J.H. Moncrieff

In 1959, nine Russian students set off on a skiing expedition in the Ural Mountains. Their mutilated bodies were discovered weeks later. Their bizarre and unexplained deaths are one of the most enduring true mysteries of our time. Nearly sixty years later, podcast host Nat McPherson ventures into the same mountains with her team, determined to finally solve the mystery of the Dyatlov Pass incident. Her plans are thwarted on the first night, when two trackers from her group are brutally show more slaughtered. The team’s guide, a superstitious man from a neighboring village, blames the killings on yetis, but no one believes him. As members of Nat’s team die one by one, she must figure out if there’s a murderer in their midst, or something even worse...before history repeats itself and her group becomes another casualty of the infamous "Dead Mountain".
This is the first book for this author but it's the second book by her that I have read. It has become an imperative that I find out if these stories are based on some horrible pieces of reality or just on the author's wonderful over-active, imagination. I have found that it's a little of both and it is now an imperative that I read "Every Last One of Them!!". I will warn you that most of them are graphic in the horror details so if you don't have a fairly strong stomach...just saying. This one is based on an actual event.

This is an incredibly realistic historic-fictional horror story based on a true event. The basis for this was the 1959 "Dyatlov Pass incident"--a true, unsolved mystery in which nine young Russian skiers died in the Ural Mountains. Their bodies were found weeks later, inexplicably mutilated, and their deaths have never been completely explained . . . but the Russian government and the victims' families, accepts the verdict that has been put forth. Another reviewer pointed out..."The story has always bugged me. Did you know it's been almost sixty years, and some say that they still have no actual idea what happened to those people? . . . " Actually, they now do....and it makes a lot of sense.

Nat McPherson, along with her producer, Andrew, are about to dive into this unsolved mystery in order to bring something "real" to their supernatural podcast, entitled, "Nat's Mysterious World". After training and assembling a competent team, the two friends are on their way to "Kholat Syakhl"... the infamous "Dead Mountain". The hostile atmosphere is further fueled by the different personalities as well as the different levels of experience. I liked this comment made by one . . . "My usual form of exercise is running my mouth". So... by the time the team sets actually sets out together, the tension has already begun to mount exponentially.

The entire story, including what happens to this team, in this story, is truly this author's own story. it is very loosely based on the actual event. There were times where I was surprised, and others that I had to laugh at the sarcasm some of the team used to lighten things up along the way...and things were certainly going to need lightening up very soon. The author has done a commendable job taking a "real-life" mystery and creating this unique story from the yet to this day, small number of facts that actually does exist. By the end, I had put together about six possible scenarios for the ending. Of course, not one of them even came close..., but it was fun. I have included at the end of this review a link to a video and an article showing what conclusion the investigating authorities and the Russian government, have come to.

Overall, this was a perfect horror story on several levels. There are realistic characters...characters the reader can emphasize with...an incredible atmosphere that you can actually sometimes "feel"... funny dialog, along with a vivid journey that soon turns to a living nightmare. I have to say that it was a highly impressive well told story.

Side Notes:
From Wikipedia - "The Dyatlov Pass incident occurred in February 1959 when nine Soviet ski hikers, led by Igor Dyatlov, disappeared while trekking in the Ural Mountains. Their bodies were found in sub-zero temperatures, with some showing signs of trauma and others with entirely missing body parts. Investigations concluded that hypothermia and physical trauma were the likely causes of their deaths, but the exact circumstances still remain a mystery. Various theories have been proposed, including natural disasters, military testing, and even paranormal events, but no definitive explanation has been established.

https://allthatsinteresting.com/dyatlov-pass-incident-solved
One explanation that still has not been actually accepted. There are some pictures but they're not graphic.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=what+really+happened+on+Dyatlov+Pass+in+1959%3F&am....
This is a video, that after 60 years, finally provides some insight to what the Russian authorities think may be what happened. It does have some actual picture of the abandoned campsite.... none are graphic. This "Florida girl" can't imagine anyone actually wanting to go out in that. BURRR show less

Those Who Came Before by J.H. Moncrieff is a wonderful monster/murder mystery. The story takes place in a small town and neighbouring Native American reservation. Reece, his girlfriend Jess and their friends are going on a camping trip at Strong Lake. When they arrive the campsite is closed, but they jump the gate and camp anyway. After the others go to sleep, Reece hears a voice whisper "You're not welcome here" in his ear. In the morning, the other campers have been horrifically murdered. show more Reece is racked with survivors guilt and naturally freaked out because he slept through the murders. When Detective Greyeyes begins her investigation into the murders, Reece is the main suspect. But when the Detective hears the same voice saying "You're not welcome here" she knows that something deeper and darker is happening.

The deaths continue at the campsite and it becomes clear that land around Strong Lake is cursed. The tribe chief reveals that his people avoid the land and tells the Detective about the bloody history of the area, that goes back to the first white settlers. After some pressure from the detective, and several more deaths, Chief Kinew explains what he believes is actually happening. The Native American legend of the Wendigo is real.

Where the story really shines is the use of Native American folklore and legend. J.H. Moncrieff tells a wonderful tale through flashbacks to the native people, "The Lost Tribe" and what happened to them. The history of the land is crucial to what caused the curse and how it can be lifted. I particularly enjoyed the character of Chief Kinew and how reluctant he is to trust people from the white world. The author does an excellent job illustrating the divide between the town and the reservation. It really helped to drive home the level of bigotry and prejudice that his people have had to deal with over the centuries.

I enjoy creature tales and while this story is not exclusively a "creature feature" there is enough about the Wendigo here to really whet my monster whistle. I wasn't completely familiar with the Wendigo before reading this story, which was a nice surprise, I always enjoy learning about new monsters. Even if you are familiar with the Wendigo, you need to check out this book from J.H. Moncrieff, it's good. show less

People are dying at Strong Lake, and the worst is yet to come. An idyllic weekend camping trip is cut short when Reese Wallace s friends are brutally murdered. As the group's only survivor, Reese is the prime suspect, and his story doesn't make much sense. A disembodied voice warning him to leave the campground the night before? A strange, blackened tree that gave him an electric shock when he cut it down for firewood? Detective Grey Eyes isn't having any of it until she hears the voice show more herself and finds an arrowhead at the crime scene and an arrowhead, she can't get rid of.
This was my first time reading something by this author, but I will be looking into reading more!

There's been a horrific slaughter of three people at a campground with only one survivor, Reese, who of course is going to be the center of attention because the question is how did he survive? Reese's girlfriend was one of the ones that was killed, and so of course he is going to be the prime suspect. Detective Greyeyes didn't really believe that he had anything to do with it... but then, she can't be sure.

It really made no sense, but one of the old men that ended up in the drunk tank, Crazy Horse, and tells the detective what he believes is happening and that again... she needs to talk to Chief Kinew. She's not sure that she believes most of what the old man tells her but when she was out at the campgrounds, she could feel that something was very much off.

The Chief doesn't want anything to do with the camp because he says it's "tainted ground", he wouldn't even talk to her in his office for fear of bringing the negative thing into it. He finally tells her, but of course she doesn't believe him...it's just to outlandish. He says it's some kind of supernatural thing that is killing people. He also tells her all the things that the tribe has kept a record of and that this isn't the first time the land has killed.

More some strange things start to happen and the detective as well as Reese and more people at the campground are being slaughtered. The detective has to sort things out fast even if she doesn't want to believe in the folklore of her own ancestors.

I danced around what exactly it was at the campgrounds as I don't want to spoil the tale for you...but it is based on actual Native American folklore, and I found it interesting, since I haven't read much about this and there are many Native American legends, some that are more or less just stories but others just as strange, that are based in some truth. Who's to say what is or isn't real? If you want to read this book, please be aware that it was in parts, on the gory side at times.

I can't say that I was a huge fan of Reese, but I did really like the detective, Maria Grey Eyes. I also really liked Crazy Horse...he was really funny at times. The ending left me a little confused because of something that I'm not at all a fan of...open endings. I'm okay with them when I know there will be another book in the series. I did find that this book follows this author's first book of a story that is based on a massacre that supposedly happened at Dyatlov Pass in Russia in 1959. This ending just leaves you wondering and with some unanswered questions. Overall, I enjoyed it. If you're a fan of, or just love horror with supernatural elements, then you would probably like this one.

I'm going to explore a few more to try to determine if the books are fiction based on reality or just simply a good horror tale. show less

This book is an awesome blend of several genres I enjoy -- horror, crime procedural/investigation, and sci-fi -- with a splash of historical fiction and cryptozoological/monster folklore goodness thrown in for strong flavor.

When Reese goes camping with friends, he has no idea that he will be the only one to leave Strong Lake alive. His friends are brutally murdered. What saved him? A strange voice telling him to leave and a weird burned tree. Yeah -- the detective investigating the mass show more killing doesn't really buy that story either. Until she hears the voice herself.

This story features one of my favorite monsters from Native American Folklore.....the Wendigo. As the story unfolds, it jumps back and forth from modern time to the colonial era. Usually I don't really care for repeated time jumps....but for this story it worked. The tale of a indigenous people persecuted and killed by European settlers mixed well with the modern storyline, giving it context.

This is a horror story -- the death scenes are gory and gruesome. The Wendigo is not a quiet, well-controlled killer. There is lots of ripping and spewing blood. Be forewarned. If you don't like slashy scream fests with a great story -- then you might want to avoid this one. The story is solid....it isn't just about gore. But the gore is there.

Very entertaining, creepy read! I thoroughly enjoyed it! This is the first book by J.H. Moncrieff that I've read. Definitely reading more of her work! I've already added Return to Dyatlov Pass to my TBR list....and she has so many other titles that sound so good! :)

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less