Becoming David

Name: Becoming David
Price: 12.24 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781530484942

✍️ Phil Sloman

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$12.24

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A London man's routine life unravels when a new figure named David enters it.

This novella focuses on Richard, a man living in suburban London who prides himself on an anonymous and uncomplicated existence. His daily schedule includes working out in his basement, where he secretly kills people, and hosting his cleaner twice weekly. The arrival of David disrupts this fragile equilibrium. Sloman uses this premise to explore themes of identity theft and psychological manipulation. The narrative does not rely on external threats but rather on the internal collapse of Richard’s reality. It asks if one can escape a force that seeks to completely overwrite their life. The book is organized to maintain a claustrophobic atmosphere, keeping the focus tight on the interaction between these two characters. It reflects the style found in Hersham Horror Books publications.

Key Themes

identity loss suburban isolation psychological control

Literary Context

Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, this novella emerges from the Hersham Horror Books tradition. It sits within the broader context of contemporary British horror fiction, focusing on domestic spaces rather than gothic castles or remote landscapes.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Thomas Harris · Daphne du Maurier · Shirley Jackson · Colin Wilson

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2016 📖 112 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781530484942

📝 Description: Becoming David

Richard inhabits a quiet London suburb, valuing his anonymity and strict routine. His days follow a predictable pattern: work, basement workouts, and visits from his cleaner twice a week. This orderly existence fractures when David appears. The novella by Phil Sloman explores the destabilizing effect of this new presence on Richard’s carefully constructed world. Sloman is known for his contributions to Hersham Horror Books. The narrative examines whether Richard can maintain his sanity or if David will usurp his identity entirely. The story questions the nature of truth and trust within a relationship that seems to consume all other connections. Readers seeking psychological dread in domestic settings will find this work aligned with their tastes. Those preferring gore or supernatural monsters may find the focus on internal disintegration less appealing. The text operates as a novella, a condensed form that allows Sloman to tighten the tension without sprawling exposition. The plot revolves around the shift in power dynamics between the two men. It draws on gothic traditions of doppelgangers and identity loss, grounding them in modern suburban ennui. The structure relies on the gradual erosion of Richard’s control rather than sudden shocks. This approach suits readers who enjoy slow-burn psychological horror.

💎 Our verdict on Becoming David

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Sloman effectively utilizes a condensed narrative structure to maintain a claustrophobic atmosphere, keeping the focus tightly on the interaction between Richard and David. The book excels at exploring themes of identity theft and psychological manipulation through the gradual erosion of Richard’s reality rather than relying on sudden shocks or gore. It is best suited for readers who appreciate gothic traditions of doppelgangers applied to modern suburban life. While those preferring visceral horror may find the focus on internal disintegration less appealing, fans of psychological tension and power dynamics will likely appreciate this tight, unsettling exploration of sanity and usurpation.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking psychological dread within domestic settings will find this work aligned with their tastes. It is particularly suitable for those who enjoy slow-burn horror that focuses on the internal disintegration of the protagonist rather than external threats or supernatural monsters. The novella format allows for tightened tension without sprawling exposition, making it an ideal choice for audiences interested in the erosion of control and the unsettling nature of truth and trust within consuming relationships.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Sloman effectively utilizes a condensed narrative structure to maintain a claustrophobic atmosphere, keeping the focus tightly on the interaction between Richard and David. The book excels at exploring themes of identity theft and psychological manipulation through the gradual erosion of Richard’s reality rather than relying on sudden shocks or gore. It is best suited for readers who appreciate gothic traditions of doppelgangers applied to modern suburban life. While those preferring visceral horror may find the focus on internal disintegration less appealing, fans of psychological tension and power dynamics will likely appreciate this tight, unsettling exploration of sanity and usurpation.