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Halloween Trick or Supernatural Threat? Halloween is a spooky time of year in sleepy Verona, Indiana; but when a local high school wrestler goes missing, the holiday takes a sinister turn. The season becomes truly creepy when another hunky, young athlete disappears and a long-forgotten local legend comes to life. Soon, all tremble with fear as the once-benevolent guardians of the fields stalk the young jocks of Verona High School. The disturbing situation becomes personal for Marc Peralta when Dorian, his boyfriend, disappears. Marc begins a desperate search to uncover the secrets of the past and find Dorian before he too is transformed into a scarecrow corpse.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2012
About the author
Mark A. Roeder
100 books214 followersMark A. Roeder grew up in southern Indiana - near a small town similar to those that appear in his novels.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 21, 2013
In a novella that's perfect for the Halloween season, Marc Peralta tells us of his life and love in 1980's Verona Indiana. He's got good friends and an affectionate boyfriend and though he's out to many, he doesn't get hassled the way that so many gay kids of that time and place might have.
But when a local Indian legend seems to be making a comeback and abusive homophobes start disappearing then turning up dead, the locals become concerned as only small town folk seem to. Then Marc's boyfriend, Dorian joins the missing and the pattern is broken. Marc and his group of friends become even more active in trying to uncover exactly what is happening.
This is a good seasonal yarn that will appeal to the fan's of Mark Roeder's Gay Youth Chronicles. It's probably not the best place for new fans to join the series as many of the characters and situations are follow-ons to what's been developed in previous books. If you've enjoyed spending time with Mark's characters, then you'll probably enjoy this installment as well but I'd recommend that newcomers start with either The Soccer Field Is Empty or Someone Is Watching or even Keeper of Secrets.
I suggest Keeper of Secrets even though it includes segments set at a later date. That's the first book that really delves into the history of the Greymoor Mansion and that mansion is as much a character in this as some of the living breathing characters.
Unlike all of the other Mark Roeder novels I've read in hard copy, I started this via the audio-book version but it didn't work as well for me. Mark's narratives have a confidential feel that seems very like what might be read in a journal kept by a teen experiencing the events being told. Hearing these same events and reflections spoken aloud seemed somehow less private and confidential and it didn't work for me. Others may have different reactions and the narrative seemed very well done so it may work well for others but this fan will stick with the printed word for future forays into the adventures of the boys of Verona.
But when a local Indian legend seems to be making a comeback and abusive homophobes start disappearing then turning up dead, the locals become concerned as only small town folk seem to. Then Marc's boyfriend, Dorian joins the missing and the pattern is broken. Marc and his group of friends become even more active in trying to uncover exactly what is happening.
This is a good seasonal yarn that will appeal to the fan's of Mark Roeder's Gay Youth Chronicles. It's probably not the best place for new fans to join the series as many of the characters and situations are follow-ons to what's been developed in previous books. If you've enjoyed spending time with Mark's characters, then you'll probably enjoy this installment as well but I'd recommend that newcomers start with either The Soccer Field Is Empty or Someone Is Watching or even Keeper of Secrets.
I suggest Keeper of Secrets even though it includes segments set at a later date. That's the first book that really delves into the history of the Greymoor Mansion and that mansion is as much a character in this as some of the living breathing characters.
Unlike all of the other Mark Roeder novels I've read in hard copy, I started this via the audio-book version but it didn't work as well for me. Mark's narratives have a confidential feel that seems very like what might be read in a journal kept by a teen experiencing the events being told. Hearing these same events and reflections spoken aloud seemed somehow less private and confidential and it didn't work for me. Others may have different reactions and the narrative seemed very well done so it may work well for others but this fan will stick with the printed word for future forays into the adventures of the boys of Verona.
July 29, 2013
One of the best in the series. A very plausible mystery with a surprising, but sensible conclusion. The psychic and supernatural elements are more involved than in earlier books in the series, but still has room to grow.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews