Crone 🐦‍⬛

By Keith Rossen.

Crone is a dark, unsettling, and deeply atmospheric book that blends crime with the supernatural in a way that feels both seamless and compelling.

At the centre is Eli Lamp, a man shaped by loss and regret. 

Once a detective, now living on the edges of society, his life has been defined by the disappearance of his daughter years earlier. That grief lingers in everything he does, giving the story a heavy emotional core from the very beginning.

When he is tasked with investigating a brutal murder in exchange for his freedom, what starts as a crime story quickly shifts into something far more complex. As Eli is drawn back into his past and into the orbit of Avery, the last person to see his daughter, the narrative begins to unravel something much deeper.

What really stood out for me is how naturally the supernatural elements are woven into the story. It never feels forced or out of place. Instead, it sits alongside the everyday world in a way that makes everything feel more unsettling. The sense that something is lurking just beneath the surface is constant, and it builds a quiet but powerful tension throughout.

This is a book that is both enchanting and disturbing.

The atmosphere is incredibly strong, with the setting adding to the unease and the feeling that something is not quite right. At the same time, the emotional weight of the story keeps it grounded, particularly through Eli’s grief and the relationships that unfold around him.

I found myself really wanting more for these characters. There is a sense that many of them have been overlooked or silenced in some way, and the story gives space for those voices to be heard.

The pacing keeps you hooked, and the blend of mystery, grief, and supernatural elements works incredibly well together.

A haunting and immersive read that balances darkness with emotional depth in a way that is hard to look away from.

Thank you so much to the team at Black Crow Books for the most amazing special edition hardback! 

Buy the book here.