The Secret of Camp Shackelford, Book 1

De: John Landrine

Narrado por: Marc Glave

The Secret of Camp Shackelford, Book 1

The old campfire story; that mysterious, dark tall-tale, told, or rather performed, in the midst of the wilderness by the dancing light and shadows of a small campfire, with the indubitable purpose of scaring young campers out of their proverbial wits. While good campfire story tellers could send quivers into the depths of childhood minds, the best performers could impose a freezing terror on their juvenile audiences leaving them with slightly unnerving, yet fond memories of a well-spent summer vacation. For in the end, even the most shaken of campers knew that it was all just a story; a well imagined fictious yarn.

However, the most classic and lasting stories told by the soft crackling of dry burning wood and the glowing floating embers, are the ones that left one to wonder if it was true. When young minds left wondering if it was all just an crazy fairy tale, or was the nightmarish story real, is when the memories lingered on, constantly rekindling the terror over and over for a lifetime.

Is the Secret of Camp Shackleford such a fabricated tale, or was it real? Could something so preposterous have really happened? You decide.

©2025 John Landrine (P)2025 John Landrine

A Creepy Chiller!

The Secret of Camp Shackelford - Book 1, by John Landrine starts out so innocently. Of course, the writer is brilliantly hinting that there is something deeper, and horrible to come and that keeps you listening. The reader is fantastic, he somehow truly captures the voices and personalities of each of the kids, so much so that you can see them. It’s just a cute little story of innocent boys at a normal sleepaway camp, and then…everything seems to go crazy, but not…because it’s just a story, right? But then, well you’ll see. I’m looking for book 2 as I hear it may not be a YA book, but more for adults only. What’s up with that?

Creepy, gripping, and totally unexpected - Wow!

I picked this up expecting another typical spooky summer camp ghost story. What I got was so much more. The Secret of Camp Shackelford lures the listener in with campfire banter and nostalgic coming-of-age vibes, then slams the door shut with a gut-punch twist that leaves the audience chilled and haunted.
The story follows a counselor recounting a long-buried mystery to a group of curious boys, and the tension builds perfectly. I felt like I was sitting right there in the dark with them, hanging on every word. The slow reveal of the camp’s dark secret is masterfully done — part supernatural horror, part Southern Gothic, and part psychological trauma. And just when you think you’ve got it figured out… that ending. I literally said “WHAT?” out loud.
What makes this story really work is that the horror isn’t just monsters — it’s legacy, silence, and evil passed down like inheritance. It's dark, disturbing, and absolutely compelling. I’m still thinking about the final line — it’s the kind of twist that makes you want to go back and reread everything to spot the clues.

Enjoyable story by a new author and narrator!

This was a fun horror story for teens that I imagine could be told around the campfire. Perhaps "fun" is the not the right word for this, although I did enjoy the reading. Riveting? Creepy? Gruesome? All of the above, I suppose. This is a story you don't want to listen to if you're distracted by other things like driving or making dinner. It's much better if you just close your eyes and imagine sitting by a crackling fire in the dark outdoors listening to the narrator tell this tale about his experiences as a camper in the same campgrounds you're currently sitting in. Without giving anything away, imagine this scenario and the narrator starts describing events of a supernatural variety and you start to peer into the dark, listening intently, and trying to see if anything out there is listening. Yes, this was one of those stories.

I'm not familiar with newcomer narrator, Marc Glave, but I thought he did an excellent job and would definitely listen to him again. He may not be as polished as some of the greats like Ray Porter, but he has potential and was easily drawn into this story, imagining the camp as he described it. If you're looking for a quick story that gives you an idea of his narration chops, this is a story worth listening to.

I received an advance review copy for free from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's the secrets that will get you in the end

Boys at camp. The definition of mischief in the making. But these young campers don't have any idea what they've stepped into while exploring the forbidden woods between the boys and girls cabins. Despite strong warnings from their counselor, they've awakened a presence and may not return to tell their tale. Compelling narration and suspenseful dialogue combined with a flair for dramatic and spooky sets the tone of this gradually darkening story. Transport yourself to Camp Shackelford for a time and become immersed in the mystery. [Disclosure: I received this title for free and listened at 1.85x.]

Just the right amount of scary for me!

I’m not a big fan of the Horror genre, but spooky camp stories are just fine. This did not disappoint. Dark woods and curious boys make a great combination! It looks like this was an early narration for Marc Glave but he did an excellent job at building the tension for this tale.