| Title | : | Gone to the Dogs |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Kindle , Hardcover , Paperback , Audiobook & More |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
Gone to the Dogs Reviews
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A satisfying quick read with a good variety of characters and cool imagery. Managed to make me wince a couple of times while not being overly graphic so credit where it is due for that! I really liked David his character felt like a wink to some greats' characters and a FU to those who say you shouldn't write about writers and I'm here for that kind of stuff.
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I just LOVE how Mark Towse writes! This new geriatric horror he introduced is exactly what our lil community needed.
Gone to the Dogs is just as gory and aa emotional as his other works I've read so far. Full of loveable characters and detached limbs, it will stay with you for a while but not in a bad way. That's one of the things I like about Towse's work the most. His stories are fun and splattery, but they will weigh in on you. There is a certain note of heaviness with every single character he writes. Needless to say, that's what makes all of his stories compelling and memorable. It's not just dark humor and vivid gore. It's so much more! (omg I'm rhyming, I'm a rapper and I didn't even know it!) There are unforseen depths in every story he writes, but you won't be aware of it until you're done reading.
Sooo, start reading Towse! Srsly. It's good for the soul.
PS. I'm even more of a dog person now! -
Imagine if the choices you made came back to haunt you... quite literally. If your deepest and darkest secrets could kill.
"These things— they came back, dark spots on our memory that somehow manifested into the shitshow that played out"
We find ourselves in a small coastal town where it's residents have all but resigned themselves to a mundane existence. That is, until the dogs start relentlessly barking, the skies open up in a bloody downpour, and the town literally goes to hell....
“These things, they always seem to appear after a tremor. It’s as though they’re climbing directly out of hell.”
'Gone to the dogs' is fast-paced horror with just enough gore and a perfect balance of humor. The characters are down to earth and act like normal people. When confronted by the supernatural beings, the interaction rings true. There is no over the top dramatization. They handle business much like you would expect the average Joe. This town may have gone to shit, but they'll be dammed if they are just gonna lay down and die. The residents band together with the help of those pesky mutts and banish those evil memories for good.
'Gone to the dogs' taught me two very valuable life lessons. Number 1 Don't take a boring existence for granted and Number 2 If all the dogs in town simultaneously lose their shit...hell is about to break loose.
I hate to admit I had never read anything from Towse, nor was I familiar with the term "geriatric horror."But let me tell ya, this was quite an experience. And I will be remedying that for I have seen the error of my ways. I won't be sleeping on this author anymore, and NEITHER SHOULD YOU. ;)
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. -
The king of geriatric horror is back with a sublime story that will cause Armageddon a bit earlier than scheduled.
Mark Towse was awesome enough to send me a copy of his 'end of days' novella, 'Gone to the Dogs', for review and let me tell you, it is one true terrifier.
This is a story about a small on the coast of Northern England, in its final stages of decompositionon, that woke up one day to find the sky raining blood.
Panicked residents watching nervously out of rattling, grime-covered windows as quake-like forces opened a bottomless chasm in the road, one spitting out demons from the past.
Hell made its home in this godforsaken town a long time ago, but waited until the town was on its knees to strike.
Creatures, some human-like, some not, step or slither from the hole in the ground, trespassing in a world they don’t belong to, doing unspeakable things to the humans they hunt.
The only problem is that, evil underestimated the power of solidarity between the residents.
Fortified in the legendary 'The Anne Boleyn' pub, a group of residents gather for safety and assemble for resistance.
No land lines. No cell service. Just liquid courage, hope and personal demons.
Will they walk out alive, or evil will claim them along with the remains of the town?
What follows is wonderful, classic Mark Towse brand of horror, but this time on serious steroids. The colorful characters, the puns, the fun is all there and the horror.. Ooooh the horror is amplified to the max.
This is John Saul and Stephen King in a bar, co-writing a story, while Mark Towse serves them various questionable drinks, only to trick them in doing his bidding and writing his version of the story.
From ultra gory scenes to some serious dramatic moments, the author manages to take the reader or a chilling and fantastic literary thrill-ride while channeling the likes of horror art (be it film or literature) found in 'Hellraiser', 'The Mist', 'Grabbers','The Thing', 'Pet Sematary', 'Deathwatch' and errrr 'Ghostbusters'.
The action packed scenes and the cinematic, eerie atmosphere give way to magnificent gore fests that will make you eat your fingers after being done bitting your fingernails.
I don't know how the author does it (some claim he struck a deal with the devil at the crossroads, under the pale moonlight in the Australian wilderness) , but he manages to constantly deliver one great story after the other.
You need this book in your life. Matter of fact, get everything Mark Towse has ever written. You will thank me later. -
The dogs will not stop barking! The residents on the estate in a small northern town are annoyed but then nothing else really happens so it makes a change. The residents plod through the day, today as uneventful as every day. Until the sky starts raining blood, the ground splits open, an eerie mist swirls and something hellish pays a visit.
This is a fast paced, no holds barred horror novella that really never lets up. The normality of a grey day in a small town juxtaposed with the arrival of the denizens of hell is incredible. It is brutally visceral, the imagery grotesque and nightmarish. The locals are stoic and terrified but never stop fighting. It is action packed and the savagery is merciless and shocking.
This is a gory blood soaked tale full of gruesome body horror vomiting out onto a normal town on an ordinary day, fantastic! -
3.5 stars out of 5 rounded up to 4
This story feels like a cross between The Mist and Shaun of the Dead, but without zombies.
The characters are realistic, doing realistic things, and I liked the ending.
I found this book a bit too short, I would have liked to see the story expanded more, to give me a chance to get to know the characters more, I also would have liked some different prospective from different towns people, like a nasty dog catcher getting some comeuppance, or even people from outside the event.
Overall this was a quick and unique read with some grossness, geriatrics and monsters, what more could you ask for. -
This cosmic little novella from @towseg is so inherently British and that did make me chuckle. Another fun and horrifying tale from this author which is the perfect mix of The Mist meets Shaun of The Dead. It just gets straight into things and maintains that pace making it a very quick read. Plus in usual Mark Towse style, the characters are relatable and well written. I’d recommend this to those who enjoy a little tongue in cheek horror that doesn’t skip out on the thrills and chills.
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This is an entertaining little novella about a forgotten small town that has gone to ruin. The few lonely residents that reside there are clinging on to their homes and their past. A past that suddenly catches up to them when the skies turn red and starts raining blood, all the while creatures and demons emerge from out of the mist of a giant sinkhole. The neighborhood dogs have a reason to be more frenzied than usual…
Demons, creatures and monsters can be found in Towse’s spin on The Mist. Theres Gore, dark humor and emotional moments between characters that elevated the story for me. I did feel that some scenes felt a bit rushed at times but it didn’t take away from my total enjoyment of the book. I especially loved the overall message that serves as a good (and grotesque) reminder of not letting your past prevent you from living your future.
This is an author I’ll always recommend as I’ve never been let down. It’s only 105 pages long and easily devoured in one sitting. Be on the lookout for this novella which is set to release on 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟖𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 -
Great quick apocalyptic read where your demons and secrets come back to haunt you.
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I first came across Towse thanks to his novella “Nana.” Since then, I’ve read everything he’s written and been absolutely floored by his work; “Gone To The Dogs,” is no exception. Towse is a master of blending heart, humor and horror in a way that constantly keeps you engaged as a reader.
“Gone To The Dogs,” starts on a day like any other in a town that has seen better days. When the sky turns red, our cast of characters quickly find that nothing could have prepared them for the chaos that is unfolding around them. My favorite part of this story is that the main vehicle for the plot lies within the characters themselves. Through getting to know them, we learn the true nature of the evil that’s befallen them and what they must do to overcome. Towse is also a master of pace, expertly keeping your heart pumping with nail biting and action packed scenes of horror, while maintaining a sense levity and emotional connection to the characters. “Gone To The Dogs,” is a winner and I highly recommend it. Woof! -
In a small northern town in England, things are changing. The dogs are going crazy with their non-stop barking, the sky is raining red and there’s a sinkhole with mist.
The residents are being confronted with something dark from their past. “It’s as though they are climbing directly out of Hell. “
Gone to the Dogs by Mark Towse is a fun Novella that keeps you engaged the whole time. I would highly recommend reading.
Thank you Mark for the ARC in return for an honest review. -
Really enjoyed this one and would recommend it for sure! Mark Towse's 'Gone to the Dogs' combines the best of Stephen King's 'Mist' with an unparalleled empathy for an older generation, when people were more trusting and (for better or worse) carried their sins secretly, dealing with their problems without much fuss. This kind of strength shines here, as an English small town gets invaded by supernatural evil that brings back bad memories - literally: it brings them back alive - evil husbands, drug dealers seeking revenge, even a cat whose life ended violently and abruptly. Old people and a youngster find shelter in a soon-to-be demolished old pub, heroics and unfair deaths take place, everything framed by Towse's brilliant writing, sharp dialogue, and, most of all, an atmosphere of palpable fear, regret, nostalgia, and strong emotion. The characters are so believable, the story has such good pacing, I ended up reading the book in a couple of hours. The confrontation with evil was extremely realistic, with some dry humor, no gratuitous violence or cheap melodrama - and an ending that brought a smile to my lips. Huge thanks to the author for the ARC!
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A small town in England gets quite the shake up. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise since the town doesn’t seem to be doing well. When the sky starts raining blood and demons from the past come back, things get interesting.
Gone to the Dogs is like The Mist but with special touches that Towse is known for. Humor, some grossness, geriatrics and a story that is unhinged. I love the writing and the characters. They were believable and their antics added a bit of fun to a dark time. I knew from the start this would be wild and I was right. It’s full of action, the atmosphere is insane and the buildup to the ending was amazing. Grab this one! You’re always in for a wild time with Towse’s books.
“History is important, but it can be a prison, something that prevents us from living our futures.” -
A fantastic short horror story that consumed my afternoon!
Gone to the dogs is a story of a small town, when the mundane lives of the residents repeats day after day… until everything changes.
In the middle of a normal day, the clouds roll in and a storm begins- and blood rains from the sky. A group of townsfolk come together to shelter in a bar, when the ground splits open and “things” begin to come through to the surface.
I really enjoyed this read, it came together so well with all of the characters pasts and secrets coming to a head one by one. The ending was wild and bizarre and for a short story the characters were all really well developed. I highly recommend this read! -
Gone to the Dogs by Mark Towse. Thanks to the author for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A town in England comes together when the sky rains blood and a sinkhole appears, bringing demons with it.
A very fast paced novella that you can finish in an afternoon. Once you start it, it doesn’t let up! The action starts immediately. There are a good amount of characters but they are all unique and play a role. A lot happens and the reader gets quite invested for such a short story.
“Surely that means it’s over. It has to be over.”
Gone to the Dogs is available now. -
Quick small town, apocalyptic read! I’ve read several of Mark Towse’s books before and he really knows how to write a compelling character. I was immediately drawn in and my two favorites were Jen and Pat; elderly next door neighbors who happen to also be strong and willing to kick some bad guy ass.
Mark just seems to write elderly lady characters really well because I found the same great character in Nana. I can only aspire to be this fearless and strong in the next 20 years.
A small town, a group of unlikely hero’s, a demon spitting sink hole and facing your past mistakes; all part of a wonderful story in this novella. Oh and did I mention dogs? Everyone knows animals are the first to know when something is amiss. Great read! -
I loved this. I dont know what else to say except how much I loved it. Seriously, I'd give 6/5 stars if I could ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Good job Towse! I loved your twist on The Mist, which is what this novella reminded me of. I always get Stephen King vibes from your stories and this one was no exception. It punched me right in the feels. Excellent!
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“History is important, but it can be a prison, something that prevents us from living our futures.”
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This is the apocalyptic story of a small English town that is overrun with stray dogs & just doesn’t have much going for it currently. A group of strangers must come together as a community when all Hell literally breaks loose and confront the demons of their past.
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As with all of Mark Towse’s books, this one was a fantastic read! It’s violent and gory, the terror is palpable, my fingernails are now nonexistent with the amount of suspense there is, and I definitely cried at one point, so this has everything I want in a great horror book. There was a lesson to be learned in this book as well and I really appreciated that. I like reading books for enjoyment and coming out the other side feeling like I’ve learned something that is going to make me a better, more well-rounded human. Towse accomplished that with Gone to the Dogs. -
“A putrid cocktail of fish and death; that’s how one of the national newspapers once described the aroma of this small town on the coast of Northern England.”
What a story!! I’ve got to say that’s the best ending I’ve read in a horror book for quite some time!
I loved the story, and Mark Towse knows how to write the geriatric characters spot on (see his other stories for more geriatric horror comedy!).
We see a group of folks gather in the local bar as blood rains from the skies and the earth cracks open. Mist and growls emerge from the bowels of Hell and creatures soon follow.
Seeing the characters band together to take on these monsters was great! Despite it being a shorter story, each character stood out for me and had their own quirks and personalities. Loved the dogs immensely! -
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This was a quick and creepy read that had me cringing every other page or muttering “oh my god” under my breath. Hell has unleashed on a small town and one randomly thrown together group is forced to relive their darkest moments in life while fighting to survive.
The ending threw me off, it which is why my rating dropped from a 4 to 3.5. Every other horror faced by the group was something I could imagine, but the last one just felt like it didn’t quite fit with the flow.
If you’re looking for a quick and disturbing read for the spooky season, this could be it! But TRIGGER WARNINGS for anyone dealing with loss of a child or abusive relationships. -
3.5 stars
If Shaun of the Dead and The Mist had a baby.
Fast-paced and action-packed. It gave The Mist and Shaun of the Dead vibes. Blood rains from the sky. A hole cracks open in the earth and spews out mist and demononic creatures. The characters band together in an England bar to take on the demonic forces and form great relationships between one another. Great little horror read with some comedy. -
I liked this - it was a fun little horror novella, it went a bit daft at the end but that was part of the charm! Nice palate cleanser between fantasy books at the moment.
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Oh this was good! I love Mark Towse's work.....Hope Wharf and Crows linger firmly in my mind but I think this may be a favourite for me?
It was spooky but I loved the idea behind it. The residents in this small grey town are bored, lonely, lingering onto the past because maybe it's all they know? Dead before they're even dead because life offers no more. The local pub is shutting down....the small bit of entertainment and communication is gone, so what now? Shall we just chat to our flower pots?
The demons of the past stalk the residents and in particular, the few people hiding out in the pub. Now they fight once again and confess to what they thought could remain secret. It's all a bit brutal but it's one of those books where you think....well yeah it's a bit spooky ain't it, but I wouldn't mind a pint with these folks!!
I thought the mist coming up in this already grey town was eerie. My favourite part was getting all the perspectives of the different people throughout the town as all the spooky and gruesome things start to begin!
This book made me think of that movie where they're all stuck in an elevator confronting their past and it turns out the least expected character is actually Satan -
Mark Towse has been on my radar for awhile now and a couple of months ago I read a collab he did with one of my favorite authors, E.C. Hanson, and I loved what they made together! So I knew I needed more from Mark!!
I do not do well with slow burn book at all!!
So I was ecstatic when Gone With The Dogs had a short intro to the characters then jumped right into an amazing fast paced story that I couldn’t put down!
A small town full of secrets and residents who choose to forget them. But that’s not how life works is it? One day it starts raining blood and the earth opens up to release an eerie mist along with demons who are carrying the secrets from the residents past. I adored how Mark wrote the characters and how they came together to save their little run down town from the evil that’s dead set on destroying them all. I LOVED IT!!!
I love when I can read a book and see everything in my mind like a movie and that’s how Towse writes!! If you’re looking to add a wonderfully written quick read to your spooky season list… THIS IS IT!! -
I was asked to review 'Gone to the Digs' and I'm glad I was asked. Horror is my favourite genre of book and boy do I love a good scare.
For me, this book would be for someone who likes horror but not too much horror. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the storyline but I feel like more could have been added to make it just that bit more scarier.
The whole plot is so good, but I feel it lacked a bit of suspense, but for me, I love to have a jump scare every now and then within the book. The begining, each individual had their own little into for us to get to know them - this I definitely liked!
HOWEVER, just because it didn't have the jump scare doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I thought it was really good and it made you think about how people can come across, no matter what their history is.. but that it can always come back and bite you in the bum!
Again, this book is good and I would recommend it, especially if you don't mind a bit of horror! -
The dogs won't stop barking! As if the fact that the town smells, is slowly dying and the sun never shines, now the dogs just won't shut up. But, soon that fact is the least of the residents' worries.
This short book focuses on 5 of the town's residents, including an old war veteran, the owner of the local (and soon to be closed) pub, and a teenage boy who just wants to survive his father's temper. As blood starts to rain from the sky, the ground trembles and a huge chasm to the underworld opens up, these few survivors soon have to face the worst horrors from their pasts.
The author has done a great job in creating a horror and action filled tale, complete with several truly gruesome beings and even more gruesome deaths. And, the dogs redeem themselves in the end in case you wonder. -
Gone to the Dogs starts fast and keeps that pace going until its terrific and moving ending. In the opening pages the sky starts raining blood and a sinkhole appears in the middle of the main road, with strange monsters slowly crawling out of the cracks. As this happens, we are introduced to a range of characters who are then thrown together by these bizarre events as they end up hiding out in the pub. Whilst the neighbourhood dogs are anxious and continue to bark nonstop, the group realise the monsters outside seem to have a psychic connection to pivotal moments of guilt from their individual pasts, which can manifest into something horrible and very personal.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by
clicking here.
