Soon, the debut novel from Australian author Lois Murphy, is a mesmerising, yet disturbing work of fiction. A slow burning journey into the world of Pete, and his slowly dissolving home town of Nebula, an intense story of a past left broken, and a present entrapped by it emerges from the pages of this gripping story.

This is Pete's story, but this is also the story of Nebula, a small country town that has had a mystery descend upon it. A mystery dripping of the paranormal, the ghoulish, and the long forgotten battlers of the outback wastelands. A mist has descended upon the town, having arrived after the mysterious arrival of the dark SUVs and their black clad passengers. A mist that makes Nebula its home every day at sun down, leaving only on the arrival of the morning sun. A mist that speaks, that screams and howls, that holds memories of the recently departed. A mist that encircles the town, slowly suffocating the life out of it.

We first meet Pete when the town has been reduced to just six inhabitants, all the others having fled in fear, or worse – succumbed to the mist itself. These few remaining are the last, the ones with nowhere else to go. The ones who have seen it all since the mist's arrival nine months earlier, and survived to talk about it.

But slowly the numbers drop again. Best laid plans go astray. Weariness sets in. And a stranger arrives. And her warning is clear – Pete has until the next winter solstice (three months away) to leave, otherwise it will be too late. And leaving may finally be an option, that is until the beautiful out-of-towner named Alice arrives. Just as the deadline is looming.

Soon is a well written thriller, a slowly emerging horror, and a story of how the past just wont let us go. Like the mist, it encircles, trapping those who have lived through its days, embittered by its fading memories, and its litany of broken relationships. The horror within is subtle, though noticeable, building to a crescendo as Pete battles with his own demons, and desires to make amends.

I highly recommend this book, and would score it at 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Images source.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you liked it then please like, comment, and follow.