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Helltown: A Horror Novel
Helltown: A Horror Novel
Welcome to Hilltown, NJ, a place the kids have always called Helltown. It's nothing like the suburb you might live in . . . Unless, that is, an insane, Listerine-guzzling Realtor sold you your house? Or perhaps your postman happens to have a disturbing relationship with his claw hammer?
A grieving Dan LaBarbara knows something is different in Helltown as soon as he comes back home. Yeah, sure, the town always been a little off. You can feel that about the place, like if you stepped into a house whose only occupants were freshly murdered corpses in an upstairs bedroom. But this is something else entirely.
Standing in his little brother Barbie's basement workshop, holding one of those dioramas Barbie's been building since the accident, the ones that seem to move when you hold them, Dan can feel Barbie's terror. Barbie must know something is coming, something big, something evil. He's trying to warn Dan in the only way he knows.
Why else would Barbie build a diorama depicting a man-sized version of a cartoon rabbit with bloody teeth about to devour a trembling teenager? Why else would he spend so much time crafting an intricate model of Death standing over a pimply teenager in the school library? And let's not even talk about that little model of the mob of undead surrounding the massive tower of vicious black spines behind the high school.
Hilltown has a story to tell, and the lonely brain-damaged man who builds magical dioramas in his basement workshop has been telling it all along.
As the evil closes in around them, Dan and his new love interest Jessica must do the impossible: save everyone one in Hilltown before it's too late.
Welcome to Hilltown, NJ, a place the kids have always called Helltown. It's nothing like the suburb you might live in . . . Unless, that is, an insane, Listerine-guzzling Realtor sold you your house? Or perhaps your postman happens to have a disturbing relationship with his claw hammer?
A grieving Dan LaBarbara knows something is different in Helltown as soon as he comes back home. Yeah, sure, the town always been a little off. You can feel that about the place, like if you stepped into a house whose only occupants were freshly murdered corpses in an upstairs bedroom. But this is something else entirely.
Standing in his little brother Barbie's basement workshop, holding one of those dioramas Barbie's been building since the accident, the ones that seem to move when you hold them, Dan can feel Barbie's terror. Barbie must know something is coming, something big, something evil. He's trying to warn Dan in the only way he knows.
Why else would Barbie build a diorama depicting a man-sized version of a cartoon rabbit with bloody teeth about to devour a trembling teenager? Why else would he spend so much time crafting an intricate model of Death standing over a pimply teenager in the school library? And let's not even talk about that little model of the mob of undead surrounding the massive tower of vicious black spines behind the high school.
Hilltown has a story to tell, and the lonely brain-damaged man who builds magical dioramas in his basement workshop has been telling it all along.
As the evil closes in around them, Dan and his new love interest Jessica must do the impossible: save everyone one in Hilltown before it's too late.
- GenresHorror
431 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2015
15 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Bentley
2 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 13 reviews
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September 23, 2016DNF
February 17, 2015
In the crowded confines of Amazon, it can be difficult to get noticed. I can personally attest to that, which is why I always keep an eye out for new authors who deserve exposure. HELLTOWN caught my eye with its cover, and after reading the first few pages, I decided to give it a chance.
To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. Bentley has written a classic horror novel written with the ease of a veteran. Frankly, I was jealous at how smoothly the story flowed. It shouldn't be this easy for a debut author.
HELLTOWN does have many recognizable horror tropes.
Small town taken over by an insidious evil? CHECK.
Prodigal son returns home? CHECK.
Long-lost love of prodigal son? CHECK.
Differently-abled main character with an inexplicable psychic ability connected to the aforementioned evil? CHECK.
Creepy haunted house where bad s*** happens? CHECK.
This could have led to to a "been there, seen that" vibe, but Bentley managed to keep me thoroughly vested in the story. I'll certainly be looking for more of his novels in the future.
I only had one issue with the book and it had nothing to do with the story. To be honest, I could be completely wrong about my assumption. It was just that the name Stephen Bentley sounds like a generic mashup pseudonym of Stephen King and Bentley Little. Once it occurred to me, I couldn't unthink it.
Forget I said anything. Just buy this book.
To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. Bentley has written a classic horror novel written with the ease of a veteran. Frankly, I was jealous at how smoothly the story flowed. It shouldn't be this easy for a debut author.
HELLTOWN does have many recognizable horror tropes.
Small town taken over by an insidious evil? CHECK.
Prodigal son returns home? CHECK.
Long-lost love of prodigal son? CHECK.
Differently-abled main character with an inexplicable psychic ability connected to the aforementioned evil? CHECK.
Creepy haunted house where bad s*** happens? CHECK.
This could have led to to a "been there, seen that" vibe, but Bentley managed to keep me thoroughly vested in the story. I'll certainly be looking for more of his novels in the future.
I only had one issue with the book and it had nothing to do with the story. To be honest, I could be completely wrong about my assumption. It was just that the name Stephen Bentley sounds like a generic mashup pseudonym of Stephen King and Bentley Little. Once it occurred to me, I couldn't unthink it.
Forget I said anything. Just buy this book.
September 18, 2015
DREAM CATCHER Anyone?
I have to admit that this was a page Turner, but the more I read, the more I felt like this was a Stephen King ripoff. While there were differences, it still echoed DREAM CATCHER. I rated it 3.5 stars. It was well written with few typos. It is definitely in the horror genre.
I have to admit that this was a page Turner, but the more I read, the more I felt like this was a Stephen King ripoff. While there were differences, it still echoed DREAM CATCHER. I rated it 3.5 stars. It was well written with few typos. It is definitely in the horror genre.
December 10, 2016
Unique and different
I am reading my way through Stephen Bentley and this one is right at the top. It's a ood read.
I am reading my way through Stephen Bentley and this one is right at the top. It's a ood read.
August 12, 2015
Disappointed
The book starts out really good and I think this is a true winner as far as horror goes, then it starts going down hill almost ridiculous . It lost me getting towards the end. I just got very bored. Not sure I would recommend.
kozetteksmith
The book starts out really good and I think this is a true winner as far as horror goes, then it starts going down hill almost ridiculous . It lost me getting towards the end. I just got very bored. Not sure I would recommend.
kozetteksmith
November 24, 2015
Helltown
Was a very good read. I enjoyed the characters and the first third of the book. The ending wasn't what I'd expected. I love horror but gore was most prevalent rather then a true understanding of why it was happening. Still a good read.
Was a very good read. I enjoyed the characters and the first third of the book. The ending wasn't what I'd expected. I love horror but gore was most prevalent rather then a true understanding of why it was happening. Still a good read.
January 4, 2016
Great Read!!
This book kept me wanting to know what was about to happen. I'd finish a chapter and need to put it down for some reason but couldn't. Page after page I just had to see what was next.
This book kept me wanting to know what was about to happen. I'd finish a chapter and need to put it down for some reason but couldn't. Page after page I just had to see what was next.
April 1, 2015
Good story
Lots of references to Stephen King books. Enjoyed it very much. I think Bentley Little had some input in it,too. See what you think.
Lots of references to Stephen King books. Enjoyed it very much. I think Bentley Little had some input in it,too. See what you think.
July 17, 2015
Interesting story
Very creepy moments and frightening situations! Good characters also. A good book to read when you want something different overall a good book
Very creepy moments and frightening situations! Good characters also. A good book to read when you want something different overall a good book
November 8, 2015
An ok story
Not a true horror , freeze in your bed, keep the light on kind of book. The theme ok , but boring for me, not memorable.
Not a true horror , freeze in your bed, keep the light on kind of book. The theme ok , but boring for me, not memorable.
January 9, 2017
Great book. Horror to the rafters. Hard to put down.
Read
January 21, 2017I gave up at 65%. Jumping from one person's story to anothers story got tedious. after a while I just didn't care any more.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 13 reviews