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21st out of 266 books
—
87 voters
Kin
by
Kealan Patrick Burke (Goodreads Author)
On a scorching hot summer day in Elkwood, Alabama, Claire Lambert staggers naked, wounded, and half-blind away from the scene of an atrocity. She is the sole survivor of a nightmare that claimed her friends, and even as she prays for rescue, the killers — a family of cannibalistic lunatics — are closing in.
A soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder returns fro...more
A soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder returns fro...more
Hardcover, 306 pages
Published
October 25th 2011
by Cemetery Dance Publications
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for some reason, i thought this was going to be another one of those downtrodden working poor novels i so love. damn that cover: barn, grass, isolated-looking rural atmosphere. i didn't even realize that blob in the foreground was a nude girl. oops.
i knew this had a horror angle; i knew it was going to have some - you know - cannibalism in it, but that's never bothered me any; i just for some reason thought this would have some of the poetic literary language i love from these books - the way e...more
I interviewed Kealan Patrick Burke here.
The writer of The Turtle Boy a Bram stoker award winner brings to you this tale. This story is dark, not of the paranormal kind but that of the darkness of the heart and the evil that men do.
His story is a taut visceral story of a woman’s survival, her pain endured and her pain of being the soul left behind from the fallen ones.
Nightmares are to haunt her salvation and she is in need of succor, need of embrace and love.
There is a need for Revenge, Venge...more
The writer of The Turtle Boy a Bram stoker award winner brings to you this tale. This story is dark, not of the paranormal kind but that of the darkness of the heart and the evil that men do.
His story is a taut visceral story of a woman’s survival, her pain endured and her pain of being the soul left behind from the fallen ones.
Nightmares are to haunt her salvation and she is in need of succor, need of embrace and love.
There is a need for Revenge, Venge...more
30 likes · like · see review
Sep 05, 2012
Jenn
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery,
suspense,
horror,
kindle,
wtf-moments,
buddy-read,
favorites,
military,
to-review,
5-stars-are-not-enough,
fiction,
favorite-authors,
i-own
Sick and twisted, I love, love, love it. First book in probably 10 years where I was scared shitless to go to bed at night.
I want to lay down and have this book's babies. Or as my friend told me, I would have "BabyKins". Tiss true. This book is fucking flat out messed up amazeballs. Not for everyone with the gore factor but seriously, seriously read it now.
I want to lay down and have this book's babies. Or as my friend told me, I would have "BabyKins". Tiss true. This book is fucking flat out messed up amazeballs. Not for everyone with the gore factor but seriously, seriously read it now.
12 likes · like · see review
May 24, 2012
Debra
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Debra by:
Lou
Shelves:
horror-supernatural,
ebook
I was a bit hesitant to pick up this book, but I've enjoyed all the author's other writing, so figured I'd try it. It was sooooo well-written and the characters were all fairly well-developed. This wasn't like Texas Chainsaw Massacre as some have stated, not really at all. That was why I'd hesitated to read it, because I thought it was going to be about torture. It's really about survivors, and yes a survivor of torture and rape is one those people. Anyway, I just can't say enough about how well...more
Wow. Just...wow. Like Robert McCammon, but without the supernatural. Full review coming soon...
3 likes · like · see review
Very nice recommendation from my friend Jenn and thanks to Stacey for the Kindle lend!
I really liked this author's writing style. It was very descriptive and really painted a vivid picture for me. There were points in the story where I read a sentence and then re-read it because it was just that well-written.
Was the plot amazing? I would say the hillbilly killer family as well as crazy-killers-doing-the-work-of-God genres are definitely a bit overworked. It reminded me a little bit of the movi...more
I really liked this author's writing style. It was very descriptive and really painted a vivid picture for me. There were points in the story where I read a sentence and then re-read it because it was just that well-written.
Was the plot amazing? I would say the hillbilly killer family as well as crazy-killers-doing-the-work-of-God genres are definitely a bit overworked. It reminded me a little bit of the movi...more
3 likes · like · see review
"If you're going to read just one noir cannibal revenge novel this year... [Kin should be it]"
That may be my favorite review line ever. I'm sold. Buying it now and reading it next.
That may be my favorite review line ever. I'm sold. Buying it now and reading it next.
5 likes · like · see review
I stumbled across Kin while searching for a new book to read. I was looking for something different and I wanted to lean toward "extreme horror." Kin came up on my Amazon search and I downloaded the book sample. I devoured the sample pages and immediately bought the book. It took me a few days to finish the book, not because of the writing but because life got busy and I had little to no time for reading. But I managed to sneak away here and there and read a few more pages, savoring each little...more
I found the book Kin to be extremely fascinating and interesting. It is a novel full of interesting characters and situation. I found the use of telling the story through different people to keep the story moving interesting. Through this method the author is able to let the reader in on what each character is thinking about the various situations that are presented in the story. The story is full of violence that one family inflicts upon a young lady and how the crime and violence has been cove...more
Apr 06, 2012
Mallory Anne-Marie Forbes
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Horror, Good Writing
Recommended to Mallory Anne-Marie by:
Great Minds Think Aloud
Shelves:
april-2012-reads
Not at all a novel for the squeamish (you’ll find that out on the very first page), this is nonetheless one of the most poetic yet most horrifying novels of horror I’ve yet to encounter. “Kin” is also the first writing I’ve read by Kealan Patrick Burke, of whom I’ve heard so much positive praise, and I’m a convert (despite the near constant twinges and trying to shut my eyes as I would have done if this were a movie, and stop my ears-but the novel just impelled me to continue).
This novel is so...more
This novel is so...more
7 likes · like · see review
There are some authors that I just really want to meet after reading one of their novels. Some authors really seem to understand people and seem to know how to write a
good, no, great story without having to make it unbelievable at the same time. Kealan Patrick Burke is an author that I now must read everything by just from reading
one book by him. With Kin, Patrick shows that he isn't following so many of the terrible trends of newer horror authors today such as bad dialog (Brian Keene), aweful...more
good, no, great story without having to make it unbelievable at the same time. Kealan Patrick Burke is an author that I now must read everything by just from reading
one book by him. With Kin, Patrick shows that he isn't following so many of the terrible trends of newer horror authors today such as bad dialog (Brian Keene), aweful...more
I read Kin in an approximately 24 hour period---basically every spare moment til I finished. Once you have taken the first steps, you are compelled to finish this journey.
The first part of this book (roughly 25%) is a white-knuckled ride that will leave you feeling as if you had drank half a pot of coffee. You know---nerves on end, jittery, and unable to sleep. Blood soaked and violent yet lyrical in a way that reminded me of the classic Southern Gothic novel As I Lay Dying (Faulkner) with the m...more
The first part of this book (roughly 25%) is a white-knuckled ride that will leave you feeling as if you had drank half a pot of coffee. You know---nerves on end, jittery, and unable to sleep. Blood soaked and violent yet lyrical in a way that reminded me of the classic Southern Gothic novel As I Lay Dying (Faulkner) with the m...more
4 likes · like · see review
This is a redneck slasher story, but it’s not; and that is what makes this one work.
This story begins after the part where four teens are beaten, tortured and finally killed. It begins when one them is found naked and barely alive after a stunning escape. You still get some of the back story so, as the reader, you know the character’s motivations for what follows.
From there, you follow Claire as she is helped back to her home; you get the story of Pete and his dad, the ones who found Claire and...more
This story begins after the part where four teens are beaten, tortured and finally killed. It begins when one them is found naked and barely alive after a stunning escape. You still get some of the back story so, as the reader, you know the character’s motivations for what follows.
From there, you follow Claire as she is helped back to her home; you get the story of Pete and his dad, the ones who found Claire and...more
Kin picks up where other horror novels end and the ride is scary, fascinating, and absolutely worth every minute spent reading this engrossing book.
I am a huge horror fan (grew up with the strangeness of Stephen King and Dean Koontz), graduated to Jack Kilborn (JA Konrath's alter ego) and Blake Crouch; but Mr. Burke is without a doubt, one of the masters' of this genre and the scary part is he has so much room to grow.
Claire is the only survivor of a horrific incident which can be compared to mo...more
I am a huge horror fan (grew up with the strangeness of Stephen King and Dean Koontz), graduated to Jack Kilborn (JA Konrath's alter ego) and Blake Crouch; but Mr. Burke is without a doubt, one of the masters' of this genre and the scary part is he has so much room to grow.
Claire is the only survivor of a horrific incident which can be compared to mo...more
Imagine the ending of any hill billy inbred horror film with the female victim getting away, normally bloody and in a state of shock. Usually, you get the credits rolling and you leave the cinema with the feeling of, where does the story go from there? How does she cope? What happens to the family she returns to?
Kealan Patrick Burke's 'KIN' takes you down this journey and gives you a refreshing look at this genre that often stops with the heroine getting away and brilliantly gives you the what h...more
Kealan Patrick Burke's 'KIN' takes you down this journey and gives you a refreshing look at this genre that often stops with the heroine getting away and brilliantly gives you the what h...more
3 likes · like · see review
Who would have thought that KIN would stand for Kealan Is woNdeful eh?? Yea ok I probably sound like I'm a total loon, but you know what? I don't care. I'm in such a happy state right now, and it's all because of this book ! It's just pushed all the right buttons and left a biiiig satisfied smile on my face!
It's dark, it's gory, it's violent, and it's awesome. Ooooh yeah !
The story starts with Claire escaping, but the cleverness is all in the way the writer "plays" with time, to the point where,...more
It's dark, it's gory, it's violent, and it's awesome. Ooooh yeah !
The story starts with Claire escaping, but the cleverness is all in the way the writer "plays" with time, to the point where,...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I'm a fan of Kealan Patrick Burke. I'm slowly catching up on everything he has available. I was excited to see he had a new novel out, KIN.
The protagonist of this novel is Claire. Claire survived rape and torture at the hands of a "Deliverance" type family. The story begins with Claire's escape from them, the only one of her group of friends to do so.
From that point on, the story ripples outward to all of the people involved: Claire's friends and family, the antagonist's family, and the famili...more
The protagonist of this novel is Claire. Claire survived rape and torture at the hands of a "Deliverance" type family. The story begins with Claire's escape from them, the only one of her group of friends to do so.
From that point on, the story ripples outward to all of the people involved: Claire's friends and family, the antagonist's family, and the famili...more
Jul 13, 2012
Greta is Erikasbuddy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
for-pw,
indie-author-love
I love books like this!!
They're real, they're raw, and I'm guessing they might taste like chicken ;)
This is a book about a survivor, a soldier, and a family who eats PEOPLE!
That's right... PEOPLE!!
But they don't eat people because there isn't a Publix nearby. No, they eat people because they are trying to rid the world of the Men of the World. You know... just trying to help God out. He totally wants them to do that. Well, they're pretty sure. Actually, if you dispute them.... well, if you try t...more
They're real, they're raw, and I'm guessing they might taste like chicken ;)
This is a book about a survivor, a soldier, and a family who eats PEOPLE!
That's right... PEOPLE!!
But they don't eat people because there isn't a Publix nearby. No, they eat people because they are trying to rid the world of the Men of the World. You know... just trying to help God out. He totally wants them to do that. Well, they're pretty sure. Actually, if you dispute them.... well, if you try t...more
I finished this e-book last night and...well, just W-O-W!
Okay, let me start off by saying I became familiar this author through his stories The Grief Frequency and The Turtle Boy. Now that I've read Kin, I am a fan for life—seriously! You wouldn't think that a story including cannibals would be very original because it's been done over and over (Ketchum's Off Season and Offspring ring a bell?), but Kin is like no other cannibalistic story I've ever read before.
There were quite a few unexpected...more
Okay, let me start off by saying I became familiar this author through his stories The Grief Frequency and The Turtle Boy. Now that I've read Kin, I am a fan for life—seriously! You wouldn't think that a story including cannibals would be very original because it's been done over and over (Ketchum's Off Season and Offspring ring a bell?), but Kin is like no other cannibalistic story I've ever read before.
There were quite a few unexpected...more
What I loved the most about this book was that we, the reader, were allowed a glimpse into the lives and minds of the family responsible for the atrocious acts committed against unwary travelers. I was shocked to find myself feeling sorry for Luke at more than one point and had to stop and remind myself of the things he had done. Claire was another character that I was really worried about throughout the story, I really wanted her to be okay, and Peter was one of my favourites. He had a innocent...more
Papa-in-Grey and Momma-in-Bed
"Kin" is definitely one of the most chilling, most gruesome books I've read. That written, author Burke doesn't spell everything out in this story but leaves a lot of the gore, cannabilism, and all-out freakishness to the reader's imagination. And we each get to find out JUST how warped we are!
The single most dreadful scene I've ever read (or seen on the big screen for that matter) takes place in the back of a pickup truck in this book and I've already had nightmares...more
"Kin" is definitely one of the most chilling, most gruesome books I've read. That written, author Burke doesn't spell everything out in this story but leaves a lot of the gore, cannabilism, and all-out freakishness to the reader's imagination. And we each get to find out JUST how warped we are!
The single most dreadful scene I've ever read (or seen on the big screen for that matter) takes place in the back of a pickup truck in this book and I've already had nightmares...more
It was a solid story that depicted more than just evil, but one mans battle with coming home from the world and fitting back in to society. It ended to quick with very little resolution for me. It was almost worth the 5 stars
Kin is a relentless and brutal ride with memorable characters and storyline. Kealan Patrick Burke has managed to outshine himself with this novel.
This story will make you check the locks on your door and windows before tucking in for the night. Given the subject matter, the author manages to make this an easy read and an impossible book to put down.
The words “backwoods, isolated, and insane” sum up a number of elements in this book. However, there is a real and plausible human element that bleed...more
This story will make you check the locks on your door and windows before tucking in for the night. Given the subject matter, the author manages to make this an easy read and an impossible book to put down.
The words “backwoods, isolated, and insane” sum up a number of elements in this book. However, there is a real and plausible human element that bleed...more
"Kin" has enough twists and turns in a finely-crafted plot to keep even the most veteran horror readers guessing. The book starts out in a way that's similar to Bryan Smith's "Depraved" and the movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre. That's where the similarities end. Author Kealan Patrick Burke creates some memorable characters who most readers will truly care about. Because of this, the book has a depth to it that makes it rise above any other "hillbilly horror"-type novel that I've read in the past. V...more
Flat out crazy ass hillbilly blood splattering gore fest. Starts out like Texas Chain Saw Massacre along with your basic apron made from human skin, to your victims becoming the next meal. However, that's where the horror part ends and something else emerges from this tale of sickos. This author takes us to the very depths of evil within men's heart and all for the love of God. He also takes us into the hearts and minds of our well fleshed out characters and makes us care deeply for them.
This i...more
This i...more
The Merrill family put their faith in God to show them the way and protect their kin. To help them deal justice upon the Men of the World. Papa-in-Gray has taught his children well: how to preserve their livelihood, how to hide in the woods, and how to torture and kill those who trespass upon their land and defile their way of life. Momma-in-Bed watches over them and the boys do as they are told. But Matt drops his guard and the girl they have raped and tortured and tied to the post kills him an...more
Kin is a brisk read and a great horror novel. No supernatural influence here, just the plain, raw awfulness of humanity. The story starts where your typical slasher film ends: the girl escapes. This one escapes barely, she leaves enough pieces of herself behind and the even has such a traumatic effect that a number of characters begin the slow burn before colliding with one another. The story is a good one and Burke's writing is visceral and engaging. If you like horror--especially human horror-...more
I loved this book. I loved it so much my grandchildren went without cookies as I continued reading it. The descriptions were written so well I found myself physically reacting to them. I was sick to my stomach when I finished reading the word picture of Mamma-in-Bed. Claire was the perfect hero. Her strength would not allow me to see her as victim. She may have been physically vulnerable but her spirit was tempered steel. It was exciting, thought provoking, and the end was a perfect balance of t...more
Where most stories end, KIN picks up. A young girl named Claire is wandering--beaten, raped, and maimed--down a road in the kind of southern dead end town you’d never want to go to. Her three friends have been brutally murdered by a family of cannibalistic religious nuts known as the Merrills and they are hunting for Claire, the one that got away, even as she is rescued.
Claire’s rescuers, a young boy named Pete and his Pa are introduced as well as a cast of supporting characters that include a w...more
Claire’s rescuers, a young boy named Pete and his Pa are introduced as well as a cast of supporting characters that include a w...more
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| Q&A with Keal...: Paperbacks | 66 | 25 | 15. Juni, 10:53 Uhr |
Born and raised in Dungarvan, Ireland, Kealan Patrick Burke is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of five novels (Master of the Moors, Currency of Souls, Kin, The Living, and Nemesis: The Death of Timmy Quinn), over a hundred short stories, three collections (Ravenous Ghosts, The Number 121 to Pennsylvania & Others, and Theater Macabre), and editor of four acclaimed anthologies (Taverns of t...more
More about Kealan Patrick Burke...
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“Finch was his own country, the government unstable, the population volatile.”
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