Crime and Thrillers
A supernatural thriller about a reckless dive to a WWI war grave that unleashes deadly hauntings across Orkney and New York. As cursed artefacts change hands, a desperate effort to return them to the deep becomes the only hope to end the terror.
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A chilling supernatural thriller that weaves between the storm-lashed shores of Orkney and the chaos of Manhattan.
When two divers illegally recover artefacts from HMS Vanguard — a WWI war grave resting beneath Scapa Flow — they unleash a deadly series of hauntings.
As the cursed relics pass through unsuspecting hands, ghostly forces strike with growing intensity. A haunted priest, a blunt medium, and an unconventional deliverance minister must work together to uncover the truth and lay the spirits to rest. But the dead are not easily appeased...
Will they find a way to end the hauntings — or be dragged under like the rest?
Inspired by real events, this gripping tale explores guilt, redemption, and the lasting power of the past.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
Souls of Scapa Flow is a hauntingly atmospheric thriller that lingers long after the final page. S.D. Read takes the storm-lashed beauty of Orkney and sets it against the chaos of Manhattan, weaving a tale where history refuses to stay buried. The novel begins with a reckless act—two divers disturbing the wreck of HMS Vanguard, a WWI war grave—and from that moment, the story pulses with unease. The cursed relics pass through unsuspecting hands, each encounter escalating the supernatural menace. What makes the book compelling is not just the ghostly terror, but the human struggle: a haunted priest, a blunt medium, and a deliverance minister forced to confront forces beyond their control. Read’s prose balances pace with atmosphere, capturing both the salt-stung isolation of Orkney and the frenetic energy of Manhattan. Beneath the chills lies a deeper meditation on guilt, redemption, and the weight of history—reminding us that the past is never truly silent. This is a gripping, eerie tale for readers who love their thrillers infused with both spectral dread and emotional resonance. With thanks to SD Read, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Near the Orkney Islands off the mainland Scottish coast, two divers pay a local to take them out to the area where the HMS Vanguard, a WWI ship which exploded taking almost all those onboard with it, lies. It has been designated a war grave & is therefore off limits to divers, but whilst illegally exploring the wreck one of them uncovers several plates from the ship's mess (canteen) & thinking they could be worth something, he takes 3 of them. As the plates pass from one person to another, the people are haunted by the ghostly presence of a sailor & these hauntings ramp up until a tragedy occurs. The group which includes a priest, a medium, & a deliverance minister work together to lay the spirits to rest. There were several things I really liked about this one, especially the historical aspect (what happened to HMS Vanguard really did happen & there is a short piece about it at the end of the book), & the setting. I've always wanted to visit the Orkney Islands particularly to see Skara Brae - the prehistoric site - which makes a brief appearance here & it's made me want to visit even more. I thought the storyline worked well, even if there were a lot of characters to juggle, however the pacing was a little uneven at times & it was odd how the suggestion of a haunting was actually believed by so many with relatively little pushback. Overall it was an interesting read & I'd definitely read more of the author's work. 3.75 stars (rounded up) My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, The Book Guild, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. It looked spooky. I loved if you take what isn't yours there's always a price to pay. I requested it just from that and the cover. I loved the writing style and the story. I loved the historical part. Especially when something is true. It shows it was well researched. I do recommend this book.
