The Nightmare Man
Ratings13
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings13
Average rating4.1
T. Kingfisher meets Cassandra Khaw in a chilling horror novel that illustrates the fine line between humanity and monstrosity. Blackwood mansion looms, surrounded by nightmare pines, atop the hill over the small town of Crooked Treen. Ben Bookman, bestselling novelist and heir to the Blackwood estate, spent a weekend at the ancestral home to finish writing his latest horror novel, The Scarecrow. Now, on the eve of the book’s release, the terrible story within begins to unfold in real life. Detective Mills arrives at the scene of a gruesome murder: a family butchered and bundled inside cocoons stitched from corn husks, and hung from the rafters of a barn, eerily mirroring the opening of Bookman’s latest novel. When another family is killed in a similar manner, Mills, along with his daughter, rookie detective Samantha Blue, is determined to find the link to the book—and the killer—before the story reaches its chilling climax. As the series of “Scarecrow crimes” continues to mirror the book, Ben quickly becomes the prime suspect. He can’t remember much from the night he finished writing the novel, but he knows he wrote it in The Atrium, his grandfather’s forbidden room full of numbered books. Thousands of books. Books without words. As Ben digs deep into Blackwood’s history he learns he may have triggered a release of something trapped long ago—and it won’t stop with the horrors buried within the pages of his book.
Reviews with the most likes.
Wow! What a read! This is a book that is hard to put down. I absolutely enjoyed this read!
This horror piece will keep you on the edge of your seat from the start, and one that you will need to dedicate the time to read as soon as you start. This is not a start and pick up later read.
Highly recommend!
A thrilling and engrossing story filled with realistic characters and haunting nightmares.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very unexpected 5 star read. The characters were amazing, every single one was completely flushed out and unique. I felt as though I was watching a movie play out in front of my eyes.
I didn't expect this to be such an enjoyable, thrilling, scary and ultimately awesome read.
I didn't want this story to end and I really hope that there is further instalments of this! I can also easily see this having an excellent tv adaptation. I can't wait to buy this when it is released and enjoy this a second time.
You can find reach me @readsgavin
I received this audiobook via NetGalley and I'm so glad I did. This was really solid, and the narration is spot on.
This is a multi-POV as well as a multi-time period crime/horror novel. Similarly to my latest read, however unlike The Angel Maker, I think this one was spot on in terms of how it was handled. The short chapters are enough that you know who's who, they are exciting with cliffhanger endings that actually intrigue, and they make you want to stay up all night to finish.
The novel features an author, Ben Bookman, with a dark past. When a mad criminal starts acting out the murders from his latest novel, the police are, of course, immediately pointed towards him as a suspect. Each chapter unravels in a more and more desperate and insane turn of events until the story is a mix of supernatural and paranormal horrors. The cover, as well as the description gave me serious Jeepers Creepers vibes, and the rest was even better.
Well handled, well written, and I'm especially impressed as I believe this is a debut. Personally 5/5*.
Rating: 3.96 leaves out of 5-Characters: 4/5 -Cover: 4.75/5-Story: 4/5-Writing: 5/5Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller-Horror: 1/5-Mystery: 4/5-Thriller: 5/5Type: AudiobookWorth?: YesHated Disliked Meh It Was Okay Liked Really Liked LovedWhat a good book. It leaned more on Mystery/Thriller with a sprinkle of Horror. I was hooked from the start. Some characters I didn't care for, like Blue and Amanda, though I did understand their line of thinking I just wasn't the happiest with them. Even though I could see where things were going I enjoyed the ride and with the way things ended I really hope there is a book two.
