Spectre's Rest [Sep 8, 2019]

[Graeme]

Laura wrote: "Graeme - can you help me out a bit since you already read this book?
Does any character need to sit still for a while in this?
And I am finally starting it this evening."

Trev does - waiting for Montano to talk with him. She keeps him waiting and 'Bad Trev,' gets annoyed.

[Graeme]

Nick wrote: "Graeme's channelling Ellen Ripley here.

"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."..."

The most expeditious solution to any story problem can only be used at the end...

[Graeme]

Nick wrote: "Aargh! As a writer this is my worst nightmare!

Hope you're able to get it fixed Laura...."

Me too. I'm getting a new laptop next year to avoid the steadily increasing risk of hardware failure.

Plus my current laptop does not have enough RAM is really slow.

[Graeme]

Nick wrote: "Not going to lie, that was definitely in the back of my mind while I was writing SR.

Well spotted Graeme!.."

Cool.

[Laura]

Graeme wrote: "Laura wrote: "Graeme - can you help me out a bit since you already read this book?
Does any character need to sit still for a while in this?
And I am finally starting it this evening."

Trev does ..."

thank you Graeme. :)

[Laura]

Graeme wrote: "10% in. A punk vampire, a banshee, a custodian SWAT team and Trev - what could possibly go wrong?"

Why did he have to say "this'll be easy"?

I loved the description of Trev's proficiency with a gun!!

[Laura]

Daniel wrote: "The sarcasm has a decidedly supernatural bent to it Graeme. The humor really does make these books. I will say, this series could easily be used as medicine for depression. Cuz nobody can read thes..."

Agreed! :)

[Laura]

Graeme wrote: "Ch 14 done.

I love the way that Nick Moseley steadily raises the sense of impending threat. It's seamless and masterful. This is his best writing 'so far,' in this 5 star series."

yes. It truly does get to you! That place is so unbelievably creepy!! And the way stuff comes up slowly one on the heels of another... Awesome!

[Laura]

I only reached the end of Chapter 14 before having to set this down but will continue with it this evening.

The breakfast in Chapter 14 was hilarious! I mean really! (view spoiler)[ 'Not even they can spoil toast.' As it turned out they could. LOL Imagine eating that stuff for years!! You'll either not eat anything else outside and get used to the crap or die of food poisoning early on. (hide spoiler)]

As for the pizza in Chapter 6 - I wanted to box Trev's ears!

(view spoiler)[You're eating pizza with a fork!!! Come on dude!! That's just NOT DONE!
This is how you eat pizza:

Take it from Xena - she's also a badass warrior and doesn't mind getting her hands dirty!

or like this:


Not with the fork man!!
Gah! These British and their table manners!! (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

At the end of Chapter 14 I wonder if (view spoiler)[the little vampire knew a bit more than just the name of the traitor. perhaps something related to experiments and Gridhelm's key!
And I'm looking forward to Oscar joining Trev in the spooky prison. (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

Finished.

Things I'd like to know.(view spoiler)[

[1] Who is Sarah really working for?

[2] Who is Seth Lysander in the great scheme of things?

[3] Will Trev get some down time to enjoy a great big pizza and few well-earned pints down at the Pub?

(hide spoiler)]

Noteworthy stuff (view spoiler)[

[1] The use of negative energy powered vapour weapons to destroy the shadows was a good touch.

[2] How multiple threads from earlier books came to a conclusion here. I.e. Corbyn vs Trev, Trev embracing his darker side, Trev doing the right thing at great personal risk, Vicki's participation in this volume and her fate, and a minor reveal about Sarah.

(hide spoiler)]

However (grumps) (view spoiler)[

I did find the swap around of Phelps a little deux ex machiny... but, I'm letting it pass as there was a smidgeon of foreshadowing for this one. I.e. Montano's staunch defense of him. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

chapter 34
I wonder if it wasn't the (view spoiler)[good old drunken doctor who stole the keys. He doesn't seen to be very worried about those creepy shadow thingies despite being shit scared at having to answer questions.
I would have someone shadow the guy at all times.
And nuking the damn place does sound like a very good idea at the moment.

Also forgot to mention sooner. The girlfriend suddenly dumping Trev does seem extra fishy. I'll bet she's got something to hide.
(hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

Read on, Laura. You'll soon have some answers.

[Laura]

Graeme wrote: "Finished.

Things I'd like to know.
"

I fully agree!
And I am adding: (view spoiler)[What was the secret? And will Trev and Sarah get together in the end? (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Finished it and am leaving a message here for Nick in case he drops by.

Hi Nick,

Close to the end of the book there I wanted to throw a hardback at your head! The biggest one on my shelves. A Stephen King I received as a gift and never read. I swear that thing weighs a ton!
Because come on!!
(view spoiler)[You went and killed the cat!!!
After the first shock


I got so sad and then so angry! (*taking hardback from the shelf*)

But then there were one or two more chapters left and I thought I'll wait with the throwing. Benefit of a doubt and all that. :)

In the end there, this was me:


(*keeping hardback back on shelf and sending a warning*)
Don't you dare kill my cat!!!


You really got me there Nick! :)

(hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

@Laura,

Laughs - try reading Buehlman's 'The Lesser Dead' for shock endings...

[Laura]

Hi Graeme,

Is that one more of horror or just Vampires? Cause I don't normally venture into horror.

And as that hardback is concerned, I'm keeping it at hand even for you if you think about (view spoiler)[killing my Peter, or my Anton, or my Li!!!
You already killed Juliette who was awesome and I'm a bit worried here you might get rid of others too. Can I get a scout's honor promise you won't do it?
Pleeeease!!!
(hide spoiler)]
As a reader and a big fan of those 3, I reserve the right to make a fuss! :D

[Graeme]

The Lesser Dead is fairly hardcore vampire horror.

As for the rest, you know authors can't make promises one way or another...

[Laura]

In that case I'll stay away from The Lesser Dead for now.

And yes! I know! :) But a girl's gotta try right! :D

You'll remain on my Favourite Authors List anyway, regardless of who you kill.

[Graeme]

Laura wrote: "You'll remain on my Favourite Authors List anyway, regardless of who you kill."

Wow, thanks.

If anyone dies - their death will be against the greatest odds for the most noble purpose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeUvT...

[Daniel]

LMAO....glad to see the general tone of sarcastic frivolity has carried over quite nicely from Spectre's Rest into this oh so serious of threads!!! Finished this morning and...well
@Laura your last spoiler would have had me spitting coffee all over my monitor...funny.

@Graeme I didn't like the changing of (view spoiler)[Phelp's loyalty one little bit. Author dug hisself a big nasty hole and had to pretend us readers are quite stupid to get out of said hole!!!
Who Sarah works for is intriguing... (hide spoiler)]

all comments are to be taken tongue in cheek...quite like this series...:D

[Tammie]

I am so far behind on this book! I had to put it aside to read book club books, but will be getting back to it in a few days. I've enjoyed the beginning and was surprised that Trev actually (view spoiler)[ captured the vampire soon quickly. I was expecting him to be a nuisance for a good part of the book. (hide spoiler)]

[ChrisP]

I love this series. I read this book weeks ago and I still look back at it.
I don't think I ever wrote about book 2, but needless to say it all the elements of a 5* that I look for, I was disappointed because it wasn't fantastic. Look at me being critical about a great read.

This story was a home run. I can't tell the difference between the two but Spectre's Rest could be one of the best books I have read this year.

It had everything. I love Trevor humor about himself and others. I love the fact that most people that don't know him dislike him immensely. (view spoiler)[Thank goodness for the last few pages of the book. I was raised that is isn't right for a man to cry, that said I was having allergies at the end of this book with Oscar sacrifice. Also, I always suspected his girlfriend wasn't what she seemed to be, but leaving the reader up in the air the whole book about the break-up was genius. The suspense was killing me. (hide spoiler)]

It is hard to find good suspense in stories these days. I think that is what makes this series so special. You never know if Trevor is about to save the day or step in it again. Or both.

I may have worked in a few Trevorism in my day to day lingo. Series might get read again.

[ChrisP]

Laura wrote: "Hi Nick! :)

May I ask you the question I asked Graeme.
Is there any character that sits still for a while for some reason in Spectre's Rest? If yes, I'd like to include this in a challenge of mine..."

I would say the Warden. She seemed to be in her office often dealing the problems Trevor obviously created:) Also, his counter part put some serious library time in the story.

[Graeme]

Tammie wrote: "I am so far behind on this book! I had to put it aside to read book club books, but will be getting back to it in a few days. I've enjoyed the beginning and was surprised that Trev actually [spoile..."

Hi Tammie, keep that thought in mind as you read on.

[Graeme]

ChrisP wrote: "I love this series. I read this book weeks ago and I still look back at it. ... Series might get read again...."

It's always interesting when a story stays with you and isn't forgotten a couple of days later.

It's a sign of effective story telling.

[Nick]

Laura wrote: "Finished it and am leaving a message here for Nick in case he drops by.

Hi Nick,

Close to the end of the book there I wanted to throw a hardback at your head! The biggest one on my shelves. A Ste..."

I've had a few people tell me they were willing to kill me at that bit... fortunately they all read on, or I wouldn't be here to reply to this!

;-)

[Nick]

ChrisP wrote: "I may have worked in a few Trevorisms in my day to day lingo."

Given how unpopular Trev is generally, I feel I ought to stress that I can't be held responsible for any adverse reactions you get...

[Tammie]

Finished. The setting for this book was pretty creepy and that was a real plus, and I liked the role Oscar played in it. I should have known (view spoiler)[ Corbyn was still going to be a nuisance (hide spoiler)]. Also I guess we were (view spoiler)[ all right for being suspicious of Sarah this whole time (hide spoiler)]. The end almost broke my heart! (view spoiler)[ Thank goodness Oscar came back again, and as a ginger no less (hide spoiler)]. The negatives for me was that the fights were a bit too drawn out, and I found it hard to believe (view spoiler)[ that people who deal with supernatural beings would have had such a hard time believing Trev when he told them what he saw. Also, I wonder why Trev wasn't allowed to bring his weapons in but Desai (sorry probably spelling her name wrong) was. Did I miss something (hide spoiler)]?

[Graeme]

Hi Tammie, wrt Trev and his (view spoiler)[weapons. I think it was because he wasn't a full custodian, whereas Desai is. (hide spoiler)]

Note - perhaps I mis-remembered.

[Daniel]

I took that as more disrespect wrt Trev, and the general air of pretty much everyone that he is a waste of life and not to be trusted!!

[ChrisP]

I like me some Trevor. I don't think he is being disrespected but I imagine in any organization trainees are treated like they don't know anything. I think I can identify with his anti-social behavior and coming off like a tosser to those who don't know him. A high boy count follows him around sowing mistrust around people who don't know him.

[Daniel]

I was pretty much referring to the humor of how Trev is treated. He is such a piece of work, and, in general, gets no respect from anyone, nor does he really deserve any!! It’s all part of the big joke, or that is how I perceived it.

[Tammie]

In general I think Trev encounters a lot of people with no sense of humor.

[Anni]

Laura wrote: "I loved the description of Trev's proficiency with a gun!!."

Haha yes, me too!

I'm still around 12% and I actually feel bad for being such a snail 🙈

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[

"Spectre's Rest was build in the nineteenth century as a place to hold the very worst supernatural criminals. From what I've read, it was a pretty horrendous place in those early days. [...] It's not like that now, of course, but it's still not a place you'd want to find yourself."

Aaaand that, Ladies and Gentlemen, sounds like it's exactly where we'll go later :D Really promising!

Also, while speaking to Trev, Deacon said that he can't be the traitor because he knows that he isn't... Yeah well, isn't that exactly what a traitor would say?
"Dear Mr. Policeman, I can't be the murderer because I know I'm not." "Ah sure, well then it have to be a coincidence that we found you with a bloody knife, sorry for keeping you. Have a nice day!"
I don't see a motive there but I for sure don't trust him. (hide spoiler)]

Also Jack Rock got replaced by Jane Woods... Seriously? 😂

[Nick]

Graeme wrote: "Hi Tammie, wrt Trev and his [spoilers removed]

Note - perhaps I mis-remembered."

You're correct!

:)

[Nick]

Tammie wrote: "In general I think Trev encounters a lot of people with no sense of humor."

Or more specifically, people who don't get Trev's sense of humour...

[Nick]

Sir Anni wrote: "Also Jack Rock got replaced by Jane Woods... Seriously? 😂"

;-)