Stigma update
Stigma has been on the market now for a little over five weeks. During that time, I was running a Facebook Ad campaign to see if I could encourage people to take a chance with Stigma. It worked! I have sold over 120 copies, which I realise doesn’t sound like a lot. For a self-published author advertising their first book, it means that 120 people parted with their money to trust that I could entertain them.
Out of those 120 purchases, I currently have 9 ratings on Amazon, 8 of which are 5 Star!
I also have my first editorial review (see below).
Every good novel needs a hook. And Stigma by Mark P. Haskins has a wonderful hook – glowing red letters begin hovering over individuals, marking them. But why? I love that! What follows is a tense, suspense-filled drama/thriller which skips between characters and settings all over the UK.
There were a number of elements to this novel I particularly enjoyed. Firstly, the writing style is highly accessible with short chapters, and the pacing is excellent. As a result, there’s never a dull moment, and the plot, although complex in parts, is understandable and never frustrating. Secondly, it’s all very thought-provoking, the characters wanting to know and often debating this ‘stigma’ and why it’s there. Is it the work of God? Is it a punishment? And thirdly, although there is a large cast of characters, this first-time author works hard to develop them; in fact, he seems determined that the reader will know them as thoroughly as possible.
I’m very happy to recommend this book to fans of thrillers and character focused dramas. I think most readers will enjoy trying to work out what the letters represent, and they’ll thoroughly enjoy the fast pacing. In all honesty, the skipping between characters/settings is a little off-putting in parts, and the (almost) rape at the beginning of the book might put a lot of sensitive readers off. But, if you enjoy gritty dramas with a hint of the supernatural, this book is for you.