Scotophobia - Fear of the Dark: In These Caves, Darkness Is Not All There Is to Fear by Alan Donaldson is not a book for people with weak nerves. It is not exactly a horror book as there are no dangerous monsters, but sometimes humans are more monstrous than any monster could be. This is something that Jess and Gabby have to find out when they go caving with Brent and Nick. Jess is afraid of the dark - so one might think that caving isn't the best idea but she wanted to impress her wannabe boyfriend. The caves, located on a property Nick had inherited and that are supposed to be private and empty, hold more than just darkness and a few harmless bats.

If you are looking for a book that keeps you entertained and a little on the edge, then Scotophobia might just be the right choice for you. I turned page after page because I wasn't quite sure how the book would end. The characters were well written and it was easy to either take a liking to them or immediately think they are a bit suspect. It's also a great story about how you can overcome your biggest fears when your life truly is at risk and your fears take on a completely different meaning. It is a story about a girl who gets pushed to her limits and then has to make a choice about whether to give in to her fears or overcome them.

In the black corners of an Australian cave, something moves. Perhaps it is a bat, a shadow, or a person. Four mates explore a locked family cave, one of them a twenty-year-old girl who is afraid of the dark. The girl has scotophobia. Jess Tennant bravely tries to put aside her fear but she sweats bullets. Scotophobia by Alan Donaldson grips your collar and it does not let go. Near the cave opening is a burned-out farmhouse which mars the otherwise green landscape. Jess takes some deep breaths as she doesn't want handsome Nick to think less of her. She is not scared of closed spaces, just the absence of light. The darkness has been her sworn enemy ever since her auntie dragged her to a windowless storeroom to cure her of this fear.

I especially liked the character of Abby, Jess' flatmate. Abby from Brooklyn is a quick-thinker and talker. Shy Jess is drawn to sensitive Nick. Brent leads the group as an experienced caver. As the four friends go deep into the cave, Brent falls and hurts his foot. Jess is separated from the group and then things get strange. There is sudden danger and haunting glimpses of a buried family secret.

Alan Donaldson made me feel the heart-pounding, paralyzing fear of the dark. I could see, hear, and smell the terror from Jess' perspective. The dialogue gets increasingly rough as the situation warrants. Alan Donaldson uses a pitch-black cave to explore the natural fear in every human mind.

Scotophobia, by Alan Donaldson, begins with a seemingly innocent weekend camping trip. Roommates Jess and Gabby agree to join handsome Nick and his “caving” pal Brent in the hopes of igniting a little romance. Nick is on the rebound, but Jess is determined to spark an interest in him, even if it means putting her face-to-face with her crippling fear of the dark. Gabby is also determined to assist in hooking up her friend, who is not as promiscuous as herself. She assures Jess that they can keep the camp fires burning while the boys go on their cave adventure, thus protecting Jess’s secret fear of the dark. Unaware that the rule is that “cavers” travel in parties of four, the girls are committed to entering the caves as well. Jess is a little unnerved but is comforted by her head lamp to fight against the forces of darkness. Unfortunately “in these caves darkness is not all there is to fear.”

Not having a particular fear of the dark myself, I did not expect to experience such an extreme reaction to a story about darkness, but I admit to periods of breathless fright while reading this book. Not only does the author engage his reader in an intense emotional tale, but the unexpected twists that are introduced within the caves are truly "unexpected." Even when the addition of an uncomfortable number of characters tends to muddle the plot mid-story, I could not let my reading go unfinished. Scotophobia is a must-read for fans of suspense and intrigue.

In Scotophobia by Alan Donaldson, Jess and her best friend Gabby find themselves going on an Australian spelunking trip with two hot guys, Nick and Brent. The only catch is Jess is terrified of the dark. By no means a yawner of a novel as the danger amps up, plots get twistier and double crosses are revealed. As the pages progress, Jess grows from being a quiet, petite blonde who's afraid of her own shadow to someone willing to get down and get the job done, even if that means traveling without a light. Hoping to conquer her fears and impress Nick, she gets more than she bargained for when what was supposed to be a fun caving experience goes horribly wrong. In an experience filled with traps, underground bunkers, and one mad doctor, Jess soon learns she'll have more to fear than just the dark.

Scotophobia was a fun, action-packed read. It actually reminded me of a cool B movie, like an Aussie mash-up between The Descent and Wrong Turn. Thoroughly enjoyable. Of course, Scotophobia details more than just one young woman's journey as she conquers her fears. It is also a thriller and Alan Donaldson delivers thrills in spades, from the danger of spelunking, to subterranean kidnappings, and wild helicopter rides. There's also a bit of a mystery with the cave itself, a mystery that ties all the characters together as it slowly unveils. I suggest you read this little treasure with the lights on.