🩸 Horror Fiction

The Place Called Dagon

✍️ Herbert Gorman
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$14.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A doctor investigates a mysterious farm in isolated New England with Herbert Gorman.

The narrative centers on Dr. Dreeme’s visit to the Westcott estate, where he encounters Jeffrey and Martha. The text highlights the contrast between Dreeme’s ordinary expectations and the eerie reality of the farmhouse. Key elements include the storm outside, the library of ancient books, and the unspoken history of Marlborough. Gorman uses these details to build a sense of impending danger that extends beyond the physical injury requiring treatment.

Key Themes
New England isolation ancient ominous tomes predatory allure
Literary Context

The story is set in Marlborough, a secluded New England village. It draws on traditions of rural American gothic fiction and supernatural horror. The narrative focuses on insular communities and long-hidden terrors that persist through generations of rigid isolation.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
H.P. Lovecraft · M.R. James · Shirley Jackson
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Wildside Press 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781667669175

📝 Description: The Place Called Dagon

Herbert Gorman presents a tale set in Marlborough, a secluded New England village defined by its insular inhabitants and dark history. The narrative follows young Dr. Dreeme, who travels to the remote Westcott farm during a fierce storm to treat Jeffrey Westcott for a bullet wound. This setting establishes a world removed from ordinary life, where ancient tomes and unsettling perceptions dominate the atmosphere. Jeffrey Westcott is portrayed as a man of sharp intellect surrounded by ominous literature, while his wife Martha exudes a strange allure with predatory intensity. As Dreeme remains in the area, his initial professional duty shifts into a gnawing obsession with the valley's rigid isolation and hidden terrors. The story examines forces that have festered for centuries within this isolated community. This work suits readers interested in gothic fiction and supernatural horror rooted in American rural settings. It appeals to those who enjoy atmospheric tales of psychological dread and ancient secrets. Readers seeking fast-paced action or modern scientific explanations may find the slow-burn tension and insular focus less engaging.

💎 Our verdict on The Place Called Dagon

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Herbert Gorman crafts a compelling gothic atmosphere through the isolation of Marlborough and the Westcott estate. The contrast between Dr. Dreeme’s professional duty and his growing obsession drives the narrative, supported by vivid imagery of storms and ancient tomes. While lacking rapid action, the book excels in building psychological tension and highlighting predatory dynamics. It suits fans of slow-burn horror and rural Gothic tales. Readers seeking immediate thrills might find it too insular, but those drawn to atmospheric dread and historical secrets will appreciate its nuanced portrayal of hidden terrors and the eerie weight of unspoken history within a secluded community.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric gothic fiction and supernatural horror rooted in American rural settings will find this book compelling. It appeals to those who enjoy slow-burn tension, psychological dread, and tales of ancient secrets over fast-paced action. The narrative offers a deep dive into the insular nature of isolated communities and the eerie contrast between ordinary expectations and unsettling realities. Those seeking modern scientific explanations or immediate thrills may prefer other genres, but this title provides a rich exploration of hidden terrors and predatory allure within a secluded New England landscape.

⭐ 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

Herbert Gorman crafts a compelling gothic atmosphere through the isolation of Marlborough and the Westcott estate. The contrast between Dr. Dreeme’s professional duty and his growing obsession drives the narrative, supported by vivid imagery of storms and ancient tomes. While lacking rapid action, the book excels in building psychological tension and highlighting predatory dynamics. It suits fans of slow-burn horror and rural Gothic tales. Readers seeking immediate thrills might find it too insular, but those drawn to atmospheric dread and historical secrets will appreciate its nuanced portrayal of hidden terrors and the eerie weight of unspoken history within a secluded community.

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