Mersey Dark

The Templeton Novels - Book One

By: Michael Whitehead

Narrated by: Terry F. Self

Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Liverpool, 1856.

When detective Nelson Tanner is sent to investigate a horrific double murder, he quickly realizes that the important question is not who is responsible. The true puzzle may be what is responsible for the killings.

Tanner is drawn into a conspiracy of dark magic and revenge. In order to save the people of Liverpool from annihilation, he must first survive his own destruction. Tanner is forced to wage war against a powerful enemy, and his only chance of victory lies with his new partner - a man named Templeton.

Mersey Dark is a tale of magic, horror, and revenge in which the deeds of the past may bring ruin to all.

©2019 Michael Whitehead (P)2019 Michael Whitehead

That was not the furball I was expecting - Great!

What a delicious, spooky tale for the Halloween season! I love the Victorian setting for this story. Travel the underbelly of society with our detective Tanner and his enigmatic new partner Templeton as they attempt to solve a string of murders. There’s savagery and fur afoot!

And yes, that is Templeton from Whitehead’s Seas of Blood (another great spooky tale). You don’t need to read Seas of Blood to understand Templeton in Mersey Dark, but both are entertaining novels. Templeton is a Finder and he literally finds things – odd, terrifying things. He’s very cagey about who his employers are or even how he does what he does. I love the mystery this guy represents and greatly look forward to seeing what the author has in store for him in future books.

The book opens with a past event that shapes all the events of 1856 Mersey. David, a plantation slave, matches wills with Sir Thomas Richmond over medical care for his son. Sir Thomas is surprised by David’s choice and that choice is literally seared into the flesh and memory of his son. Vengeance can take years to fully brew.

Detective Tanner is an enjoyable character. He’s dedicated to this job but his superiors aren’t very interested in his opinions at first. The story also follows a young boy, the oldest of his siblings. He’s been caught thieving too often, even if he’s only stealing to feed his family (having no father and a drunk mom). Things look pretty grim for the lad but he meets a girl under dire circumstances. The two of them become instrumental in solving the case.

As for who or what is doing the killing – well, you’ll just have to pick up a copy of the book to find out. That’s where the supernatural element comes in. I was surprised! Here I was expecting a fairly standard werewolf tale but as small clues appear, I knew there was something else going on. I loved the slow reveal. Very suspenseful! 5/5 stars.

The Narration: Terry Self gives us another excellent performance. I have enjoyed all his narrations of Michael Whitehead’s novels. His range of accents and female voices is great. All the characters sound unique and the ladies sound feminine. I love his clipped, professional manner for Templeton, his young girl’s voice, and his enraged plantation slave accent. The pacing was spot on & there were no technical issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own.

Excellent unique story!!

If you love scary, if you you love period pieces, monster stories, and well written stories with excellent character development.. this book is for you! Set in 1800’s Liverpool this riveting tale is a new take on monster stories. A local detective and Templeton, a mysterious “finder” set out to stop ravaging beasts from ripping their town, and its citizens, to shreds. Tons of action, characters you truly care about, and magnificent narration make this one to DEFINITELY check out!