Darker Waters

By: Ted Laughton

Narrated by: Kevin Howard

A collection of six otherworldly tales from the author of We Burn Our Dead

Tell No Tales — A burned-out spy exiled to a tropical paradise questions his sanity when he finds himself sharing the island with the spirit of his deceased partner.

The Lord of Small Places — An inmate enters into a fight for his and his cellmate’s very souls when they are targeted by a demon prowling the halls of their correctional facility.

Flowers of the Earth — The Devil always gets his due. Will a husband’s desperate bargain with the Gentleman be worth the cost—what is one more day with one’s beloved worth?

Mr. Culver from down the Road — Weary of life, an elderly widower discovers to his supreme frustration that he may be immortal.

Winter Passing — When a group of old friends gathers for a dinner party none wished to attend in the first place, it is anybody’s guess which is colder—the strained relations between them or the malevolent presence scratching at the frosty windows.

The Fire and the Rain — She is a prisoner with no memory of her identity; he is a loving father, a caring husband. Nothing could have prepared them for the truth of who—or what—they really are.

©2025 Ted Laughton (P)2025 Ted Laughton

Don’t let the narrator keep you from listening

A burnt out spy on a tropical island that finds himself talking with a dead friend. A prison with a deadly inhabitant. A husband desperate to keep his wife alive. A widower who has lost his desire to live. A group of friends that have a very eventful trip together. And two people that discover a dark secret about themselves.

Once again you have characters that are more than just names on a page and stories that are unique and creative.

One of my favorite things about Ted Laughton is that I don’t feel the need to gift him with a thesaurus. I don’t know if anyone else agrees with me, but reading a book with a series of repetitive words within two paragraphs can be very frustrating. Thankfully this is the case with Ted Laughton. I have said this before about his writing, he doesn’t bring the story alone to life, but brings life to the words as well.

Narrators are crucial to audio books. Most audio book people agree that when it comes down to it, the narrator can make or break a book. I truly feel that the narrator for Darker Waters has failed to bring the the book to life in the way it deserves. I almost stopped listening during the first story. I’m not sure if it was due to the narrator or the story itself, either way I’m glad I didn’t DNF it.