Published by Black Spot Books on August 7, 2018
Genres: Fiction, Supernatural, Thrillers, Fantasy, Paranormal
Pages: 140
Format: Audiobook
Source: ARC
Award-Winning Finalist, 2020 International Book Award, Novella
Bernice loved the swamp. And the swamp loved her back.Working on completing her ecology graduate degree, Bernice is doing invasive species research in Cleary Swamp when she is confronted by a mysterious hag who says she is the swamp's caretaker. When Bernice discovers that the hag is actually a woman named Rebecca Hallett who disappeared in the swamp decades before, she attempts to remove the strange old woman from Cleary Swamp, but little does Bernice know that Rebecca has a mystical bond to the area—one that possesses a human host and bonds them to it.
One magical hallucinogenic powder cocktail and a space opera spirit journey later, Bernice's life has changed forever. The swamp wants her for its new caretaker, and it won't take no for an answer.
It seemed a bit like fate when I saw a call go out for audio-reviewers for Laura Morrison’s Come Back to the Swamp. I had just received my copy of the paperback and thought it would be a fun departure from some of my more recent reads.
Morrison has a knack for description that completely drew me into the story and her background in Bernice’s field lent an interesting technical aspect to the storyline. I enjoyed the paranormal aspects, and I believe fans of speculative fiction would enjoy diving into this creepy, swampy story.
The biggest issue I had was I didn’t care for Bernice very much, particularly after her interactions with Kevin. I fully admit though, that I tend to have an issue with very little tolerance for annoying character moments when I’m listening and I tend to be more forgiving when reading but Bernice went from irritable to beyond acceptable quickly.
Overall, this was a well-written story that is appropriately creepy and foreboding. The inevitable conclusion creeping closer was an interesting choice. The narrator, Chelsea Stephens, did a fantastic job bringing the spooky aspects of Cleary Swamp to life. I would have enjoyed Come Back to the Swamp even more if Bernice had been more likeable.
**I voluntarily received an advanced copy of this audiobook to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
