You Better Watch Out: A Thriller by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

From international bestselling authors James S. Murray (better known as "Murr" on the hit TV show Impractical Jokers) and Darren Wearmouth, comes You Better Watch Out, a suspenseful, serial killer thriller that leaves you wondering, is Christmas really the best time of the year? 

Forty-eight hours until Christmas, Jessica Kane wakes up with blurred vision, ears ringing, and in excruciating pain. A gash in her head and blood running down her face, the last thing she remembers is going for a run and something or someone hitting her in the head. It doesn't take her long to realize she is trapped in an unknown, deserted town with five other strangers who share similar stories of being attacked and stranded there. Unsure why and how they got there, she knows one thing for certain, she has to find a way out. That becomes nearly impossible when someone is meticulously orchestrating their deaths, one by one, and the only thing Jessica can do is watch the life leave their eyes. The fenced-in town is the killer’s very own playground and there's nowhere left to hide... she better watch out because she could be next.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this highly entertaining and engaging Christmas horror story. You Better Watch Out is a fun and terrifying read - the perfect blend of mystery and gore. 

So, what is this story about? Well, it's a mystery and the whodunit is most definitely intriguing. Okay, so, Jessica went out for a run and was attacked. She wakes up to find herself in a deserted town. She's not alone. Five other people have also been attacked and are waking up in that deserted town, too. Her goal is to get out. The only problem is that people start to die. Yep, someone is out to kill them and Jessica has to figure out how to save herself ASAP. Whoa! How crazy and terrifying does that story sound? I know that I couldn't wait keep reading to find out who was behind all of this and why. Also, who would survive? Yikes! And, that is all I will share, because this was a fun one and you should definitely check it out. It's a fast-paced read chock full of horror - akin to a slasher film. I really enjoyed it - mainly because it's perfect for this Halloween season, although I would definitely read it at Christmas, too. It was fun and that is exactly what I wanted. So, I would happily recommend You Better Watch Out to anyone looking for an entertaining story - you'll enjoy this one. Make sure to check it out! 

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

Cold Snap by Lindy Ryan

(Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

Hmm...not sure what to make of this one.  Cold Snap by Lindy Ryan is a novella that explores grief. I know that doesn't really provide any information, but I honestly can't say what happened, because I'm still not sure what happened. So, here goes...

It's nearly Christmas and Christine has packed up a few bags and taken her son to a cabin in the woods for the  holiday. Her husband had planned and booked this trip months ago. Except, her husband is dead. He died falling from the roof when he was putting up Christmas lights on the house. She was right there when it happened and she can't stop unseeing it. So, yeah, things are definitely hard at the moment and for some reason she thinks leaving the house behind for a bit will help. Maybe. The only thing is that her son isn't talking to her and the cabin is a dump. Oh, and she keeps hearing her husband's voice calling to her. Yeah, the holiday trip quickly turns into a holiday nightmare, and that is all I can really share. Mainly, because I'm not exactly sure what happened in the story. I know that she forgot to pack food. I know that she lies about the cabin having wi-fi to her son. I know that their cat gets killed. I know that a moose shows up. And, I know that she is hearing her husband's voice. That's all I know. The story ends and I don't really understand what happened to Christine or her son, or the moose. 

Suffice it to say, I was immersed in the story from the beginning and I was intrigued to try and figure out what was going on, but in the end, I was left with a lot of questions. So, I'm not sure what I would rate this one. Hmm...Cold Snap is definitely more mystery than horror.

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

All The Hearts You Eat by Hailey Piper

(Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A visceral and heartbreaking work of gothic horror about small town mysteries, local folklore and the things we leave behind when we're gone, from the Bram Stoker Award winning author of Queen of Teeth.

What really happened to Cabrina Brite?

Ivory's life changes irrevocably when she discovers the body of Cabrina Brite on the sands of Cape Morning, along with a mysterious poem. How did she die, and why does it seem she was trying to swim to Ghost Cat Island, the centre of so many local mysteries?

Desperate to uncover the answers surrounding Cabrina's death, and haunted by her discovery, Ivory begins to see the pale ghost of Cabrina, only to shake it off as a mere hallucination. But Ivory is not alone. Cabrina's closest friends have also seen a similar apparition, and as they toy with occult possibilities, they begin to unravel the truth behind Cabrina's death.

Because Cape Morning isn't a ghost town, but a town filled with ghosts, and Ivory is about to discover just what happens when you let one in.

my thoughts:

Wow! All The Hearts You Eat by Hailey Piper is AMAZING! It is truly gothic horror at its very best! I loved it! The writing was fantastic! The characters unforgettable and the story unputdownable! This book is definite MUST-READ!

So, what is this awesome story about? Well, it's about ghosts, vampires, small town secrets, and so much more. I don't want to give anything away, because believe you me, you need to experience it for yourself. It's just that damn good. I know that I fell in deep with this story and the characters - I couldn't help it. I wanted to know about Ivory, Sabrina, and Cape Morning. I wanted to know what was going on - what were these apparitions that everyone was seeing - what did they mean? I wanted to know everything. And let me just say, whoa! I'm so glad I read All The Hearts You Eat - it was disturbing, beautiful, raw, and wonderful. Such a treat to read. 

I would happily recommend All The Hearts You Eat to everyone looking for their next great read - you won't want to miss out on this lovely! Make sure to check it out ASAP!

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Book Of Witching: A Novel by C.J. Cooke

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A mother must fight for her daughter’s life in this fierce and haunting tale of witchcraft and revenge from the author of A Haunting in the Arctic.

Clem gets a call that is every mother’s worst nightmare. Her nineteen-year-old daughter Erin is unconscious in the hospital after a hiking trip with her friends on the remote Orkney Islands that met a horrifying end, leaving her boyfriend dead and her best friend missing. When Erin wakes, she doesn’t recognize her mother. And she doesn’t answer to her name, but insists she is someone named Nyx.

Clem travels the site of her daughter’s accident, determined to find out what happened to her. The answer may lie in a dark secret in the history of the Orkneys: a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft and murder four centuries ago. Clem begins to wonder if Erin’s strange behavior is a symptom of a broken mind, or the effects of an ancient curse?

my thoughts:

Wow! Wow! Wow! What a freaking fantastic story! I loved C. J. Cooke's latest novel, The Book of Witching. We get past histories affecting the present day in HUGE and horrifying ways, witches, Scotland, family drama, and so much deliciousness, that you won't be able to put this book down for anything! I absolutely LOVED The Book of Witching to bits! 

Erin was on a hiking trip and now she's in hospital with burns and doesn't know her own mother. Her boyfriend is dead and her best friend is missing. Oh, and her name is not Erin, it's Nyx. Say what?! Yep, talk about a trip gone wrong. Clem, Erin's mom, is beside herself. She's horrified at her daughter's condition and what transpired on the hiking trip, except, what really happened? That is the mystery, because now the cops are wondering if Erin killed her boyfriend and hurt her best friend. And if so, why? Looks like Clem will have to figure out the truth if she wants to save her daughter, and fast. Yikes! 

Cooke has created a terrific tale chock full of mystery and intrigue that will have you reading late into the night. You won't want to miss out! Make sure to grab a copy of The Book Of Witching ASAP!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Narrows by Ronald Malfi

(Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

A creepy and atmospheric slice of small-town horror from the Bram Stoker award finalist and bestselling author of Come With Me. Perfect for readers of  Christopher Golden and fans of Mike Flanagan. 

In the aftermath of a terrible storm, the town of Stillwater, Maryland tries to recover what it has  lost. From flooded roads and houses, to ruined businesses—the residents of the town begin to  clean up and return to normal. 

In the midst of the clear up, people begin to see things. Matthew Crawly spies his father in thewoodlands above the Narrows, but that cannot be possible; Maggie Quedentock nearly hits a child  with her car, only to find an empty road lying before her; and in the middle of it all, Sergeant Ben  Journell is thrust into an impossible investigation. Animals are being slaughtered, their brains  systematically removed from their bodies. Something is happening to the town of  Stillwater…something dark and ancient and evil has its grip on everyone. 

The saying goes, still waters run deep, but no one in Stillwater is prepared for just how deep they  run, and no one can possibly be ready for what they might find when they reach the bottom of the  gray waters of the Narrows.

my thoughts:

My first spooky read for Halloween month is Ronald Malfi's, The Narrows. A vampire book without a vampire? Hmm...sounds intriguing, eh? Well, according to Malfi, that is the type of story he wanted to create and The Narrows is it. Not going to lie - I love vampire stories, so I was definitely interested in reading this one. Especially, since I wanted to find out how Malfi would go about creating a monster that was not your typical bloodsucker. 

Stillwater has just endured a horrible flood and are still recovering from it when they are suddenly riddled with murder and missing children. Say what?! Yep, the town has suddenly sunk into something worse than despair, it is a horror show - a nightmare they can't seem to wake from. Yikes! And, that is all I will share about this terrific tale of gruesome deaths, haunting visions, and vampire-like monsters. 

Malfi has created a riveting story that will grab you and pull you right in. I loved how easy it was to get caught up in the all the drama and horror surrounding this small town. I found myself easily befriending the Crawly family, Ben, and everyone involved in this terrifying tale. I even teared up when Dwight purchased a vampire mask for his missing best friend. Kids really can be the sweetest. And, I loved how one of the police officers was obsessed with horror movies and magazines - his take on the villain was that it could be a chupacabra. Oh, and small-town life was captured perfectly, especially a small-town that was dying economically - I could picture it all perfectly. Plus, the mention of the flooding reminded me of what just happened with Helene. Also, I live in South Florida, so I'm no stranger to hurricanes and flooding. Also, I loved that all the vampire knowledge they had seemed to come from the movies - that is just so relatable. LOL!  Suffice it to say, there are so many wonderful parts to this story and they made for a fun read. I really enjoyed getting to know the town of Stillwater, but I was happy when the remaining residents decided it was time to pack up and leave - I know that I would. All in all, The Narrows is a must-read, especially this fall/winter season. Make sure to pick up a copy ASAP! 

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!