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Book Review: The Troop by Nick Cutter

The Troop by Nick Cutter

Gallery Books, 2014

ISBN-13: 978-1-4767-1771-5

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition

 

This story is an experience in terror. A very hungry stranger arrives in the town of Lower Montague, Prince Edward Island. The man becomes the talk of the town for eating huge quantities of food. The man then steals a boat and heads to a small island where Scoutmaster Tim Riggs and five scouts are having their annual weekend camping trip. The boys are all good friends and they get along with Scoutmaster Tim, as they call him, but Tim has a bad feeling about the camping trip this year.

 

After dinner, the boys go to their cabin to tell ghost stories. All the typical characters are present: there’s Kent, the popular one, son of the police chief in town; Newton, the nerd; Shelly, the odd one; Max, the boy next door; and Ephraim, the tough guy. While they’re talking, the stranger arrives on the small island. Scoutmaster Tim meets the man, who begs for help and food. Although Tim is afraid of the stranger, and feels there is something very wrong with him, Tim feels it is his duty to help, because in addition to being the Scoutmaster, he is also the town doctor. To make things worse, Tim’s never never seen anything quite like this stranger — he’s a genetically-altered nightmare.

 

Later that night, a storm comes in, and all hell breaks loose. Through no fault of their own, the boys are left all alone. One by one they must assess their situations, and are forced to do things that no one should ever have to do as they fight to survive and get home. What will happen as the scouts are faced with the elements, their own fears and suspicions, and the possibility of injury and infection?

 

This book gives the reader a perfect build-up of human horror. The stranger is just a guy who is down on his luck so agreed to submit to medical experiments in exchange for cash; a scary scenario in itself, and a situation with some real-life basis. The boys are all realistically written, and the reader can easily sympathize with their fear, doubt, and anger at what happens to them. The Troop is a very good, highly intense read. Highly recommended for adult readers.

 

Contains: violence and death, violence involving children

Reviewed by Diana Lord

Posted on July 18, 2014 by , Reply

Book Review: The Colony: Renegades by Michaelbrent Collings

The Colony: Renegades by Michaelbrent Collings

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013

ISBN-13: 978-1492896456

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, Audible Book

 

High school teacher Ken Strickland has seen the world come to an end– zombies are taking over. Ken, along with some fellow survivors and friends, Dorcas, Aaron, and Christopher, have gone to the Bank One building to save Ken’s family. While riding the elevator up to the 9th floor, the group encounters a nightmare from which there is no waking up.

These are not old fashioned zombies…they work together to hunt victims, trapping them in webs and vomiting acid. Ken finally finds his family– snagged in a zombie-web. They are all there and alive: his wife, Maggie; their son, Derek; their daughter, Hope; and Liz, the baby. He also finds two others yet uneaten: a man named Buck, and his mother. The band of survivors have to make their way out of the building, fighting zombies all the way.

This is Book 2 in The Colony saga, and it rocks. The plot keeps you in total suspense, guessing what’s going to happen, and you feel as if you are there with the characters, trapped in the building, fighting for your survival. I’ll be waiting with bells on for the conclusion of this exciting series. Recommended for high school and older.

Contains: zombie violence, gore, graphic description of dead bodies, mild profanity, lots of death.

Reviewed by Diana Lord

Posted on July 16, 2014 by , Reply

Book Review: Darling by Brad Hodson

Darling by Brad C. Hodson

Bad Moon Books, 2012

ISBN-13: 978-0-9884478-1-3

Available: Used paperback, Kindle edition

 

At its heart, Darling is a classic haunted house novel. It doesn’t cross genres, or break any daring new ground, but that’s okay. It centers around Raynham Place, an apartment complex built on land that has a history of violence and death going back more than a century; t was the site of a Civil War battlefield, and then became a tuberculosis hospital. This setting might sound like old hat, but it is created with style and unfolds perfectly within the plot. Although the story takes place in the present, the classic haunted atmosphere has a great 80’s horror novel feel— similar to books published under Dell’s Abyss imprint (I loved many novels in that line…reading this novel is like slipping on a favorite old shirt.)

 

The story begins when Dennis decides that his younger friend, Mike, move into Raynham Place. Once in the building, they start to notice strange things afoot. The behavior of the main characters begins to change, and the building’s past is slowly divulged. Hodson’s timely uncovering of the elements of his plot, from the background of the building, to the personal history between the main characters, is carefully revealed to perfect effect. This extended suspense, combined with Hodson’s gift for super creepy tone, makes the whole thing work perfectly. Darling is an excellent horror novel, and readers who are looking for a fresh voice telling classic-style horror tales have a new author to check out. Highly recommended.

 

Contains: violence and psychological terror.

Reviewed by David Agranoff

 


Posted on July 16, 2014 by , Reply
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