Crystal Holdefer

Huh

Revisado: 11-09-23

I’m a huge fan of the author, so I was excited for this, but it really wasn’t what I expected. Like others have said, it feels like 2 different stories that are vastly different. Also the second storyline with the homophobes got really uncomfortable and extreme to the point of hopelessness.

Though I will give the author credit for how these scenes were written. The language makes it easier to stomach than a more visceral description and the scenes don’t go for too long like some of the retellings of true crimes that I’ve read. I also appreciated the ending because otherwise this book would have been really sad.

Overall, unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. I appreciate the author’s ability to push the envelope, but the story felt incredibly disjointed and the very different tones bothered me.

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Horrifying True Tale

Revisado: 10-27-23

This was a really tough listen knowing it’s all true. The most aggravating thing is how Shelly said she did nothing wrong and couldn’t understand why she was going to jail. She killed 3 (possibly 4) people and subjected her daughters to endless physical and mental torture. It’s horrifying that these types of people exist.

This book was incredibly well written. Though the details were hard to hear at times, the mix of storytelling and interviews made the story flow incredibly well, and I was relieved we got a few breaks in between the abuse to breathe a little.

The author did a great job painting the monster that Shelly is and not glorifying a single thing she did or said. As the reader, you feel horror and dread just imagining what terrible ‘punishment’ Shelly will come up will, feel immensely connected to her victims, and feel relieved when she’s finally caught.

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Fantastic and Terrifying

Revisado: 10-19-22

After No One Gets Out Alive, I didn’t think Nevill’s books were for me, but I was so interested in the concept for this one that had to give it a try.

I think this one worked for me because it was a lot shorter and stuck to one part.

As usual, Neville has a way for making me connect to his characters and hate anyone who does them wrong. I didn’t really like Tom at first and he made some stupid choices, but he really came around when he needed to and went to huge lengths to fight for his family.

As for his family…I loved Gracie, the four-year-old who always believed in her Daddy, but Fiona, his wife, really got on my nerves. It wasn’t that she was a bad person, but certain circumstances put her character in the worst light and that was never redeemed enough for me.

As for the elderly neighbors, they made excellent villains and were pretty terrifying in their indifference to some of the most horrific situations. That said, Nevill gave them a humanity at times that made me actually wonder if they were all bad.

I loved the plot in this, the backstories, and all the details about what was really going on. My absolute favorite scene was when Tom meets Blackwood, who decides to help him defeat his neighbors…for a price, of course.

My only real criticism is that the detail got a little too much at times and distracted from the meat of the story. That said, the last 10 chapters absolutely killed it and blew me away, leaving me guessing to the final page.

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Creepy as Heck

Revisado: 06-23-22

I highly enjoyed this one! A very creepy build up that left me guessing whether or not Marjorie was really possessed or just mentally ill. The ending also left me very surprised.

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A Fun, Hilarious Beginning

Revisado: 05-10-22

As the very first volume in this series, A Fox’s Love does have its flaws and is a far cry from Brandon’s best, but for new and old readers of the American Kitsune series, this audiobook is sure to be a treat. The narration is perfect for this first volume, giving voices to the sweet, yet overly seductive Lilian and our kind, yet reluctant future harem king, Kevin, along with the rest of our colorful cast. It also perfectly captures the humor and forth wall breaking that set this series apart. Highly recommend!

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The Most Horrific Book I’ve Ever Read

Revisado: 05-25-21

I absolutely hate this story. Not the book. The story because of how it’s based on something that really happened. This is the first time I’ve listened to it, but the 2nd time I’ve read it.

There are so many things wrong in this. Even knowing everything that would happen, it was a hard listen. But I’m glad I did. This book haunted me. The images remaining in my thoughts even 10 years later and revisiting it has somehow given me a reprieve from that first time.

Jack Ketchum’s narration was haunting. These horrible characters become real once again, and yet that almost made the story better. The sheer indifference and unfeeling was palpable. I saw the monsters for what they were.

For now, I’m glad it’s over and I hope this my last trip into the basement.

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Thrilling Ride Full of Surprises and Suspense

Revisado: 10-05-17

I went into this book think I'd hate it because I knew what kind of horrific things would happen, but I ended up loving it. There were many characters, but because of the narration, each one was distinct. The music also added a nice touch because you knew something evil was in the works. Stephen King's narration brought this book to life, especially the villain Me. Gaunt. He captured Gaunt's changing personality perfectly. My favorite part was how is reading made a lot of parts humorous and amusing, adding some lightness to the situations. I had a lot of fun listening to Needful Things and I'm a bit sad it's over.

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