The Dead Path

Starred review from August 30, 2010
Australian author Irwin's impressive debut, a supernatural thriller, evokes a world full of death and spirits to which we are, mercifully, oblivious. Since the night of his wife's death, Nicholas Close has been cursed with second sight to see ghosts re-enacting the final moments before their own often violent deaths. These disconcerting visions drive Nicholas back to his family home in Tallong, Australia, where, instead of finding comfort, he sees the ghost of a childhood playmate replay the murder that almost took Nicholas's life instead. Clues from other local murders and data gleaned from his father's books of occult lore apprise Nicholas of ancient unhallowed traditions still being practiced in the forest near his home—and of malignant powers attempting to reassert a balance that was upset when Nicholas escaped death. Irwin writes in a lyrical style that expresses both the poignancy of Nicholas's distressing supernatural experiences and the mood of horror those experiences conjure.

Starred review from October 1, 2010

Suffering from the recent death of his wife and haunted by the images of ghosts reliving their deaths over and over, Nicholas Close returns from London to his childhood home in Australia. But his steps are dogged by murders reminiscent of those that happened when he was a boy. Nicholas's childhood and adult fears collide as he races to uncover the evil stalking his hometown and family. VERDICT Exploring the dark corners where childhood nightmares become adult terror, this debut novel by an Australian filmmaker and screenwriter is a ghost story to please murder mystery and horror fans alike, as well as John Saul and Peter Straub fans. Memorable characters, beautifully crafted writing, and an adept hand at storytelling will have readers begging for Irwin's next book. Highly recommended. [This was published in Britain to great acclaim under the title The Darkening.--Ed.]--Colleen S. Harris, Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga Libs.

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 15, 2010
Following a wicked accident and the tragic death of his wife, Nicholas Close has been cursed with the gift of second sight, condemned to watch the dying moments of ghosts over and over again. He flees London for the comforts of his childhood home in an Australian suburb but is surprised to see that the dense, dark woods down the street have still not been developed. Thats where his childhood best friend, Tristram, was murdered, and now another child from the neighborhood has gone missing. Nicholas is the only one who knows that she, too, has perished in the forest, for he is now being haunted by the vision of the moment she was taken, whisked into the woods by unknown forces. Compelled to find out what happened to both his childhood friend and the missing girl, he learns that there is an ancient spirit residing in the woods, one who seems especially interested in Nicholas and is poised for battle. Irwin employs many of the images familiar from dark fairy talesskittering spiders, a haunted forest, an evil witchand infuses them with fresh terror. One of the scariest novels of this or any other year, The Dead Path is sure to draw comparisons to the work of Stephen King.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)