Wow. I thought this was head and shoulders above the last book in the series. I love the character of Easton, and hearing about Gallacia. The last book, What Feasts at Night just went on and on with not enough explanation for me. I also didn’t really love the ending. What Stalks the Deep though gives us even more development of Easton, we get to follow up with Dr. Denton and the adventure now moves to America, specifically an old mine in West Virginia. I found the overall plot to be quite good, I loved the explanation behind the “mysterious things” and I absolutely loved the ending. Mostly because it seems we are going to get another go at Easton in America with Angus.
What Stalks the Deep follows Alex Easton and Angus after the former is asked to come to America by their old friend Dr. Denton. Alex arrives and is told that Dr. Denton’s cousin Oscar has gone missing after going exploring an old mine in West Virginia that is owned by their family. Denton believes that based on the letters that Oscar has written back to him that Oscar could have found something just as dark as what he and Easton found in Ruravia, at the home of Madeline and Roderick Usher. Easton, Angus, Denton, and a friend of Denton’s, Ingold, and Denton’s assistant, Kent.
I do think as I said above, there was way more development of Easton in this one. And I don’t know, more heart I think. I loved the one scene between them and Denton and of course Easton wanting to run away after because talking about “feelings” is not something they want to do. I loved the introduction of Ingold the most. I think Kingfisher was just wanting to give us a Ms. Potter stand-in.
The plot was really good, what’s this mysterious light, mysterious substance, and who or what sent a telegram that no one believes Oscar sent. I loved the explanation to all of these questions and more. The flow was pitch perfect throughout I thought.
The setting of West Virginia post-Spanish American war was interesting too. In the afterword Kingfisher lets readers know they went to a friend who was able to provide details to them on the region and area.
The ending as I said above was really well done and again, it’s setting us up for a fourth book in this series.
I read this for Halloween Bingo 2025, “Weird Fiction” square. It would also work for several other ones, but “Mysterious Mountain” is the top one that people may still need since I think all of us would prefer to skip Lovecraft it we can.