Well, I just thought this was excellent. The ending left me feeling unsure what to believe, but it was written that way, not in a sloppy, unfinished sort of way. Was Grayson spiraling down a path of madness and eventually murder as a result of his environment, the cult-like religious beliefs thrust upon him, his inability to come to terms with his sexuality? Or was it truly the Devil within him that made him do it? The format of the novel flips between Grayson's diaries and evidence (via interviews, letters, etc.) of the investigation presented through a journalist, Daniella Barclay. The novel is eerie, speculative, psychological; I am soooo pleased with my reading experience and I can't wait to read more from Dumas!

I tried but …around 12 % and I couldn’t do any more w the rambling. Beautifully written but I don’t think my mind is in the right spot for this.

A very thought provoking thriller and the story has stayed with me.
Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars. A History of Fear is completely riveting -- the kind of riveting that will make you want to pet a bunch of squirming puppies, cuddle a chubby-cheeked baby, or listen to Mary Poppins sing "A Spoonful of Sugar" on repeat to balance out all the horrors in its pages, but riveting nonetheless. Once I started reading this, I didn't really come up for air until I finished, completely engrossed as I followed Grayson Hale's disturbing, harrowing descent into devil-fueled madness.

The book is structured as a piece of investigative journalism and also Grayson Hale's memoir, which sounds a bit confusing but really isn't when you get into the flow of it. At age 23, graduate student Grayson was convicted of the murder of his classmate, Liam Stewart, and made headlines across Scotland for claiming that the devil made him do it. In his memoir, he offers a full account of the events leading up to Liam's murder: from his first meeting with the devil, to the deal he unwittingly struck with the prince of darkness, to the strange and frightening events that occurred when he tried to back out of that deal. He also reveals a troubled past, including an emotionally distant father, a cruel zealot mother, and the "satanophobia" he developed as a preteen. Meanwhile, on the investigative side, the reporter provides bits of factual evidence, including article excerpts, interview snippets, and pieces of testimony from court proceedings -- some of which directly counteract Grayson's claims.

A History of Fear is so perfectly executed, impressive especially for a debut. Luke Dumas's writing is emotionally rich and captivating, almost hypnotic in the way it draws the reader in. The book feels incredibly intimate as it delves deeply into Grayson's psyche. Dumas crafted this character with so much complexity that we sympathize with Grayson, distrust him, and are horrified by his actions all at once. Dumas's clever construction will have you constantly undecided on which version of events, whose perspective, can be believed. The ending of the book left me with my mouth hanging open, questioning everything I'd just read.

A History of Fear is an incredibly dark, uncomfortable, disturbing book that doesn't flinch away from troubling imagery or events. It's also a deeply psychological, heartbreaking exploration of childhood trauma, mental illness, religious zealotry, sexuality, and repression. Kudos to Dumas for being brave enough to take on the devil with his debut and totally nailing it -- I can't wait to see what he writes next.

What an awesome debut by Dumas. This is a uniquely well written, eerie, creepy, and thought provoking book. It is full of built up suspense, and had me wanting to crawl under my sheets because of the detailed creepy writing and descriptions throughout.

This is about a book within a book-and it is utterly fantastic and mind blowing. Grayson Hale is an American student who is living and studying abroad in Scotland and he has committed an unthinkable crime. He was convicted of murdering his classmate, and throughout his time studying in Scotland he was writing a manuscript of his deepest thoughts and behaviors. After Hale is found dead by hanging in his prison cell the manuscript s found by Daniella, who is an editor. Daniella is determined to get to the bottom of the gruesome crime committed, will Hale’s journal shed light on the crime?

This was a binge-worthy, addictive read that truly held my full attention from start to finish. Dumas does a great job with the character development and the eerie creepy detailed writing. After finishing this one I was truly in utter shock at what I had just read-but in the best possible way. It has been awhile since a book left me feeling like that. This truly had me creeped out! This is one that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, and left me feeling so satisfied and ready to pick up the next book by Dumas!

Make sure to pick this one up if you enjoy a uniquely written thriller/mystery/horror book!



Thank you to the author for having a copy sent my way and to @atriabooks

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: December 6, 2022
The Devil is in Scotland. After Grayson Hale killed his friend, Liam, and claimed the “devil made him do it” he rose to infamy as “The Devil’s Advocate”. After his death, a manuscript is found in his cell, detailing Hale’s childhood, where he suffered from intense satanophobia (fear of the Devil) and religious abuse and the events that led to the murder. Through transcripts from witnesses and those who knew Grayson, and Grayson’s own telling, only one question remains- did the Devil really possess Grayson?
“A History is Fear” by debut author Luke Dumas intrigued me right from the start. I adore tales of demonic possession, in both books and films, and this one read like a Hollywood movie. Grayson narrates it posthumously, although there are sections collected by the editor where the reader hears from Grayson’s childhood friends and family about his upbringing and Hale’s strange behaviours and obsessions. Then of course, enter the mysterious D.B, who hires Hale to compose his manuscript, and you have an utterly intense and addictive tale.
Right from the start, Grayson’s sanity is questioned but of course, not enough to actually sway the reader. Throughout the novel, Dumas leaves enough evidence for both sides, leading to the “mentally insane or possessed” debate that is the very basis of this novel, while making either argument utterly believable.
I loved Grayson as a character as he was both relatable and heartbreakingly human. I’m a little biased maybe, but books based in Scotland tend to be some of my favourites, and I loved the Scottish folklore and demonic history of Scotland Dumas provided.
As a debut novel, this is a hands down winner and I am looking forward to Dumas’ next release.

The creeping dread of this literary horror novel is a slow and ambiguous burn and build up. We are told the story of Grayson Hale through his own, potentially unreliable words, and through supplementary material provided by a journalist named Daniela who is fascinated by a murderer who said the devil made him do it. I liked how some truths are obscured and then clarified, only to be perhaps turned on their heads again. I liked getting into Hale's head as deeply as we did, and it made for a more tragic trajectory had we not had his perspective. I felt like Dumas captures a lot of anxieties and real life terrors that go beyond a general Satanic panic tale, and it was the undercurrents of both building tension and a sense of building sadness that mixed well to create an unsettling horror novel.

A HISTORY OF FEAR is unnerving and melancholy, and I think it would be a perfect winter evening read.

A History of Fear is a cleverly written novel about a violent crime and it’s causes.. It is written as a case study of mental illness, abuse, religious zealotry, and homophobia. Saying much more is difficult without saying too much. I devoured this book in a day., completely immersed. Unlike anything I’ve ever read.

This was not what I thought it would be. I tried to push through and see if my interest would change but it didn’t. It was starting to put me in a reading slump so at 29% I decided to dnf it.

Wow. This felt new and fresh and original and incisive, and I had a great time reading it. Grayson's slow descent into madness, whether it be caused by an outside force or not, was fascinating and heartbreaking and creepy. But the framework and structure of this novel is what ultimately made it feel special and packed the most punch, thanks to an afterword that left me sad, angry, and then stunned.

I can't wait to see what Luke Dumas does next. What a debut.

I will say this is one of the more interesting and creative novels I’ve read this year. It reads like a found manuscript of a murderer, interspersed with secondary materials like interviews and newspaper clippings collected after his death. Together it forms an intriguing work about either a man’s psychotic break while studying in Scotland, or a tale of man haunted by Satan himself. And the book doesn’t entirely answer that question, which I really liked. It’s also a book that took a little while to hook me, just because it’s not at all what I expected, but I was absolutely all in 100 or so pages in and it just keeps getting more interesting as it goes. You’re reading a lot from the killer’s perspective which is fascinating, although his writing voice can be long-winded and pretentious but it matches how that character would write his story, so it fit for me. It’s a book about the dangers of repression and how villainizing natural human desire can only lead to tragedy. It’s a fascinating book that I really enjoyed, especially being that it’s the author’s debut novel! I can’t wait to see what Dumas will do next.

This is one of those books where the last few words elevate the story to a whole new level. It is a unique, slow burn thriller with an unreliable narrator who is a man (usually the books I read feature unreliable female narrators). There is a lot that readers can think about and discuss after reading this book - religion, family, sexuality, and mental health are all topics that come up. I did not know where the story was going and had a lot of fun guessing what was going to happen.

The Devil is in Scotland, Grayson Hale knows this all too well. He's known, after all, as the "Devil's Advocate" for murdering his classmate Liam Stewart in cold blood.

As a graduate student at Edinburgh University, Grayson has barely settled into his schoolwork and life away from America before he's plagued by the unnerving suspicion that something dark has found him in the streets of Scotland. When a mysterious figure known as D.B. proposes a writing job to Grayson that he'd be a fool to turn down, it soon becomes clear to Grayson that he's become entangled in something far more sinister than he could have ever imagined.

Perhaps a bold statement, "A History of Fear" is one of the finest pieces of dark academia I've ever come across. It's ominous, pulsating, and the kind of story that settles deep into your mind and breeds--dare I say it, real fear. It's masterfully-written, engaging from the first page, and left me utterly speechless at the last page. What Luka Dumas has crafted in the story of Grayson Hale is something that reaches far beyond "thriller" or even "horror" territory; "A History of Fear" is a genre-bending, dread-filled masterpiece whose countless layers unfold into something so terrifying (yet engrossing) it will be nearly impossible to stop reading once you've started.

Bravo.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of A History of Fear by Luke Dumas.

This is an amazing read! I love the way it was presented, with narrative, interviews, Graysons psychologist and the editors notes all adding into the story.It did take me a couple of chapters to get into this book, but once I did, I was hooked. I really felt for Grayson and everything he was going through. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes creepy atmospheric reads.

25-year-old American grad student Grayson Hale, who notoriously murdered his classmate Liam Stewart, is found hanged in his prison cell. Officers notice his clothes are torn and there are strange claw marks all over Liam’s body. Next to Grayson’s body is a manuscript where he claimed that the devil forced him to murder Liam.
Was Grayson a psychopath all along, or was he telling the truth?

A History of Fear is a slow build literary and psychological thriller mixed with truly terrifying horror elements. I didn't realize until after reading that this book contains a massive twist that left me reeling. I cannot remember the last time a book left me in utter shock and disbelief as this one has (but in the best way).

As a jaded lifetime horror reader, it takes a lot to truly scare me but several moments in A History of Fear left me looking over my shoulder and genuinely creeped out. The book contains some supernatural elements but nothing too outlandish or unbelievable. I love an original story with a unique plot and characterization so I've tried to compare this book to other reads but I truly have never read anything even remotely close to it. Like Dumas did a fantastic job creating his debut novel and I see a very bright future for him!

Fans of psychological thrillers as well as horror readers will love A History of Fear. A History of Fear by Luke Dumas will be available on December 6, 2022. A massive thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

Grayson Hale is a famous name in Scotland. He’s infamous for the murder of a fellow classmate and claimed the Devil made him do it. Now we look back into his history to find out what happened.

This was a pretty heavy read. It was very interesting, but read as a non-fiction. I loved the interviews and transcripts interspersed within the story. The ending is begging for a book club discussion! I am hoping someone finishes this one soon and can discuss it with me.

“The one you fear is real - and he’s coming.”

The History of Fear comes out 12/6.

"The Devil is in Scotland.

Grayson Hale, the most infamous murderer in Scotland, is better known by a different name: the Devil's Advocate. The twenty-five-year-old American grad student rose to instant notoriety when he confessed to the slaughter of his classmate Liam Stewart, claiming the Devil made him do it.

When Hale is found hanged in his prison cell, officers uncover a handwritten manuscript that promises to answer the question that's haunted the nation for years: was Hale a lunatic, or had he been telling the truth all along?

Unnervingly, Hale doesn't fit the bill of a killer. The first-person narrative that centers this novel reveals an acerbic young atheist, newly enrolled at the University of Edinburgh to carry on the legacy of his recently deceased father. In need of cash, he takes a job ghostwriting a mysterious book for a dark stranger, but has misgivings when the project begins to reawaken his satanophobia, a rare condition that causes him to live in terror that the Devil is after him. As he struggles to disentangle fact from fear, Grayson's world is turned upside-down after events force him to confront his growing suspicion that he's working for the one he has feared all this time - and that the book is only the beginning of their partnership.

A History of Fear is a propulsive foray into the darkness of the human psyche, marrying dread-inducing atmosphere and heart-palpitating storytelling."

Read this to find out if Grayson's satanophobia was justified!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. This is a creepy one, but I loved the story of killer Hale. The devil made him do it, is his excuse. When he turns up dead the mystery furthers.. 5 stars for this excellent thruller.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"A History of Fear" is a story about an American guy named Grayson who murders a Scottish guy and then claims the Devil made him do it. The reader's job is to try and determine whether or not that's true.

This is a really hard book to rate because the way it's written is so unusual. It would also be wrong to say that I enjoyed it, but it's absolutely worth reading. Let's discuss.

Dumas did really well using the novel's structure to support the story. AHoF is a book within a book within a book. There's the 1) actual book, wherein the narrator is the main reporter on our MC's case, who is writing a 2) literary nonfiction account of what happened. She does so using a 3) confessional autobiography the MC wrote in jail following his murder conviction, shortly before his suspicious death. Large sections of the autobiography are broken up by snippets of interviews the narrator is having with secondary and tertiary characters. All in all, the sense of being both in the MC's head and simultaneously outside of it really emphasized that 1) this is the most unreliable narrator of all time and 2) the "truth" of the situation is highly unclear.

Scanning some other reviews, it looks like a common complaint is about the, frankly, purple prose. I get why this will be a turnoff for some readers as I typically hate purple prose myself. However, the writing style is used very pointedly to show just how pretentious Grayson is, as well as emphasizing his mental state, adding to the development of his character. I feel safe in this assertion since the parts of the book that aren't pulled from Grayson's autobiography have a very different writing style. In this light, it was easier to accept the over-the-top prose.

This book almost lost me right at the very end. One of the things I really liked about AHoF is the respect shown to the reader. It's not spoonfed to you whether Grayson is actually being targeted by the devil or simply suffering from severe mental illness and trauma after being abused. So many novels today feel the need to spell things out for the reader, so I really appreciated that AHoF didn't. Then, in the faux-Afterword, the narrator freaking sums it up for the reader! Ultimately, there is enough of a wink and a nod left at the finale that I didn't feel Dumas ruined his own book, but I did knock a star off for it.

All in all, "A History of Fear" is a dark, twisted read about a tormented person, whether that torment is coming from a demonic force or his own illness and trauma. It's engaging, if a bit longer than it needed to be, and a novel I can see myself recommending to anyone who wants a spooky text for Fall.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of A History of Fear by Luke Dumas. This story starts out about an infamous murderer named Grayson Hale. Hale confessed to killing a classmate years ago, claiming, "the devil made him do it." Then Hale is found hanged in his cell leaving a manuscript that promises to answer questions regarding his sanity. There is more to this story, but overall this is the gist. I didn't love this story, but I do think Dumas is a good writer.