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The Influence
[MP3-CD audiobook format in Vinyl case.]
[Read by Joe Barrett]
Everything is about to change . . .
When Ross Lowry moves into his cousin's guest house in the small community of Magdalena, Arizona, he expects nothing more than breathing room and a brief respite from his economic woes. But something is not right in the desert. After a raucous party on New Year's Eve, the luck of the attendees undergoes an immediate U-turn. The rich and successful suddenly find themselves facing catastrophic failure while the less well-off are unexpectedly flush with good fortune.
This is only the beginning . . .
Soon the citizens of Magdalena are experiencing unnatural desires. Next their children begin to disappear and freakish creatures emerge from the surrounding wilderness. The community is unraveling at a frightening pace. But these are merely the early warning signs of a showdown with a powerful force of darkness that could obliterate the world forever, and only Ross Lowry sees the danger that lurks ahead.
[Read by Joe Barrett]
Everything is about to change . . .
When Ross Lowry moves into his cousin's guest house in the small community of Magdalena, Arizona, he expects nothing more than breathing room and a brief respite from his economic woes. But something is not right in the desert. After a raucous party on New Year's Eve, the luck of the attendees undergoes an immediate U-turn. The rich and successful suddenly find themselves facing catastrophic failure while the less well-off are unexpectedly flush with good fortune.
This is only the beginning . . .
Soon the citizens of Magdalena are experiencing unnatural desires. Next their children begin to disappear and freakish creatures emerge from the surrounding wilderness. The community is unraveling at a frightening pace. But these are merely the early warning signs of a showdown with a powerful force of darkness that could obliterate the world forever, and only Ross Lowry sees the danger that lurks ahead.
MP3 CD
First published October 29, 2013
96 people are currently reading
1308 people want to read
About the author
Bentley Little
135 books2,571 followersBentley Little is an American author of horror fiction. Publishing an average of a novel a year since 1990, Little avoids publicity and rarely does promotional work or interviews for his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
October 2, 2020
THE INFLUENCE contains some of the most horribly unsexy sex scenes I've ever read. They're awkward and cringe-y.
It started off well, with the whole evil in a small town trope but then descended into something that wanted to be like Salem's Lot or Needful Things, (where the reader is treated to different views from people all across the town.) Unfortunately, I didn't care enough about these people or this town for that to work for me.
There were some pretty imaginative and fun creatures throughout, but what was the story behind them, what was the point? I usually like when every thing isn't tied up in a nice little bow, but geez, I would like a little bit of ribbon!
Overall, this had potential but it didn't live up to it. Just an okay read for me.
It started off well, with the whole evil in a small town trope but then descended into something that wanted to be like Salem's Lot or Needful Things, (where the reader is treated to different views from people all across the town.) Unfortunately, I didn't care enough about these people or this town for that to work for me.
There were some pretty imaginative and fun creatures throughout, but what was the story behind them, what was the point? I usually like when every thing isn't tied up in a nice little bow, but geez, I would like a little bit of ribbon!
Overall, this had potential but it didn't live up to it. Just an okay read for me.
December 24, 2021
This was an okay horror novel. There is an interesting set-up in a small, secluded town where a down-on-his-luck man has moved in with relatives and hopes to get back on his feet. Odd events and curious happenings begin to plague the community, and we learn that a supernatural event has unleashed evil. People seem to have reversed their fortunes and personalities, which is mostly very well done. Some of the absurd creatures and happenings are quite clever and entertaining, and the community is described very well, but none of the characters are especially likeable. (There's some rather awkward sexual content that's a bit off-putting; for example, the two protagonists hook-up, after which the hero pumps his fist in the air to celebrate and says, "Got her on the first date," which didn't seem like quite the proper tender sentiment.) The ending is a dud, with nothing really resolved or explained satisfactorily. It's a nice page-turner with some engaging bits, but it never really pays off.
May 29, 2015
Easy to read, fluffy creature-feature from Bentley Little. Fun, but not spectacular, Little perhaps attempts to add some depth to proceedings by having a reversal of fortune between the haves and have-nots, but mostly this is a pretty straightforward tale along the lines of horror flick JEEPERS CREEPERS and Stephen King's DESPERATION. The ending was surprisingly unsurprising.
Overall, not a bad book, but not great either. If you've been a horror fan for more than a few years, you've seen this all before.
Overall, not a bad book, but not great either. If you've been a horror fan for more than a few years, you've seen this all before.
March 9, 2025
I don’t write reviews.
And this is what I wanted when I used to pick up a Stephen King book, looking for a creepy thrill (and was usually let down). Little hit it out of the park with The Influence. He gave a bit of everything and didn’t ramble or overstuff. I love that we never find out what really happened. That’s how it would be in real life: no one to explain it all to you.
Can I complain about something small? This is just something I noticed reading two from Little back-to-back. His protagonists turn on CNN. Then in this book there’s a real asshole of a guy, who anyone would hate, but Little had to drive it home by having him turn on FOX News. Ok, I get it; all you ivory tower academic types are super proud of being on the left. Lizzie, however, knows those are wings of the same bird and doesn’t choose Coke OR Pepsi.
Book 3 - Just a Little Bit More: Reading Through the Bentley Little Catalog
And this is what I wanted when I used to pick up a Stephen King book, looking for a creepy thrill (and was usually let down). Little hit it out of the park with The Influence. He gave a bit of everything and didn’t ramble or overstuff. I love that we never find out what really happened. That’s how it would be in real life: no one to explain it all to you.
Can I complain about something small? This is just something I noticed reading two from Little back-to-back. His protagonists turn on CNN. Then in this book there’s a real asshole of a guy, who anyone would hate, but Little had to drive it home by having him turn on FOX News. Ok, I get it; all you ivory tower academic types are super proud of being on the left. Lizzie, however, knows those are wings of the same bird and doesn’t choose Coke OR Pepsi.
Book 3 - Just a Little Bit More: Reading Through the Bentley Little Catalog
May 28, 2015
Excellent installment in the Little catalog that exceeded my initial expectations.
The first fifty or eighty pages were a slow burn, but the payoff was totally worth it. This one had me glued to the pages, and didn't let me go until the final page. Great horror, with tremendously well-drawn characters, all-together a fun, twisty, surprising read.
The first fifty or eighty pages were a slow burn, but the payoff was totally worth it. This one had me glued to the pages, and didn't let me go until the final page. Great horror, with tremendously well-drawn characters, all-together a fun, twisty, surprising read.
July 13, 2018
great page turner, typical bentley little, frightening...
October 10, 2014
Bentley Little can go fuck himself. Seriously, this book pissed me off. 416 pages. About 350 pages of bullshit and maybe 66 pages of actual story. So, seriously, go fuck yourself, Bentley Little. I hate your stupid face.
I read this book because someone recommended it. In fact, they said that "Anything by Bentley Little is fucked up and scary as shit". Now, I want to hunt down the motherfucker that wrote that recommendation and have him explain to me how the fuck this book qualifies as "fucked up and scary as shit". Because, goddamnit, it's not. Okay, it is kind of fucked up, sure. I mean when you actually get to the story part, the 66 pages of story are very fucked up and kind of interesting. That's the only reason I finished the book. But, goddamnit. Why do I have to wade through 350 pages of utter horseshit in order to get to an actual story?
So yea. 1/5 because there is an actual story in the book somewhere, and it's actually pretty good, once you get through the 350 pages of garbage. But, seriously, fuck Bentley Little in his stupid asshole.
I read this book because someone recommended it. In fact, they said that "Anything by Bentley Little is fucked up and scary as shit". Now, I want to hunt down the motherfucker that wrote that recommendation and have him explain to me how the fuck this book qualifies as "fucked up and scary as shit". Because, goddamnit, it's not. Okay, it is kind of fucked up, sure. I mean when you actually get to the story part, the 66 pages of story are very fucked up and kind of interesting. That's the only reason I finished the book. But, goddamnit. Why do I have to wade through 350 pages of utter horseshit in order to get to an actual story?
So yea. 1/5 because there is an actual story in the book somewhere, and it's actually pretty good, once you get through the 350 pages of garbage. But, seriously, fuck Bentley Little in his stupid asshole.
February 28, 2017
A victim of the recession, Ross has lost his job and his savings. Hard up, he agrees to move to the small town of Magdelena, Arizona, to live in his cousin Lita's cabin on her farm. In this 'hick town' there's a New Year's Eve tradition of firing guns into the air at midnight...except THIS year the residents shoot something out of the air- an angel. It is kept in the smokehouse of a greedy, nasty farmer and residents of the town worship the creature, protect it. However, things in the town start to change soon after NYE. People's LUCK changes. Poor people find fortunes (that tear their families apart), rich people lose everything (including their minds), healthy people become sick, those in need of paying off bills find themselves with insurance money--after family members suddenly die. Etc etc.Soon, residents begin turning into monsters and the 'angel' is recognized for what it is by some of the townsfolk, including Ross and Lita- it is a demon. The first half of this novel was great- and actually quite scary! However, as Ross and his friends gather up the courage to attempt to destroy the demon, the conclusion of the book is over WAY too quickly for the amount of build up beforehand. It is as if the author suddenly got tired of his own story and just wanted to end it abruptly, because this is what happened. Therefore, only 3 stars for you this time, Mr.Little. This book needed a longer conclusion and a bigger pay off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2015
This book was a trip into a psychedelic Wonderland where almost anything is possible.
Anything, that is, but a satisfying ending.
Your average Joe protagonist, Ross, is hit by a bout of bad luck, losing his job, amongst other things, and ends up in the ho-dunk town of Magdalena, AZ, staying in his cousin's back house. As always, Little is a master at weaving a tale and his easy prose and relatable characters are instantly accessible and likable.
Yet you know all is not as it seems. (This is a Bentley Little novel after all).
Without diving into spoilers, something happens in town which causes strange occurrences to radiate outward to the citizens of this little town. This is where the book really excelled, exploring diverse characters in some of the oddest exchanges you will ever read.
Singing flowers? Check.
A pet sematary dog that walks on its hind legs? Check.
Chicken eggs that hatch into monsters? Check.
Gingerbread cookies that scream as they cook? Check.
(And these are the semi-normal ones)
This half of the novel read almost like a collection of short stories, some horror, some humorous, some ... just out there. I will say the ScareCrow bit was fantastic. But once the weird started becoming commonplace the shock value lessoned and it was difficult to fully appreciate all that was going on.
Unfortunately, as is often the case with Little novels, the last 20% of this book felt like the author got tired of his own story and just raced along to the first conclusion he could come up with. For a novel that had so many oddities, the ending was lackluster and it's unpredictability was relegated only to how predictable it was compared with the rest of the book. I definitely felt a little cheated; a similar reaction to King's "Revival" where I was hoping for a little more oomph.
Despite the flawed ending this was a fun read and one I'm glad I picked up, though it's definitely not making my "to-read-again" list. I wonder what might have happened if Little had changed the structure of the story, turning this into a collection of short stories or narratives rather than following one not-so-dynamic protagonist in a rather straight forward plot. The premise opens up so many opportunities, this could have been explored in a very unique and different fashion. But such are the wantings of a dire fan.
A generous 3.5 / 5 stars.
Anything, that is, but a satisfying ending.
Your average Joe protagonist, Ross, is hit by a bout of bad luck, losing his job, amongst other things, and ends up in the ho-dunk town of Magdalena, AZ, staying in his cousin's back house. As always, Little is a master at weaving a tale and his easy prose and relatable characters are instantly accessible and likable.
Yet you know all is not as it seems. (This is a Bentley Little novel after all).
Without diving into spoilers, something happens in town which causes strange occurrences to radiate outward to the citizens of this little town. This is where the book really excelled, exploring diverse characters in some of the oddest exchanges you will ever read.
Singing flowers? Check.
A pet sematary dog that walks on its hind legs? Check.
Chicken eggs that hatch into monsters? Check.
Gingerbread cookies that scream as they cook? Check.
(And these are the semi-normal ones)
This half of the novel read almost like a collection of short stories, some horror, some humorous, some ... just out there. I will say the ScareCrow bit was fantastic. But once the weird started becoming commonplace the shock value lessoned and it was difficult to fully appreciate all that was going on.
Unfortunately, as is often the case with Little novels, the last 20% of this book felt like the author got tired of his own story and just raced along to the first conclusion he could come up with. For a novel that had so many oddities, the ending was lackluster and it's unpredictability was relegated only to how predictable it was compared with the rest of the book. I definitely felt a little cheated; a similar reaction to King's "Revival" where I was hoping for a little more oomph.
Despite the flawed ending this was a fun read and one I'm glad I picked up, though it's definitely not making my "to-read-again" list. I wonder what might have happened if Little had changed the structure of the story, turning this into a collection of short stories or narratives rather than following one not-so-dynamic protagonist in a rather straight forward plot. The premise opens up so many opportunities, this could have been explored in a very unique and different fashion. But such are the wantings of a dire fan.
A generous 3.5 / 5 stars.
May 1, 2022
Content Warnings: death, graphic violence, drugs, self harm, un-aliving oneself, 2 m/m r*pes, necrophilia, thoughts of incest, graphic sex, people going insane, use of the r-word, use of the n-word and racist words by a child, attack by bugs/bugs pouring out of animal corpses, animal sickness/abuse/death, people acting like animals, and people turning into literal monsters.
This is my second Little novel, and hopefully now it won’t be my last…. But this novel was a lot to take, all at once. It almost felt like Little was trying to win some kind of one-up game, but with his own past works, if that makes any sense. Like, let’s fit everything that grosses people out into one novel, just to shock the pants off them. Idk, it danced all over the ‘too far’ line sometimes.
And I was just here for that coop of demonic chickens I’d kept hearing about…
This novel also contains some of the most horribly unsexy sex scenes I've ever read. They're awkward and incredibly cringe-y. Especially the incestual thoughts. There were also some pretty imaginative and fun creatures throughout, but what was the story behind them, or what was the point? They were never explained at all.
The first half of this novel was great, and actually a little scary. However, as Ross and his friends gather up the courage to attempt to destroy the demon, the conclusion of the book is over WAY too quickly for the amount of build up beforehand. It is as if the author suddenly got tired of his own story and just wanted to end it abruptly, because this is what happened. The resolution comes a little too easy for the protagonists too, and the whole thing gets gratutious on occasion. And nothing gets satisfactorily resolved also.
Joe Barrett is the narrator for the audiobook version of this novel, and he was great. I hadn’t run across Barrett’s work before, but he has 5 pages of audiobooks at my library, so hopefully I will run across him again.
It's a nice page-turner with some engaging bits, but it never really pays off. What had been a fun horror-filled read was lessened by the gross out factors. 3 stars
This is my second Little novel, and hopefully now it won’t be my last…. But this novel was a lot to take, all at once. It almost felt like Little was trying to win some kind of one-up game, but with his own past works, if that makes any sense. Like, let’s fit everything that grosses people out into one novel, just to shock the pants off them. Idk, it danced all over the ‘too far’ line sometimes.
And I was just here for that coop of demonic chickens I’d kept hearing about…
This novel also contains some of the most horribly unsexy sex scenes I've ever read. They're awkward and incredibly cringe-y. Especially the incestual thoughts. There were also some pretty imaginative and fun creatures throughout, but what was the story behind them, or what was the point? They were never explained at all.
The first half of this novel was great, and actually a little scary. However, as Ross and his friends gather up the courage to attempt to destroy the demon, the conclusion of the book is over WAY too quickly for the amount of build up beforehand. It is as if the author suddenly got tired of his own story and just wanted to end it abruptly, because this is what happened. The resolution comes a little too easy for the protagonists too, and the whole thing gets gratutious on occasion. And nothing gets satisfactorily resolved also.
Joe Barrett is the narrator for the audiobook version of this novel, and he was great. I hadn’t run across Barrett’s work before, but he has 5 pages of audiobooks at my library, so hopefully I will run across him again.
It's a nice page-turner with some engaging bits, but it never really pays off. What had been a fun horror-filled read was lessened by the gross out factors. 3 stars
February 22, 2023
Have you ever found yourself rushing through a book, just to get it the hell over with? That was me with this.
Honestly, the makings of a decent story are present in The Influence, but this turned into quite a mess. I didn't exactly hate this book, but there is no way in hell I would recommend it to anyone.
And, the sex scenes? SO BAD. I actually laughed out loud when I read the line, "Her vagina was gorgeous." WTF, Bentley? Worst of all, these stupid sex scenes add nothing to the story but extra (unnecessary) words.
Ultimately, this book was quite unsatisfying. Maybe, I would have enjoyed it more if I had been slightly under the influence. ☺
Honestly, the makings of a decent story are present in The Influence, but this turned into quite a mess. I didn't exactly hate this book, but there is no way in hell I would recommend it to anyone.
And, the sex scenes? SO BAD. I actually laughed out loud when I read the line, "Her vagina was gorgeous." WTF, Bentley? Worst of all, these stupid sex scenes add nothing to the story but extra (unnecessary) words.
Ultimately, this book was quite unsatisfying. Maybe, I would have enjoyed it more if I had been slightly under the influence. ☺
April 24, 2017
Slow start but overall one of my favorite modern day Little novels.
March 16, 2017
I listened to the audioversion of this book. I really enjoyed it. My first taste of Bentley Little, but it certainly won't be the last.
I'll be honest. I didn't even read the synopsis. I just wanted to try one of Little's books so I picked this one at random. Really glad that I did!
Quite a bit more graphic than I was expecting, I mean, I've read and written some pretty messed up stuff but one scene in this book actually make me wince.
Definitely recommend!
I'll be honest. I didn't even read the synopsis. I just wanted to try one of Little's books so I picked this one at random. Really glad that I did!
Quite a bit more graphic than I was expecting, I mean, I've read and written some pretty messed up stuff but one scene in this book actually make me wince.
Definitely recommend!
December 12, 2013
A quick read. I had a lot of fun with this one. It has a great setup and some really bizarre happenings early on. It's breezy tone seems to belie the significance of what is happening in the deserts of Arizona, but it never pretends to be anything more than it is. The resolution comes a little too easy for the protagonsts and it gets gratutious on ocassion (but never TOO gratuitous), and it leaves the reader with a sense of loss to counterbalance the victory won. Nicely done, in true Bentley Little fashion.
A satifactory time waster.
A satifactory time waster.
May 21, 2016
2 AND 1/2 STARS
A lifelong fan of Bentley Little, I can honestly say this book is one of my least favorite that he has written. It rarely felt inspired and many times read as if the author was simply going through the motions to meet his word quota of the day. While there are glimmers of classic Little in certain scenes, they were few and far between. The ending, which was literally wrapped up in what seemed like a single paragraph, was painfully inept. I understand his new book, The Consultant is much better, so I am looking forward to that. Sadly, not recommended.
A lifelong fan of Bentley Little, I can honestly say this book is one of my least favorite that he has written. It rarely felt inspired and many times read as if the author was simply going through the motions to meet his word quota of the day. While there are glimmers of classic Little in certain scenes, they were few and far between. The ending, which was literally wrapped up in what seemed like a single paragraph, was painfully inept. I understand his new book, The Consultant is much better, so I am looking forward to that. Sadly, not recommended.
April 20, 2022
A little longer than necessary, but an interesting plot and concept non the less.
April 5, 2021
Could have had a lot more action...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2014
Really, this is about a bunch of stuff that happens, and nothing get ever explained or really resolved. It seems like the author had a bunch of ideas he wanted to use, but no real story to use them in.
Very disappointing.
Very disappointing.
September 18, 2013
Excellent. A nice genre-mix with excellent pacing and suspense. Definitely a fun read.
October 30, 2018
Hmm... This didn`t get me at all
January 22, 2022
Eh. More cringey than horror but the narrator was good at least
April 15, 2023
Aside from being a fantastic writer, what I really enjoy about Bentley Little’s books is how weird they are, and this is no different. I really liked how he almost keeps the horror element or eeriness at a distance. Descriptions and moments of uneasiness are certainly there, but it’s all kept at an arm’s length, forcing the reader to delve into their own imagination a bit more. I really respect writers that can do that successfully, and Little does it very well here. Great book!
Read
January 17, 2024Horrible story
Read
April 20, 2025Wild ideas, and I can dig it, but having read about 10 Bentley Little novels now, I can confidently say that a good 80% of the time they are all the same.
January 26, 2021
The Influence by Bentley Little
Genre: Horror
Published: First published October 29, 2013
Book Description:
Everything is about to change...
When Ross Lowry moves into his cousin's guest house in the small community of Magdalena, Arizona, he expects nothing more than breathing room and a brief respite from his economic woes.
But something is not right in the desert.
After a raucous party on New Year's Eve, the luck of the attendees undergoes an immediate U-turn. The rich and successful suddenly find themselves facing catastrophic failure while the less well-off are unexpectedly flush with good fortune.
This is only the beginning...
Soon the citizens of Magdalena are experiencing unnatural desires.
Next their children begin to disappear and freakish creatures emerge from the surrounding wilderness.
The community is unraveling at a frightening pace.
------------------------------------
Holy $hit!
This one won't be for everyone!
What a wild and terrifying ride!
My first time reading this author.
The Influence had a Salem's Lot, Jeepers Creepers, Animal Farm type of vibe.
I'm a Horror Book and Movie Buff from way back but even I found a lot of disturbing themes throughout the book. But quite honestly, that's usually the draw for horror fans. I was disturbed, uncomfortable, and yes, scared.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
✔ Gratuitous sex
✔ Graphic violence
I'm no prude, but honestly the freaky sex scenes throughout the book irritated me after a while. Gratuitous sex just thrown in for the hell of it.
Having said all of that, I do think Bentley Little is a great writer. This book was entertaining and very scary. Character development was superb in my opinion.
I enjoyed this one from beginning to end. If you can get past the trigger warnings I mentioned, The Influence will be a good, scary read. Joe Barrett was engaging with the narration of this audiobook.
Rating: Four Stars 4.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
------
Genre: Horror
Published: First published October 29, 2013
Book Description:
Everything is about to change...
When Ross Lowry moves into his cousin's guest house in the small community of Magdalena, Arizona, he expects nothing more than breathing room and a brief respite from his economic woes.
But something is not right in the desert.
After a raucous party on New Year's Eve, the luck of the attendees undergoes an immediate U-turn. The rich and successful suddenly find themselves facing catastrophic failure while the less well-off are unexpectedly flush with good fortune.
This is only the beginning...
Soon the citizens of Magdalena are experiencing unnatural desires.
Next their children begin to disappear and freakish creatures emerge from the surrounding wilderness.
The community is unraveling at a frightening pace.
------------------------------------
Holy $hit!
This one won't be for everyone!
What a wild and terrifying ride!
My first time reading this author.
The Influence had a Salem's Lot, Jeepers Creepers, Animal Farm type of vibe.
I'm a Horror Book and Movie Buff from way back but even I found a lot of disturbing themes throughout the book. But quite honestly, that's usually the draw for horror fans. I was disturbed, uncomfortable, and yes, scared.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
✔ Gratuitous sex
✔ Graphic violence
I'm no prude, but honestly the freaky sex scenes throughout the book irritated me after a while. Gratuitous sex just thrown in for the hell of it.
Having said all of that, I do think Bentley Little is a great writer. This book was entertaining and very scary. Character development was superb in my opinion.
I enjoyed this one from beginning to end. If you can get past the trigger warnings I mentioned, The Influence will be a good, scary read. Joe Barrett was engaging with the narration of this audiobook.
Rating: Four Stars 4.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
------
March 3, 2014
Bentley Little writes horror novels like no other horror writer. I've read almost all of his published novels, and I know the tale will shock, fill me with discomfort (for the horror, violence, bad ends characters face, sex ~most of the time unsettlingly explicit and linked to the horror in interesting ways as it is in The Influence~, and the religious aspects of salvation, predation, and devastation), dread, and the feeling that I actually survived something almost insurmountable. Little's writing is always fluid, and his characters are relatable, even the supernaturally-tinged characters are relatable, the monsters skewed and twisted just enough to instill caution and fear to bubble forth. He gets it that horror stories are better when filled with the "everyman/everywoman" characters struggling in the face of unbelievable circumstances. What would I do? is a question that always enters my mind when I read horror or see a horror film, and usually, with the best scary tales, I can't see how the characters will attempt to overcome the "monster/virus/vampire/ghoul." The Influence is worth reading because it plays on basic human foibles, how luck hits some people, while others find themselves in the unluckiest of situations. Read Little's new book, and then search out some of his earlier works. His book The Ignored and University both stay in my thoughts, along with The Mailman.
December 31, 2013
This is a novel about an unemployed man name Ross. Because of Ross hard times and no job, the only family member that will help him is his cousin in Arizona. Lita invites Ross to come and stay with her for a couple of weeks or until he gets back on his feet. Ross takes a liking to the farm and helps Lita and her husband Dave with the chores. Something strange happens on New Years Eve. Celebrating the New Year all the towns people who are gather at the party, fire their guns in the air. Some type of wing creature was flying overhead.The creature falls to the ground and was dead. Father Ramos and some of the citizens of Magdalena, believed that this wing creature was an angel. Children begin to disappear and strange lizard and insect creatures appeared from the beyond. Ross is the only one who knows that Magdalena is doomed. Some of the towns people are under the influence of the wing creature. They will give their life to protect it. This is a classic Bentley Little novel. The characters are well developed and Little is an excellent storyteller. Little is one of the premier Horror writers of today.
September 27, 2016
I'm a huge fan of Bentley Little, but unfortunately, I couldn't finish this novel. Its really, really bad. Easily the worst thing he's written. He's written some other bad books, (University, The Walking), but this one was horrendous. If you'd like to try Little, check out The Store, The Resort, The Association, and his latest, The Consultant is fantastic. This, book, on the other hand, should be avoided at all costs in my opinion. Full of unbelievable behavior by its characters, completely unrealistic reactions to situations, and zero suspense, this is a terrible book. I'm glad his next book, the aforementioned Consultant, was a return to form, because this is easily his worst book.
January 24, 2014
This is closer to three and a half stars than four; it's the first Little book I've read to the end since The Resort (which was better than this). The writing is clean and the characters engaging, and Little has always been adept at the set-up. So while all of that is good enough, the climax and resolution are rushed and unsatisfactory. The cause of the influence is inventive, but at the end the author offers us little in the way of motive, purpose, origin, or destination. A whole lot of what, but not very much why.
August 18, 2014
Reads a lot like other of Little's titles and that is fine by me. What I found interesting is that I liked the story about the out of work man, Ross, who takes his cousin up on her offer to stay with her and her husband on the farm. I actually was a little annoyed when the strange happenings started to occur, and that is only a testament to the power of Little's writing. He was able to take me on a journey, and I started caring about these people and then I had to remind myself, hey this is a horror novel, and it was just onward and upward from there.
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