Welcome to my Monday Minis where I share shorter reviews of books I’ve read.
Today I’ve got a couple of bloody fun ones!
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Into The Mist
by Lee Murray
Genre: Horror
My Review
A hot, steamy jungle. people with their own agenda’s, and something big and ravenous stalking them. Sure does sound fun. And it was.
The author’s descriptions immediately put me in the jungle with the character’s. All of them have to deal with the harsh environment. But, that’s not the only problem. Something huge, primordial stalks all of them, and it’s right at home in the jungle. Perfect camouflage until it strikes, leaving not much more than blood splatters to show someone was ever there.
I’m always looking for stories where the character’s have to struggle against the environment as much as the creature stalking them. And I liked the mythical aspect when the local legend comes into play. Made for a deeper, more thrilling reading experience for me.
This would be great to see on the big screen. I’d have to buy the DVD. It’s a keeper.
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Synopsis
“Cinematic and evocative, Into the Mist is a tension-packed expedition into primordial terror.
Murray’s writing had me feeling the damp of the forest, seeing the mist curling through the fern fronds, and sensing the danger lurking there.
Ancient myths, military men and scientists placed in remote, primordial locations – it had all the right ingredients for me, and it didn’t disappoint for a moment.
Lee Murray is an author to watch.”
– Greig Beck, best-selling author of the Arcadian series
When NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his squad are tasked with escorting a bunch of civilian contractors into Te Urewera National Park, it seems a strange job for the army.
Militant Tūhoe separatists are active in the area, and with its cloying mist and steep ravines, the forest is a treacherous place in winter.
Yet nothing has prepared Taine for the true danger that awaits them. Death incarnate.
They backtrack toward civilization, stalked by a prehistoric creature intent on picking them off one by one. With their weapons ineffective, the babysitting job has become a race for survival.
Desperate to bring his charges out alive, Taine draws on ancient tribal wisdom. Will it be enough to stop the nightmare? And when the mist clears, will anyone be left?
“Creepy and addictive, Into the Mist is an irresistible tapestry of military action, dark myths, and an ancient and terrifying horror. A must read for speculative fiction fans.”
– Matthew Summers (Smashdragons)
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Manifest Recall
by Alan Baxter
Genre: Supernatural / Crime Thriller
My Review
I’m going to compare my reading experience to a horse race, as that’s how it felt to me. The horses are loaded into the starting gate. The excitement and uncertainty build. Then the gates open and the story thunders down the track, galloping to an explosive, bloody ending.
Loading the gate: Eli comes back to awareness behind the wheel of a car, a girl in the seat beside him. At least she’s not in the trunk anymore.
In the gate: As Eli untangles his memories of horrific events he also has to deal with some dead men. Ghosts seem to be haunting him and they could be a hindrance or his downfall.
I like when the author presents a bad guy and I end up pulling for him. Eli is a hitman and has killed plenty of men. But I couldn’t help but hope he would win the day.
The gate opens: It’s a mad dash with some bloody, pulse pounding scenes that reminded me of the final showdown from the movie The Roadhouse with Patrick Swayze.
The finish line: A blue ribbon ending.
Did I enjoy this book. Oh, yeah! Would I recommend it? Very much!
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Synopsis
A SUPERNATURAL CRIME THRILLER FROM THE AWARD-WINNING MASTER OF DARK FANTASY
Following a psychotic break, Eli Carver finds himself on the run, behind the wheel of a car that’s not his own, and in the company of a terrified woman he doesn’t know. As layers of ugly truth are peeled back and dark secrets are revealed, the duo find themselves in a struggle for survival when they unravel a mystery that pits them against the most dangerous forces in their lives.
A contemporary southern gothic thriller with frightening supernatural overtones, Alan Baxter’s Manifest Recall explores the tragic life of a hitman who finds himself on the wrong side of his criminal syndicate. Baxter’s adrenaline-fueled approach to storytelling draws readers into Eli Carver’s downward spiral of psychosis and through the darkest realms of lost memories, human guilt and the insurmountable quest for personal redemption.
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You can find a list of my reviews HERE.
