Author: H.P. Lovecraft
First Published: 1936
Pages: 110
Genre: Horror
The Shadow Over Innsmouth is a horror novella set in, and around, the town of Innsmouth, Massachusetts. It follows the story on an unnamed narrator who is conducting an architectural and antiquarian tour across New England. He learns of the titular town, Innsmouth, from the residents of a nearby town who mention the strange inhabitants and steady economic decline of the town.
The Narrator's interest in Innsmouth peaks when he discovers the strange and eerie jewellery that is coming out of the town and when he sees the inhabitants first hand. They have a distinguishable, shambling gait and something alien about their appearance. He struggles to determine the foreign nationality and disease that the majority of the folk of Innsmouth display and it drives him to visit the town for himself. It is there that he discovers the secret of Innsmouth and much more.
The story is dark and increasingly menacing as the Narrator learns more about Innsmouth and the townsfolk. There are particular moments throughout that are tense through the vivid descriptions which will leave the reader unable to put it down.
H.P. Lovecraft is known as the grandfather of horror and began what is now known as the Cthulhu Mythos with his popular short story writing. It set the foundation for a great universe which has been expanded upon by many authors. He has also inspired many future writers like William S. Burroughs, Robert E. Howard and Stephen King.
The Shadow Over Innsmouth is one of series of short stories/novellas that H.P. Lovecraft has written that focus on the Cthulhu Mythos. There isn't a strict canon within the Mythos which each new writer using these works as the foundation or inspiration for further writing.
Overall, I rate The Shadow Over Innsmouth a 4/5 for setting the foundation for an amazing universe and the beginning of a great genre of writing.
The Shadow Over Innsmouth is available as hardcopy, digital or as an audiobook. I strongly recommend the audio reading by TheExploringSeries on Youtube found at 