Review of "Beast of Eufaula Lake" by Ethan Richards

Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)

Beast of Eufaula Lake might be Ethan Richards's best monster novel yet!

A giant octopus-like creature seems to lurk Eufaula Lake, reminiscent of Cthulhu from Lovecraftian lore! The creature apparently serves as the central figure of worship and reverence for a mysterious and frightening cult to which the charismatic Leland Graves, the book's primary antagonist, is aligned.

Similar to Maryland Sasquatch Massacre, this book starts off with a bang as a gorgeous woman, Chandra Krall, becomes the unfortunate victim of Leland's cult and this monstrous Cthulhu-like creature. Wow! Right away, we're gripped!

The life-or-death stakes are established and we already know that these villainous forces need to be stopped at all cost.

And, thankfully, this isn't just a book full of damsels in distress like Chandra who need to be saved or avenged. It actually features a very strong, determined, resourceful, and intelligent female lead in Myra.

The book follows investigative journalist Myra Morgans as she explores mysterious happenings surrounding Lake Eufaula including the sudden disappearance of Chandra, suspicious real estate acquisitions, and eerie reports of unnatural phenomena. As Myra digs deeper, she uncovers a chilling web of deception involving the town of Innoktaquah, where seemingly friendly locals hide dark secrets beneath their polished exteriors.

The tension escalates when Myra discovers that Leland Graves isn’t just a charming curator—he’s a pivotal figure in a cult devoted to awakening the ancient entity beneath the lake. His false claims of being from California unravel as his true origins tie back to R’lyeh, the legendary sunken city from Lovecraftian lore.

With a blend of cosmic horror, investigative thrills, and psychological suspense, Beast of Eufaula Lake delivers a gripping narrative that keeps readers hooked until the very last page. The creeping dread of what lurks beneath the water, the town’s cult-like conformity, and Myra’s relentless pursuit of the truth make this novel a masterful addition to Ethan Richards’s monster horror collection.

And we really hope that this book has a sequel. The dramatic, action-packed, thrilling ending and epilogue really set up the idea that we've only touched the surface of this lore. Perhaps there's more to this cult than they initially let on...

Something needs to be said about how much Ethan Richards has improved as a storyteller, a writer, and an author. The difference in quality between his first book in our contest--The Dark Elf of Oklahoma--and this book, Beast of Eufauala Lake, is night and day!

We've noticed a substantial improvement—an evolution—in his books. Meth Gator scored an 8.8. Terror in Big Bend scored a 8.9. Kaw Lake scored a 9.3+. Maryland Sasquatch Massacre scored a 9.4+ earlier this year! The books just keep getting better and better and better!

His characters are so much more compelling and realistic. The plotlines are more grounded and believable despite the continued presence of large, monsterous creatures. Oh, and the writing is so much better!

It's really inspiring when you think about it. With a 9.5 score, Ethan Richards finally makes a viable argument for a first-place placement in the Fiction super-category!
Let's talk about the much-improved writing for a minute.
There are some passages in here that really convey and build the tension in this book. For example:

"The horizon blurred in the distance, a faint mist hanging low over the lake like a shroud.
Something about it felt wrong—like the air was heavier here, pregnant with tension. The wind
tugged at my jacket, carrying with it the faint smell of decayed vegetation. It made my stomach
churn."

What a great personification of the situation!
It is so heavy that it's described as "pregnant!"

How about this exchange?

"'WHAT CULT!?!' I hammered the keys, the letters blurring.

The chat froze. The silence stretched thick and oppressive. I held my breath, ears
straining in the quiet, when the screen pulsed—a bubbling message threat. Those three pulsing
dots meant someone was typing. My pulse raced, each beat pounding painfully behind my eyes.
The dots vanished.

I swallowed hard, a bead of sweat trickling down my spine, cold as ice. The room felt
suffocating, the air heavy and electric. The dots reappeared, flickered once, and disappeared
again, teasing me and heightening the dread coiling in my gut.
Finally, a message appeared.

'The cult of Cthulhu.'

KNOCK KNOCK."

It's such a tense scene! And the author makes use of multiple human senses. It's also relatable. Waiting as someone is typing a text message back to you can be tense, especially if you're expecting bad or troubling news.

How about the use of simile and personification in the following passage?

"I swung it in an arc, a gesture as natural as breathing, and the lake answered again."

There are also some cool characters in this book like Abner McGlenn, the enigmatic Riverman, Sara Fields, and Gerald O'Callaghan.

We even get some cool animal characters like Old Jolly, one of the American alligator snapping turtle.

Check it out on Amazon!