Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
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I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
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The Thing In The Lake
by Conor Metz
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Genre: Horror
MY REVIEW
Creature features are among my favorites, whether movies or books. Especially books as you get inside character’s heads and found out what motivates them.
In this creepy story, you get a creature in a lake, a genetic experiment gone horribly wrong. Take a long look at the cover. Yep, horribly wrong. You also get some cool characters. And it doesn’t take long for the thing to make it’s presence known. Who survives? Does anybody? And what of the creature?
This was fun. Got what I was hoping for and then some.
4 STARS
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Synopsis
What would happen if you and your friends fought a real-life monster?Find out in this action-packed thriller that’s The Creature from the Black Lagoon meets The Goonies.
Billy McGregor just wants to enjoy his summer before high school, but a creature lurks within his lake and seems to be picking off the residents one at a time. As a horror-buff, he’s quick to pick up on this and with nobody else seeming to notice, it’s up to him and his friends to take matters into their own hands.But they aren’t the only ones after the creature.A local cop realizes the several deaths are linked and an organization called SID is trying to cover it up. They have their own plans for the creature, but if they don’t capture it quickly, things could spiral out of control due to a potential for infection. A single bite or scratch will turn any person it injures into another one of its kind.It’s a race for who can deal with the creature first, but will any of them be successful against a genetically engineered killing machine?
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
.
.
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
Skitter
The Hatching #2
by Ezekiel Boone
Genre: Horror
My Review
I really enjoyed The Hatching so it was a no brainer to continue with the series.
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. The spiders have died. Could it be over? Is it time to rebuild and get back to life as they know it? Not so fast.
Scientists and experts have been studying the spiders and the egg sacs discovered hidden across the planet. They find some horrifying indications that the worst is yet to come. When it all starts falling apart again it’s every man for themselves as countries are devastated and drastic measures are taken to contain the threat.
I was super excited for this book. I met some great characters that survived the first book and wanted to know what would happen to them. One group in particular, hiding in a luxury fall out shelter, were among my favorites. I could almost see them and had to laugh at some of things they said and did. And they had a dog too. Always love the furry companions. And worrying if it would be eaten by spiders sure added to my worries about the stories outcome.
Even though the book had me jumping from one place to the next and one scenario to the next, it wasn’t hard to follow and I enjoyed the scientific parts. The only thing lacking was spiders. I wish there were more attacks. Sure, there were some, but I missed the endless hordes of spiders creeping and crawling, unstoppable and hungry.
I didn’t realize the series didn’t end with Skitter. There’s an ending of sorts but lots more to be told. I’ll be waiting for what comes next.
4 STARS
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Synopsis
Tens of millions of people around the world are dead. Half of China is a nuclear wasteland. Mysterious flesh-eating spiders are marching through Los Angeles, Oslo, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, and countless other cities. According to scientist Melanie Guyer, however, the spider situation seems to be looking up. Yet in Japan, a giant, truck-sized, glowing egg sack gives a shocking preview of what is to come, even as survivors in Los Angeles panic and break the quarantine zone. Out in the desert, survivalists Gordo and Shotgun are trying to invent a spider super weapon, but it’s not clear if it’s too late, because President Stephanie Pilgrim has been forced to enact the plan of last resort: The Spanish Protocol. America, you are on your own.
Dr. Emily Hartford is back in Frozen Lives, the next thrilling mystery from Jennifer Graeser Dornbush.
Chicago surgeon Emily Hartford has never quite shaken off the dust of her hometown in Michigan. She may be a professional success and have a princely boyfriend in the Windy City, but she can’t seem to let go of being “the coroner’s daughter” from Freeport. Once again, she finds herself pulled back upstate during a wintery late March when Jeremiah, the eleven year-old son of her best friend, Jo, goes missing on the frigid shores of Lake Michigan. Emily immediately joins the search for the boy. To everyone’s relief, Jeremiah turns up days later, alive and unharmed. But tensions remain high, and suspicions of every sort continue to grow. Jeremiah’s account of his abduction doesn’t add up and Emily worries about Jo’s unraveling marriage. Jeremiah’s recovery, it turns out, is not the end of their terrifying tale. It’s only the beginning … For moving among them is a devious, malevolent force. Sowing panic while seeking to fulfill his own twisted needs, this wolf in sheep’s clothing leaves a trail of rack and ruin, negligent to the damages in his wake … and the bodies he leaves behind. Emily solidifies her role as coroner’s daughter when she puzzles out this madman’s chilling machinations. Risking everything dear to her, Emily goes the icy distance to end his killing spree.
Praise for Frozen Lives:
“Fast paced, engaging, evocative.” ~ J.A. Jance “FROZEN LIVES is what a thriller should be—dark, twisty, and oh so scary. Lock your doors and enjoy.” ~ DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series and co-creator of the Outliers Writing University “Jennifer Dornbush scares the living hell out of me. When I want to stay up all night, I just read one of her books, and Frozen Lives doesn’t disappoint. On par with Dennis Lehane’s Mystic River, Frozen Lives weaves a terrifying tale of evil, paranoia and when you go to bed at night make sure your doors are locked tight. A terrific story.” ~ Don Bruns, USA Today Best Selling Author “Chilling! Jennifer Dornbush has crafted a thriller that haunts the mind and can keep you deep in the pages into the wee hours! A not to miss psychological mystery with twists and turns throughout.” ~ Heather Graham
Book Details:
Genre: thriller, suspense, female detective
Published by: Blackstone Publishing Publication Date: October 29, 2024 Number of Pages: 350 ISBN: 9798212638364 Series: The Coroner’s Daughter Mysteries, 4
I read the exciting synopsis for Frozen Lives and knew I had to read it. The story takes place in Michigan and I was born there. Got me curious.
Emily dropped everything and rushed to the icy shores of Lake Michigan upon learning her best friends young son had disappeared. Miraculously, he reappeared days later with a story that didn’t compute. Thus the mystery deepened. And the closer Emily got to the truth, the most dangerous things became.
When the opening scene grips me, I get excited, cross my fingers and toes and hope the rest of the book is just as gripping. And it was. The author had me coming and going, with no solid idea of the who, what and why. And the characters were genuine. Not perfect, just human beings.
And the villain of the story. It doesn’t have to be a creature or something supernatural to make you fear the dark.
As I got closer to the end, I hoped the author would make it a killer one. Done deal!
4 STARS
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Enjoy this peek inside:
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About Author Jennifer Graeser Dornbush:
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The television or movie screen is the closest most people will ever come to witnessing the forensic world. But Jennifer Dornbush was raised in it. As the daughter of a small-town medical examiner whose office was in their home. There were body parts in the fridge. She investigated her first fatality, an airplane crash, when she was 8 years old. Picking up pieces of skull with her father who simply saw it as an anatomy lesson. The first of many coroner lessons she experienced over two decades. After exploring journalism and high school teaching, Jennifer turned seriously to screenwriting where she began to connect her coroner world to her writing. She sought out a degree at the Forensic Science Academy in Los Angeles to gain more forensic training and earned a unique kinship with LA’s top CSIs, fingerprint specialists, DNA scientists, and detectives. To share her love of forensics with the writing world, she authored the top selling non-fiction authoritative book, Forensic Speak, used by not only by show-runners and writers, but also crime investigators and law enforcement. She created an Amazon top selling mystery novel series, The Coroner’s Daughter, which she is currently developing as a series for TV. Her crime thriller, Hole in the Woods, is currently optioned for screen. She is a contributor to mystery anthologies, Hotel California and Thriller. She has also penned two true crime books. As a screenwriter Jennifer wrote the theatrically released film and novel, God Bless the Broken Road (2018), adapted a popular YA novel to script, and sold a children’s show. She is currently developing TV drama series and feature films with various productions companies. As a forensic consultant, she is frequently asked to consult with TV writers on shows such as: Bull, Conviction, Hawaii Five-O, Leverage, Suits, and Rectify. She teaches screenwriting and mentors aspiring writers. Jennifer is a member of the Writers’ Guild of America, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers Association, & the FBI Citizen’s Academy Alumni.
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This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Jennifer Graeser Dornbush and Blackstone Publishing. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
.
.
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
Animal Kingdom
by Ian Rob Wright
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Genre: Horror
MY REVIEW
I’ve read several of Iain’s books and have more on my Kindle waiting for me. This is one of my favorites.
It was supposed to be a special day. Since the divorce, Danny really missed his dad and had ants in his pants when he found out Joe was taking him to the zoo. Joe was just glad to have his son with him. It didn’t matter what they did but he knew Danny would love the animals.
Everything is great until the reptile show starts. The handler has a giant boa constrictor wrapped around his body. While he tells the gathering crowd about the snake it suddenly begins to wrap its thick coils around his neck, constricting and crushing the man. Joe does his best to help him, but the snake is too strong and time runs out for the handler.
The crowd panics and runs in all directions, horrified by the grotesque killing. As Joe grabs Danny and rushes to get help, he notices people are screaming and running from all directions. They couldn’t all have been at the exhibit. Then all of the animals start making a racket. Something bad is happening elsewhere in the zoo.
Deciding to get inside, away from whatever is occurring, Joe ducks into the new visitor’s center. Most people were running for the exits, but Joe had to get Danny to safety quickly. There were several people inside, along with the zoo’s curator. The curators protestations that an animal attack couldn’t be happening are cut short. When Joe turns to see what he’s looking at, he can’t believe what he’s seeing. There in the doorway are four massive lions, snarling and revealing their thick fangs, dripping with blood.
This is where the story really cranks up. The animals, for some unknown reason, have gained intelligence and have turned on mankind. From the lowly spiders to the gigantic elephants, they all want everyone dead.
The diverse group of people trapped in the visitor’s center are safe for the moment, or so they think. The animals won’t be denied, and find ways to get in. How the individual characters react to this is very interesting. As you’d expect, there are the one or two bad apples that think their way is the only way, you have an older woman spouting prophecy, a young girl without her medication, Joe, whose main concern is his son Danny, the curator, not much help there, and an older man with some fight in him. It’s up to them to work together. Otherwise, no one will get out of this alive.
Except that the story takes place in a zoo with animals from all over the world, it reminded of a book I read years ago. I also watched the movie and really enjoyed both. It was Day of the Animals.
The author gave me the same sense of dread and gut-wrenching fear with Animal Kingdom. You just knew people were going to die and die horribly. The animals are too many to fight off.
Reading scenes about the group dynamics was very real. People react differently when their lives are at stake. Some step up, some cower, and some act like blustering buffoons. I can’t figure out why some people can’t see past their own arrogance, or should I say ignorance.
This is a book about a war we may not be able to win. About surviving minute by minute and always looking for the way out.
At the end of the book there are some short Bonus stories. They all tie into the Animal Kingdom book and the one by Eric. S. Brown, Night of the Squirrels, is very interesting!
5 STARS
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Synopsis
WELCOME TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN!
Aside from being freakishly tall, Joe is just an ordinary divorcee taking his son, Danny, to the zoo for his weekend of custody. Everything is going great until a bizarre snake attack sends everybody in the zoo running for cover. It isn’t long before Joe realizes that there is a lot more going on than a simple snake attack. And if the hungry lions, roaring gorillas and charging elephants now free from their cages have anything to say about it, there is more bloodshed to come. All of the world’s animals are attacking, and no one knows why. What they do know is that man is now on the bottom of the food chain.
FEATURES BONUS MATERIAL THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM UNIVERSE: 7 Short stories by Iain Rob Wright and Eric S. Brown
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
.
.
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
Claw
Claw #1
by Katie Berry
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Genre: Horror
MY REVIEW
A creature from the past….. ooh, can’t wait to find out what it is. Or they are.
I love a good creature story. The meaner, the better. And especially if the weather and small town setting play a part in survival.
Lawless, British Columbia. A small town shrouded in fog. Something’s in the fog. Old, cunning and oh so hungry. Christine Moon, a conservation officer, is tasked with sorting things out. People are dying and disappearing. Where will the creature strike next?
This was fun. A bit wordy on descriptions, but the characters were interesting and the creature didn’t disappoint. Wait until you find out what it is.
3 STARS
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Synopsis
Lawless, British Columbia is on edge after a powerful earthquake jolts the region, quickly followed by a string of savage animal attacks. Newly stationed to the area after her predecessor mysteriously disappears, Conservation Officer Christine Moon needs to calm the jangled nerves of the small mountain town.
Awakened from ancient slumber, something stalks the swirling, grey mists that surround Lawless. A beast with a gnawing hunger that grows stronger by the minute — its only thought, to satisfy its ravenous appetite.
Rampant corruption at the highest level has targeted Christine to be the next mysterious disappearance. Now, she’s in a fight for her life while trying to track and contain the creature threatening to decimate the local population.
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
.
.
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
Sam
by Lisa McCourt Hollar
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Genre: Horror
MY REVIEW
I grabbed this on a whim after reading the synopsis. A goldfish dies. A boy wants him back. A woman casts a spell. Voila. Sam the goldfish is swimming around in his tank again.
Wait for it…. Sam isn’t the friendly little goldfish anymore. He’s got a strange new hunger.
At only about 17 pages there’s not much I can say without spoiling it for you. I don’t think I could look at a pretty goldfish the same anymore. Creepy good fun.
4 STARS
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Synopsis
Sam is dead. Tommy, his best friend, wants him back. Sam might only be a goldfish, but he is the only friend the neglected boy has. When Mama Tasha casts a spell to bring Sam back to life, things get a little strange and Sam develops a decidedly, un-fishlike appetite.
From the award-winning author of the ANNALISSE MYSTERY SERIES.
THE VISIT THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING. Celebrity chef Laura Harris dwells on the horror of finding her mentor’s body in the groundskeeper’s disheveled bed—pillow and bedding half covering her open eyes—purple bruising around her mouth. A grisly snapshot in time revealing the Texas woman’s last moments during her attack. The elderly matriarch from the small town of Stenburg has left the physical world, and Laura is shattered. She is catapulted headlong into the pursuit of a casual executioner, one bold enough to come and go from the crime scene with ease, dropping bizarre crumb trails designed to mock the deceased. But Laura herself doesn’t go unnoticed. As she digs deeper, she is followed and bombarded by warnings to leave the state. When the victim’s attorney informs Laura that she’s to inherit the entire Stenburg fortune, the last act of kindness has made Laura the main person of interest in the investigation. Message by message, Laura is methodically taunted by someone so deranged and driven they’ll do whatever it takes to dislodge Laura from Texas – permanently.
Book Details:
Genre: Amateur Sleuth/Mystery/Cozy Mystery
Published by: Ewephoric Publishing Publication Date: October 1, 2024 Number of Pages: 368 ISBN: 979-8-9863409-6-8
I do like my mysteries and the author had me coming and going, at a loss as to the who or why in this one.
I like a strong female protagonist and Laura fits the bill. She has a protective instinct along with some stubbornness. When she visits her mentor and friend, elderly Hattie, she notices something’s off. She seems so frail. She knows something is very wrong when she discovers Hattie dead. What killed her? Why was she in the grounds keeper’s house? These are some of the questions she asks herself and she smells a rat.
I mentioned the author was adept at keeping me guessing. There were plenty of false trails and suspects. I’d love to say I had it all figured out. Not the case and I enjoyed how it all wrapped up.
4 STARS
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Enjoy this peek inside:
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About Author Marlene M. Bell:
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Marlene M. Bell has never met a sheep she didn’t like. As a personal touch for her readers, they often find these wooly creatures visiting her international romantic mysteries and children’s books as characters or subject matter. Marlene is an accomplished artist and photographer who takes pride in entertaining fans on multiple levels of her creativity. Marlene’s award-winning Annalisse series boasts Best Mystery honors for all installments including these: IP Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, Global Award Best Mystery, and Chanticleer’s International Mystery and Mayhem shortlist for Copper Waters, the fourth mystery in the series. She offers her children’s picture book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! written primarily for younger kids based on true events from the Bell’s East Texas sheep ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of belonging and unconditional love between a little girl and her lamb.
Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway! Click here to view the Tour Schedule
Win Big! Enter Now for Your Chance to Win!
This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Marlene M. Bell. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
.
.
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
Horrorstor
by Grady Hendrix
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Genre: Horror
MY REVIEW
As I work in a huge retail store and work lots of night shifts, it was a no brainer that I would read this book. I also knew I had to have a physical copy and it sure added to the fun and creepiness. A glossy cover with chilling images captured in the frames promised scary fun. I loved how the book was designed like a catalog, the start of each chapter offering an advertisement for goods sold in the store. As the story plays out the ads get more and more ominous.
Some people may not enjoy the slow start as it’s all about the store, how it works, and the employees who work at Orsk. I’ve always liked that. I like to envision the location and picture the characters. One or two in this story were very similar to people I work with. At my job, I’m often staying past closing and it gets really creepy without people around and noises seem to come from nowhere. I felt that when Amy and her coworkers stayed after closing to try to catch whoever had been damaging and moving products around after hours. Gave me the heebie jeebies. Once things started happening, it got more and more creepy and I ate it up.
4 STARS
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Synopsis
Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring bookshelves, shattered Glans water goblets, and smashed Liripip wardrobes. Sales are down, security cameras reveal nothing, and store managers are panicking.
To unravel the mystery, three employees volunteer to work a nine-hour dusk-till-dawn shift. In the dead of the night, they’ll patrol the empty showroom floor, investigate strange sights and sounds, and encounter horrors that defy the imagination.
A traditional haunted house story in a thoroughly contemporary setting, Horrorstör comes packaged in the form of a glossy mail order catalog, complete with product illustrations, a home delivery order form, and a map of Orsk’s labyrinthine showroom.
Designed by Andie Reid, cover photography by Christine Ferrara
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
.
.
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
Let Me In
by Samuel Small
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Genre: Horror / Short Story
MY REVIEW
This is a very short story. Around 18 pages on my Kindle. On Goodreads, there is no description so I’m going to share my review that way too.
Short stories are like a box of chocolates. You know…. you never know what you’re gonna get. This little gem packed a lot of scary good stuff in it. Quick and to the point. No frills and quite the ending.
4 STARS
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Click on the covers for more Thrills And Chills reviews.
Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!
.
.
I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!
~~~~~
The Boyfriend
by R.L. Stine
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Genre: Horror / YA
MY REVIEW
I don’t have to like a main character to enjoy a book. That’s good because I loathed Joanna. She was mean and narcissistic to the nth.
The plot was kind of predictable. Then it wasn’t. Joanna dumped her boyfriend. He died. But he came back. I wondered why. Things got pretty far out after that. I didn’t no whether to knock some heads together or laugh.
Bravo Mr. Stine. You took this to a whole new level. Never saw it coming.
4 STARS
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Synopsis
Sometimes, love is murder.
Too bad about Dex. He was in love with Joanna. She broke up with him. And then he died.
Joanna’s sorry, of course. But it’s not her fault he’s dead, is it? Besides, she never loved him. Boys are just toys, to be used and thrown away.
But this time, Joanna’s gone too far. Because Dex is back. From the dead. For one last date with her….
