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dantastic's review against another edition
2.0
A blizzard in late May is the least of the town of Colby's problems. A string of cult murders points to a cult bent on opening a gate to another world and it's up to a group of homicide detectives to stop them...
Yeah, it may have been a case of wrong book, wrong time, or the fact that I just finished [b:After the End of the World|33574101|After the End of the World|Jonathan L. Howard|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487464875s/33574101.jpg|54380539], a book with some similarities to this one, but I never really grabbed on to Chills.
The blurb describes this as "True Detective meets HP Lovecraft," which really sparked my interest. However, the only resemblance to True Detective is that the book features detectives investigating some cult murders and there's nothing particularly Lovecraftian about it other than talk of creatures from the void.
The setup is pretty interesting. An east coast town is gripped in an unusually long winter and the cops are called in to investigate a cult murder. You've got Jack Glazier, a down and out divorced cop, Teagan, an Irish lady's man, and Kathy, an occult expert with a tortured past. The winning ingredients are all there. It was pretty much paint by numbers after that.
Maybe I've read too many detective and horror novels but there weren't a lot of surprises. After the novelty of monsters made of snow and ice wore off, it was all pretty standard. Not only that, some parts got on my nerves. The romance subplot was annoying and unnecessary and the characters did some illogical things to add some jeopardy to the end.
One thing that annoyed me more than it should have was that everyone casually knew what an anglerfish was. People kept describing one of the creatures as resembling an anglerfish and no one had to ask what an anglerfish was. I knew what one was but I hardly think what an anglerfish looks like is common knowledge. For the record, it looks like this:
I realize that's a lot of bitching so I have to note that I didn't actually hate the book. Some parts were scary and I liked the concept of the Hand of Black Stars cult. Jack and Kathy had interesting backgrounds and I wouldn't mind reading more about them. I did also like the creatures SanGiovanni introduced, like The Blue People and the various ice creatures. Mary SanGiovanni's writing was pretty sharp and I'm open to reading more from her. I just didn't particularly care for this book. Two out of five stars.
Yeah, it may have been a case of wrong book, wrong time, or the fact that I just finished [b:After the End of the World|33574101|After the End of the World|Jonathan L. Howard|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487464875s/33574101.jpg|54380539], a book with some similarities to this one, but I never really grabbed on to Chills.
The blurb describes this as "True Detective meets HP Lovecraft," which really sparked my interest. However, the only resemblance to True Detective is that the book features detectives investigating some cult murders and there's nothing particularly Lovecraftian about it other than talk of creatures from the void.
The setup is pretty interesting. An east coast town is gripped in an unusually long winter and the cops are called in to investigate a cult murder. You've got Jack Glazier, a down and out divorced cop, Teagan, an Irish lady's man, and Kathy, an occult expert with a tortured past. The winning ingredients are all there. It was pretty much paint by numbers after that.
Maybe I've read too many detective and horror novels but there weren't a lot of surprises. After the novelty of monsters made of snow and ice wore off, it was all pretty standard. Not only that, some parts got on my nerves. The romance subplot was annoying and unnecessary and the characters did some illogical things to add some jeopardy to the end.
One thing that annoyed me more than it should have was that everyone casually knew what an anglerfish was. People kept describing one of the creatures as resembling an anglerfish and no one had to ask what an anglerfish was. I knew what one was but I hardly think what an anglerfish looks like is common knowledge. For the record, it looks like this:
I realize that's a lot of bitching so I have to note that I didn't actually hate the book. Some parts were scary and I liked the concept of the Hand of Black Stars cult. Jack and Kathy had interesting backgrounds and I wouldn't mind reading more about them. I did also like the creatures SanGiovanni introduced, like The Blue People and the various ice creatures. Mary SanGiovanni's writing was pretty sharp and I'm open to reading more from her. I just didn't particularly care for this book. Two out of five stars.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
3.0
“True Detective” meets H.P. Lovecraft in this chilling novel of murder, mystery, and slow-mounting dread."
If that tagline hits all your buttons, then Chills promises to be a damned fine read. Personally, I would have liked a bit more Lovecraft and a little less True Detective, but I cannot complain about the murder or the dread. This is a monstrous tale with a serious body count in the opening chapters, and I loved that Mary SanGiovanni didn't tease the reader with her monsters - they're right there, on the page, and dripping with blood.
The concept here is fantastic, with a small town in Connecticut experiencing a freak, end-of-May snowstorm. We're not just talking cold and flurries here, we're talking state-of-emergency blizzard. What's more, there are monsters in the snow, tentacled, fanged, skittering creatures that stalk their prey and paint the cold, snowy landscape with their blood. As we soon discover, it's all the work of the Hand of the Black Stars, a cult intent on opening the doors to other realms, and inviting the old gods in.
There was a lot here to like. The atmosphere was perfect, the monsters were suitably grotesque, and the supernatural threat was legitimately fearsome. I liked the mystery behind it all too, along with the occult mythology. On the downside, the pacing was rather uneven, with too long of a lull in the center, and the characters were a challenge for me. They were serviceable, but it felt like the only ones with whom I formed any sort of emotional attachment were those about to die. An interesting book, full of more Chills than thrills, and a refreshingly original entry in the horror genre.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
If that tagline hits all your buttons, then Chills promises to be a damned fine read. Personally, I would have liked a bit more Lovecraft and a little less True Detective, but I cannot complain about the murder or the dread. This is a monstrous tale with a serious body count in the opening chapters, and I loved that Mary SanGiovanni didn't tease the reader with her monsters - they're right there, on the page, and dripping with blood.
The concept here is fantastic, with a small town in Connecticut experiencing a freak, end-of-May snowstorm. We're not just talking cold and flurries here, we're talking state-of-emergency blizzard. What's more, there are monsters in the snow, tentacled, fanged, skittering creatures that stalk their prey and paint the cold, snowy landscape with their blood. As we soon discover, it's all the work of the Hand of the Black Stars, a cult intent on opening the doors to other realms, and inviting the old gods in.
There was a lot here to like. The atmosphere was perfect, the monsters were suitably grotesque, and the supernatural threat was legitimately fearsome. I liked the mystery behind it all too, along with the occult mythology. On the downside, the pacing was rather uneven, with too long of a lull in the center, and the characters were a challenge for me. They were serviceable, but it felt like the only ones with whom I formed any sort of emotional attachment were those about to die. An interesting book, full of more Chills than thrills, and a refreshingly original entry in the horror genre.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.
vikingwolf's review against another edition
3.0
Instead of improving weather, the town of Colby is hit by a severe snowstorm that cuts communication and brings life to a standstill. Then come the murders that look like cult ritual killings followed by monsters in the snow that start to kill anyone on the street. As the police try to find out what is happening, more monsters start breaking into homes and killing more innocent people, while an ancient evil waits to enter this world to feed. The only way to stop it is to close the rift but can they do it in time?
I liked the characters in this book. Kathy is the occult expert and she fears that the cult her serial killer brother was in are responsible for the chaos. She needs to find out what he knows and find the right method to stop what the cult are trying to do. She also has to face her own demons concerning her brother, details that she has hidden from even the police officers that she works closely with. I liked her instantly and her dealings with her brother were like a creepy Clarice and Hannibal moment from The Silence Of The Lambs.
I liked Kathy's fledgling relationship with Teagan, which was based on attraction and respect for each other. I liked the way he never tried to take advantage of her when she was vulnerable, showing that he really cared for her as a person. He was charming, funny and sincere, with a bit of humour about him. The relationship doesn't go beyond an interest in each other as they have a ton of snow monsters to kill. Her brother Toby on the other hand is a creepy and disturbing guy with an unhealthy fixation on his sister. I'm not surprised she didn't want others to know about him but I'd have thought the police would've known her background before working with her.
The lead detective on the case is Jack, a divorced father, who is trying to do his job while fearing that his ex-wife and kids on the edge of town are in danger from the monsters. He is trying to solve the case but is being distracted by fears for his children, which is realistic under the circumstances. I also liked the capable rookie Morris, who is trying to prove himself on a very tough and dangerous case. The majority of the other characters are pretty much introduced to die in horrible ways so there is no need to go into deep back stories about them.
The monsters are pretty darn scary! We have The Blue People who were my favourites in the book. There are ice creatures coming out of the snow who seem to be variations of scorpions and spiders, which are a nightmare to even think about. It didn't seem like anyone was safe from these things plus we know that the evil things beyond the void are going to be even worse and bring about literal hell on Earth. Lovely! By contrast, the cult doesn't get much coverage, other than at the end. There is a discussion that Kathy has with a former cult member but it's full of occult talk and I honestly didn't much understand half of what was being said about the opening of doors and summons. That bit was kind of dull but it's only a few pages so it didn't slow the book down.
I did like the overall creepy vibe of a town under attack and every time a main character stepped outside I was nervous about them being attacked. There is a mood of fear and isolation hanging over the town that was full of menace and you never quite knew what was coming next. The book was well written and paced, and I enjoyed the horror elements. I was also pleased to see that the book doesn't drown in a ton of police procedure, only what the reader needs to know. I don't read crime novels as they overdose on every aspect of the investigation, rather than the actual plot.
I liked the characters a lot. I was planning to read on with the series but I see the next book moves away from Colby to another town with a problem, meaning we won't see the other characters that I liked. That's a shame and it does make me rethink whether to look at book two. But I did very much enjoy this one.
I liked the characters in this book. Kathy is the occult expert and she fears that the cult her serial killer brother was in are responsible for the chaos. She needs to find out what he knows and find the right method to stop what the cult are trying to do. She also has to face her own demons concerning her brother, details that she has hidden from even the police officers that she works closely with. I liked her instantly and her dealings with her brother were like a creepy Clarice and Hannibal moment from The Silence Of The Lambs.
I liked Kathy's fledgling relationship with Teagan, which was based on attraction and respect for each other. I liked the way he never tried to take advantage of her when she was vulnerable, showing that he really cared for her as a person. He was charming, funny and sincere, with a bit of humour about him. The relationship doesn't go beyond an interest in each other as they have a ton of snow monsters to kill. Her brother Toby on the other hand is a creepy and disturbing guy with an unhealthy fixation on his sister. I'm not surprised she didn't want others to know about him but I'd have thought the police would've known her background before working with her.
The lead detective on the case is Jack, a divorced father, who is trying to do his job while fearing that his ex-wife and kids on the edge of town are in danger from the monsters. He is trying to solve the case but is being distracted by fears for his children, which is realistic under the circumstances. I also liked the capable rookie Morris, who is trying to prove himself on a very tough and dangerous case. The majority of the other characters are pretty much introduced to die in horrible ways so there is no need to go into deep back stories about them.
The monsters are pretty darn scary! We have The Blue People who were my favourites in the book. There are ice creatures coming out of the snow who seem to be variations of scorpions and spiders, which are a nightmare to even think about. It didn't seem like anyone was safe from these things plus we know that the evil things beyond the void are going to be even worse and bring about literal hell on Earth. Lovely! By contrast, the cult doesn't get much coverage, other than at the end. There is a discussion that Kathy has with a former cult member but it's full of occult talk and I honestly didn't much understand half of what was being said about the opening of doors and summons. That bit was kind of dull but it's only a few pages so it didn't slow the book down.
I did like the overall creepy vibe of a town under attack and every time a main character stepped outside I was nervous about them being attacked. There is a mood of fear and isolation hanging over the town that was full of menace and you never quite knew what was coming next. The book was well written and paced, and I enjoyed the horror elements. I was also pleased to see that the book doesn't drown in a ton of police procedure, only what the reader needs to know. I don't read crime novels as they overdose on every aspect of the investigation, rather than the actual plot.
I liked the characters a lot. I was planning to read on with the series but I see the next book moves away from Colby to another town with a problem, meaning we won't see the other characters that I liked. That's a shame and it does make me rethink whether to look at book two. But I did very much enjoy this one.
jamiezaccaria's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cool story although it was a lot of mythology and suspension of disbelief crammed into a small book. I liked the atmosphere and the main characters though.
litwrite's review against another edition
3.0
I was really intrigued by the blurb that compared this to True Detective but besides the fact that this deals with detectives and cults there's very little to actually compare to the first season of that amazing TV show.
This was a serviceable, decent novel with interesting ideas, but I felt that it could have used a little more oomph. Cults are so enigmatic and interesting but less because of nefarious assholes and more because of charismatic leading men and esoteric goals and ideas, and I really felt like the cult in this book was lacking both.
I enjoyed the backstory of the main character more than the main plot and wished that there was a novel about that story rather than the one served here. A bit of a disappointment, just an OK read.
This was a serviceable, decent novel with interesting ideas, but I felt that it could have used a little more oomph. Cults are so enigmatic and interesting but less because of nefarious assholes and more because of charismatic leading men and esoteric goals and ideas, and I really felt like the cult in this book was lacking both.
I enjoyed the backstory of the main character more than the main plot and wished that there was a novel about that story rather than the one served here. A bit of a disappointment, just an OK read.
david_agranoff's review against another edition
3.0
“True Detective” meets H.P. Lovecraft in this chilling novel of murder, mystery, and slow-mounting dread." The description of this novel above sold me. I have enjoyed SanGiovanni in interviews on podcasts, and even though I had a couple copies of her books on my shelf for years I never got around to reading them. This was going to be the first one because I loved the tone suggested and the plot sounded interesting.
A freak late spring snowstorm hits as a detective tries to solve a bizarre murder. The first act of this book is a very intense slow burn cosmic horror piece. Each page develops serious dread. Honestly I could have handled another hundred pages of this.
One of the best most fascinating scenes was an interrogation between the lead character and her brother - a serial killer now in prison. This is where the True Detective comparisons come into play. Really it is one chapter. It was very tightly wound and I was hoping the novel would returned to it.
The deep and cosmic dread of the first half was everything I was looking for and the second half of the novel turns into something else that I feel gets into the territory of spoiler. Consider yourself warned. Chills is the third in a trilogy, a fact I didn't know this until I went to Good reads to post this review and had re-edit it. I am not sure if I am missing something, maybe the back story with the brother - not sure.
The best thing I can say about this one is I now want to read the novels that will for me be prequels. However I didn't enjoy the second half of the novel quite as much once it became a full on monster attack. SanGiovanni did such a wonderful job building the dread I wish the book had a longer second act focused on that part of the story and a shorter third act that dominated the novel's entire second half as is.
Am I glad I read Chills? Yes. For sure. I think horror fans will too, and I think many will disagree with me about the second half. I think you should decide for yourself. It is a cool book and deserves to be read and debated. SanGiovanni certainly knows how to write monsters. I am sold for sure and will read more SanGiovanni.
A freak late spring snowstorm hits as a detective tries to solve a bizarre murder. The first act of this book is a very intense slow burn cosmic horror piece. Each page develops serious dread. Honestly I could have handled another hundred pages of this.
One of the best most fascinating scenes was an interrogation between the lead character and her brother - a serial killer now in prison. This is where the True Detective comparisons come into play. Really it is one chapter. It was very tightly wound and I was hoping the novel would returned to it.
The deep and cosmic dread of the first half was everything I was looking for and the second half of the novel turns into something else that I feel gets into the territory of spoiler. Consider yourself warned. Chills is the third in a trilogy, a fact I didn't know this until I went to Good reads to post this review and had re-edit it. I am not sure if I am missing something, maybe the back story with the brother - not sure.
The best thing I can say about this one is I now want to read the novels that will for me be prequels. However I didn't enjoy the second half of the novel quite as much once it became a full on monster attack. SanGiovanni did such a wonderful job building the dread I wish the book had a longer second act focused on that part of the story and a shorter third act that dominated the novel's entire second half as is.
Am I glad I read Chills? Yes. For sure. I think horror fans will too, and I think many will disagree with me about the second half. I think you should decide for yourself. It is a cool book and deserves to be read and debated. SanGiovanni certainly knows how to write monsters. I am sold for sure and will read more SanGiovanni.
pbanditp's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good story, I really liked the Kathy character and wish she was in the book more. I found the creatures to be interesting but confusing and the ending was fun with the cultish involvement.
aly36's review against another edition
5.0
Ghosts and scary and everything I love! This book was a great horror book for me. I enjoyed it. It did in fact give me chills at some points in the book. I believe this book a great plot and characters. It took me where I wanted and kept me reading until the end. * I received this book from NetGalley--This is my honest review*
tchristman's review against another edition
2.0
I feel like with this plot I should’ve loved it. Cult members, apocalyptic weather. But instead it was kind of cliché and boring.
carleneinspired's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 STARS
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Colby detectives are on the scene of a gruesome death, made more alarming by unseasonably cold weather and the rapid snowfall blanketing the town. There's whispers of cult connections and as the snow piles up, so too do the bodies. Even detective Jack Glazier must acknowledge that something is not right in the small town and his entire force, as well as a cult professional, are on the case. The cult worships something far darker than Jack can imagine though and the haunting things they begin to do to the residents of Colby will terrify anyone.
Action-packed and gory, Chills is a bizarre horror novel with both occult and supernatural creatures present. I struggled to connect with the characters, but despite that I couldn't walk away from the terrifying story Mary SanGiovanni presented. The snow, cold weather, and increasingly awful deaths serve to create a truly chilling setting. I felt like I was there, freezing cold, cut off from the world, and terrified for my life. The cult practices, explained so well by the character of Kathy, made it even more haunting. I think horror fans will find themselves enjoying the fast-paced story, it's unique monsters and build up a true treat.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Colby detectives are on the scene of a gruesome death, made more alarming by unseasonably cold weather and the rapid snowfall blanketing the town. There's whispers of cult connections and as the snow piles up, so too do the bodies. Even detective Jack Glazier must acknowledge that something is not right in the small town and his entire force, as well as a cult professional, are on the case. The cult worships something far darker than Jack can imagine though and the haunting things they begin to do to the residents of Colby will terrify anyone.
Action-packed and gory, Chills is a bizarre horror novel with both occult and supernatural creatures present. I struggled to connect with the characters, but despite that I couldn't walk away from the terrifying story Mary SanGiovanni presented. The snow, cold weather, and increasingly awful deaths serve to create a truly chilling setting. I felt like I was there, freezing cold, cut off from the world, and terrified for my life. The cult practices, explained so well by the character of Kathy, made it even more haunting. I think horror fans will find themselves enjoying the fast-paced story, it's unique monsters and build up a true treat.