In a short period of time, Thomas Olde Heuvelt has made quite a name for himself in the horror genre. His novels have been set in various international locations and time periods, and a deep gothic chill blows through each. His latest, DARKER DAYS, takes place in Washington State and revolves around an old pact that the residents of a small town continue to honor each year.

The town is Lock Haven, and those who live on Bird Street are a secretive bunch who share the same cul-de-sac, which is surrounded by some dark and mysterious woods. By anyone’s guess, Bird Street is a normal neighborhood except for the November ritual they refer to as the “Darker Days.” During this time, it is said that all sorts of tragedies will befall the residents unless they make the agreed-upon payment to the stranger in the woods who comes collecting for it annually.

"The final third of the novel is intense and frightening, as readers are placed amidst the denizens of Bird Street and the race to make good on the ancient pact that must be upheld. DARKER DAYS will provide many sleepless nights of reading."

The payment must come in the form of a sacrifice, a concept that gave me a very eerie feeling of familiarity that I can compare to Shirley Jackson’s classic short story, “The Lottery,” as well as The Purge movie and television series. I do not want to say anything else about this hundred-year-old pact as I believe these comparisons will give you some idea of just how serious and horrific the situation is.

It is extremely helpful that Heuvelt includes a list of all the families of Bird Street. I was checking these names constantly as I was reading the book. Most of the story is told from the point of view of the Lewis-da Silva household. It is especially rewarding to hear from Kaila Lewis-da Silva, a somewhat troubled teenager who battles depression. She is horrified to find out about the aged and invalid members of the neighborhood whom the adults are planning to sacrifice to keep everyone safe and happy for another year.

The action begins in 2022 and continues through the following year when everything goes horribly wrong. It will be made much clearer what the risks are of not meeting this sacrificial demand, and it is far beyond what any of these residents imagined. The final third of the novel is intense and frightening, as readers are placed amidst the denizens of Bird Street and the race to make good on the ancient pact that must be upheld. DARKER DAYS will provide many sleepless nights of reading.