Death Rhythm

by Joel Arnold

In Joel Arnold's debut novel of psychological horror and suspense, Death Rhythm, Andrew Byrd learns of his mother’s sadistic past through an aunt he’s only just met. When he meets Mae's strange neighbors, he quickly learns that his mother’s savage adolescence was only the seed for a series of awful events unfolding in the present. Will he be able to stop them before it's too late?

And what about the mysterious Evelyn? Will the echoes of her old drum lead him to answers? Or will they merely draw him into a vicious cycle that even he can't stop?

Genres: Horror

250 pages, ebook

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

Joel Arnold is the author of several novels. His short stories and articles have appeared in dozens of publications, including WEIRD TALES, CHIZINE, AMERICAN ROAD MAGAZINE and Cemetery Dance's anthology SHIVERS VII. In 2010 he received both a MN Artists Initiative Grant as well as the Speculative Literature Foundation's Gulliver Travel & Research Grant.

Arnold teaches writing at student workshops throughout Minnesota and has given presentations about the Ox Cart trails of Minnesota and the Dakotas to several historical societies and other groups interested in history. He also serves as the literary director for the Savage Arts Council.

Arnold lives near the Twin Cities in Minnesota with his wife, two kids, two cats, a dog and a ball python. Plus he makes a mean coffee cake.

You can sign up for his newsletter here.

Reviews

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look Out For Big Ed...

DEATH RHYTHM
by Joel Arnold

2 1/2 stars. Although I liked LEAVE NO WAKE and NORTHWOODS DEEP by this author, and would recommend both, this story, not so much...

After a fight with his wife, Andy Byrd jumped into his car and sped into the night to get away from her for a while...

As he raced out of town, rehashing events in his mind, he hit and killed two deer, destroying his windshield...

A passing patrolman gave him a ride to Ellington, MN, where he could stay with his aunt Mae while his car was being repaired...

Look out for Big Ed while you're there, Andy!

And folks, that is all I can say about this plot that makes sense. Literally. This story was all over the map. I read it all the way to the end, and it still made no sense to me right up to the last word.

It was the weirdest noir crime story that I've ever read. I'd love some comments from people who've read it because I feel like I've been left in the Twilight Zone without a map...

Warning to some readers: Animal abuse and killing are part of this story as well as child abuse

[Joe Hempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joel Arnold is seriously messed up. The book gave you an overall creepy, somethings no quite right feeling. And the author gave you just enough of a teaser to lead you in, but you always thought he wasn't telling the whole story. Which of course he wasn't, there was always something going on.

There isn't much in the way of twists and turns though, but an over-all creepy feeling throughout the entire novel works just as well for me!

And eyeballs popping out like corks is always a pretty gross description.

I was able to pick this up from B&N for only .99, and it was well worth the price. Will be picking up more from this author.

[Jeannette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not make it far in this book at all. I get that in some books violence and uncomfortable things are necessary to the plot but after the third animal death within a few pages I had to give up.

[Caroline Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very hard work and not an enjoyable read. I struggled through to the end but can honestly say I wish I hadn't bothered. It was disjointed and jumped around a bit and there was no explanation as to why Andy kept having such voilent dreams when he knew nothing about what had happened in the past.

[Sheri White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read about it here:

Death Rhythm

[Adam Stephens · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disjointed & hard to follow.