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Stolen Away
Trisha will admit she’s made a few mistakes in her life but that checkered past is behind her. She loves her kids, even if it’s tough being a single mom. But her loyalties are put to the test when her infant son disappears in the middle of the night, and his big sister says a monster took him.
Now Trisha has to face the full truth behind the one-night-stand that produced Brayden in all its scaly torridness—Brayden’s father wasn’t human and isn’t interested in sharing custody. However, even though DEMON has pulled this stunt many times before, he made a mistake when he chose Trisha. The one thing she won’t do is give up her son without a fight. Along with her ex-boyfriend, Joel, Trisha is dragged back into the seedy underworld in a desperate fight to reclaim her son, only this time she’s got a lot more to lose.
Now Trisha has to face the full truth behind the one-night-stand that produced Brayden in all its scaly torridness—Brayden’s father wasn’t human and isn’t interested in sharing custody. However, even though DEMON has pulled this stunt many times before, he made a mistake when he chose Trisha. The one thing she won’t do is give up her son without a fight. Along with her ex-boyfriend, Joel, Trisha is dragged back into the seedy underworld in a desperate fight to reclaim her son, only this time she’s got a lot more to lose.
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
840 people want to read
About the author
Kristin Dearborn
26 books135 followersIf it screams, squelches, or bleeds, Kristin Dearborn has probably written about it. She revels in comments like “But you look so normal…how do you come up with that stuff?” A life-long New Englander, she aspires to the footsteps of the local masters, Messrs. King and Lovecraft. When not writing or rotting her brain with cheesy horror flicks (preferably creature features!) she can be found scaling rock cliffs or zipping around Vermont on a motorcycle, or gallivanting around the globe.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 3, 2016
We've all done things we've regretted, especially in our twenties. Sometimes you're looking to let off a little steam, maybe forget all about the one that broke your heart. Trisha is not different. A single mom who's lived a hard life filled with hard drugs. When her and her boyfriend, Joel, break up because he's bailed for another woman, Trisha decides that she's going to party her ass off at a club and hook up with someone to forget about him. She accomplishes all the above and hooks up with a guy that has DEMON tattooed on his back. DEMON gives Trisha some Extacy like she's never had before. This stuff was potent. How else would you explain his skin turning red and horns emerging from his head while her body turns into sometime reptilian with iridescent scales? After the crazy night of rough sex with DEMON, Trisha ends up pregnant with his baby. She decides to clean up her life, no drugs, get a decent job and become a real mother to her daughter and newborn baby boy, Brayden. All seems like it's looking up until the night she's awakened by her daughter screaming. When she enters their bedroom, she discovers that the baby is gone and her daughter says that a monster took him away. DEMON has returned to claim his son. With nowhere else to turn, Trisha enlists Joel's help to return to the life she has tried so hard to put in the past to get Brayden back.
Kristin Dearborn has concocted an excellent tale of demons infiltrating our seedy underworld, taking what they want and no one being the wiser. Stolen Away isn't a story with superhero angels and devils. Demon and his entourage feel like people we've all seen at the clubs. Kristin and Joel haven't made the best choices, but they're trying to do the best they can. By showing their flaws, Dearborn gives the story a sense of every day realism which, in my opinion, is the only way to pull this story off. It's gritty and grimy, just like the real world. I have to admit, I couldn't quite get into Dearborn's earlier story, The Woman in White. The characters felt too wooden and unreal. With Stolen Away, I'm pleased to announce that there isn't even a slight hint of that. This one is the real deal and if you're looking for a tale about demons, go ahead and pass up the subpar Horns by Joe Hill and pick yourself up a copy of Stolen Away. It's the best story that I've read in 2016.
5 cloven hooves out of 5
This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
Kristin Dearborn has concocted an excellent tale of demons infiltrating our seedy underworld, taking what they want and no one being the wiser. Stolen Away isn't a story with superhero angels and devils. Demon and his entourage feel like people we've all seen at the clubs. Kristin and Joel haven't made the best choices, but they're trying to do the best they can. By showing their flaws, Dearborn gives the story a sense of every day realism which, in my opinion, is the only way to pull this story off. It's gritty and grimy, just like the real world. I have to admit, I couldn't quite get into Dearborn's earlier story, The Woman in White. The characters felt too wooden and unreal. With Stolen Away, I'm pleased to announce that there isn't even a slight hint of that. This one is the real deal and if you're looking for a tale about demons, go ahead and pass up the subpar Horns by Joe Hill and pick yourself up a copy of Stolen Away. It's the best story that I've read in 2016.
5 cloven hooves out of 5
This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
August 23, 2016
I love a story that starts with a BANG! Kristin Dearborn has done exactly that with Stolen Away. Right from the start I was pulled into a parent’s worst nightmare, your infant child stolen right out of your own home. This sends Trisha into momma bear mode; is there a monster or demon more dangerous than a momma bear?!
Kristin Dearborn has created some fabulous characters. As foreign as Trisha and Joel’s lives were to me as she developed their drug and alcohol riddled histories, I connected to them on a basic level – the need to get my baby back. Trisha and Joel were not perfect people, they were good people living with and moving beyond the mistakes of their past. I love a troubled hero or heroine, it makes their accomplishments all that more impressive. In addition to her intricate protagonists, Kristin Dearborn did not neglect the supporting cast. Every character had a history that helped to personalize them.
Stolen Away had a perfectly paced plot. Kristin Dearborn slowed things down to develop the characters and the story, but when the action began, the story flew at a rocket’s pace. Stolen Away had the feeling of a seasoned author who has been producing best sellers for years.
This was my introduction to Kristin Dearborn’s work, but it definitely won’t be my last.
Kristin Dearborn has created some fabulous characters. As foreign as Trisha and Joel’s lives were to me as she developed their drug and alcohol riddled histories, I connected to them on a basic level – the need to get my baby back. Trisha and Joel were not perfect people, they were good people living with and moving beyond the mistakes of their past. I love a troubled hero or heroine, it makes their accomplishments all that more impressive. In addition to her intricate protagonists, Kristin Dearborn did not neglect the supporting cast. Every character had a history that helped to personalize them.
Stolen Away had a perfectly paced plot. Kristin Dearborn slowed things down to develop the characters and the story, but when the action began, the story flew at a rocket’s pace. Stolen Away had the feeling of a seasoned author who has been producing best sellers for years.
This was my introduction to Kristin Dearborn’s work, but it definitely won’t be my last.
Want to read
October 2, 2015This is copy 14 of 64 copies signed and numbered by author Kristin Dearborn.
June 24, 2016
Kristin Dearborn first came to my attention earlier this year with the DarkFuse release, Woman In White. I liked that one well enough, but noted in my review that, "I could have gone for some deeper character explorations...and I could have used way more of the supernatural aspect." Apparently, Stolen Away was the Dearborn title I was looking for!
Trisha is a recovering addict and single-mother to Kourtney. Her and the ex, a tattoo artist named Joel, aren't on the best of terms, but after her son is kidnapped, the two find themselves reunited to protect their daughter and find her missing boy. Unfortunately, this abduction has a few wrinkles to it, not the least of which is that Brayden's father is a demon. Like, a literal demon. You know, from Hell. In his human form, he even has a tattoo on his back in big bold letters that say DEMON. So, yeah.
Dearborn delivers the goods with the supernatural aspect here, keeping the nasty stuff front and center. There's a lot of great demonic stuff happening herein, from possession and exorcisms, to our tattooed body-modder anti-heroes learning the ropes on all-things underworld, along with some half-demon ass-kickers and a scene or two that pay lovely homage to John Carpenter's The Thing.
Dearborn brings the action front and center, but also gives us a reason to care for Trisha and Joel beyond their positions as beleaguered parents. Both have a history with one another, and are in various stages of recovery from their drug-fueled past and questionable decisions. These aren't spit-shined do-gooders, but damaged goods that have been in rough spots and are still trying to do right by themselves and those around them, and not always succeeding.
I also really dug the subtle layers of feminism that Dearborn wove into her tale. This is a story about loss, but it also has strong elements of female empowerment, bodily autonomy, and combating rape culture and harassment (sometimes directly and violently). It's really awesome stuff, and, in my view, helped raise the narrative to a higher place thematically, putting it up above more pedestrian demon-hunting stories. I hesitate to call it "message fiction," since Dearborn keeps these things on the down-low, and because fiction with any kind of a message, either overt or not, apparently makes some sensitive readers sad and squeamish. Stolen Away, though, does have some vital commentary on the role of women in society, and it's refreshing to read demonic horror fiction where women aren't reduced to mere sexpots ripe for exploitation or in need of saving by either the big strong man or religious righteousness. Again, it's subtly (and suitably) handled but well-worth noting, and Dearborn incorporates it beautifully in order to serve the story and highlight the particular, and multiple, brands of horrors she's working with here.
[Note: This book was provided for review by Hook of a Book Media and Publicity.]
Trisha is a recovering addict and single-mother to Kourtney. Her and the ex, a tattoo artist named Joel, aren't on the best of terms, but after her son is kidnapped, the two find themselves reunited to protect their daughter and find her missing boy. Unfortunately, this abduction has a few wrinkles to it, not the least of which is that Brayden's father is a demon. Like, a literal demon. You know, from Hell. In his human form, he even has a tattoo on his back in big bold letters that say DEMON. So, yeah.
Dearborn delivers the goods with the supernatural aspect here, keeping the nasty stuff front and center. There's a lot of great demonic stuff happening herein, from possession and exorcisms, to our tattooed body-modder anti-heroes learning the ropes on all-things underworld, along with some half-demon ass-kickers and a scene or two that pay lovely homage to John Carpenter's The Thing.
Dearborn brings the action front and center, but also gives us a reason to care for Trisha and Joel beyond their positions as beleaguered parents. Both have a history with one another, and are in various stages of recovery from their drug-fueled past and questionable decisions. These aren't spit-shined do-gooders, but damaged goods that have been in rough spots and are still trying to do right by themselves and those around them, and not always succeeding.
I also really dug the subtle layers of feminism that Dearborn wove into her tale. This is a story about loss, but it also has strong elements of female empowerment, bodily autonomy, and combating rape culture and harassment (sometimes directly and violently). It's really awesome stuff, and, in my view, helped raise the narrative to a higher place thematically, putting it up above more pedestrian demon-hunting stories. I hesitate to call it "message fiction," since Dearborn keeps these things on the down-low, and because fiction with any kind of a message, either overt or not, apparently makes some sensitive readers sad and squeamish. Stolen Away, though, does have some vital commentary on the role of women in society, and it's refreshing to read demonic horror fiction where women aren't reduced to mere sexpots ripe for exploitation or in need of saving by either the big strong man or religious righteousness. Again, it's subtly (and suitably) handled but well-worth noting, and Dearborn incorporates it beautifully in order to serve the story and highlight the particular, and multiple, brands of horrors she's working with here.
[Note: This book was provided for review by Hook of a Book Media and Publicity.]
July 5, 2016
Here's an excerpt from my review of Stolen Away by Kristin Dearborn. Read the rest at http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/18325-2/.
"Recently there have been a lot of novels published that could be thought of as action-horror fiction. Motorman, by Robert E. Dunn is one, as is Christopher Buehlman’s The Suicide Motor Club. Another book that falls firmly under that heading is Kristin Dearborn’s most recent novel from Raw Dog Screaming Press, Stolen Away. While not necessarily a new voice on the scene, many readers may not yet be familiar with her, but that will likely change soon. She’s too damn good not to sit up and take notice of. Dearborn’s no stranger to the horror scene, having several previous publications that have enjoyed success and proved her to be a force to be reckoned with in horror fiction. She’s got a knack for taking something that seems, on the surface, to be an old trope and making it into a thing that is purely Kristin Dearborn. Woman in White, her most recent novella from Darkfuse is a perfect sample of this. It’s a tale that takes a tired and oft used urban legend and turns it into something completely new and unexpected. And, as with that book, so it is with Stolen Away, but on a much grander scale."
Read the rest at http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/18325-2/.
"Recently there have been a lot of novels published that could be thought of as action-horror fiction. Motorman, by Robert E. Dunn is one, as is Christopher Buehlman’s The Suicide Motor Club. Another book that falls firmly under that heading is Kristin Dearborn’s most recent novel from Raw Dog Screaming Press, Stolen Away. While not necessarily a new voice on the scene, many readers may not yet be familiar with her, but that will likely change soon. She’s too damn good not to sit up and take notice of. Dearborn’s no stranger to the horror scene, having several previous publications that have enjoyed success and proved her to be a force to be reckoned with in horror fiction. She’s got a knack for taking something that seems, on the surface, to be an old trope and making it into a thing that is purely Kristin Dearborn. Woman in White, her most recent novella from Darkfuse is a perfect sample of this. It’s a tale that takes a tired and oft used urban legend and turns it into something completely new and unexpected. And, as with that book, so it is with Stolen Away, but on a much grander scale."
Read the rest at http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/18325-2/.
June 24, 2016
Review of Stolen Away by Kristin Dearborn
I've been reading Kristin Dearborn for a while, because once I started, I couldn't stop (go find out for yourself). STOLEN AWAY is a rocket into horror extreme, ground-mine-laden with demonic assault, killings, gore, and other factors of what lies underneath consensus reality. The demons in this talre have the ability common to Fae in legend: they are able to produce a glamour, or illusion, at will, and use it to great effect (only to their benefit, of course). They are also hateful, lustful, greedy, sadistic, and oh yes, completely self-centered and self-absorbed. You think you've encountered Narcissistic humans? [Well, of course you have.} Just wait till you read about this bunch (demons). The humans, on the other hand, actually manage character evolution. [Don't laugh, it's kind of rare in fiction, in my viewpoint.] i was surprised to find I quickly developed empathy for them, though many times I wanted to shake some sense into them.
I rate STOLEN AWAY at 18+ for profanity, sexuality, rape, assault, killing, and gore.
5 Stars
Disclaimer: I read an advanced digital copy provided by the author and publicist solely for review purposes, without exchange of remuneration. This review constitutes my honest and impartial opinion.
I've been reading Kristin Dearborn for a while, because once I started, I couldn't stop (go find out for yourself). STOLEN AWAY is a rocket into horror extreme, ground-mine-laden with demonic assault, killings, gore, and other factors of what lies underneath consensus reality. The demons in this talre have the ability common to Fae in legend: they are able to produce a glamour, or illusion, at will, and use it to great effect (only to their benefit, of course). They are also hateful, lustful, greedy, sadistic, and oh yes, completely self-centered and self-absorbed. You think you've encountered Narcissistic humans? [Well, of course you have.} Just wait till you read about this bunch (demons). The humans, on the other hand, actually manage character evolution. [Don't laugh, it's kind of rare in fiction, in my viewpoint.] i was surprised to find I quickly developed empathy for them, though many times I wanted to shake some sense into them.
I rate STOLEN AWAY at 18+ for profanity, sexuality, rape, assault, killing, and gore.
5 Stars
Disclaimer: I read an advanced digital copy provided by the author and publicist solely for review purposes, without exchange of remuneration. This review constitutes my honest and impartial opinion.
October 20, 2015
Excellent book. Review to come.
July 11, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this book.
Stolen Away takes the already horrific kidnapping of a child into a whole new kind of hell. Books about demons can be kind of hit or miss for me due to the religious overtones associated with possessions and exorcisms but Stolen Away skips this with great characters and terrifying situations. Kristin Dearborn has written characters with such depth and realism that they feel like people you know. Trisha and Joel are flawed yet sympathetic. I didn't always like them but I was rooting for them throughout the entire book. Demon would have been pure evil even without being a supernatural bad guy. There are parts of this story that are heartbreaking and parts that have truly disturbing imagery. The combination makes this story move very quickly and I didn't want to put it down, I just had to know what was going to happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced 4 star read.
Stolen Away takes the already horrific kidnapping of a child into a whole new kind of hell. Books about demons can be kind of hit or miss for me due to the religious overtones associated with possessions and exorcisms but Stolen Away skips this with great characters and terrifying situations. Kristin Dearborn has written characters with such depth and realism that they feel like people you know. Trisha and Joel are flawed yet sympathetic. I didn't always like them but I was rooting for them throughout the entire book. Demon would have been pure evil even without being a supernatural bad guy. There are parts of this story that are heartbreaking and parts that have truly disturbing imagery. The combination makes this story move very quickly and I didn't want to put it down, I just had to know what was going to happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced 4 star read.
July 21, 2016
Note: I was involved in publishing this book
If you like your horror with a side of demons then snatch up a copy of Stolen Away like it was the last vial of holy water on this damned planet. But don't think Dearborn is telling that same old possession/exorcism tale. Instead, Stolen Away is about abduction of the most innocent—a child. There is nothing more terrifying than the prospect of losing a child and nothing harder to get over, so the stakes are high here. Dearborn puts her main character, Trisha, through hell, literally. And though Trisha is far from perfect you have to admire her flat-out refusal to give up. There are a lot of kinks in the plot so, like Trisha, you'll need to be prepared to go down to the sleazy bottom and do a little slithering yourself. Just remember the devil always gets his due.
If you like your horror with a side of demons then snatch up a copy of Stolen Away like it was the last vial of holy water on this damned planet. But don't think Dearborn is telling that same old possession/exorcism tale. Instead, Stolen Away is about abduction of the most innocent—a child. There is nothing more terrifying than the prospect of losing a child and nothing harder to get over, so the stakes are high here. Dearborn puts her main character, Trisha, through hell, literally. And though Trisha is far from perfect you have to admire her flat-out refusal to give up. There are a lot of kinks in the plot so, like Trisha, you'll need to be prepared to go down to the sleazy bottom and do a little slithering yourself. Just remember the devil always gets his due.
July 28, 2016
Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review
My first introduction to Kristin Dearborn's work was her DarkFuse novella Woman In White from earlier this year. I was blown away by that story which was the perfect mix of atmospheric tension and plenty of gruesome scenes that would appeal to just about any horror fan. In addition to that, I loved how Dearborn was able to take a familiar and well-known legend and morph it into something unique. After I read Woman In White I knew I had to read more of her work, so I was excited to dive into Stolen Away which is a tale of demonic evil and a mother's fight to protect her children at all costs.
Stolen Away opens strongly with a single line that is a nightmarish scenario for any parent, "The baby was gone". That is the first thought that pops into Trisha Callahan's mind after waking up in the sweltering heat of her apartment. No matter how many times she tells herself she was crazy and that it was impossible, she just couldn't shake that nagging feeling that something isn't right. As she gathers her bearings, she hears her daughter Kourtney's screams piercing the heavy air of the apartment. After a few moments of frantically searching for a way to open the locked door of Kourtney and Braydens room, Trisha finally busts into the room and sees a sight that would make any parent's heart drop - an empty crib. After finally calming her daughter down, Trisha gets her to tell her what happened and what she says causes Trisha's world to fall apart - a monster took him.
Not knowing what to do after Trisha descends into a haze of confusion, Kourtney calls her father, Joel Preston. He heads over to find out what happened pissed because of how is ex is acting and worried about the two mobsters staking out his house. When he arrives, it is obvious that there is a lot of painful memories between them. Although they fight, Joel calms down long enough to help take care of Trisha and get her to tell him what happened. As they are debating what to do, a deranged man shows up in their doorway with a gun and makes ominous mention of demons and the fact that Brayden is missing. Before they can ask him any questions as to how he knows about Brayden, he kills himself in front of them. After this horrific incident, Joel and Trisha decide they have no choice but to hit the road to avoid explaining their impossible story to police officers and to search for answers regarding Brayden.
As if it wasn't bad enough that they have to track down a demon in order to rescue Brayden, Joel's own past rears its ugly head as mobsters Andretti and Barlow attempt to blackmail them if they don't get the $1 million Joel owes them. After recounting the story of Brayden's birth to Joel, they try to track down people who may have been there that night. They quickly realize that Trisha isn't DEMON's first victim and probably won't be his last. As they put the pieces of the puzzle together and get closer to the truth, they team up with some interesting characters that have ties to DEMON's world and journey into the jaws of hell to try to rescue Brayden and stop DEMON once and for all.
There are a lot of things I love about Stolen Away, but what impressed me the most about this book was the incredible characterization. Dearborn utilizes flashbacks from both Joel and Trisha's lives throughout the story to demonstrate the hardship they have had to endure so far in their life and their struggle to better their lives. When the crazed gun man shoots himself in Trisha's apartment, we learn that Trisha had seen death before when he best friend OD'd when she was just 15-years-old. Joel is a former dealer and hell, one memory Trisha has is of Joel bring a half-pound of meth home. What I loved about this story and Dearborn's portrayal about these characters is that they are very real. A lot of times, the heroes or main character of a novel often seem fairly squeaky clean, but it is clear that both Joel and Trisha have a lot of baggage in their past and decisions they are not proud of. However, throughout the course of the novel we get to watch them grow from this period of hardship as they bond over trying to rescue Brayden and attempt to get their lives back on track even as chaos swirls around them.
While the characterization is strongest for the main characters Trisha and Joel, Dearborn also rounds out the cast of Stolen Away with some pretty interesting minor characters as well. There is the violent mob enforcer Barlow, who has the crazy idea that he will be able to wrangle a demon and make it bend to his will. My favorite though would have to be Tabatha, who works in an occult store and has special skills and knowledge that she uses to help Trisha and Joel. She has a vast knowledge of the occult and can see right through DEMON's tricks.
One of the things that I liked was that even though Joel seems to accept Trisha's explanation of a demon coming to collect her son without question, their pasts add a wrinkle of tension to the story when it comes to the characters around them. Sure, in most horror novels that involve demons or some other supernatural entity, it often takes the characters a large portion of the novel to convince others that what is happening is real. But by giving the two main characters checkered pasts - a history of drug use and arrests - it helps drive the narrative. Joel and Trisha mostly rely on each other and only get help from people who had similar experiences. Who would listen to such an outlandish story from two people who have a troubled history and in Joel's case a record? Had an encounter with DEMON not happened right before her very eyes, I doubt Joel's mom would have believed their story.
Dearborn puts an original, frightening spin on the demon story while still maintaining traditional possession themes. Stolen Away is unlike any other story I have read because it's not simply a possession story, but something far more sinister in my opinion. There is a lot of familiar demon characteristics that come into play especially when they meet Sydeny, a woman who offers her assistance in the battle against DEMON. She tells them that normal bullets wont work and the only way to hurt him is through iron bullets and salt. She also gives them a theory about the demon children and how Brayden could possibly grow up if they get him back. There is also the sacrifices and crossroads aspect of demon lore woven into the story as well.
Also, Dearborn nails some really great and chilling possession scenes in this book. The first time that Trisha's body is taken over by DEMON, that whole sequence is just incredible. While it definitely has the hallmarks of classics like The Exorcist, there is enough of Dearborn's own originality and tiny details there that makes the scenes really pop. I don't want to spoil too much of it because coming across these scenes is half the fun of reading Stolen Away, but during the exorcism there is a scene that utilizes Trisha's tattoos that I thought was brilliant. There is also some scary creature's other than DEMON at work. Let's just say that I will never look at retriever's the same way again after reading Stolen Away!
While Stolen Away is a pretty dark story, there are moments of humor that just adds to the enjoyment of the novel and make Joel and Trisha even more realistic characters. When they learn that salt weakens DEMON, they run into a 7-11 and buy all the salt in the store. Joel then ponders if it has to be iodized or if it had to be rock salt. That sort of obliviousness and silly questions is how most normal people would react to a situation the defies everything they know about the world and their own personal beliefs.
There are only a few moments in this novel that didn't really work for me. There is an interlude focusing on Trisha's friend Cherry that details the aftermath her interaction with Demon. I liked the section by itself and it is an essential component to the story because we see the impact DEMON has on these women's lives. However, we go a long period without seeing Cherry again, so it sort of disrupts the flow of the story a little. I did like the juxtaposition between Cherry and Trisha though in how they handled the situation, because Trisha could have easily taken the same path. The mob story line seemed like a cool addition to the story and an added threat for Trisha and Joel to deal with, but it kind of fizzles out as the novel progresses. Barlow does make an important appearance in the novel's second act, he also has a long absence like Cherry and seems like a weird addition to the story at that point.
Despite those minor issues, I still think Stolen Away is a brilliant novel and will definitely rank high on my "Best of" list at the end of the year. Woman In White was my introduction to Dearborn's work and while I love that novella, I think Stolen Away is even better. I am a huge fan of Dearborn's work and after reading these two awesome books I am kicking myself for not being aware of her stuff sooner. I highly recommend Stolen Away and I can't wait to see what sort of dark stories she unleashes next!
4.5/5
My first introduction to Kristin Dearborn's work was her DarkFuse novella Woman In White from earlier this year. I was blown away by that story which was the perfect mix of atmospheric tension and plenty of gruesome scenes that would appeal to just about any horror fan. In addition to that, I loved how Dearborn was able to take a familiar and well-known legend and morph it into something unique. After I read Woman In White I knew I had to read more of her work, so I was excited to dive into Stolen Away which is a tale of demonic evil and a mother's fight to protect her children at all costs.
Stolen Away opens strongly with a single line that is a nightmarish scenario for any parent, "The baby was gone". That is the first thought that pops into Trisha Callahan's mind after waking up in the sweltering heat of her apartment. No matter how many times she tells herself she was crazy and that it was impossible, she just couldn't shake that nagging feeling that something isn't right. As she gathers her bearings, she hears her daughter Kourtney's screams piercing the heavy air of the apartment. After a few moments of frantically searching for a way to open the locked door of Kourtney and Braydens room, Trisha finally busts into the room and sees a sight that would make any parent's heart drop - an empty crib. After finally calming her daughter down, Trisha gets her to tell her what happened and what she says causes Trisha's world to fall apart - a monster took him.
Not knowing what to do after Trisha descends into a haze of confusion, Kourtney calls her father, Joel Preston. He heads over to find out what happened pissed because of how is ex is acting and worried about the two mobsters staking out his house. When he arrives, it is obvious that there is a lot of painful memories between them. Although they fight, Joel calms down long enough to help take care of Trisha and get her to tell him what happened. As they are debating what to do, a deranged man shows up in their doorway with a gun and makes ominous mention of demons and the fact that Brayden is missing. Before they can ask him any questions as to how he knows about Brayden, he kills himself in front of them. After this horrific incident, Joel and Trisha decide they have no choice but to hit the road to avoid explaining their impossible story to police officers and to search for answers regarding Brayden.
As if it wasn't bad enough that they have to track down a demon in order to rescue Brayden, Joel's own past rears its ugly head as mobsters Andretti and Barlow attempt to blackmail them if they don't get the $1 million Joel owes them. After recounting the story of Brayden's birth to Joel, they try to track down people who may have been there that night. They quickly realize that Trisha isn't DEMON's first victim and probably won't be his last. As they put the pieces of the puzzle together and get closer to the truth, they team up with some interesting characters that have ties to DEMON's world and journey into the jaws of hell to try to rescue Brayden and stop DEMON once and for all.
There are a lot of things I love about Stolen Away, but what impressed me the most about this book was the incredible characterization. Dearborn utilizes flashbacks from both Joel and Trisha's lives throughout the story to demonstrate the hardship they have had to endure so far in their life and their struggle to better their lives. When the crazed gun man shoots himself in Trisha's apartment, we learn that Trisha had seen death before when he best friend OD'd when she was just 15-years-old. Joel is a former dealer and hell, one memory Trisha has is of Joel bring a half-pound of meth home. What I loved about this story and Dearborn's portrayal about these characters is that they are very real. A lot of times, the heroes or main character of a novel often seem fairly squeaky clean, but it is clear that both Joel and Trisha have a lot of baggage in their past and decisions they are not proud of. However, throughout the course of the novel we get to watch them grow from this period of hardship as they bond over trying to rescue Brayden and attempt to get their lives back on track even as chaos swirls around them.
While the characterization is strongest for the main characters Trisha and Joel, Dearborn also rounds out the cast of Stolen Away with some pretty interesting minor characters as well. There is the violent mob enforcer Barlow, who has the crazy idea that he will be able to wrangle a demon and make it bend to his will. My favorite though would have to be Tabatha, who works in an occult store and has special skills and knowledge that she uses to help Trisha and Joel. She has a vast knowledge of the occult and can see right through DEMON's tricks.
One of the things that I liked was that even though Joel seems to accept Trisha's explanation of a demon coming to collect her son without question, their pasts add a wrinkle of tension to the story when it comes to the characters around them. Sure, in most horror novels that involve demons or some other supernatural entity, it often takes the characters a large portion of the novel to convince others that what is happening is real. But by giving the two main characters checkered pasts - a history of drug use and arrests - it helps drive the narrative. Joel and Trisha mostly rely on each other and only get help from people who had similar experiences. Who would listen to such an outlandish story from two people who have a troubled history and in Joel's case a record? Had an encounter with DEMON not happened right before her very eyes, I doubt Joel's mom would have believed their story.
Dearborn puts an original, frightening spin on the demon story while still maintaining traditional possession themes. Stolen Away is unlike any other story I have read because it's not simply a possession story, but something far more sinister in my opinion. There is a lot of familiar demon characteristics that come into play especially when they meet Sydeny, a woman who offers her assistance in the battle against DEMON. She tells them that normal bullets wont work and the only way to hurt him is through iron bullets and salt. She also gives them a theory about the demon children and how Brayden could possibly grow up if they get him back. There is also the sacrifices and crossroads aspect of demon lore woven into the story as well.
Also, Dearborn nails some really great and chilling possession scenes in this book. The first time that Trisha's body is taken over by DEMON, that whole sequence is just incredible. While it definitely has the hallmarks of classics like The Exorcist, there is enough of Dearborn's own originality and tiny details there that makes the scenes really pop. I don't want to spoil too much of it because coming across these scenes is half the fun of reading Stolen Away, but during the exorcism there is a scene that utilizes Trisha's tattoos that I thought was brilliant. There is also some scary creature's other than DEMON at work. Let's just say that I will never look at retriever's the same way again after reading Stolen Away!
While Stolen Away is a pretty dark story, there are moments of humor that just adds to the enjoyment of the novel and make Joel and Trisha even more realistic characters. When they learn that salt weakens DEMON, they run into a 7-11 and buy all the salt in the store. Joel then ponders if it has to be iodized or if it had to be rock salt. That sort of obliviousness and silly questions is how most normal people would react to a situation the defies everything they know about the world and their own personal beliefs.
There are only a few moments in this novel that didn't really work for me. There is an interlude focusing on Trisha's friend Cherry that details the aftermath her interaction with Demon. I liked the section by itself and it is an essential component to the story because we see the impact DEMON has on these women's lives. However, we go a long period without seeing Cherry again, so it sort of disrupts the flow of the story a little. I did like the juxtaposition between Cherry and Trisha though in how they handled the situation, because Trisha could have easily taken the same path. The mob story line seemed like a cool addition to the story and an added threat for Trisha and Joel to deal with, but it kind of fizzles out as the novel progresses. Barlow does make an important appearance in the novel's second act, he also has a long absence like Cherry and seems like a weird addition to the story at that point.
Despite those minor issues, I still think Stolen Away is a brilliant novel and will definitely rank high on my "Best of" list at the end of the year. Woman In White was my introduction to Dearborn's work and while I love that novella, I think Stolen Away is even better. I am a huge fan of Dearborn's work and after reading these two awesome books I am kicking myself for not being aware of her stuff sooner. I highly recommend Stolen Away and I can't wait to see what sort of dark stories she unleashes next!
4.5/5
August 11, 2016
Kristin Dearborn is a talented author. I read her Woman in White earlier this year and was impressed. Now Stolen Away...I'm floored!
Stolen Away is not just a horror novel about demons. No. It's much more than that. There are many more horrors present in this book that every day people deal with. Drug addiction, crushing feelings of worthlessness, family judgment, heartache and loss. It's all here. And Dearborn doesn't hold back. She tells it all viscerally and honestly...all the dirt and grime and shame right out there in the open. It's honest and real. It lets you know that, yes, demons are scary, but sometimes real life can be even scarier.
The demons and demon world were incredible. The concept of them and their existence was very plausible. I know I say this often because of my love for horror films, but I really think this one would make a great movie.
This book is so well-written, I couldn't stop reading. If you're looking for a page turner with a great story and characters, this is the book for you. Highly recommended.
(I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
Stolen Away is not just a horror novel about demons. No. It's much more than that. There are many more horrors present in this book that every day people deal with. Drug addiction, crushing feelings of worthlessness, family judgment, heartache and loss. It's all here. And Dearborn doesn't hold back. She tells it all viscerally and honestly...all the dirt and grime and shame right out there in the open. It's honest and real. It lets you know that, yes, demons are scary, but sometimes real life can be even scarier.
The demons and demon world were incredible. The concept of them and their existence was very plausible. I know I say this often because of my love for horror films, but I really think this one would make a great movie.
This book is so well-written, I couldn't stop reading. If you're looking for a page turner with a great story and characters, this is the book for you. Highly recommended.
(I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
February 1, 2019
First, I want to thank Raw Dog Screaming Press for a copy of Stolen Away by Kristin Dearborn in exchange for an honest review.
It is every parent's worst nightmare to wake up and find your child gone, vanished without a trace, but the nightmare didn't end there for Trisha. She finds herself descending lower and lower into hell - the seedy, grimy underbelly of Miami and further into the fire and brimstone of the underworld. But no matter how low and dirty Trisha had to get, she was fierce and unrelenting in her search for her son and her quest to protect her family.
Trisha was one amazing, albeit flawed, protagonist; a past riddled with drug use and bad decisions. I loved her attitude and the love she had for her children. She would do anything, sacrifice anything and everything for her children. And Joel was a great compliment to her. He was logical where she was emotional, he was the calming voice where she was pure fire. They were such real, well-rounded characters. I was rooting for them from the beginning. Even the unlikeable characters were three dimensional and well thought out. And it was refreshing to see such a strong cast of female characters.
There were some very graphic scenes that made my skin absolutely crawl. There was quite a bit of sex and drugs but also a lot of heart. The sex and gore was never gratuitous. Every scene, as graphic and as crazy as some were, were essential to the story. And those crazy scenes were so well crafted! They could have easily come across cheesy by a less articulate writer. Kristin Dearborn should be commended for her writing ability; amidst the grit and grime she reveals little snippets of pure beauty.
If you decide to write a story like this, you need to go all in. Dearborn embraced the raw grittiness. If you decide to read a story like this, you need to let it consume you.
It is every parent's worst nightmare to wake up and find your child gone, vanished without a trace, but the nightmare didn't end there for Trisha. She finds herself descending lower and lower into hell - the seedy, grimy underbelly of Miami and further into the fire and brimstone of the underworld. But no matter how low and dirty Trisha had to get, she was fierce and unrelenting in her search for her son and her quest to protect her family.
Trisha was one amazing, albeit flawed, protagonist; a past riddled with drug use and bad decisions. I loved her attitude and the love she had for her children. She would do anything, sacrifice anything and everything for her children. And Joel was a great compliment to her. He was logical where she was emotional, he was the calming voice where she was pure fire. They were such real, well-rounded characters. I was rooting for them from the beginning. Even the unlikeable characters were three dimensional and well thought out. And it was refreshing to see such a strong cast of female characters.
There were some very graphic scenes that made my skin absolutely crawl. There was quite a bit of sex and drugs but also a lot of heart. The sex and gore was never gratuitous. Every scene, as graphic and as crazy as some were, were essential to the story. And those crazy scenes were so well crafted! They could have easily come across cheesy by a less articulate writer. Kristin Dearborn should be commended for her writing ability; amidst the grit and grime she reveals little snippets of pure beauty.
If you decide to write a story like this, you need to go all in. Dearborn embraced the raw grittiness. If you decide to read a story like this, you need to let it consume you.
August 25, 2017
This is a wild ride of a book. It's become somewhat of a cliche to talk about hooking the reader right away but the opening to this is incredibly gripping. The action is fantastic and the plot was well developed and paced. Despite the subject and occasionally dark moments I would probably classify this more as thriller than horror but whatever you call it, it's a great story. It's a great examination of people trying to cope with mistakes they have made with their lives and trying to make things right. Wonderfully crafted characters in a story that has real weight to it.
January 21, 2024
This is the second book of Ms. Dearborn's I have read. And it is certainly another must-read, in my opinion. The story itself was creepy from page one.
And continued with a sense of dread and fear till the very end.
I absolutely love certain little details and different ways of her character's ways of acting and thinking that make her stories so unique. I'll definitely be clamoring this year to read more of her work.
And continued with a sense of dread and fear till the very end.
I absolutely love certain little details and different ways of her character's ways of acting and thinking that make her stories so unique. I'll definitely be clamoring this year to read more of her work.
December 7, 2016
Yes, I know, not my usual choice of story; this book is probably categorized as urban fantasy, or supernatural, or horror. It’s all those things, and it worked for me. I enjoyed it. It’s an urban fantasy featuring realistic people, who are down on their luck, and being taken advantage of by demons who live in a parallel or under world, and come up to leech on to people whose misery will be less noticeable to the rest of the world.
We are introduced to Trisha, who is a single mother, down on her luck as I said, trying to stay off drugs and having broken up with her equally addicted boyfriend. She makes a bad decision and goes off to party at a club where a demon is on the prowl for someone vulnerable, just like her…… nine months later, she delivers a half-demon baby. The demon (he has “DEMON” tattooed on his back just in case there was some doubt) comes back and kidnaps the child.
The story then becomes a tale of a frantic mother trying to get her baby back. The fact that the kidnapper is a demon adds to the pain experienced by the mother, and felt by us, the readers. The normal authorities can't be called - you have to fight by yourself, or accept things as they are. For me, it was the credible picture of people trying hard against tough odds to live a reasonable life that made the whole thing hang together, even with the supernatural, like special sauce, dropped in. It’s well written, suspenseful, and creates a believable world / underworld, which we can imagine is lying there under our feet. We just have to hope we never bump into it!
Well worth a read.
We are introduced to Trisha, who is a single mother, down on her luck as I said, trying to stay off drugs and having broken up with her equally addicted boyfriend. She makes a bad decision and goes off to party at a club where a demon is on the prowl for someone vulnerable, just like her…… nine months later, she delivers a half-demon baby. The demon (he has “DEMON” tattooed on his back just in case there was some doubt) comes back and kidnaps the child.
The story then becomes a tale of a frantic mother trying to get her baby back. The fact that the kidnapper is a demon adds to the pain experienced by the mother, and felt by us, the readers. The normal authorities can't be called - you have to fight by yourself, or accept things as they are. For me, it was the credible picture of people trying hard against tough odds to live a reasonable life that made the whole thing hang together, even with the supernatural, like special sauce, dropped in. It’s well written, suspenseful, and creates a believable world / underworld, which we can imagine is lying there under our feet. We just have to hope we never bump into it!
Well worth a read.
September 24, 2016
Review coming soon
December 15, 2016
A dark and gritty urban noir tale. Strong characters, vivid description, and a pace that plunges relentlessly forward.
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