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Land Shark
Something horrific is happening on Marisol Island. A deranged man is attacking innocent beach goers. Massive, prehistoric sharks have started appearing in the water. The stars in the sky have started to dim. When two brothers, P.J. and Dennis, come face to face with a cosmic evil, they’re forced to make a stay and fight or flee to the mainland. Quickly, the line between bravery and foolishness starts to blur. The history between the two starts to boil. Throw in Max, a journalist linked to two of the victims, and the whole nightmare seems to get more tangled. Between the quarter life crisis of being in your twenties and the real terror of a man feeding you to sharks, Land Shark compounds tangible blood and guts with existential dread. There’s something in the water, and it’s been there for aeons.
- GenresHorror
222 pages, Paperback
Published January 31, 2020
1 person is currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Alex Gonzalez
5 books42 followersAlex Gonzalez is a WGA screenwriter and horror fiction writer. Born and raised in Florida, he now lives in Brooklyn and is the co-founder of the horror zine You Are Not Alone. His screenplays have been optioned, and a feature of his is in development with Ulladulla Pictures and Extra A Productions (Little Woods, The Giant). He currently teaches horror writing workshops with Catapult.co., and his most recent short story “Die Cuban” was published on the Catapult website.
(Source: Amazon)
(Source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 2, 2020
Land Shark by Alex Gonzalez is a worthy entry to the canon of Florida-based horror tales. Gonzalez's novel takes us to Marisol Island, a small resort off the coast. It's idyllic scenery the perfect backdrop for the terrors of a human-shark hybrid. If that simple description makes it sound silly, I promise you it's anything but.
Gonzalez takes no joy in having to share this story with you. His simple tale of a fish-man wreaking havoc on this quaint summer island is really about grief, guilt and the way it weighs on the human psyche. Even his monster isn't immune from these forces and its a decision that exemplifies the author's greatest strength in telling this story: pathos.
You see, before turning into the titular land shark and feasting on tourists, the monster was just a simple man with a troubled childhood. He's a loner who finds a sense of purpose and community in reading the novel Jaws. It almost seems like we should be cheering for him when makes his transition to terror of the deep.
Equally flawed are the humans we are to identify with. Two brothers who waste their lives away drinking and partying on the island, the tourists they meet and, later, a journalist investigating the disappearances are all driven by their own demons. The horror in water is matched by what goes on in their minds.
Gonzalez writes with a focus on plumbing the traumas that compel them. He cares about his characters, but that doesn't prevent him from treating them coldly, even cruelly, in the plotting. Truly no one is safe - from the monster, each other, or themselves. You feel for these characters and hope that they'll make it, even as the oppressive story closes in around them. At times, you need to set the book down for a break from the dread.
Another strong suit is the graphic descriptions. This wouldn't be a book about shark attacks without some grisly images. The author does not disappoint in the gore department. He crafts some seriously heinous images that will leave you muttering "what the fuck" as you read on.
While the book greatly succeeds at what it sets out to do, it is not without issue. The biggest one is the plotting. It's a short read, so you wouldn't expect there to be swaths that move a little too slow. Some moments in the book play out rather quickly, while other times we linger on a pool party too long, mining character moments that maybe aren't necessary when the book *wants* to be crackling along. The pace suffers most at the very beginning of the book. Setting the stage takes a tad too long. Once the body count starts rising and the characters are on a collision course with their fates, it accelerates quite nicely to the conclusion and the slightly cumbersome start is easily ignored.
All in all, Land Shark is a satisfying dive into cosmic horror. It gives you everything you'd want from the title. It does it short and sweet, too. A breezy read that delivers the creeps and maybe even lingers when you go to bed at night.
Gonzalez takes no joy in having to share this story with you. His simple tale of a fish-man wreaking havoc on this quaint summer island is really about grief, guilt and the way it weighs on the human psyche. Even his monster isn't immune from these forces and its a decision that exemplifies the author's greatest strength in telling this story: pathos.
You see, before turning into the titular land shark and feasting on tourists, the monster was just a simple man with a troubled childhood. He's a loner who finds a sense of purpose and community in reading the novel Jaws. It almost seems like we should be cheering for him when makes his transition to terror of the deep.
Equally flawed are the humans we are to identify with. Two brothers who waste their lives away drinking and partying on the island, the tourists they meet and, later, a journalist investigating the disappearances are all driven by their own demons. The horror in water is matched by what goes on in their minds.
Gonzalez writes with a focus on plumbing the traumas that compel them. He cares about his characters, but that doesn't prevent him from treating them coldly, even cruelly, in the plotting. Truly no one is safe - from the monster, each other, or themselves. You feel for these characters and hope that they'll make it, even as the oppressive story closes in around them. At times, you need to set the book down for a break from the dread.
Another strong suit is the graphic descriptions. This wouldn't be a book about shark attacks without some grisly images. The author does not disappoint in the gore department. He crafts some seriously heinous images that will leave you muttering "what the fuck" as you read on.
While the book greatly succeeds at what it sets out to do, it is not without issue. The biggest one is the plotting. It's a short read, so you wouldn't expect there to be swaths that move a little too slow. Some moments in the book play out rather quickly, while other times we linger on a pool party too long, mining character moments that maybe aren't necessary when the book *wants* to be crackling along. The pace suffers most at the very beginning of the book. Setting the stage takes a tad too long. Once the body count starts rising and the characters are on a collision course with their fates, it accelerates quite nicely to the conclusion and the slightly cumbersome start is easily ignored.
All in all, Land Shark is a satisfying dive into cosmic horror. It gives you everything you'd want from the title. It does it short and sweet, too. A breezy read that delivers the creeps and maybe even lingers when you go to bed at night.
May 7, 2025
4.5 rounded up this FREAKED ME OUT and i don't know why more people haven't read it; i found it from reading the author's recent publication and am glad i picked this one up. i am thankful to be living so far away from the ocean. the atmosphere building was insane and just...yeah this was a scary one but in the best way possible
March 4, 2020
This may be the best representation of dread and nightmares put to page that I've ever read. I read this in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. This book absolutely consumed me, swallowed me whole and digested me. I had horrible nightmares after reading. Highly recommend.
April 19, 2020
Land Shark is a tale of something lurking deep in the waters, wreaking havoc on a little Florida beach town. But more than that, Land Shark is a dynamic story that has something for everyone. The writing is so vulnerable and honest that you relate to each character on an existential level, not just reading about them as pawns fulfilling a plot. And the evil? So earnestly sinister you can't help but constantly be creeped out, each chapter getting nastier than the rest. The endearing beach backdrop warmed my Floridan heart, but I definitely won't be tipping my toes in the Gulf anytime soon. Give it a read!
September 14, 2020
Absolutely haunting. I grew up near the ocean and unafraid of all that's in it. This book has upended that in a real way. It has made me fearful of being afraid. A great read, I couldn't put it down. Compassionate and real characters I connected to. You should absolutely read this book. Join me in being fearful of evil lurking in the dark corners of your room.
September 11, 2020
Don't let the opening lines fool you, this is more than just a love letter to Jaws. Interpersonal strife and cosmic horror collide to make a book I couldn't put down. Give it a read! It's well worth it
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews