BOOK REVIEW: BLACK MOUNTAIN BY SIMON BESTWICK

17/8/2022

Somewhere in Wales, there's place where people disappear and nightmares come true. They call it the Bala Triangle.
At its heart is Mynydd Du: Black Mountain. It guards its kingdom jealously ...and keeps its secrets close.

Black Mountain by Simon Bestwick

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09LWK4138
Publisher ‏ : ‎ INDEPENDENT LEGIONS PUBLISHING (15 Nov. 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-1280713131

A Book Review by David Watkins

An effective blurb for this well written and unnerving slice of Welsh folk horror. Unfolding as a series of interviews, press clippings and emails, this is not a traditional narrative. Yet it works well. This is the first thing I’ve read by the well-regarded Bestwick, and I was really excited to dig in.

It’s a long book, split into distinct sections highlighting different parts of the central mystery of the titular mountain. We have strange occurrences, figures glimpsed in woods, madness and a fair amount of death. Each section is well written, with a creeping sense of dread to most of it.

Bestwick introduces a bewildering array of names and places in the first section and I found myself thumbing back to check names – and I say this as a Welshman. It soon clicks into place though, and the opening narratives are superb. Highlights include the police interview with Russell Ware and the diary of the boy with the abusive father which is well done even despite re-treading familiar ground.

The novel was originally published as a serial which means there is a fair amount of repetition, particularly in the middle. This can grate a little. However, when Bestwick goes further back in time, he brings a much-needed change of gear with a historical tale of a priest and a further one of a Roman centurion. Both of these sections are excellent and high points of the book. They lead into the final third, which is best of all. Bestwick introduces himself as a character, which I usually find wince inducing (think Stephen King in The Dark Tower or Martin Self in, well, just about anything), but it really works here and adds to the tale.

These last few sections turn this into a recommended read, but with a slight hesitation. It is probably best approached as originally intended – to be read over a period of months rather than days.

Ultimately, I enjoyed my time in North Wales and think you will too.

BLACK MOUNTAIN
by Simon Bestwick

Somewhere in Wales, there's place where people disappear and nightmares come true. They call it the Bala Triangle.

At its heart is Mynydd Du: Black Mountain. It guards its kingdom jealously ...and keeps its secrets close.

David Watkins

David Watkins lives in Devon in the UK with his wife, two sons, dog, cat and two turtles. He is unsure of his place in the pecking order: probably somewhere between the cat and the turtles.

He has currently released three novels: The Original's Return, The Original's Retribution and The Devil's Inn. Each book is well rated and reviewed on Amazon and beyond.

His most recent release is Rhitta Gawr, part of the Short Sharp Shocks series.
Coming this summer... The Exeter Incident from D&T Publishing.
Read more here: author.to/DavidWatkins