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Descending Son
If Jess Stark really knew what was on the other side of the coffin lid, he might just decide to remain six feet under…
Jess stayed away from Palm Springs for seven years, avoiding his family and the girl who broke his heart. It took a desperate call from his mother to force him home to see his ailing father. As soon as he returned, Jess found himself embroiled in two suspicious deaths, emotional turmoil with his family, and a supernatural secret that involved them all—winding up in an unmarked grave in the middle of the Coachella Desert.
In a tale that spreads from the California Desert to the jungles of Mexico and set in a town that time has practically forgotten, Descending Son is rooted in the sins of Jess’s past and a future that threatens his life. Sure, Jess can go home again, but there’s a heavy price to pay.
Jess stayed away from Palm Springs for seven years, avoiding his family and the girl who broke his heart. It took a desperate call from his mother to force him home to see his ailing father. As soon as he returned, Jess found himself embroiled in two suspicious deaths, emotional turmoil with his family, and a supernatural secret that involved them all—winding up in an unmarked grave in the middle of the Coachella Desert.
In a tale that spreads from the California Desert to the jungles of Mexico and set in a town that time has practically forgotten, Descending Son is rooted in the sins of Jess’s past and a future that threatens his life. Sure, Jess can go home again, but there’s a heavy price to pay.
421 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2013
138 people are currently reading
1454 people want to read
About the author
Scott Shepherd
31 books38 followersScott Shepherd is a veteran writer/producer/show-runner with years of experience running network series; his production and screenwriting credits include The Equalizer, Miami Vice, The Outer Limits, Haven, and Quantum Leap. Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, he currently teaches television writing at the University of Texas in Austin. The Last Commandment is his first mystery novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
January 26, 2014
This was my January pick for my free amazon book and there will be spoilers throughout because I feel the need to rant about it.
It starts out with a strong promise of intrigue.... A man being drug through the desert and thrown into a freshly dug grave and buried alive. The book begins as a mystery as he recounts the events that led up to him being thrown into the coffin...
then he gets out and the whole thing goes to hell a little over 100 pages in.
The book could be compared to lost. spoon feeding you horrible bits of broken back story every chapter that could be summarized in little more than a sentence. "I hate my dad because he stuck it to the love of my life for months and neither told me about it." I didn't really have to hear him whine about it vaguely the entire book before it spoon fed me the prolonged and painful experience of reading back story to two characters I truly couldn't give a crap about.
ignoring the blatantly obvious problems, such as the fact that the author clearly has no concept of time, how fast people breathe oxygen (I don't either but I'm pretty sure you don't have HOURS of oxygen in a coffin so tight you can't reach your ankles and is slowly filling up with water from an unspecified source), the horrible Lost-like story telling or the fact that in part 3 he springs a journal on you to replace the coffin and back story that is written in a style that is omnipotent and can see the future with no mention of the fact that it was suppose to be notations added after the fact and even if it had been mentioned, the style is still off the REAL problem is about the story.
It's about MEXICAN F*&$!@G VAMPIRES AND THE COMPLETE MORONS TRYING TO KILL THEM.
I swear that the entire time I read parts 2, 3 and the epilogue that this was the equivalent of watching the WORST B-horror movie of all time. honestly the ONLY reason I finished it was lack of other NEW things on my Kindle app and me forgetting to take books with me to work.
If this thing is frightening to you, there is no shortage of pity I feel for you. It was better as a third rate mystery before they pulled Mexican vampire crap.
It starts out with a strong promise of intrigue.... A man being drug through the desert and thrown into a freshly dug grave and buried alive. The book begins as a mystery as he recounts the events that led up to him being thrown into the coffin...
then he gets out and the whole thing goes to hell a little over 100 pages in.
The book could be compared to lost. spoon feeding you horrible bits of broken back story every chapter that could be summarized in little more than a sentence. "I hate my dad because he stuck it to the love of my life for months and neither told me about it." I didn't really have to hear him whine about it vaguely the entire book before it spoon fed me the prolonged and painful experience of reading back story to two characters I truly couldn't give a crap about.
ignoring the blatantly obvious problems, such as the fact that the author clearly has no concept of time, how fast people breathe oxygen (I don't either but I'm pretty sure you don't have HOURS of oxygen in a coffin so tight you can't reach your ankles and is slowly filling up with water from an unspecified source), the horrible Lost-like story telling or the fact that in part 3 he springs a journal on you to replace the coffin and back story that is written in a style that is omnipotent and can see the future with no mention of the fact that it was suppose to be notations added after the fact and even if it had been mentioned, the style is still off the REAL problem is about the story.
It's about MEXICAN F*&$!@G VAMPIRES AND THE COMPLETE MORONS TRYING TO KILL THEM.
I swear that the entire time I read parts 2, 3 and the epilogue that this was the equivalent of watching the WORST B-horror movie of all time. honestly the ONLY reason I finished it was lack of other NEW things on my Kindle app and me forgetting to take books with me to work.
If this thing is frightening to you, there is no shortage of pity I feel for you. It was better as a third rate mystery before they pulled Mexican vampire crap.
January 4, 2014
This was my January 2014 selection of Amazon First - finally I picked a winner! Descending Son is a horror mystery-thriller that had me entranced from the beginning until the end.
It's a normal workday for Jess Stark until his co-worker relays a message to him carrying him back to his past. After the call from his mother, Jess returns to his home town after his 7-year hiatus. The story twists and turns from there as Jess encounters family, old friends, and old foes. As Jess follows these paths, his life is threatened and he faces the unexpected. So where's the horror element? Well for starters, Jess is buried alive after waking up trapped in the trunk of a car. The other horror elements appear in their own good time (I don't want to give anything away).
One of my favorite aspects of this book is how Scott Shepherd writes the different chapters. There are alternating chapters from the present timeline and the past, which outline critical plot elements for the reader. The book is broken down into 3 different parts going along with the phases of the story. I really enjoyed this book and would read another of Shepherd's books.
It's a normal workday for Jess Stark until his co-worker relays a message to him carrying him back to his past. After the call from his mother, Jess returns to his home town after his 7-year hiatus. The story twists and turns from there as Jess encounters family, old friends, and old foes. As Jess follows these paths, his life is threatened and he faces the unexpected. So where's the horror element? Well for starters, Jess is buried alive after waking up trapped in the trunk of a car. The other horror elements appear in their own good time (I don't want to give anything away).
One of my favorite aspects of this book is how Scott Shepherd writes the different chapters. There are alternating chapters from the present timeline and the past, which outline critical plot elements for the reader. The book is broken down into 3 different parts going along with the phases of the story. I really enjoyed this book and would read another of Shepherd's books.
January 22, 2014
Descending Son wants to be a mystery, a horror novel and a soap opera all at the same time. All that does is stretch the story into a meandering mish-mash. It starts out well as a mystery with our main protagonist returning home to his ailing father after a seven year absence. A mysterious car accident and the strange demise of his father moves the novel into suspense mode. Yet after a third of the tale, a supernatural aspect emerges and we are in horror city. I don't want to ruin the "surprise". Lets just say it's a over used concept. This isn't to say that this type of mystery / horror hybrid of family secrets haven't been done well before. It's just that the author's blending of events and past comes across a bit too choppy and haphazard. Not to mention that I am getting tired of the cliff-hanger ending that hints a sequel. Can't anyone write a single stand-by-itself book any more? I'm tempted to give it an extra star just for being based in my hometown but frankly, the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs locales doesn't really add much. Overall, I found this to be a major disappointment. I'm still waiting from something worthwhile from the Amazon First program.
July 17, 2014
I listened to this one on audio and it was a pretty good tale from Scott Sheperd. The characters seemed to be fleshed out well and the story had an steady pace, even though I got confused a little a few times with the plotting.
*Spoilers*
An ancient evil has been trapped in the jungle of Mexico until it is unknowingly unleashed by an American film crew in the area. Now it is out free and the bodies are starting to pile up. Jess will need to sort out his family dysfunction and betrayals and try and figure out who killed his father all at the same time, if he has any hope of saving himself and the townsfolk of Palm Springs.
I liked it. I liked the concept of the folklore behind the story and the narration was very good. 3+ Stars
*Spoilers*
An ancient evil has been trapped in the jungle of Mexico until it is unknowingly unleashed by an American film crew in the area. Now it is out free and the bodies are starting to pile up. Jess will need to sort out his family dysfunction and betrayals and try and figure out who killed his father all at the same time, if he has any hope of saving himself and the townsfolk of Palm Springs.
I liked it. I liked the concept of the folklore behind the story and the narration was very good. 3+ Stars
February 12, 2014
I picked this book up with Amazon First, and I'm glad I didn't have to actually pay for it. The editing was pretty poor and I found errors throughout, something which tends to distract me when reading a book. I'm also not certain if I failed to thoroughly read the summary for the book or if I just forgot about it by the time I started reading, but my jaw hit the floor when this story took a sharp right turn for the supernatural about a third of the way through—and not in a good way. I am no stranger to supernatural fiction, and in fact it's one of my favorite genres, but the sort of schtick this story used is so overdone and unoriginal that it made me tempted to stop reading right there.
I did keep reading, though I skimmed much of the rest of the book, because after the "big reveal" I felt the writing became even more juvenile, predictable and cliche. I had a hard time identifying with this cast of rich people whose only woes were either of their own making (infidelity, poor parenting, etc.) or purely supernatural. I identified most with Benji who was the very caricature of a geek, but even he had a very cookie-cutter personality. The love story especially gagged me as it was so utterly predictable and too "perfect." It felt a bit like reading fan fiction.
Don't bother spending money on this book.
I did keep reading, though I skimmed much of the rest of the book, because after the "big reveal" I felt the writing became even more juvenile, predictable and cliche. I had a hard time identifying with this cast of rich people whose only woes were either of their own making (infidelity, poor parenting, etc.) or purely supernatural. I identified most with Benji who was the very caricature of a geek, but even he had a very cookie-cutter personality. The love story especially gagged me as it was so utterly predictable and too "perfect." It felt a bit like reading fan fiction.
Don't bother spending money on this book.
January 7, 2014
Surprise supernatural tale
I knew this was a horror book when I started reading it...but I forgot that small point. The first third of the book starts out as a police procedural/mystery and it was very good.
Then, whammo, right at the end of chapter 20, the supernatural hits. And the story became just okay. I don't want to give away any spoilers but I liked the first part of the book much more than the last 2/3.
That's not to say the last part of the book was terrible - it wasn't. But it felt a trifle worn and cliched. And the last part of the book felt way too long, padded and overweight.
I could see a movie being made out of this story. Solid character development. A nice descriptive take on Palm Springs.
And if it sounds like I have mixed feelings about this book, I do, but I do consider it to be very readable.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book to read/review from Amazon Prime.
I knew this was a horror book when I started reading it...but I forgot that small point. The first third of the book starts out as a police procedural/mystery and it was very good.
Then, whammo, right at the end of chapter 20, the supernatural hits. And the story became just okay. I don't want to give away any spoilers but I liked the first part of the book much more than the last 2/3.
That's not to say the last part of the book was terrible - it wasn't. But it felt a trifle worn and cliched. And the last part of the book felt way too long, padded and overweight.
I could see a movie being made out of this story. Solid character development. A nice descriptive take on Palm Springs.
And if it sounds like I have mixed feelings about this book, I do, but I do consider it to be very readable.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book to read/review from Amazon Prime.
January 13, 2018
Jess Stark left his affluent life in Palm Springs behind when he learned of a family betrayal that he deemed unforgivable. Seven years later, he returns to Palm Springs to support his mother and see his father one last time before he passed on. Things start to go awry almost immediately when Jess witnesses a freak traffic accident on his way back home that results in a stranger dying in his arms uttering with his dying breath that he never wants to go back… From this point on, supernatural occurrences become the norm in Palm Springs and Jess is pulled into the plight of an ancient evil that escaped from the Mexican Jungle and now threatens his life and the lives of his family and friends.
The story starts out with a strong air of mystery with Jess Stark being dragged into the desert to be buried alive. From this point forward, we bounce back in time and learn how Jess went from a bittersweet homecoming to being held captive in a pine box underneath the Coachella desert. I liked this. The first time. Once the coffin dance vehicle was exhausted we jumped to another character and used the same technique to reveal the unforgivable secret that drove Jess away in the first place. Oh good, done with that. Shepherd lets wrap this bad boy up and close it down. I see, going with that again. The third time Shepherd went with journal entries to let us know how the ancient evil ended up migrating from the Mexican jungle to sunny Palm Springs. Enough! Just tell the story!
Descending Son was a fun ride that started out strong, but lost steam as it approached the climax. The ending was rushed and a tad too convenient. If you are looking for a little fun light reading you might want to give it a try, but there are better supernatural mysteries out there to devour.
The story starts out with a strong air of mystery with Jess Stark being dragged into the desert to be buried alive. From this point forward, we bounce back in time and learn how Jess went from a bittersweet homecoming to being held captive in a pine box underneath the Coachella desert. I liked this. The first time. Once the coffin dance vehicle was exhausted we jumped to another character and used the same technique to reveal the unforgivable secret that drove Jess away in the first place. Oh good, done with that. Shepherd lets wrap this bad boy up and close it down. I see, going with that again. The third time Shepherd went with journal entries to let us know how the ancient evil ended up migrating from the Mexican jungle to sunny Palm Springs. Enough! Just tell the story!
Descending Son was a fun ride that started out strong, but lost steam as it approached the climax. The ending was rushed and a tad too convenient. If you are looking for a little fun light reading you might want to give it a try, but there are better supernatural mysteries out there to devour.
September 30, 2017
ive had this one shelved for a few years. not sure why, but it never really peaked my interest until lately. it was actually a pretty great read. for a large chunk of the book i thought the storyline would veer one way, but it darted another way. there were many different layers that made it more than just one type of book or another. it was spooky with real life drama...a love story meets a plausibly realistic scary story for kids brought to life. i listened to the audible and the narrator was fantastic. i hope the author and narrator pair up for more stories in the future because the work blended together very great. story 5 out of 5, but i give 4 out of 5 because the cover and blurb didnt draw me in for years despite owning prior to release through kindle first.
May 2, 2019
I know, it looks like I took for.ev.er to read this book. Well, I kinda did. It was my "emergency" back-up book that I read on my phone when I didn't have access to my normal reading outlets.
I thought this book started out great - totally a thriller beginning and I was really interested in the story. Then it got weird. Then it got REALLY weird. And not in a good weird way.
Overall, do not recommend. I'm glad it was free.
I thought this book started out great - totally a thriller beginning and I was really interested in the story. Then it got weird. Then it got REALLY weird. And not in a good weird way.
Overall, do not recommend. I'm glad it was free.
July 9, 2021
It took me a while to read the book because of time - not because of the content. It was a fairly well written book, but not one of my favorite subjects to read (been on my reading list since 2014 and I wanted to read it before I deleted it). There were twists and turns, but the ending was sort of predictable. I think someone who likes the subject of the book will enjoy it and get through it more quick than I did.
September 22, 2017
In an effort to save money, I am trying to go through some of the books I already own. Read in September of 2017, I am finally reading my January 2014 kindle first selection. This book was obviously a bad choice. I will sometimes give a book a break and forgive its flaws if it at least entertains me....I was not entertained.
July 12, 2018
Started off with a bang!
The beginning of the book for me was pretty good. As I continued to read further into the story, I realized the direction it was heading was not for me. Sci-fi obviously takes a bit of leeway and imagination, but szdly, I felt the author did not succeed in making it believable.
The beginning of the book for me was pretty good. As I continued to read further into the story, I realized the direction it was heading was not for me. Sci-fi obviously takes a bit of leeway and imagination, but szdly, I felt the author did not succeed in making it believable.
August 29, 2017
I liked the first half it was more of a mystery and that's where the author should have left it. Second half turned into a Mexican vampire story (and a new love object). So many holes, in the plot line and inst love. I left it unfinished at 86%
October 8, 2018
Action, unnatural happenings
The story is action packed, with a twist. It captured me and I found it hard putting the book down. I don’t want to reveal too much, but it is absolutely not boring to read!
The story is action packed, with a twist. It captured me and I found it hard putting the book down. I don’t want to reveal too much, but it is absolutely not boring to read!
August 27, 2024
This one took a turn I didn’t see coming. Loved the story and characters but this one crossed over into “Lost Boys” territory and the legends of Mexican vampires. What!?! Still a very entertaining read.
June 18, 2017
Total waste of time don't even know why I read it. I guess stubbornness because I have to finish what I started remind me not to be so stubborn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2019
Wow
Plot twists, good character building. Although longer than expected this book held my after the entire time!
Thanks for a good read!
Plot twists, good character building. Although longer than expected this book held my after the entire time!
Thanks for a good read!
March 20, 2021
Fast paced
Moved fast. No slowing down. Pretty interesting plot. Keeps you on your toes. Opens up a life not expecting vampires to reside among.
Moved fast. No slowing down. Pretty interesting plot. Keeps you on your toes. Opens up a life not expecting vampires to reside among.
September 24, 2021
Great take on a Mexican vampire story.
July 25, 2016
4.5 stars
Descending Son is about a man named Jess Stark, who is a seemingly average guy who has a suspicious past. Seven years before the book takes place he left his family and friends without a word and never spoke to them again. The only thing that brings him back is a phone call from his mother that tells him his father is dying. He reluctantly leaves to visit and is instantly thrown into a huge mess of old family tensions, hurt feelings, and mysterious deaths. Myths become reality, and how Jess has to try to get to the bottom of the story before more people get hurt or even killed.
Jess isn’t exactly likeable I would say, but he can’t really be hated either. I feel like the main reason I have any sort of fondness towards him is because he is the main character and it’s up to him to save plenty of other people. The other characters had more going for them, really, but with what the reader comes to find out about Jess’s past, it makes sense for him to be the way he is.
I can’t really give out any antagonist names without giving too much information away, but let this be known. Not everyone is what they seem. I’ll just put it that way. There was one character that I hated with a passion, but now I feel nothing but sympathy and don’t mind him at all. I just wish he had a better attitude.
The chapters are very short most of the time, only lasting a few pages, but there are three parts in the book. There will be a few chapters saying which chapter it is, but then the header of the page will be “Jess” or whatever another character’s name is. The book bounces back and forth between the future and what’s really going on, but also some of the main chapters go in the past to give some background on a character. I personally wasn’t bothered by it because it helped me to get to know the characters more and kept me intrigued - especially when it was only showing bits and pieces of some crap that was going down in the future.
I love this book. Even though I had no idea about a major part of the plot (that my friends and myself would think would be on the summary but whatever) I really enjoyed it. I liked the writing of it (swears and all) and the references to modern TV shows (like Bates Motel) and all that. It’s great.
Descending Son is about a man named Jess Stark, who is a seemingly average guy who has a suspicious past. Seven years before the book takes place he left his family and friends without a word and never spoke to them again. The only thing that brings him back is a phone call from his mother that tells him his father is dying. He reluctantly leaves to visit and is instantly thrown into a huge mess of old family tensions, hurt feelings, and mysterious deaths. Myths become reality, and how Jess has to try to get to the bottom of the story before more people get hurt or even killed.
Jess isn’t exactly likeable I would say, but he can’t really be hated either. I feel like the main reason I have any sort of fondness towards him is because he is the main character and it’s up to him to save plenty of other people. The other characters had more going for them, really, but with what the reader comes to find out about Jess’s past, it makes sense for him to be the way he is.
I can’t really give out any antagonist names without giving too much information away, but let this be known. Not everyone is what they seem. I’ll just put it that way. There was one character that I hated with a passion, but now I feel nothing but sympathy and don’t mind him at all. I just wish he had a better attitude.
The chapters are very short most of the time, only lasting a few pages, but there are three parts in the book. There will be a few chapters saying which chapter it is, but then the header of the page will be “Jess” or whatever another character’s name is. The book bounces back and forth between the future and what’s really going on, but also some of the main chapters go in the past to give some background on a character. I personally wasn’t bothered by it because it helped me to get to know the characters more and kept me intrigued - especially when it was only showing bits and pieces of some crap that was going down in the future.
I love this book. Even though I had no idea about a major part of the plot (that my friends and myself would think would be on the summary but whatever) I really enjoyed it. I liked the writing of it (swears and all) and the references to modern TV shows (like Bates Motel) and all that. It’s great.
November 29, 2014
I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
This was a fresh take on a rather overdone supernatural creature. The closest thing to a downfall, that I found, was that it took approximately 149 pages before it got to anything of interest or supernatural. The first 149 pages seemed to be paving the way for everything to come & filling us in on the main characters back-story. Still, despite the slow start, it was a fast read. The author has a way with writing that makes the pages fly by faster then you would think they should for such a big book. I think Mr. Shepherd's history as a writer / producer for television is very easily seen in his style of writing. The story almost reads like a TV show. The first 150 pages could actually be episode one if it were turned into a show, lol. The division of chapters was also nicely done. It showed the story from every angle possible & even though the entire book wasn't written in diary form, like Bram Stoker did in his story, there were a few of those tossed in near the end of the book for good measure & to fill in any gaps in the storytelling.
As someone who has lived in Southern California a good part of my life, I have to applaud Scott Shepherd on his description of the area he chose to write about. He describes the area in a way that only someone intimately familiar with area could describe it. He described things in such detail that it brought back vivid memories &, for those of you who have never been there, he does such a great job of detailing the world in which he writes that anyone can understand what LA & Palm Springs is like even if they've never been to California before. Still, the best part of the story has to be the direction the supernatural part of the story takes us, Mexico. The mythology for the Mexican version of this rather well known supernatural creature was a refreshing approach, leaving room for a few good plot twists.
Once the story got going I couldn't put it down & while I don't believe there will be a second part to this story I had so much fun reading Mr. Shepherd's story that I would be glad to read anything else he writes in the future.
This was a fresh take on a rather overdone supernatural creature. The closest thing to a downfall, that I found, was that it took approximately 149 pages before it got to anything of interest or supernatural. The first 149 pages seemed to be paving the way for everything to come & filling us in on the main characters back-story. Still, despite the slow start, it was a fast read. The author has a way with writing that makes the pages fly by faster then you would think they should for such a big book. I think Mr. Shepherd's history as a writer / producer for television is very easily seen in his style of writing. The story almost reads like a TV show. The first 150 pages could actually be episode one if it were turned into a show, lol. The division of chapters was also nicely done. It showed the story from every angle possible & even though the entire book wasn't written in diary form, like Bram Stoker did in his story, there were a few of those tossed in near the end of the book for good measure & to fill in any gaps in the storytelling.
As someone who has lived in Southern California a good part of my life, I have to applaud Scott Shepherd on his description of the area he chose to write about. He describes the area in a way that only someone intimately familiar with area could describe it. He described things in such detail that it brought back vivid memories &, for those of you who have never been there, he does such a great job of detailing the world in which he writes that anyone can understand what LA & Palm Springs is like even if they've never been to California before. Still, the best part of the story has to be the direction the supernatural part of the story takes us, Mexico. The mythology for the Mexican version of this rather well known supernatural creature was a refreshing approach, leaving room for a few good plot twists.
Once the story got going I couldn't put it down & while I don't believe there will be a second part to this story I had so much fun reading Mr. Shepherd's story that I would be glad to read anything else he writes in the future.
October 7, 2013
This book takes a little bit to get into. The story is somewhat confusing at first and hard to follow until a couple chapters in. After a couple chapters, though, things start to get interesting.
There is a lot of emphasis on family dynamics in this book. It’s especially interesting because the family is so dysfunctional. The author did a really nice job of introducing the reader to the family dynamics in a seamless and subtle way. The author also did a nice job of creating believable characters, while I can’t say that I connected with any of them, they all seemed very realistic.
The plot of this book is really quite unique. Partway through the story everything switches for a couple paragraphs and suddenly Jess is being buried alive. I have to admit that I was a little confused when I read that section because it was extremely choppy, but by the end of the story I had realized that it was a nice stylistic touch and definitely added to the story as a whole.
The story as a whole – extremely interesting! The story starts out with a bang and doesn’t really slow down until you near the end. There are many mysteries present in this book and it’s definitely a unique story.
The authors writing style was nice but again, nothing really stood out as fantastic about it. The switching time periods was an interesting touch, but besides that the author doesn’t do anything very signature. While the author doesn’t have a signature writing style, the story was still well written and easily readable.
Bottom Line: I would give this book 7/10 stars. It was a unique story with interesting family dynamics. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a lesser known murder mystery (with some interesting characters).
There is a lot of emphasis on family dynamics in this book. It’s especially interesting because the family is so dysfunctional. The author did a really nice job of introducing the reader to the family dynamics in a seamless and subtle way. The author also did a nice job of creating believable characters, while I can’t say that I connected with any of them, they all seemed very realistic.
The plot of this book is really quite unique. Partway through the story everything switches for a couple paragraphs and suddenly Jess is being buried alive. I have to admit that I was a little confused when I read that section because it was extremely choppy, but by the end of the story I had realized that it was a nice stylistic touch and definitely added to the story as a whole.
The story as a whole – extremely interesting! The story starts out with a bang and doesn’t really slow down until you near the end. There are many mysteries present in this book and it’s definitely a unique story.
The authors writing style was nice but again, nothing really stood out as fantastic about it. The switching time periods was an interesting touch, but besides that the author doesn’t do anything very signature. While the author doesn’t have a signature writing style, the story was still well written and easily readable.
Bottom Line: I would give this book 7/10 stars. It was a unique story with interesting family dynamics. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a lesser known murder mystery (with some interesting characters).
September 8, 2016
I received a free ARC copy of Descending Son in exchange for a review.
I love a good thriller/mystery novel and while the supernatural and sci-fi scene isn't really for me, I can honestly say I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and had a great balance of suspense, thrill and humor. Part One of Descending Son was, WOW! REALLY GOOD! I couldn't put it down! I was a bit surprised by Part Two and certainly wasn't expecting the supernatural twist... I apparently missed that in the original description of the book. Again, not always my cup of tea, but I found myself burning through the pages like my life depended on it! I love how Scott Shepherd ends the book... hanging, but not feeling cheated. Just enough suspense to allow the reader to play out the "future" in their own head, but not feeling robbed of necessary closure. I think this would make an amazing movie! I often felt like it was a movie playing out in my head because the details are so vivid and raw.
I often find myself favoring characters in books who aren't always the lead... the same goes with this book. Benji is without a doubt my favorite character in this novel. If Scott Shepherd hasn't already, he should write a book about Benji... I have no doubt it would be a fun read!
Two of my coworkers have seen me reading this book over the last couple days and keep asking me, "What's happening now?!" I dont like to divulge too many details about a book to a prospective reader so I suspect they will be buying their own copy soon!
I love a good thriller/mystery novel and while the supernatural and sci-fi scene isn't really for me, I can honestly say I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and had a great balance of suspense, thrill and humor. Part One of Descending Son was, WOW! REALLY GOOD! I couldn't put it down! I was a bit surprised by Part Two and certainly wasn't expecting the supernatural twist... I apparently missed that in the original description of the book. Again, not always my cup of tea, but I found myself burning through the pages like my life depended on it! I love how Scott Shepherd ends the book... hanging, but not feeling cheated. Just enough suspense to allow the reader to play out the "future" in their own head, but not feeling robbed of necessary closure. I think this would make an amazing movie! I often felt like it was a movie playing out in my head because the details are so vivid and raw.
I often find myself favoring characters in books who aren't always the lead... the same goes with this book. Benji is without a doubt my favorite character in this novel. If Scott Shepherd hasn't already, he should write a book about Benji... I have no doubt it would be a fun read!
Two of my coworkers have seen me reading this book over the last couple days and keep asking me, "What's happening now?!" I dont like to divulge too many details about a book to a prospective reader so I suspect they will be buying their own copy soon!
September 30, 2015
I had this book sitting in my iPad for over a year and a half, not because of a lack of interest, but rather a lack of time to read it. Other books got in my way before I resumed this read, but then I kind of rediscovered it. And I'm very glad I did.
"Descending Son" simply put is a vampire novel, however it brings a different perspective borrowing from the classical lore that is assigned to this mystical creatures. In this case we have a man that is brought back home to see his ill father, just to get involved in a supernatural struggle that will threaten his life and change the way he looks at the world forever.
The introduction of words like "civatateo" and the Mexican vampire culture brings the element of freshness to the story. The author knew how to keep his cards well hidden, and even managed to sneak in a nice twist toward the end. The pieces fell almost perfectly in this tale, which was a nice surprise.
On the other hand, there were moments when I was close to losing my faith in this story. Certain characters are just annoying, or their intentions are simply hard to relate. In the end, it was something that was easy to overcome (maybe because I'm a sucker for vampire stories.)
"Descending Son" simply put is a vampire novel, however it brings a different perspective borrowing from the classical lore that is assigned to this mystical creatures. In this case we have a man that is brought back home to see his ill father, just to get involved in a supernatural struggle that will threaten his life and change the way he looks at the world forever.
The introduction of words like "civatateo" and the Mexican vampire culture brings the element of freshness to the story. The author knew how to keep his cards well hidden, and even managed to sneak in a nice twist toward the end. The pieces fell almost perfectly in this tale, which was a nice surprise.
On the other hand, there were moments when I was close to losing my faith in this story. Certain characters are just annoying, or their intentions are simply hard to relate. In the end, it was something that was easy to overcome (maybe because I'm a sucker for vampire stories.)
August 5, 2016
As selected, it was ok.
*** SPOILER ALERT ***
Started out good as a mystery, then vampires got thrown in the mix.
There were just some odd things that didn't seem right or weren't consistent. Such as when two vampires decide not to kill the hero, which would have (1) solved the problem, and (2) been much easier (especially since they feed on humans anyway), but instead they throw him into the trunk of a car, drive into the desert, and bury him alive. Really?
One thing that really got me was the fact that after Jesse, our hero, finds out about vampires and his ex-girlfriend winds up becoming a vampire, she touches his hand and he shies away because of how cold her hand is, since she is after all dead. But earlier in the book when he shook hands with a vampire, there was no mention of how COLD his hand was and no one else was affected by or startled by how cold his hands were. At the end his sister doesn't react at all when taking THE vampire by the hand, yet that one time -- oh, your hand is really cold.
Also, it took days, or guess I should say nights, to change people into vampires and yet only one night to change Tracy, the ex-girlfriend, into a vampire.
*** SPOILER ALERT ***
Started out good as a mystery, then vampires got thrown in the mix.
There were just some odd things that didn't seem right or weren't consistent. Such as when two vampires decide not to kill the hero, which would have (1) solved the problem, and (2) been much easier (especially since they feed on humans anyway), but instead they throw him into the trunk of a car, drive into the desert, and bury him alive. Really?
One thing that really got me was the fact that after Jesse, our hero, finds out about vampires and his ex-girlfriend winds up becoming a vampire, she touches his hand and he shies away because of how cold her hand is, since she is after all dead. But earlier in the book when he shook hands with a vampire, there was no mention of how COLD his hand was and no one else was affected by or startled by how cold his hands were. At the end his sister doesn't react at all when taking THE vampire by the hand, yet that one time -- oh, your hand is really cold.
Also, it took days, or guess I should say nights, to change people into vampires and yet only one night to change Tracy, the ex-girlfriend, into a vampire.
November 8, 2013
I received this book from the Goodreads First reads giveaway program. Thank you author/publisher for the opportunity to read and review your new novel.
The Descending Son by Scott Shepherd is part suspense, mystery, thriller and just plain FREAKY!! I really enjoyed this book, it starts with Jess getting a phone call from his mom saying his dad is dying. He hasn't been home to Palm Springs for seven years due to bad feelings toward his father. Some mysterious things happen upon his return and Jess is going to get some answers.
The Descending Son has a supernatural aspect to it that involves some Mexican legends. I really loved some of the characters in this book. Jess's old highschool buddy and Sands "M"otel owner Benji was always there to help Jess out. There was alot of humor between the characters. Jess also comes to find love with an unexpected woman from his past.
Scott Shepherd has also written another book "The Seventh Day" which is referenced to in this book. He has also worked in television as a writer and producer for many years.
The Descending Son by Scott Shepherd is part suspense, mystery, thriller and just plain FREAKY!! I really enjoyed this book, it starts with Jess getting a phone call from his mom saying his dad is dying. He hasn't been home to Palm Springs for seven years due to bad feelings toward his father. Some mysterious things happen upon his return and Jess is going to get some answers.
The Descending Son has a supernatural aspect to it that involves some Mexican legends. I really loved some of the characters in this book. Jess's old highschool buddy and Sands "M"otel owner Benji was always there to help Jess out. There was alot of humor between the characters. Jess also comes to find love with an unexpected woman from his past.
Scott Shepherd has also written another book "The Seventh Day" which is referenced to in this book. He has also worked in television as a writer and producer for many years.
February 18, 2014
I went into this book completely blind. I hadn't read any reviews nor any of the summaries.
In hindsight, I feel this is the absolute best way to approach this book.
I won't give away any details but my experience follows:
I wasn't aware that this book had three "parts". It could have easily been released as a three book series, but I am glad it wasn't. I was trucking along on part one, enjoying the story, when all of the sudden a curve ball was thrown my way. I was caught completely off guard by the ending of part one. It was definitely a game changer.
After complaining to my wife that I had fell victim to the switcharoo, I decided I was in too deep to turn around and decided to continue. I am very glad I did.
In the end, I have to say that this is the first book that I have read in this genre, but after enjoying it so much, it may not be the last. Immediately after finishing this book I purchased another book from Scott Shepherd. I am hoping it is as enjoyable as Descending Son.
In hindsight, I feel this is the absolute best way to approach this book.
I won't give away any details but my experience follows:
I wasn't aware that this book had three "parts". It could have easily been released as a three book series, but I am glad it wasn't. I was trucking along on part one, enjoying the story, when all of the sudden a curve ball was thrown my way. I was caught completely off guard by the ending of part one. It was definitely a game changer.
After complaining to my wife that I had fell victim to the switcharoo, I decided I was in too deep to turn around and decided to continue. I am very glad I did.
In the end, I have to say that this is the first book that I have read in this genre, but after enjoying it so much, it may not be the last. Immediately after finishing this book I purchased another book from Scott Shepherd. I am hoping it is as enjoyable as Descending Son.
October 30, 2014
This begins as a fairly standard thriller - prodigal son returns home to wealthy family after years of estrangement, mostly due to domineering dad. Now dad has turned up dead (again, if you are ever really rich SOMEONE in your immediate family is going to be kidnapped or murdered. Look at the statistics (in books, of course)) and there's something suspicious going on at Dad's medical clinics. Add a shady, slimy "friend" of the family, an unhelpful police force and and old girlfriend and stir.....instant book.
Then part two takes a bit of an unexpected twist which moves the book into a different genre altogether. No spoilers, but, honestly, I bought the first part more than the second. Not a bad book at all, but nothing super-special either.
Then part two takes a bit of an unexpected twist which moves the book into a different genre altogether. No spoilers, but, honestly, I bought the first part more than the second. Not a bad book at all, but nothing super-special either.
April 7, 2014
I enjoyed the many twist and turns this book took. I can see where it could have been very good. For me, it just moved too slow. It took too long for the author to get to the point. I did very much enjoy the way the reader was taken on a journey of discovery. I don't want to give anything away, but this was a new take on mystery/supernatural storytelling. I just wished there was less description, which was mostly about unnecessary things. I felt like the author was trying to make his book more substantial by filling it with descriptions and repeating the character's feelings and perspective. I almost stopped reading about 30% into it, because I was so very bored. The story got more interesting, but the descriptiveness and repetitiveness didn't.
January 10, 2014
Page 78
When allowed to chose a book for free, I debated on genre and came up with horror. As I was reading I thought I must have made a mistake because this didn't read like any horror story I had ever read. The book was not written in linear style so I had to pay attention to chapter headings to put the story together. I think I was around page 78 when things became a bit clearer and I began to enjoy the book.
If you like vampires, you will enjoy this book. The story was original with believable characters and lots of twists and turns. I don't want to reveal anything about the plot so I'll just tell you I recommend the book and to take a chance on a new novelist with a fresh way of telling a story.
When allowed to chose a book for free, I debated on genre and came up with horror. As I was reading I thought I must have made a mistake because this didn't read like any horror story I had ever read. The book was not written in linear style so I had to pay attention to chapter headings to put the story together. I think I was around page 78 when things became a bit clearer and I began to enjoy the book.
If you like vampires, you will enjoy this book. The story was original with believable characters and lots of twists and turns. I don't want to reveal anything about the plot so I'll just tell you I recommend the book and to take a chance on a new novelist with a fresh way of telling a story.
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