Chilling Horror Stories
Nick Roberts
Last week, I shared my review of Nick Roberts' "The Exorcist House," and since then, I've finished two more of his gripping novels: "The Exorcist House: Genesis" and "Dead End Tunnel."
My mom and I have been listening to his audiobooks during our car rides to her doctor appointments. She's always been a huge fan of horror novels, especially those by Stephen King, so I thought listening to Nick Roberts would be a great way for us to bond.
It was incredibly difficult to pause the audiobooks every time we had to get out of the car. I made a promise not to listen without her, which was a real challenge! Today, we finished "Dead End Tunnel," and the first thing Mama asked when we got back in the car was, "Well, what is our boy up to now?"
Nick Roberts has a remarkable way with words, drawing you into his world so deeply that you feel like a part of it. I felt a strange sense of loss after finishing his latest book, as if I had just said goodbye to a dear friend. One thing I've learned is to never expect a happy ending with his stories.
Anyway...
The Exorcist House: Genesis
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and always love hearing about Merle Blatty and his time as an Exorcist. The glimpse we get of his journey is fascinating.
This novel not only features dual points of view but also shifts seamlessly between the past and present. In the past, we see Merle as he begins his career as an Exorcist. His first exorcism seemed too easy; he quickly defeated the demon, but soon realizes the true challenge was yet to come.
In the present day, we follow Daniel and Nora three years after they fled from the Exorcist House. They've tried to move on and put the horrors behind them. Alice, now an adult, has just been settled into her college dorm. Maren, who is now three years old, surprisingly turns out to be sweet and precious, quite unlike the malevolent presence one might have expected from the previous book's ending.
Their seemingly perfect life is thrown into chaos when Daniel's brother, Adam, decides to buy the Exorcist House after hearing Daniel talk about it during a drunken night. Despite Daniel's attempts to deny the tale the next day, Adam isn't convinced and views the house as a "get rich quick" scheme. Little does he know, the house has other plans for him.
In The Exorcist House: Genesis, I found myself wishing for more about Merle, whose life is both fascinating and thrilling. However, I did enjoy the segments focusing on his son, Sam. The book is filled with moments that are absolutely shocking and others that are deeply sad, which is typical of Nick Roberts’ work. When the demons come to play, escaping becomes nearly impossible.
This book was a slaughter house, no one is ever safe in his books!
Dead End Tunnel
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I absolutely loved this book; it carried a sense of nostalgia, set in the year 1999. Our protagonist, "Mav," is an excited 12-year-old on the cusp of his 13th birthday, celebrating with his two best friends, Max and Blake. The evening's agenda includes pizza, cake, and scary movies.
Mav is the eldest in his family, with twin sisters, Jill and Jenny. Max, in contrast, is an only child with a drunk, deadbeat dad, abandoned by his mother as a baby. Blake lives on the wealthier side of town, and the boys are convinced his dad is an FBI agent.
As the friends gather at Mav’s house, it’s time for presents. Mav receives three walkie-talkies and a brand new red bike. Though thrilled, he feels a bit uneasy since Max, who never gets new bikes, is there. Surprisingly, Max is genuinely happy for Mav and even teases about having the best present for him.
Later that night, after everyone is asleep, Mav and his friends sneak out for Max’s surprise—a trip to the 7/11 to buy cigarettes and beer. Their journey requires biking through a pitch-black, one-lane tunnel. Mav generously lets Max ride his new bike while he takes Max’s old one.
Inside the tunnel, a red sports car suddenly speeds through, forcing the boys to hide in the slats to avoid being hit. The car was supposed to pause and beep before entering but didn't. After it passes, they realize Max is missing. They search the tunnel, but there’s no sign of him or Mav’s bike. Using the walkie-talkies, they manage to reach Max, who says he’s still in the tunnel, it’s dark, and he sees a creature before the signal cuts to static. The boys had no idea that this night and their decisions would change their lives forever.
The story alternates between the past and present from Mav’s point of view, creating a gripping narrative.
I absolutely loved this book. The nostalgic feel of it being set in the '90s reminded me of the movie "IT," even though the stories aren't remotely similar. The past was packed with events, but the present felt a bit lacking. I was hoping for more from the older Mav and his confrontation with the recluse, which didn't quite deliver. Despite that, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself on the edge of my seat the entire time.
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