The Wicked

The Wicked

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4.0 of 5 stars 4.00  ·  rating details  ·  70 ratings  ·  23 reviews
AN ANCIENT EVIL RISES...BURNS...KILLS...

After a fire consumes the Heller Home for Children, the residents of Morganville, North Carolina thought they knew evil...

They were wrong.

Unaware of the turmoil in their new hometown, the Littles--David, Kate, and seven-year-old Becca--are moving from New York City to Morganville in hopes of repairing their own lives, which were rece...more
Paperback, Revised and Expanded, 352 pages
Published May 1st 2012 by Shock Totem Publications (first published 2007)
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Kevin Lucia
The Wicked, by James Newman, is a frightfully fun exercise in classic eighties horror. The pacing is excellent, all the time-honored elements are there - evil comes to a small town, preying on vulnerable sensibilities, trying to become "flesh" - but most importantly, it's so very well written. The prose is lean, the characterization rings true and even at 325 pages, the story moves like a dragster fueled by the fires of Hell.

David, Kate and Becca Little moved to Morganville, North Carolina in a...more
Cameron
An enjoyable faux-retro 1980's style pulp "small town vs. ancient evil" tale. Perhaps the best marriage of cover art and subject matter of all time. "The Wicked" is fast paced but marred by a clunky ending in which, despite all evidence to the contrary, the sense of real danger evaporates, and our protagonists have little trouble overcoming all odds. I also never got a sense of the "town" like the best examples of this sub-genre. The focus seemed to tight on the family at the heart of the story,...more
Jon Recluse
Far beyond a retro retread, this novel is a respectful homage to '80s horror, while transcending that decade's cliches with a fresh eye and distinctive voice. Recommended for fans of horror's heyday and new fans alike.
Benjamin Uminsky
This is my first Newman title, and I can say that I will certainly continue to read James Newman. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I felt there were some significant distracting flaws that I will get into.

Here is what I liked:
1) Character Development was really well done: I was fully invested in David, Kate, and Becca (main characters). In fact, strikingly was the level of character development for the Dawson boy, despite this sub character being in the story for all of two seconds. It was...more
Nick Cato
The Little family--in an effort to rebuild their lives after a sexual assault--move from New York City to the small town of Morganville, North Carolina. David's a popular book-cover artist, his wife Kate both pregnant and taking care of their 7-year old daughter Becca. Kate's nrother Joel had moved there a few years earlier and is now the town's coroner.

Almost as soon as they move in, bodies begin to pile up, some victims of strange insect stings, others in brutal car crashes. And when a departm...more
Claudia
I liked the whole horror of the 80s revisitation. This is certainly a much better book than some that appeared at that time. I wasn't totally invested in any of the characters except perhaps, Joel, and then only minimally. I really didn't care if the monster ate them or not. I felt a little cheated that Joel gave up so easily and slipped into the bad place without so much as a whimper. This was a man who lived in a state of horror every day, being the medical examiner in a town beset by the ulti...more
Nikki
The Little family decided to move to a small town to raise their children. Soon after they are settled, deaths and murders start occurring throughout the town. The residents are acting weird and whether the Little's believe it or not, something evil has awakened. The book started off a little slow and off-putting with some religious aspects and a quite irritating Kate Little. The two main characters are struggling through a tragedy that happened and they are emotionally unavailable at times and...more
Kristin
I lost myself.Here's a book you can lose yourself in. The pacing was fantastic, and I tore through it in two days. I found the characters to be believable, and Newman made sure they were balanced. I was into the characters—the Little family: David, Kate, and their daughter Becca. Supporting characters Joel and George were great, too. (Joel was my favorite.)

This is a story of “family moves from big city to small town only to find greater evil here”. Newman approaches the trope with respect and a...more
JP
The Wicked by James Newman is a great throwback to the old horror novels of the 80s era. This is the first novel of Newman’s that I have read and I’m damned sure that it won’t be the last.

Dave and Kate Little, along with their young daughter, Becca, decide to move to a small town in North Carolina called Morgansville. They left New York in order to escape the painful memories of some very unfortunate events that occurred there, namely, Kate having been raped one night when her husband David was...more
Derek Tatum
James Newman's knowing take on the "small town horror" subgenre. Starts off relatively normal, then spirals into insanity. Recommended for fans of Stephen King and Ronald Kelly in particular.
Stephanie Wytovich
Book Review: The Wicked by James Newman
By Stephanie M. Wytovich
http://joinmeinthemadhouse.blogspot.com/

The Wicked by James Newman is a new take on an old-fashioned tale regarding small town histories and haunts. Written in a style reminiscent of 80s horror, Newman introduces his readers to the Little family, Kate, David, and their daughter, Becca, and their move from New York City to Morganville, North Carolina in an attempt to leave behind tragedy, and start anew. But what seems like a quaint a...more
Tim Ward
The presentation of this story is top-notch: inside and out. The story of a husband who chooses to leave New York City for a small town in North Carolina in order to protect his family starts us off appreciating the man’s sacrifice. That he is a book designer who thought living in NYC was a dream makes it more admirable. But he’s not perfect. You can tell right off that he and his wife have problems; she’s pregnant and they’re not sure if the baby is his or her rapist’s. The sexual tension is re...more
Dark Recesses
The Wicked
James Newman
Necessary Evil Press
Autographed Limited Hardcover Edition, $45.00
Winter 2007
Review written by Nickolas Cook


Since his first major release from Leisure, MIDNIGHT RAIN (2004), James Newman has been one of the most exciting new voices in the horror and thriller genres. His newest novel, THE WICKED (from the fine folks at Necessary Evil Press), only validates the buzz around his work.
When a children's home is burned to the ground by a Satan worshipping teenage arsonist, the res...more
Kelli
James Newman’s second novel is a wicked good time, though occasionally I felt like a kid plucking the petals from a daisy: I like that, I hate that, I like that, I hate that, I like it!

Compelling storytelling that includes those little details for your suspension of disbelief and severely flawed characters makes this one of those books that you pause at the end of the page and try to guess what’s coming next. The only hiccup in the story was my momentary thought that the climax was a bit too ea...more
Mark Brown
I found this wonderful novel a note perfect hymn to the glorious horror novels of the eighties as well as being a great nail biting and at times stomach churning work of evil genius in it's own right. This book is a treat from beginning to end and the design alone is fabulous as like the text it perfectly evokes the classic era of paperback horror fiction that I know and continue to love so well. Hat's off Mr Newman for this most enjoyable read. I would give it six stars were I able.
Peter Schwotzer
I thought this book was awesome!!!! A tribute by Mr. Newman to his much beloved horror books of the 80's. I too very much loved the 80's and the horror boom, with the lurid covers staring out at you in just about every supermarket checkout...it was a grand time to be alive...full review to come.
Brad Howard
Excellent book! I highly recommend if you're a horror fan of authors like Bentley Little and Richard Laymon. Interesting take on a wicked evil in a town with great characters. Moloch.
Don
Newman is awesome! I love the trip back to the '80s. The suspense is excellent, and above all, I wasn't exactly sure how the book was going to end. I recommend this novel.
C.W. LaSart
Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Read my review here: http://www.cwlasart.com/?p=1377
Joel
A fun ode to 80's horror, but written much better than a lot of it!
Jonathan Reitan
A stunning throw back to old school '80's horror novels, a must read!
Sheri White
One of James Newman's best, in my opinion. Lots of fun to read, and creepy things as well.
Conny
It's hard to review this book, because I like the story but dislike the sexual scenes and the use of the ' F ' word in almost every page of this book.

A sexual scene in a book is ok but this was just gross and vulgair.
I skipped those pages, makes me sick.

If those scenes were left out this book would be great, a 4 stars book.
But not like this.
So that's why only 2 stars.
Terry
May 15, 2013 Terry marked it as to-read
Jane Walker
May 14, 2013 Jane Walker marked it as to-read
Jack
May 06, 2013 Jack is currently reading it  ·  review of another edition
Joshua Allen
Apr 29, 2013 Joshua Allen marked it as to-read
Kate
Apr 24, 2013 Kate marked it as to-read
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The Wicked (Hardcover)
The Wicked (ebook)
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Coming in 2013:

UGLY AS SIN (novel in progress)
More about James Newman...
Midnight Rain Olden ANIMOSITY People Are Strange The Church of Dead Languages

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