Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Prey

by Tim Marquitz (Goodreads Author)

4.5 of 5 stars 4.50 · rating details · 10 ratings · 6 reviews

Prey: A young, homeless man arrested for a gruesome crime; a respected politician bound for higher office; detective Shane Calvin finds himself caught in the middle as two seemingly disparate lives collide, the weight of their secrets threatening to destroy them all.

Anathema: Chemist Jerrod Dawkins has lost everything: his job, his reputation, and his family. After a faile...more

Paperback, 156 pages

Published September 28th 2012 by Genius Book Publishing

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 210)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Oct 08, 2012 Frank Errington rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the past year or so, I've grown to me a fan of Tim Marquitz. One of the first stories I ever reviewed was Skulls from Damnation Books. More recently Tim was editor on the amazing Fading Lights: An Anthology of the Monstrous.

This time around it's his own stories Prey and Anathema. Be sure to take a close look at the wonderful cover from M. Wayne Miller for just a small taste of what to expect from the cover story. The artist says, "The hardest part of doing that cover was to do something that...more In the past year or so, I've grown to me a fan of Tim Marquitz. One of the first stories I ever reviewed was Skulls from Damnation Books. More recently Tim was editor on the amazing Fading Lights: An Anthology of the Monstrous.

This time around it's his own stories Prey and Anathema. Be sure to take a close look at the wonderful cover from M. Wayne Miller for just a small taste of what to expect from the cover story. The artist says, "The hardest part of doing that cover was to do something that was not too intense for a cover."

In Prey, Marquitz takes the reader to a very dark place. The images are raw, disgusting, gruesome (somebody get me a Thesaurus). Really, the list could go on and on. The author's description of what was found in an abandoned house in the 5th ward is one of the more disturbing pieces of prose I've ever read and I read Horror for enjoyment.

The police have a suspect in custody, one who has confessed to the crime, but as the investigation unfolds, we find there is so much more to the story. What's the Mayor's involvement in all this and why is the Mayor's 11 year old son missing. Numerous twists and turns will keep you guessing to the end, but for me, it ends too soon. There seems to be a rush to conclude. All the loose ends are tied up nicely, but quickly, without a lot of explanation.

Prey is definitely for adults and not for the timid or easlily offended, but for those who enjoy a bit of gore with their horror, it's certaily a good ride.

The Bonus Novella is Anathema. OK, I admit, I had to look that up in my Funk and Wagnalls. It means "a person or thing detested or loathed." This tale is perfect for the title. A story of revenge gone awry. I found myself rooting for the protagonist who was wronged in such a big way. But, instead of exacting revenge on the perpetrator alone, things get more than a liitle out of hand.

Both stories are enjoyable and well worth a read. Available from the fine folks at Genius Book Publishing for the Paperback and from Amazon.com for both the Paperback and Kindle versions. Enjoy. (less)

like 4 likes · see review

Oct 11, 2012 Mihir rated it 4 of 5 stars

Full Review originally at Fantasy Book Critic

ANALYSIS: Tim Marquitz has been a Jack-of-all-trades in regards to his writing; previously he made his debut in urban fantasy then quietly slipped in a couple post-apocalyptic horror novellas and also dabbled with a dark YA book. After that he lent his devious mind to epic fantasy and finally even donned the editorial hat to give us a fantastic anthology about the rise of monsters and the decline of humanity from the Earth’s totem pole. This is anot...more
Full Review originally at Fantasy Book Critic

ANALYSIS: Tim Marquitz has been a Jack-of-all-trades in regards to his writing; previously he made his debut in urban fantasy then quietly slipped in a couple post-apocalyptic horror novellas and also dabbled with a dark YA book. After that he lent his devious mind to epic fantasy and finally even donned the editorial hat to give us a fantastic anthology about the rise of monsters and the decline of humanity from the Earth’s totem pole. This is another’s of Tim’s experiments wherein he is mixing horror & noir genres along with his own writing style to give us these two novellas Prey and Anathema.

Prey focuses on detective Shane Calvin and his most recent case, a case that will blow the lid off the mind of its denizens and then some. He and his partner were called to an abandoned place and its there that Tim lets loose his dark imagination and we get to witness one of the most disturbing scenes that I have ever read. Its gruesomeness can never be described aptly and so I would request readers to tighten their stomachs before reading it. The story then absolutely twists away from that very scene as each new chapter brings new revelations none however that take away any of the darkness from it though. The story further down makes the reader confused as to what has been truly happening and thus is very much in line with SE7EN for its psychological horror and The Treatment by Mo Hayder because of the similarity of the horrific content and prose.

The second novella Anathema deals with Jerrod Dawkins who has been divorced from his wife Elizabeth after a video has arisen of him getting blown by another woman. Not being able to defend his position leads him to being divorced from his wife, separated from his kids and removed from his job. Thus with no prospects of any future happiness he contemplates ending his life however he comes across a revelation that changes his thoughts about his infidelity. He learns that someone masterminded it and thus he sets upon a path to revenge and trying to regain his family.

Both these novels focus on the idea of revenge, that it can lead people to do things that they normally would never ever contemplate. It’s this emotion that powers certain individuals in both stories. They plan and execute certain things that lead to the devious and morbid events seen in the stories. Tim luridly showcases the extent to which revenge can shape a human mind and how the person descends into darkness to achieve their ends. Revenge is one of the basest emotions and one, which was vibrantly showcased in the classic The Count Of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Edmond Dantes was the original wronged man who moved heaven and hell to exact his revenge. These stories feature characters who have been similarly wronged and they take upon themselves the onus to do what they deem is right.

With both stories focusing on such characters, characterization becomes a vital point and Tim doesn't disappoint with it. In the first story, the author gives us a first person narrative that easily reveals the disgust, revulsion and many other emotions felt by the narrator. These emotions will be mirrored by the reader and they help in intensifying the bond with the story. The readers are in for a surprise and the way the story is set up, it won't be what you think. The second story has a third person narrative and showcases Jerrod who has lost it all and within his mental abyss finds the spark to claw back to defeat his enemy. The change from first person to third wasn't a jarring one however I felt maybe this story would have benefited from a first person approach as it would show how deep Jerrod's mental wounds go.

The author then lets fly his dark side as the reader witnesses the schemes within schemes and finally when all is revealed, the reader might find a modicum of sympathy in their hearts for all that has happened. These stories allow the author to explore the darker side of humanity and it doesn't make for a pleasant scene. Especially with the first novella the author unleashes all of his thoughts and makes the reader stumble continuously with the plot twists. Be assured that what might be apparent in the start is definitely not the whole story. The author had stated that with Prey he wanted to write a story wherein the reader’s perception about a certain character would do a big 180-degree turn from the start to the finish. I’m pleased to report that this is indeed the case and many of the readers will be shocked at the final twist as well.

The only dissonances I felt with the story was in regards to the length. I'm not too fond of short stories and therefore I feel its my personal choice which comes into question in regards to the length of the story. In regards to the first novella, the author was trying to get a compact story that wouldn't have any other interludes to the main plot. The story begins with a physically horrifying scene and ends on a emotionally scarring one. The pace of the story is such that the reader feels compelled to keep turning the pages to see what happens next. So in regards to the length, I felt this could have worked as a longer story as well but ultimately its the author's prerogative and in this case works soundly as a novella.

CONCLUSION: Tim Marquitz is a writer who loves to explore the darker side of human emotions, all of his previous stories have often catered to these themes and with these two novellas he proves once again there is often more to heaven and hell than Horatio or any of us can presume to know. Give this collection a read if you like to read the darker sides of fiction or if you’re a fan of psychological horror. Prey-Anathema will fit right in within the club of stories that might upset you but to not try them will defeat the purpose of the author to beguile the reader with his dark twisted tales.(less)

like 3 likes · see review

Mar 06, 2013 Abhinav rated it 5 of 5 stars

You can read the full review over at The Founding Fields:

http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/03/...

Shadowhawk reviews the latest adult murder mystery novella from noted author and editor Tim Marquitz.

“Quite graphic and shocking, Prey is also one of my best reads of 2012 because of an intensely paced story and some great characterisation.” ~Shadowhawk

I’ve been interacting with Tim for quite a while now, and have even invited him to my blog for a guest post. Up until Prey, I hadn’t a chance to read...more You can read the full review over at The Founding Fields:

http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/03/...

Shadowhawk reviews the latest adult murder mystery novella from noted author and editor Tim Marquitz.

“Quite graphic and shocking, Prey is also one of my best reads of 2012 because of an intensely paced story and some great characterisation.” ~Shadowhawk

I’ve been interacting with Tim for quite a while now, and have even invited him to my blog for a guest post. Up until Prey, I hadn’t a chance to read any of his work, other than the horror/monsters mash-up anthology Fading Light, which he edited last year. After reading Prey, I really regret not having read any of his, because it was a fantastic novella (it actually contains two novellas, Prey and Anathema).

The first thing that struck me about Prey was how graphic Tim gets in his descriptions of murder scenes, from an almost uncomfortable sexual angle. It made for some really tough reading, I can tell you that, especially since I’ve never read fiction like that. However, it also made me realise that Tim was not the kind of author who wanted to play things safe, and so made some bold, daring attempts to get across the true horror of situations. Evens in the novella often get violent, and Tim does not shirk from letting the reader feel the full impact.

The story itself is a multiple homicide story, with Detective Shane Calvin being the lead investigator. As far as Calvin is concerned, I think Tim pretty much nailed the characterisation. He is the kind of officer that I expected from the story: he is irreverent, selfless, and extremely focused in his investigations. In many ways, he is like Will Smith’s character Detective Spooner from I, Robot. As we follow. They are both troubled men who have demons of their own. Calvin along, chapter by chapter, revelations and mysteries keep on piling until right towards the climax, itself a shocking ending with a huge reveal. The mystery/thriller aspect of the story is always in full effect, and Tim never lets the reader forget what the main goal is, proving that the man Calvin has in custody is indeed the murderer he has been looking for.

Prey has a very relentless pace, and is a quick read. The graphic sequences in the novella are, as I’ve said, very shocking. I wouldn’t exactly call this an enjoyable read, on account of how uncomfortable it made me feel at times, but it is still a very good story that worked for me on a more… meta level. It definitely has a thumbs-up from me.

Rating: 8.5/10

Anathema is the second novella here, and it tells a very different tale than Prey, although they are both about personal revenge and the lengths that some people will go to claim their vengeance against those who have wronged them. The events are also less shocking, and less graphic, which made for a much easier read.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Nov 07, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-review-copy, dark, read-in-2012

Prey is an experience, and Marquitz was a brave man for writing this book. He does a wonderful job at exploring the darkness of humanity, and deeper themes like revenge. His characters might seem a bit two-dimensional at times, but the plot and scenes will carry readers through the two-dimensional bits. When it’s said and done, Marquitz is a very unique author, with a fantastic talent for writing which he’s chosen to use in this absolutely haunting book. If you are looking for something a bit da...more

like 2 likes · see review

Mar 23, 2013 Esther Somorai rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book from the author through Goodreads, first-reads. Thank you.

The first chapter really put me off this book, it was so gross and sick. But since I won the book I will forge ahead to the end. It seems that there is no end to the horrific things one person can do to another, as we know it happens in real life, not just in books. After getting into the story, it got very interesting and I wanted to see what the outcome would be. Well written with a nice flow to his writing.

Anathema

This...more

like 3 likes · see review

Apr 22, 2013 Tyson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, scifi-fantasy

My review here.

like · see review

Apr 18, 2013 Colleen Wanglund rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 08, 2013 Jeffrey Getzin is currently reading it

Mar 14, 2013 Nathaniel Connors rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dec 28, 2012 Timothy Baker marked it as to-read

Nov 07, 2012 Stefan Fergus marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Margie Mcmahon marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Alina Vincent marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Catherine Snyder marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Jessi Miller marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Thera Rhodes marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Carl marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Annie marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Patricia marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Donna marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 A.m.mathes marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Jennifer Goudreau marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 E. marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Jenna marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Sanchi marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Carl marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Kyle marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Leslie Jane Fahrney marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Linda Fast marked it as to-read

Oct 30, 2012 Danielle marked it as to-read

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

Popular Shelves

to-read

187 shelves

currently-reading

1 shelf

first-reads

1 shelf

giveaways-no

1 shelf

scifi-fantasy

1 shelf

horror

1 shelf

give-aways

1 shelf

dark

1 shelf

arc-or-review-copy

1 shelf

need-2-buy

1 shelf

About Tim Marquitz

Dark Fantasy Author

"Horror becomes art when it flows from the pen of Tim Marquitz." ~ Bobby D. Whitney - BookWenches

"Witty, sarcastic and hilarious." Michelle - Publishers Weekly

More about Tim Marquitz...

Books by Tim Marquitz

Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Prey

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Prey
avg rating	preview: Prey Goodreads rating: 4.50 (10 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16054995-prey?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1349013715l/16054995.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16054995-prey?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Prey by Tim Marquitz[/url]

Prey

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Popular Shelves

About Tim Marquitz

Books by Tim Marquitz

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Prey

new topic
Discuss This Book