Scan barcode
matasatan's review against another edition
1.0
Så ledsen å besviken. Allt var för mkt testosteron och larvigt. Älskar annars Janz böcker men den här gick inte hem hos mig :(
bobmetal's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
read_nap_repeat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
the_enobee's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars for this crazed cult accidentally crossed by everyday folks thriller. Lots of action and some good dialogue. Especially loved the friendship that develops between Copeland and Joe. I felt the motivation of Joe and the various cult members was questionable or illogical, which did detract overall from the story for me. However, this is an easy recommendation to anyone looking for a good scary cult read.
theduchess93's review against another edition
1.0
At first I thought Janz was trying to make his protag unlikeable by making him a typical straight white dude. Nope! That's just what he thinks is unironically heroic. Gross. I did manage to finish it and the ending certainly did disappoint.
arcanumxiii's review against another edition
2.0
I'm disappointed. Mr Janz is quite often very trash, but at least there's an attempt to reach to something else. Here, the start is quite interesting, and I love the raising tension thru the book. Sadly, the last (and somewhat biggest) part is only over the top graphical violence.
I can see the influence of Graham Masterton — the despair, the violence, the search for something refreshing, but well, that's too much for me.
In summary: if you want violence, and mostly that, go for it. Otherwise... there's other authors.
I can see the influence of Graham Masterton — the despair, the violence, the search for something refreshing, but well, that's too much for me.
In summary: if you want violence, and mostly that, go for it. Otherwise... there's other authors.
zooloo1983's review against another edition
5.0
In The Siren and the Specter, he scared the bejeezus out of me with the paranormal. In The Sorrows, he sent me to crazy town with the past and gore. In Old Order, he touches so very briefly on a cult, it is the baby book, the build-up to The Nightmare Girl, well this was just a little bit of everything with so much more horrifying actions with a cult.
Firstly, I have to say that this book does not disappoint, it does not relent and it is not for the faint-hearted! Even after I read the last line on the last page do I still feel like this book has not let go of me, nor Joe. I mean by jove! If anything this book has just shown me that no good deed goes unpunished and whether I should stop and help in the first place!
Joe, with his family, filling up his car in a petrol station, witnessing a young mother smacking her child, but not the light tap on the bottom, no properly beating this poor defenceless child. Like every book of Mr Janz’, crazy town begins and you just can not work out who you can and can not trust, the best thing to do just don’t trust anyone! Everyone is just batshit crazy! Especially the Waltz family!
Sharon, the Grandmother/Mother, Angie, the child/Mother were just absolutely mental, all part of a dark and vicious cult. All Joe innocently wants to do is protect Little Stevie from the pair of them, but the s***t hits the fan, or a gasoline bottle over someone’s head and I was biting my finger in absolute horror. The cult does not feature heavily in the story until near the end, instead, it is the haunting and stalking of the family instead that takes centre stage, with a lot of insinuation which is more foreboding at times.
This book was intense with no relief, I was constantly waiting for the next thing to happen, from ashes being thrown in the garden, hallucinations, a blacked out chapel all truly terrifying events. I read this in the car, my daughter wanting me to cover the book cover (and rightly so, I mean have you seen anything so menacing!) and the faces I was pulling through fear, revulsion and terror made the boy laugh. I am sure OMFG left my mouth a few times, in a whisper of course! Where three-quarters of the book is poodling along in third gear, driven by the characters, the gear is suddenly changed to fifth gear and we are in the fast lane to the ultimate crazy town and a whole lot of heart in throat action.
I loved Joe, here is a character who tries to do the right thing by his wife and Chief Copeland every time. A contractor who finds in the last few months that he is being outbid on work when he comes up trumps when the Baxter house next door is sold and the new owners want him to do the renovations. Each time events happen, he (eventually) speaks to his wife and said some douche things but this just proved he was a normal man, wanting to do right by his family and protect them at all costs.
This book is not overly scary, but it is violent and it is dark and bloody terrifying! The shadows in the night just got darker, the laughter just got menacing and the new neighbours next door, well I want to tighten that bolt a bit more across my door! This book set my teeth on edge and as agreed with Sara (Not Another Book Blogger) we expect nothing less when we read something by Janz! It is another page turner for sure!
For me, a light relief in the book was Joe and Darrell’s relationship. The banter they have and the bromance that ensues is such a strong beacon of light in this dark and menacing tale. Trust me you need them! You need this!
I have said that 2019 is the year I am going to get all Jonathan Janz’ books and I mean it! He is by far my favourite horror author, damn this man knows how to write! It is like he knows what fears you have and he completely plays to his strengths by writing them and twisting it all around on you.
Firstly, I have to say that this book does not disappoint, it does not relent and it is not for the faint-hearted! Even after I read the last line on the last page do I still feel like this book has not let go of me, nor Joe. I mean by jove! If anything this book has just shown me that no good deed goes unpunished and whether I should stop and help in the first place!
Joe, with his family, filling up his car in a petrol station, witnessing a young mother smacking her child, but not the light tap on the bottom, no properly beating this poor defenceless child. Like every book of Mr Janz’, crazy town begins and you just can not work out who you can and can not trust, the best thing to do just don’t trust anyone! Everyone is just batshit crazy! Especially the Waltz family!
Sharon, the Grandmother/Mother, Angie, the child/Mother were just absolutely mental, all part of a dark and vicious cult. All Joe innocently wants to do is protect Little Stevie from the pair of them, but the s***t hits the fan, or a gasoline bottle over someone’s head and I was biting my finger in absolute horror. The cult does not feature heavily in the story until near the end, instead, it is the haunting and stalking of the family instead that takes centre stage, with a lot of insinuation which is more foreboding at times.
This book was intense with no relief, I was constantly waiting for the next thing to happen, from ashes being thrown in the garden, hallucinations, a blacked out chapel all truly terrifying events. I read this in the car, my daughter wanting me to cover the book cover (and rightly so, I mean have you seen anything so menacing!) and the faces I was pulling through fear, revulsion and terror made the boy laugh. I am sure OMFG left my mouth a few times, in a whisper of course! Where three-quarters of the book is poodling along in third gear, driven by the characters, the gear is suddenly changed to fifth gear and we are in the fast lane to the ultimate crazy town and a whole lot of heart in throat action.
I loved Joe, here is a character who tries to do the right thing by his wife and Chief Copeland every time. A contractor who finds in the last few months that he is being outbid on work when he comes up trumps when the Baxter house next door is sold and the new owners want him to do the renovations. Each time events happen, he (eventually) speaks to his wife and said some douche things but this just proved he was a normal man, wanting to do right by his family and protect them at all costs.
This book is not overly scary, but it is violent and it is dark and bloody terrifying! The shadows in the night just got darker, the laughter just got menacing and the new neighbours next door, well I want to tighten that bolt a bit more across my door! This book set my teeth on edge and as agreed with Sara (Not Another Book Blogger) we expect nothing less when we read something by Janz! It is another page turner for sure!
For me, a light relief in the book was Joe and Darrell’s relationship. The banter they have and the bromance that ensues is such a strong beacon of light in this dark and menacing tale. Trust me you need them! You need this!
I have said that 2019 is the year I am going to get all Jonathan Janz’ books and I mean it! He is by far my favourite horror author, damn this man knows how to write! It is like he knows what fears you have and he completely plays to his strengths by writing them and twisting it all around on you.
reads_vicariously's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, this is only my second favorite book by Janz and I can already tell he’s going to be one of my favorites. He has such a clear, vivid, and easy writing style. Plenty of tension, scares, gruesome violence, and humor. If there were any deficits I blew right past them because I was having so much fun!!
The story immediately throws you immediately into the inciting incident and the craziness just continues to build from there. Basically our protagonist Joe stops a lady from beating her small child at a gas station. Said lady stalks him and eventually commits an act of self-immolation. Unfortunately for Joe she was tied up in a deadly fire cult, and now they have their sights on Joe and his family for their next “ceremony”.
The story is perfectly paced, with plenty of tense and creepy moments. The scene in the Black Chapel had me biting my nails. And it all leads up to an explosively violent and terrifying climax. Like seriously violent. Dismembering, maiming, bloody mayhem. Does it fit the tone of the rest of the book? I don’t really care, because it’s AWESOME.
Also the characters are fabulous. Joe is the father and husband I aspire to be, and his playful banter/budding friendship with the police chief is great. His wife Michelle is pretty awesome as well. And the rest of the cast sucks because pretty much everyone is a part of this freaky cult
The story immediately throws you immediately into the inciting incident and the craziness just continues to build from there. Basically our protagonist Joe stops a lady from beating her small child at a gas station. Said lady stalks him and eventually commits an act of self-immolation. Unfortunately for Joe she was tied up in a deadly fire cult, and now they have their sights on Joe and his family for their next “ceremony”.
The story is perfectly paced, with plenty of tense and creepy moments. The scene in the Black Chapel had me biting my nails. And it all leads up to an explosively violent and terrifying climax. Like seriously violent. Dismembering, maiming, bloody mayhem. Does it fit the tone of the rest of the book? I don’t really care, because it’s AWESOME.
Also the characters are fabulous. Joe is the father and husband I aspire to be, and his playful banter/budding friendship with the police chief is great. His wife Michelle is pretty awesome as well. And the rest of the cast sucks because pretty much everyone is a part of this freaky cult
i_blamebookit's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mypantsaretight's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5