The alphabet blocks should have been harmless, but for Julia Stone they are reminders of a past she desperately fears. Her memories of her childhood remain shrouded in mystery, haunting her every move as she senses “the creep” is still out there. But is it only her imagination when strange things begin occurring around her new home in Elkwood, North Carolina? She turns to her therapist, Dr. Pamela Forrest for help as she is terrified she is going insane. Meanwhile, her fiancé, Mitchell Austin, and her handyman, Walter Triplett, seem on hand to help at every turn. Do they truly have her best interests at heart? Will Julia conquer her past or descend into madness?

THE SKULL RING delves deeply into the hysteria over repressed memories and Satanism. Scott Nicholson ramps up the fear level by giving readers a main character whose own perspective is untrustworthy. Julia Stone fears that what she sees and hears is in her own head, while at the same time she sees her own version of the boogeyman in every shadow. Add to this an eerie atmosphere with visions of hooded figures, chanting, and an usual skull ring, and Julia’s world is one that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Scott Nicholson does a magnificent job with character development, particularly with Julia. Julia’s fears permeate the pages and it was all I could do to not peek at the end to see whether the strange events were true or figments of her imagination. Julia’s panic attacks are described quite vividly, heightening the tension while giving the reader insight into her personality.

THE SKULL RING is a thrilling, often unnerving tale of suspense and horror that is sure to keep readers awake well into the night. Be forewarned as this is not the sort of tale you want to start just before bedtime as it’s practically impossible to put THE SKULL RING down. Bravo!

Publisher: Haunted Computer Productions (March 2010)