Forsaken

A Novel of Horror

By: Andrew Van Wey

Narrated by: Tom Jordan

Some art takes on a life of its own. A beautiful house. A loving family. Two kids, a dog, and a tenure-track professorship teaching art at the local university. Dan Rineheart is living the dream. But all dreams must end.

When an anonymous painting arrives at the university, Dan is tasked with uncovering the artist. No title. No name. No signature or frame. It’s a disturbing work of grotesque perfection. A work of art...that changes with each viewing. So begins the nightmare. Where painted clocks tick-tock in the dark hours before dawn. Where shadow-wrapped children stalk the halls of a once happy home. Where all paths lead to a forsaken artist and their impossible creation. This is the nightmare Dan Rineheart must enter before it shatters his sanity and devours his family.

©2013 Andrew Van Wey (P)2022 Andrew Van Wey

Fantastic! Could be a great movie!

So many layers to this book, interesting plot line, vivid imagery. I would highly recommend!

just okay

I don't know why all the "scary" reviews. I didn't find it scary at all. It was interesting and different, but left some questions. I still don't understand why the cop "lost it" at the end. would have been nice to have a better understanding. There's a part of me that feels like I've seen this story told before, but can't remember when, but the whole painting theme seems vaguely familiar.

Meh!

I was expected to be scared. I was expecting something that would have me walking backward as I turned lights off, making sure to stay within the lighted areas. But, this story didn't do that.

Madly Bleak

This book requires a lot of concentration. I tend to use audiobooks as background noise when I'm doing the dishes or driving. This book requires complete attention, in the best way possible!
Secrets have a way of wearing you down!
I needed a light hearted palette cleanser after this one. It's has a hopeless feel about it.
I enjoyed every bit of it, but needed something fluffy to follow it up! VanWey is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

Terrifying!

Well written. Well paced. Wonderful narrator. Scary, unusual story. If you like horror stories, you’ll enjoy this.

Talk about Stranger Things!!

Wow…this was a lot to wrap my head around!! It all started with a painting…and Professor Daniel Rineheart’s perfect life begins to unravel. The family’s dog goes missing and Dan starts to see and hear things going bump in the night. Is it all real or imagined? Great tale with excellent narration that keeps you intrigued.

Couldn't stop listening!

I think I listened to this book in one day - I couldn't turn it off! I was really captured by the descriptive language, especially around the painting itself. I feel like the author really set the scene and this was a great haunting story. The narration was excellent as well. This author is new to me but I am already listening to another one of his novels and have another in my Wish List...glad to have found this book and highly recommend!

Fabulously creepy!

The story is full of twists and turns and grand imagination! I’ll be reading more from this author!

Van Wey is a guaranteed good time

This is my third Van Wey novel and I really enjoyed it! It's a vintage "decent into madness" tale with some on-brand creep factor for this author.

Tom Jordan is quite possibly the best narrator working today. He is a no frills, to the point reader that wraps you up into the story without becoming distracting.

I will read anything Van Wey creates, and while I preferred his Lost Coast novels, this one scratches the itch for a creepy October read.

Wonder performance by Tom Jordan

FORSAKEN is a masterpiece of psychological horror. This book is not about jump scares, but a very intricate telling of a tale of brothers, families, betrayal, and the search for happiness and success. As a professor of art, along with his students, he endeavors to restore priceless works of art that have suffered over time. But something is wrong. It's like a tinnitus. You become aware of it when you least expect it. In this story, it is - the glass. Author Andrew Van Wey pulls you into the lives and the world of the characters, all seemingly normal until an anonymous painting shows up at the art department where the professor works. It becomes his project. His obsession.
I loved this book. I look forward to additional writing by this author.
I also recommend the companion audio book performed by Tom Jordan.