Darkness Stirring

A Troubled Spirits Novel

By: J.R. Erickson

Narrated by: Amy Deuchler

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Inspired by an eerie true story.

Lorraine Hicks is 14 years old when she watches her best friend, Beverly, climb into a tree in the forest and never come back down. It’s a mystery that haunts her small town and embeds itself in Lorraine's life.

Fifteen years later, Lori is a grown woman, doing her best to move on from her troubled childhood. She reluctantly agrees to a night of camping, despite her secret terror of the woods. As she sits by a roaring bonfire, a man stands and tells the story of two 14-year-old friends who walked into the Manistee National Forest - only one of them walked back out.

The story is hauntingly similar to Lori’s own, and she embarks on a quest to discover if the two disappearances are linked.

As she unravels the truth behind the vanishings, she unearths a malevolence that forces her to question if evil truly exists.

Don’t miss this chilling paranormal murder mystery.

©2021 J.R. Erickson (P)2021 J.R. Erickson

Lots of audible breaths

I am enjoying the story, but am struggling to finish it due to the performer constantly taking deep breaths in the microphone. The breaths are every few seconds, distracting, and is not a pleasant experience. It seems to have gotten worse the further into the story we've gotten. The performer is talented and I'd really enjoy listening if it wasn't for the constant deep breaths.

Excellent Writing

The writing itself was fantastic. I’m a stickler for poorly written dialogue and this author does a very good job portraying realistic characters. The first half of the story was very gripping, the characters were compelling, and I was a little disappointed with the last quarter of the plot. It was somewhat anticlimactic compared to the build up, and I feel as though the antagonist/ending wasn’t as well developed as the rest of the story. But over all it was a good listen.

Good story

Enjoyed this book and the narration. No complaints! Looking forward to the next in this series.

Chilling and yet, strangely uplifting

This book is very, very good.

Part of it is that the author creates a very compelling main character. Lori is strong when it counts, but he is also a victim of trauma; her life was defined for what happened that afternoon when she was fourteen. She survives, but not unscathed and her... kind of inertia is part of the price she paid. This is why seeing her 'wake up' when she is suddenly faced with with the story of another 14 years old girl who went missing in the same woods is haunting but also a thing of beauty.

I enjoyed the dichotomy between hers and Ben's approach to the investigation of the missing girls and how we also find ourselves oscillating between believing that there is a very human perpetrator out there, predating on young girls or that the woods are home to a witch who feeds of little girls.

By know, everybody knows that I love this author's stories, and this one is not exception. Learning that it was based in a true story adds an extra chill. If you love paranormal thrillers you shouldn't miss this story.

Amy Deuchler does a wonderful job narrating this book.

Darness Stirring

I loved this book!Excellent writing and characters. Two friends walk into the woods,only one returns.All these girls are about 14 years old.What is happening? Amy Deuchler was the perfect narrator for this book!

loved it

Very entertaining and interesting story. who doesn't like a story of a witch who kidnaps and eats children? There are no disturbing or graphic details to the story or I may not have been able to listen.

The narration was one of the best I've listened to in a while. The narrator uses several different voices and uses them well with consistency.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Fun, fast paced thriller from start to finish

This was a well written, fun thriller from start to finish. I listened to this on audio book (highly recommend) and it just sucks you in right from the start. Cannot wait to read more of Erickson's works.

Your deepest fears in the woods come to life!

This was a unique ending for one of JRs books! I certainly REALLY didn’t see this one coming. Set in the woods of Michigan, the book brings your fears of being alone in the woods to life. This narrator was very good as well. She was able to change the sound of her voice for each character without sounding creepy or fake. Great choice JR!

Creepy...Sent Chills Up My Spine

Originally I got this book because of the imaginative hook (a girl goes up a tree and never comes down again), but the story turned out to be so much more. I like books that really jack up the creep factor and the author did an amazing job! It's a rarity to find a book that can actually make a witch scary. So many witch stories are like Hocus Pocus, cute, made for children, but far from terrifying. This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars, honestly. A rare find.

Twists and turns!

Myth and legend become a reality!

Amy Deuchler does a great job narrating.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.