📖 Overview
Jack Sparks is a controversial journalist and social media personality who sets out to write a book debunking the supernatural. During his research, he witnesses an exorcism in Italy and posts a video of himself laughing during the ceremony, which triggers a series of inexplicable events.
The story is presented through Jack's manuscript, along with footnotes and additional materials from his brother after Jack's death. Through these documents, readers follow Jack's investigation across multiple countries as he encounters increasingly disturbing phenomena that challenge his staunch atheism.
As Jack's behavior becomes more erratic, the line between objective journalism and personal obsession begins to blur. His trademark cynicism and need for social media validation clash with forces he cannot explain or control.
The Last Days of Jack Sparks examines the intersection of technology and the supernatural, while questioning the reliability of perception in an age of constant digital documentation and personal branding. The novel challenges assumptions about faith, skepticism, and humanity's relationship with the unknown.
👀 Reviews
Most readers describe this as a creepy, unsettling horror novel that combines found footage elements with social media commentary. Online reviews note the book's dark humor and unconventional storytelling style.
Readers appreciated:
- The unreliable narrator and mounting tension
- Integration of modern technology/social media themes
- The blend of horror and humor
- Original take on possession/exorcism tropes
Common criticisms:
- Pacing issues in the middle section
- Some found the protagonist too unlikeable
- A few readers felt the ending didn't deliver
- Religious elements bothered some readers
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.94/5 (7,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.2/5 (1,000+ ratings)
"A unique spin on the found footage genre" appears frequently in reviews. Multiple readers compared it to House of Leaves in structure. Several readers noted they had to "sleep with the lights on." Some reviewers mentioned struggling with Jack's arrogant personality but acknowledged this was intentional characterization.
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Kill Creek by Scott Thomas Four horror authors spend the night in a haunted house for a publicity stunt, leading to a spiral of supernatural events documented through social media posts and news coverage.
The Three by Sarah Lotz The investigation of three child survivors of simultaneous plane crashes takes the form of collected interviews, transcripts, and media reports that reveal a connection to dark forces.
Night Film by Marisha Pessl A journalist investigates the death of a cult horror film director's daughter through a combination of traditional reporting, web articles, and mysterious dark web findings.
Experimental Film by Gemma Files A film critic researches a disappeared pioneering female filmmaker and uncovers footage connected to an ancient evil through a blend of film history and supernatural horror.
🤔 Interesting facts
📖 Author Jason Arnopp was a rock music journalist before becoming a novelist, writing for publications like Kerrang! and Metal Hammer
🎬 The book's premise involves a YouTube star investigating the supernatural while recording everything - a format inspired by the rise of social media influencers and found footage horror films
👻 Many scenes in the book were influenced by real-life paranormal investigation videos and exorcism footage that the author researched extensively
✍️ Arnopp wrote much of the novel while living in Brighton, UK, the same seaside town where portions of the book are set
🎵 The author created an actual Spotify playlist featuring all the songs mentioned in the book, allowing readers to experience Jack Sparks' musical journey alongside the story