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Inescapable Guilt
Say Your Goodbyes to the Light follows a man who thinks he has covered his tracks after committing murder, who is unprepared for the vengeful spirits that are soon following him and invading his life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration stemmed from my deep fascination with the consequences of guilt and the belief that one can never truly escape the wrongs they’ve committed—nor should they. I wanted to explore how someone who believes they’ve outsmarted justice faces an unstoppable force beyond their understanding or control. The concept of vengeful spirits intrigued me as a metaphor for inescapable guilt and retribution.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
Horror and the paranormal fascinate me because they allow us to confront fears that are deeply rooted in the unknown. These genres create a space where we can explore themes of morality, mortality, and the supernatural in ways that challenge our perceptions of reality. Writing this book was an opportunity to delve into those fears, particularly the fear of unseen consequences and the price of our actions, in a way that’s both thrilling and unsettling.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One of the central themes is the idea of justice and how it can manifest in unexpected ways. I also wanted to examine guilt and its psychological toll, as well as the inevitability of facing the repercussions of one’s actions. Redemption—or the lack of it—is another theme I wove into the story, asking whether true atonement is ever possible when you’ve crossed certain lines.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it?
I’m currently working on a new horror novel that continues to delve into the darker side of human nature, combined with a deeply unsettling supernatural twist. Fans can expect it to be released within the next year, and I’m excited to share a story that will push boundaries even further. Stay tuned for updates!
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It starts innocently enough: whispers in the dead of night, flickers of her face in mirrors, and the oppressive chill of a presence he refuses to believe is real. At first, Elliot dismisses it as paranoia—his mind cracking under the weight of what he’s done. But Delyla’s ghost grows stronger, turning his world into a waking nightmare. She invades his thoughts, manipulates his surroundings, and forces him to confront the life he destroyed and the dark corners of his soul.
As her vengeance becomes more unrelenting, Elliot spirals into paranoia and despair. Delyla is determined to make him pay, forcing him to relive her pain, her fear, and her final moments. Trapped in an inescapable cycle of torment, Elliot must make a choice: confess his sins and face the justice of the living, or endure an eternity of punishment at Delyla’s ghostly hands.
Say Your Goodbyes to the Light is a gripping psychological and supernatural thriller that delves into the depths of guilt, justice, and the fragility of the human mind. For fans of chilling hauntings and dark character studies, this novel is a harrowing exploration of crime, punishment, and the shadows we can’t escape.
Say Your Goodbyes to the Light
Elliott Marsh knows he’s far from virtuous, and he’s come to terms with that. He believes he’s covered his tracks flawlessly. Delyla, his victim, lies hidden in a place he’s certain no one will ever find. He got away with murder, or so he thinks. But violent deaths often leave restless echoes, and Elliott is about to discover that some crimes demand reckoning. It starts subtly: an uneasy feeling, fleeting shadows. Soon, though, it’s undeniable. Something relentless, something judgmental, has its sights set on him, and it won’t stop until he pays in full.
M.B. Whittington’s Say Your Goodbyes to the Light is a chilling blend of supernatural and psychological horror. Echoing the dread of Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, the moral reckoning of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, and the cinematic tension of What Lies Beneath, the novel treads familiar ground but does so with an unnerving mastery of atmosphere.
The premise of vengeful spirits haunting their murderers is well-trodden, yet Whittington breathes fresh life into it. His prose exudes unease, crafting a creeping dread that tightens its grip with every page. Elliott’s psychological descent is both compelling and horrifying. Watching his mind unravel becomes a spectacle that’s equal parts disturbing and satisfying.
Elliott’s journey reveals a fascinating shift in perspective. Initially, he views himself as a victim of circumstances, justifying his actions. Gradually, however, he is stripped of his delusions. Whittington peels back every layer of his self-deception, exposing a man as detestable as the ghost that haunts him believes him to be. It’s a slow, deliberate transformation, but it’s inescapable an unstoppable march toward justice, no matter how much Elliott resists. Though the ending becomes predictable early on, the execution more than compensates. Whittington excels at cultivating mood, and the story’s sense of inevitability only heightens the tension. The result is a journey that feels less about where it leads and more about how it gets there.
Dark, twisted, and relentless, Say Your Goodbyes to the Light is a gripping addition to the psychological horror genre. With its unflinching exploration of guilt, judgment, and inevitability, it’s a haunting tale that lingers long after the final page.
Pages: 452 | ASIN : B0DPCY3N7P
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