Sometimes you should not look for secrets within your bloodline…
Riley Fuller is an Off-Duty Sick Mountie that has had a rough few years. He’s middle-aged, an ex-wife, small apartment, and PTSD from watching three of his colleagues murdered. The big question is: should he give into the hope of a second chance or just use his Glock to end his misery?
Riley does get another chance when he finds an old deed in his deceased father’s belongings. The deed is for a house on Prince Edward Island that has been abandoned for the last 65 years. Riley decides to plant roots at Applegarth but is wholly unaware of quite what he has planted in his hopes of a second chance.
I really enjoyed this book, this morally grey character, and Mark Sampson's writing style. I think that it is worth the read.
TW: Sexual Themes (I try my darndest to not give away spoilers, but there are some unpleasant sexual elements in this novel that may not be suitable for some)

This is a well written book. It has some fine lines, a few well conceived set pieces, a fair share of perceptive and insightful observations, and some lean dialogue. Atmosphere and setting is top drawer. That said, try as I might I found neither the characters, nor their situations, nor the overall narrative engaging enough to arouse or hold my curiosity and attention. As a consequence, it doesn't seem fair to write much more of a review, apart from encouraging inquisitive readers to give the book a try.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this e-arc! I’m excited to look into more work from this author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mark Sampson’s “Lowfield” is a spooky read with elements of cosmic horror, while also pulling in unique elements of Prince Edward Island’s history and geography.

The plot focuses on disgraced RCMP officer Riley Fuller, who inherits Applegarth - a dilapidated but historic family home. Seeing an opportunity for a fresh start on PEI, he moves in and the house’s dark influence reawakens and begins taking a toll on him… and on the surrounding community. With the help of some locals, including a young and ambitious newspaper reporter, he unravels the mystery of Applegarth’s dark past, while simultaneously grappling with a recent tragedy in his life.

Initially, the similarities to Stephen King, particularly the novel Salem’s Lot (and especially his short story “Jerusalem’s Lot”, which goes into the backstory of that cursed village) were a bit too strong for my liking, but seeing a few wink-and-nudge direct references to King’s setting made me realize it’s more of an homage to his work rather than a duplication.

The only content warning I’d call out is that, as the house reawakens and exerts its influence on the community, there are a lot of mentions of sexual assault, which adds to the grim and unsettling atmosphere but may not be to every reader’s liking.

Overall, “Lowfield” was an enjoyable read and would be great for fans of Stephen King who also want a little Canadian history mixed in with creepy atmosphere and classic horror moments!