The Standing Dead. William Lees, #1

Prison can force you to face your demons. Sometimes though, you have to face more than just your own. William Lees has been transferred to HMP Page. It's an old prison, with even older secrets buried under its soil. When a shocking act of violence takes place, something awakens. Something that thrives off bloodshed, that revels in violence. And it has seen Lees. The Standing Dead is a tale of monsters, both the ones under our beds, and the ones that live in our heads. Welcome to HMP Page.
The Standing Dead is a creepy and atmospheric hybrid of folk horror and procedural suspense that is set inside a men's prison. It is 264 pages in length with 41 chapters. The book contains strong language and bloody violence as well as references to self harm, suicide, drug abuse and violence to women.  What people have said about The Standing Dead:"This one is for lovers of dark folklore, supernatural vengeance, and imagery that crawls under your skin.
W M Parslow has crafted a dark, atmospheric tale that hooked me from its chilling premise alone. The characters, drawn from life, feel real, solid. Each carries the weight of the history and the violence that saturates the story's setting. The story manages to be both horrifying and oddly beautiful, gory and unsettling at the same time.""This isn't just a horror story about monsters; it's about guilt and the ways men are taught to swallow their pain.
The supernatural and the psychological mirror each other, showing us that the scariest monsters are often the ones society refuses to let men face out loud.""The scares and horror are abundant, yes, but it begs to be read deeper into its most resonating themes and parts, especially as we follow Lees on this journey and what "The Standing Dead" is. What that entails. And how maybe death isn't truly the end and how even without air in the lungs, we can still stand watch over the monsters in the shadows lest we become them.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone wanting horror with substance, wit, heart, and a lot to say." "I was intrigued by this book due to having worked in prisons myself - and it clearly shows that the author knows his stuff. The foundation of the tale is that self-contained world of clanging doors and boredom, shouting and politics. Add to this the darkness of a supernatural entity finding connection with this very real-world Badness and we have a great thriller.
I've honestly never read anything like this before; it's as if a hard-boiler British crime thriller merged with a folk horror story. And it works!" "The slow burn needs patience, and impatient readers who desire terror that is delivered consistently will be checking their watches during the long build-up-but again, it pays off in the best way. The reader who appreciates horror that is based in realistic terrains, who is presented with real characters and something worthwhile in the way of a message besides superficial terror, The Standing Dead delivers something that is distinctive.
Perfect for readers who enjoy Paul Tremblay's subtle, psychologically terrifying horror or Adam Nevill's folk horror, but creates its own unique niche in the field. The blend of social realism and supernatural terror gave this reader's mind flashes of the early work of Stephen King, when he was still describing blue-collar America with some genuine insight."