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Psycho Series #1
Psycho Save Us
Two young girls with a gift for telepathy are abducted off the streets of Atlanta by a ruthless ring of human traffickers and child pornographers, and their only hope is Spencer Pelletier, a career criminal recently escaped from Leavenworth Penitentiary.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
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2140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 13, 2013
Chad Huskins' Psycho Save Us is a difficult book to pigeon-hole. It is horrific but not a horror novel. There are essential supernatural elements but they are secondary to the interplay of emotions and socio-psychological tragedy that is so prevalent throughout. Call this a psychological supernatural-horror-thriller if you must but the fact that this strange and often unpleasant but fascinating novel does not cater to the reader's expectations is its biggest strength. Chadkin's novel may seem an easy read due to the author's fast paced style, his sure grasp of plotting and the ability to keep the reader's involvement. But it is relentlessly downbeat even through all the non-stop action. The plot involves two small girls who are kidnapped by a child porn ring. Their only hope for rescue relies on the psychic connection between one of the girls and a escaped convict/psychopath. Even though this connection is mostly unexplained, the author builds it up well. Spencer Pelletier may be one of the most scary and unlikable "heroes" I've ever seen but he is a writer's dream; complex and mysterious. Kaley is a believable girl with psychic powers she barely understand. A minor issue is that her character is so strong that it weakens the depiction of her sister. But much of the success in this story hinges on the interactions between Kaley and Spencer and that is what drives this tense tale.
Overall this is a emotionally rough read and I cannot understate that this book is often tough going in theme and plot. Yet those who like their thrillers to be immersed in the frequently distasteful undertones of real life will enjoy this novel. For that matter, anyone who enjoy masterful and courageous storytelling will not be disappointed. I give it a high recommendation and four and a half stars.
Overall this is a emotionally rough read and I cannot understate that this book is often tough going in theme and plot. Yet those who like their thrillers to be immersed in the frequently distasteful undertones of real life will enjoy this novel. For that matter, anyone who enjoy masterful and courageous storytelling will not be disappointed. I give it a high recommendation and four and a half stars.
December 17, 2012
Written with a mature audience in mind, this story stretches your emotions at every corner. The author lets you look through the eyes of a child and then takes you down a twisted path into a den of evil that most of us cannot fathom. Kaley and Shannon were born in the Bluff, an unsavory part of Atlanta, and their mother is the drug ridden, neglectful Jovita who regularly leaves the girls to look after themselves. This platform leads the girls off the precipice of innocence and into a world of horror and, unexpectedly, into an unusual relationship with the twisted mind of psychopath Spencer Pelletier. Spencer Pelletier is wanted for breaking out of prison after his latest slaughtering of six people. As the police pursue Spencer, Spencer is tracking down Kaley and Shannon, who have been abducted by the "vory v zakone" - a Russian human trafficking ring, through telepathic abilities. However, the real story is in the details.
If you enjoy works akin to the Devine Comedy as well as movies like Hellraiser, then you will absolutely devour the landscape of horror created in the latter part of the book. Real Hell or not, the retribution being painted before you makes you believe that Hell could be just how the author composed it. Poor souls crying out for companionship, but never satiated. The physically torture of being pulled in to the walls by bodiless hands all while engulfed by never ending sorrow and fear that saturates every room of the hostage house as Spencer carries out what he came for. The monster that is created is an all consuming fire that seems to take on a life of its own. Or is it being controlled by some other force?
This author has a talent for personifying life that we don't always see as human and crafting emotions into words that are not easily expressed. However, some of the "ghetto dialog" that takes place between the supporting characters, such as Mac, a black man who works at a convenience store/burger joint, and Spencer, to me, seemed doubtful. My world is far removed from the ghettos of Atlanta, so for me the conversations came off as too uneducated. (I am still wondering if there really are people out there who speak like that.) There is also a good bit of Russian dialog that is not translated and cannot be derived from the narrative surrounding the circumstances. I found that a bit unfortunate - I like to know everything that is available to me in a book. (But fret not! I had someone who could translate.) In addition, there were a few grammatical snags that caused me to do a mental double take, but could have possibly been the fault of my Kindle.
Now, I will warn you; some of the scenes in this novel are vulgar and graphic. Half way through this book you might find yourself thinking, "How could a sane person write this?" I know at one point I did. However, after taking a step back and reconciling the book as a whole, I came to the conclusion that the author did not intend to glorify or condone the criminal acts that take place. My take away from this book was for the author to evince the abominable operations of a world most of us will thankfully never experience. If you approach this story with maturity and an open mind, I believe you will understand the purpose this story serves.
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
-Aristotle
If you enjoy works akin to the Devine Comedy as well as movies like Hellraiser, then you will absolutely devour the landscape of horror created in the latter part of the book. Real Hell or not, the retribution being painted before you makes you believe that Hell could be just how the author composed it. Poor souls crying out for companionship, but never satiated. The physically torture of being pulled in to the walls by bodiless hands all while engulfed by never ending sorrow and fear that saturates every room of the hostage house as Spencer carries out what he came for. The monster that is created is an all consuming fire that seems to take on a life of its own. Or is it being controlled by some other force?
This author has a talent for personifying life that we don't always see as human and crafting emotions into words that are not easily expressed. However, some of the "ghetto dialog" that takes place between the supporting characters, such as Mac, a black man who works at a convenience store/burger joint, and Spencer, to me, seemed doubtful. My world is far removed from the ghettos of Atlanta, so for me the conversations came off as too uneducated. (I am still wondering if there really are people out there who speak like that.) There is also a good bit of Russian dialog that is not translated and cannot be derived from the narrative surrounding the circumstances. I found that a bit unfortunate - I like to know everything that is available to me in a book. (But fret not! I had someone who could translate.) In addition, there were a few grammatical snags that caused me to do a mental double take, but could have possibly been the fault of my Kindle.
Now, I will warn you; some of the scenes in this novel are vulgar and graphic. Half way through this book you might find yourself thinking, "How could a sane person write this?" I know at one point I did. However, after taking a step back and reconciling the book as a whole, I came to the conclusion that the author did not intend to glorify or condone the criminal acts that take place. My take away from this book was for the author to evince the abominable operations of a world most of us will thankfully never experience. If you approach this story with maturity and an open mind, I believe you will understand the purpose this story serves.
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
-Aristotle
September 7, 2013
I have to take a deep breath before I get started on this one, because it's hard to extol a book where the subject matter is as deeply disturbing as this, especially in our times. But Chad Haskins' novel took me on one of the darkest journeys I've ever been and educated me at the same time.
The craft of his writing spans a number of genres: crime, thriller, chiller, supernatural, horror and tells the story of a night where an escaped psychopath witnesses the abduction of two sisters, Kaley and Shannon.
Haskins uses the ghetto wasteland of a town in Atlanta with its extreme social dysfunctions, to show the ease in which an organised child pornography ring abduct neglected children and brutally subjects them to the worst torments imaginable.
I was afraid the book would go in to graphic details of acts and had that been the case I would have had to stop reading. Make no mistake: it is graphic, but it is in the cleverly used narration through Kaley's sense of sound and psychic ability that we experience the terror with her.
The psychic connection between Kaley and Spencer is totally credible and despite the police being woven into the story and having their part to play, it takes a monster to be on the trail of other monsters.
There is a lot of credibility in the novel and the way in which the supernatural threads its way through the story without being fantastical is amazingly done. Even at the point where I had to suspend belief it still, in retrospect, showed how madness can create terror, how terror can lead to madness and pychosis exist without cause.
A must-read, but reader beware.
The craft of his writing spans a number of genres: crime, thriller, chiller, supernatural, horror and tells the story of a night where an escaped psychopath witnesses the abduction of two sisters, Kaley and Shannon.
Haskins uses the ghetto wasteland of a town in Atlanta with its extreme social dysfunctions, to show the ease in which an organised child pornography ring abduct neglected children and brutally subjects them to the worst torments imaginable.
I was afraid the book would go in to graphic details of acts and had that been the case I would have had to stop reading. Make no mistake: it is graphic, but it is in the cleverly used narration through Kaley's sense of sound and psychic ability that we experience the terror with her.
The psychic connection between Kaley and Spencer is totally credible and despite the police being woven into the story and having their part to play, it takes a monster to be on the trail of other monsters.
There is a lot of credibility in the novel and the way in which the supernatural threads its way through the story without being fantastical is amazingly done. Even at the point where I had to suspend belief it still, in retrospect, showed how madness can create terror, how terror can lead to madness and pychosis exist without cause.
A must-read, but reader beware.
November 20, 2012
When picking up a book by an independent writer you always know you're taking a bit of a gamble. Will the writing be up to par? Will the story flow make sense? Will the plot have any sort of drive? What's even more of a risk is picking up a book by an independent writer that is so incredibly difficult to slip into a neat genre definition. It's easy to give a pass to a novel that is written in a genre you have a soft spot for, but if you can exactly define a category for Psycho Save Us, then you're a far better man than I.
So, here we are. I found myself with this novel that I knew little about, by an author I knew next to nothing about, written in a genre that can't be defined, and there was only one thing for me to do. Read. I am a slow, ponderous reader. It takes me longer to finish a book then most anyone I know, and yet I finished this story in three days. I flipped digital page after digital page, refusing to stop, needing to see what would happen next because this story was unlike any I'd ever read before. Unto the very last page of the book I wasn't entirely certain how thing were going to end for the main characters. I loved this book.
The perspective rolls between a few different main characters, and each feels unique and compelling. Huskins knows how to create characters that live and breath (and occasionally cackle manically), and he knows how to shape drama and keep a reader on the edge of their seat. He'll throw kindling on the fire of your rage, only to quench it a moment later in a chill sorrow that will make your heart honestly ache. The blending of supernatural elements into a world that is too painfully real is done with such dark grace that it is immediately believable and visceral.
You will applaud a psychopath as he unleashes his psychotic glee on a horde of vileness worse than himself, and you'll feel guilty a moment later for finding yourself in the cheering section of someone who can do such awful things. You will feel your own hope rise only to be smashed again and again as terrible things grow into even more terrible things until the novel finally reaches a hellish peak of insanity from which you're not sure there is any return.
Gods, it's a fabulous ride. For $1 or for $10, this story is ABSOLUTELY worth your time.
Cautionary: This book contains some dark, horrible things, but they are in service to delivering this story, and it wouldn't be the same without them.
So, here we are. I found myself with this novel that I knew little about, by an author I knew next to nothing about, written in a genre that can't be defined, and there was only one thing for me to do. Read. I am a slow, ponderous reader. It takes me longer to finish a book then most anyone I know, and yet I finished this story in three days. I flipped digital page after digital page, refusing to stop, needing to see what would happen next because this story was unlike any I'd ever read before. Unto the very last page of the book I wasn't entirely certain how thing were going to end for the main characters. I loved this book.
The perspective rolls between a few different main characters, and each feels unique and compelling. Huskins knows how to create characters that live and breath (and occasionally cackle manically), and he knows how to shape drama and keep a reader on the edge of their seat. He'll throw kindling on the fire of your rage, only to quench it a moment later in a chill sorrow that will make your heart honestly ache. The blending of supernatural elements into a world that is too painfully real is done with such dark grace that it is immediately believable and visceral.
You will applaud a psychopath as he unleashes his psychotic glee on a horde of vileness worse than himself, and you'll feel guilty a moment later for finding yourself in the cheering section of someone who can do such awful things. You will feel your own hope rise only to be smashed again and again as terrible things grow into even more terrible things until the novel finally reaches a hellish peak of insanity from which you're not sure there is any return.
Gods, it's a fabulous ride. For $1 or for $10, this story is ABSOLUTELY worth your time.
Cautionary: This book contains some dark, horrible things, but they are in service to delivering this story, and it wouldn't be the same without them.
November 2, 2017
I totally forgot i hadnt reviewed this one so here we go, short and snappy.
Psycho save us would have been a 5 star read had the writing been a little better. Im no author, i don't fully understand which comma goes where etc etc, but even i rolled my eyes at some of the obvious spelling and grammar mistakes in this one. That being said the book does steadily get better as it goes on so get through those initial chapters and it gets easier.
This book is dark. Like, really dark. Literally the utter depths that human depravity can sink to is explored here and it isn't sugarcoated. One scene in particular truly shocked me, just when i thought the author wasn't going to go there aswell.
As far as characters go, i dont think ive met a more interesting one than the protagonist/antagonist in this one. I loved the fact that anything could have happened with him and thus the book coukd have gone in any direction. It was refreshing having no clue which path it would take.
What i loved about it though was the ending. At times reminiscent of the best that Clive Barker ever came up with, this book doesnt just cross the line, it scissor kicks over it with no pants on. I imagine some readers will be totally put off by it. Not me. I love that shit.
Ill definitely be checking out the next in the series in the near future.
Psycho save us would have been a 5 star read had the writing been a little better. Im no author, i don't fully understand which comma goes where etc etc, but even i rolled my eyes at some of the obvious spelling and grammar mistakes in this one. That being said the book does steadily get better as it goes on so get through those initial chapters and it gets easier.
This book is dark. Like, really dark. Literally the utter depths that human depravity can sink to is explored here and it isn't sugarcoated. One scene in particular truly shocked me, just when i thought the author wasn't going to go there aswell.
As far as characters go, i dont think ive met a more interesting one than the protagonist/antagonist in this one. I loved the fact that anything could have happened with him and thus the book coukd have gone in any direction. It was refreshing having no clue which path it would take.
What i loved about it though was the ending. At times reminiscent of the best that Clive Barker ever came up with, this book doesnt just cross the line, it scissor kicks over it with no pants on. I imagine some readers will be totally put off by it. Not me. I love that shit.
Ill definitely be checking out the next in the series in the near future.
December 4, 2013
First, this was a refreshing break from the usual read, and meant for mature readers. That being said, Chad is very good at articulating sensitive and impactful scenes. He brought the concept of hell to life without mercy. The characters felt real and the gritty pictures he painted were just mesmerizing. A definite page turner! The last chapters of the book left me on the edge of my seat, and I will not be forgetting the character Spencer any time soon. Chad Huskins scratched an itch I didn't know was there. Thank you.
I tried reading this during my work breaks, and yep.... I was late clocking back in several times. Worth it.
Just take a deep breathe and read it.
**I'm just too excited to not mention another Chad Huskins' book, Khan in Rasputin's Shadow. Intense to the 5th dimension.
I tried reading this during my work breaks, and yep.... I was late clocking back in several times. Worth it.
Just take a deep breathe and read it.
**I'm just too excited to not mention another Chad Huskins' book, Khan in Rasputin's Shadow. Intense to the 5th dimension.
December 5, 2012
Personally, the first half of this book made me very uncomfortable. But I simply could not put it down! I was captivated by these characters, especially Spencer, but I was never able to anticipate them. Fair warning to all, this book goes to some dark places, but its a ride you don't want to miss!
July 9, 2023
Nahh this ain't it. Like it's a good book but it's just not for me. There's way too much torture and gore in this book rather than the actual concept. I don't want to scare anyone from reading this book cause it's actually pretty good but idk I just don't like that type of stuff. Like I get the build of the characters and the emotional attachment were supposed to have for them, but I just wanna know the powers. But maybe that's just the comic book fan in me.
December 8, 2012
Placing this story in a specific Genre is extremely difficult. Its story is thrilling, as well as frightening. Its characters - all of them, not just Spencer - are terrifying. There is an undercurrent of paranormal activity throughout the story. And, though I did not even realize it was the case until I finished the novel, the entirety of the story happens over the course of one night.
The terrifying ordeal Kelly and her sister Shannon face is one that is all the more disturbing for the reality it portrays. I am typically wary of any story that involve subjects as controversial as underage sex-trafficking, and before I read this book I would never have guessed that such a story could be as gripping and intriguing as this one.
But Huskins balances the graphic reality taking place in this dark world with expert grace. He never crosses the line, sacrificing story or character for explicit detail. But don't be confused, this story is a graphic, visceral, terrifying ride.
It's hard to say more without spoiling the plot (and it would be a shame to ruin the explosive ending), but suffice it to say that if I had to describe this book in as few words as possible, it would be this: The Shinning meets Carrie!
The terrifying ordeal Kelly and her sister Shannon face is one that is all the more disturbing for the reality it portrays. I am typically wary of any story that involve subjects as controversial as underage sex-trafficking, and before I read this book I would never have guessed that such a story could be as gripping and intriguing as this one.
But Huskins balances the graphic reality taking place in this dark world with expert grace. He never crosses the line, sacrificing story or character for explicit detail. But don't be confused, this story is a graphic, visceral, terrifying ride.
It's hard to say more without spoiling the plot (and it would be a shame to ruin the explosive ending), but suffice it to say that if I had to describe this book in as few words as possible, it would be this: The Shinning meets Carrie!
November 29, 2013
What? What the heck am I missing here? I feel like the universe is playing some sort of sick joke on me as I see that this book has such high reviews both on Goodreads AND Amazon.
I truly cannot fathom how this book has such high ratings. This book is filled with flaws, cliches, and predictable writing. As I read it I felt as if I was reading something I wrote in high school during my "edgy writing" phase. I don't get how an editor could let this book slide the way it did and it could get such high reviews. For example, at NO point in the entire novel does the "psycho" character of the book ever use the word "savvy," and then all of a sudden in the last chapter or so he uses that word SEVEN times all within a few pages (I used my Kindle search feature to check, and yes, it was used 7 times in ONLY the last chapter).
The story had a lot of potential. This could have been a really interesting novel, but the extreme lack of quality in the writing ruined it for me. Between general writing flaws to poor characterization, I was constantly saying "Are you kidding me?" while reading it.
I wanted to stop during the last couple chapters, but it was one of those things where I was so close I felt like I needed to just get through it. And let me tell you, it was rough.
I truly cannot fathom how this book has such high ratings. This book is filled with flaws, cliches, and predictable writing. As I read it I felt as if I was reading something I wrote in high school during my "edgy writing" phase. I don't get how an editor could let this book slide the way it did and it could get such high reviews. For example, at NO point in the entire novel does the "psycho" character of the book ever use the word "savvy," and then all of a sudden in the last chapter or so he uses that word SEVEN times all within a few pages (I used my Kindle search feature to check, and yes, it was used 7 times in ONLY the last chapter).
The story had a lot of potential. This could have been a really interesting novel, but the extreme lack of quality in the writing ruined it for me. Between general writing flaws to poor characterization, I was constantly saying "Are you kidding me?" while reading it.
I wanted to stop during the last couple chapters, but it was one of those things where I was so close I felt like I needed to just get through it. And let me tell you, it was rough.
December 28, 2015
Decent
I wish the book had been more crime based toward the end. It took on a paranormal, magical tone instead of focusing on the psychopathology. The book was a good read and interesting but I became annoyed toward the end when "hell" was made into a reality rather than the psychopath doing his dirty deeds and\or saving the girl.
I wish the book had been more crime based toward the end. It took on a paranormal, magical tone instead of focusing on the psychopathology. The book was a good read and interesting but I became annoyed toward the end when "hell" was made into a reality rather than the psychopath doing his dirty deeds and\or saving the girl.
January 14, 2013
This book was gripping, disturbing, shocking and completely ... wow. I loved it. I wouldn't recommend it to younger readers, but it's a great book for the mature audience.
May 2, 2024
Would have been a solid 4-star story but for one thing, and that is negative oracle-ing. What I mean by that is a tendency to insert some cynical remark about the far future every few pages. Like when you're reading about the struggles of the characters, and suddenly the author makes sure you know that it is all useless as they will end up depressed druggie. Are they enjoying some fight back against evil? Know that this character will end up as a traumatized therapy coacher for life. I know that these inferences are meant to increase the emotional impact of the scene, but for me, they serve the opposite purpose and I just find them really annoying.
July 26, 2016
Does laughing out loud at a psychopath's shenanigans make me a psychopath as well? These and other wonderfully odd thoughts ran through my mind as I read Psycho Save Us. Chad Huskin's psychotic antihero, Spencer Pelletier, is wickedly inventive. I took inordinate delight in how, at a young age, Spencer learned to self-parent his inner Dexter in a most creative, unexpected, and useful manner. Smart man, that Spence. What keeps him ahead of the Feds is that they view him as merely a blunt instrument of evil, when he is really so much more. Though his actions are dark, dirty, and deadly, they are not necessarily senseless -- there is a Spence sense, a loony logic at work. And while no manner of law enforcement seems capable of containing him, Spencer is no match for young Kaley Dupre...little black girl from the hood.
What is most true in Kaley's life is also true in real life: If you continually ignore that still, small voice in your head, you be in for a world of hurt. Kaley has her reason's for ignoring her gift. But in doing so, she ends up in a real world horror story. It is only when pressed in a life or death situation that Kaley learns to reach for her dormant skills, which she uses to connect to Spence. One greets this connection with open curiosity and the other with dark despair, but it awakens heretofore unknown emotions in both of them and sets up interesting possibilities for the sequel. I am not easily surprised, but I did not see the climax coming. It was horrific, yet organic, and incorporated elements of both meta- and quantum physics. For fans of modern horror, there are lots of gruesome details to digest. Be forewarned that as modern horror, the monstrosities lie closer to home and there are uncomfortable subject matters that are not for the feint of heart.
My only complaint is mostly with the early Kaley scenes. Huskins's writing alternated between engaging and explaining as he justified Kaley's thinking, actions, and knowledge. However.... 1) a poor girl from the hood does not need a reason to return to a store when she's been shortchanged; 2) a poor girl from the hood does not need a reason to know the make, model, and retail price of cars and video cameras because she would not know them (plus it's more of a boy thing); and 3) Kaley's gift and behavior would have been better revealed through present day action as it would allow the mystery of Kaley to unfold rather than just have everything told through exposition. It was in the retelling that Kaley's "voice" gets lost and often sounds like an adult therapist rather than a child. What this did to me as a reader was continually throw me from my right brain to my left brain, and I found myself having to take numerous breaks just to shift gears. However, I would urge readers to continue on if they find themselves stuck at these points because the book is well worth it. It paints an intricate portrait of two very different protagonists, and shows them constantly in flux rather than as static character types. There are also some wonderful moments such as when Mac tries to describe a white man to the po-po...very funny!
What is most true in Kaley's life is also true in real life: If you continually ignore that still, small voice in your head, you be in for a world of hurt. Kaley has her reason's for ignoring her gift. But in doing so, she ends up in a real world horror story. It is only when pressed in a life or death situation that Kaley learns to reach for her dormant skills, which she uses to connect to Spence. One greets this connection with open curiosity and the other with dark despair, but it awakens heretofore unknown emotions in both of them and sets up interesting possibilities for the sequel. I am not easily surprised, but I did not see the climax coming. It was horrific, yet organic, and incorporated elements of both meta- and quantum physics. For fans of modern horror, there are lots of gruesome details to digest. Be forewarned that as modern horror, the monstrosities lie closer to home and there are uncomfortable subject matters that are not for the feint of heart.
My only complaint is mostly with the early Kaley scenes. Huskins's writing alternated between engaging and explaining as he justified Kaley's thinking, actions, and knowledge. However.... 1) a poor girl from the hood does not need a reason to return to a store when she's been shortchanged; 2) a poor girl from the hood does not need a reason to know the make, model, and retail price of cars and video cameras because she would not know them (plus it's more of a boy thing); and 3) Kaley's gift and behavior would have been better revealed through present day action as it would allow the mystery of Kaley to unfold rather than just have everything told through exposition. It was in the retelling that Kaley's "voice" gets lost and often sounds like an adult therapist rather than a child. What this did to me as a reader was continually throw me from my right brain to my left brain, and I found myself having to take numerous breaks just to shift gears. However, I would urge readers to continue on if they find themselves stuck at these points because the book is well worth it. It paints an intricate portrait of two very different protagonists, and shows them constantly in flux rather than as static character types. There are also some wonderful moments such as when Mac tries to describe a white man to the po-po...very funny!
June 3, 2014
Psycho Save Us is an extremely well written gem that really hasn't had the praise that it deserves - especially in the UK. It's not often I find a book, or a writer that really pulls me in, has my full attention gripped and in places, has me on the edge of my seat. A craft that isn't easy and a skill which doesn't often show itself but Chad Huskins really does know the art of suspense.
Psycho Save Us is the story of a psychopathic killer, Spencer who has telepathic powers that draws him into a world of child porn, kidnap and revenge. Think Carrie White meets Hannibal Lecture but more angry and lacking in any emotion, in short - a nasty piece of work.
Huskin's character description, use of language and location is perfectly paced throughout the novel and I love that the end is left open for the sequel which I have already downloaded.
The thing I find most disturbing is that after reading about all of the gruesome murders and innocent people Spencer has killed and mutilated throughout his dark past, I am drawn to his character and found myself routing for him throughout the book. I'm not sure what this says about me but as a horror writer myself, I think we all have a little psycho inside us.
Anyway a fantastic book that although I wouldn't describe as horror in the monster/paranormal sence but horror in the slightly more true to life, this-could-really-happen kind of way. Don't even think about it, so long as some bad language doesn't offend you, I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this read.
I heard along the grapevine that this is being made into a movie - awesome!
Psycho Save Us is the story of a psychopathic killer, Spencer who has telepathic powers that draws him into a world of child porn, kidnap and revenge. Think Carrie White meets Hannibal Lecture but more angry and lacking in any emotion, in short - a nasty piece of work.
Huskin's character description, use of language and location is perfectly paced throughout the novel and I love that the end is left open for the sequel which I have already downloaded.
The thing I find most disturbing is that after reading about all of the gruesome murders and innocent people Spencer has killed and mutilated throughout his dark past, I am drawn to his character and found myself routing for him throughout the book. I'm not sure what this says about me but as a horror writer myself, I think we all have a little psycho inside us.
Anyway a fantastic book that although I wouldn't describe as horror in the monster/paranormal sence but horror in the slightly more true to life, this-could-really-happen kind of way. Don't even think about it, so long as some bad language doesn't offend you, I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this read.
I heard along the grapevine that this is being made into a movie - awesome!
August 4, 2013
Wow.
I can't make myself write a synopsis of this book because it wouldn't do it any justice. Reading this book was like seeing a car accident and not being able to look away. It was sick and twisted and disturbing but I couldn't make myself stop reading it. I needed to know what the out come would be. And it almost feels wrong saying it was a good book because it was so messed up, but it was, it was one of the best books I have read this year. I felt for all the characters, was saddened by the fact that there are people like Spencer running around for real, and to know what Kaley and her sister Shan went through is something that really happens.
If there was any editing or grammar errors my brain didn't register them at all. I was so drawn in by what these poor girls where going through that I couldn't notice anything else.
The book was told from multiple points of view and they all flowed together seamlessly. You were never left floundering.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, as sad as this book is, it also puts into perspective the things you try to not notice that are all around us all the time.
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I can't make myself write a synopsis of this book because it wouldn't do it any justice. Reading this book was like seeing a car accident and not being able to look away. It was sick and twisted and disturbing but I couldn't make myself stop reading it. I needed to know what the out come would be. And it almost feels wrong saying it was a good book because it was so messed up, but it was, it was one of the best books I have read this year. I felt for all the characters, was saddened by the fact that there are people like Spencer running around for real, and to know what Kaley and her sister Shan went through is something that really happens.
If there was any editing or grammar errors my brain didn't register them at all. I was so drawn in by what these poor girls where going through that I couldn't notice anything else.
The book was told from multiple points of view and they all flowed together seamlessly. You were never left floundering.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, as sad as this book is, it also puts into perspective the things you try to not notice that are all around us all the time.
http://zephyrbookreviews.blogspot.com/
October 24, 2014
For about two-thirds of the book, there are essentially 2 very loosely related stories - one about 2 sisters who are kidnapped by a kid-porn ring and another of an escaped psychopath. The 2 converge towards the last third of the novel and that is when the book gets interesting. However I didn't quite like the end or the big punishment for the bad guys. It seemed like a different book by a different writer, like maybe Stephen King. And all through, the tone of the book was largely realistic and all of a sudden there was a fantasy element in the grand finale, as though the author could not think of a suitable enough punishment for the evil guys..
January 17, 2013
This book has to be one of the best books I read. Lets start with its very disturbing. The author based some of the more disturbing elements on a actual truth. He goes from the child kidnapped perspective and then goes into the psychopath mind and also the detective following the case. There is a huge paranormal element in here too. This a very scary book that I couldn't put down. I hope to hear more from this author.
June 13, 2015
For those who are disturbed by human trafficking (and all that that incompasses) and might not favour a disassociated narrator with a dampened emotional range, there are still reasons to read Psycho Save Us. The writing style is melodic and beautiful, and the characters are crazy wonderful. Weird affection for Spencer aside, Kaley and Shan and their powers are incredible. I cannot believe how little known this book is...
December 4, 2012
Not normally one to read this Genre of books but I picked it up on a recommendation and I have to say it was a really good book. Characters where all very distinct, very well laid out.
My only complaint is the book is to short!!!! It's nice to find a book that draws you back, makes you want to keep reading.
My only complaint is the book is to short!!!! It's nice to find a book that draws you back, makes you want to keep reading.
December 19, 2012
Wow, disturbing but the ending is tied up nicely and doesn't leave you with that sense of unresolved dread. I kinda like Spencer.....he's very disturbed, but I know deep down there is a soft squishy center. :)
August 23, 2017
Loved, loved this book!
Everything, from the plots, to telepathy. To music quotes BOC , this was well written, and kept my interest! Cannot wait to read, book two. Following author also!
Everything, from the plots, to telepathy. To music quotes BOC , this was well written, and kept my interest! Cannot wait to read, book two. Following author also!
July 20, 2019
I didn't actually read this full book.I just read Pat's review. I am really thankful to those people who writes the book summary in their reviews.it saves a lot of time.Thanks all reviewers.Keep up good work.
August 7, 2013
What a horrible, disguisting, disturbing, wonderful book.
Stopped fearing the Reaper immediately.
Stopped fearing the Reaper immediately.
May 11, 2024
I picked this up on a whim since I was in the mood for a horror/thriller and I'm glad I did. I definitely wouldn't say this is for everyone. If an urban crime retelling of The Shining sounds interesting and you can stomach some pretty brutal racism from a pov character, then you might like this.
I feel like I need to address one of the main characters first, because the point of view from the psychopath, Spencer, will probably make or break the experience for many people. Serial killers and psychological deviants are fascinating for many people, and adding charisma to such a person (ex: Hannibal Lecter) really gets a reader/viewer's juices flowing. Spencer is not that. He's repulsive, but still fascinating in the way all grotesque things tend to be. We shouldn't rubberneck at such things publicly, since it's not politically correct or tactful, but I think we often wish we could react the same way a child does, with unabashed staring at something unfamiliar. Characters in movies and books allow us to indulge in that.
This story is like a cousin to The Shining if the Overlook was a low-income neighborhood in Atlanta called The Bluff, Danny was a young black girl with a meth-head for a mom, Jack was a racist psychopath and also somehow the story's hero, and Hallorann was a local cop... and if Danny got snatched up by a pedophile ring of Russians. I think I'll just leave it at that. If you've seen or read The Shining, then you get it. If you haven't, then go watch or read The Shining. It's fantastic.
One thing that was a bit awkward at times was the 3rd person omniscient foreshadowing/expositioning. The best example of what I mean would be when you read something and then the narrator says "Little did he/she know..." I'm not a big fan of gimmicks like this since I would prefer the story stand on its own legs. I feel the same about tv shows when they do a "cold open" with an event from the future. All too often, they do it to pique your interest because all the stuff leading up to that point is going to be more boring than usual. One of these insights into the future felt like a wild tangent when we briefly got a glimpse of life after the apocalypse with a radioactive mutant scavenging some wastelands. Genuine wtf moment for me.
There were also some blips with the povs that broke my immersion several times. These usually involved word choice from Kaley's point of view like describing shadows as tenebrous.
Overall, this was an intense ride of a story that easily held my interest. A little rough around the edges, but well worth the read and it delivered everything on all of its story promises. To the author's credit, he also put some of the most heinous story contents off-screen, which is saying something considering how slimy and gritty this story was.
I feel like I need to address one of the main characters first, because the point of view from the psychopath, Spencer, will probably make or break the experience for many people. Serial killers and psychological deviants are fascinating for many people, and adding charisma to such a person (ex: Hannibal Lecter) really gets a reader/viewer's juices flowing. Spencer is not that. He's repulsive, but still fascinating in the way all grotesque things tend to be. We shouldn't rubberneck at such things publicly, since it's not politically correct or tactful, but I think we often wish we could react the same way a child does, with unabashed staring at something unfamiliar. Characters in movies and books allow us to indulge in that.
This story is like a cousin to The Shining if the Overlook was a low-income neighborhood in Atlanta called The Bluff, Danny was a young black girl with a meth-head for a mom, Jack was a racist psychopath and also somehow the story's hero, and Hallorann was a local cop... and if Danny got snatched up by a pedophile ring of Russians. I think I'll just leave it at that. If you've seen or read The Shining, then you get it. If you haven't, then go watch or read The Shining. It's fantastic.
One thing that was a bit awkward at times was the 3rd person omniscient foreshadowing/expositioning. The best example of what I mean would be when you read something and then the narrator says "Little did he/she know..." I'm not a big fan of gimmicks like this since I would prefer the story stand on its own legs. I feel the same about tv shows when they do a "cold open" with an event from the future. All too often, they do it to pique your interest because all the stuff leading up to that point is going to be more boring than usual. One of these insights into the future felt like a wild tangent when we briefly got a glimpse of life after the apocalypse with a radioactive mutant scavenging some wastelands. Genuine wtf moment for me.
There were also some blips with the povs that broke my immersion several times. These usually involved word choice from Kaley's point of view like describing shadows as tenebrous.
Overall, this was an intense ride of a story that easily held my interest. A little rough around the edges, but well worth the read and it delivered everything on all of its story promises. To the author's credit, he also put some of the most heinous story contents off-screen, which is saying something considering how slimy and gritty this story was.
March 18, 2023
3.5⭐️/5
This dark and twisted crime novel started off intense and captivating. The two parallel storylines, young Kaley’s and the charismatic ‘psycho’ Spencer’s, capture you with the suspense of their experience. As Spencer utilizes his past dark experiences to track down Kaley and her sister, each successive step felt plausible and fair. However, as the novel reaches the awaited pinnacle moment, an entirely new direction of supernatural/paranormal was used to ‘resolve’ the conflict. This resulted in the novel feeling like two very distinct novels, with differing writing styles, forcibly emerged into one. It was jarring and felt like the reader was cheated out of what could have been a satisfying, but challenging, ending.
I certainly look forward to reading more by this author, with his unique and captivating writing style.
This dark and twisted crime novel started off intense and captivating. The two parallel storylines, young Kaley’s and the charismatic ‘psycho’ Spencer’s, capture you with the suspense of their experience. As Spencer utilizes his past dark experiences to track down Kaley and her sister, each successive step felt plausible and fair. However, as the novel reaches the awaited pinnacle moment, an entirely new direction of supernatural/paranormal was used to ‘resolve’ the conflict. This resulted in the novel feeling like two very distinct novels, with differing writing styles, forcibly emerged into one. It was jarring and felt like the reader was cheated out of what could have been a satisfying, but challenging, ending.
I certainly look forward to reading more by this author, with his unique and captivating writing style.
June 28, 2020
I see discussion on here of what genre this book is and I agree that it is hard to place, but I really think that’s what makes it so great. I think he made writing from the perspective of a sociopath disturbing and enlightening in ways I couldn’t have imagined until I read the book... and this is real life horror. It may have supernatural elements (but no more than any Stephen King novel) but it is without a doubt, in my mind, real world terror — actually happening around you horror. His vivid and hauntingly portrayal of our world’s poverty, neglect, and cultural nihilism will be dancing with the rape, child pornography, and hellfire his characters experience in my nightmares for a long time.
December 29, 2018
Gruesome and different
DNF. I got 15% or so in and the brutality overwhelmed me. It might not be too much for most people but be warned that it is rough. The MC is different from most any other and probably worth following, if you can handle the story. My problem beyond the violence was the stated belief that people chose a life of poverty rather than poverty choosing their few options. It's a common meme in american film, literature and TV but that's no excuse.
I am still curious how the series works but know that I would need a synopsis because it is that gruesome.
DNF. I got 15% or so in and the brutality overwhelmed me. It might not be too much for most people but be warned that it is rough. The MC is different from most any other and probably worth following, if you can handle the story. My problem beyond the violence was the stated belief that people chose a life of poverty rather than poverty choosing their few options. It's a common meme in american film, literature and TV but that's no excuse.
I am still curious how the series works but know that I would need a synopsis because it is that gruesome.
March 25, 2017
The first 1/3 of this was incredible. Then it got all sci-fi and supernatural, which is not my thing.
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