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hectaizani's review against another edition
4.0
Before you move into a new neighborhood you should really check out the neighbors first. That's a lesson that Ben McKelvie learns to his own chagrin. His neighbor Madeline is crazy, and not a good crazy, she is singlehandedly turning her property into a toxic waste dump. First she leaves food out for pigeons, and when rats come to eat the pigeon food, she feeds them too. Poor Ben, this is not what he expected when he moved into Barcroft.
But things get worse, first his dog gets eaten by a mountain lion. Or was it a mountain lion? He's not really sure, it looked like one, but the eyes were strange and haunting. The policewoman who takes his statement doesn't seem to care. Neither does the town council. What's a guy to do? Team up with a big cat curator from the National Zoo. At least she believes that there's a big cat stalking the neighborhood. Or is it a big cat? Something fishy happens with evidence collected from the scene that leads them to team up with a cryptozoologist and a Native American shaman to root out the source of the evil that's stalking Barcroft.
This book was a real page-turner. The action came on fast and the suspense didn't quit. The characters were interesting and likable. I also really liked that when one of the characters turned out to be gay it was incorporated naturally into the story. I think fans of Stephen King and Bentley Little will really enjoy this book.
But things get worse, first his dog gets eaten by a mountain lion. Or was it a mountain lion? He's not really sure, it looked like one, but the eyes were strange and haunting. The policewoman who takes his statement doesn't seem to care. Neither does the town council. What's a guy to do? Team up with a big cat curator from the National Zoo. At least she believes that there's a big cat stalking the neighborhood. Or is it a big cat? Something fishy happens with evidence collected from the scene that leads them to team up with a cryptozoologist and a Native American shaman to root out the source of the evil that's stalking Barcroft.
This book was a real page-turner. The action came on fast and the suspense didn't quit. The characters were interesting and likable. I also really liked that when one of the characters turned out to be gay it was incorporated naturally into the story. I think fans of Stephen King and Bentley Little will really enjoy this book.
sinala's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
barbtrek's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very entertaining audiobook. It flowed well, I liked the characters, and it was a good story.
One thing is bugging me though. It has nothing at all to do with the story but, I always thought fencers said "touche'" (with two syllables) when they landed a good jab. The writer/narrator said "touch" with one syllable. I know nothing about fencing so I'll assume the author/narrator are correct, just sounded weird to me.
One thing is bugging me though. It has nothing at all to do with the story but, I always thought fencers said "touche'" (with two syllables) when they landed a good jab. The writer/narrator said "touch" with one syllable. I know nothing about fencing so I'll assume the author/narrator are correct, just sounded weird to me.
sjj169's review against another edition
3.0
Ben and his fiance buy a bigger house..they just don't realize they are moving next door to this.
Ben has a few other issues because his fiance has decided to dump him and he is left with his dog and a rat problem from his neighbor's animal hoarding.
(I hate rats so that's about the scariest I'm going on that one)
Then that same neighbor passes away in her home. Shortly after that some weird stuff starts going on in the neighborhood.
The animal problem is getting worse since the hoarder lady is not around to feed the animals and the neighborhood has gotten together to try and get something done about her house and the critters that it is attracting.
Then Ben is outside and his dog is attacked by a mountain lion in front of Ben's eyes.
Ben calls out the feisty police lady and she gives him the brush off, because mountain lion in fancy suburbs? Plus Ben admits to flushing his antidepressants and smells like pee. Come on people-I would smell like pee too if I just saw a critter chomping on my dog.
Then some more attacks begin to happen.
Ben finally gets someone to halfway believe him when he teams up with Lindsay, the National zoo's assistant curator for great cats.
Of course, Ben tries to put some moves on her.
"You know who makes a move like that in the woods? After they show you their basement? Serial killers, that's who."
"This isn't the woods, it's a park. With roses in it."
"They're not even in bloom!"
Ben is full of smooth. When he isn't busy on Wikipedia orinternet porn watching watching the Discovery channel.
(He is actually pretty snarky and I loved his character.)
The monster finally gets figured out and it's good. Really good but
Towards the end of this book I kept thinking this would be great as a series. Yes, I know I can't believe I just said that..but it would. Then I look and it's going to be.
Dear author, please keep up the story line that you are starting and pick a better cover. This cover was pretty fugly.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Mommacat's review is the featured review for this one. I don't catch Mommacat on here much but I love her reviews when I do.
Ben has a few other issues because his fiance has decided to dump him and he is left with his dog and a rat problem from his neighbor's animal hoarding.
(I hate rats so that's about the scariest I'm going on that one)
Then that same neighbor passes away in her home. Shortly after that some weird stuff starts going on in the neighborhood.
The animal problem is getting worse since the hoarder lady is not around to feed the animals and the neighborhood has gotten together to try and get something done about her house and the critters that it is attracting.
Then Ben is outside and his dog is attacked by a mountain lion in front of Ben's eyes.
Ben calls out the feisty police lady and she gives him the brush off, because mountain lion in fancy suburbs? Plus Ben admits to flushing his antidepressants and smells like pee. Come on people-I would smell like pee too if I just saw a critter chomping on my dog.
Then some more attacks begin to happen.
Ben finally gets someone to halfway believe him when he teams up with Lindsay, the National zoo's assistant curator for great cats.
Of course, Ben tries to put some moves on her.
"You know who makes a move like that in the woods? After they show you their basement? Serial killers, that's who."
"This isn't the woods, it's a park. With roses in it."
"They're not even in bloom!"
Ben is full of smooth. When he isn't busy on Wikipedia or
(He is actually pretty snarky and I loved his character.)
The monster finally gets figured out and it's good. Really good but
Towards the end of this book I kept thinking this would be great as a series. Yes, I know I can't believe I just said that..but it would. Then I look and it's going to be.
Dear author, please keep up the story line that you are starting and pick a better cover. This cover was pretty fugly.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Mommacat's review is the featured review for this one. I don't catch Mommacat on here much but I love her reviews when I do.
magpie_666's review against another edition
2.0
DNF.
I've probably been a bit harsh and not given this book much of a chance, but I don't have as much time as I'd like to read, and so if I'm not enjoying it by page 50, or 25% then I move on to a different book.
I'll admit that my sense of humour is somewhat lacking and so I find it difficult to get into a book where the writing has a comedy tone to it. The scene with the police officer at the beginning had a strange comedic tone to it, which I just couldn't get into.
I gave up when I decided that I didn't care enough to wade through this book to find out who or what the Beast was.
If you have more of a sense of humour then you may enjoy this book.
I've probably been a bit harsh and not given this book much of a chance, but I don't have as much time as I'd like to read, and so if I'm not enjoying it by page 50, or 25% then I move on to a different book.
I'll admit that my sense of humour is somewhat lacking and so I find it difficult to get into a book where the writing has a comedy tone to it. The scene with the police officer at the beginning had a strange comedic tone to it, which I just couldn't get into.
I gave up when I decided that I didn't care enough to wade through this book to find out who or what the Beast was.
If you have more of a sense of humour then you may enjoy this book.
mzzmia's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it. It was just what I wanted to read this Halloween. A good old fashioned horror story. The main characters are very likeable and relatable. There is no overanalyzing of what and why, not drawn out protestations of "but that's not possible." Just regular folk trying to keep each other alive. I'm queuing up the next one.
kristendv's review against another edition
3.0
I received a advanced copy through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review:
I liked the basic progress of the plot and how the characters discovered themselves amidst the turmoil of the story. I also enjoyed the references to the Jersey Devil. Having grown up in New Jersey with that urban legend and later moving to California where no one understands, it was refreshing to find an author who had actually heard of it and used it in a book.
I liked the basic progress of the plot and how the characters discovered themselves amidst the turmoil of the story. I also enjoyed the references to the Jersey Devil. Having grown up in New Jersey with that urban legend and later moving to California where no one understands, it was refreshing to find an author who had actually heard of it and used it in a book.
longtimereader's review against another edition
4.0
This book was quite an adventure. A creature is killing people and pets. Is it a large cat, or a wolf, or is this beast something far more deadly? I liked this book for its settings and it's animal oriented characters. I felt for Ben with all he had been through, and what he had to deal with next. Does every neighborhood have the neighbor with rats or something bonkers? "Apparently I now live at the corner of Rat Road and Bobact Boulevard." With this we start to get a feel for Ben's plight, but that is only a red-eyed glimmer of what is coming.
I found this to be well written, with a good solid ending as well. My copy came from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
I found this to be well written, with a good solid ending as well. My copy came from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
wellwortharead's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent!
When I first read the description I thought this just may be a little too crazy... even for me. I mean a zoologist? a cryptozoologist? not my usual cup of tea but the comparison to Bentley Little made it a must read for me and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this book. Plus I can totally relate to having horrible neighbors that attract all manner of filth and vermin so I felt bad for Ben straight off before I even realized that my neighbor infesting us with fleas was nothing compared to what's hanging around Ben's neighborhood. I am so looking forward to the sequel "Northwoods" that will be coming out next year.
I received a free copy for review
When I first read the description I thought this just may be a little too crazy... even for me. I mean a zoologist? a cryptozoologist? not my usual cup of tea but the comparison to Bentley Little made it a must read for me and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this book. Plus I can totally relate to having horrible neighbors that attract all manner of filth and vermin so I felt bad for Ben straight off before I even realized that my neighbor infesting us with fleas was nothing compared to what's hanging around Ben's neighborhood. I am so looking forward to the sequel "Northwoods" that will be coming out next year.
I received a free copy for review
bryceoc's review against another edition
4.0
I received an uncorrected proof of this book through NetGalley.
If you enjoy well-written, engaging mystery/thriller adventures, The Beast of Barcroft is a great choice. It does exactly what it sets out to do, and it does it well. It's suspenseful and a little creepy, with some great characters and writing. There's a plot hole here and there, a line of dialogue that doesn't quite work, a twist that feels a bit too over the top. But I can honestly say that none of those things made the story any less fun.
It's fairly short (but not too short), cheap, and easy to get invested in. If the premise sounds interesting to you, I have a good feeling you won't be disappointed.
If you enjoy well-written, engaging mystery/thriller adventures, The Beast of Barcroft is a great choice. It does exactly what it sets out to do, and it does it well. It's suspenseful and a little creepy, with some great characters and writing. There's a plot hole here and there, a line of dialogue that doesn't quite work, a twist that feels a bit too over the top. But I can honestly say that none of those things made the story any less fun.
It's fairly short (but not too short), cheap, and easy to get invested in. If the premise sounds interesting to you, I have a good feeling you won't be disappointed.