litwrite's review against another edition
3.0
I was really intrigued by the blurb that compared this to True Detective but besides the fact that this deals with detectives and cults there's very little to actually compare to the first season of that amazing TV show.
This was a serviceable, decent novel with interesting ideas, but I felt that it could have used a little more oomph. Cults are so enigmatic and interesting but less because of nefarious assholes and more because of charismatic leading men and esoteric goals and ideas, and I really felt like the cult in this book was lacking both.
I enjoyed the backstory of the main character more than the main plot and wished that there was a novel about that story rather than the one served here. A bit of a disappointment, just an OK read.
This was a serviceable, decent novel with interesting ideas, but I felt that it could have used a little more oomph. Cults are so enigmatic and interesting but less because of nefarious assholes and more because of charismatic leading men and esoteric goals and ideas, and I really felt like the cult in this book was lacking both.
I enjoyed the backstory of the main character more than the main plot and wished that there was a novel about that story rather than the one served here. A bit of a disappointment, just an OK read.
david_agranoff's review against another edition
3.0
“True Detective” meets H.P. Lovecraft in this chilling novel of murder, mystery, and slow-mounting dread." The description of this novel above sold me. I have enjoyed SanGiovanni in interviews on podcasts, and even though I had a couple copies of her books on my shelf for years I never got around to reading them. This was going to be the first one because I loved the tone suggested and the plot sounded interesting.
A freak late spring snowstorm hits as a detective tries to solve a bizarre murder. The first act of this book is a very intense slow burn cosmic horror piece. Each page develops serious dread. Honestly I could have handled another hundred pages of this.
One of the best most fascinating scenes was an interrogation between the lead character and her brother - a serial killer now in prison. This is where the True Detective comparisons come into play. Really it is one chapter. It was very tightly wound and I was hoping the novel would returned to it.
The deep and cosmic dread of the first half was everything I was looking for and the second half of the novel turns into something else that I feel gets into the territory of spoiler. Consider yourself warned. Chills is the third in a trilogy, a fact I didn't know this until I went to Good reads to post this review and had re-edit it. I am not sure if I am missing something, maybe the back story with the brother - not sure.
The best thing I can say about this one is I now want to read the novels that will for me be prequels. However I didn't enjoy the second half of the novel quite as much once it became a full on monster attack. SanGiovanni did such a wonderful job building the dread I wish the book had a longer second act focused on that part of the story and a shorter third act that dominated the novel's entire second half as is.
Am I glad I read Chills? Yes. For sure. I think horror fans will too, and I think many will disagree with me about the second half. I think you should decide for yourself. It is a cool book and deserves to be read and debated. SanGiovanni certainly knows how to write monsters. I am sold for sure and will read more SanGiovanni.
A freak late spring snowstorm hits as a detective tries to solve a bizarre murder. The first act of this book is a very intense slow burn cosmic horror piece. Each page develops serious dread. Honestly I could have handled another hundred pages of this.
One of the best most fascinating scenes was an interrogation between the lead character and her brother - a serial killer now in prison. This is where the True Detective comparisons come into play. Really it is one chapter. It was very tightly wound and I was hoping the novel would returned to it.
The deep and cosmic dread of the first half was everything I was looking for and the second half of the novel turns into something else that I feel gets into the territory of spoiler. Consider yourself warned. Chills is the third in a trilogy, a fact I didn't know this until I went to Good reads to post this review and had re-edit it. I am not sure if I am missing something, maybe the back story with the brother - not sure.
The best thing I can say about this one is I now want to read the novels that will for me be prequels. However I didn't enjoy the second half of the novel quite as much once it became a full on monster attack. SanGiovanni did such a wonderful job building the dread I wish the book had a longer second act focused on that part of the story and a shorter third act that dominated the novel's entire second half as is.
Am I glad I read Chills? Yes. For sure. I think horror fans will too, and I think many will disagree with me about the second half. I think you should decide for yourself. It is a cool book and deserves to be read and debated. SanGiovanni certainly knows how to write monsters. I am sold for sure and will read more SanGiovanni.
pbanditp's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good story, I really liked the Kathy character and wish she was in the book more. I found the creatures to be interesting but confusing and the ending was fun with the cultish involvement.
aly36's review against another edition
5.0
Ghosts and scary and everything I love! This book was a great horror book for me. I enjoyed it. It did in fact give me chills at some points in the book. I believe this book a great plot and characters. It took me where I wanted and kept me reading until the end. * I received this book from NetGalley--This is my honest review*
tchristman's review against another edition
2.0
I feel like with this plot I should’ve loved it. Cult members, apocalyptic weather. But instead it was kind of cliché and boring.
carleneinspired's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 STARS
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Colby detectives are on the scene of a gruesome death, made more alarming by unseasonably cold weather and the rapid snowfall blanketing the town. There's whispers of cult connections and as the snow piles up, so too do the bodies. Even detective Jack Glazier must acknowledge that something is not right in the small town and his entire force, as well as a cult professional, are on the case. The cult worships something far darker than Jack can imagine though and the haunting things they begin to do to the residents of Colby will terrify anyone.
Action-packed and gory, Chills is a bizarre horror novel with both occult and supernatural creatures present. I struggled to connect with the characters, but despite that I couldn't walk away from the terrifying story Mary SanGiovanni presented. The snow, cold weather, and increasingly awful deaths serve to create a truly chilling setting. I felt like I was there, freezing cold, cut off from the world, and terrified for my life. The cult practices, explained so well by the character of Kathy, made it even more haunting. I think horror fans will find themselves enjoying the fast-paced story, it's unique monsters and build up a true treat.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Colby detectives are on the scene of a gruesome death, made more alarming by unseasonably cold weather and the rapid snowfall blanketing the town. There's whispers of cult connections and as the snow piles up, so too do the bodies. Even detective Jack Glazier must acknowledge that something is not right in the small town and his entire force, as well as a cult professional, are on the case. The cult worships something far darker than Jack can imagine though and the haunting things they begin to do to the residents of Colby will terrify anyone.
Action-packed and gory, Chills is a bizarre horror novel with both occult and supernatural creatures present. I struggled to connect with the characters, but despite that I couldn't walk away from the terrifying story Mary SanGiovanni presented. The snow, cold weather, and increasingly awful deaths serve to create a truly chilling setting. I felt like I was there, freezing cold, cut off from the world, and terrified for my life. The cult practices, explained so well by the character of Kathy, made it even more haunting. I think horror fans will find themselves enjoying the fast-paced story, it's unique monsters and build up a true treat.
chukg's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad, neat setting that seems like a regular modern day police thriller but then someone has to call in an expert on actual demons and magic. A lot of cliched characters and writing but definitely some tense action and horror scenes and good descriptive writing. Might be better to read on a hot day.
acknud's review against another edition
4.0
A little wordy at times but overall a good quick read.
Opening doorways to other worlds and summoning Gods can be a little dicey and can leave you "cold". I'll never look at a snowstorm the same way, esp if it occurs outside of winter!
Opening doorways to other worlds and summoning Gods can be a little dicey and can leave you "cold". I'll never look at a snowstorm the same way, esp if it occurs outside of winter!
ania_star's review
5.0
Last year I've read quite a few short stories and started to appreciate them. It's not just long stories made short (as I believed before...), it's a different kind of storytelling altogether and I'm all for it. :)
What is very unique about Chill and Creeps is that I loved each and every story. They are all very different and very unique. But they have one thing in common- excellent writing. It's very different from what I'm usually reading. It's very simplistic and elegant. The scariness isn't obvious from the start, instead, the story slowly builds it, until you are sitting on your chair, totally petrified at what you just read, too afraid to move.:) I got a bit of Stephen King/ X - files vibe, not in the stories itself, but the way they were told and I'm all for it. :)
received from Author
What is very unique about Chill and Creeps is that I loved each and every story. They are all very different and very unique. But they have one thing in common- excellent writing. It's very different from what I'm usually reading. It's very simplistic and elegant. The scariness isn't obvious from the start, instead, the story slowly builds it, until you are sitting on your chair, totally petrified at what you just read, too afraid to move.:) I got a bit of Stephen King/ X - files vibe, not in the stories itself, but the way they were told and I'm all for it. :)
received from Author
wellwortharead's review against another edition
3.0
A storm is coming, and there is an unimaginable evil in it. This is no ordinary storm, and starting with the discovery of a ritualistic murder victim we are given just a taste of what's ahead. Jack Glazier had worked homicide for 9 years, but he had never seen anything like this. Kathy Ryan is brought in on the investigation, Kathy is an expert on ritual and occult type murders and bears the scar of her first brush with the Hand of the Black Stars cult.....and then the snow starts.. and people are unprepared for what it brings.
This book started off so strong, and I loved Kathy Ryan and her back story. Other than Kathy I just didn't have a lot of interest in the other main characters, though I did like quite a few of the expendable characters brought in for the sake of doing away with them in truly chilling ways. After a very strong start it seemed to just lag a bit in the middle, though the action did pick up again towards the end. All in all well worth a read.
I received an advance copy for review
This book started off so strong, and I loved Kathy Ryan and her back story. Other than Kathy I just didn't have a lot of interest in the other main characters, though I did like quite a few of the expendable characters brought in for the sake of doing away with them in truly chilling ways. After a very strong start it seemed to just lag a bit in the middle, though the action did pick up again towards the end. All in all well worth a read.
I received an advance copy for review