🩸 Horror Fiction

The Healing Pool

✍️ Joe Bannerman
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$12.00
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A man confronts supernatural forces while escaping domestic abuse in a condemned building.

This work examines the intersection of psychological trauma and supernatural intervention. Bannerman uses the setting of a condemned apartment clubhouse to ground the horror in reality. The protagonist's journey is defined by his need to face a personal demon he has long avoided. The narrative emphasizes the weight of admitted secrets and the difficulty of finding respite from years of abuse. It offers a stark portrayal of survival without romanticizing the pain involved.

Key Themes
domestic abuse supernatural respite personal demons
Literary Context

Joe Bannerman brings his experience from It Follows and To Feed the Darkness to this 2023 release. The book sits within the tradition of real-life horror, focusing on tangible fears rather than abstract monsters. It appeals to American readers interested in grounded supernatural fiction that deals with serious personal issues.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Shirley Jackson · Clive Barker · Tananarive Due
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Lulu.com 📅 2023 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781304913807

📝 Description: The Healing Pool

Joe Bannerman returns with a narrative focused on real-life horror in The Healing Pool. The story follows a man who has endured years of mental, emotional, and physical abuse within a domestic hell. He finds unlikely respite through supernatural forces and a dark secret hidden in the abandoned recesses of a condemned apartment clubhouse. These elements help him gather the strength to confront an invincible personal demon and a terrible secret he can hardly admit to himself. Bannerman is known for works such as It Follows and To Feed the Darkness. This new focus on real-life horror remains no less terrifying than his previous efforts. The book suits readers who appreciate grounded supernatural fiction that explores the intersection of psychological trauma and otherworldly intervention. It may not appeal to those seeking traditional jump scares or purely fantastical settings without emotional weight. The narrative structure relies on the protagonist's internal struggle against both visible and invisible threats. The setting of a condemned apartment clubhouse provides a specific backdrop for these events. Bannerman uses this environment to highlight the character's descent and subsequent recovery through confronting his past. The story does not offer easy resolutions but rather a raw look at survival.

💎 Our verdict on The Healing Pool

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Bannerman effectively grounds his horror in the reality of a condemned apartment clubhouse, using this specific backdrop to highlight the character's descent and recovery. The narrative structure relies heavily on the protagonist's internal struggle against both visible and invisible threats, creating a tense atmosphere without romanticizing the pain involved. This approach suits readers who appreciate psychological depth over fantastical settings. While it may not appeal to those seeking traditional thrills, the book succeeds as a stark portrayal of survival. It examines the weight of admitted secrets and the necessity of facing personal demons, offering a meaningful exploration of trauma through a supernatural lens that feels both immediate and deeply unsettling.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate horror that prioritizes emotional weight over traditional jump scares will find significant value in this narrative. The book offers a stark, unromanticized portrayal of survival for those enduring or recovering from domestic abuse. It appeals to individuals interested in the intersection of psychological trauma and supernatural elements, providing a raw look at how confronting past demons can lead to recovery. Those seeking grounded supernatural fiction that explores the difficulty of finding respite from years of pain will gain insight into the protagonist's journey. The story does not offer easy resolutions but rather a compelling examination of strength gathered through facing invisible threats.

⭐ 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

Bannerman effectively grounds his horror in the reality of a condemned apartment clubhouse, using this specific backdrop to highlight the character's descent and recovery. The narrative structure relies heavily on the protagonist's internal struggle against both visible and invisible threats, creating a tense atmosphere without romanticizing the pain involved. This approach suits readers who appreciate psychological depth over fantastical settings. While it may not appeal to those seeking traditional thrills, the book succeeds as a stark portrayal of survival. It examines the weight of admitted secrets and the necessity of facing personal demons, offering a meaningful exploration of trauma through a supernatural lens that feels both immediate and deeply unsettling.

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