God of the Buried by Seth Parker is a haunting psychological thriller that claws at the thin line between grief and madness. The narrative delves into the fallout of a devastated man who becomes obsessed with Morning Veil, the idyllic rural town that turned a blind eye to his wife’s death. Everyone seems content to forget the crime, especially local hero Trent Pierce, the last person seen with his beloved Natalie. But as the widower’s obsession grows, he begins to unravel secrets that suggest Natalie wasn’t the only one buried by the town’s dark conscience. Blending slow-burning suspense with poetic horror, this novel explores how far a man will go for justice in a place that has long stopped caring about the truth.

Author Seth Parker's unique storytelling style is wonderfully sharp, and this confident control of language makes for a gripping, atmospheric thriller steeped in Southern gothic tension and moral ambiguity. The pace makes things tense right from the start. And I loved the visual layout of the work to keep readers engrossed through the journey of the psychology of grief and obsession. The prose stays sharply with our protagonist from his intense mindset. There’s also a chillingly rendered vision of Morning Veil itself, as comforting as it is complicit, and this tensely quiet place gives just as unnerving a feel as the violence and suspense building up within the narrator. The description of Trent Pierce, with a watchful eye on his every move, becomes a conspiratorial feeling as he studies and demonizes this man. It’s a true feat of a great writer to have readers heading into a full-on collision with the protagonist whilst unable to stop him, but also never wanting to look away. Overall, God of the Buried is a highly recommended read and a masterful portrayal of one man’s descent into vengeance: a perfectly gripping thriller penned by an accomplished author. I hope to read a lot more of Parker's work in the future.

God of the Buried is a darkly atmospheric horror thriller predicated on the psychological fear element and ancient mythology. According to Seth Parker, the macabre tale is set in an isolated, decrepit town filled with secrets and that has been threatened by a repulsive underground entity, eager to devour everything in its way. The book has a slow-burn narrative mingled with intense visuals and an ever-grow- ing sense of paranoia and explores themes of grief, madness, and the unknowable.

Parker adeptly handles suspense and atmosphere, and any Lovecraftian or gothic afficionados would be drawn to it. Although the slow pacing might discourage, the chilling yet thought-provoking payoff of the climax lingers on. An exciting debut for readers who like cerebral and visceral horror.