Pages

Stanley Cooper Chronicles #2

by Scott A. Johnson

Stanley Cooper was an ordinary guy until an industrial accident left him clinically dead for three minutes. Now, he sees the dead everywhere he goes. In fact, he sees the energy created by all living things, an ability he’s not certain is a gift or a curse. Pittsburgh is a city known for three Football, hockey, and zombies. What starts with a strange package in the mail escalates to horrific proportions as the dead rise up and walk again. Only this time, they’re not in the movies. They’re real. It’s up to Stanley Cooper, the reluctant clairvoyant, to figure out where they’re coming from, what they want, and what it all has to do with a curious book that shouldn’t exist. More important, it’s up to Stanley and his friends to figure out how to stop it. This is the non-stop horror-noir thriller, PAGES PAGES is the second book of the wildly popular Stanley Cooper Chronicles, the follow-up to VERMIN.

362 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2011

About the author

Scott A. Johnson is the author of ten novels, three true ghost guides, a chapbook, and a short story collection, all in the horror genre. He currently lives somewhere near Austin, Texas, with his wife, daughter, four cats, a pug, a chihuahua, and a corn snake. He is an avid martial artist, rides a motorcycle, and enjoys watching hockey.

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Johnson's first book, Vermin, I was expecting the same humor, the same horror, and the same magic. I wasn't let down. Now, before I say anymore, I will admit that I'm biased in favor of this novel, if for no other reason than because the good Mr. Johnson decided to weave in a fun scene that involves my hometown of Pitcairn, Pa.

The story takes place in Pittsburgh, which is a former stomping ground for the author. As a Pittsburgh (Pitcairn) native, I can say that Johnson paints an accurate and lively portrait of the city. The story itself is a triumph in modern urban fantasy in horror. The author achieves a high octane approach to the metaphysical battles of good versus evil, but keeps the story grounded in modern innovations and everyday approaches to life. This attempt often fails in so many stories, but Johnson has pulled it off well.

I'd recommend "Pages" to anyone in favor of horror, urban fantasy, the occult, or general fast and fun fiction reading this summer.

[Heather McCrocklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott A. Johnson uses his friends and family as inspiration for many of his characters, and I've found these similarities to be most evident in Pages. The story picks up where Vermin left off with Stanley, Maggie, Andi, and Taylor involved in a new creepy adventure revolving around some mysterious book pages that are delivered to Stanley.

Upon finishing the book, I felt as if I'd just returned from vacation in Pittsburgh with my best friends. Can't wait for Ectostorm!

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This pretty much repeats my review of VERMIN. It falls somewhere between horror and urban fantasy on the paranormal continuum. I'll give the nod to uf because each book in the series follows typical mystery structure. But it thankfully departs from uf in that this world is not chock-a-block with every species of mythical, mystical and fae creature in the known/unknown universe. I find that refreshing. It's getting so hard to tell one uf world from another. Here, there are demons and renegade practitioners of the black arts and that's about it. Johnson also takes a pass on the obligatory `smart alec private eye' humor one finds in every uf series. There is some humor, but it doesn't distract from the reality and gravity of the situation like it does in so many other series. These remind me a bit of some of the `black magic' novels of Dennis Wheatley and Peter Saxon I read in the `60s.

For the most part, the primary characters are everyday relatable people--no ex-navy SEALS or defrocked priests and the magic shop is a plus. PAGES is my personal favorite in the series so far.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal follow-up to book one!