Review: "The Night House" by Jo Nesb0, 2023

The Night House by Jo Nesbø, 2023
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jo Nesbø's foray into the domain of horror with "The Night House" marks a daring pivot from his famed crime-thriller series featuring Inspector Harry Hole. Notably known for his multi-faceted career, including his roles as a rock band vocalist and children's book author, Nesbø's latest release cements his status as a maverick in genre-bending narratives.

"The Night House" is artistically split into three distinct parts, each unraveling with increasing

complexity and depth. The initial section sends readers spiraling into the 1980s, where nostalgia interweaves with a young adult (YA) horror vibe. Here, we meet Richard Elauved, a fourteen-year-old whose life in Ballentyne morphs into a living nightmare as his acquaintances begin disappearing under bizarre and terrifying circumstances. The narrative in this part, reminiscent of a Lovecraftian tale gone awry, unfolds through the eyes of Richard, whose unlikable persona as the school bully makes him a suspect and, paradoxically, a victim of the hauntingly mysterious events. This section has been likened to the dark, eerie undertones of "Stranger Things," albeit through a lens that seems to simplify the complexities of the supernatural.

The second part of the book is a paradigm shift, a jolt that catapults the reader fifteen years forward, where Nesbø masterfully executes a twist that reshapes the entire storyline. This revelation is not entirely unprecedented in horror literature, but in Nesbø's hands, it becomes a fresh and captivating narrative device that enhances the suspense.

In the third and final segment, Nesbø delivers yet another volte-face, plunging the narrative into an even more profound psychological maze. It's a testament to his ingenuity, drawing comparisons to the likes of Catriona Ward in crafting mind-bending turns that leave readers questioning their grasp on the plot's reality.

Throughout the novel, Nesbø teases the reader, embedding clues and foreshadowing that might seem heavy-handed in retrospect but are easily overlooked during the first encounter with the story. Literary and cinematic references abound, providing a tapestry of cultural touchstones that enrich the reading experience.

"The Night House" steps beyond what you might expect from a typical horror story. Instead of just scary

moments, it gives us a deep dive into the main character's personal struggles and his journey to figure out who he is, all while spooky, supernatural things happen around him. Jo Nesbø's writing may be different from the usual horror fare and not as dark as his detective stories, therefore comes across as intended for YA. The book invites readers on a unique and creepy adventure that really gets into the mind of the hero/anti-hero.

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Review: "The Quiet Tenant" by Clémence Michallon, 2023

The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"The Quiet Tenant" by Clémence Michallon, 2023

Review: "The Quiet Tenant" by Clémence Michallon - An Edge-of-Your-Seat Thriller

In 2023, amidst a plethora of thrilling novels, one stands out not just for its suspense but for its deep psychological exploration: Clémence Michallon's "The Quiet Tenant". This book isn't just another thriller; it's an exploration into the human psyche and the various facades we present to the world.

From the outset, the story grips you with an intensity so palpable that there were moments I had to pause,
catch my breath, and remind myself it was fiction. The character dynamics, especially the manipulative brainwashing of Rachel by Aidan Thomas, is harrowing to witness. Aidan, a seemingly hardworking family man and a respected member of his community, is the embodiment of the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing. His dual nature is distressing, and Michallon masterfully unravels his facade, layer by layer, through the eyes of those he deceives.

What sets this novel apart is the multi-perspective narrative. The viewpoints of Rachel, Aidan's captive; Cecilia, his innocent daughter; and Emily, the unsuspecting woman smitten by Aidan, are interwoven seamlessly. Each perspective reveals a different side of Aidan, painting a chilling portrait of a man who is both predator and charmer. This storytelling technique, which offers insights into Aidan's impending moves, adds to the heart-pounding suspense that keeps you glued to each page.

While the book sheds light on the disturbing dynamics between a captor and his victim, it also highlights a more subtle societal observation. In the modern age, where charismatic and handsome figures often lead the narrative, "The Quiet Tenant" offers a stark reminder: appearances can be deceiving. In an era where the allure of aesthetics often masks sinister intentions, Michallon's novel serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of superficial judgments.

"The Quiet Tenant" is more than just a thriller; it's a reflection on society's biases and the many masks individuals wear. Clémence Michallon's tight narrative is both tense and gripping, making this novel not only one of my top picks for 2023 but a must-read for anyone seeking a deep, thrilling experience.

In conclusion, heed the words of an avid reader: Dive into the world of "The Quiet Tenant", but be prepared - it will grip you, challenge you, and leave you contemplating long after the last page.

https://shortbookreview.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-quiet-tenant.html

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Review: The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay, 2018

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay, 2018
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Review: The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay, 2018

I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars.

"They expect us to believe that Wen's death isn't a good enough sacrifice for their god," says Andrew. "So you know what? Fuck them and their god." 

A Frustrating and Aggravating Read: Ambiguity Overload. "The Cabin at the End of the World" left me feeling frustrated and aggravated throughout my reading experience. The characters' reasoning and actions often seemed irrational when simpler and more straightforward choices were available. This lack of sensibility made it challenging to connect with the story and its progression, even considering the possibility of supernatural influences on their decisions.

However, there were a few redeeming qualities in the novel. The portrayal of the family unit, consisting of two men and their adopted daughter, added an element of relatability, particularly in terms of the LGBT aspect. 

I understand that the author probably intentionally used ambiguity to create tension and that without all the irrational, aggravating actions and ways the characters behaved, there probably wouldn't be a draw to read the book. However, the use of ambiguity at every single plot point is just too much for me. This approach might be okay for others, but it was not enjoyable for me. At several points, I found myself wanting to slam the book shut or throw it across the room.

While "The Cabin at the End of the World" has its moments, my overall experience was marred by aggravation and frustration due to the excessive use of ambiguity to create tension. The characters' irrational actions and the book's pacing made it a #HateRead for me, even with the potential for supernatural influences on their decisions.

I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars.

#TheCabinAtTheEndOfTheWorld #PaulTremblay #BookReview #FrustratingRead #AmbiguityOverload #SupernaturalInfluences #LGBTRepresentation #HorrorNovel #PsychologicalThriller #Horror #fiction #Thriller #Suspense #LGBT #PsychologicalHorror #HATEREAD

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get it here or here

Review: The Hole: A Novel, by Pyun Hye-young, 2017 (translated by Sora Kim-Russel)

The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Hole: A Novel, by Pyun Hye-young, 2017 (translated by Sora Kim-Russel)

A bestseller in Korea, The Hole tells the tale of the horrors of isolation and neglect. Some comparisons are made to this novel with Stephen King's novel Misery.

The Hole is a character-driven novel but has the suspense of a thriller. Oghi becomes paralyzed after a car accident that killed his wife. Without any of his own family to care for him, his mother-in-law becomes his caregiver. With Oghi as the driver of the car crash, he questions his mother-in-law's motives and does not trust her.

With only the ability to blink as his form of communication, Oghi struggles and panics through everyday banalities. With the only view out of his window being his mother-in-law digging a huge hole, Oghi searches for a way to escape.

I rate this book 3.75 stars our of 5.

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Review: Oracle," by Andrew Piper, 2021

Oracle by Andrew Pyper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Oracle," by Andrew Piper, 2021

Oracle is a psychological thriller by author Andrew Pyper and narrated by Joshua Jackson as an Audible Original.

In ORACLE, Nate Russo, an FBI psychic, tracks an elusive serial killer, finding the missing and murdered by "reading" those close to them. The latest case has Nate and his partners tracking a serial killer who likes to bury women and girls alive. 

This is crime-fiction, psychological thriller, and haunted house all blended and done very well. The first few chapters started slow but quickly built momentum. And as I got to the halfway point, I found myself racing faster and faster towards the conclusion. For a book I normally wouldn't pick up given the nature of the story, I am delighted I did. I will probably continue on to the Dreamland Murders to get my fill of Nate Russo.

I give it 4.5 out of 5.

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"Dark Matter" by Blake Crouch, 2016

"Dark Matter" by Blake Crouch, 2016

Crouch has written an imaginative novel encompassing quantum physics and how it affects the choices a person makes in life. At times sweetly romantic for a science fiction story, Dark Matter explores how even minor decisions serve to eventually define the person we become. Jason is literally offered an infinite number of escape paths, but only a finite number of choices. One wrong decision can separate him from his family forever.  

The novel is written in Jason’s first person perspective. I don’t have a problem with first person, but the author uses a flat writing technique with short choppy paragraphs that are oddly jarring until I settled into his style. As with the Crouch's Wayward Pines series of books, parts of story where the author is building suspense, especially in the beginning, can be frustratingly annoying and abrupt.

While Jason is likeable, the weakest parts in Dark Matter concern secondary characters. The villain in the alternate world attempts to keep Jason from returning to his ‘real’ life, but his motivation is irrational. Other than the fact that the story needs a protagonist, I didn’t see a logical reason for him to be so determined to separate Jason from his family. He’s rotten, but pointless.  So is the woman who plays an important role in Jason’s escape attempt. She disappears halfway through the story. You learn little about her, her character is barely developed.  Considering her pivotal role, nothing about her stands out. She’s more like a tool for Jason to use rather than a real person.

All told, Dark Matter is an interesting read that goes quickly, and explores questions about reality and choice not usual in science fiction.

★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars) - I really liked it.

Book jacket description:

“Are you happy with your life?” Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.” 

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable--something impossible.


Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe. 

The Short Drop (Gibson Vaughn #1), by Matthew FitzSimmons, 2015

The Short Drop (Gibson Vaughn #1), by Matthew FitzSimmons, 2015

Ten years ago, Suzanne Lombard intended to run away from home; she’s not been seen since.  She was only fourteen-years-old.  Within the last ten years, the playing field has drastically changed.  Suzanne was the daughter of then Senator Benjamin Lombard.  More recently, he’s been the VP, and now running for the US presidency.  Her close friend, Gibson Vaughn, was in jail at the age of sixteen when she disappeared.  He’d hacked into the Senator’s computer detailing a supposedly criminal diversion of campaign funds to banks in the Cayman Islands.  Instead of a longer jail time, he’d agreed to serve in the Marine Corps.  Now an ex-Marine, he was an IT guy … before just being laid off from that job.  George Abe had been the head of Lombard’s security team.  Now, he’s seeking Gibson Vaughn’s help.  They have a new viable lead.  Gibson reluctantly agrees to become involved again, having been disappointed in all of the false leads of the past.  But, he still loves Suzanne like a sister, and ultimately begins working with Abe’s contacts – an ex-CIA officer and an L.A. police detective.

This is an unbelievably well-written debut thriller by Matthew FitzSimmons.  He developed scarred characters you will grow to care about, and hope they’ll succeed against what seems like impossible odds.  Good luck putting this suspenseful, but rather gritty, novel down.  Among the plot themes are Suzanne’s cold case; shameful politics; computer hacking; and a creepy hired killer.  This is the first book in what appears to be a fantastic start of a new series.  The 2nd book in the Gibson Vaughn series, Poisonfeather, is set to be released September, 2016.

★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars) - I really liked it.

"The Last Town (Wayward Pines #3)", by Blake Crouch, 2014

"The Last Town (Wayward Pines #3)", by Blake Crouch, 2014

Although the weakest of the three books so far in the set, The Last Town still is both

exhilarating and frustrating. It is virtually impossible for readers to not become absorbed in the chaos that ensues as the "abbies" enter Wayward Pines. The graphic descriptions of death and the emotional ties to characters I have come to love keep me invested until the very end. 

The introduction of a new characters creates a sub-conflict that is nearly as powerful, and possibly even more gripping than the battle that ensues in Wayward Pines. As I witness the evolution of characters as they are faced with almost certain death, I will found myself wanting more. This is where Crouch falls short. Rather than further harnessing that evolution of character, nearly two-thirds of The Last Town focuses on fighting. Though the graphic portrayal of death is often thrilling, it eventually loses stamina. Eventually the potential for boredom while reading about yet another house that is invaded by the "abbies" becomes real. There's very little to imagine since the outcome is obvious. That being said, the other aspects of the novel far outweigh the hundred or so pages of fighting. 

When I reached the end of a novel and was so frustrated to find that there really is nothing on the next page; when I searched the Internet in hope that although this is a trilogy and although it is hailed as "the final installment" there indeed are plans for a 4th book; when I read the last page over and over again hoping to find something that was missed — the author knows he's accomplished his task. Well done Blake Crouch. Fortunately for those readers searching for more, FOX has brought Wayward Pines to television in a miniseries, which is currently airing/streaming.

★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars)

"Wayward (Wayward Pines #2)", by Blake Crouch, 2013

"Wayward (Wayward Pines #2)", by Blake Crouch, 2013

A thoroughly satisfying read that combines a lot of genres and tropes, Wayward will have you turning

pages to see how it all ends. The climax though takes things to a whole different level and leaves you desperately craving for the next volume. Wayward is another crackerjack thriller from the mind of one of the best thrillers writers out there.

Wayward is the sequel to Pines and a book that was highly anticipated and yet out-scored my anticipation. Firstly before even I begin my review, I would like to announce that to even discuss the blurb will be spoilery for the first book Pines. So those folks who haven't read the first book and don't want their read ruined in the least. STOP and go read Pines...

Now for those of you who have read and loved Pines, welcome and I must say you will love the second outing by Blake Crouch as he explores the strange town of Wayward Pines and its inhabitants. This book further illuminates the town of Wayward Pines through Ethan Burke but with a crucial difference, he’s an insider now unlike the previous volume wherein he was the enemy. Ethan after the events of the previous books has now been elevated to the position of Sheriff and is tasked with the town’s safety. Sheriff Ethan has seen what truly lies outside of the town's boundaries and it is forcing him to co-operate with the town's creator and protector so as to speak. After facing the end of the barrel in the last book, he finds himself quite perturbed to be on the other side and forcing people to do what he ultimately disobeyed. He has gotten his family back but is still irked by all that is hidden from the majority of the town’s population. The story though begins when a murder occurs and it falls upon Ethan to investigate the death.

My rating: ★★★★★ (5 out of 5 stars) Just Wow!

"Pines (Wayward Pines #1)", by Blake Crouch, 2012

Pines (Wayward Pines #1), by Blake Crouch, 2012

An excruciatingly frustrating start, but by halfway through, the book went from 0 to 60 and I burned through it all the way to the end. Starts off as a mystery novel that sharply turns into a thriller, and ends with a sci-fi surprise.

Pines saw Secret Service agent Ethan Burke waking up in Wayward Pines, a secluded town deep in the forests of Idaho, severely injured after an apparent car accident. Days of concussed, amnesia-driven investigation led Ethan to eventually discover that the entire town was surrounded by an electric fence and under constant electronic surveillance. Nobody comes into Wayward Pines, nobody leaves, and the townsfolk are willing to mob-kill anyone who tries. Is it a government experiment? An episode of The Twilight Zone? The afterlife? Pines concluded with a soul-shattering cliffhanger, as the secret of Wayward Pines was finally revealed to Ethan (a secret I will not divulge here).

My rating: ★★★★★ (5 out of 5 stars) - Wow. I loved it!

Sick (Project Eden #1) by Brett Battles, 2011

Sick (Project Eden #1) by Brett Battles, 2011

There’s a war brewing in America, one simmering just below the surface but ready to explode. Captain Daniel Ash, his family, and the other 56 residents of Baker Flats military base find themselves at ground zero of that war one horrible night when hell descends upon their little corner of the world.

Awakened by a cry from his daughter, Ash goes to her room expecting to find her upset from a nightmare. Instead, he finds the girl burning with a dangerously high fever. As he struggles to get her into a cold tub he calls out to his wife for assistance, but gets no response.

Leaving his daughter in the slowly filling tub he returns to his bedroom and finds his wife still in bed. Dead. Panic now flooding in, Ash races to his son’s room and finds him apparently unaffected by whatever killed his wife and has made his daughter dangerously ill.

As he huddles in the bathroom with his two children Ash makes a frantic call to 911 pleading for help, but when it finally arrives it is not what Ash had expected, and his life will never be the same again.

Instead of paramedics or police officers, a team of men in full biohazard gear bursts into the Ash house, bundling Ash and his children outside and into an isolation truck. The scene that greets him as he exists his home is something out of a Hollywood film, as Ash realizes there are similar vehicles and teams of men in biohazard gear deployed throughout the neighborhood, seemingly at every house. Before he can fully process what’s going on he is spirited off to a containment facility, where he is separated from his kids and subsequently informed they have died as a result of exposure to a highly deadly virus.

After over a week in isolation, communicating only with a disembodied voice from a speaker in the ceiling, Ash is slipped a note with his morning meal one day which contains a single cryptic word written on it: TONIGHT. What follows that evening is a daring breakout from the facility with the assistance of two mysterious men whom do not identify themselves to Ash, but hustle him to the outskirts of the facility and give him instructions on how to proceed from there. Ash eventually meets up with the people behind his escape and is informed that though the virus was intentionally released, it wasn’t done by terrorists. Not only that, but contrary to what Ash was told his children are still alive, being studied to determine what made them immune to the virus. And with that Ash is off on a mission to not only rescue his children, but to help stop the people behind the virus from unleashing it upon the world.

Brett Battles

Battles ratchets the intensity and sense of urgency in Sick up to levels so thick you could cut it with a knife. Though military, Ash is no Rambo. He’s a man driven by emotion not machismo, and it is easy to identify with his single-minded goal of rescuing his children at all costs. He’s a man on a mission, and woe be it to anyone who gets in his way. Add to that a great subplot involving a team of reporters hot on the scent of the story the public is not being told, fueled in part by a cell phone video uploaded onto YouTube which appears to show civilians being killed by military, and Battles has set the stage for a pulse-pounding thriller that rockets to a classic showdown between Ash and the man behind the virus. But as this is merely the first book in the Project Eden series, though Ash eventually brings this particular battle to an end, the war rages on.

My rating ★★☆☆☆ (2 out of 5 stars) - It was ok.

Fear the Sky (Fear Saga #1), by Stephen Moss, 2014

Fear the Sky (Fear Saga #1), by Stephen Moss, 2014

Riveting, gripping and just absolutely brilliant!

Easily classifiable as an action and thriller story, this book is definitely hard science fiction at heart. And what a fantastic job the author does and hitting all the genre points.

The story starts with a slowness that is crafted to lull you into a false sense security and hints at a larger impending doom looming in the sky and the invasion headed to Earth. Although there are quite a bit of members, the cast of characters is slowly introduced;  along with their brief backstory that helps make them memorable when they appear later in the book.

The book is a bit long and could have easily been two separate novels. The first half of the book spends a lot of time building a cat-and-mouse spy-style thriller and ending it with awesome fight sequences and close quarter hand-to-hand combats.

The second half of the book seems to have a shift of characters and a new focus. While the storyline is not quite as tight as the first half of the book, it does fit congruously to the overall story arc of the book as ties off some of the loose ends.

My favorite characters:

Lana Wilson (female alien robot, total-bitch princess from alien world)
Ayala (female Mossad intelligence/counter-intelligence agent)
Shaheem (male alien robot, turns into a double agent)
John Hunt (male alien robot, double agent)
Neal (human scientist)
Lori West (human scientist)

I would have rated the book five (5) stars, but I feel some portions of the second half of the book falters a bit.

My Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5 out of 5 stars) - I really really liked it.



Book Description by Author:

In eleven years time, a million members of an alien race will arrive at Earth. Years before they enter orbit, their approach will be announced by the flare of a thousand flames in the sky, their ships’ huge engines burning hard to slow them from the vast speeds needed to cross interstellar space.

These foreboding lights will shine in our night sky like new stars, getting ever brighter until they outshine even the sun, casting ominous shadows and banishing the night until they suddenly blink out.

Their technology is vastly superior to ours, and they know they cannot possibly lose the coming conflict. But they, like us, have found no answer to the destructive force of the atom, and they have no intention of facing the onslaught of our primitive nuclear arsenal, or the devastation it would wreak on the planet they crave.

So they have flung out an advanced party in front of them, hidden within one of the countless asteroids randomly roaming the void.

They do not want us, they want our planet. Their Agents are arriving.