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"Overall, a solid ending to a phenomenal series!"

000

"Though the ending is not the one I would have preferred it's the one the author felt it deserved, & since I have the utmost respect for this amazing author, I can respect that."

100

"(In hindsight, I wish I would have read JOPLIN'S GHOST first, as it would have added more connection with Phoenix.)"

100

Paul @slycon8.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This was a slow burn with a rather complex storyline, & while I suppose it could be read without having completed the previous three installments in the series, I wouldn't recommend it, as there is an extensive amount of backstory contained therein."

110

"It is a veritable smorgasbord of fine delicacies of storytelling; some thought-provoking, some horrifying, & some quite humorous."

000

Paul @slycon8.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "While the first, & longest entry ("Origin of A Species") was certainly enjoyable, it's the remaining, shorter entries that really make this collection shine!"

100

Paul @slycon8.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Current reading: APPALACHIAN GALAPAGOS by Weston Ochse & David Whitman

100

Paul @slycon8.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

"What ultimately bumped this from 3 to 4 stars for me was the author's keen use of moral conflict; when I finish a book & seriously ponder what I would have done in the same situation(s), briefly blurring the line between fiction & reality, kudos are certainly due."

000

Paul @slycon8.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "While the exposition was often a bit excessive & sometimes rambling, the overall storytelling was mostly solid, with some intriguing characters, an unseen twist or two, & a mostly satisfying ending, though the epilogue seemed unnecessary."

100

Paul @slycon8.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Current reading: BULLY by J.F. Gonzalez

100

"Of course, when it comes to horror it's all about how it ends, & with this one, the authors absolutely stuck the landing!"

000

"Though the found footage sub-genre has been rather played out, it is extremely well-executed here & works perfectly, allowing me to essentially visualize the events as they transpired."

100

"The 2017 characters are certainly intriguing, but it's the backstory & its characters that drives the narrative. The 2025 characters, on the other hand, jump right off the page, which makes what happens to each of them feel far more personal."

100

"The events in the original novella are very well told & quite eerie, but seem better served as a prologue to what feels like...well, a more complete story."

100

Paul @slycon8.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "While I already owned the 2018 hardcover novella of WIDOW'S POINT, I hadn't gotten around to reading it, & I'm actually happy I waited to read it as included in WIDOW'S POINT: THE COMPLETE HAUNTING."

100

Current reading: WIDOW'S POINT: THE COMPLETE HAUNTING by @richardchizmar.bsky.social & @whchizmar.bsky.social

110

Paul @slycon8.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

000

Paul @slycon8.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Current reading: THE WHISTLER by John Grisham

100

"The ending left me sitting in breathless, stunned silence, & my already high level of respect for the author increased even more. Yippee Ki‐Yay!"

000

"The bulk of the story is essentially DIE HARD vs. Zombies, & once things get rolling, it's an adrenaline-filled action-packed bloodbath of pure chaos, & I loved every moment of it!"

100

"In CITY OF THE DEAD, the story picks up right where THE RISING left off, & continues with many of the characters we've come to know & love (& some we may not love as much)."

100

Paul @slycon8.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Brian Keene writes the best zombies, by far! As I mentioned in my review of THE RISING, the supernatural premise is a more believable explanation than many of the other zombie stories, aside from perhaps 28 DAYS LATER."

100

As much as I loved THE RISING, I'm fairly confident I'll enjoy this one as well. 😁

010

"Overall, a quick yet certainly worthwhile read!"

000

"The 'Afterword' following each entry was a perfect touch, an additional insight into what inspired each one, delivered in the author's very matter-of-fact and personable style."

101

"There's a variety of stories, a little something for everyone, & personally, I enjoyed them all."

100

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This was the last thing released by the one & only Jack Ketchum, and what a perfect summation of his works it is!"

101

Current reading: GORILLA IN MY ROOM by Jack Ketchum

100

"The heart-stopping finale absolutely paid off; the epilogue answered any remaining questions, & overall, the story felt complete, as if everything that needed to be told, was. As a result, I highly recommend taking the time to read this one all the way through!"

000

"The moral conflicts & supernatural evil versus human evil are, in my opinion, the driving forces of the narrative. The twists & turns were very well-executed, & one in particular caught me completely off guard."

100

"The nostalgic bits & 'nods to the future' were quite enjoyable, & the subtle (& not-so-subtle) references to some of the works of another somewhat famous author were a great touch."

100

"Though it's quite long, it doesn't at all feel unnecessarily so; 'Book One' strolls along casually, introducing & developing the intriguing characters, but 'Book Two' takes off (literally!) & the story moves along rather steadily from there, with some very exciting sequences interspersed within!"

130

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This was my 8th book by Joe Hill, & while I thoroughly enjoyed the other 7 (6 I rated as 5-stars, and 1 I rated as 4-stars), this is currently my favorite of his! I would contend this is his best work to date, & that's an extremely high bar as far as I'm concerned!"

100

"Lastly, the cliffhanger epilogue was perfectly executed, & I am definitely looking forward to the next entry in the series!"

000

"While the final battle wasn't very long (which Roland foreshadowed) it was quite epic, & I absolutely loved the movie nerd 'additions'!"

100

"As a book collector I felt a kinship with Calvin Tower, & had I been in his position, I would have done exactly the same thing."

100

"I really liked many of the new characters as well, especially Father Callahan and Calvin Tower. Reconnecting with Father Callahan (from SALEM'S LOT) was a brilliant tie-in, & this one overall had quite a bit of expanded universe morsels."

100

"With that being said, I still very much enjoyed it; I've developed a personal attachment to Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake, & even Oy, so any amount of time spent with them feels like hanging out with old friends."

100