Sam Hurcom's debut, A SHADOW ON THE LENS, was one of the surprises of 2019, a genre mashup which was a great read. Hurcom's follow up, LETTERS FROM THE DEAD, continues the story of forensic photographer, Thomas Bexley. It is 1905, a year after the terrifying events of the previous book, and Bexley has not recovered. Mentally disturbed, drinking heavily, he loses whole days, weeks even, to blackouts; he does not work, avoids human contact, and believes he is haunted by the dead. Bexley is a mess but is pulled out of his fugue state, at least partially, when his estranged mentor, Elijah Hawthorn, is identified as the chief suspect in a series of kidnappings, and presumed murders, carried out by 'The London Wraith'. Bexley sets out to prove Hawthorn innocent.

As in his last novel, Sam Hurcom weaves a story which crosses genres. There are elements of Sherlock Holmes and Hammer Horror, The 39 Steps and, particularly early on, Scooby Doo (and I really mean that as a compliment) as Bexley evades his former colleagues in Scotland Yard and travels to Scotland, drawn by letter from Hawthorn, a letter sent several months previously. Accompanied by the sister of one of The Wraith's victims, Bexley follows a series of clues which lead to an even bigger mystery. Here the novel becomes a little DaVinci Code-like (albeit with better prose) as the plot is driven by coincidence and I admit my heart sank a little. But...suddenly it ALL changes and the changes cause Thomas Bexley, and the reader, to doubt everything that has gone before. It is a masterstroke.

Ultimately, Hurcom stops short of going where I really wanted him to but still delivers s thrilling, disturbing, and very satisfying second novel and I look forward to his third.

I hadn't noticed that this was the second book, so I was worried at first whether or not I would be needing to have read the first book in order to understand the book. Luckily, this wasn't the case, altough I am certain it would have been to my personal benefit had I read the first book already. Nontheless, I was able to read the book without having lost too much context, because the book was doing a great job at keeping me posted about the neccessary information.
At first, I thought I was going to like the book a lot - the first chapter started intriguing enough and I was captivated immediately. However, when I continued to read, I was close to just put it down and mark it as a DNF. I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen and was dissappointed, since the book itself had sounded promising enough. Luckily, I did not give in to that urge. The book took a wonderful twist in more than one way and I was (and still am) glad to have continued reading the book, because it was worth every second of it.
I love a story set in Great Britain, especially in the 18th to 20th century. I love a good crime story and I love supernatural elements in my books. Most of all, I love a book that takes a good twist and leaves the reader guessing and following the red herrings the author left. I admit, I did. I was convinced of the character's guilt and I enjoyed the cat-and-mouse- game they were playing - all of them with the Wraith; Thomas with Hawthorne; the Police with Hawthorne and the Police with Thomas.
The ending has left me hoping that there will be at least one more book, but until that book will be published, I am probably going to give the first book a go. I hope there will be even more information about Hawthorne, since he was my favorite character. (Considering the outcome of the story, I am nor really surprised.)
I am usually rather picky and hesitant about giving a book five stars, but this one deserves every one of them - for the setting, the word-building, the characters and most of all, the twists it had in store.

I received a free copy by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

After enjoying the first book so much I was really looking forward to reading this and I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint.
I enjoyed being inside Thomas's head, it helped with the confusion over what was real and what wasn't. The tension and mystery builds nicely throughout. The struggle that Thomas has with alcohol addiction after the events of the last book was well done, he didn't just suddenly get over it during the investigation. I found him to be a very sympathetic character.
The horror imagery is strong with this one, it's not for the weak stomached and if you have a phobia of rats then there are certain scenes that will probably make it worse.
The mystery had enough twists and turns to keep me interested. There were a couple of things that I was able to predict quite early on (though I was made to doubt it a few times) but there were also things that I just didn't see coming.
Overall if you enjoyed the first book (and if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it) then you'll love this one too. A great spooky read for the dark winter months. It also helps that they both have gorgeous covers.

Historical fiction is not usually the genre for me. I tend to go for SciFi and Fantasy. However, the title, book cover and synopsis drew me in and I am very glad it did. The “Note to the Reader" was a bit too old-style for my liking and I was worried the rest of the book would be written the same. But I was wrong. From the first chapter the words sail off the page easily, painting a grainy picture of the early 1900’s. The language was balanced enough to understand but still to set the scene. I won’t spoil the book but saying much about the plot. All in all, an enjoyable must-read!

Just finished this dark and macabre tale, great follow up to the first in the series, Shadow on the Lens,

It’s 1905, London and Thomas Bexley Is a troubled and deeply disturbed forensic photographer for the police. After the events of the first book leave him mentally scarred, Thomas is soon under pressure again when the police ask for his help finding a devilish criminal who is carrying out a spate of kidnappings.

With murders, ghosts and frights galore, this is a tense and often scare filled story whilst a pretty cracking crime mystery aswell.

Great read and highly Recommended

Wow, what a great book. Really want to read the first one in the series and others thereafter. Think Sam Hurcom is an author to watch. "Letters from the Dead" is a twist on a Victorian detective novel, as Thomas can see the dead. From a photography background, he discovers when he develops pictures, he develops supernatural goings-on too which give him an insight into the crimes.

This book takes you from the slums of London right up to the wilds of Scotland. You don't know who to trust, and this is played out with real conviction right until the end.

WOW! First of all thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for providing me with the eARC of this fantastic book.
This was a wild ride in the best sense of the word. It kept me gripped from start to finish and I couldn't bare to put the book down. I finished the second half in one sitting!
The writing was absolutely stunning (I have a whole folder of quote screenshots) and Sam Hurcom did a great job of building up the tension, which I have to say was palpable and I found myself holding my breath multiple times. I especially loved how Hurcom wrote the more horror-esque aspects of the book like Bexley's visions and the scenes at the manor which were at some points absolutely terrifying.
Watching our lead character unravel and starting to question whether he is or is not a reliable narrator was fascinating. I loved how the author made me want to go back and analyse the previous chapters to uncover the truth.
And of course, the plot twists! There were quite a few and all took me by surprise. About 60% through the book I was wondering 'so, what now?'. It felt like everything was coming up to an end, we knew or thought we knew who the killer was. So, what could possibly happen within the next 100 pages or so? And the answer is, a LOT. The second half of the story was so masterfully executed that I couldn't bare to take my eyes of the book.
So, in conclusion... you need to read this book! Seriously, it's really damn good. :D

I hadn't realised how much of an impression Sam Hurcom's first dark horror thriller A Shadow on the Lens had made on me until I saw that Sam Hurcom was publishing another book set in the early 1900s featuring photographer and forensic investigator Thomas Bexley. Set in a remote Welsh village, the first novel was a fabulously atmospheric piece of classic folk horror, not so much a ghost story as a genuinely scary work of dread terror, one that crept into your soul and left an indelible impression.

If the events that took place in 1904 in the Welsh village of Dinas Powys make such an impression on the reader, imagine the impact the must have had on Thomas Bexley. Hired by Professor Hawthorn as a special investigator he had been assigned to look into the murder of a 16 year old girl Betsan Tilny, gathering photographic evidence of the crime scene for the new science of forensic investigation. What appeared on the photographs was profoundly disturbing to the investigator, but the whole place seemed to exert an almost hallucinatory effect on the young man, one that it appears has had a long, perhaps permanent, impact.

On an indefinite leave of absence back in London, Bexley hasn't been seen in 10 months at the start of Letters from the Dead, almost drowning himself in alcohol alone in his rooms to escape the images that still haunt him from Dinas Powys. He's abruptly dragged out of his stupor by the police and brought in for questioning about a case of missing persons that not only has taken a disturbing turn, but it also personally affects him. The police are interested in what he knows about his mentor and former boss Elijah Hawthorn, the founder of the Forensic Crime Directorate, who incredibly is now suspected as being responsible for a series of kidnappings across the city of London, a criminal that the press have called the Wraith of London.

Discovering a letter from Hawthorn, Bexley quickly sets out for a remote island in Scotland where he believes Hawthorn is hiding out. Already in a precarious mental state even before he starts on his journey up north, it doesn't take long for Bexley to enter into the same state of anxiety and conspiracy, a restless paranoia this time replacing the nightmarish hallucinations of his previous investigation. Is what he sees and experiences real or a hallucination brought on by psychosis after his previous experience? Is he somehow in touch with ghostly apparitions or can he just not be trusted to be responsible for his own actions? One thing is for sure, death follows in Bexley's steps.

It's difficult to make a ghost story truly scary and Hurcom's writing isn't as effective when he has characters wandering around haunted manors and rat infested cellars, although it certainly contributes to the consistently dark tone of Letters from the Dead. Far more effective is the fact that it appears that it is Bexley himself who is haunted, the ghost of the murdered young woman be encountered in Wales now apparently having opened him up to all kinds of nightmarish visions. It's a blessing as well as a curse, since it makes him susceptible to recognising disturbing situations where evil has taken place, but that inevitably plays havoc with his mind.

If the conventional horror traits of the first half of Letters from the Dead are fairly standard, the development of a vast conspiracy with a potential madman (who may even be Bexley himself for all he knows) really takes flight in the second half. It develops into a breathless account of life in police prisons, opium dens and grim dangerous streets and alleys of the East End of London in the early 20th century. Throw in some ghostly fog and apparitions and you've got a thrilling historical horror adventure in your hands that will find yourself unable to put down. Wonderfully atmospheric, classic old-fashioned horror with a few new spins, Sam Hurcom's second Thomas Bexley nightmare is just as haunting as A Shadow on the Lens, but a much more expansive journey into madness.

I happened to read Letters from the Dead over Halloween weekend and it turned out to be an excellent, spooky choice. As you may have gathered from the title, it does indeed involve elements of the supernatural but it is also, in essence, a thriller / historical murder mystery.

This is the second novel from Sam Hurcom featuring lead character Thomas Bexley. Hurcom’s debut novel, A Shadow on the Lens is heavily referenced, as it is the story of events in Bexley’s life that lead him to be in the situation and mental state he is in when we meet him here. But if, like me, you haven’t read it, it won’t affect your enjoyment or understanding of this story. So crack on with reading Letters from the Dead!

1905: Thomas Bexley is a special investigator with the Metropolitan police and he has had to take a leave of absence from work due to a rather disturbing murder case he worked on the year previously in a small Welsh village (the plot of the aforementioned book 1).

But, when a serial killer, known as the Wraith of London, is discovered to be working his way through the city, the police call on Bexley for his services, as he has a link to their prime suspect, Elijah Hawthorn.

‘Eleven known kidnappings so far, and we believe every victim to date is dead, though we can’t find any of the bodies.’

Bexley might be hesitant to get involved, and in not much of a mental state to do so either, but he finds a letter from Elijah that he has to follow up. This leads to a trip to an isolated manor in Scotland, a prison escape and a lot of gruesome encounters.

The other element woven into this high-octane murder mystery is the reason that Bexley has been struggling to function for the past year and developed an alcohol addiction… he is visited regularly by ghosts. And not the friendly kind. With the exception of Beatrice. Bexley come to rely on her and, yes, I think develops one or two feelings…

This makes Bexley a most unreliable of narrators, so you’re often left wondering if you can believe his version of events and questioning what’s happening. This is, of course, an excellent addition to a murder mystery. Nothing like a an unreliable narrator to keep things interesting…

In keeping with being told to us by a man at the turn of the 20th century, there is an archaic tone running through it. I like that, it really helped set the scene and bring Bexley’s character to life. It also made it feel different to a lot of other novels I’ve read recently.

I would say that Letters from the Dead felt a few pages longer than it needed to be, some sections were quite long and overly descriptive, with elements of the chase taking time to get to where you know they are going to end up BUT I can see that this was in keeping with its archaic tone and structure that mimics early 20th century novels. What’s important is that it had me hooked, I really enjoyed Thomas Bexley’s character and loved the blend of good-old murder mystery with supernatural elements.

Firstly, huge thank you to Orion and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Letters From the Dead will be published on 26 November 2020.

I was looking for more spooky reads for this month and came across Letters From the Dead on NetGalley, it sounded just like the gothic story I was looking for and I was right. The novel is both chilling and gripping which had me eager to turn the page to find out what happens next, but I was also scared of what I would find.

Set in 1905, Letters From the Dead is a sequel to A Shadow on the Lens which deals with the aftermath of traumatic events that our protagonist, Thomas Bexley, in Wales. Since that case he has been haunted by horrific visions of the dead which has him turning to drink and losing track of the days. Whilst he’s in his drunken stupors the ‘Wraith of London’ has been terrorising the city with a series of kidnappings. Shocked to hear that the main suspect is an old, dear, friend of his, he’s determined to find out the truth for himself.

The entire novel is told from Bexley’s perspective who was a very intriguing protagonist. It was very interesting seeing the way that Bexley works through things and deals with the situation. This might sound odd, but I really enjoyed the way Bexley’s fear was written. I liked seeing how much these visions impacted him, but how he was still determined to discover the truth to what was going on. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Beatrice at first, it did take me a while to like her, but, towards the end of the novel I came to really appreciate the character.

Hurcom’s writing is great and the development of the plot was really well done. What I often find when reading horror/gothic novels is that they don’t often elicit the response of fear for me. However, Hurcom’s descriptions of some of the more horrific scenes had me feeling unsettled and grimacing as I was conjuring the images in my mind. I also liked the mystery aspect to the novel; whenever you think you’re getting closer to the truth a new twist is thrown at you to completely destroy the path you thought was the right one.

Going into this novel I didn’t realise that it was a sequel, however, I was still able to follow the novel and thought it still works great as a standalone. Whilst it would have been good to know the full story behind what happened in Wales, which is covered in the first novel, I found not knowing just added to the mystery of the whole novel.

I really enjoyed this novel and its creepy atmosphere, perfect for the spooky season or for horror/gothic literature lovers in general. I definitely recommend picking this one up when it is published on the 26 November 2020, I know I’ll be picking up the first novel as I’m very invested in Bexley’s story!

I enjoyed this novel though I wouldn't recommend reading it at night! As another reviewer has said, the writing is so atmospheric that you really do feel transported into the plot. Thomas and Beatrice were both likeable and realistic and I loved the twists and turns the novel takes the reader on.

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group for the advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased review!

Hurcow’s writing style is both beautiful and eloquent. Brilliant story aside, his descriptions of the East End are vivid and really transport you there. I found myself re-reading paragraphs to marvel at the language used.
We follow Beatrice and private investigator, Thomas Bexley, to Scotland, where Thomas intends to meet with his old friend, and prime suspect, Elijah Hawthorn. Thomas, despite being plagued by terrifying ghosts of his past, seeks answers, and uncovers a grisly and hideous plot to seize control of the state and kill hundreds of innocents.

Thomas Bexley is a brilliant character, and there is something of a Sherlock Holmes feel about him. I would have followed him anywhere, which is the mark of brilliant writing. I loved following him and Beatrice as they solved cyphers, followed clues and battled through unpredictable twists and turns to gain the answers they sought. This book is going to be a big hit!

Written sombrely, 10 years after in Bexley’s life, Letters from the Dead will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat.

For some reason, I found myself only reading this book at night. What a terrible mistake to make! Sam has a great skill in creating atmospheric environments and I’ve never read more imaginative descriptions than the terror Bexley feels which definitely felt all too real as a reader.

You’ll surely find yourself thinking you’ve figured out the story/plot until a slight twist makes you realise you were on the wrong track. Letters from the Dead is a very gripping read and I’ve found myself yearning for more, fortunately, I can read Sam’s prior book A Shadow on the Lens to gain a better understanding of just what has happened to poor Bexley!

At the turn of the last century, Thomas Bexley has become an alcoholic, hiding away from society, but he pulls himself together to defend friend and mentor, Elijah Hawthorn when the man is linked to a series of kidnappings. Hawthorn insists he’s being framed after discovering a shocking cover up in the Metropolitan Police.. While Thomas tries to uncover the truth he is haunted by the demons of the past, literally

** spoiler alert ** SPOILERS

Turns out it's quite hard to read a book AND hide behind a cushion... But I gave it a very good try,from very early in the book,because those visits from the dead were too creepy.

Thomas Bexley, a year on from where we left him,is a broken man with a drink problem.
As the book continues,I began to think he was also mad,and a mass murderer.
The only reason I know he wasnt going to swing from the gallows was that he was narrating the book from 10 years in the future.
That didn't stop the tension,the horror and the surprise that came as I worked my way through the book.

This is the second (of many I hope) books to feature Bexley,and I feel it really upped the creepy/fear factor of the first,and left us with a man and a mission.

Look forward to seeing where he goes