Review: Into the Uncanny, by Danny Robins (Penguin Audio)

I will never forget the first time I heard Danny Robins utter the immortal words, “Bloody hell, Ken!”

I’d been a fan of Robins’ work since his short-lived podcast, Haunted, crept into my feed in 2017. The podcast featured exceptionally scary stories, but with one foot firmly in reality. Plus, Robins’ sense of humor and penchant for an occasional well-placed expletive made things less terrifying. 

Cut to 2023, and Robins is riding a wave of supernatural success, with his Uncanny podcast reaching its third series, and will soon be on UK TV for a few special episodes. There is an unquestionable demand for Robin’s talents, so why not put out a book as well?

Into the Uncanny is far from a cheap spin-off from the successful podcast. Robins always speaks about how he loves the Uncanny community, and he absolutely has not taken advantage of his following by lazily recycling old material. In this book, we have some brand new cases, as well as some extended bits on parapsychology, and even some memoir-esque sections from Robins’ personal life.

The stories in here are not merely “leftovers” from the podcast; they are genuinely fantastic. Robins visits Rome to investigate a poltergeist, discovers why it’s probably not a great idea to dig up your backyard, uncovers weird ouija board predictions, and discusses a terrifying alien encounter. All of these tales are injected with a hint of skepticism, but never incredulity. The focus is always on the person telling the story, their truth, and the devastating impact some of these experiences can have on their lives. 

Robins’ podcasts are my go-to comfort listen, so I fully anticipated enjoying the audiobook edition of Into the Uncanny. It was like having a whole new series of Uncanny all at once. 

Just as I recommend the podcast to everyone with the slightest interest in the paranormal, I heartily recommend Into the Uncanny to fellow spooky readers. A wonderful mix of horror, humor, and heart.