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The Monsters & Mayhem Collection
Avernus Island
Revenge never dies...When Dan Avernus inherited an island worth millions from his estranged father, he believed that his life had finally turned around. But there are secrets buried on the island, sealed inside an unnatural well of volcanic glass. Explosive and terrifying secrets that have the power not only to ruin the sale of the island, but to unleash a deadly and relentless curse that won't stop until every member of the Avernus clan is dead.
Can anyone escape Avernus Island?
Avernus Island is the terrifying second standalone horror novel in the Monsters & Mayhem Collection . If you like reading about families, friends and lovers forced to survive supernaturally horrific events then you’ll love Patrick McNulty’s frightening tales.
Buy AVERNUS ISLAND and step into the darkness today!
Can anyone escape Avernus Island?
Avernus Island is the terrifying second standalone horror novel in the Monsters & Mayhem Collection . If you like reading about families, friends and lovers forced to survive supernaturally horrific events then you’ll love Patrick McNulty’s frightening tales.
Buy AVERNUS ISLAND and step into the darkness today!
- GenresHorror
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2023
154 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 20, 2023
When Dan inherits his family's island, a bleak and desolate place filled with sharp rocks and withered trees, he can't believe his luck. His family are barely holding things together, dealing with their shared trauma in different ways, and Dan knows the island can afford them a fresh start. But his meeting with potential buyers comes with new information. Information about the past, information that could ruin the Avernus name. Dan is on a mission to save his family, but what price will he need to pay to shatter the ties of generational revenge?
Patrick McNulty has done it again with his second installment in the Monsters and Mayhem series. Avernus Island is full of terror, sorrow and deep family ties that are plagued by the horrors of the past. McNulty presents us with characters that are grasping and clawing their way out of a nightmare before the real nightmare even begins. It's emotional and heartbreaking and filled with terror! The imagery used is spine chilling at times, and there are quite a few 'jump scares', some that are so subtle you don't realise what you've just read until you feel the ice in your veins! With loose ties to historical practises and plenty of action, this is one for current fans of McNulty's work and for those who are new to the author but eager to see what the fuss is about. Highly recommend!
Patrick McNulty has done it again with his second installment in the Monsters and Mayhem series. Avernus Island is full of terror, sorrow and deep family ties that are plagued by the horrors of the past. McNulty presents us with characters that are grasping and clawing their way out of a nightmare before the real nightmare even begins. It's emotional and heartbreaking and filled with terror! The imagery used is spine chilling at times, and there are quite a few 'jump scares', some that are so subtle you don't realise what you've just read until you feel the ice in your veins! With loose ties to historical practises and plenty of action, this is one for current fans of McNulty's work and for those who are new to the author but eager to see what the fuss is about. Highly recommend!
May 29, 2023
Thank you thank you thank you Patrick McNulty, for the chance to read this in advance! The new standalone entry in ‘The Monsters & Mayhem Collection’ is a slow-burn, yet I couldn’t put it down, and before I knew it, I was already 100 pages in! McNulty’s descriptions perfectly set the scene, the thick atmosphere of dread is slowly creeping on you as the reality of the situation is revealed bit by bit. Again, we have a family facing a sinister menace; this time, though, the argument could be made they deserve it. The fact of the matter is that past family crimes are not so easily forgotten, however innocent the next generation may consider themselves to be. The ones that were unjustly wronged seek their revenge and will stop at nothing. Making things worse, there’s family trauma, due to the loss of a child; there’s greed, there’s short-sightedness, there’s so much history and sadness. And the horror of it all, described so richly, so accurately, you can literally feel the jump-scares, the nightmarish chills; and that ending – so troubling and heartbreaking! A truly amazing book!
May 30, 2023
Absolutely loved the second book of the Monsters and Mayhem Collection!
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
Patrick McNulty has this way of hooking you in from the get-go, and this book was no different! Deliciously creepy and ominous! Highly recommend!
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
Patrick McNulty has this way of hooking you in from the get-go, and this book was no different! Deliciously creepy and ominous! Highly recommend!
May 28, 2023
I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of this novel before it is released. I read it in one day and absolutely loved it. In this story there is a wicked black storm brewing on Avernus Island exposing the sins of the father as the ghosts of the past are surfacing for vengeance. The atmosphere of this book is terrifying . The deep, dark sense of dread Patrick McNulty creates throughout the story will keep you turning pages. The pacing of this story was perfect for me. 5 stars on this one without hesitation
May 30, 2023
I was lucky enough to read Avernus Island early, and wow, what a ride!
It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked! I didn't even realize how much time was passing while I was engrossed in the book, and I ended up reading this all in one sitting.
I felt like I connected with these characters so much more than when I read the first book. Dan was so relatable, and I really empathized with what he was going through. All he wanted was to try and save his family from their grief and crippling medical debt (sounds familiar, doesn't it?). I can 100% respect that in a person, and it endeared me to him that much more. Even Anderson, the slightly slimy "realtor," was a very real and easily brought to life character. I know a few of his type, and that made it easier for me to conceptualize him when I was reading the story.
I did think that the beginning chapters with Ruth and Marcus were a bit too mysterious. There was a lot of hinting around about a huge dangerous secret, but no details were actually given to help me even slightly understand it. It was hard for me to be interested when all I had to go on were a few extremely vague clues. It was a bit jarring to switch from those two to an entirely new set of characters, and it took me a bit to figure out how they related back to Ruth and Marcus.
All in all though, a very solid experience. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the anxiety once the story took off, and I'm definitely excited to see where this series goes next!
It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked! I didn't even realize how much time was passing while I was engrossed in the book, and I ended up reading this all in one sitting.
I felt like I connected with these characters so much more than when I read the first book. Dan was so relatable, and I really empathized with what he was going through. All he wanted was to try and save his family from their grief and crippling medical debt (sounds familiar, doesn't it?). I can 100% respect that in a person, and it endeared me to him that much more. Even Anderson, the slightly slimy "realtor," was a very real and easily brought to life character. I know a few of his type, and that made it easier for me to conceptualize him when I was reading the story.
I did think that the beginning chapters with Ruth and Marcus were a bit too mysterious. There was a lot of hinting around about a huge dangerous secret, but no details were actually given to help me even slightly understand it. It was hard for me to be interested when all I had to go on were a few extremely vague clues. It was a bit jarring to switch from those two to an entirely new set of characters, and it took me a bit to figure out how they related back to Ruth and Marcus.
All in all though, a very solid experience. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the anxiety once the story took off, and I'm definitely excited to see where this series goes next!
March 6, 2025
I don't know if there's a specific word to describe the feeling I'm currently experiencing, having just finished my second Patrick McNulty read... it's the feeling of excitement, knowing I've found yet another indie horror author who is a freaking master of his trade, and that I now know I have to read everything the guy's written.
But that's the feeling I'm feeling right now.
This book...what do I even say about this? McNulty takes the clunky "family inherits haunted property, finds out how bad it is" trope that's so ridiculously overdone that I absolutely avoid that kind of storyline at all costs now, and he mostly ignores every aspect of it and makes it his own. So, that's the first plus.
Then, he crafts a story that's so simple it shouldn't actually be enough story to fill a novel...and he fills a novel with a perfectly paced, well-written, intelligent storyline that builds and builds and then explodes. Second plus.
There's very few authors that I read lately that I have trouble setting their books aside. I can read a couple of pages, or a couple of chapters, and yeah, the story's still gonna be there whenever I pick up the book again. But this one had me very reluctantly setting the book down and thinking about the story all the time before I could pick it back up again. I blasted through this in two sittings. Third plus.
I am officially a fan now. This book was absolutely phenomenal.
But that's the feeling I'm feeling right now.
This book...what do I even say about this? McNulty takes the clunky "family inherits haunted property, finds out how bad it is" trope that's so ridiculously overdone that I absolutely avoid that kind of storyline at all costs now, and he mostly ignores every aspect of it and makes it his own. So, that's the first plus.
Then, he crafts a story that's so simple it shouldn't actually be enough story to fill a novel...and he fills a novel with a perfectly paced, well-written, intelligent storyline that builds and builds and then explodes. Second plus.
There's very few authors that I read lately that I have trouble setting their books aside. I can read a couple of pages, or a couple of chapters, and yeah, the story's still gonna be there whenever I pick up the book again. But this one had me very reluctantly setting the book down and thinking about the story all the time before I could pick it back up again. I blasted through this in two sittings. Third plus.
I am officially a fan now. This book was absolutely phenomenal.
June 1, 2023
A recurring theme I love in the Monsters and Mayhem collection, is there comes a moment when you know, the shit is about to hit the fan. And once again, Mr. McNulty did not disappoint! This is a revenge story a la Freddie Kruger, in the sense that maybe the kids don’t deserve to die, but angry, enraged spirits who died excruciating deaths themselves, don’t have time for morals. But given what the current generation of Avernus had been through with his family, the ending of this book was almost poetic in it’s keeping with the promise the family had made together , I found it sad but also genuinely heartfelt. Patrick has quickly become a new favorite author to watch, and I am waiting with bated breath for his third book in this series.
My little black heart says thank you again for another great story! If you love horror and thrillers, I highly recommend this collection to you.
Thank you to the author for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
My little black heart says thank you again for another great story! If you love horror and thrillers, I highly recommend this collection to you.
Thank you to the author for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 31, 2023
Dan, Sarah and their daughter Rose are struggling, with life, with grief, with money. After spending everything they had on medical care for their son, Sean, they lost him, they need some good news. In Dan’s hometown, his estranged father, Marcus hears a disturbing story about the family island and despite his housekeeper’s pleas goes out in his boat to investigate her claims.
Avernus Island has always been a strange place, the adults avoid it, the teenagers sneak over for parties. Once an army barracks and a leper colony, now abandoned and desolate. But something long dead is stirring and it’s time for the vengeful ghosts to seek justice.
The second in Patrick’s Monsters & Mayhem Collection this is another excellent horror, fast paced and deeply disturbing imagery. A dark violent history is revealed, the condemned want revenge and the island vomits up their pain and rage. Excellent, I am loving these monstrously malevolent stories 🖤
AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER
Released 10th July 2023
Thanks to Patrick for the ebook to read and review.
Avernus Island has always been a strange place, the adults avoid it, the teenagers sneak over for parties. Once an army barracks and a leper colony, now abandoned and desolate. But something long dead is stirring and it’s time for the vengeful ghosts to seek justice.
The second in Patrick’s Monsters & Mayhem Collection this is another excellent horror, fast paced and deeply disturbing imagery. A dark violent history is revealed, the condemned want revenge and the island vomits up their pain and rage. Excellent, I am loving these monstrously malevolent stories 🖤
AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER
Released 10th July 2023
Thanks to Patrick for the ebook to read and review.
May 23, 2023
Dan inherits the family island from his estranged father. At first, him and his wife look at it as an opportunity for a fresh start for their family that’s barely holding it together. But, when they arrive to their new home they are informed of a deeply buried secret that could ruin everything. Join Dan on his adventure to uncover the truth, and the terrors that lie within.
I was hooked from page one, and if I didn’t have to go to work I would have absolutely read this in 1 sitting. Patrick McNulty did an amazing job with portraying the horror as events played out. I love the way everything was described. It really felt like I was watching a movie, I was sucked in and some parts really got my heart racing! I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good ghost story that just keeps giving!
I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this before it comes out. I enjoyed this book so much that I cant wait to purchase a physical copy for my bookshelf when it gets released
I was hooked from page one, and if I didn’t have to go to work I would have absolutely read this in 1 sitting. Patrick McNulty did an amazing job with portraying the horror as events played out. I love the way everything was described. It really felt like I was watching a movie, I was sucked in and some parts really got my heart racing! I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good ghost story that just keeps giving!
I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this before it comes out. I enjoyed this book so much that I cant wait to purchase a physical copy for my bookshelf when it gets released
June 6, 2023
Second book in the Monsters and Mayhem series and it doesn’t disappoint. A great, believable storyline steeped in historical events kept me enthralled from beginning to end. Well crafted in bringing the main characters together in one place. The last third of the book is a breathtaking rollercoaster ride that has you holding your book or E-reader with white knuckles. The feeling of terror throughout is palpable… can’t wait for the next in the series.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review and leave this review freely
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review and leave this review freely
June 1, 2023
McNulty def knows how to hook his readers. From the very first page to the last, the reader frantically reads to find out what happens to each character. Like “Dark Breed”, readers will not be disappointed in the author’s imagination of truly haunting events or well developed characters. If you enjoy books filled with mystery and terror, be sure to pick this book up!
May 30, 2023
Another great read from Patrick McNulty!
I am totally loving this Monsters & Mayhem collection as a whole. The sense of dread I got reading both books in this collection was real. The families he writes about feel realistic and while both books in the collection had a fair amount of background-building, I have been engaged from page one. I can't wait to read more of these stories!
Thank you Patrick, for sending me a copy of this to read. It did not disappoint!
I am totally loving this Monsters & Mayhem collection as a whole. The sense of dread I got reading both books in this collection was real. The families he writes about feel realistic and while both books in the collection had a fair amount of background-building, I have been engaged from page one. I can't wait to read more of these stories!
Thank you Patrick, for sending me a copy of this to read. It did not disappoint!
May 28, 2023
Dan thinks he has it made after inheriting a island but he was wrong.. After taking his family there to heal after a tragic loss. This island has things best left buried. Can Dan protect everyone?
June 2, 2023
When I read a book; I want to be so immersed in the reading that I feel I could be wherever the book rakes place. Well, this book did that. I felt the terror each person felt as they encountered the specters. I felt the desolation and hopelessness that each character felt. I love the idea of exploring an abandoned island but after reading this terrifying novel, I may have to rethink this notion. The author was so descriptive that I can see nightmares in my future. This second novel of this author is just a horror filled as his first novel. The terror is different but left me feeling feeling off kilter.
June 1, 2023
I was fortunate enough to get this book early and was am so glad for the opportunity to read this. I loved every minute of this book and must say it is a must-read. From the beginning, you are sucked into the mystery of Avernus Island.
Dan inherits the island, and what could be an opportunity for his family goes quickly awry. Some secrets are better left alone. Believe me I'm not looking into any wells anytime soon after reading this!
This was a fast pace book with lots of action in the end, definitely worth the read!
Dan inherits the island, and what could be an opportunity for his family goes quickly awry. Some secrets are better left alone. Believe me I'm not looking into any wells anytime soon after reading this!
This was a fast pace book with lots of action in the end, definitely worth the read!
June 14, 2023
Great story! Slow burn at the start but most definitely worth the wait. Great characters and story concept. Very well done. Will definitely read more from the author.
May 16, 2023
Patrick McNulty did it again!!!
I was so incredibly lucky to have gotten to do a beta read on the second installment of the Monsters & Mayhem series, Avernus Island, and this one did NOT disappoint! I have been obsessed with the first book, A Dark Breed since I got to do an early read earlier this year.
The start of this story does a bit of background story, but it keeps you engaged and really brings out more of the doom and gloom that I expected from this book.
Once it took off, it had me in its grips. Some people may not love as much description as he gives in his stories, but it’s the reason why his books are able to play out so well as a movie in your head. I could envision every scene like I was right there experiencing the horror myself.
I absolutely LOVED this one and give it a solid 4.5 out 5 stars! Rounded to 5 because he deserves it!
I was so incredibly lucky to have gotten to do a beta read on the second installment of the Monsters & Mayhem series, Avernus Island, and this one did NOT disappoint! I have been obsessed with the first book, A Dark Breed since I got to do an early read earlier this year.
The start of this story does a bit of background story, but it keeps you engaged and really brings out more of the doom and gloom that I expected from this book.
Once it took off, it had me in its grips. Some people may not love as much description as he gives in his stories, but it’s the reason why his books are able to play out so well as a movie in your head. I could envision every scene like I was right there experiencing the horror myself.
I absolutely LOVED this one and give it a solid 4.5 out 5 stars! Rounded to 5 because he deserves it!
May 17, 2023
Just finished!!! I’m still just reeling from all of it! First of all, the visceral & vivid descriptions of landscape/movement/emotions….is just WOW…really sucks you into a cold New England type setting filled with secrets, anxiety, and dread….literally felt my like bones were aching with Ruth’s as she pulled herself off that floor! And everything the mom went through with the loss …..her emotions just ripped out my heart and threw it into a blender…the ending could only go one way-it was the perfect ending! Really fleshed out everything to the HILT! Dark Breed was an appetizer, this was the main freaking course!!!! ❤️ 5⭐️ hands down, can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!!!!
June 2, 2023
What a read. Thank you for the Beta Copy without any expectation of a positive review. Would love to see a sequel as this was difficult to put down. What's next for the island?
May 15, 2023
Dan and Sarah are struggling. Struggling with the recent death of their youngest child, Sean. Struggling with bills from his illness and the fact that Sarah just can't get over the loss of her child.
One day a stranger arrives to take them back to Dan's childhood home. Could this be the fresh start they need?
This is a tale of grief, of hope, of love, of evil, and mostly
of revenge.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone! There are characters you will love and characters you will love to hate! The story moves along at a good pace; I didn't find that the book bogged down anywhere, it just kept barreling on.
There are lots of plot twists and turns to keep you on your toes from the first page to the last!
One of my favorite books this year!
One day a stranger arrives to take them back to Dan's childhood home. Could this be the fresh start they need?
This is a tale of grief, of hope, of love, of evil, and mostly
of revenge.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone! There are characters you will love and characters you will love to hate! The story moves along at a good pace; I didn't find that the book bogged down anywhere, it just kept barreling on.
There are lots of plot twists and turns to keep you on your toes from the first page to the last!
One of my favorite books this year!
November 28, 2023
This author likes giving families a hard time. This time it’s a husband, wife and daughter that have already had a tragic loss of another child. Things look like they may improve when they get an inheritance, but, well, you’ll see if you read the book. It is good, a nasty bit of history, combined with things going on in the present and it keeps the action and horror going. A good addition to the Monsters and Mayhem Collection, and I hope there are more to come.
June 25, 2023
-Horror on so many different levels!-
So this book is the second part of the monsters and mayhem collection, but you can read it without having read the first part as the plot and characters are completely different.
The Avernus family is having financial troubles after the death of their child. So when Dan's estranged father had died and they find out he has inherited an island, it seems like their luck is finally changing.
I don't want to spoil the story, so I will try not to give away too many details!
First of all... This author has done it again. Somehow he manages to make the characters really believable. I feel like he captured their identities, feeling, motivations, ... so well, but without it becoming too much! Especially the grief and feelings of depression of the mother, it was almost tangible and made me really feel for her.
The first half of the book was a bit slower, but kept my attention with it's eerie build-up.
When the story finally continues on the island itself, it is just filled with unnerving scenes that will creep you out!
And, just like the first book, this ending is going to stay on my mind for a long time.
I definitely recommend this one!
The tempo is a bit slower at first, but it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
So this book is the second part of the monsters and mayhem collection, but you can read it without having read the first part as the plot and characters are completely different.
The Avernus family is having financial troubles after the death of their child. So when Dan's estranged father had died and they find out he has inherited an island, it seems like their luck is finally changing.
I don't want to spoil the story, so I will try not to give away too many details!
First of all... This author has done it again. Somehow he manages to make the characters really believable. I feel like he captured their identities, feeling, motivations, ... so well, but without it becoming too much! Especially the grief and feelings of depression of the mother, it was almost tangible and made me really feel for her.
The first half of the book was a bit slower, but kept my attention with it's eerie build-up.
When the story finally continues on the island itself, it is just filled with unnerving scenes that will creep you out!
And, just like the first book, this ending is going to stay on my mind for a long time.
I definitely recommend this one!
The tempo is a bit slower at first, but it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
July 11, 2023
Another great installment in the Monsters & Mayhem Collection!
As Dan and his wife are struggling, both emotionally and financially, with the death of their son; Dan learns of his fathers unexpected death and inheritance. Viewing this as an opportunity for a change of scenery and financial help, Dan and his family return to his childhood home. Once he returns, a long held secret is revealed. A secret that could not only destroy the financial windfall that Dan had hoped for, but forever damage the Avernus name. When Dan and a team visit Avernus Island to learn the truth, things quickly take a deadly turn.
As I read this story, I was on the edge of my seat not knowing what was behind every turn of the page. It is creepy and unsettling as Dan and his family grapple with the reality of what is happening on the island while also being haunted my their sons death.
This is my second book by Patrick McNulty and I enjoy his ability to write such likable characters that I get nervous for them in what lies ahead in the macabre horror that he so brilliantly creates.
The third book in the Monsters and Mayhem Collection, God of the Dead, will be available September 2023 - and I for one cannot wait!
Thank you to @patrickmcnulty for the gifted copy of this book.
As Dan and his wife are struggling, both emotionally and financially, with the death of their son; Dan learns of his fathers unexpected death and inheritance. Viewing this as an opportunity for a change of scenery and financial help, Dan and his family return to his childhood home. Once he returns, a long held secret is revealed. A secret that could not only destroy the financial windfall that Dan had hoped for, but forever damage the Avernus name. When Dan and a team visit Avernus Island to learn the truth, things quickly take a deadly turn.
As I read this story, I was on the edge of my seat not knowing what was behind every turn of the page. It is creepy and unsettling as Dan and his family grapple with the reality of what is happening on the island while also being haunted my their sons death.
This is my second book by Patrick McNulty and I enjoy his ability to write such likable characters that I get nervous for them in what lies ahead in the macabre horror that he so brilliantly creates.
The third book in the Monsters and Mayhem Collection, God of the Dead, will be available September 2023 - and I for one cannot wait!
Thank you to @patrickmcnulty for the gifted copy of this book.
June 17, 2023
Daniel and Sarah Avernus are still trying to deal with their young son's death. Sarah is locked in a deep depression and Dan is just trying to figure out how to save their home from financial loss. When a stranger shows up at their door, Dan discovers that his estranged father has died and he has inherited an island. Maybe this inheritance will save their home and give them a chance to move on from their grief.
When they arrive at Avernus Island, things are not at all what they had envisioned. The island is devoid of plant or animal life, but full of creepy rock formations, an abandoned Army barracks, and a mysterious well. As the family along with the potential buyers explore the Island, they soon learn that there are ghosts buried there and they are out for vengeance.
This book grabbed my attention from the first and was a quick paced read. Full of horrifically creepy scenes, it is also full of grief and sorrow. The author has created an engaging tale and I highly recommend this book to any horror fans. This is a great addition to the Monsters and Mayhem collection and I look forward to reading the next installment!
When they arrive at Avernus Island, things are not at all what they had envisioned. The island is devoid of plant or animal life, but full of creepy rock formations, an abandoned Army barracks, and a mysterious well. As the family along with the potential buyers explore the Island, they soon learn that there are ghosts buried there and they are out for vengeance.
This book grabbed my attention from the first and was a quick paced read. Full of horrifically creepy scenes, it is also full of grief and sorrow. The author has created an engaging tale and I highly recommend this book to any horror fans. This is a great addition to the Monsters and Mayhem collection and I look forward to reading the next installment!
May 31, 2023
i received Avernus Island by Patrick McNulty as an ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review which follows:
Avernus Island grabs you by the throat and leaves you breathless for the remainder of the 278 pages. Everyone seems to be into genealogy right now, but what if your family history contains secrets so dark, your mind could shatter from learning the knowledge?
after an ugly fight, Dan Avernus left his father behind and never looked back. Upon news of his death and a possible large inheritance, Dan feels like maybe his life could be turning around. the grief that has enveloped his family since his son, Sean died, has nearly overwhelmed them. Could this be their chance for a new beginning?
i really loved this book. the story, the pacing, the dialog. everything was on point. the plot was so intriguing and not one seen very often.
Avernus Island is that rarity--an amazing horror find.
4 out of 5 stars.
highly recommended.
Avernus Island grabs you by the throat and leaves you breathless for the remainder of the 278 pages. Everyone seems to be into genealogy right now, but what if your family history contains secrets so dark, your mind could shatter from learning the knowledge?
after an ugly fight, Dan Avernus left his father behind and never looked back. Upon news of his death and a possible large inheritance, Dan feels like maybe his life could be turning around. the grief that has enveloped his family since his son, Sean died, has nearly overwhelmed them. Could this be their chance for a new beginning?
i really loved this book. the story, the pacing, the dialog. everything was on point. the plot was so intriguing and not one seen very often.
Avernus Island is that rarity--an amazing horror find.
4 out of 5 stars.
highly recommended.
June 27, 2023
Much like another favorite author of mine, Patrick doesn’t hold back from the terror, the endings filled with despair. Avernus Island is no exception. Dire circumstances and the death of his estranged father bring Dan, his wife Sarah, and their remaining child, Rose back to Dans childhood home. There he learns he’s inherited the island across the bay, Avernus Island. It’s not long before Ruth, his fathers best friend and housekeeper, confesses to a terrible secret. One that could cost them the sale of a lifetime.
Dan, Sarah, investors, and a father-son law officer team motor out to the island to investigate Ruth’s claim, and quickly discover the danger is all too real, and that some secrets refuse to stay dead.
Five of five stars, solidly terrifying, and with an ending that will have you wishing you’d stopped ten pages before.
Dan, Sarah, investors, and a father-son law officer team motor out to the island to investigate Ruth’s claim, and quickly discover the danger is all too real, and that some secrets refuse to stay dead.
Five of five stars, solidly terrifying, and with an ending that will have you wishing you’d stopped ten pages before.
September 14, 2023
First off, the title is awesome. From the way it sounds to the actually historical background behind it.
The rest is more like your normal level of fun. Or at least the level of fun you might have come to expect from the author, which is to say a very commercial blend of fun.
Plying the same formula as book one in Monsters and Mayhem series, A Dark Breed, this book sets the reader up with a nice, likable family and then proceeds to put them in a nightmarish situation.
Reminiscent of The Fog, with a strong emotional backbone, cinematically vivid writing, dynamic pacing, and plenty of gore and guts for seasoned genre fans, this was a pretty fun ride. Fans of conventional genre tales ought to love this.
The rest is more like your normal level of fun. Or at least the level of fun you might have come to expect from the author, which is to say a very commercial blend of fun.
Plying the same formula as book one in Monsters and Mayhem series, A Dark Breed, this book sets the reader up with a nice, likable family and then proceeds to put them in a nightmarish situation.
Reminiscent of The Fog, with a strong emotional backbone, cinematically vivid writing, dynamic pacing, and plenty of gore and guts for seasoned genre fans, this was a pretty fun ride. Fans of conventional genre tales ought to love this.
October 13, 2023
First two thirds okay. Last third just so predictable.
I really didn't think the first two thirds was that great, but I soldiered on then I got to about the 63 percent point. I made a note of that because that's where Rose had the door opened for her and I about choked. At that point, I decided I knew how this one was going to end and I was very disappointed. It ended almost exactly as I thought it would. This ending was like a bad horror movie going straight to video. Seen it a dozen times. I actually thought the author had a pretty good idea but somewhere along the line, maybe deciding on an ending, got lost and went for the easy out. Sorry. It just wasn't fun or enjoyable or original.
I really didn't think the first two thirds was that great, but I soldiered on then I got to about the 63 percent point. I made a note of that because that's where Rose had the door opened for her and I about choked. At that point, I decided I knew how this one was going to end and I was very disappointed. It ended almost exactly as I thought it would. This ending was like a bad horror movie going straight to video. Seen it a dozen times. I actually thought the author had a pretty good idea but somewhere along the line, maybe deciding on an ending, got lost and went for the easy out. Sorry. It just wasn't fun or enjoyable or original.
May 14, 2023
Revenge horror inspired by historical fact, starring vividly decaying leper wraiths hell-bent on vengeance! Family, grief, loss, and promises kept are the themes that emotionally bonded me with the main characters. And the supporting characters are equally well-developed and authentic.
I love this story, I love this series, I love McNulty's prose, and I can't wait to see what monster he writes next! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available for pre-order on Amazon now. **Don't get it confused with the "kinky fantasy island for adults" series by the same name.**
Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love this story, I love this series, I love McNulty's prose, and I can't wait to see what monster he writes next! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available for pre-order on Amazon now. **Don't get it confused with the "kinky fantasy island for adults" series by the same name.**
Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2023
It’s a fantastic story about a family’s tragedy that seems to be coming to an end but little do they know, their family’s history is too dark for them to escape.
My anxiety is at an all time high when I read anything from Patrick. He’s so good with making you feel like you are in his characters shoes. He brings in history about the island (I had no idea about this island and what they did) and I feel like it makes his books so much different than others. The history he brings in makes it feel real.
My anxiety is at an all time high when I read anything from Patrick. He’s so good with making you feel like you are in his characters shoes. He brings in history about the island (I had no idea about this island and what they did) and I feel like it makes his books so much different than others. The history he brings in makes it feel real.
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