Brian J. Smith’s “Consuming Darkness” plunges readers into the heart of a small town besieged by demons, both internal and of the physical variety. At its core, the narrative revolves around Sheriff Bruce Morrison, a divorced man reluctantly pulled back into the complexities of his past as he cares for his ailing ex-wife and their daughter Gabi. Yet, the town’s troubles extend far beyond familial concerns, as its inhabitants fall prey to a terrifying monster that devours its victims in gruesome fashion.
Smith establishes himself as a talented wordsmith from the outset, crafting vivid descriptions that paint a hauntingly atmospheric backdrop. His portrayal of the sunset, with its “bottle gas blue glow” and “vulva-pink light,” sets the tone for the relentless darkness that unfolds throughout the novel.
The narrative effortlessly oscillates between intimate portrayals of the townsfolk’s lives and the mounting tension as the monster’s presence looms larger. Smith deftly weaves together near-pornographic vignettes of early victims’ sex lives with the frustrations of dealing with small-town politics and teenage drama.
Central to the horror is the monstrous creature itself, a leathery, flighty being that leaves behind a trail of bones as it consumes its prey. Smith’s descriptions of its gruesome attacks are chillingly visceral, evoking images that linger long after the pages have been turned.
As the story hurtles towards its climax, Morrison finds himself on a collision course with the creature, with his daughter Gabi caught in the crossfire. The ending, when it arrives, is swift and uncompromising, eschewing any semblance of a denouement in favor of a final, gut-wrenching confrontation.
However, amidst the terror and suspense, one bone of contention arises. Smith repeatedly references gargantuan breakfast dishes, featuring an absurd number of bacon slices. This culinary excess, with its seven strips of bacon in various breakfast platters, raises questions about the true monsters lurking within the town’s borders. Are they the winged devourer, or are they the breakfast cooks, silently contributing to the slow demise of their patrons through heart disease and diabetes?
In “Consuming Darkness,” Brian J. Smith delivers a relentlessly atmospheric tale that will leave readers gripped with fear and fascination. While the narrative’s pacing is relentless and the horror unrelenting, it’s the absolutely deranged description of what a breakfast can be that makes this a truly unforgettable read.
Stan Dirkson
