Dreadnought by Robin Bennett

 

"Some places' purpose, even their um... essence, changes over time but Dreadnought is a constant... it's a stronghold; it's a vessel for things to be kept at arm's length, in splendid wind-blown isolation..."

"...the house never truly slept, it echoed with things that had gone before and whispered its intentions to anyone keen enough to listen".

Dreadnought by Robin Bennett is an intriguing and imaginative contemporary horror story set in the near future.

Blurb:

Dreadnought

A child sees things she's sure don't exist. The adults call it trauma. They're both wrong.

On a remote Yorkshire headland known as Dreadnought, seven-year-old Cass Delaval begins to glimpse figures and fragments tied to a past that refuses to stay buried.

As the world edges toward conflict, Cass is drawn into a family mystery stretching back to the Second World War: a missing boy, a hidden weapon, and a family secret.

Because whatever has lain dormant on Dreadnought goes deep into our past... and it isn't finished with us yet.

Dreadnought is a story of loyalty and hope, where the courage of one small girl may be our last defence.

Cass Delaval is a seven-year-old child living with her parents, Olivia and Charlie, in London. London is under attack from the Russian drone mobs (of course). Her grandfather James suggests taking them all to a safer place in Yorkshire which belongs to the family.

And so they arrive to Dreadnought, an unwelcoming mansion in the desolate coastline.

Sensitive Cass hears the hum the house makes and sees glimpses of threatening shadows that come with the cheerless place. 

The house is full of memories of the formidable Violet (grandma of James). By all accounts, she was an unpleasant terrifying woman. Her presence is still felt, as if her soul cannot rest.

Cass keeps mentioning a boy named Bertie, she is the only person who can see him. The grown-ups think of him as an imaginary friend many children have, especially those who have had a trauma in their lives. And Cass has had enough trauma in her short life.

It's not just an enigmatic Bertie who frequents the house. There are mysteries hidden in the not so distant past, and buried secrets that come to the surface.

Will little Cass be able to unravel the mysteries and bring hope to the world beyond the confines of Dreadnought?

James is my favourite character in the story. Tactful, kind and compassionate, he walks on the eggshells around his spiky daughter Olivia. He is philosophical about life in general and the current world problems. "James, never the great thinker, was just wise enough to know that cares and concerns never walked out of the door without leaving it open for others to stomp right in".

The author is the master of creating an oppressive atmosphere and the darkening mood, as a heaviness settles over the house and grounds. The descriptions of the place are beautifully written:

"As they came upon it in the darkness, Dreadnought now resembled a much more primitive vessel. Brooding and antediluvian: deep within its ancient bilges it threatened to release the jetsam of its past in unexpected and disturbing ways".

It is an intriguing story, but it also left me confused regarding the age group it is intended for. I know Robin Bennett as an author of children's books (I did review three of his books in the past), and somehow, wrongly, presumed this would be another story for children or YA audience. And it starts suitable enough for the younger audience, with a young protagonist. 

Then pretty soon the narrative goes a full front flip, and we enter the adult territory, with parents having sex. Then there is a rather disturbing story line with the sado-masochism, and a sickening gratuitous scene of violence.

There are also such potential triggers as miscarriages and infertility, death and disfigurement. 

Dreadnought will challenge you and make you think, how easy it is to doubt yourself, when reality shifts and things you cannot explain in scientific terms enter your existence. There is heartache and horror aplenty, both real and supernatural.

Despite all the sadness and monsters real and imagined, it is a life-affirming story of hope and resilience.

This post is part of the blog tour for Dreadnought.

Many thanks to Robin Bennett, Monster Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://amzn.eu/d/0iKBv9i1

Author Bio –

Robin Bennett is an author and entrepreneur who has written over twenty-five books for children. He has also written books on the swashbuckling world of business: How to Make a Good Living Running Your Own Business, Kicking the Property Ladder and Start up Smart, all published by Harriman House.

In 2024 Cracking was shortlisted for a Week Junior Book Award and Sunday Times Sports Book of the Year for Children. His YA novel 'XII' was shortlised for a British Book Award in 2023 and his very popular Monster Max Series is a Book Trust pick and won Coventry Inspiration Book Awards in 2022. Picus the Thief, won the Writer's News Indie Published Book of the Year Award in 2012.

When Robin grew up he thought he wanted to be a cavalry officer until everyone else realised that putting him in charge of a tank was a very bad idea. He then became an assistant gravedigger in London. After that he had a career frantically starting businesses (everything from dog-sitting to cigars, tuition to translation)... until finally settling down to write improbable stories to keep his children from killing each other on long car journeys.

When not writing or starting companies, Robin plays most sports. Poorly.

Social Media Links –

https://www.instagram.com/robinbennettauthor/

https://www.tiktok.com/@robinbennettauthor