Down the Well – Joseph Blackhurst

Awarded the silver medal for horror in the 2023-2024 Reader Views reviewers’ choice awards

“Down the Well is the best novel I have read this year and I don’t think any novel will be able to top it.” —Readers Favorite Reviews

“What type of reader could possibly want to venture into this madness? Fans of well-written, intense horror stories, as well as fans of psychological suspense novels. Those who enjoy literature that refuses to dumb-down to the lowest common denominator and aren’t afraid to step into the darkness.” —Reader Views Reviews

When hunters stumble upon a genocide deep in rural Kentucky, investigators unearth a mysterious cache of canvases at the scene that seem to contain the secret to solving the case – but they’re written in an unintelligible script that has the uncanny ability to drive people insane.

Immune to the sinister power of the canvases due to his color blindness, lawyer Joe Blackhurst is tasked with translating the messages and unravelling the truth behind the carnage. Joe begins to unmask the perplexing story behind the canvases creator: Richie Maltessouri, a down-on-his-luck young lawyer struggling under a mountain of debt.

Drawn deeper into an unsettling mystery, Joe finds his fate tangled with a cast of strange characters – including a handicapped painter with seemingly supernatural skills, a rude barista, and a camgirl. As he peels away the layers of Richie’s enigmatic story, he finds himself flirting closer and closer with madness.

And when the trail of canvases leads him to an old, dark well, Joe knows that the answers that have been tormenting him lie deep at the bottom – if he can bring himself to face them…

Step into a gripping paranormal thriller that artfully weaves together edge-of-your-seat suspense, stunning prose, and a dash of disturbing horror. Down The Well is an unforgettable read that’s perfect for fans of experimental novels from authors like Mark Z. Danielewski.