I mentioned in a Spooktober 2023 post and in my Haunting Author Recommendations post earlier this month The Shadow Over Innsmouth is a renowned H.P. Lovecraft tale not to be missed. I abided by that sentiment and read The Shadow Over Innsmouth to get a feel for the truly horrific and disturbing during this month of the scary and spooky reads. Oh, am I glad I did because the tale lives up to its repputation and I found myself unable to take my eyes away from the pages.

Innsmouth, a dilapidated seaside town earning itself a not-so-favourable rapport with neighbouring settlements, carries secrets and ominous mystery within its derelict walls. Off the coast, the ill-reputed Devil’s Reef watches the town, and the few hospitable folk in town fear the power associated with it. At the heart of the story is the hybrid race of half-human and half-amphibian creatures, noted as having the “Innsmouth look”, and the alien jewellery that has been brought into the world since their arrival. These creatures are not normal, not right, and our protagonist is only trying to piece together what is going on in this town. But be warned, what he finds out is not for the faith of heart.

Innsmouth is so well described from the beginning of this novella. It has the negative reception from those living near, the ominous strangeness about its state and its disturbing inhabitants, and the dark lure of its secrets. Even as we learn about others’ perceptions and opinions, an undeniable image is painted for the reader. When we arrive in the town centre, these illustrations smack us in the face and set off an eerie chain of events. This is such great setting establishment, and on that alone I would recommend this book to fellow writers. You can learn so much about the building up of an image and landscape in the first few chapters

The tone has been set with this description of place and space, but one other aspect of the writing that brings this tone to the forefront of the prose is the word choice. Language choice is a clear way to make the reader feel a certain way, and H.P. Lovecraft takes this concept and runs with it. The way the protagonist observes and reacts to things carries specific wording that plays into the way we interpret sensory information. The constant fishy smell is off-putting, as is the near hostile description of the townsfolk. The use of the protagonist’s emotions is another keen aspect of tone setting – when he feels fear, we also feel that fear. Not because we are as spooked or disturbed as he is, but because the narration is so sharp and immersive we feel his fear and reciprocate it in some way before we can get a hold of ourselves. Sometimes, we can’t get a hold of ourselves as the offending elements get building, multiply, and confront us while we are already unsettled.

It is evident why H.P. Lovecraft is a notable horror author alongside Edgar Allen Poe and Shirley Jackson. His work in The Shadow Over Innsmouth is truly haunting in its detail and long-lasting imagery, not to mention is overarching story world is so expertly woven, with layers upon layers of characters, background, settings, lore, and horrific ambience. I will continue to read his work, not only for the literary merits and writing tips it includes, but for the sheer joy in expanding my knowledge on a genre I don’t often tread. the Shadow Over Innsmouth is a literary classic, a horror classic, and a dark, twisted delight to read. I recommend it to all readers seeking a truly deep and dark tale, as well as the writers wanting to build on their skills and develop elements of their craft that need a little extra loving.