Brinkley Springs is a quiet little town. Some say the town is dying. They don't know how right they are. Five mysterious figures are about to pay a...
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Aug 31, 2010
Monster
rated it: 
Small and quiet, Brinkley Springs, West Virginia is a dying town. People move out and no one ever moves in. Houses go up for sale, but no one comes along and buys them. Tonight five strangers will pay a visit to Brinkley Springs, and they will commit atrocities the people of this town have never seen. Will anyone be left in the morning to tell what happened?
Five crows come to the mountain above Brinkley Springs and turn into human-like figures clad in black. Everything they touch o More...
Five crows come to the mountain above Brinkley Springs and turn into human-like figures clad in black. Everything they touch o More...
Aug 08, 2010
VanHalen
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Since the 1970's, I have seen news report after news report on the predicted damage that the closing of X major production-plant or distribution center will mean for this or that town. The doomsayers have been crying-out for every American small town for a while. Since getting my license in the mid-80's, I have even driven though a few small towns which clearly have seen the impact of industry packing up and leaving. The natural life cycle for towns and economies. I have seen it.
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Aug 23, 2010
DJMikeG
rated it:
Brian Keene at his best. The return of the Levi Stoltzfus character from "Ghost Walk" is great, and I enjoyed this book even more than that one. Levi is a such a cool, unconventional hero. He's like nothing else I've ever come across in fiction. Keene's description of a struggling rural town in West Virginia resonates with a clear, honest and rough hewn voice. Its like the literary equivalent of a Johnny Cash song. Except with way more gore (lets not forget that classic country m
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Aug 13, 2010
Guillermo
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I don't think I'm going to grow tired of Brian Keene. In fact, because this is the third book featuring the character Levi Stoltzfus, I'm now on the hunt for the other two -Ghost Walk and Dark Hollow.
Now I've read a few things by Keene, including Dead Sea, Darkness on the Edge of Town and a zombie short story from The New Dead, still I can tell you that the man is a genius. On the back cover of A Gathering of Crows, his latest, The Horror Review calls him "the next Stephen King," More...
Now I've read a few things by Keene, including Dead Sea, Darkness on the Edge of Town and a zombie short story from The New Dead, still I can tell you that the man is a genius. On the back cover of A Gathering of Crows, his latest, The Horror Review calls him "the next Stephen King," More...
Oct 14, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
A slash and hack gore-fest by Brian Keene. Five dark figures descend on a small town and begin murdering the inhabitants in extremely gruesome ways. A magus named Levi is the only one who can stop the slaughter. Lots of gratuitous violence for its own sake (which, depending on the reader, can be a good or bad thing). The character of Levi is intriguing and this is the second novel of Keene's that he appears in (the first one is Ghost Walk). The plot is quite simple (even though the magical aspec
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Nov 04, 2010
Dan
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We've all seen them - those rural small towns that seem to be hanging on by a thread (and likely a prayer.) Western Iowa, in particular, is littered with them. But what makes a a struggling town a ghost town? If you believe horror writer Brian Keene and his latest release, A Gathering of Crows, it's five otherworldly creatures that can shapeshift between a human-like form and that of a crow. They gut (both literally and figuratively) those small towns that have been completely forgotten. And ton
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Sep 05, 2010
Patrick
rated it: 
I read his new novel and find his prose addicitive. He writes with a simple direct style that makes this book easy readin'. It seems to me that the premise is same as his other books, the same ole it was a quiet town before EVIL CAME!.
However it seems that he is drawing some connections between his novels in the form of a former Amish ready to do battle with demonic creatures from another dimensions and from all possible worlds.
He also entertains a secular view that God More...
However it seems that he is drawing some connections between his novels in the form of a former Amish ready to do battle with demonic creatures from another dimensions and from all possible worlds.
He also entertains a secular view that God More...
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Mar 19, 2011
Richard
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When five strangers literally swoop into the dying town of Brinkley Springs, their goal is nothing short of the slaughter of every living thing within the town limits. The townsfolk go head to head with the preternatural visitors, and they have an unlikely secret weapon - a stranger called Levi Stoltzfus, who most assume to be Amish, but who is much more. One of the most enjoyable books Keene has written, the very simple town-under-siege plotline rockets along, bodies mount up, and the survivors
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Sep 02, 2010
Scott
rated it:
Originally posted at Dread Central.
Brian Keene has been called a lot of things. From a virtuoso writer to the next Stephen King, the man's stories keep the majority of people shivering in their seats. His latest offering, A Gathering of Crows, is no exception.
The story begins in a quiet little one-road town out in the country, when five crows land and transform into murderous men in black. From there, readers are treated to one horrific death after another, narrated with More...
Brian Keene has been called a lot of things. From a virtuoso writer to the next Stephen King, the man's stories keep the majority of people shivering in their seats. His latest offering, A Gathering of Crows, is no exception.
The story begins in a quiet little one-road town out in the country, when five crows land and transform into murderous men in black. From there, readers are treated to one horrific death after another, narrated with More...
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Dec 31, 2010
Pia
rated it: 
Two hundred plus pages of crow-men murdering a small town, and less than a hundred of resolution/fighting back against the Big Bad Evil.
I would've liked to see more character development, even if only Donny and Marsha (whose relationship I didn't buy into much at all) or Randy who never did much of anything.
I liked the concept behind both the crow-men and the resolution resolution, but the info dumps by Levi were more lecture than storytelling, and not all of it applied to t More...
I would've liked to see more character development, even if only Donny and Marsha (whose relationship I didn't buy into much at all) or Randy who never did much of anything.
I liked the concept behind both the crow-men and the resolution resolution, but the info dumps by Levi were more lecture than storytelling, and not all of it applied to t More...
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Oct 26, 2010
Joshtafari
rated it:
Not a bad setup for a horror book, and I like Keene's portrayal of small town Appalachia. The metaphor he presents of small town America dying out is possibly a little ham-handed, but apt. This is the second book featuring lapsed Amish and powwow magus Levi. Levi seems to be there to provide lengthy info dumps on Keene's Labyrinth mythos, a lot of which is a repeat from the last book Levi was in, Ghost Walk. I like the idea of a mythos tying all of his books together, but it would be better in s
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Dec 19, 2010
Daniel
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More Keenedom. Getting through the Keene backlist is easy enough, with the pace being what they are. I was going for a weekend away to Busselton and just grabbed a book on the way out. In hindsight, I would have chosen another Keene book, perhaps Ghost Walk or Dead Hollow, as there is a chronological progression with one of the main characters of Gathering, which I would have liked to have followed.
But nothing I could have done about that, right?
A Gathering of Crows has a More...
But nothing I could have done about that, right?
A Gathering of Crows has a More...
Sep 14, 2011
Scott
rated it:
The idyllic town of Brinkley Springs is suffering a slow death. The local economy has all but dried up, leaving its residents disillusioned and desperate or looking for a way out. Yet this little burg's demise is quickly hastened when five mysterious entities arrive in the night on a soul-consuming mission of bloodshed.
In the hands of a lesser writer this scenario could easily crumble into a cliched mess, but Brian Keene keeps a firm handle on the material. He gives us a cast of cred More...
In the hands of a lesser writer this scenario could easily crumble into a cliched mess, but Brian Keene keeps a firm handle on the material. He gives us a cast of cred More...
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Jun 29, 2011
Crissy
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Very interesting premise, lots of action and hard to put down! Love his theories on pseudo religion, love the character of Levi, looked up his Long Lost Friend book, it does exist and is a fascinating look at cultural history.
Dec 28, 2010
Heather
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Not my usual style. I read it for a book club. I was shocked at the graphic descriptions behind each murder, but I must admit that it held my attention, and I could not put it down.
Dec 25, 2010
Alejandro
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Another great one from Brian Keene. I recommend that people don't read this one until having read DARK HOLLOW and GHOST WALK, in that order. This book is the second appearance of Levi Stotlzfus, the ex-Amish magus, and it really rounds out the shared multiverse that Keene is building with his books. Joe Bob says check it out.
Jan 10, 2011
Todd
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I enjoy Keene and his brand of horror. This didn't let me down. I thought the tale he wove for this one was very good. It kept me hooked and turning the pages. It moved quickly and kept me creeped out.
Apr 25, 2011
Shawn
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As always, a good job done by Mr. Keene. I need to scout out the previous books with Levi in them.Having said that, I did not feel lost by not having read them. However, I think this is the third book of his with folks trapped in a town by the netherbeasties.
Sep 17, 2011
Frederic
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I like Keene, but I need some time to adapt. Poor characterization may be to blame. However, the second half of the book is edge of your seat horror/action.
Jul 28, 2011
Sam
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Brian Keene will make you think twice about taking the trash out at night with this third installment that started with Dark Hollow.
Jan 24, 2011
Jammies
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jul 21, 2010
Donald
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Exciting story and one of his best characters is back. The greatness of a horror novel revolves around the monster, and these are great.
Sep 29, 2010
Kristen
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Brian Keene never disappoints me. Great story and good cast of characters. Great tale of magic and powwow. good vs evil.
Apr 14, 2011
Gatorman
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Another excellent read from Keene. Really enjoyed the character of Levi and now want to go and find Ghost Walk to read the first Levi book.
Jan 03, 2011
Michael
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Very good book. Brian Keen is moving up as one of my favorite authors. His zombie books are fantastic.
May 08, 2011
Deb, the Word Muse
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First book by Keene I've read, not a bad writer. The premise is solid and the characters are interesting. Overall an enjoyable read.
Aug 13, 2010
Russ
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Another winner by Keene! Can't wait for more of the Keene-verse and The Labyrinth and The Thirteen!
Oct 24, 2010
Steve
rated it:
It's OK. Maybe a little less than that.
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