🧠 Psychological Horror

Dark and Broken Things

✍️ John Mulhall
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$15.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A man recovers in an isolated hospital after a fatal crash, haunted by his past.

David Grace wakes up in a remote facility after a car accident kills his best friend. He is trapped by snow and severe injuries. The narrative focuses on his internal struggle as he tries to distinguish between memory and hallucination. Mulhall explores the theme of survivor's guilt through David’s deteriorating mental state. The story uses the confined setting to amplify the psychological pressure. There are no rescuers or outside help, which intensifies the sense of despair. The horror stems from the uncertainty of David’s perception rather than supernatural entities. This creates a tense atmosphere where every sound and shadow feels threatening. The book is a character-driven study of trauma and isolation.

Key Themes
survivor's guilt psychological unraveling isolated recovery
Literary Context

Published in 2014 by Blanket Fort Books, this work fits into the contemporary horror genre. It draws on gothic traditions of isolation and madness. The setting reflects modern anxieties about helplessness and mental health.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Thomas Ligotti · Paul Tremblay
🧠
Psychological Horror
🏛 Blanket Fort Books 📅 2014 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780988594951

📝 Description: Dark and Broken Things

John Mulhall presents a psychological thriller centered on David Grace, who survives a fatal car accident involving black ice. The narrative follows his recovery in an isolated hospital, cut off from the outside world by heavy snow. As he heals physically, he confronts memories of his best friend's death and questions his own sanity. The story blends elements of gothic horror with supernatural fiction, focusing on internal demons rather than external monsters. The book appeals to readers who enjoy slow-burn psychological tension and atmospheric dread. It suits those interested in stories about trauma, guilt, and the fragility of the human mind. Readers seeking fast-paced action or traditional jump scares may find the pacing too deliberate. Mulhall’s background in horror writing informs the eerie tone and character development. The setting plays a crucial role in the narrative. The remote hospital creates a sense of claustrophobia and helplessness. David’s isolation forces him to face his past without distraction. The black ice incident serves as the catalyst for his psychological unraveling. The story does not rely on gore but on the creeping fear of losing one's grip on reality. This approach aligns with classic supernatural fiction traditions where the horror comes from within. The narrative structure keeps the reader guessing about what is real and what is imagined. It is a study in isolation and mental decay.

💎 Our verdict on Dark and Broken Things

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Mulhall crafts a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere where every shadow feels threatening, successfully blurring the line between memory and hallucination. The remote hospital setting effectively isolates David, forcing him to confront his past without distraction or rescue. By focusing on internal demons rather than external monsters, the story aligns with classic supernatural fiction traditions that derive horror from within. The deliberate pacing may test some patience, but it serves the slow-burn unraveling of David’s sanity. It is a gripping, eerie character study for those who enjoy psychological thrillers that prioritize dread and uncertainty over visceral shock.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is ideal for readers who crave slow-burn psychological tension and atmospheric dread over fast-paced action or traditional jump scares. It offers a profound exploration of survivor's guilt, trauma, and the fragility of the human mind through the lens of David Grace’s deteriorating mental state. Those interested in character-driven studies of isolation will appreciate how the confined hospital setting amplifies the sense of despair. The narrative invites readers to question reality alongside the protagonist, making it a compelling choice for fans of eerie tone and internal horror that prioritizes psychological unraveling over gore.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Mulhall crafts a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere where every shadow feels threatening, successfully blurring the line between memory and hallucination. The remote hospital setting effectively isolates David, forcing him to confront his past without distraction or rescue. By focusing on internal demons rather than external monsters, the story aligns with classic supernatural fiction traditions that derive horror from within. The deliberate pacing may test some patience, but it serves the slow-burn unraveling of David’s sanity. It is a gripping, eerie character study for those who enjoy psychological thrillers that prioritize dread and uncertainty over visceral shock.

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