🕯️ Supernatural

The Devil of Hansen's Mill

✍️ Tomas Stendahl
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$16.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A deputy investigates disappearances in a haunted mill town.

Jon Bordeleau moves to Hansen's Mill while his life falls apart. He investigates missing persons cases despite orders to stay away. Key figures include Samantha Gwynne, Abe Housman, Frank Morgan, and Eddie Greenriver. Each character holds potential clues or motives. The plot blends crime investigation with local folklore. The Flying Head legend adds a supernatural layer to the mystery. Jon’s personal life intersects with his professional duties through Cassie Gateshead. The setting is crucial, as the town itself feels like a character. Stendahl uses these elements to build tension without relying on gore.

Key Themes
small town mystery Iroquois legend supernatural investigation
Literary Context

This work sits within the tradition of American small-town horror fiction, drawing on Iroquois folklore and local legends. It reflects contemporary independent publishing trends by focusing on isolated communities and psychological tension rather than grand historical events.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Thomas Harris · Alma Katsu
🕯️
Supernatural
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2017 📖 468 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781539478584

📝 Description: The Devil of Hansen's Mill

Deputy Jon Bordeleau arrives in Hansen's Mill after losing his home and girlfriend, tasked with investigating disappearances in this tiny crossroads community. He acts against official orders because he suspects deeper causes for the deaths. The narrative examines whether vineyard owner Samantha Gwynne seeks to consolidate land or if musician Abe Housman hides secrets in his cellar. Local oddballs like huntsman Frank Morgan and pot-head Eddie Greenriver become suspects. Greenriver believes a devil is loose, while others recall the Iroquois legend of the Flying Head. Jon’s presence also connects to Cassie Gateshead, an irrepressibly cheerful waitress at the local diner. The story weaves together small-town mystery with supernatural elements and personal turmoil. Tomas Stendahl constructs this tale using these specific characters and legends to create a dark atmosphere. The book suits readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries set in isolated communities with folk horror undertones. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or purely scientific paranormal investigations. The narrative relies on the interactions between these flawed individuals and their shared history.

💎 Our verdict on The Devil of Hansen's Mill

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Stendahl constructs a dark atmosphere where the setting acts as a character itself, blending cosmic horror undertones with grounded psychological drama. The book succeeds in maintaining tension through the interactions between deeply flawed individuals rather than relying on explicit violence. It suits readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with folk horror elements and complex interpersonal dynamics. While it lacks the immediacy of action-thrillers, its strength lies in its atmospheric depth and the integration of local legends into a modern investigative framework, offering a chilling yet thoughtful exploration of fear and isolation.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate character-driven mysteries set in isolated communities will find this book compelling. It offers a deep dive into flawed individuals grappling with personal turmoil against a backdrop of supernatural dread. The narrative excels in building tension through local folklore and psychological depth rather than relying on gore or fast-paced action. Those interested in the intersection of crime investigation and ghost stories, particularly those involving the Flying Head legend, will enjoy the intricate web of motives and secrets woven by Tomas Stendahl.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Stendahl constructs a dark atmosphere where the setting acts as a character itself, blending cosmic horror undertones with grounded psychological drama. The book succeeds in maintaining tension through the interactions between deeply flawed individuals rather than relying on explicit violence. It suits readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with folk horror elements and complex interpersonal dynamics. While it lacks the immediacy of action-thrillers, its strength lies in its atmospheric depth and the integration of local legends into a modern investigative framework, offering a chilling yet thoughtful exploration of fear and isolation.

🏛 Books from this publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Memento Mori
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Paul Holbrook
Memento Mori
$13.94
78
Read →
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Quinton Veal
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
$12.00
78
Read →
The Manitou
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jessie Cox
The Manitou
$10.50
78
Read →
The Phantom of the Opera
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Alexander Teixeira De Mattos
The Phantom of the Opera
$17.00
81
Read →
The Trial
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wyllie
The Trial
$10.25
81
Read →
Prey Until Dawn
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Daryn Guarino
Prey Until Dawn
$50.00
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
A Taste of Jasmine ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Corbin Dailey
A Taste of Jasmine
$16.99
86
Read →
The Woodsman ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Craig Hansen
The Woodsman
$16.99
86
Read →
Conspiracy of Angels ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Laurence Macnaughton
Conspiracy of Angels
$17.99
86
Read →
The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters: Hospitals are Hell ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Rhavensfyre
The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters: Hospitals are Hell
$14.25
86
Read →
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 2 ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Edgar Allan Poe
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 2
$13.24
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist