Book Review: THE NIGHTMARE FRONTIER

by | Jun 9, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reviews, The Horror Review News | 0 comments

The Nightmare Frontier
Stephen Mark Rainey
Crossroad Press (May 16, 2010)
Reviewed by Carson Buckingham

In The Nightmare Frontier, Rainey’s most surreal, dreamlike book yet, we find ourselves in Silver Ridge, West Virginia, and by the time Russell Copeland arrives to attend the funeral of a young nephew he barely knows, things are beginning to turn strange…and it’s just getting started.

Something tore the boy to pieces, but nobody knows who did it, and the sheriff doesn’t seem too concerned about finding out. He also seems awfully friendly with the appalling family living at the edge of Silver Ridge…the family that everyone else avoids and fears.

Russell, getting no help from the sheriff, decides to find out what’s happening on his own, and the weirdness doubles down, with obscuring mists, huge fissures opening up unpredictably, and nobody able to leave town. And what are the things in the woods?  Where do they come from, and why are they there? And what is that  <click click clack> sound he keeps hearing, and why does it fill his heart with terror every time he does? It seems that they’re not, so to speak, in Kansas anymore—but if not, where are they?

Other townspeople disappear, including Russell’s sister and the mother of his dead nephew, so everything becomes a whole lot more personal at that point. He never knew that dimensions were permeable, but discovers that they are, and what’s sneaking through wouldn’t exactly blend into Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. In fact, it would probably eat Mr. Rogers. As with all of Mark Rainey’s books, I must remind myself to start reading before 9 PM or I’ll be up late, since, once begun, I cannot put his books down. This one reminded me a bit—but just a bit—of Blake Crouch’s Wayward Pines books, and if you liked them, you’re going to love this book. Oh, hell, you’re going to love this book anyway. The pacing was flawless, the characters are a realistic cross-section of Appalachian townspeople, and the story kept me emotionally invested the entire way through. You’ll like, love, or hate his characters, but you will always have strong feelings regarding each of them. And that, my friends, is true brilliance.

I urge you to pick up a copy. You won’t be sorry. Oh, and with Christmas coming up, what better way to check the horror lovers off your list? It’s an inexpensive gift that reads like gold.  Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever all fine books are sold.

5 out of 5 stars

About Carson Buckingham

Professionally, Carson Buckingham has made her way in life doing all manner of things, most of which involve arson. She is currently employed as a freelance writer on a work release program. In her spare time, she studies forensics, in hopes of applying her new knowledge to eluding the authorities more effectively the next time. She is originally from Connecticut, but now resides in Kentucky—and Connecticut is glad to be rid of her.

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