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The Suicide Society
***The Suicide Society is an original, fresh and unique premise with classic components of societal pressure, remorse and sin.—Horrornews.net***
His respiration grows shallow, and his pores open to release a film of rancid, sticky sweat that quickly covers his entire body. He tries to fight against it, but the vision is crushing and unforgiving. It pushes away his feeble defenses until he’s forced to look down on a scene of dull, misty gray.
It’s a woman this time. Her hair is a tangled mess, and she rocks rhythmically in an old chair while flicking spasmodically at the end of a cigarette. An empty bottle of pills hangs loosely in her other hand before falling to the floor and landing next to an empty liquor bottle. She has the wrinkles and lines of someone whose mind and body are much older than her actual age. Tonight she is going to take her life, and Zach Randall will have a ringside seat. Are the visions real, he wonders, or are they hallucinations? Does Zach dare to learn the truth?
In a dusty, decrepit town in Arizona, another sits and smiles as he puts the finishing touch on “The Plan.” The world awaits his arrival and begs for his harsh authority. His meticulous planning has borne fruit, evidenced by the growing violence and hatred he sees all around him. He too has the gift of the suicidal vision, but his intent is far different. As the pale skin stretches tightly over his small frame, his ruby-red lips curl back in a sneer that reveals teeth so white and perfectly aligned they appear unnatural. These poor wretches can join him, or they can die. Either way, he will drink deep of their misery.
Here's what Amazon readers are saying about The Suicide Society:
*** The despair tinged with elements of hope came through, and I loved the ending. This was an exciting, fast-paced thriller that captivated my attention.
*** It was a fun read with an original idea, so I'm curious as to what Knight will be bringing us next.
*** I much prefer a story that will challenge me in some way and, if it has dark undertones, that usually adds to the intensity. This is what I got in spades with author William Brennan Knight's "The Suicide Society"
*** If you are a Stephen King fan, expect yourself to find comparisons to The Stand yet it goes in different directions especially at the end. Good read with a twist... and I'll be looking for more by Mr. Knight in the future.
*** The Suicide Society weaves calm menace with thrilling action in a way guaranteed to keep you turning pages.
454 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2015
16 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
William Brennan Knight
8 books60 followersWilliam Brennan Knight is originally from Chicago and settled in Arizona in the late 1980s. In his life, he has been a father, musician and business owner.
His passion for writing began early in his childhood and flourished as he grew older. He enjoys reading horror, supernatural thrillers and science fiction as well as memoirs and biographies.
Knight’s books have received praise from a variety of recognized reviewers, including the Publishers Weekly/BookLife Prize Fiction Contest (semi-finalist), Horrornews.net and Readers Favorite (5-star winner).
Knight currently lives in Southern Arizona and spends most of the summer in the mountains of New Mexico.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my books, and you can learn more at William Brennan Knight
His passion for writing began early in his childhood and flourished as he grew older. He enjoys reading horror, supernatural thrillers and science fiction as well as memoirs and biographies.
Knight’s books have received praise from a variety of recognized reviewers, including the Publishers Weekly/BookLife Prize Fiction Contest (semi-finalist), Horrornews.net and Readers Favorite (5-star winner).
Knight currently lives in Southern Arizona and spends most of the summer in the mountains of New Mexico.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my books, and you can learn more at William Brennan Knight
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 1, 2015
Zach Randall started having graphic visions of people who were committing suicide, after he had overcome his own suicide attempt. After the first few visions, he discovered that they weren’t visions after all, but actual happenings that he was a witness to. During a road trip with his friend Jarad, he also discovers that the suicidal person could actually hear him, thereby causing them to delay their quest for death. Along the way, he uncovers an evil entity with powers far greater than his, having intentions of global destruction and total servitude.
This had a realistic plot that caused me to compare it with events that are really happening worldwide today. And that had me shivering with the thought that it was possible. I really liked Zach and Detective Munoz, but I wasn’t so sure about Jarad. It had me guessing to the end about the outcome, and as is usual, if good would overcome evil. I liked how the story was fast paced and had me rushing to know how it ended.
This had a realistic plot that caused me to compare it with events that are really happening worldwide today. And that had me shivering with the thought that it was possible. I really liked Zach and Detective Munoz, but I wasn’t so sure about Jarad. It had me guessing to the end about the outcome, and as is usual, if good would overcome evil. I liked how the story was fast paced and had me rushing to know how it ended.
July 14, 2015
Fantastic!!
What a fantastic story! This is the type of book that would make a great movie one day. It started out filled with so much action in the first chapter with a couple people already trying to commit suicide. Then a character with suicide visions and one more that was like a "pimp" of all suicides. I didn't think it could get better, but it did! It ended up with so many more twist and turns that I didn't want to stop reading. I don't give away story endings, but this is a book you will want to check out! I look forward to more books from this author!
What a fantastic story! This is the type of book that would make a great movie one day. It started out filled with so much action in the first chapter with a couple people already trying to commit suicide. Then a character with suicide visions and one more that was like a "pimp" of all suicides. I didn't think it could get better, but it did! It ended up with so many more twist and turns that I didn't want to stop reading. I don't give away story endings, but this is a book you will want to check out! I look forward to more books from this author!
October 15, 2021
The Suicide Society by William Brennan Knight is a is a master of the well written horror story with a variety of elements that blend perfectly together. He is a master of twisting the dagger. A master of allowing the reader to believe they know what is happening, believing they have a handle on the storyline but alas it is all trickery. A master of creating the oddest, most skin crawling, deranged villains, monsters and even humans who will give you nightmares. He is true painter with his words. From the first page. I was drawn into Zach's hazy, bloody visions, and Knight follows these visions with the unbelievable, continuous and ongoing avalanche of dark and gruesome scenes. "This is a brilliant read ... well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable. Great suspense and action with and wonderful world building. William Brennan Knight is one of the finest authors that I have ever read. When he touches pen to paper it is like a landscape has come to life, and you the reader are part of that landscape. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second novel. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the novel.
June 5, 2017
First novels are, by their very nature, ambitious. "The Suicide Society", by William Brennan Knight, is ambitious even by first-novel standards.
The book is voluminous, for one thing, though Knight's well-paced storytelling belies its length. I felt the novel could have gone on even further at the end without the reader crying, "Enough, already!"
In addition, the author draws on several genres, including horror, suspense, action/adventure and fantasy.Not being a huge horror reader, I found the combination helped keep the narrative both interesting and readable. Some of "The Suicide Society"'s scenes were particularly well done; without giving anything away, I can still see hordes of angry priests rampaging the halls with sharp, pointed objects.
The one thing I was most impressed with, though, was Knight's skillful creation of an atmosphere of calm menace. It is the quiet ones, after all, who can truly be the most scary.
The book is voluminous, for one thing, though Knight's well-paced storytelling belies its length. I felt the novel could have gone on even further at the end without the reader crying, "Enough, already!"
In addition, the author draws on several genres, including horror, suspense, action/adventure and fantasy.Not being a huge horror reader, I found the combination helped keep the narrative both interesting and readable. Some of "The Suicide Society"'s scenes were particularly well done; without giving anything away, I can still see hordes of angry priests rampaging the halls with sharp, pointed objects.
The one thing I was most impressed with, though, was Knight's skillful creation of an atmosphere of calm menace. It is the quiet ones, after all, who can truly be the most scary.
June 21, 2020
I read a third of this book and still could not get any interest in it it was so slow it had an interesting premise but just never picked up so I don’t think I would suggest this one
July 14, 2015
The Suicide Society by William Brennan Knight has it all. I am not sure what genre to even put the book in since it can be several; mystery, thriller, paranormal, horror, but I think I will add it under dystopian novels. It is a fast pace novel that is packed full of action and kept me turning page after page from the moment I started the book. The author wrote a great description so I won't recap it but to say the cover of the book depicts and accurate scene and is so fitting for this book.
Since the book is about a society and includes corporations, there are many characters in this book but each is developed appropriately with their own personalities. Some are more developed than others but all are developed enough to understand who and where they stand regarding the plot of the book. I felt that several of the characters including the main character, Zach Randall, were developed fully and I couldn't help but 'feel' his frustration and pain throughout the book.
The book always went forward and stayed true to the plot and timeline. There were many levels to it but they all went in the same direction of 'saving' mankind. It was fast paced and full of action but not so complicated that I was ever lost. In fact, when I finished the book I said 'Wow' out loud since I was so impressed with the story, the characters, and the action. In fact, I was impressed with everything about this book and the ending was very surprising.
The book is written in English and has British overtones so you do come across a word here or there that we don't usually use in the US, such as the reference to the people as 'the commoners' but are commonly used in British English. There are also some spacing issues between some of the words in the book but not so many it really takes away from it.
This book was so enjoyable that I highly recommend this book to everyone who finds the author's description of it appealing.
Since the book is about a society and includes corporations, there are many characters in this book but each is developed appropriately with their own personalities. Some are more developed than others but all are developed enough to understand who and where they stand regarding the plot of the book. I felt that several of the characters including the main character, Zach Randall, were developed fully and I couldn't help but 'feel' his frustration and pain throughout the book.
The book always went forward and stayed true to the plot and timeline. There were many levels to it but they all went in the same direction of 'saving' mankind. It was fast paced and full of action but not so complicated that I was ever lost. In fact, when I finished the book I said 'Wow' out loud since I was so impressed with the story, the characters, and the action. In fact, I was impressed with everything about this book and the ending was very surprising.
The book is written in English and has British overtones so you do come across a word here or there that we don't usually use in the US, such as the reference to the people as 'the commoners' but are commonly used in British English. There are also some spacing issues between some of the words in the book but not so many it really takes away from it.
This book was so enjoyable that I highly recommend this book to everyone who finds the author's description of it appealing.
July 18, 2015
Highly Recommend - A Truly Original Story!
Great story! I was hooked. Loved the premise. The plot unfolds and builds into a story with lots of suspense and well developed characters. A scary, riveting read that does not disappoint. Knight is a great storyteller - highly recommend.
Great story! I was hooked. Loved the premise. The plot unfolds and builds into a story with lots of suspense and well developed characters. A scary, riveting read that does not disappoint. Knight is a great storyteller - highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews