Bad Games

Bad Games #1

by Jeff Menapace

PARTICIPATION IS NOT AN OPTION...

The Lambert Family is heading to Crescent Lake, a rural cabin community in western Pennsylvania, for an idyllic weekend getaway. Some fishing, some barbecue, some games...

The Fannelli brothers are heading to Crescent Lake too. Some stalking, some kidnapping, some murder, definitely some games...though not necessarily the type of games the Lamberts had in mind.

But it doesn't matter. The Lamberts are going to play whether they like it or not.

An intense psychological thriller, Bad Games has the dark, mind-bending chills of The Bad Seed combined with the fish-out-of-water dread and suspense of Deliverance.

So let Jeff Menapace's highly anticipated suspense thriller keep you up all night as it delves into the mystery of nature versus nurture when comprehending the evil in man, along with the will and determination an innocent family must summon to fight back against horrific odds.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Mystery Thriller

338 pages, ebook

First published February 19, 2013

About the author

A native of the Philadelphia area, Jeff has published multiple works in both fiction and non-fiction. In 2011 he was the recipient of the Red Adept Reviews Indie Award for Horror.

In March of 2014, his novel BAD GAMES was a #1 Kindle bestseller and is now being optioned as a feature film.

Free time for Jeff is spent watching horror movies, The Three Stooges, and mixed martial arts. He loves steak and more steak, thinks the original 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the greatest movie ever, wants to pet a lion some day, and hates spiders.

Reviews

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family of four encounters a pair of brothers who have dangerous plans for the hapless family. A vacation turns into to a nightmare as the Lamberts gradually meet and encounter the Fannelli brothers in increasingly disturbing situations. Both the Lamberts and the Fannellis share equal time getting acquainted with the reader, ramping up the suspense and providing psychological backgrounds to both groups. As the tension rises and the violence increases, the reader is drawn further into the dread and horror experienced by the Lamberts.

This novel takes its time getting us acquainted with the players before all hell breaks loose. Twists and turns join physical action with psychological fear as we follow the family and the brothers on a wicked journey of survival. I look forward to reading the remaining books in this tantalizing series.

[Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

I’ve been excited to read this novel for a while now and it didn’t disappoint. Bad Games is the first in a trilogy and, having finished the first, I’m looking forward to reading the other two as well.
Jeff Menapace does not hold back in this story. Even though modern society and the amount of violence we are exposed to on a daily basis may numb us to some extent, there was a stage in this book where I had to put it down for a little while to digest the cruelty. Yes, it will upset sensitive readers – I don’t see myself as one – but the thing I probably enjoyed most was the psychological torture.
This author knows how to write well, and I found the pace of the story particularly satisfying. I will recommend this book to any fan of a good thriller, but only if you can stomach the more extreme side. Having said that, I also want to make it very clear that the author didn’t rely solely on the shock factor – there is an interesting story in there.

[Danielle (The Blonde Likes Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd been meaning to read Bad Games for quite a while, so I added it to the list of books I wrote out that I wanted to try and get to this Halloween season. Bad Games isn't horror in the supernatural sense, but focused on two brothers who kill just for the fun of it. They grab whoever they feel like killing, and feel absolutely zero remorse. To them, it's a game and that's what makes them scary!

I really enjoyed this book, as the tension built from the very beginning where they first encountered the Lambert family, to later in the book where the Lambert's realize the brothers are bad news. I absolutely loved the ending, and I wish there was a sequel! I know there are technically other books in this series, but from what I understand, they focus on different characters and aren't related.

[Angel Gelique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Jeff Menapace book I've read but it certainly won't be the last. The story was engrossing from page one and just got better and better. I enjoyed, not just the story, but the resulting thought-provoking question: Are serial killers the product of nature or nurture? Hmmmm....

Everyone wants their vacation to be memorable, right?

"Bad Games" tells the story of the Lambert family whose journey to their Crescent Lake vacation destination starts off bad and becomes terrifyingly worse. The family first encounters a strange man at gas station. Later, they see his vehicle at a restaurant where he covertly approaches the six-year-old daughter and gives her a lollipop in exchange for her doll. Other occurrences soon leave the parents feeling spooked and uncomfortable about continuing with their vacation plans. Yet, before they have the opportunity to exercise sound judgment, the situation turns deadly. Before long, the Lamberts come face to face with a pair of men who will make their vacation a living nightmare.

Menapace masterfully creates an unforgettable story that will likely plague your mind each time you embark on a trip with your family. The characters are realistic and relatable. I bonded with Patrick and Amy instantly. They are an incredibly loving, happy couple and wonderful parents to their children, Carrie and Caleb. I knew what was coming and I dreaded it all the more because I had grown to like the family so much.

The writing is exceptional and the story is well-paced, with mounting tension that will take you to the edge of your seat. I will definitely be reading the sequel, "Vengeful Games," soon.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book made into a TV movie a few years back with Naomi Watts & Tim Roth, although, it was titled: "Funny Games"...not 'ha-ha' funny either! At the time, I thought the movie was creepy & over the top & I couldn't quit thinking about it for quite a while. Then I saw this book, "Bad Games", on Amazon by Jeff Menapace & couldn't believe it! I grabbed it right away especially since Jeff had it for free at the time! The book is much more bizarre, spooky, creepy & weird than the movie ever could be!

Basically, the two Fannelli brothers get their kicks playing 'games' (as they call them) with whoever catches their attention at the time...and I don't mean things like egging your car or TP-ing your house either! These two are dangerous craziod psychopathic maniacs heading to Crescent Lake to get their kicks playing whatever 'games' they want with whoever happens to be around...and there won't be a choice...the chosen WILL play the 'game'...or else.

The Lambert family...Patrick (dad), Amy (mom), Carrie (sister) & Caleb (little brother)...are also going to Crescent Lake, a rural area with cabins, to enjoy a long weekend of swimming, fishing, barbecues with friends they've made there over time and hopefully Patrick & Amy will enjoy some 'private time' to themselves, too. Menapace has a way with words...he makes you care about the Lambert family & what happens to them from the start. You root for them and want them to be safe.

This story is anything but the idyllic vacation in the great outdoors where everyone has a happy time...well, except for maybe the Fannelli brothers...at least, at first. The author has put much deeper thought into this tale than just your usual what happens when the naive go stay at the cabin in the woods. Menapace brings up the idea of heredity vs. environment in the shaping of personality. Also, just how much can one 'good' person take before they are pushed over the edge and become 'evil'.

If you read nothing else, please try "Bad Games" soon...you won't be sorry. It's a super frightening thriller & I look forward to his sequel, "Vengeful Games". So, when does that come out, Jeff?

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars ...

Oh, my ...
that was off the hook!
Twisted as F**K ...
and I was totally here for it!
😲😩😱😖😵

Four more books ...
and a spin-off series!
👍😁👍

[Kylie H · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is more a Misery type horror book, but not in the same league. I don't like horror stories so I really belted through this book and now perhaps have some permanent frown lines I could have done without!
A family, Patrick, Amy and their 6 year old daughter and 4 year old son are on a weekend vacation to a cabin on a lake. They are stalked by two brothers who are big Stooges (!!?!) fans and get off on tormenting others for their own entertainment.
Disturbing on many levels and to me not particularly enjoyable.

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Warning_ Spoilers**

I absolutely loved this book!!! It was filled with so much suspense and horror! How horrific to think of what these 2 sons did to their father while going fishing! This is indeed a morbid story. It played out in my head like a horror flick you watch on a creepy night!

The murderous brothers were very wicked, foul & diabolic that as I was reading I kept squirming on think what their next action would be.

Thanks Kerry for the recommendation of this book! I am so glad I bought it. This is one author I will be reading again!!

[Gatorman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moderately entertaining but ultimately dopey tale of two brothers who get off on kidnapping and torturing their victims. A mom, dad and two small children vacationing at an idyllic lake are the next intended victims. It has its moments but it's way too inconsistent, with the adults being overly melodramatic or just plain dumb, the bad guys becoming cartoonish and the whole concept of "nurture v. nature" going in a convenient and overwrought direction in the anti-climactic confrontation. The ending is just plain silly. In the hands of a more accomplished author this could have been an intense story. Instead, it becomes laughable. I think I'll skip the rest of the trilogy, especially after reading the preview of the next book. Oh brother.

[Anne Goldschrift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hab es doch beendet und ab Seite 150 etwa war es auch kaum noch so krank wie anfänglich und dafür umso spannender.
ABER, an die die es gelesen haben: Ds Ende, also v.a. der letzte Abschnitt ist doch total unlogisch und widerspricht dem Verhalten vorher komplett?!

[STEPH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh! My blood boiled and went cold the entire time I was reading this book. I wanted to hunt and hurt the Fannelli brothers so bad! Oh, how they effortlessly got under my skin is beyond me!

The Lambert's idea of vacation is a cozy weekend in Crescent Lake, but, their plan of a relaxing weekend quickly turned into a deadly game of survival when they are targeted by two serial killers. How far would you go to survive?

I enjoyed this. I remember watching a movie with a similar plot to this one—Funny Games? Yep, that's the one. They're pretty much the same thing but I ain't complaining. I had fun with this.

If you want to be pissed and thrilled at the same time. This is for you.

[Michele Whitecotton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This turned out to be a pretty good book. It didn't start off great and I almost quit, but I'm glad I kept reading. It was suspenseful and graphic. As far as horror/thriller novels go it was quite unique and I really enjoyed it. The villains were very creepy and towards the end I was really rooting for Amy and Patrick. It had a good ending and I'm planning on reading the next one by this author.

[John The Crippledgimp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a few years ago and remember really enjoying it. On the re-read of this I was reminded why I liked it so much. I really enjoy the way the author sets the scene and the in depth character development. Jeff Menapace does it in such a way you get attached to all the characters even the bad guys. This book is a straight up psychological thriller/horror even though it has the premise to easily be a splatter punk it stays with the psychological aspect and does it very well. If you're not into splatter punk and gore but want a good psychologically sadistic read check this one out. I look forward to reading the next book in this series again. So onto the next one.

[Tulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychological thriller.

Heart pounding great thriller. Lambert family vacation at the Crescent lake, but lake is really square and evil brothers hunt there. If you have plans vacationing on a secluded cabins after reading this book, you'll cancel it. Sick games these brothers plays will give you nightmares. Ending is shocking.

[Amber J (Thereadingwitch) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Thought is was funny."
"You got a sick sense of humor, man."
― Jeff Menapace, Bad Games

I try to express only my most honest opinion in a spoiler free way. If you feel anything in my review is a spoiler and is not already hidden in spoiler brackets please let me know. Thank you.

4.5 stars

Patrick, his wife Amy, and there two kids, Carrie age 6 and Caleb age 4, is on there way up to a nice cabin on Crescent Lake. It was suppose to be a great getaway for the family, but they start running into weird people and strange things begin happening. They soon find out they are a part of a game. A terrifying, sick, horrific game. A game where the only choices are, win or die.

This book was so freaky. It had me on the edge of my seat multiple times. My nails are bitten down to the nubs. I really liked this book and will definitely continue on in the series once I regain my nerve. This book is sick though, I'm not going to lie. If you are squeamish then I would not recommend you read this. There where part where I stopped mid paragraph and put my kindle down because I saw it coming and needed a minute to mentally prepare myself for whatever came next. Don't say I didn't warn you.

How I choose my rating:
1* Did not finish, or hated it but forced myself to finish.
2** Didn't really like it. Didn't hate it but not sure why I finished it other then for some closure.
3*** I liked it. I had some issues with it, but as a whole it was good. I probably won't reread again ever, but there is a chance I might finish the series. (If part of one) But if not it's not a huge loss.
4**** I really liked this book. Maybe not a work of genius, but highly entertaining. I might reread this again, and I will finish the series. (If part of one) I would recommend to those I know hold interest in this books content.
5***** I loved this book. I found little to no issues with it at all. I will definitely be rereading this and probably more than once. I will finish the series and reread it multiple times. (If part of one) I will recommend this book to EVERYONE!!!!

[Diana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every fall, I go on a quest for spooky books, and this one popped up on a list. The Audible reviews were great, and I stuck it out way longer than I would have because the narrarator, Gary Tiedemann, is truly fabulous.

For me, the problem with this book is two-fold. The first is that the hero and heroine are truly too stupid to live. In the first 90 minutes or so of the book (and the first two days of their vacation), they a) had an all-too-interested guy approach them at a gas station, b) had that same guy approach their child to take her doll, c) the wife is sexually harassed by another guy while she's at the grocery store, d) the wife sees the same man looking through her bedroom window that night, and e) they find a human finger in their container of fish bait. Instead of ending their vacation and going home, the family decides to deal with it by sending the kids off to the movies with an elderly couple so that mom and dad can get drunk, have a lot of mind-blowing sex, then go for a walk around a secluded lake at midnight. Right.

The other issue is that this book isn't a spooky book or paranormal book or even a typical horror book, it's a book about sadists, which is a totally different kind of book. It's about a pair of brothers who think it's funny to watch people suffering. They're really that one dimensional, and it just wasn't something I could handle listening to for eight hours.

This author isn't for me. But I will keep an eye out for the narrator, who truly is gifted.

[Jerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kept seeing this book pop up on my Facebook feeds so I decided it was time to give it a try. I prefer psychological horror - things that could really happen - so I liked the concept of the story. It didn't dive into the extreme to hit the reader with shock value and I appreciated that. My biggest issue was that I didn't connect emotionally with the characters. While I think this could be made into a decent movie, I didn't have a mini movie playing in my head (lack of connection) as I read so I can't really rate it any higher. It was written well with only one huge grammar error that pulled me away from the story. I call these kind of books palate cleansers. They are quick and easy to read but they won't linger in my long term memory. All it needed to do was entertain me and it succeeded in that.

[Patrizia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Story an sich ist jetzt nichts Neues. 2 mordsüchtige Brüder auf Opfersuche an einem schöne gemütlichen Lake in der Nebensaison, eine Familie die nur ihre Ruhe möchte und ein gemütliches, chilliges Weekend mit den Kindern am See geniessen möchten und ja alles kommt anders.
Der Schreibstil von Jeff Menapace geht so richtig Laymon, also für alle Laymon Fans ist diese Trilogie sicher ein Muss. Jeff schreibt brutal, a bit dirty und spannend. ich werde die Reihe sicher weiter verfolgen denn so ein Buch bietet immer gute Unterhaltung.

[WendyB]

The description of the book sounds horrifying but what's really horrifying is the quality of the writing and the disgusting story.
Not the book for me.

[Phoebe Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inhalt:
Die Familie Lambert macht sich auf an den Crescent Lake, um ein erholsames Wochenende voller Spiel, Spaß und Freude zu genießen. Die Farelli-Brüder möchten ebenfalls eine vergnügliche Zeit verbringen. Ihre Mitspieler haben sie sich bereits ausgesucht: die Lamberts. Nur dass beide Familien nicht die gleiche Art von Spiel im Sinn haben ...

Meine Meinung:
Wer muss bei der Beschreibung nicht an den (die) Film(e) Funny Games denken? Ich definitiv und genau deswegen war ich so neugierig auf das Buch.
Psychopathen treffen auf Familie und wollen ein Spiel spielen … Da steckt doch enorm viel Potenzial dahinter. Viel Thrill, viel Gemetzel, hach, mein blutrünstiges Herz schlug ganz schnell.

Schon nach wenigen Seiten war ich voll dabei, denn Jeff Menapace schreibt sehr flüssig und unheimlich mitreißend. Er hat interessante Charaktere kreiirt, und endlich mal ein Paar, das nicht nach vielen Ehejahren die Nase voll von einander hat, sondern noch frisch verliebt agiert.
Und gleich zu Beginn treffen Patrick und Amy auf Arty, einem Penn-State-Fan, der ihnen eine Ladung Sprit spendiert. Nett, oder? Nur ist niemand auf der Welt einfach nur nett.

Ab da nimmt das Unheil seinen Lauf und manches Mal wäre ich wirklich gerne ins Buch geklettert und hätte Patrick mal so richtig durchgeschüttelt. Bei all den seltsamen Vorkomnissen, die sich häuften, hätte ich schon längst Reißaus genommen. Notfalls auch von meinem Mann, wenn der das nicht verstanden hätte. So baut sich nach und nach Spannung auf und man weiß genau, was kommen wird - kann aber nicht anders, als eine Seite nach der anderen umzublättern.

Gut gelungen finde ich, dass nicht nur die Lamberts ihre Sichtweise der Geschichte schildern, sondern man auch Arty und Jim Farelli bei ihren Planungen über die Schulter schauen lässt - und dabei in kranke Gehirne blickt. Die beiden sind sehr interessant (wie alle Psychopathen irgendwie) und besonders das Machtgefüge zwischen den beiden fand ich gut geschildert.

Das einzige, was meinen Blutdurst etwas enttäuscht hat, war, dass eigentlich dennoch relativ wenig wirklich passierte. Ein paar Vorkommnisse, die definitiv ein Gefühl der Beklemmung erzeugten, aber erst gegen Ende geht es richtig zur Sache. Und dass dann aber leider etwas überstürzt. Vom Showdown war ich sehr enttäuscht, hatte einen richtigen Knall erwartet.

So ist der Thriller mehr auf Thrill statt auf Grauen ausgelegt, wo ich etwas anderes erwartet hatte, und die Story auch definitiv etwas mehr Grauen vertragen hätte.

Nur das Ende, das ist sowas von nach meinem Geschmack. So müssen solche Bücher enden und nicht anders. Dafür gibt's sogar ein Extrasternchen. Man liest und liest und liest (in meinem Fall war das Buch innerhalb weniger Stunden verschlungen) und dann schließt man das Buch doch mit einem Lächeln.

Fazit:
Anders als erwartet

[Lenas Welt der Bücher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich habe das Buch schon in den Vorschauen entdeckt und sofort auf die Wunschliste gepackt. Da ich momentan riesige Lust auf Horror habe, kam das Buch natürlich wie gerufen und ich habe mich sehr darauf gefreut.
Das Buch kam hier an und ich musste sofort die ersten Seiten lesen und die haben mich schon überzeugt.
Der Schreibstil ist, wie ich finde, ein typischer Schreibstil für dieses Genre. Er lässt sich unheimlich gut lesen und verbreitet eine düstere Atmosphäre. Das Buch hat sehr kurze Kapitel, sodass man umso schneller durch das Buch fliegt.
Die Spannung ist ab der ersten Seite da. Man fragt sich, wo das Ganze noch hinführt und macht sich die ersten Gedanken und Sorgen um die Familie. Ab der Mitte nimmt das Buch dann richtig Fahrt auf und ab da wird es dann brutaler und blutiger. Die Brutalität ist aber noch in einem angemessen Rahmen. Für zarte Gemüter nicht geeignet, aber für alle die kein Problem haben, wenn es blutiger wird, ist das Buch auf jeden Fall etwas.
Die beiden Brüder, die Antagonisten in der Geschichte sind wirklich krank. Allerdings ist das Buch in zwei Perspektiven geschrieben ist. Auf diesem Wege erfährt man, warum die beiden so sind, was unheimlich interessant war, das Ganze aber natürlich nicht besser gemacht hat.
Die Familie Lambert hat mir gut gefallen. Es ist die typische Familie von Nebenan, was dafür gesorgt hat, dass man noch mehr mit ihnen gelitten hat.
Das Ende der Geschichte hat mich nochmal schockiert. Es hat keinen Cliffhanger, aber dennoch möchte ich am liebsten sofort wissen, wie es weiter geht und freue mich dementsprechend riesig auf Teil 2.

Fazit:
„Das Spiel – Opfer“ hat mir wahnsinnig gut gefallen. Die Geschichte ist spannend, brutal und konnte mich mitreißen. Die Antagonistin habe es wirklich in sich. Ein tolles Buch für Fans des Genres!

[Justin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoilers



Sorry, no amount of rationalization can make me believe that they would just blow it off as no big deal after finding a severed human finger and just say "oh well the dog ate it, guess we go about our lives as normal." Especially after every thing else that happened, and he somehow still think'S she was just seeing things? The "bad guys" act more like a comical exaggeration of what someone thinks a crazy person acts like than actual crazy people. Their whole 3 stooges thing while watching videos of people being tourtured, and the jumping around naked acting like a monkey parts where just stupid. I have had one (eye rolling) issue after another with this book and I just can't finish it.

[Brenda Seaberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freakin' awesome! I loved this book! We had a party at my house Saturday, and I actually wanted to usher everyone out early so I could get back to reading! LOL! It contains people to like, people to love, people to feel sorry for, and people to hate. It has family time, moments of romance, startling breath-holding minutes, and hours of creepy bad-guy time. I've already started on the sequel - I'm just so glad he continued the story!!!

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun audible listen. Strangely lighthearted and humorous for a story about psychopath brothers.

[Kaisersoze · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first glance, it's easy to write off Jeff Menapace's debut novel as a literary version of Michael Haneke's film, Funny Games. Aside from the similar titles, both creations deal with two young killers who enjoy taunting and tormenting their victims before going in for the kill. Both works also feature a young family as the target of said killers. But that's about where the similarities end. Haneke's film is a post-modern comment on violence and those who like to observe it. Menapace's novel is more concerned with exploring how people develop into serial killers, while still telling an accessible story.

Early on, I was exceedingly entertained by Bad Games. Others have complained about the languid start, but I enjoyed the slow-burn build up. Menapace has a particularly good ear for dialogue, and the scenes between husband Patrick and wife Amy served to properly establish their characters - even if they did turn out to have a sickeningly perfect relationship and an almost-perfect life. My issue, however, was in how believable their actions were. Some of what Patrick, in particular, was able to ignore or rationalise became quite ridiculous. I even got to the point where I almost felt like he deserved what as about to happen to him and his. In terms of the ending, I also struggled with how readily the two killers were over-powered and dispatched. And the coda following these scenes goes on and on ... for literally 15% of the book.

All that said, there's some serious writing talent on display in Bad Games. Given this is his first novel, Menapace is certainly a name to watch, and I plan on checking out the sequel to this one to see how he continues to hone his craft.

Overall, a decent read recommended for fans of home invasion thrillers with horrific undertones.

3 Unusual Wind Chimes for Bad Games.

[Helen Laycock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller writers, take note! This is the first of Jeff Menapace’s books I have read, but already I feel he deserves a place up there with the other greats of this genre.

A sinister plot, twisted minds of characters that not only get under your skin, but burrow there, insidiously, and a stream of macabre events together fuel the perpetual pumping of adrenaline as you are pulled at a terrifying rate through the chilling ordeal of the Lamberts as they make their way to their holiday cabin at Crescent Lake.

This is one of the most extreme thrillers I have read – and it was executed perfectly.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up FREE back in May and finally got around to reading it. I actually "enjoyed" being frightened by this book and look forward to reading the sequel that they teased us with at the end. Now I know I really need to get around to reading the classic The Bad Seed! But first, I need to read some silly, sappy love story to get over the traumatic images Bad Games put into my mind. =o

[Janelle Westfall · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry...to me, it was completely unbelievable. WHO would put up with the escalating threats?? It's so much worse than the stereotypical blonde chick that goes to check the weird noise outside. The characters seem to know better, but shrug everything off anyway. Like, "Whoa, that was terrifying! We should be careful they don't kill us!! Wanna go fishing?" *groan*

[☕Brenda Loves Books☕ · Rating 5 out of 5]

#jeffmenapace does it again!
This is the 3rd book by Jeff that I've read, and I love it.
His books are filled with maniacal psychopaths with a interest zest for torturing, and MAYBE killing if the victim is lucky.
Jeff Menapace makes Stephen King's writing look like bedtime stories.