Hampton Heights took me on a thrill ride. I took a break from everything else to stay immersed in this wondrous novel.
It's a fast-paced, captivating rHampton Heights took me on a thrill ride. I took a break from everything else to stay immersed in this wondrous novel.
It's a fast-paced, captivating read. I loved the strong characterizations, and the place comes alive complete with a sense of history–actual and fantastical. There's a diverse cast and fantastic suspense.
Harmon has a deft touch with tone, hitting notes ranging from poignant, through scary, sexy, freaky, gritty, raw, and truly funny. He gets kids, and he gets adults, too.
I’m impressed by the amount of sensitive material that he handles well. He has a masterful touch with real horrors faced by kids, and he serves up chills in a magical romp with great depth to it. I felt like I got to be part of a motley group where everyone gets to belong. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Harper Perennial for the ARC via NetGalley for consideration. This Is my unbiased opinion....more
Thank you, Riverdale Avenue Books, for the ebook review copy via NetGalley. These are my unbiased opinions.
Lucas captures the time and place of DraculThank you, Riverdale Avenue Books, for the ebook review copy via NetGalley. These are my unbiased opinions.
Lucas captures the time and place of Dracula, and I was intrigued by the sessions between Renfield and Seward. Seward's notes and the transcripts of Renfield’s oral histories create a dynamic account.
My favorite parts of the book are the wondrous supernatural moments. I found the extensive grim material of Renfield's early years rough going for personal reasons. As the suspense intensified, the book captivated me completely.
Lucas performed a masterful feat in integrating parts of the original text of Dracula with his own insightful exploration of Renfield. He has great talent, and the characterizations, dialogue, events, and brooding, disturbing atmosphere rang true throughout the book.
The final chapters are brilliant. There’s a level of perception, an exquisite unity, and a finesse of orchestration that combine to render the novel uniquely satisfying. We’re in the realm of haunting deep truths and universal fantasies. I flashed on Robert Graves, Joseph Campbell, and Carl Jung.
Lucas crafted an ultimately beautiful book out of disturbing and challenging subject matter–and made it feel organic to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a triumph....more
Hollow Out the Dark took me on a journey. This is an extraordinary novel and I recommend the audiobook highly. Hard-hitting, dark, tender–and rending.
Hollow Out the Dark took me on a journey. This is an extraordinary novel and I recommend the audiobook highly. The narrator's voice fits the book, and his vocal performance added to the book's impact. The recording's clarity is perfect, and it's wonderful to savor the rolling waves of language delivered aloud with excellent emotional expression.
It took a little time to get used to being plunged into the rich, lyrical language and different perspectives. Soon, I trusted the surefooted narrative and surrendered to the flow of colorful imagery and layered perceptions. I became immersed in this world and listened eagerly to learn what would happen.
The problems and dangers affecting a veteran of the Great War and a Texas Ranger in a small Texas town become mesmerizing. Bootlegging battles and desperation fuel corruption and brutality in hard-scrabble struggles for survival.
Wade shows a keen eye for detail and an ear for dialogue. He renders the Depression-era Texas town with sharp insights and empathy, handling crime, racism, poverty, greed, loyalty, and love in vivid, straightforward scenes. He's masterful at showing the heart in everyday actions, the grooves worn into people by hardship, disappointment, and loss.
The mounting threats and violence explode and leave an impact. All of the brutal intensity feels earned and pitch perfect. There's an enormous humanity here in contrast to meaningless acts played for thrills. The emotional range kept me entranced through the quietest and grimmest parts.
I appreciated the strong women who exerted an influence on the events and the straightforward handling of past and present racism. There's a powerful Black man depicted with respect. The consciousness and power of the writing sets this novel far above many recent books where women have no dialogue and people of color are used for plot points. I related to the maturing central characters. I guesstimate them at mid-thirties and mid-life.
Hollow Out the Dark is so powerful, I may listen to it again soon. This is a book that pays off.
Readers who enjoy literary novels, gritty crime fiction, and historical novels are in for a powerful experience.
Thank you, Blackstone Publishing for the ALC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions....more
My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the e-ARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions.
Time travel, murder, mayhem… and aMy thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the e-ARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions.
Time travel, murder, mayhem… and a despicable villain. The latest Pendergast book is a treat.
Age of Vengeance stands out as thoroughly entertaining. Cracking with tension, it kept me hooked.
This book shines on every level: Wonderfully fast-paced and deliciously dark with engaging men and women in compelling situations. The key women rock, badass in the best ways–for those of us comfortable with detailed, gritty scenes.
The sadistic serial killer injects urgency and chills--he's a phenomenal opponent. And the conflicts matter. There's heart and intelligent thought here with a good dose of the best humanity has to offer. It's uplifting fare in these bleak times.
There’s a bit of a quirky, madcap energy that makes me smile, without tipping into the kind of humor that can destroy suspense. I enjoyed the 19th century settings and the time travel imagery mesmerized me.
The many shifts between characters work beautifully. The novel's architecture is nearly invisible. The cinematic writing and high-stakes scenes kept me immersed and turning pages to the end.
It's outstanding. The only problem: Now I want to get all the Pendergast books I haven’t read yet and binge on them.
Highly recommended to readers of thrillers, historical fantasy, and time travel. There are exquisite Gothic and Horror vibes, too. BTW, the book can be read as a stand-alone....more
ALC review, no spoilers. My personal rating 3.5 stars
This was challenging to rate. I'm attracted to outsider characters and Gothic atmosphere, yet A DALC review, no spoilers. My personal rating 3.5 stars
This was challenging to rate. I'm attracted to outsider characters and Gothic atmosphere, yet A Darker Mischief didn't hook me at the beginning. Overall, I enjoyed it, but it took many chapters to fully engage me.
I rounded it up to 3.5 because the layers of complexity in the final chapters and epilogue elevated the book and made me glad I stuck with it. In fairness, as a mature ‘queer’ guy, I’m outside of the usual target audience for YA books.
The narrator gives a good performance voicing the many characters and the production values are flawless. I enjoyed the audiobook. My comments on the pacing below refer to the writing, not the narration.
Strengths: • Some good writing and beautiful moments • Imaginative, with diverse characters–refreshingly free of stereotypes • The empathy and respect in the characterizations • The point-of-view character Cal notices misogyny • Cal’s struggle with confidence, temptations, guilt, and morality feel authentic • Good coming of age arc with character growth and change • The romantic subplot was refreshingly and realistically gay • Realistic attraction, sexuality, falling in love, and conflicts between damaged teen guys • Atmosphere and setting: Gothic vibes, plus strong use of symbols and the campus architecture and history • Poetic passages and haunting, gritty imagery
Challenges: • For me, the author relied too much on withholding information–the weakest and most annoying way to build suspense. • The pacing felt slow until the last 25%.
Once the action accelerated, it turned darker than I expected–in good ways. Ultimately, while there are implausible aspects to the story, I appreciate the creativity, the risks, and the quirks.
Milman's depictions of deceit, peer pressure, social climbing, drinking and drug use, being 'different' in various ways, abuses of power, mental health struggles, and the cravings for recognition and belonging ring true.
The various dark excesses and details of damage, including in relationship dynamics, were among my favorite parts. I would read another book by Derek Milman.
Thank you Dreamscape Media for an the ALC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions....more
My thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions. Well-writteMy thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions. Well-written and intensively researched–including with boots-on-the-ground–Devil at His Elbow is compelling, profound, and inspiring.
I ripped through this book at top-speed to get the full story. Based on true events, this fast-paced account gives a close-up view of a powerful man who nearly got away with murder. Award-winning journalist Valerie Bauerlein gives valuable insight into the Murdaugh family and its downfall, from their empire-building sire founding their law firm through their crimes and cover ups.
The author's description of her research, including interviews, viewing the crimes, and attending the trial inspires confidence. I appreciated her assertion that all dialogue came from transcripts and trusted sources, rather than being imagined.
The book captivated me, and much of it affected me like a powerful generational novel. Bauerlein renders Alex Murdaugh’s disturbing crimes, the investigations, and the trials that exposed his web of fraud, theft, dirty dealing, deceit, and death in vivid scenes.
The book include Murdaugh’s damaging impact on people he fleeced and on surviving loved ones of those he played a part in killing, bringing home the damage, unnecessary suffering, and death visited on innocent people whose only mistake was to trust a Murdaugh man. The violence and corruption included his son's victims–and his role in encouraging his drinking, harassing survivors, and shielding the boy from consequences.
The empathy for the victims sets this book apart from true crime books that focus on criminals and treat people they harm and kill as incidental or objects solely for titillation. In Devil at His Elbow, the victims and their loved ones are depicted in detail and with respect.
Highly recommended for seasoned readers of true crime and of history with graphic material and content some readers may find disturbing.
The book includes an excellent bibliography and research notes....more
My thanks to Mulholland Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions. House of Bone and Rain is like nothing I’vMy thanks to Mulholland Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions. House of Bone and Rain is like nothing I’ve ever read. From the first page it yanked me into the world of five young men, their brotherhood, their hopes, and the forces pressing down on them. It took the top of my head off.
It filled me with a pulsing, squalling, horror-filled, relentless battle. Wriggling truths kept emerging from the squelching murk in the darkest places. Gripping and stunning all the way to the end, a fever dream bullet.
This novel shines with a deep humanity. In the depth of brutality, in the book’s heart, there’s compassion. House of Bone and Rain shot into my top-5 new releases of 2024.
Highly recommended for seasoned readers of dark Literature, intense Horror, and Supernatural Thrillers. Except for people who avoid gritty, grisly, gory books, my recommendation: Avoid spoilers and read it immediately....more
My thanks to Unbound for the e-ARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions.
A lot of passion went into this project, and it coMy thanks to Unbound for the e-ARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions.
A lot of passion went into this project, and it contains some fascinating forays into various creatures and characters.
Due to my lifelong delight in folklore, mythology, history, and gender studies, I was eager to read it.
There's a good deal of intriguing history and speculation.
The description states “...these forgotten narratives tell stories of resilience that deserve to be heard,” and “...we must confront the twisted tales of the past…” Alas, my desire to discover forgotten narratives and twisted tales wasn't satisfied. The attention paid to Rowling hit a jarring note.
I found parts of Queer as Folklore engaging, particularly the exploration of vampires, werewolves and other transformations, Gothic authors, and possible LGBT+ clues in cemeteries and ancient burials.
Many readers will be delighted by Queer as Folklore. It’s a sprawling work with treasures in it, including wonderful illustrations....more
Thank you, Inkshares for the eARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions. Midwestern Gothic released today. Seasoned Horror reThank you, Inkshares for the eARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions. Midwestern Gothic released today. Seasoned Horror readers–grab this book. It’s extraordinary.
Scott Thomas brings a remarkable talent to Gothic fiction. The Door in the Field and Wear Your Secret Like a Stone rank among the finest Horror I’ve read this year. He goes deep into the heart of the most disquieting things, feelings usually kept hidden, and the consequences of the most brutal kinds of guilt.
This collection recognizes the indigenous blood in the land, the brutal acts of colonization, the debts of blood never paid. He’s also articulate about what he's doing, embedding the meaning of his project in the book itself. He creates and delineates Midwestern Gothic.
Opening these doors can change us. This is powerful stuff.
For me, the final two novellas seemed less focused than the first two and didn't engage me as intensely. People with a stronger interest in fiction featuring children might like the second half of the book more than I did.
Although only one of these four novellas passes the Bechdel test, there are some strong female characters.
Overall, Thomas has a distinctive, intimate voice that keeps my attention. I particularly like that he writes horror with heart. He displays a range of mastery from unsettling eeriness to full-throttle violence. I look forward to reading more of his work.
I rate Midwestern Gothic at 4.5, rounded up to 5 for the powerful concept and the top-caliber first two novellas.
Each novella begins with an atmospheric color-photo cover, adding to the eerie vibes. There's a good introduction, too.
Verdict: Highly recommended to readers of Gothic literature and literary Horror that contains dark themes and gore....more
5 stars, no spoilers: This book grabbed me hard and didn't let go. It's entertaining, fast-paced, and compelling.
The excellent voice actors enhanced 5 stars, no spoilers: This book grabbed me hard and didn't let go. It's entertaining, fast-paced, and compelling.
The excellent voice actors enhanced my enjoyment of the powerful story. It was like going back in time and listening to a radio show, complete with breaking news headlines. I could barely stop listening and finished it in two days.
The interweaving of connected stories works beautifully. The timeline transitions are clear, and the change in narrators makes the shifts unmistakable, maintaining the novel’s spellbinding quality.
It's an important book. The level of historical immersion combined with a suspenseful and heartfelt story are impressive.
I felt enormously satisfied by this book. It’s a multifaceted, challenging saga with many emotional aspects. Although there are sad and disturbing parts to it, there's so much spirit, strength, and courage, it’s uplifting and inspiring.
Bryce presents a feast of historical detail including language, music, pastimes, fashion, foods, and the power of newspapers and tabloids to influence public opinion. The historical context comes through in the events, woven seamlessly into the narrative.
The many ways in which race and class divides were constructed and enforced in the US emerge in the same masterful manner, adding to the novel’s impact.
I enjoyed the references to influential figures in the Harlem Renaissance and the media. The contrasts in the lives and opportunities available to the women of both generations highlight the courage of individuals who fought for their rights. Outrages based on classism, racism, and anti-immigrant sentiments speak for themselves within this powerful story.
The strong pacing, intelligence, verve, talent, and heart in its telling left me energized and wholeheartedly excited to share it with other readers. I'll be watching for more books by Denny S. Bryce.
This was my first audiobook from RB media. The production values and performances by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and Chanté McCormick are excellent.
Recommended for readers who enjoy or wish to explore Historical Fiction, Black History, Literary Fiction, or simply an extraordinary audiobook experience. ...more
My personal rating is 4.5 stars. Spoiler-free review: My thanks to RBMedia and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC for consideration. These are my unbiaseMy personal rating is 4.5 stars. Spoiler-free review: My thanks to RBMedia and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions. In the Lonely Hours stands out as the best new Gothic I’ve experienced this year. This is gorgeous.
The immersive, multilayered story within a story follows sympathetic, vulnerable characters. The contemporary storyline features a midlife woman coping with widowhood and a teenage daughter, providing a refreshing point of view.
The vivid setting and characters in Scotland pair wonderfully with the narrator's expressive talents and accents.
The underlying horror woven with history, folklore, and tense relationships kept me curious to follow the many threads.
I had challenges with the beginning and ending, yet the talent, writing quality, and richly imagined tale kept me listening for hours at a time.
The gritty, yet heart-filled mother-daughter relationship alternated with disturbing family dynamics of the past was powerful. I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere and exploring the castle. The dark and scary scenes hit hard.
Morgan delves into emotional and psychological complexity, yet it’s a fun book with ghosts and legends that works as escapism–for those of us comfortable with dark material and detailed horror. I found the author's handling of evil particularly appealing.
This audiobook is an excellent production from RBBooks’ Tantor Media division. The narrator, Siobahn Waring, gives a mesmerizing performance complete with eerie sound effects. Bravo.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy Gothics, Horror, supernatural suspense, or dark paranormal mysteries. It’s worth listening to this one on a day when you’re free to give it your full attention....more
My thanks to Random House / Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC for consideration. These are solely my opinions. Amy Goldsmith has talent. TheMy thanks to Random House / Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC for consideration. These are solely my opinions. Amy Goldsmith has talent. The cover is fierce, and the novel has appealing elements going for it. The isolated, crumbling ancestral home, Irish legends, and creepy lake hooked me.
Initially, I related to the artistic scholarship student trying to fit in with privileged peers.
The suspense, creepy atmosphere, and eerie happenings kept me turning pages to the end.
Unfortunately, I found the characters largely shallow. Many readers will find this novel satisfying. I expected to be thrilled with it, but for me, it lacks engaging personalities and depth.
Prolonged flashbacks, clunky plot devices, and excessive superficial romance / pining scenes disrupted the flow, weakening the book. I lost respect and empathy for the main character.
Overall, it was entertaining for a fast read. I liked the horror scenes and the connections with history, painting, and poetry.
Recommended for mature teen readers and fans of Gothics, Horror, Mysteries, and Dark Academia vibes....more
Spoiler-free review: Blood Like Mine mesmerized me. This intimate book pulled me into my darkness to question how far I’d go tonprotect someone I love.Spoiler-free review: Blood Like Mine mesmerized me. This intimate book pulled me into my darkness to question how far I’d go tonprotect someone I love.
The ferocity and complexity of the mother-daughter bond drives the action. Their tense road trip juxtaposed with an FBI agent's hunt for a serial killer compelled me to keep reading.
Neville delivers an immersive reading experience. It's gorgeously dark, fully engaging, and perfectly orchestrated.
Favorite things: • Character dynamics on both side of the law fraught with resentments, pain, loyalty, and love • Well-written, earned violent scenes • Perceptive and empathetic, with strong and relatable female and male characters • Connection to nature, sensory details, and the inner worlds of the principle characters
Overall: This is a remarkably smooth read--a novel with depth that makes itself felt from the beginning. It's one of my top three reads of 2024 so far. Highly recommended for Horror readers.
Thank You, NetGalley and Soho Press for the eARC for consideration. These are my opinions....more
I spent extra time with this book to give it a fair review because I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. I like Jack Reacher and Child's novels wit I spent extra time with this book to give it a fair review because I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. I like Jack Reacher and Child's novels with Douglas Preston. Sticking with it paid off. Entering the minds of killers was an intriguing and at times off-putting experience. The collection features some cold, cold men.
Stories about men on the other side of the law offer variety and additional twists. The depictions of women in many stories felt dated, although it isn't ugly. Women do at times get the upper hand.
There's cleverness, suspense, murder, and humor. For much of the book, the hooks and payoffs remain on the surface.
In the final third of the collection, I found greater depth and heart. There's internal conflict, ethical struggles, honor, love, and even a jolt of horror. The book ends on a strong note.
Lee Child has created enduring, entertaining characters throughout his career. Here, his taut, gritty stories reach their best moments in criminal action scenes, betrayals, and personal struggles.
Crises within and between people with their futures on the line serve up the most memorable moments. A sense of fun shines through in comeuppance tales. There's one grisly, well-earned image that will stick with me for a long time.
I recommend Safe Enough for his fans and readers who enjoy crime fiction and retro men's adventures....more
The opening gave thriller vibes. The discovery of the bodies of two women in Ruth Judd's luggage sends her on the run. Her 3 stars, spoiler-free review
The opening gave thriller vibes. The discovery of the bodies of two women in Ruth Judd's luggage sends her on the run. Her panic and desperate attempts to evade capture hooked me.
Unfortunately, most of the book slows to a crawl for largely redundant backstory. The sympathy for Judd far outweighs any consideration for the victims, a couple who were devoted to each other. The women had been friends of Judd's.
The main strength: The settings are vivid, and Notaro brings to life the societal restrictions and economic pressures on working women in the 1930s.
Judd's strained long-distance marriage, drug abuse, instability, and poor health are explored at length. She's depicted creating an independent life in Phoenix, befriended by Anne and her beloved Sammy. Power disparities with men who become patrons of the women, and secrets and resentments that erode relationships come into play. The key plot points were revealed in the opening, so the prolonged imagined scenes become tedious.
The ending: Instead of pulling the book together, it fizzles. We get a choppy collage still foregrounding Judd's hardships.
It isn't until the Notes that the worst problems with the author's narrative choices become apparent. ...more
4.5 stars, spoiler-free review: A hard-hitting, gut-wrenching crime novel. The book is well-written, gritty, harrowing, and suspenseful. I found it dif4.5 stars, spoiler-free review: A hard-hitting, gut-wrenching crime novel. The book is well-written, gritty, harrowing, and suspenseful. I found it difficult to get into because the opening was so repellent. It took time for the interweaving stories to gain momentum and capture my full attention due to the extensive abuse scenes.
I took extra time with this ARC in the interest of giving it a fair evaluation. Michelle Dunne has delivered a powerful novel of a damaged woman's rage. It's justifiably a disturbing experience. For me, the pace and engagement improved in the second half. The final third became riveting.
The production values and voice performance of this Dreamscape Media audiobook are excellent. I particularly enjoyed the match with the narrator's Irish accent and the Cork setting.
I enjoyed the strong sense of place and the interactions between characters separate from those depicting abuse and torment. The contrast between Grace Murphy's public life as a barista and the horrors in her private world is masterful. The respect toward people in all parts of society–and the inclusion of a law enforcement officer with heart–make this a refreshing Crime read.
What resonated with me the most: Deeply unsettling portraits of obsessed people on both sides of the law and the unmet needs that drive them.
Other strengths: The richly portrayed lives of secondary characters and the interweaving stories. The Good Girl doesn't serve up easy answers.
Dunne handles challenging material with skill that highlights our common humanity, even within extreme circumstances. I recommend The Good Girl to readers drawn to realistic Crime Fiction, Psychological Thrillers, serial killers, and female rage. I would read more books by Michelle Dunne. She’s a powerful talent.
Emer Heatley gives an outstanding performance of the many voices throughout the novel. The pacing and emotional nuances are perfect.
Thank you, NetGalley and DreamScape Media for the audiobook ARC....more
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