Try Not to Burn

Try Not to Burn #1

by Michael David Matula

Shot to death in the line of duty, rookie cop Brandon Morales awakens in a much darker world than the one he left. Trying to make sense of it all, Brand stumbles across Sam and Jane, two women simply struggling to survive. With their souls hanging in the balance, and eternal damnation never more than one wrong turn away, these three strangers will need to put their trust in one another in order to stay one step ahead of the flames of Hell. But when enemies pose as trusted friends, when lost loves crumble the will to continue, and when hidden desires threaten to tear allegiances apart, it will take more than faith and determination to pass God's final test. It will take a miracle.

Genres: Horror

252 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2012

About the author

Michael David Matula is a novelist and short story writer from the Chicago area. He is the author of the TRY NOT TO BURN series, released by Post Mortem Press. His short fiction has been published in magazines, anthologies and online by DarkFuse, Sci-Fi Short Story Magazine, Sekhmet Press, and Hermit Studio.

You can always get in touch with him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MichaelDMatula or find him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MichaelDavidM...

Reviews

[Mark Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that is hard for me to review, which probably speaks to its unique blend of genres. The story of a cop who is shot by a serial killer, the serial killer is soon also killed, and they both end up in Hell City. It's a kind of underworld purgatory not for those who are completely in Hell, but certainly not Heaven, and they have all earned there way there for some small bit of evil they have done in their lives.

The setting and tone is wonderful. I pictured an urban setting of metalic run down apartment buildings, with tunnels underneath. It was vivid as a scene from the movie Sin City. The Gral are like policeman of the state, and straight out of a Halo Xbox game. Along with some big slippery snakes and demons in disguise, they make wonderful monsters. It seemed a melding of the earthy caverns of hell with a sci-fi like metallic science fiction, and an almost steampunk technology (I'm not much of a steampunker, so the association is loose.)

World-building ruled the day, and it is an awesome world with wonderful implications. For example, if you live and make it to the night time bell, you wake up the next day 'reset' with your original belongings. Ground hog day meets the matrix. Dialogue at times was transparently the author talking directly to the reader, it seemed, trying to tell them the plot and build the world in an exposition like manner, but it kept this book moving.

In this sense, the novel had a bit of the epic fantasy flavor of the characters being on a quest, although the more explicit nature of the quest isn't revealed until the end. This is one of the ways this book falls prey to sequel fever, introducing some ideas and characters you know a complete story arc should include. You expect a showdown with the serial killer who never fully shows up, just snippets of him and strong hints he'll show up in the sequel.

There was plenty of adventure during the story, but the action by itself would have been more thrilling if it was as much about the characters as the action. By the end, the characters had grown some flesh, heart, and soul that I wanted earlier on.

Certain parts I loved, some I endured, but the character of Clarence and his explanation to them of what they brought to the table held my attention perhaps the greatest. The timing of him was perfect, since it was at the end and set the stage for a new beginning.

(I received this book in exchange for a review via Bookie-monster.com)

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody’s perfect, right? We’ve all done things in our lives that are wrong, even though we are good people, right? Many of us assume that when the end of our life comes, the good we have done will far outweigh the bad and there won’t be a need to wonder the results of our judgment day. What if that isn’t exactly true? What if your soul teeters on the edge of getting “burned” before you have a chance to redeem yourself? Three souls find themselves running for their eternal lives in Hell City, chased by the demons of the underworld, each has their own reason for being there, each has committed such evil sins against God that, unless they learn to trust in each other and dig deep, they will be lost for eternity. There are many levels of trials placed before them, can anyone be trusted? Will they learn to give of themselves and earn another chance to gain a peaceful immortality? How many levels of trials must they endure until they have atoned for their sins?

Try Not to Burn by Michael David Matula opens the gates to hell with his dark fantasy, giving us a frightening look at the unknown. The “burning” hurdles he creates for his three main characters, a policeman, a bank robber and a broken-hearted teen would test the mettle of a saint. Written with dark and ominous detail, we never know who to trust and his imaginative world is frightening, unstable and seemingly inescapable. From the first page to the last, you’ll be transported into another place, feeling the evil, the fear and the danger that lurks around each corner. At no point is the path clear, as we follow alongside these three souls through this dark labyrinth in the run for their lives and a way out of Hell City. It’s enough to make you think twice about listening to the little devil on your shoulder saying, “Just do it, you won’t get caught!”…Maybe not in this lifetime…

I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review!

Publication Date: September 23 2012
Publisher: Post Mortem Press
ISBN: 9780615699004
Page Count: 252
Genre: Dark Fantasy/Adult Fiction
Available from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.

[Kathy Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Matula’s TRY NOT TO BURN is one hell of a story, sort of a mash-up of “The Matrix” and Dante’s “Inferno.” The novel focuses on 22-year-old cop Brand Morales who is murdered by serial killer Victor Gregory Rellik in the first few pages. When Brand “wakes up,” he finds himself “in black,” a senseless place without form or structure. He hears voices, but can’t make sense of them. Eventually, as he acclimates to his new surroundings, he realizes he is in a run-down apartment with two women, Jane and Sam. As they explain it to him, he’s dead and has been relegated to the horrific “Hell City,” a sort of purgatory for the worst kinds of sinners who died without repentance. This is not a place any of us would like to visit – it’s always night, and cyborg demons called Gral haunt the streets, blowing people up with huge guns called Grallers (when the already-dead residents of Hell City are killed, they burst into flames, never to be seen again – this is called being “Burned,” and Brand and his new friends are desperate to avoid it). There are other demons two, including gigantic horned snakes and creatures able to bore through solid rock. And everywhere Brand goes, he meets people he can’t trust – then again, that’s pretty much par for the course in a place called Hell City!

Matula’s story is original and engaging. Brand is a likable hero, and I spent most of the first part of the novel wondering what exactly he did to justify his hellacious afterlife (don’t worry, he does get to tell his story, but not until almost the half-way point). As in Dante’s epic poem, Matula’s Hell is God’s creation, even though evil demons populate it. As Jane explains it, “God makes the rules here. Anything’s possible if He wants it to be.” Which suggests that there is hope for our three hapless adventurers. And adventurers they do become. Brand discovers that evil serial killer Rellik (the one who killed him in the first place) is also a resident of Hell City, which gives Brand a purpose beyond just surviving day to day. He also learns that Hell City is just the first “plane” of a much more complex afterlife, which makes chasing after Rellik (and moving toward his own redemption) much more difficult.

On a more critical note, I will say that there are a number of grammatical errors in TRY NOT TO BURN – Matula seems to have particular trouble with the words “laying” and “laid,” which irritates my English teacher brain (I doubt it will bother most readers, though). Additionally, there’s a lot of exposition in this story, and not a whole lot happens in the first third of it – basically, Jane and Sam are explaining how things work to Brand, and he’s trying to get used to his new existence. Eventually, the plot picks up, and by the mid-point, things are happening almost too quickly to keep up with. Just be prepared for the slow start, and know that the story does deliver in the end.

Finally, this is apparently the start of a series. I didn’t know that when I agreed to read it – I’m not a huge fan of serialized fiction, which is all the rage these days (is anything being published that is NOT part of a series?). The ending of TRY NOT TO BURN is definitely unfinished – the fate of the central characters is certainly not resolved. This doesn’t mean the book isn’t interesting or worth reading, only that it’s only the first part of a much longer story.

I recommend TRY NOT TO BURN for fans of epic horror stories set in strange and convoluted worlds chock-full of mind-bending rules and God-driven tests of faith and character. This is a very big story, even though the focus is on three very small people. In Dante’s version of Hell, he reveals that the only way to salvation is through an understanding of sin. It’s the same with TRY NOT TO BURN – only through immense and harrowing trials can Brand and his friends move beyond Hell City to whatever awaits beyond. It’s a good story and definitely worth a read. Just be prepared for a cliff-hanger ending . . . and a wait for the next installment.

[Please note: I was provided a copy of this book for review; the opinions express here are my own.]

[Rich D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Submitted by the author for review

Rookie police officer Brandon Morales finds himself in Hell City after being shot to death in the line of duty by notorious serial killer Victor Gregory Rellik. His journey beings in utter darkness in which he is robbed of all of his senses. He can't feel anything, see anything or even speak; all he is left with is the recollection of his run in with Rellik and a host of questions about his fate. As Brand runs through all the possible scenarios, he hears a voice.

"How long do you think it'll be before he wakes up?"

Brand identifies the voice as belonging to a young woman speaking to her friend and listens to them offer up theories about who he is and what he did to end up in Hell City. Brand finally awakes in a run-down apartment shared by the two voices - Sam Reiss and Jane Calrin, two 'mates of the city. Sam and Jane fill Brand in on the workings of Hell City, a bleak place with a dark sky devoid of any stars or moon, identical rundown apartment buildings and roads lined with flickering street lamps. The trio decides to stick together and brave the dangers of Hell City in an effort to find a way out and what follows is a harrowing journey through the darkest corners of the afterlife.

Matula offers a unique spin on the afterlife theme by adding his own rules. All of a person's possessions they had when they died come with them and there is seemingly no escape from Hell City unless you are burned; consumed in a ball of fire after suffering a mortal wound. The final bell that signals the end of each day was also an interesting plot device. Everything is replenished after it rings; all injuries are healed and supplies revert back to their original levels. While this seems like it offers the characters an advantage over their adversaries, Matula adds an interesting twist that not only evens the odds, but places the characters in even greater danger.

Another strength of Try Not To Burn is in the detailed depiction of Hell City's various locales and inhabitants. The city is populated by horrifying human-cyborg hybrids called Gral, which conduct violent raids and drag their victims away in what appears to be a recruitment attempt. Eden, the city's serene looking garden, is home to invisible creatures that lurk in your peripheral vision and can attack with blazing fast speed. The horror continues underground with the introduction of giant snakes, leeches and other nightmare-inducing monsters.

Matula's debut novel is an action-packed genre mash-up with a well-crafted mythology, inventive plot twists and a slew of interesting characters. The only problem I had with the story was the introduction of one of the villains. There is a section told from his point of view and then he disappears from the rest of the story aside from a few mentions by other characters. This sets up the potential sequels well and is an interesting glimpse at his personality, but is a jarring transition within the context of this novel. Overall, Try Not To Burn is a highly enjoyable read and I can't wait to read the other books in the series!

[Mia Darien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had the feeling of those old horror stories–a movie, a book, a “what would you do” scenario told at slumber parties: you wake up in a room with several strangers, what do you do?

But I liked that!

Matula is a very competent writer. We go several chapters without an actual change of scenery, but you don’t mind. The characters and mystery engage you enough to keep your attention, and the story flows well enough to carry you right along.

I’m always fascinated by unique or different depictions of Hell and Purgatory, the darker and unusual settings. Matula provides an interesting scenario, blending the spiritual, the emotional, the physical; merging past, present, future; bringing religious concepts without necessarily any specific religion, so it has a general appeal and fascination without being “preachy.”

This book brings in another thing I love: characters living in the moral grey. You know from the start that our Main Characters would not be there if they hadn’t done something to earn it, but you root for them anyways; even after you learn what they did. You’re still there with them.

Really, my only complaint is that we spend more than a third of the book from one Perspective and then suddenly go to others, which is something that always bothers me. I am, apparently, the Point of View police. I like consistency. Either stick with the one, or mix them from the start.

And, of course, there was that one moment when I was almost shouting, “Not the red pill!” (You’ll understand when you read it.)

I’ll warn anyone who reads that this is not a one-shot book. By the latter couple of chapters, I knew there was going to have to be a book two (at least) as not everything wraps up in this one. We have a bit of a cliff-hanger, but I liked the rest of the book enough to forgive the author. ;-)

There is one plot device too oft used (especially in horror stories) that bothers the hell out of me and given the setting, I worried that this book would go there and it didn’t. I was pleased with that.

Really, I…don’t have much to complain about. It was an interesting and engaging read, fast-paced and fascinating. It’s 5 stars, and I’ll definitely be looking for the next book.

[Laura Emmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked by the very beginning of TRY NOT TO BURN. Rookie San Franciscan police officer, Brandon Morales, never saw the gunshot that killed him, just the notorious serial killer's grin before the world went black.

The premise of fighting your way out of purgatory is superb. TRY TO NOT BURN forces the reader to consider not just the deepest morality questions, but to look at their own behavior. Traffic violations and little white lies aren’t enough to condemn a soul to purgatory. Only a cardinal sin can seal that fate. Brandon can’t remember what he did to end up there. What he knows is he isn’t alone, having landed literally in-between two women after death.

Samantha Reiss, a tough-as-nails bank robber who died from lethal injection, and Jane Calrin, a teenage girl who was so horrified after committing an unthinkable crime of passion, she ate a bullet.

Purgatory is a lot like a maximum security penitentiary, if the warden left all the cells unlocked and dismissed the guards. Most of the inmates deserve to be here, or worse. Some of them enjoy it, finding satisfaction in an infinite number of potential victims.

Brandon doesn’t know who to trust, but he knows he’ll need allies to survive. Sam and Jane appear to be like him, worthy of redemption.

With their souls hanging in the balance, and eternal damnation never more than one wrong turn away, these three strangers will need to learn to trust one another as each day they try to not get burned.

The Gauntlet trials won’t be easy. Purgatory creates more obstacles when the current ones are overcome. The city park, Eden, is anything but a paradise. The underground hideout, the Grotto, is no sanctuary.

When trusted friends become monsters, and the pain of lost loves destroys their will to continue, they’ll need more than faith and determination to pass God's final test.

They'll need a miracle.

TRY NOT TO BURN is an excellent psychological thriller combined with dynamic action sequences and intense character portrayals. I highly recommend it to all readers over the age of fifteen.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We first meet Officer Brandon Morales at what should have been a routine traffic stop. The only difference is that this traffic stop ends his mortal life and thrusts him into Hell City. Hell City is a purgatory for molesters, killers and any other kind of deviant you can think of. When Brand awakes he meets two women Jane and Sam. Both have managed to survive Hell City but the dangers that are occurring daily threaten everyone’s lives. Though they are already dead the threat of getting Burned is imminent and an idea that is a fate worse than death. So, the trio set out to survive together. Unfortunately, they find allies aren’t really allies and trust is wavering and very fragile. When Brand almost gets burned more than once an option to survive and possibly get out is given to him. He must find the soul could help him and his friends survive and get redemption. The only problem is that is not as easy as it sounds and they don’t know who they are looking for. In a place where devils abound they must find a possible angel to guide them to safety and life after death. Can the allies work together to survive or will obstacles and diversions tear them and their chances for surviving apart?

This was a really enjoyable read. I thought the premise was unique and well written. The story itself is enough to scare people into being a better person. I really enjoyed the back stories of the characters and the opportunities and challenges that are given to the trio. I thought Brand’s character was good, but really felt that his back story of his purpose of being thrown into Hell City was a bit strained considering Brand became a police officer for reasons other than those of why he was in purgatory. I also thought Jane and Sam were wonderful supporting characters that both helped the story and Brand’s character to grow. Overall, it was a great read and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good paranormal suspense book. It gives the reader so much to enjoy and reads very well.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also posted on my blog http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2014...

Straight away I loved the concept for Try Not to Burn. Brand, Sam and Jane are all dead and yet find themselves in Hell City, where with no way out, the only thing to do is try not to Burn. It was a great, original concept and one that worked really well.

The world-building in this book was fantastic. This was definitely the best aspect of Michael Matula’s writing for me as he transported me in to this world – one where once the bell rings and the day ends, you get up the next morning with everything back to how it was the day before. So, you’re hungry and eat the sandwich and lasagne from Jane’s bag? It’ll be back the next day… There were so many great things about the world the author built up in this book that it was so captivating to read.

The suspense was at a high in Try Not to Burn. It had me rooting for the three main characters, Brand, Sam and Jane throughout, who despite their personal flaws, were characters you want to see survive. The pacing switched a lot in this book. The first and last third of the book seemed fast-paced whereas the middle seemed to be a lot slower and more drawn-out. I was mostly engaged with this book but there were a couple of moments where it didn’t have my full attention because some parts seemed to go on for a bit too long.

However, once I got towards the end, this wasn’t really an issue and my full attention was regained. I loved the ending. I’d spent a lot of time throughout Try Not to Burn predicting how things were going to turn out but I didn’t expect what actually did happen. It was a brave ending by Matula in what was a really strong thriller.

4/5.

*Book gifted for honest review.

[Suleika Santana -All About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Brand, Sam and Jane. They are all dead. In the beginning of the story we meet Brand, he is a cop. He gets shot by a serial killer on a routine traffic stop. He didn't even see it coming. He wakes up in Hell city. He was lucky that he woke up were Sam and Jane were staying. He has to learn many things to be able to stay "alive" in Hell city. When the "mates" (that's the term they use for the souls in Hell city) die, they burn. They burst into flames and vanish. The three of them form a bond and become friends. Hell city is dangerous, there are monsters and what they call "Gral" everywhere and these monsters want to burn all the mates. So many things happened to Brand, Sam and Jane. Brand almost got burned 3 times. On the story we see all the difficulties that they had to endure.
I loved the story! It's different, keeps you guessing what's going to happen next. I laughed a few times, you won't be bored. There is no love story but I kept thinking that maybe on the next book we might see Brand and Jane together, I hope so anyways. This is such an awesome book! It has a cliffhanger so be warned.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ecopy of this book for an honest review.

When I started this book I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to get into it but I was so wrong. It quickly grabbed my interest and I wasn’t ready for it to end. I was disappointed when I looked online for a sequel and there isn’t one.

Try Not to Burn is a story about people who have ended up in purgatory. These aren’t people who are there because of some white lies or other “minor” sins, but because of the biggies like murder. I found Michael David Matula’s version of purgatory interesting. It’s not anything like I have pictured it. And having grown up Catholic, I have pictured it a few times.

I liked the main characters, Brand, Sam, and Jane. Even though they were wary of each other at first, they eventually opened up and I felt I knew why they had a chance to not burn (or go to hell for eternity – at least that’s what they believe happens when someone burns).

The author has a writing style that is easy to follow and his descriptions were such that I was able to picture Hell City and all of its beings.

I liked this book but the way it ended suggests that there will be another one. I’m hoping…

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style, like the setting of the story, is stark, bleak, and understated. And while the dialogue isn't the best you'll ever read, the characters are fantastic, and the story is unique, which is something that can be hard to find. Everyone has thought about purgatory and hell, but few people have taken the time to get those thoughts down into something as interesting as this book. I think "interesting" is the best way to describe this book: you just never really know what to expect.

If you're looking for something different, a horror novel that doesn't quite fit in with most of the novels that you've read before, give it a shot! It's a good, quick summer read.

[Angelika Rust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read some other, lighter and quirkier stories by Mike Matula, I was surprised that this book hit on a far more serious note. Not the laugh-out-loud experience I'd come to know of the author, but a very well thought-out, action-laden story. Mr. Matula obviously is far more than a comedy writer, and I'm truly looking forward to the sequel.

[Felicia A Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

YAYYYYY! Another editing project is now a published book!

In Michael David Matula's Try Not to Burn, three strangers must join forces in order to escape from Hell.

I have this filed on my "horror" shelf, only because it kind of defies characterization. You need to check this one out!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very exciting, action packed book. Leaves you hanging at the end. I am sure that means it is meant to have more books to complete the story. I am looking forward to reading about what happens on the second plane because I absolutely hate cliff hangers!

[Stephanie Beebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I am so glad that the second book is out. It starts where this one leaves off, so if you pick up this one you should go ahead and get the next one too!

[Eli Constant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lasting, reimagining of the waiting place for souls. A+ work.