Scan barcode
pam2375's review against another edition
3.0
This was absolutely brutal! I have never read anything this violent before. I have read books that insinuate violence or violent activity, but never anything like this. If you are the least bit squeamish, do NOT pick up this book!
With that being said, the book was good and I will read more in this series and by this author. I can't say anything about the story w/o giving it away so I will just leave the review as is.
With that being said, the book was good and I will read more in this series and by this author. I can't say anything about the story w/o giving it away so I will just leave the review as is.
becaboo77's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
That was a damn good book!! And all my fears were packed into it and had my heart beating out of my chest! Drowning, burning, claustrophobia. This book has it all! Blood, gore and a freaking monkey! I absolutely loved it. Very well written and edge of your seat action. This book took off and never slowed down.
maitland's review against another edition
2.0
Synopsis
A helicopter crashes near Safe Haven, Wisconsin. Then people begin to be tortured and massacred.
*That is my personal synopsis of this book
Review
I am currently following J.A. Konrath's recommended reading order of his books. Afraid is the fifth book I've read now and was written under the now-retired Jack Kilborn pen name. It is actually the fourth book from the list I'm posting a review of because I made a mistake and skipped Rusty Nail which I will post a review of soon.
Afraid is a change in genre and tone from the previous Konrath books I've reviewed. It takes place in Safe Haven, Wisconsin in the same universe as his other works ( Jack Daniels, Phineas Troutt, Serial Killer series) but while the other books are mysteries and thrillers that often have a heavy dose of comedy thrown in, this book verged on being gore/torture porn.
Afraid is very appropriately named. It is pure horror. From the opening pages to the final chapters one atrocity after another befalls the citizens of Safe Haven. Terrible acts range from burning people to eating parts of them. If you have a hard time reading about graphic violence and sexual assault this is not the book for you. Though I am usually a fan of Konrath books this one just relied too heavily on shock and disgust and a very hard-to-believe plotline.
I really don't have much to say about the book. Like the short and sweet synopsis at the beginning of the review said. A helicopter crashes. And the people get brutally tortured and killed. The hard-to-believe plotline is completely overshadowed by the extreme gore and violence in this one and if it had been my first Konrath book I probably wouldn't have read another.
I want to stress, do NOT read this book if you have any problems with reading about gore, violence, sexual assault, cannibalism, etc.
A helicopter crashes near Safe Haven, Wisconsin. Then people begin to be tortured and massacred.
*That is my personal synopsis of this book
Review
I am currently following J.A. Konrath's recommended reading order of his books. Afraid is the fifth book I've read now and was written under the now-retired Jack Kilborn pen name. It is actually the fourth book from the list I'm posting a review of because I made a mistake and skipped Rusty Nail which I will post a review of soon.
Afraid is a change in genre and tone from the previous Konrath books I've reviewed. It takes place in Safe Haven, Wisconsin in the same universe as his other works ( Jack Daniels, Phineas Troutt, Serial Killer series) but while the other books are mysteries and thrillers that often have a heavy dose of comedy thrown in, this book verged on being gore/torture porn.
Afraid is very appropriately named. It is pure horror. From the opening pages to the final chapters one atrocity after another befalls the citizens of Safe Haven. Terrible acts range from burning people to eating parts of them. If you have a hard time reading about graphic violence and sexual assault this is not the book for you. Though I am usually a fan of Konrath books this one just relied too heavily on shock and disgust and a very hard-to-believe plotline.
I really don't have much to say about the book. Like the short and sweet synopsis at the beginning of the review said. A helicopter crashes. And the people get brutally tortured and killed. The hard-to-believe plotline is completely overshadowed by the extreme gore and violence in this one and if it had been my first Konrath book I probably wouldn't have read another.
I want to stress, do NOT read this book if you have any problems with reading about gore, violence, sexual assault, cannibalism, etc.
billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
It's probably unfair to give this a low rating, because for what it is, it is done quite well.
What this is, is slam-bang non-stop action with brutal violence. It didn't do much for me because I couldn't care less about the characters and I found the concept of the story totally implausible.
I ended up skimming the final 100 pages because I was curious how things would turn out. It's been a little over a week and I've already completely forgotten.
I am giving this two stars, though, because for those people who like this sort of non-stop chasing and maiming, I have to admit that Kilborn writes these sequences very well. It just wasn't for me.
What this is, is slam-bang non-stop action with brutal violence. It didn't do much for me because I couldn't care less about the characters and I found the concept of the story totally implausible.
I ended up skimming the final 100 pages because I was curious how things would turn out. It's been a little over a week and I've already completely forgotten.
I am giving this two stars, though, because for those people who like this sort of non-stop chasing and maiming, I have to admit that Kilborn writes these sequences very well. It just wasn't for me.
desert_rose's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book back to back with this author's other book Trapped.. Now I know I need a break! Either I will become mentally instable or turn in to a serial killer!
I meant that as a compliment. I LOVED this book!
Safe Haven was a safe haven for it's 907 residents. Unfortunately for them a helicopter crashes in the woods who has 5 members of a Red-Ops team.. who are a team created my the military to be dropped behind enemy lines.. their main objective is to Isolate, Terrorize and Annihilate. They are Hannibal Lector incarnate with Rambo training! OUCH!
Now these 5 Red-Ops are roaming the town doing exactly what they do best. With a lot of violence and gore!
It's up to an aging sheriff, a single mom and a firefighter to try to make sense of it all and to save their town or actually what's left of it.
When phones and cell networks begin failing, in addition to the power failure in the whole town and the road block that blocks them from leaving town, they start wondering.. what if these monsters didn't come here by accident. Maybe there is a reason behind that. Is it possible to save this town?! Or at least save themselves..
With a few twists and turns and some surprises that are just perfect.. The story flows..
It was an amazingly fast read, it was so hard to put the book down, I really wanted to know what happens and why these people were even there.. If you could even call them people!
This author has been pushed to the top of my favorite author list. Wonderful story flow and wonderful writing!! I love his style :)
Recommended for those who like horror with gory violent scenes :) I usually don't like horror movies but horror novels are ok!
I meant that as a compliment. I LOVED this book!
Safe Haven was a safe haven for it's 907 residents. Unfortunately for them a helicopter crashes in the woods who has 5 members of a Red-Ops team.. who are a team created my the military to be dropped behind enemy lines.. their main objective is to Isolate, Terrorize and Annihilate. They are Hannibal Lector incarnate with Rambo training! OUCH!
Now these 5 Red-Ops are roaming the town doing exactly what they do best. With a lot of violence and gore!
It's up to an aging sheriff, a single mom and a firefighter to try to make sense of it all and to save their town or actually what's left of it.
When phones and cell networks begin failing, in addition to the power failure in the whole town and the road block that blocks them from leaving town, they start wondering.. what if these monsters didn't come here by accident. Maybe there is a reason behind that. Is it possible to save this town?! Or at least save themselves..
With a few twists and turns and some surprises that are just perfect.. The story flows..
It was an amazingly fast read, it was so hard to put the book down, I really wanted to know what happens and why these people were even there.. If you could even call them people!
This author has been pushed to the top of my favorite author list. Wonderful story flow and wonderful writing!! I love his style :)
Recommended for those who like horror with gory violent scenes :) I usually don't like horror movies but horror novels are ok!
jacqueshol's review against another edition
5.0
It was my first Jack Kilborn story, and I enjoyed it. It is brutal and not for the squeamish. The torture scenes are pretty graphic, so be forewarned - I found myself squirming at times. The book starts out at a great pace but slows down a bit as the story continues. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, as the action in some novels can be too much. It offers a solid storyline. Sure, the end could have offered better closure, especially the consequences that followed these terrible events, but it does not detract from an enjoyable read.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Phil Gigante, is the best I have heard. He was brilliant, and his characterisation of Bernie superb. I will certainly read more books narrated by him.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Phil Gigante, is the best I have heard. He was brilliant, and his characterisation of Bernie superb. I will certainly read more books narrated by him.
heathbc's review against another edition
1.0
Oh look, it's my second one star rating.
Horror is my favorite genre so I think I'm especially hard on horror novels that miss the point in meaningfully discussing what humans fear. In Afraid , the author Jack Kilborn seems to be responding to fear of terrorism post 9/11 with some commentary on the Vietnam War. There were likely people who enjoyed the fast paced plot and felt entertained by this novel. I mean no disrespect to the author nor to people who enjoyed the novel. Nonetheless, I'll be honest and say I didn't like the book.
I'll state one positive thing before going into my rant. I liked the moments between the grandson and grandfather. In fact, I think the young boy was a captivating character, living with past trauma but also trying to find a sense of independence while growing out of adolescence.
I didn't feel particularly drawn to any of the other townspeople and I found the 'villains' to be portrayed problematically. Kilborn played into the outdated trope of giving one of the antagonists a lisp and an accent. Another antagonist was given characteristics of being minimally verbal and a giant. We've got to stop mixing speech-language disorders with psychopathy as if those are two things that go hand-in-hand together. As a speech language pathologist, I couldn't overlook these characterizations. Relatedly, in one scene where a townsperson had their vocal cords snipped without ANY anesthesia and then proceeded to whisper right after, I rolled my eyes at how unrealistic the description was. I did quite a lot of eye rolling throughout this novel. How did the old sheriff run and fight with his ruptured appendix/fall from a roof/etc? Why is a face being melted and then written off with pain medication? Why is a plot from my elementary school slumber party scary stories book rehashed basically word for word in this novel for adults? Why are the townspeople so gullible and able to wake up at 2:00 am for an unlikely lottery win? Why is there a LOVE story...didn't this woman just lose her toe to a man that bit it off and isn't she busy trying to save her son?? What is this found footage scenario going on in a bunker when they need to be preparing for an attack? Why is everything wrapping up so cleanly in this ending? In other words, it was too hard to immerse myself in the plot and suspend my disbelief.
P.S. I read this book right after reading Stephen King's The Stand. Was Kilborn making shout-outs to that novel by naming his female protagonist Franny and having an unlikeable character be eaten alive by wolves?
Horror is my favorite genre so I think I'm especially hard on horror novels that miss the point in meaningfully discussing what humans fear. In Afraid , the author Jack Kilborn seems to be responding to fear of terrorism post 9/11 with some commentary on the Vietnam War. There were likely people who enjoyed the fast paced plot and felt entertained by this novel. I mean no disrespect to the author nor to people who enjoyed the novel. Nonetheless, I'll be honest and say I didn't like the book.
I'll state one positive thing before going into my rant. I liked the moments between the grandson and grandfather. In fact, I think the young boy was a captivating character, living with past trauma but also trying to find a sense of independence while growing out of adolescence.
I didn't feel particularly drawn to any of the other townspeople and I found the 'villains' to be portrayed problematically. Kilborn played into the outdated trope of giving one of the antagonists a lisp and an accent. Another antagonist was given characteristics of being minimally verbal and a giant. We've got to stop mixing speech-language disorders with psychopathy as if those are two things that go hand-in-hand together. As a speech language pathologist, I couldn't overlook these characterizations. Relatedly, in one scene where a townsperson had their vocal cords snipped without ANY anesthesia and then proceeded to whisper right after, I rolled my eyes at how unrealistic the description was. I did quite a lot of eye rolling throughout this novel. How did the old sheriff run and fight with his ruptured appendix/fall from a roof/etc? Why is a face being melted and then written off with pain medication? Why is a plot from my elementary school slumber party scary stories book rehashed basically word for word in this novel for adults? Why are the townspeople so gullible and able to wake up at 2:00 am for an unlikely lottery win? Why is there a LOVE story...didn't this woman just lose her toe to a man that bit it off and isn't she busy trying to save her son?? What is this found footage scenario going on in a bunker when they need to be preparing for an attack? Why is everything wrapping up so cleanly in this ending? In other words, it was too hard to immerse myself in the plot and suspend my disbelief.
P.S. I read this book right after reading Stephen King's The Stand. Was Kilborn making shout-outs to that novel by naming his female protagonist Franny and having an unlikeable character be eaten alive by wolves?
thewallflower00's review against another edition
5.0
This is a real Suicide Squad -- not some namby-pamby rogues gallery. A half-dozen sociopaths are given CIA mental conditioning and drug therapy. Then they crash land in sleepy-town, USA. Chaos ensues.
I've never read anything as fast-paced as this. Chapters are short, sentences are short, scenes are short. Although the characterization is light, the action is visceral enough and quick enough that you want to see more. You might think it's a Stephen King-style thriller from the cover and blurb -- slow burn, supernatural junk, psychic powers for no reason -- but it's a far cry.
It reminds me of a high-budget B-movie where they went heavy on script and light on special effects. The horror comes from how realistic (as in the killer is a criminal trained to be a soldier, not Pennywise the clown).
I've never read anything as fast-paced as this. Chapters are short, sentences are short, scenes are short. Although the characterization is light, the action is visceral enough and quick enough that you want to see more. You might think it's a Stephen King-style thriller from the cover and blurb -- slow burn, supernatural junk, psychic powers for no reason -- but it's a far cry.
It reminds me of a high-budget B-movie where they went heavy on script and light on special effects. The horror comes from how realistic (as in the killer is a criminal trained to be a soldier, not Pennywise the clown).
dantilldusk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0