“J.D. Barker’s Forsaken is a remarkable debut, a gripping tale of suspense in the tradition of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Saul. Truly the birth of a new master in the genre.”
Praise for Forsaken
“Incredibly written, supremely creepy. I don’t say this lightly: J.D. Barker is a force to be reckoned with.”
– NY Times Bestselling Author, Tosca Lee
“Scary as hell!”
– Editorial Review, Horror After Dark
“Barker’s ambitious debut is aimed squarely at fans of classic horror. Witches, spells, miniature demons, and personal doubt give plenty to latch on to… the plot moves at a brisk pace… a promising start to a planned series.”
– Editorial Review, Publisher’s Weekly
“Barker is a master wordsmith.”
– Editorial Review, AudioBookReviewer.com
“A talented writer with a delightfully devious mind!”
– International Bestselling Author, Jeffery Deaver
“J.D. Barker has conjured a modern cauldron of horrors based on historical fact.”
– Editorial Review, The Tomb of Dark Delights
“Harry Potter for adults. The imagery will haunt you.”
– Author, Jack Stevenson
“A horror book that grips you from the start. I grew up reading horror by the likes of Stephen King, Dean Koontz and James Herbert, to name but a few. J.D. Barker deserves to have his name up there with them.”
– Editorial Review, By The Letter
“Classic gothic horror at its best. A truly impressive debut.”
– Author, Joan Hall Hovey
“Scary, exciting, fun in all the right ratios, Forsaken is the right kind of book for anyone who enjoys a racing heart and a pounding pulse.”
– #1 Bestselling Author, MichaelBrant Collins
“It’s a superlative read!”
– Author, Robin Spriggs
“Incredibly atmospheric and cinematic – it would make a fabulously creepy movie.”
– Editorial Review, Lucy Literati
“FORSAKEN is one of the best first novels I’ve read in a long time. Well written, a compelling story line. Put J.D. Barker’s name down on your must read reminder on the fridge – highly recommended.”
– Author, Gene O’Neill
“This was hands down the best novel I’ve read this year. Without a doubt, it deserves five stars.”
– Editorial Review, Word Gurgle
“Creepy, atmospheric, well written…this novel surprised me. If you love horror novels this is a must read.”
– Author, Roxanne Rhoads
“Magnificent read. The story exists on the land that straddles suspense, thriller, and good ol’ supernatural chill-fest. The term “page-turner” has become cliched to the point of lost meaning, yet with Forsaken, we are reminded where the phrase was born: between the pages of just such a book as this. Moving the story along at a rushing river’s clip, Barker braids two tales together in a dance between present and past. We begin getting the slightest feeling that the two might be more intertwined than we at first suspected, but are kept in delighted suspense until Barker lets us see. He is generous in a manner. The reader is given an omnipresent view of the world inside the covers, and this serves to build tension as we become invested in the characters, sometimes wishing to grab them by the shoulders and shake them to their good senses, other times wanting desperately to tell them what’s happening just outside their line of sight. All of these ingredients are combined in a clever and delicious story, one that reads fast and fun, and with just enough darkness laying over Barker’s land to make us wonder, to make us check over our shoulders one more time, to watch the shadows… they’re only shadows, right?”
– Blogger, www.princessburlap.com
Nominated for a Bram Stoker Award by the Horror Writers Association
Best Debut Novel 2014
