Steve Stred's Blog, page 31

3Q’s – Nick Kolakowski – if you start him up, he’ll never stop!

Hugely fun one today! Nick Kolakowski is an author whom I had previously read, but only recently connected with. He’s prolific and ensuring his loyal fans have dark fiction frequently available to read and his stories constantly push the reader in several ways at once.

I’m super excited to have Nick join today for a new 3Q’s!

Welcome Nick!

 

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

NK: When I was a lot younger, I attempted to emulate Stephen King and write 3,000 words a day. I learned fairly quickly that one of the reasons King can hit that mark is a.) he’s superhumanly prolific, and b.) writing horror is his full-time job. I don’t hold myself to a daily word count because some days are better than others, energy-wise, and sometimes the story isn’t quite ready for a multi-thousand-word rush—although when I get closer to the end of a book, I tend to write faster.

I absolutely write every day, though, and usually at the same time in the evening. That consistency in terms of time slots makes up for not having a word count, I think. When you build that kind of habit, at least some words generally tend to come once you take a seat.

Steve: You’re riding an elevator and BAM! It gets stuck. What two authors (one living and one dead) would you happen to find yourself stuck with?

NK: I’d choose Patricia Highsmith as my dead author. She was a misanthrope and possibly a psychopath but she also had a bitter sense of humor, and I think it’d be highly entertaining to be trapped in a small space with her so long as her cigarettes held out and she didn’t try to murder me with a pen.

I’d choose Chuck Palahniuk as my living author. I’ve seen him read three times at this point, and he’s amazing in person—funny, erudite, touching. We’d be trapped in a small space but it wouldn’t be boring, and I bet he’d get along really well with Patricia. They’d come up with some great ideas for dooming the human race.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

NK: The latest novella is MADAM TOMAHAWK. It’s the next book in the long-running “Grifter’s Song” series of novellas, each of which follow two grifters (Sam and Rachel) as they variously attempt to rip people off and/or not get killed by the people they’ve ripped off. I’m particularly proud of MADAM TOMAHAWK because it takes place in DC, where I grew up, and it allowed me to write about the sections of the city that don’t often get much love in thriller fiction—there’s a whole urban life taking place well beyond the White House and the Capitol.

This was also one of my first times writing something based off IP I didn’t create, and it was fun to work from a series bible, as well as riff on previous books in the series. The previous episodes were written by great folks like Shawn Cosby, Hilar Davidson, and Paul Garth, so there was a lot to live up to.

Steve: Bonus Question! If you were transported back in time, which Pop Band/Hit Band would you hope to find yourself a member of?

NK: The Stones. Can you imagine what it must have been like to tour with them through the 60s and 70s? You’d probably end up dangling from a chandelier with a knife in your teeth and a pistol in each hand. It would’ve been amazing… if you lived through it. And if you lived through it, nothing could kill you. Just look at Keith.

Those would’ve been crazy times indeed!

Thank you so much for doing this, Nick!

To find more of his work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nick-Kolakowski/e/B004G5A67W

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nkolakowski

Website: http://www.nickkolakowski.com/

3Q’s – Pamela Morris – the writer who didn’t join KISS!

PURPLE! PURPLE! It’s PURPLE the crowds scream and cheer and dance and all is MERRY AND BRIGHT!

That’s right. New 3Q’s color for a new batch of 3Q’s folks. I realize now I had a lot of red. A few blue. A LOT of green. And now we’re on purple. My planning wasn’t so great ha!

And to kick this off, we have a fantastic friend dropping by today for the inaugural PURPLE 3Q’s – none other than Pamela Morris!

Please welcome Pamela!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

PM: My writing time is very limited as I also hold a 40 hour/week job + commute time. If I’m lucky, and coherent enough, I may sneak in an hour or two after dinner and before bedtime. As I’m not a night owl by any stretch of the imagination, that doesn’t happen often. I’m a morning writer which pretty much leaves me with just Saturdays and Sundays to try and work in some writing time. When I do get some time in, I shoot for 1000 words minimum. Despite time being against me, I’ve managed to write eleven novels and five children’s books. I’m not sure how, but there it is.

 

Steve: You’re riding an elevator and BAM! It gets stuck. What two authors (one living and one dead) would you happen to find yourself stuck with?

PM: I would love to meet Tanith Lee, who passed away in 2015. Her collection of short stories from Red As Blood – Tales from the Sisters Grimmer had such a profound impact on my writing. I’d never heard of such a thing as a twisted fairy tale before I found her work in the late 1970s. Her writing style can be challenging to read for some, but I love it. It’s so unique and she didn’t limit her genres. She wrote Horror, Sci-fi, and Fantasy with equal skill.

As for a living author, I think maybe Andy Davidson, author of In The Valley of the Sun – one of the most unique and memorable vampire novels I’ve ever read and I’ve read a lot! I once had a collection of 200+ vampire novels. I don’t know a lot about Mr. Davidson, and think he’d be an interesting one to sit down and chat with for as long as it takes for them to get that elevator going again – hopefully a few hours.

 

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

PM: In June 2022, I released my own collection of twisted fairy tales, Not Your Grandma’s Fairy Tales: A Twisted Treasury of Tales Retold. As mentioned earlier, I discovered this type of writing back in the late 1970s. Following Lee’s lead, you’ll find a little bit of Sci-Fi, a touch of Fantasy, and of course, Horror. These aren’t just re-creations, but completely different tales that may take a bit of effort to recognize the origins of. I mean, last I knew, none of the original fairy tales took place in a prison on the moon! I’ve already started a second collection, which hopefully won’t take as long to complete as the first.
Also in 2022, my short story, Of Donuts & Demons was part of Crimson Pinnacle Press’s anthology Old Scratch: Demon Tales & Devil Hells. It’s a great collection of demonic weirdness.

 

Steve: Bonus Question! If you were transported back in time, which Pop Band/Hit Band would you hope to find
yourself a member of?
PM: As I’m not in the least bit musically talented, I don’t think I’d add much to any band. Not that I haven’t tried to be musical, mind you. I took three years of piano, but never followed through much and recently gave my piano away to a future hopeful player. As a five-foot, three-inch female, I doubt very much I’d have fit well with the whole image KISS was going for either.

Hey – they all wear platforms anyways!

Thanks so much for doing this, Pamela!

To find more of her work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pamela-Morris/e/B00BCJTNP6

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pamelamorris65

Website: https://pamelamorrisbooks.com/

Book Review: Smithy by Amanda Desiree

Title: Smithy

Author: Amanda Desiree

Release date: April 27th, 2021

Honestly, this novel wasn’t even on my radar until Clay McLeod Chapman posted about it maybe a month or so ago? I’m not sure why I’d never seen it or heard about it, but when he posted that it was about a group of research students trying to teach a Chimpanzee sign language, only for the Chimpanzee to begin using the sign language to communicate with the ghost in the house, I was hooked. LIKE COME THE FREAKING HELL ON! HOW COOL IS THAT! I’m not sure (I suspect it has been done before) I’ve ever heard of this concept being put down on paper for a horror novel before! SIGN LANGUAGE! WITH A GHOST!!

Now, I will say, my biggest reservation about going into this novel is I am not a fan AT ALL of Epistolary story telling. For those who don’t know what that is – it’s a way of telling a story by only using letters/journals/diary entries and sometimes other mediums such as notes or descriptions of film footage and interviews. I always find it falls flat and isn’t as engaging. And the only reason I pushed through my trepidation over that aspect, was because recently I read AND LOVED Craig DiLouie’s newest novel ‘Episode Thirteen’ which was told through the Epistolary method.

What I liked: The story is set in the early 1970’s. A professor has secured funding to do a research experiment where they attempt to teach sign language to a primate to show they have the ability and intelligence to communicate. To do so, the research group moves into an old, neglected mansion, where they won’t have any outside interference and can freely work with Webster the Chimpanzee. Webster is very intelligent and because of his ability to pick up words, he’s been given the nickname Smithy.

Throughout the story, we get to see how the rational, science based students miss/ignore or mistake Smithy’s odd moments and unexpected interactions, until strange things begin to happen. Things go missing. Fires start. Smithy escapes from locked rooms. As all of this add up, Desiree does a great job of showcasing how those who don’t believe in the paranormal continue to find answers for what has happened, even if it doesn’t seem like a possibility. I loved the character of Smithy, even when things take a turn, Desiree does a great job of never anthropomorphizing him, even when the characters themselves do.

The story relies on building dread throughout the journal entries and memo’s between the characters and when a few of them have sightings of the ghost and learn more about who this haunting figure might be, Desiree continues to reel them back in and not let their rational mind completely go off the railings.

What I didn’t like: I didn’t like the means of how this story was told. This is a prime example of when Epistolary just doesn’t work. I wanted to love this one so much, but time and time again, the events fell flat because it was told through a journal entry or a random video and then it would simply end and we would move on to another entry. And the ending was the biggest bust for me because it alludes to something and literally just ends. I turned the page and flipped back, unsure if I’d actually got to the end or not. There was so much potential here to be a page-turning, compulsive story, but ultimately for me, the way it was told didn’t work.

Why you should buy this: Look, I fell hard for the hook. ASL, Chimpanzee, ghost communication. If that sounds like something you want to read, do it! Dive in! If you like or love Epistolary, then this one will absolutely be your cup of tea, it just didn’t get the job done for me.

3/5

Book Review: Woe to Those Who Dwell on Earth by John Lynch

Title: Woe to Those Who Dwell on Earth

Author: John Lynch

Release date: January 10th, 2023

I’ve had the pleasure of watching John progress through his writing over the last few years. It first started with beta reading some of his short fiction, and has now moved to reading his debut novel and now this, his debut collection.

One thing that has become evident through his continued development, is that much like in his real life, the military will play a large role in his fiction. This is showcased by the prime narrative of his novel, as well as a number of the stories within this collection and even the cover.

What I liked: The collection opens up with three solid stories, the first ‘Blood in the Sand’ being my personal favorite of those. It was a military based story with a really great creature angle. John does action sequences and aspects really well, making it feel more cinematic than just something described. Other highlights for me were;

‘Stasis’ – my favorite story within the collection. A solid, sci-fi/horror story about Lynne, who wakes up from her long-term sleeping or stasis pod, only to discover carnage and some fantastic wiggly creatures creating chaos. John has a keen eye for the sci-fi/horror angle so I’m hoping to see more of this type of stuff in the future from him.

‘The Hale Koa Incident’ – two military members ignore dire warnings and still go kayaking in an area they’re not supposed to. Once they get in the water and go snorkeling, things take a turn and the consequences are life-changing.

‘Open the Window, Tommy’ – a really great and creepy Halloween story. Normally, this might feel out of place being a ‘seasonal specific’ story, but seeing as how there was an early Christmas story (The Tree Farm), it fits. This one involves two kids, a scary event and a lifetime of purgatory. Great stuff.

‘The Newlyweds’ – this is a really fun, totally bonkers story that follows two older newlyweds as they go on vacation. Of all the stories, I’d say this one is the most splattery of them and is just a ton of gut-churning fun.

What I didn’t like: The reality is, I’m not a huge fan of military stuff. It doesn’t matter if it’s books or movies/TV shows, it’s just not something that has ever really grabbed me or super intrigued me to watch/read. So, if you’re in the same boat as me, you may struggle with that considering more than half of the stories are military based in some regard.

Why you should buy this: Over the course of a novel and a collection, John’s certainly demonstrated that he is a solid, deft writer who has the chops to grab the reader and not let go. I think this one’s going to connect with a ton of people who like this style of writing and will set him up well for his further releases and having people anticipating what’s next from him. A really solid collection that will have horror fans squirming while they read.

4/5

3Q’s Special – Hailey Piper knows the sea doesn’t like us!

I’ve had a number of folks DM me to see if today’s guest would be doing a 3Q’s! Sometimes it’s about timing and sometimes it’s about deadlines, and sometimes it just works out!

Today’s author is both a master at short fiction and long reads. She’s quickly become a sought after contributor for exciting anthologies as well as releasing her own novels and novellas that leave readers scared for their lives. She’s a Bram Stoker Award winning author and I’m so happy she is today’s 3Q’s Special Guest!

Welcome Hailey!

Steve: What does your process look like once you finish your first draft? Do you immediately dive back into it, or do you take some time away?

Hailey: I try to take some time away, but usually I fail. By the time I’m finishing the first draft, I have a pretty good idea what the story’s about and where I synced up with that plus where I failed to, so the urge to jump in and fix it is strong. I can usually leave it for a day or two at least before the itch to start moving things around and writing revision notes wins over. The second draft is the hardest for me; there are expectations of quality that a first draft doesn’t have to care about.

Steve: What’s the one thing you’d change now if you’d have known it when you started writing?

Hailey: Not to worry what people will and won’t accept. I learned that pretty fast, thankfully, but it’s never too early to learn. The art has to be an expression, or it doesn’t have a true purpose.

Steve: Of the books or stories you’ve released, which is your personal favorite and why?

Hailey: Oh dear, I never know! I love different ones for different reasons. “Feast for Small Pieces” is where I feel I really solidified my voice, while “Toad Man, Toad Man” has scared people, and that means a lot. Or “The Turning” as I got to do a really personal story that was also about teenagers turning into pterodactyls. I’ll go with that one; nothing’s sweeter than a B-movie concept written with social commentary and thematic purpose.

Steve: Bonus Fun Question! Would you rather be lost at sea or in the mountains?

Hailey: Definitely the mountains. I think at least then you have a chance, but the sea has made it pretty clear that it doesn’t like us.

Hailey, I think you’re right!

Thank you so much for doing this!

To find more of Hailey’s work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Hailey-Piper/author/B07HDYFL2C

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HaileyPiperSays

Website: https://haileypiper.com/

3Q’s – Colt Skinner is a Frankenphile!

I think, I think, today is the last 3Q’s with the GREEN logo! Say whhaaatttt!! And who gets the honor of being the last Hulk version? Why, it’s not other than Colt Skinner! Colt is a super nice guy, putting out some great dark fiction and I am so very happy he was able to stop by and do a 3Q’s!

Welcome Colt!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

CS: I try to write everyday, but I have two little kids, so my time is chaotic. I write in the early morning sometimes, other times I write late at night. If I can sneak in an hour during my lunch break, I will do that too. I never worry about word count, just getting something down.

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What three other authors do you invite to come along?

CS: Stephen King and Niel Gaiman for sure. I have read most of their work, and love what they have to say about writing as a craft, so I think they would be fabulous instructors. My third choice would be Michael Muhammad Knight, who wrote one of my all-time favorite books-the Taqwacores- and has had a truly fascinating life.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

CS: My first novel is coming out in October 2023, from D&T Publishing, but in the meantime, folks can check out my story While the Cicadas Scream, in their Dark Town charity anthology, which supports the families affected by the Uvlade shooting. In While the Cicadas Scream, an elderly man with dementia struggles to understand why he despises a new resident in his long-term care facility. Once he understands the reason though, getting revenge is all that matters to him.

Your English is Good (Emerge #1) by Colt Skinner

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

CS: EASY! I love me some Dracula-goodness, but I have been a Frankenstein fan my entire life! My grandmother bought me a copy of the Universal movie when I was a kid, and a documentary about Frankenstein on VHS, which I watched CONSTANTLY. I read Mary Shelly’s novel every couple of years, have a Frankenstein ring which I wear almost everyday, and have clothing with Frank on it! So, I guess that I’m a bit of a Frankenphile! Without a doubt, I would be off to dine with Victor and see his newest experiment!

Great choice, Colt!

To find more of his work, check the links!

Godless: https://godless.com/products/colt-skinner

Book Review: On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel

Title: On the Savage Side

Author: Tiffany McDaniel

Release date: February 14th, 2023

Huge, huge thank you to Tiffany for sending me a digital copy of this one! That was very kind!

‘On the Savage Side’ is the third novel from acclaimed author, Tiffany McDaniel. I still haven’t read her debut ‘The Summer that Melted Everything’ but I did read her second novel ‘Betty’ and much like the rest of the reading world, was left completely stunned with how powerful that novel was. While ‘Betty’ was based on Tiffany’s mothers life, ‘On the Savage Side’ is based on the real life murders of six women in Ohio, where Tiffany is from. Going in, I knew that this one would feel gritty and be horrifically emotional, but even with that in mind, what I experienced was far more bleak than expected.

What I liked: The novel follows twin sisters, Arcade and Daffodil, who try to live a better than they were born into. We know from the very start that things don’t turn out so well, the opening monologue tells us that it is being delivered posthumously, and things don’t get much sunnier from that point on.

We follow these two as their life unfolds and Tiffany does such an amazing job of bringing them to life on the page. You feel like you know them in real life and that’s what makes everything that unfolds that much more difficult and impactful. As always, Tiffany’s next-level, sublime writing is on show, making you relish each sentence, even when many of them have you wiping away tears.

McDaniel sets each piece of nicely in this unravelling Chess match and while we have an idea of what’s to come, when it does, it’s far more draining to the soul because of how well Tiffany got us to that point.

As with each of her works so far, you experience this novel, you don’t just read it.

What I didn’t like: I was expecting something far more ‘true-crime’ in nature than what the story ultimately was, so if you’re going in thinking this is a straightforward murder-mystery novel, you’ll be in for a shock.

Why you should buy this: If you’ve read either (of both) of her previous novels and loved them, then this one is a no-brainer. If you’ve not read anything from Tiffany yet, this would be a very solid starting point. It has all of the high-water marks that Tiffany is known for, while also having a story that will pull you along, even when you wish you could wash it from your brain.

Outstanding work from one of the best authors out there.

5/5

3Q’s Special – John Durgin takes us Inside the Devil’s Nest!

Exciting 3Q’s Special today with the awesome John Durgin! Since connecting with John, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know him, while also reading his great fiction, sharing a TOC together and developing a great, supportive friendship!

With the release of his highly anticipated novel, ‘Inside the Devil’s Nest,’ I’m so happy he was able to stop by for today’s Special 3Q’s!

Welcome John!

Steve:  What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

JD: My writing time is all over the place. Ideally, I would do all my writing at night after the family is asleep, but the problem is I also get tired by then. I sprinkle in some writing/editing at night, during my lunch breaks, and really any time I have a free thirty minute to hour block of time. Because of the sporadic schedule, I don’t give myself a wordcount to try and hit. Some days I write 750 words, and others I get 3000 words. With both my novels I have written so far, it took each about 3 months to write the first draft.

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What three other authors do you invite to come along?

JD: This is a tough question to answer, as I really have four names that come to mind. Uncle Steve can sit this one out though. I would go with Brian Keene, Ronald Malfi, and Ronald Kelly. The perfect mix of inspirations to my writing and great personalities I’d love to hang out with.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

JD: My sophomore novel, Inside The Devil’s Nest, releases January 17th on Godless, with Amazon to follow. I’m so excited to share this story. For one, it’s my first time with a publisher (D&T Publishing). I am still learning every day as a writer and feel this second novel will really surprise people. As far as why to read it… If you are intrigued by the combination of an abandoned campground, a supernatural cult, the mob, and what one man would go through to protect his family from all of it, you will want to check this book out. My short pitch to those who want a one sentence synopsis is The Shining meets Ozark.

Inside the Devil's Nest by John Durgin – JANUARY 17th

 

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

JD: Dracula easily. I would rather wake up an immortal vampire than wake up wondering if my body parts would all be in the correct places. Although I do like garlic, that might be tough to give up.

Great answer!

Thank you so much, John!

To follow along and find more of his work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/John-Durgin/e/B09TS2WPYH

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdurgin1084

Website: https://johndurginauthor.com/

3Q’s – Rayne King and the risks he’s willing to take!

Today’s guest is someone who is always a ton of fun. Whether tweeting funny takes, supporting folks or sharing his writing, Rayne King always brightens people’s days! I was super happy he agreed to do a 3Q’s and I hope you all give him a huge welcome!

Please welcome Rayne!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

RK: When I’m in the middle of a project, my writing routine is fairly simple – I have a daily word quota I try to meet. I purposely set the goal to something modest, such as 300 words/day, so it’s easy to achieve. It’s not uncommon for me to surpass that. Either way, I leave the keyboard with a sense of accomplishment. In the past, I’ve tried setting loftier goals (think, 700-1000 words) but often I’d fall short, which left me feeling defeated. And that can be kind of demoralizing. It’s easier on my fragile writing ego this way, haha. The actual schedule varies depending on what I have going on in my personal life, so I’m pretty flexible when it comes to the time/days I write. Generally, it’s in the afternoon, though, and I shoot for 5-6 days a week.

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What three other authors do you invite to come along?

RK: Oooh, this is a good question. I think I’d invite Cynthia Pelayo, Laird Barron, and Stephen Graham Jones. They’re easily some of my favorite writers, and I think they’d offer great insights in addition to great conversation.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

RK: My newest story is titled ‘Tunnels,’ and can be found within the anthology A 3-B HALLOWEEN (helmed by Kyra R. Torres and Damien Casey). If you enjoy urban legends, this is one might be for it. It introduces an original antagonist of mine, who I may develop further in an upcoming project. It starts off as two cops responding to a call concerning a teenage girl who claims a strange man was watching her in the basement of an apartment building, and goes off the rails from there.

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

RK: Give me Dracula, no doubt! I’d love to meet any vampire, let alone THE vampire. Yes, he MIGHT feed on me, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. If he’s willing to invite me to dinner, then I’m guessing he just wants company. Whereas, with Victor…I don’t know what I’m getting myself into. Could be ANYTHING!

Totally fair!

Thanks again for doing this Rayne!

To follow along and find more of his work – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rayne-King/e/B08TB4PSMR

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Channel_King

 

 

Book Review: Inside the Devil’s Nest by John Durgin

Author: John Durgin

Release date: January 17th, 2023

Last year, I had the pleasure of reading John’s debut novel, ‘The Cursed Among Us.’ It was a fast-paced, coming-of-age novel that was really enjoyable. It was a debut that many people enjoyed and got them super excited for his second novel. When John reached out to see if I’d want to review an early digital ARC of his next release, ‘Inside the Devil’s Nest,’ I said absolutely.

I went in completely blind, not knowing anything about it and I think that was richly rewarding.

What I liked: The story follows a family, forced to flee their home in the city when the father sees something he shouldn’t. He’s a real estate developer, and luckily for them, he had previously purchased a campground outside of the city. The locals say its cursed and he hasn’t been able to sell it, so it makes for a perfect hiding spot – at least on paper.

From here, Durgin weaves a mystery within a supernatural cult thriller, one that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. There’s a lot of pieces that need to be placed within the puzzle and John masterfully throws some down for us right away, while holding others back, allowing us to find them on our own.

Each character has a specific role within the story and I think that’s one of the strengths of this release. As well, Durgin’s writing, at least I found, was significantly more mature in this one. It reads more confidently, showing his growth and willingness to take risks while ensuring the story progresses and we get rewards based off of those risks.

The ending is great – cathartic, emotional and what you would expect from the set up. 

What I didn’t like: I think some of the cult stuff at the beginning might have been stronger in the story if it had been teased out. We get everything shared at once in an information dump and the characters seem to just accept it as truth and not react with incredulity.

Why you should buy this: Durgin is quickly cementing himself as must-read and this book will make fans of his debut really happy. For new readers, this is a cult thriller that’ll have you stopping and starting repeatedly, the fear created on each page palpable throughout.

Really well done.

5/5

Godless Link;

Inside the Devil's Nest by John Durgin – JANUARY 17th