Dead Sky Morning (Experiment in Terror, #3)

by Karina Halle

Jo Raylan (Narrator)

Amateur ghost hunters Perry Palomino and Dex Foray embark on their most terrifying investigation yet. A tiny, fog-shrouded island in the rough strait between British Columbia and Washing ton State has held a dark secret for decades: It was a former leper colony where over forty souls were left to rot, die and bury each other. Now a functioning camp ground, Perry and Dex spend an isolated weekend there to investigate potential hauntings but as the duo quickly find out, there is more to fear on D'Arcy Island than just ghosts. The island quickly pits partner against partner, spiraling the pair into madness that serves to destroy their sanity, their relationship and their very lives.

• ISBN10: 1541452623
• ISBN13: 9781541452626
• Publish Date: 20 June 2017 (first published 26 August 2011)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 13 March 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Tantor Media, Inc
• Edition: Unabridged edition
• Format: Audiobook (MP3)
• Duration: 9 hours and 40 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[Berls]

Did I say the last book was creepy? Yeah that had nothing on this. I'd say it ALMOST crossed my threshold for what I can handle. If it were the first book and I weren't so invested in Perry and Dax already, I might not have made it. And if I didn't have a toddler (meaning I'm EXHAUSTED), I'd be having trouble sleeping too.

So Dax and Perry are off to a basically abandoned island, part of Canada's National Park system but no one is stationed there. Before they go, they are given all kinds of warnings about how treacherous it is, the challenges of contacting anyone for hlep, and how easy it is to loose your boat. But it was once a Chinese Leper Colony where people were basically sent to die so of course they HAVE to go because it's great show material. I so wouldn't have.

So in this book, you have not just the spooky, creepy stuff happening to add tension, but also the physical environment. They're camping, the weather is SHIT (it's November, so we're talking fierce wind, rain and cold), and they have little to no cell signal, oh and did I mention their boat is LITTERALLY hanging on by a rope? Scary shit.

And then the spooky happens. This is ripe for spoilers, but I'll just say it got gross (leper colony, remember?) and geez if there weren't more books I would have really questioned if they would make it. And the way being there messes with their minds and has them turning on each other? Oh god. I do have to say... they go to these places looking for spooky and then there's doubt and shock when they find it? Why?! They can be a little dumb, huh?

Side note: I still don't understand the title. In the first two books, I got it. But this one, I'm puzzled. Just a thought.

As for the audio, I've gone from being not sure about Jo Raylan's narration, to being okay with, to LOVING it in this book. There's no doubt that the creep factor went way up due to her narration. So I'm sold and also so incredibly thankful that I'm not reading this before bed. And I'm already jumping into the next book because they are GOOD!

Qualifies for COYER Fall Scavenger Hunt Item #26 - Read a book with water/or the ocean on the cover.

[kimbacaffeinate]

In DEAD SKY MORNING,  they will be camping for the weekend on a remote island located in the rough strait between British Columbia and Washington state. The island was once home to a leper colony where 40 people were left to die. Now a campground it is reported to be haunted. *Que the scary music and paranormal woo-woo*. They travel by boat to this fog shrouded island, where Halle takes us on a trippy, eerie and terrifying adventure. 

How can I explain what happened and what I experienced listening to this? The island is creepy, and they are definitely NOT alone. As the two set up camp and begin to converse, their moods seem to alter. Perry who is more sensitive to the paranormal sees and hears things. They experience mood swings, shifts in reality, near death experiences and more. Think THE SHINING. Yep, creepy as hell. Halle has this way of building things up until suddenly you are terrified and outside noises have you jumping. The atmospheric setting and paranormal woo-woo soon have Dex and Perry not trusting each other as paranoia sets-in. For a moment I wondered if they would murder each other. It was brilliant.

The pace was fantastic, and while all this crazy stuff was happening, things are revealed about the characters. We learn some unsettling things about Perry's past. Perry gets bold and asks Dex questions, even though she still assumes way too much. Dex isn't an easy read and has some trouble dealing with Perry's abilities, but we do learn some tidbits about him. These are characters that I both love and hate but find I cannot stop listening and rooting for them.

The mystery, like the others in this series, isn't completely solved. It's more of will they survive the experience or not. It gives an authenticity to these hauntings. Sometimes the paranormal activity cannot be explained, and some places are inherently evil.

Jo Rylan continues to narrate, and I think she brilliantly captures their personalities and the dark atmospheric tone. She skillful enhances the tension through tone and pacing. Rylan even manages to capture the sillier moments between Dex and Perry.

Audio provided by the publisher.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Amanda]

3.5

After reading The Benson--the novella between this book and Red Fox--I was really looking forward to Dead Sky Morning. The Benson really capitalized on everything I really love about this series and is, to date, my highest rated EIT book. For some reason, though, the full-length books tend to fall a little lower on my enjoyment scale, and I've spent the last few books trying to pinpoint exactly why that is. At this point, I think it comes from Perry's narration: she spends a lot of time rehashing things and often takes away my ability to draw conclusions for myself. This often colors my perception of the situations she finds herself in.

But seriously, guys. THINGS HAPPEN in this book. THINGS. Dastardly and bastardly things are afoot. When Perry and Dex go to a former leper colony and camp, there are so many ways their trip could go wrong. SO. MANY. WAYS. And many of them do. I love the creep factor in Dead Sky Morning, the utter aloneness, and the slow, unrelenting spiral in madness (are they really going mad? or is it something else entirely? dun-dun-dun). And a leper colony. This alone is enough to make you shiver. And sad. The underlying story and all the ghosts and EVERYTHING (is this vague enough? I hope so) was satisfying in its scary factor. WHAT WILL HAPPEN? WILL DEX AND PERRY SURVIVE? Dun-dun-dun. (These feel appropriate. Trust me.)

It is impossible to review an Experiment in Terror book without mentioning the relationship between Dex and Perry. Though I'm not even really sure what to say. The relationship is simultaneous clear and confusing. And I love hate idontknowwhat it. Things definitely happen here as well, but not quite what you may expect. Or maybe you expected it. OR MAYBE YOU DIDN'T. I do like how these adventures throw them together and force them to get all up in each other's space. It makes interesting revelations tumble out and emotions run high, the latter of which leads to good drama.

I may have to start reading Lying Season now.

[littleread1]

I may not ever sleep again.