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However, in places the story did stretch my imagination and believe me as a writer of erotic romance, I have a very vivid imagination. Personally, Horror is not usually my genre, and anything by Stephen King just doesn't do it for me, but as an Amazon download for 20p, I thought I couldn't lose. Personally, I would say this wasn't really a classic horror, more like crime with the devil thrown in. Nov 07, Marie rated it it was amazing Shelves: This was a great paranormal read! Very in-depth characters and storyline with lots of creepy heebie-jeebies added in for flavor.
I read this back in and it was a grab you by the seat of the pants kind of book! I just found out that there is a second book, so I just bought that to find out what happens to the characters that were in the first book. It was definitely a five star scary read. Gotta love an in your face beginning and this has a humdinger. Cody somehow makes it home. Whatever tore apart his friends in the cemetery is hot on his heels. He crawls back through his bedroom window, the noise alerting his parents.
They rush in to discover a muddy, bloody Cody cowering on the floor, unable to get a word out about what just happened. Detective Aaron Sanders, assigned to the case, is amazed to discover that the young boy, Cody, survived the brutal attack. As the forensics come in, indicating a possible animal attack, he is forced to stretch his belief. Especially after some scary encounters and his shared nightmares with Cody.
Aaron came across as very genuine. And his secrets, while haunting him, scare him senseless. Maria is a tough cookie. These types of stories are a favorite of mine.
A hellish feast of horror, to be sure. I received this book for my honest review. This is a Horror story. In recent years I've moved more to Thrillers, but this was a fun jump back to the Horror stories I used to read. The story is compelling from the very first line where "A young boy ran frantically in the rain past rows of tombstones, in the old, dark, cemetery.
I always know how into a book I am by how fast I'm reading it, if it's taking me forever to read a books, it's because the book isn't that good, but if I'm flying through it, like I did with this one, it's because its a really entertaining book.
That being said it's not perfect. I thought the main character Aaron Sanders was too combative, and in real life would have been tossed off the police force for multiple incidents described throughout the book. And the end that came after the more natural ending just didn't sit well with me, especially since there were so many other ways it could have been ended so much better. But those two points don't drag me away from my recommendation that this is a completely entertaining and fun book to read, as long as you understand it's a horror novel, and as such has some of the most horrific descriptions I've ever read, so go in with your eyes open…and maybe the lights on.
If you're anything like me, before reading this book grab a bible, a sturdy crucifix, a clove of garlic for good measure, and please, please, don't forget the Holy Water. Last but not least, if you feel or see anything you shouldn't inside the room you're in while reading, toss the Holy Water in its direction and yell, 'The power of Christ compels thee!
And why the heck was I reading late at night before going to sleep??? What I liked is how this author, simila If you're anything like me, before reading this book grab a bible, a sturdy crucifix, a clove of garlic for good measure, and please, please, don't forget the Holy Water. What I liked is how this author, similar to Thomas Harris, had a way of making you feel for most of the characters, including the ones you suspected were the 'bad guys.
Trying to figure out who all the bad people were was difficult for me, so my thoughts got carried away as I tried to predict the novel's bloody ending, and those thoughts frightened me more. A lot of gore, but not at all a bore, this book kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next to the lead adult character and the creepy kid associated with all good horror books. This was the first time I read a novel and wanted to jump inside the pages to help investigate and shake the crap out of a kid.
The fact that the author was able to give it the ended it deserved made me cheer him on with gusto. Yes, this book made me emotional!
He did such a good job that I won't be reading another horror book for a while! If I my bible, crucifix, clove of garlic and Holy Water had souls, each of them would be panting for breath right now, wanting a reprieve from being held so tightly. If you want a scary nighttime read that have all the elements of a good read, try this book. Trust me, you'll be listening to even the smallest sounds, staring at inanimate objects that you thought for certain moved and leaving the lights on longer than usual.
I first became a fan of Mr. Pruneda after reading his first novel, Pursuit of a Dream. I was highly impressed with his knack for dialogue and uncanny ability at penning a well-written and engaging story that kept my attention throughout the book. It seems, with this book, Mr. Pruneda has found his calling and I truly believe great things are in store for this author in the horror genre. In Devil's Nightmare, Detective Aaron Sanders finds himself thrust in the middle of an investigation involving a string of mysterious, and incredibly horrific murders, beginning with the discovery of three children in a graveyard and a young boy's mother and stepfather who I can't say as I was all too sad to see be disemboweled.
Newly orphaned Cody is the sole witness to the murders, but is too traumatized to speak of them no matter how hard Detective Sanders gets him to open up. Yet, at night, the boy is plagued by such disturbing nightmares that whatever has rendered him a virtual mute during the day is forgotten, and Detective Sanders is given some valuable clues as to the horrors Cody has encountered. What secret does Cody hold, and will Detective Sanders figure it out before the body count rises?
Devil's Nightmare contains several plot twists that are far from predictable, which I love considering I can usually figure out twists coming from a mile away. Just when you think the story is over and the case solved, it's not. And the final outcome will leave you breathless. I'm not personally a big fan of horror, but after reading Devil's Nightmare, I will certainly be reading more books in this genre and, hopefully, another one from Mr.
Pruneda in the near future. Watch out, Stephen King, here comes Robert Pruneda! Or in other words, just like a real person. Other characters are mostly nicely rounded out, for the most part although there are a couple of exception and one that goes through something of a personality transplant at different times in the book, that could have done with a bit of cleaning up. That and a few other minor errors mentioned by other reviewers aside, the plot is really rather good even if it does appear to borrow from several source such as 's horror movies, and a certain "I see dead people" film but that doesn't matter as this mix all pretty much works, and works really well.
In fact - and this isn't something I would say about a lot of books - I would even dare to suggest that there could be a sequel to be had, with the same characters well those that made it to the end of the book, obviously. Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was eagerly awaiting to download the entire book after the tantalizing sample I read from Amazon. Once I downloaded "Devil's Nightmare" I could not put it down! Page after page captivated my imagination and I became so immersed in the story, before I knew it, it was 6am and I was on the last page!
I highly recommend this book for any one looking for a great spooky adventure! Thanks Robert for sharing your work! Definitely recommend this one for people that like fast-paced action thrillers! The paranormal suspense aspect gave me chills. Love it Loved this book. Recommend it to mystery book readers. A sinister group bent on destruction. What would you do if you were forced to choose who lived or died; the detective who mentored you your entire life, or the father you just met, the man who gave you life? To keep his family safe, Jake disappeared from their lives, and years passed without any trouble.
After her mother died Sydney enlisted the help of her mentor, Detective Carter, in the search for her father, and now they were back together trying to bond after years of absence. This just got real; no more playing games. Hot on the trail of an international weapons ring, covert agent Kyra Ray finds herself caught in the cross-hairs of a ruthless arms dealer in the perilous mountains of war-torn Afghanistan. Closing in, the mission takes an unexpected and near-deadly turn in the high-stakes drama of New York City, where Kyra is mysteriously spared by an assassin sent to kill her.
Retrained as an assassin and given strict orders to take him down, Kyra becomes trapped in a game of cat-and-mouse that will put her life on the line and her directive to the test—her sanction to kill. The story moves at a rapid pace, slowing down long enough for the reader to catch their breath, before plunging headlong into more action. The main character, Kyra Ray, is fleshed out so the reader comes to understand what makes her tick, yet is a bit of a mystery so they need to keep reading to learn more about her.
The story and characters were well developed and likable if somewhat improbable. Very entertaining and kept me reading straight through to the end. The story ends on a bit of a cliff hanger that leaves one guessing at the outcome. I look forward to the conclusion and to what mischief this unlikely pair of teen investigators will get up to next. A fast read with non-stop action from beginning to end. May 21, M. A Grace rated it really liked it.
Writing a murder mystery takes a special writer and a sharp mind. CR Hiatt has this down. Her ability to pull the reader in and not let go is mesmerizing. The connection and thrill you feel for her characters as they go from one close call to another and are thrown from one adventure stunt to the next will keep you begging for more.
The clues are there if they can just get them. And they are willing to risk it all to do so. Courage, strength, a quick wit and a drive for answers keeps the team on Writing a murder mystery takes a special writer and a sharp mind. Courage, strength, a quick wit and a drive for answers keeps the team on their toes and one step at a time closer to finding the truth.
And don't we all want the truth? I highly suggest anyone that loves a good mystery book to pick up this one. You won't be sorry and you won't want to put it down. Nov 26, Rachael Phillips rated it it was amazing. What a great story! I thoroughly enjoyed this book by CR Hiatt. I felt an immediate understanding of the main characters and loved the way the book flowed. Enough background at the start to take you into the action which is based around a well thought out plot.
The main character, a young detective, does an amazing job on her first, big case unearthing a sinister plan in the process. A heroine with attitude is what you get and I was left impressed by her tenacity and grit. You'll be willing her What a great story! You'll be willing her on to succeed in her endeavours and will be left wanting to know what happens next. An excellent read for young adults and adults alike. May 13, Pragya rated it really liked it Recommends it for: And I love those kind of books.
Ooh, the thrill, the action, just wow. And more so when the main protagonist is a 18 year old girl.
This book never slows down and I adore that. It has mystery and action that is all raring to go. And the twists and turns were amazing. Also, I loved all the characters, what fun! It made for a short, quick read that I finished reading in one sitting. In short, this book has it all.
May 13, Nancy Fornataro rated it it was amazing. CR Hiatt did a wonderful job with this teenage thriller. The dialogue was snappy and realistic, with snippets of teen life I found very fun! I am looking forward to reading her new book. May 23, Melissa rated it really liked it. Full review and other blog tour stops at http: I'll be honest, the main reason I decided to give this book a try was because the cover reminded me of the types of movies that I like to watch.
Movies like The Bourne Identity, Wanted, Taken, all movies where there is some mystery and the main character has to be stealthy and solve the puzzle with out getting shot by the bad guys.
The first few chapters I was worried that it wasn't going to be like those movies at Full review and other blog tour stops at http: The first few chapters I was worried that it wasn't going to be like those movies at all. In the first few chapters we're introduced to Sydney and her friends Cody and Jaden.
She seems like any other teenage tomboy. But it wasn't until she was starting to solve the case that I really began to get interested. I was also kind of confused for the first few chapters. Not confused enough to dislike the book, but I just wished that all the subplots were connected more early on. Here are all the things the reader is trying to figure out in the first half of the book. How come every few chapters are about a teenager being stalked and kidnapped? Do Cody and Sydney have feelings for each other?
Who is Sydney's dad? Who is the guy Sydney is paid to spy on and what is he up to? Who killed her mom? Why was her mom helping that girl? Why does the one cop give her the creeps? What is that rich family up to? And the list goes on. While it was hard to keep everything straight, it also made it impossible for me to stop reading because I needed to know all the answers! The second all the answers started to come out and plot points started to connect together I was so excited. It was pretty genius and very much like those movies that I mentioned earlier. I was holding my breath hoping Sydney and Cody would make it out of their missions alive.
The writing was so suspenseful and a perfect combo of dialogue and action. Sometimes books of this genre are only action and the characters don't develop a lot or they only have inner dialogue. It was kind of weird that sometimes it was written as a story and other times it was like the narrator was talking to the reader. I loved Sydney's character. She's a tomboy and hangs out with two guys all the time.
Reminds me of my senior year of high school. I was not a tomboy at all, but I had mostly guy friends. It was fun to see their relationships and how I was able to relate. Also I loved that romance was not the main focus of this book. And there was no insta-love or love triangles. I finished the last page of the book and was frantically looking for more pages. I couldn't believe that it was over with a few important questions unanswered.
I think the author is writing a sequel called Fireworks on the 4th. I can't wait to read it! Overall, if you're into action packed books or movies this is definitely something I'd recommend. This is a condensed version of my review. To see the extended review, a guest post, and a chance to win this book click here. I received this book for review as part of the Reading Addiction Blog Tours. For more information, see the disclosure at the bottom of this post.
I had never heard of this book before being asked to review this book for the blog tour. I looked at the cover, the synopsis, and then realized it was about teenage private investiga This is a condensed version of my review. I looked at the cover, the synopsis, and then realized it was about teenage private investigators and so I gave it a shot. Hiatt created a compelling world with lots of intrigue. I constantly felt the wheels turning in my head as I tried to piece all the information together to figure out who was really the villain. Hiatt also created characters that I absolutely loved.
Sidney was a character that I could relate to and one that I was rooting for. Cody was the best friend and maybe more if you trust Sidney's mother's take on the situation who you loved shaking your head at. The friendship between Cody and Sidney made for an enjoyable read.
I also really liked their friend Jaden, but you didn't learn a whole lot about him in this novel. From the few pages I've read of the next novel, it appears like that might change in the sequel. I've mentioned that I loved the plot, the characters, and now let's talk about the novel in terms of style and writing. Hiatt's writing was fresh and I sincerely felt like I was in the character's minds. This novel was told mostly through Sidney's mind; however, there were a few other perspectives brought up in the novel.
Her writing lent to realistic characters that I loved reading about. However, while I liked her writing style on the whole, there were some occasions where I felt like the text jumped ahead too quickly or else lagged behind. There were a few pacing issues and a few moments in the text where something caused me to momentarily disconnect with the novel or made me pause and think 'could that really happen? But those moments were few and the rest of the novel made up for these few moments.
Overall, a great start to an intriguing series. I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. May 08, Margot rated it liked it Shelves: I don't read a lot of action novels, but I enjoy reading them once in a while. This book really was worth the time it took me to read it. I was amazed by the characters. They were great, and not some lame stereotypes. The girl, Sydney, was not very girlyl, but more of a tomboy. She definitely kicks ass!
Then there was her a hot, and b great fighter bst friend Cody. He loves filming and photographing, which is why his parents kicked him our. He lives in the house of Jaden, the third, and last, one in the friend group. Together they form a marvellous trio of teenagers that might be able to arrest some major criminals The plot of this book sounded very promising, and it was just like I expected it to be.
There was only one empty spot; no t much romance. But I get it, action and romance isn't always the best combination Still, I was okay with it because of the whole story. Some teens who kick ass and save the world from criminals always are great to read about -this explains my obsession with Anthony Horowitz' Alex Rider series- and I adored all characters.
It was very well-written and easy to read. However, sometimes it was just so easy to read for me. As a Dutch girl that's still learning English, I am used to having a hard time reading novels because of the use of difficult words. This book was so easy to read Maybe I'm just getting better at English. That would be great: A book I'd recommend to all teens that love books packed with action, mystery and humor. You will not be disappointed. I give this book 3 stars! May 08, JennRenee rated it really liked it Shelves: I picked this book up thinking I could use a good adventure. The cover, the title, the synopsis all lead to an adventure and I got an adventure.
This book was thrilling, exciting, and full of action, mystery, and attitude. This decision leads to them getting chased, beat up, and shot at, not to mention they solve the I picked this book up thinking I could use a good adventure. This decision leads to them getting chased, beat up, and shot at, not to mention they solve the big mystery and bring the baddies down. Sounds like so much fun. Sydney is an amazing heroine. She is very snarky, which I love, very independent, courageous, cunning, and very sneaky.
Her mother taught her well in the business and she starts off the business better than your average PI. Cody is sexy, funny, smart, and a real flirt. They make a very odd couple but their friendship works. They back and forth banter had me laughing out loud on many occasions. Sydney and Cody are thrown into a mess of crime when their very first client walks in the door asking for surveillance detail on her step brother.
In the process of staking out her target she stumbles on to some very heavy things and has to connect all the pieces. She and Cody never hesitate when it came to solving the mystery. There were events in the story that were over the top but somehow it fit.