A Walk On The Darkside

The Pearl Blackthorn Series Book 1

Fiction - Paranormal
174 Pages
Reviewed on 10/21/2015
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Carol Coetzee for Readers' Favorite

A Walk on the Darkside by Corinna Underwood is a fascinating read about paranormal phenomena and a confirmed skeptic who is determined to prove otherwise. Pearl Blackthorn, tasked by her editor to run a series of stories on reported paranormal events in Darkside Magazine, is skeptical about paranormal events and her previous articles have been about debunking them. She believes that every supposed paranormal event can be explained rationally. Her first paranormal investigation takes place in Abergwyllgll, in Anglesey, North Wales, at a long abandoned orphanage. Accompanying her on these investigative journeys is Harry Raymond, her friend and the assigned photographer, who hopes to capture paranormal events on film. From there, her next assignment is at an old age home with an elderly woman who, it is rumored, can predict the future. In search of further mysteries, she travels the country with Harry, investigating paranormal activities far and wide. Will Pearl find any true paranormal activity, or will the skeptic in her find that each event can be linked to a logical explanation? Join Pearl on her journey as she sets about finding the truth behind the mystery.

A Walk on the Darkside, a paranormal investigative novel by Corinna Underwood, is an interesting and engrossing read. Pearl is a confirmed skeptic, faced with interesting paranormal events and is determined to uncover the factual truth behind each story. Can she really find a rational explanation for everything? Each chapter contains and concludes a different paranormal event investigation by Pearl and Harry. The story weaves between the skeptic and the believer, some history and folklore, as well as a few urban myths, leaving you wondering is this really paranormal or rational? An interesting little tidbit is tossed casually into some chapters as we journey through the world of the reported paranormal events. Throughout this, one asks oneself, "Do I believe in paranormal events?" or "Do I believe that everything has a rational, scientific explanation?" A fun and interesting book that will most certainly stay with you for a long time, regardless of which camp you fall into.

Lit Amri

In A Walk On The Darkside by Corinna Underwood, Pearl Blackthorn is a novelist and investigative reporter for Darkside paranormal magazine. Accompanied by her close friend and photographer Harry Raymond, Pearl is sent by her editor to reported haunting sites in Great Britain to investigate paranormal sightings and occurrences such as spirits, premonition, demons and possession. Despite her job, Pearl is a skeptic; she believes that there is always a simple, rational explanation behind every paranormal activity.

A Walk On The Darkside is an anthology as each chapter can be a standalone story. Pearl and Harry's investigations occur in different places in every chapter. Protagonists Pearl, Harry, Pearl’s friend and editor Benny, and the Darkside magazine tie these stories together. The different types of paranormal activities serve as a good basis for a multifaceted plot; ghosts, premonition, voodoo curses and more. Every haunting incidence has a rational explanation in the end, but the paranormal mystery often lingers which evades logical reason.

Despite being a skeptic, Pearl’s curiosity, which leans towards expectation, made her not as disbelieving as she claimed she is. This side of Pearl makes her investigations much more intriguing, including her past. I really like Harry – he is more the believer and, as partners in the job, they complement each other very well. That said, there are a number of events laced with religious undertones, so some readers might not find this engaging. Nevertheless, they are hardly a knock to this book. All in all, A Walk On The Darkside is an easy read and paranormal fans should find it enjoyable.