SENTINEL: A Thrilling Supernatural Horror Novel (The Bensalem Files) Paperback – May 13, 2021

Bensalem is a town with secrets and a dark history. But Aaron and Ellen Dreyer find out too late when their neighbor is brutally murdered and their four-year-old son Caleb goes missing. They feel it’s all connected to a mysterious creature that lurks in the woods outside their home. When the police don’t believe them, they take matters into their own hands and uncover a sinister truth that will have them questioning their own sanity…This debut novel is amazing! The author takes his time and is very adept at building dramatic tension and drawing out that sense of dread that makes you feel anxious all over. The characters are strong and deeply complex and as a parent, I felt the desperation and anguish the Dreyers were going through. The fact that I shed a tear is an indicator of powerful and effective writing that I truly connected with. The horror element is of the mysterious and eerie kind that sneaks up on you, grabs you by the throat and thrusts you into a terror filled atmosphere full of immeasurable unease and grotesque imagery.If you’re a fan of cosmic horror set in a small town with giant creatures that lurk in the woods, you’re gonna want to read this book. The author came up with a very original story that you’d never guess what the town is hiding and what their dark methods are. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel!

Got this book on a whim since it was October and I was looking for some more horror books. I was definitely not disappointed when reading this. It grabbed my attention and I had a very hard time putting it down. If your looking for a good read you can't go wrong with this book.

Drew Starling has become one of my favorite authors of short stories from my introduction to his work in Night Dive (in Night Terrors Volume 2). SENTINEL, his debut novel, didn't disappoint.SENTINEL is set in a small town complete with its local secrets and legends, drying communities and old cults. When the small Dreyer family moves in to a large old house on a somewhat deserted road and befriend's their only neighbor things start to go wrong. When the neighbor makes dinner plans with Aaron Dreyer to privately discuss things of the area perhaps the dinner should have been planned a day earlier.If you are a visual reader this is a good novel for you. It's hard to put down once starting it. It's a good scare but not so much to make me not want to move to a small rural community (Monsters don't scare me. Monsters are no more scary to me than sharks, bears, and lions. People scare me.).I am left with 2 questions though (1. What does India have to do with anything? And 2. What of the gate?). Perhaps the answers were given but I read the novel over the weekend so could have missed it in the wee hours I should have been sleeping.Though I believe SENTINEL is a stand-alone novel I am looking forward to the sequel NOTHUS.

Fans of small-town, cosmic horror, listen up: You'll want to add SENTINEL to your TBR. It has everything you'd expect: kind folks new to town, friendly neighbor, and then a shocking murder that coincides with an unspeakable creature being spotted near the woods. That's where things take a sharp turn, and it's a wild ride from there on out.Starling excels at describing the scene, making you feel what the characters are going through, leaving you wanting more by cleverly revealing just enough to keep you on the hook. This story has gore and blood, heart and despair, action and suspense... Something for everyone.There were a few times where the dialogue was not always realistic or congruent with the character's personality. Might just be personal preference, but it was easy enough to look past it and that's all I have for criticism. This was a solid read overall, and you'd be remiss if you didn't consider it.

This was definitely a great story to read! While at first we aren't exactly sure what is happening, we are drawn in by the town... the characters... and the writing. The family dog Cooper goes into a frenzy one night, and Aaron just HAD to look and see what it was... that's when the trouble begins.Drew Starling has done a wonderful job of creating a creepy town with its atmosphere. We feel we are there with Aaron, Ellen, Caleb, Cooper as they realize things are not as they seem. The characters are very well developed where you care about them and the sense of dread surrounding them. The Sentinel is described in such a way that we can see it in our mind's eye! Ugh!The author weaves a tale where you must keep reading until the very last page! Oh, the suspense!!! I can't wait to read the NEXT story in the series!If you are looking for a different kind of story, then this is it. You will be drawn in and be held captive until the very end. There are many elements at play here, and they gel together to create a memorable story.While I had been given an ARC, I am freely sharing my enjoyment of this story. I have enjpyed t so much that I purchased a copy to support the author. Thank you, Mr Starling! More, please!

Finished the book. Interesting story. Didn’t just blow my mind away but was good enough for me to finish.

I read this in a few days and loved it. For a first novel this is really a fantastic story. It kept me turning pages and dying to see what happens next. Truly original in its content. If you like Lovecraftian horror but can't stand the obtuse writing this is for you. Can't wait for the next one.

Well written supernatural horror novel. Definitely looking forward to the next book from this author. Not sure what else to write, Amazon wants a minimum of words for a review

I really enjoyed this horror novel. I hadn't read any horror for sometime and I'm glad I took a chance on this after reading so many great reviews. Those reviews are deserved I think.While this is horror it also is quite beautifully written with scenes of nature and parenthood and family also being prevalent. I really liked the characters here too especially Deputy Cheryl McNamara who has family issues as well as work ones which I felt added to the story.A fairly short and easy to read novel with punchy chapters and dialogue I would say this is overall a traditional and old fashioned hometown horror and is certainly no worse of for that. I read in the back of my copy that there will be book 2 in 2022 which I will definately be spending my hard earned cash on and not regretting it for a second.

A young family move to Bensalem, a small town with the beauty of nature surrounding them, what could possibly go wrong. Sentinel is a slow build up as we learn about the townspeople of this small sleepy town, which is not nearly as sleepy as first impressions give. Once the story speeds up, it drags you along, heart kicking and screaming. An ensemble cast, there were definitely some characters I felt a deeper connection to then others, but I cannot wait to see what they have in store for them in the next installment.

“But it wasn’t the thing’s size,metallic smell, or even the three yellow eyes that scared Aaron. Rather, it was its unsightly collection of long, tentacle-like fingers.”Aaron and Ellen live in Bensalem with their son Caleb. After a bout of jet lag messes up his sleep pattern, Aaron sees a Lovecraftian monster casually going for a stroll through the meadow opposite his house. A huge beast, at least 20 feet tall, with three yellow eyes. From there things take a downward spiral for Aaron and Ellen, as their neighbour is eviscerated and Caleb taken from them.This book is a slow burner, with a lot going on. The writing is wonderfully descriptive and a joy to read. The story runs over 6 days and nights in the lives of the characters and there’s a lot packed in and you really feel for Aaron and Ellen as they search for their missing son.There are some gory scenes, but not too many.It’s the first book in a series so as expected not everything is resolved at the end. I’m completely fascinated by “The Order of the Old Roses'', a mysterious order that seems to be protecting the town. But in this book, at least, it seems to be the cause of everything that goes wrong. I’m also looking forward to seeing what happens to Cheryl McNamara, a local deputy, in the next book. Her daughter is having issues and she’s come into possession of a large grimoire that belonged to the local chapter of the order. The only problem I have is that book 2 isn’t coming until 2022, so I’ll have to wait.Overall I really liked this book. The story is chilling and immersive, and I can heartily recommend it.

This is a great debut novel from author, Drew Starling.Sentinel immerses you in eerie, small-town-with-a-secret isolation. The tension builds and the horror unfolds as we experience the horrific events of the awakening of something ancient lurking in the woods.The story is well written and well paced and the characters strong and engaging. Outstanding work.I look forward to more from author Drew Starling in the future.

What can I say? The story, pace and prose are fantastic, the characters, monsters and scenes of horror sublime. I couldn't put it down.