I will always have a soft spot for books with a West Virginian setting. This was a quick read and a unique plot that I very much enjoyed and will be recommending!

An odyssey of discovers as one woman ventures into the depth of her family history to learn the truth about herself and the cunning folk of the mountain who call her kin. A story of history and lore, compassion and fear that speaks of nightmares and horrors found within and without ourselves.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐎'𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐧

Cindy O’Quinn’s Dark Cloud on Naked Creek is a haunting and atmospheric blend of psychological suspense and Appalachian folklore that grips from its first chilling pages and doesn’t let go. Set deep in the mist-shrouded hollers of West Virginia, the novel is equal parts supernatural mystery and soul-searching journey, steeped in the eerie quiet of a forgotten mountain culture.

The story follows Afton Sullivan, a nurse at a men’s prison, whose life is upended when a patient dies under strange, possibly supernatural, circumstances. Plagued by guilt and a gnawing sense that something isn’t right—not just with the death but with herself—Afton sets off to uncover her shadowy lineage and the truth behind the legacy of the “cunning folk,” a group of Appalachian witches and healers to whom she may be dangerously connected.

O’Quinn masterfully evokes a sense of place—this is Appalachian Gothic at its finest, where nature and folklore bleed into everyday life, and the hills themselves seem to whisper secrets. The setting is more than just backdrop; it’s a living force, steeped in ancestral magic, superstition, and the residual trauma of generations. The prose is lyrical yet raw, echoing the rhythms of mountain life and the slow unraveling of Afton’s psyche.

Afton is a deeply compelling protagonist—both strong and vulnerable, rational yet teetering on the edge of belief. Her journey is as much internal as it is investigative. Is she the cause of these strange deaths, or is she merely a pawn in something ancient and malevolent? This central question drives the narrative with relentless tension.

The novel excels in its ambiguity, walking the tightrope between psychological horror and supernatural terror. Readers who appreciate the work of writers like Shirley Jackson or Brian Evenson will find much to admire in O’Quinn’s ability to conjure dread from silence, shadows, and suggestion. But unlike many gothic thrillers, Dark Cloud on Naked Creek is rooted in a rich cultural tapestry that gives the story weight and authenticity.

In short, Dark Cloud on Naked Creek is a gripping, unsettling tale that lingers long after the last page. With its deft interweaving of family secrets, folk magic, and questions of identity, it is a must-read for fans of dark literary fiction and Appalachian horror.

The cover of this (apparent) republished book is beautiful.

And that's about it for me.

Cindy O'Quinn has written a story about a woman in her 50s who is treated like someone fresh on this planet. It's a bit dated and out of touch.

Maybe if I read this in 2016, it would have been good. Now, it's just kind of ....no.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Cindy O'Quinn is a Bram Stoker award winning short story author. Dark Cloud on Naked Creek is her first novel. Unfortunately, this novel's story might have been better represented as a short story rather than a 237 page book.

Her prose is straightforward and clear. The narrative voice feels like a haunted dream.

I didn't find the story or it's characters compelling. The pacing is plodding. A lot of time is spent with the main character, Afton, and despite knowing her thoughts, feelings, insecurities and fears, I found her one-dimensional.

The novel's premise is seemingly influenced by Stephen King's The Dead Zone, The Green Mile, and some of The Shining with a backdrop of Appalachian folklore. Afton Sullivan, a nurse for a men's prison, has a dark gift. By touching someone, she can see visions of their sins. The force of these visions forces the individual to confront their wrong-doings and feel the suffering they have caused. Afton soon learns that there are others that are born with this gift, as well as enemies of this gift that wish to do her harm. She also must come to terms about secrets from her past.

The narrative propulsion doesn't maintain enough intrigue throughout the story. I kept waiting to get hooked into the story, but so much of the book feels like information I should find interesting, rather than actually being interesting.

A book about mountain magics and the importance of family. The cast of characters were people I liked. The setting of a prison is an interesting situation to drop a psychic into and I was looking forward to figuring out Afton’s powers with her. It kinda felt like she over-promised and under-delivered on that front. I think it was mostly a symptom of being a debut book like a few other things I wished were different. I liked the first half best because it seemed to lose some cohesion after that. I can see the author’s talent, though, and would read more from her in the future.

A chilling little piece of Appalachian horror!

O’Quinn delivers an enjoyable and atmospheric ride with this one.

Afton Sullivan works a nurse at a men's prison and appears to have the ability to kill prisoners. The beginning of the story is a little dull but really picks up once she leaves the prison to head to main setting of the plot. Great story just wish there was more prose and would have liked for Afton to been a little more fleshed out in personality and strength. She's supposed to be in her mid 40's but often felt decades younger.

Dark Cloud on Naked Creek is a thoroughly Appalachian novel, steeped in the folklore and traditions of the mountains I grew up in, but it will resonate with anyone who empathizes or sympathizes with the challenge between honoring the past and resolving generational trauma without letting it define you.
Dark Cloud on Naked Creek is perfect for fans of folk horror, in particular Appalachian folk horror and media like Old Gods of Appalachia and, with Cindy O’Quinn’s storytelling style making you feel like the two of you are are sitting on the front porch with a glass of lemonade as she spins a yarn, it is a quick, engrossing read for any fan of horror or folklore.

Dark Cloud on Naked Creek by Cindy O’Quinn is a chilling blend of Appalachian folk horror and gothic atmosphere. With lyrical prose and creeping dread, O’Quinn crafts a haunting tale rooted in place, trauma, and inherited darkness. A strong, eerie read for fans of quiet but unsettling horror.

I loved the Appalachian folklore and the darkness of this book. However Afton's character disappointed me in that she wasn't as tough as I had hoped she'd be. Nice book to read but kind of disappointing.

"Dark Cloud on Naked Creek" is Cindy O'Quinn's debut novel, first published in 2016 and revised in 2025 for a June reprint. It's a dialogue-heavy story of one woman's journey of self-discovery, through the revelation of family secrets, and the unearthing of her real roots in the heart of Appalachia. Although she's a nurse in an men's prison, with twenty years of experience dealing with incarcerated abusers of all sorts, her story's brimming with empathy, fragility, and self-reflection; attributes that make her character shine through several serious adversities throughout the book, not least her being hunted by a colleague who proves to be a nasty complexity in her family history. In fact, the second part of the book turns into a harrowing revenge story, as everybody introduced in the first part (and we're talking about a large cast, since it's a large family!) is called upon to help the central character face her nemesis.

The author displays great dexterity in the detailed portrayal of West Virginia backwoods and Appalachian folklore, and succeeds in conveying the warmth of newly discovered family and kin. The tale seldom grows very dark or grim, the author preferring to flood the reader with quite a lot of family backstory: there's magic, supernatural dealings, babies lost, old witches dying, skinwalkers, evil parents, mythical creatures, and lots of blood and guilt, but also love and heart!

If you enjoy stories of found family, sinister myths and emotionally upsetting revelations, especially ones with lots of dialogue, family lore and caring characters, then this is definitely the book for you!

This chilling story begins in the sterile confines of a men’s prison but then plunges into the hollers of West Virginia, where Afton’s roots and perhaps her curse run deep. She is caught between newfound truths and her belief in the past. As deaths mount, Afton is tangled in secrets buried by time and her kin. This story leads the reader into the heart of Appalachian folklore, where the whispers of old magic and blood ties come with a price. Blurring the line between personal responsibility and supernatural inheritance.

The novel describes a dangerous and magical atmosphere. The emotional stakes of family bonds are strained by secrets, devastating betrayals, and a legacy of power where no one is entirely innocent. Here, danger hides in plain sight, and the truth may be more horrifying than the falsehoods told. Get ready for a gut-wrenching and twisty ride into the mountains that are older than time.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bridge Gate Press, for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback.

2 stars that I might consider raising to 3, but only because most of this is set in McDowell County, West Virginia, not because of literary merit.

Afton Sullivan is a nurse at a medium security men’s prison in Duck, West Virginia and she lives in Clay County, about an hour and fifteen minutes away. She begins having strange visions with some of her patients and some very odd nightmares and within them she find a link to her grandmother and the past.

She travels to Robinson Holler, near War, in McDowell County to find out more. There she meets a family-like group who knows all about her and who band together to stop evil.

It appears this book was originally published in 2026, so it’s not new, this is just a reprint. I know the author is originally from West Virginia and now lives in Maine. I wonder how long she’s been gone, because she seems to have forgotten how most people from West Virginia speak. At least once, and perhaps more often than that the book shifts from third person to first person, it appears inadvertently, and that is quite jarring.

Plus Afton, our heroine, must be around 50, but she’s treated like some sort of wide-eyed ingenue, often become faint and having to have a big, strong man physically carry her away from the danger. She’s a nurse in a prison for goodness’ sake. She should be as tough as they come! So, while I’m always going to read any book set in or near War, West Virginia, this was disappointing.

Dark Cloud on Naked Creek by Cindy O’Quinn is one of those books that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. From the very first chapter, I was drawn into a world where mystery, suspense, and deep, hidden secrets come together in a story that’s both haunting and captivating.

The plot is thick with tension, and O’Quinn does a fantastic job of building atmosphere. The setting itself—Naked Creek—feels alive, almost like a character in its own right. The remote, eerie landscape adds a layer of isolation and danger that enhances the sense of dread throughout the story. As the characters grapple with their own fears and the chilling events that unfold, you can’t help but feel like you’re right there with them, walking along that darkened creek.

What truly sets Dark Cloud on Naked Creek apart, though, is its character development. Each person in the story has their own story to tell, and O’Quinn expertly weaves together their pasts and present struggles to create a cast of complex, multi-dimensional characters. As the mystery unravels, the characters’ emotions and motivations feel real, adding depth to the eerie plot.

The pacing is spot-on—there’s no rush, but the tension is ever-present, pulling you forward with every page. O’Quinn takes her time to build the suspense, allowing the sense of unease to grow steadily until you’re completely hooked. There are twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and when the final reveal happens, it left me both satisfied and unsettled, in the best possible way.

By the end, I was left with a sense of lingering unease, the kind that stays with you even after the book is finished. Dark Cloud on Naked Creek is a beautifully crafted thriller that blends mystery, suspense, and psychological depth into a story that’s hard to forget.