⛰️ Appalachian Folklore Horror
🧵 Tight-knit, interwoven connections
💀 Uncomfortable discussions/TW

Afton's story and personal growth throughout this book was profound and heart-wrenching, as she navigates her way to seek where she belongs and reconnect with her family roots. The story felt truly magical and enchanting to read—even with some of the more TW topics being addressed—so the title of the book is perfectly fitting for some of those "darker" themes 🙈

Thank you to Brigids Gate Press & NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC 🖤

Seemed promising but was a very slow build into mostly inner dialogue. Characters need more development. I really struggled to connect with this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review honestly.

If you're into atmospheric horror that blends folklore, family secrets, and a touch of gothic charm, Dark Cloud on Naked Creek by Cindy O’Quinn is a must-read.

Set in the haunting hills of West Virginia, the story follows Afton Sullivan, a nurse at a men's prison, who becomes entangled in a series of mysterious deaths among her patients. Blaming herself for a recent death, Afton embarks on a journey into the Appalachian mountains to uncover the truth about her family's dark legacy and the ancient powers that may be at play.

O’Quinn's writing is rich and evocative, capturing the eerie beauty of the Appalachian landscape and the deep-seated traditions of its people. The novel weaves elements of folk horror and gothic fiction, drawing comparisons to the works of Jack Cady and Michael McDowell. Critics have praised the book for its compelling characters and atmospheric tension, noting its "horror with heart" and emotional depth.

Appalachian horror, a prison nurse with possibly murderous tendencies, and folklore threaded through the hollers of West Virginia. It had all the right ingredients. Unfortunately, for me, it didn’t quite live up to its potential.

There’s a strong foundation here. The opening was promising, and the premise genuinely intrigued me. But as the story progressed, the pacing slowed considerably. Long stretches of internal monologue and exposition-heavy dialogue began to outweigh the momentum, and the supernatural elements and family secrets got a bit lost in the execution. Afton, the protagonist, felt somewhat underdeveloped. I struggled to connect with her, and there seemed to be a noticeable gap between her character’s setup and how she unfolded on the page.

I just could not get into this book. I found it quite boring and the characters weren’t very likable..I couldn’t relate enough…It’s just not for me.

Didn't really like this one, Afton, seems to be in her 50s and always needs a big strong main to rescue her, but she's a prison nurse she should be tough as nails. But I just couldn't connect eith the story or character..

Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. The story follows Afton, a middle age nurse who works at a men's prison. She has a supernatural gift of being able to see what someone's done in their past by touching them, which is a horrible gift to have when you work in a prison. I think my issue with this story is that it is a good idea but the execution was lacking. Afton learns about her past quickly, from basically a bunch of strangers, has no learning curve - just immediately gets sucked into this new "family" of hers and everything neatly falls into place without any obstacles or anything. The story and its characters felt very bland and I wasn't really motivated to care for any of them.

Dark Cloud on Naked Creek shines a light on Appalachian folklore which is absolutely one of my favorite supernatural and horror niches to read. The writing is eloquent and vivid, which I did enjoy. However, the story and pacing quickly bottlenecks until it chokes—a case of way too much narrative and dialogue exposition. I longed for discovery and forward movement, some necessary action, a balance between showing and telling. Beyond the first 15-20% of the book, which was promising and intrigued me (reminding me of The Green Mile in the best way), I began to really struggle to keep going. Especially, once the character dialogue even turned into another vehicle for massive information dumps. It became a reading exercise of sheer endurance for me. Rating elevated by quality prose to a 3/5.

I did not expect to like this as much as I did! But I finished this book so fast and I loved every second of it! Would recommend

Dark Cloud on Naked Creek is another hit from Brigid’s Gate Press but I have to say I’m not surprised at all. As a horror and ‘weird’ tales fan this instantly attracted me. It was clear from the start that this was going to be an Appalachians Gothic, and if such a genre doesn’t exist it should! You get such a sense of place and location with this novel and Afton is a wonderful protagonist as well.
I was so engaged with this novel that I flew through it and literally could not put it down. The writing is wonderful and I loved the conflicts and pacing. If you are looking for a good ‘Summerween’ read or just are a horror fan this is a must read.
As always thank you to Brigid’s Gates Press for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

Initially, I was pulled into this by the cover and synopsis. I live in the Appalachians and love Appalachian horror so I had high hopes.

Our main character is kind of drab, her life seems monotonous and the situation at work wasn’t really exciting. The folklore wasn’t all that I expected, but I think I had my expectations too high. The pacing was so slow that I did end up stepping away from it for almost a month out of frustration.

All of this is to say that sadly this just wasn’t a winner for me.

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.