Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by callies_books
Below by Laurel Hightower
5.0
Below by Laurel Hightower is the kind of horror that crawls under your skin and lingers long after you’ve finished reading. It takes everything unsettling about isolation, the unknown, and the dark secrets hiding just beneath the surface—both literally and psychologically—and blends them into a tense, terrifying ride.
From the very start, the book builds a creeping sense of dread, trapping you in the protagonist’s unsettling journey through the mountains of West Virginia. A late-night snowstorm, a truck driver offering help, and then something watching from the darkness—Hightower layers each of these elements to perfection, making every moment feel fraught with tension. And once the story takes its terrifying turn? It’s an absolute nightmare.
The psychological element is just as strong as the physical horror. The mysteries surrounding the people the protagonist encounters add an extra layer of unease, making you question who (or what) can really be trusted. And the cave setting? Absolutely suffocating. If you weren’t already afraid of what lurks below the surface, this book will make sure you are.
With a perfect balance of suspense, psychological horror, and pure nightmare fuel, Below is a fast, chilling read that delivers on every level. Hightower masterfully captures both the fear of the unknown and the terrifying realities of human (and inhuman) nature. If you love creeping dread, cave horror, and stories that leave you feeling deeply unsettled, this is an absolute must-read.
From the very start, the book builds a creeping sense of dread, trapping you in the protagonist’s unsettling journey through the mountains of West Virginia. A late-night snowstorm, a truck driver offering help, and then something watching from the darkness—Hightower layers each of these elements to perfection, making every moment feel fraught with tension. And once the story takes its terrifying turn? It’s an absolute nightmare.
The psychological element is just as strong as the physical horror. The mysteries surrounding the people the protagonist encounters add an extra layer of unease, making you question who (or what) can really be trusted. And the cave setting? Absolutely suffocating. If you weren’t already afraid of what lurks below the surface, this book will make sure you are.
With a perfect balance of suspense, psychological horror, and pure nightmare fuel, Below is a fast, chilling read that delivers on every level. Hightower masterfully captures both the fear of the unknown and the terrifying realities of human (and inhuman) nature. If you love creeping dread, cave horror, and stories that leave you feeling deeply unsettled, this is an absolute must-read.