December 2021 Group Read #1 - Come With Me

[Lisa]

I find the phrase "Gas Head will make you dead" strangely creepy.

[Isaías]

I loved it, I can't believe how much I loved and hated the ending but it was soo good, now I can't wait to read more of Ronald Malfi! Thank you for the recommendation, this is definitely a new favorite for me

[Alan]

Isaías wrote: "I loved it, I can't believe how much I loved and hated the ending but it was soo good, now I can't wait to read more of Ronald Malfi! Thank you for the recommendation, this is definitely a new favo..."

[Giovanni]

just finished.
I must agree on the fact that it has something in the writing style that really gets under your skin and it makes you go through the pages like crazy, but....not horror at all, i thought this was a horror reading group. I'm sorry if you find my remark too bold, but if I wanted to read a crime novel I would join a crime group.
by the way how could this book get listed in the year award under the horror category ?

[Latasha]

first of all, glad you liked it too. Ronald Malfi is a horror author, as most of what he writes is horror. I don't think any of us (moderators) read this before it was nominated so we didn't know either. I personally don't mind it wasn't horror because I really liked it. I'm glad it won, it got me to read it sooner than I would've on my own. Horror or not, I still love Ronald Malfi and can't wait to read his next book. I am not speaking for all the moderators, just me.

[WendyB]

Giovanni wrote: "just finished.
I must agree on the fact that it has something in the writing style that really gets under your skin and it makes you go through the pages like crazy, but....not horror at all, i tho..."

Horror isn't always creepy monsters in the closet. But I understand your point. We do our best to provide a wide variety of stories here and some are going to be more frightening than others. Stick around and see what else comes up in our group reads. I've been here for years and still get surprised at what books are chosen.

[Lisa]

Giovanni wrote: "just finished.
I must agree on the fact that it has something in the writing style that really gets under your skin and it makes you go through the pages like crazy, but....not horror at all, i tho..."

I agree that it’s not a typical horror novel, but I would call it horror-adjacent. The supernatural elements, in my opinion, add enough creepiness that it goes a bit outside the crime box. It’s one of the things that I like about this group are the surprises. I’ve read so many books and authors that I would have never picked up on my own, and have really enjoyed the vast majority of them.

[Kasia]

Horror can be different things to different people but even Amazon calls this story horror as it's meant to create feelings of fear, dread, repulsion, terror, etc...

"A masterful, heart-palpitating novel of small-town horror and psychological dread from a Bram Stoker nominee."

Best Sellers Rank: #43,626 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
#268 in U.S. Horror Fiction

[Rachel]

idk, i find the violent murder of teenage girls to be pretty horrific myself so i don't really think it's the fault of the author/book if one doesn't find the concept scary.

[Kimberly]

Lisa wrote: "Giovanni wrote: "just finished.
I must agree on the fact that it has something in the writing style that really gets under your skin and it makes you go through the pages like crazy, but....not hor..."

I agree with you completely. Personally, if I "HAD" to label it, even though many books blend genres nicely (as this one does, imho), I'd say Psychological horror. Plus, there is plenty of "horror" that is exposed. (view spoiler)[Supernatural occurrences (my personal favorites) are present, as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Kasia]

I looooove it when I can't tell if the story is going to have a supernatural element or not as it's slowly unraveling. It's always fun to see which way it will go :)

[Alan]

Kasia wrote: "I looooove it when I can't tell if the story is going to have a supernatural element or not as it's slowly unraveling. It's always fun to see which way it will go :)"

If you don't yet read Jennifer McMahon, you'd love her books. They're mostly all like that.

[Kasia]

I read McMahon's The Winter People and my brain was playing that game, Twister or something, omg, creepy and enchanting and you can't look away. The Drowning Kind will be my next read from her, already got my copy :)

[Ginger]

Kasia wrote: "I read McMahon's The Winter People and my brain was playing that game, Twister or something, omg, creepy and enchanting and you can't look away. The Drowning Kind will be my next read from her, alr..."

I still have not read The Winter People. Glad to see you liked this one! The Drowning Kind was pretty good. Had some creepy moments in it and hope you enjoy.

[Latasha]

The Drowning Kind is really good. I like her a lot too.

[Kasia]

Well Alan owes me a refund if it's not :P

[Alan]

[Kasia]

OK ok, I will take a car worst case!

[Lisa]

Kasia wrote: "I looooove it when I can't tell if the story is going to have a supernatural element or not as it's slowly unraveling. It's always fun to see which way it will go :)"

John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series is like that too. I would say it’s predominantly crime with supernatural elements rather than the other way around. It surprised me at first, but I really enjoyed my first read by him (The Woman in the Woods).

[Latasha]

I thought of that series too Lisa. I’d say if you like this book, you would like that series. But it’s wayyyy darker.

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "I thought of that series too Lisa. I’d say if you like this book, you would like that series. But it’s wayyyy darker."

That series is fantastic!

[Ginger]

Lisa wrote: "John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series is like that too"

Totally agree Lisa!! One of my favorite series out there. I really need to get back to this one too.

[Latasha]

Yeah Ginger, I’ve been thinking about Charlie lately.

[Ginger]

Latasha wrote: "Yeah Ginger, I’ve been thinking about Charlie lately."

Maybe we can revisit this series in January or early February?
I would love to get back on our BRs for Charlie.
This month is just not doable for me and I can't seem to finish ONE book. 🤣😂
I need to find more reading time. *sigh*

[Glenn]

I've had this since the day it came out. I think it's time to dive all the way in. Love Malfi.

[Ginger]

Glenn wrote: "I've had this since the day it came out. I think it's time to dive all the way in. Love Malfi."

Hope you enjoy Glenn! I love Malfi’s books as well.

[Latasha]

You should Glenn. It’s great!

[Kristen]

I just finished. Damn. I really enjoyed this one.

I definitely echo the above comments. While maybe not the typical horror, I don’t really think it was an ordinary crime/thriller either. Someone said it best fits under psychological horror and I think I agree.

Definitely will be checking out more if Malfi’s books very soon.

[Anja]

what a fantastic story.
I've read more thrillers and crime mysteries this year than horror, and honestly those genre mix so well with horror, I personally don't feel the need to make a clear cut.
was i scared reading it? No, but I'm never scared reading any stories.
I think it's valid to call it horror, but for clarification it would be reasonable also to lable it thriller.

[Kimberly]

Anja wrote: "what a fantastic story.
I've read more thrillers and crime mysteries this year than horror, and honestly those genre mix so well with horror, I personally don't feel the need to make a clear cut. ..."

Books don't honestly "scare" me--I love the mixing of the genres as well. Horror/thriller make a great combination!

[Latasha]

Those first couple of John Connolly books gave me nightmares.

[Kasia]

Latasha wrote: "Those first couple of John Connolly books gave me nightmares."

Really, which series?

[Latasha]

Charlie Parker series by John Connolly.

[Kasia]

Latasha wrote: "Charlie Parker series by John Connolly."

Everyone loves that one, thank you! I probably already have 27 series going, what's one more...

[Ginger]

Latasha wrote: "Those first couple of John Connolly books gave me nightmares."

YEP! 😂🤣

[Lisa]

I just finished the part where Aaron (view spoiler)[ talks to the retired detective, Peter, and finds out so much about Allison's past. And things seem to point strongly toward James deCampo. Yet, as he points out - why is his name never mentioned in any of Allison's notes or files? Because he's the basis of everything and she wouldn't even need to write his name down? I'd think she would be tracking him, though, too, and referencing his movements. (hide spoiler)] What the heck is going on here?

[Lisa]

Now my imagination is running away with me. (view spoiler)[ What if Allison killed all of those girls? (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

I’ve just finished this. It was ok. I think I was expecting more due to the over hype. It didn’t keep me hooked I found I was only reading it to finish it.

[Sally]

Starting this one on my lunch break today, excited to jump in.

[Vickie]

Emma wrote: "I’ve just finished this. It was ok. I think I was expecting more due to the over hype. It didn’t keep me hooked I found I was only reading it to finish it."

You're not alone, Emma... that's how I'm feeling right now.

[Lisa]

Finished last night. Generally, I liked it a lot and it kept me interested and guessing. Nitpicks: (view spoiler)[ 1) It's hard to believe that Allison was able to do this extensive sleuthing completely undetected by Aaron, while also working a full-time job. 2) I found the repetition of the phrase "come with me" in a variety of different instances rather hokey. Hey, that's the title! 3) The murderer's wife showing up to kill Aaron felt tacked-on and not very believable. (hide spoiler)] I found many of the supporting characters strong and pretty well-drawn; I felt like I knew/liked some of them better than Aaron or Allison. I really enjoyed the twists and turns, and found some of the imagery and situations really dark and creepy. For me, this imagery and the supernatural elements allowed this book to indeed lean into the horror genre.

[Anja]

so nice to see people here mentioning Charlie Parker! I love that series; I only got to know Parker this year, but have read the whole series the first months of 2021! love-sadness relationship I have with 'him'. He was 34 in the first, and life just passed by so damn quickly, when I was part of his life over something like 20 years in 2 months.
There are some of the books I'm not overly impressed off, but the series in it's whole, it's just one of my favorites. Parker, Angle, And Loui are so dear to me!

[Kasia]

Lisa wrote: "Now my imagination is running away with me. [spoilers removed]"

I was thinking that too haha!

[LTJ]

Starting this tonight, I can't wait!

[Sally]

About 100 pages in, this book is beautifully written. Like, some of the writing is stunning. Are all of Malfi's books written so well? If so I need them all!

[Latasha]

I really liked Bone White.

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "I really liked Bone White."

That was one of my favorites by him!

[Sally]

Just added Bone White to my TBR, thank you! The cover is gorgeous!

[Latasha]

Your welcome. We hope you like it.

[LTJ]

About 13% in and this is wild! Very much enjoying it so far...