingly beautiful and Ramsey Campbell takes one to some of its long lost picture palaces - the Forum, Essoldo and Majestic - with an autobiographical tribute to the films of his childhood.
Dominic Sheldrake, the young narrator is an aspiring writer who is slowly enveloped in a tale of darkness and terror. At first as subtle as an M.R. James classic and then building to a grotesque and terrifying climax as dark as anything by H.P. Lovecraft this is horror writing at its very best by the Grand Master himself.

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My thanks to Flame Tree Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Searching Dead’ by Ramsey Campbell in exchange for an honest review.

This is Book 1 in Campbell’s Three Births of Daoloth trilogy. It opens in 1952 and focuses on thirteen-year-old Dominic Sheldrake, who while on a school trip to France to visit sites associated to both World Wars, begins to suspect there is something strange going on with his teacher, Christian Noble.

In addition, Mrs. Norris, an elderly widowed neighbour of the Sheldrakes, has joined a new church that promises to put folk in touch with their dead relatives. Yet once called the dead seem to be reluctant to leave. Dominic and his friends, Roberta (Bobbie) and Jim, undertake an investigation into the church and Noble, without any awareness of the scope of the terrors that they will uncover.

While I am not overly familiar with Campbell’s body of work, I am aware that he is a master of the horror genre. I was surprised how understated ‘The Searching Dead’ was, though clearly laying the foundation for things to come. The trilogy is influenced by the cosmic horror of Lovecraft’s mythos, so it evokes more a sense of creeping dread than jump-scares or visceral horror.

This is also a coming-of-age tale set against the background of post-WWII Britain that draws upon Campbell’s own childhood memories in Liverpool and his ambition from an early age to write horror.

In this novel Dominic realises that he wants to become a writer, though as Bobbie says “We already knew you were.”. I found it fascinating that Campbell was even younger than Dominic when he began reading Lovecraft and writing stories, though happily his encounters with Lovecraft’s horrors were on the page rather than Dominic’s experiences. Well, I assume so at least....

I understand that the other two books in the trilogy each jump forward in time 30 years following Dominic and the development of the forces unleashed here. I certainly plan on reading both when published by Flame Tree Press.

On a side note, I appreciated the minimalist style of the cover art.

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