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Menace
Jane Marlow is a successful model with a London home and a bright future. But now she has a after a night of unbridled passion with a TV actor, she's pregnant.
After taking on a mysterious modeling project in the northeast of England, Jane finds herself growing increasingly attached to her unborn child. But other changes are also underway.
Something is dogging the development of her baby, something that casts long shadows across her. Before her child is born, can an engagement with a best-selling novelist help identify what menaces her?
After taking on a mysterious modeling project in the northeast of England, Jane finds herself growing increasingly attached to her unborn child. But other changes are also underway.
Something is dogging the development of her baby, something that casts long shadows across her. Before her child is born, can an engagement with a best-selling novelist help identify what menaces her?
- GenresHorror
67 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 22, 2014
Haunted property
This book was okay. It had an interesting setting and general creepy atmosphere but shortly became somewhat cliche. The setting was really well established but then the story left it for a variety of more mundane locations. After the time and trouble the author took creating a mood and atmosphere it was surprising he would leave it. The ending felt rushed and predictable.
This book was okay. It had an interesting setting and general creepy atmosphere but shortly became somewhat cliche. The setting was really well established but then the story left it for a variety of more mundane locations. After the time and trouble the author took creating a mood and atmosphere it was surprising he would leave it. The ending felt rushed and predictable.
January 31, 2014
Another high quality Darkfuse title.
I must start off by saying that I think that Gary Fry is a very good writer and, as appreciation of any story is subjective, no one can expect to connect with everything every writer writes. This one just was sort of “meh” for me. High points for creepiness and good writing. I thought the changes that were tormenting the main character were quite well done. The points off are contained in the spoilers, however.
I must start off by saying that I think that Gary Fry is a very good writer and, as appreciation of any story is subjective, no one can expect to connect with everything every writer writes. This one just was sort of “meh” for me. High points for creepiness and good writing. I thought the changes that were tormenting the main character were quite well done. The points off are contained in the spoilers, however.
May 22, 2014
The first thing I will say, is that I really enjoy Gary Fry's writing. I think he brings a richness to his stories through his writing style.
I think the story got off to a great start, the location for the photo shoot was intriguing and it seemed as though the story was going to be the house and family who had lived there. The story, disappointingly, moves back to London and the pacing seems to suffer as not that much happens, any tension built in the initial stages of the story is lost.
Also the main character didn't feel very relatable to me, I couldn't engage with her at all. After the initial scenes at the house the pacing seems to slow down and I found it took me quite a while to finish this book which was surprising as it's a pretty short read.
Whilst I have enjoyed the authors work so far, I'm still waiting for a story from him that really grips me. I'm sure it will come in the near future.
January 24, 2014
I love Gary Fry's style of writing, particularly with his shorter works. This story centers around Jane, an unmarried, pregnant model, with a strong Christian upbringing. While there are certainly some extremely unsettling moments in this novella (the house that she modeled at was particularly good!), the story then moved into some more "common areas" that took a bit away from that intensity, IMO. I didn't find Jane's character particularly believable as she kept contradicting herself on her own beliefs throughout. Overall, I feel that if more had been said about the history of the Catching family, and the location more centered in the area of the ancestral home, this would have been much stronger novella.
Want to read
February 11, 2015This is copy 88 of 100 signed numbered copies.
January 23, 2014
Another good quick read by Gary Fry. The story is centered around Jane Marlow a model and a Luke Catching a writer. Jane gets hired to pose for the cover of a memoir that was written by Luke at this abandoned house near a cliff. She goes into the house to change clothes she hears something that sounds like children. She looks out the window and there by the cliff's edge are six children. They were dressed in clothes that look like it came from the 50's. She rushes out the house looks around to find no children. As the story continues more strange and eerie things seem to happen to and around Jane. I did enjoy reading the story. But I wish the story was a little longer and went into more detail into Catching's family history. That being said I gave Menace 3 1/2 stars.
April 27, 2014
Model Jane Marlow learned she was pregnant before going on location to do a photo shoot. While there, she thinks she sees a group of six children out on the lawn but no one else saw them. Adding to her unease, she feels like something is moving inside of her belly along with her child. As her pregnancy goes on, strange things happen to her ranging from a lock of hair that keeps going gray after being dyed, changes in how she talks and something a tech saw revealed on her ultrasound. As her pregnancy continues, she gets the feeling that something just isn't right...
I was a little disappointed in this one. After so much suspense building up, I felt that the big reveal at the end was a bit rushed and left me wondering why would someone want to do that?
I was a little disappointed in this one. After so much suspense building up, I felt that the big reveal at the end was a bit rushed and left me wondering why would someone want to do that?
February 9, 2014
creepy interesting read. Recommended.
November 23, 2013
A beautiful model takes an unusual assignment to do a covershot for a soon-to-be published book and finds there is more to the story than the author's preference to her face. For Jane, the shoot was, at best a little eerie, but it paid well, which was fortunate, as she finds herself pregnant after a one night stand with a popular TV actor. The author seems harmless enough, but strange things are happening to Jane, could it be the "changes" of pregnancy or is there something more sinister going on? Will it endanger her unborn child?
Menace by Gary Fry is pure dark mystery, a little haunting, a little scary, but most definitely very entertaining! True to his style, Gary Fry writes with a dark veil hanging over his words as the reader is sucked into the dark vortex of black magic and cult-like beliefs. Spotlighting one well-developed character, her emotions, thoughts and that niggling sixth sense, Menace takes a twisted trip to the dark side with an ending that was a jump off point for my imagination for the future!
Part of Darkfuse's novella series, Menace is long enough to raise the hairs on neck, but short enough for a quick escape from reality!
I received an ARC edition from Darkfuse in exchange for my honest review.
Expected Publication Date: January 21, 2014
Publisher: Darkfuse
ISBN: 9781940544168
Genre: Adult Mystery/Thriller
Menace by Gary Fry is pure dark mystery, a little haunting, a little scary, but most definitely very entertaining! True to his style, Gary Fry writes with a dark veil hanging over his words as the reader is sucked into the dark vortex of black magic and cult-like beliefs. Spotlighting one well-developed character, her emotions, thoughts and that niggling sixth sense, Menace takes a twisted trip to the dark side with an ending that was a jump off point for my imagination for the future!
Part of Darkfuse's novella series, Menace is long enough to raise the hairs on neck, but short enough for a quick escape from reality!
I received an ARC edition from Darkfuse in exchange for my honest review.
Expected Publication Date: January 21, 2014
Publisher: Darkfuse
ISBN: 9781940544168
Genre: Adult Mystery/Thriller
September 1, 2016
I had a bit of a hard time with this one for some reason. The pacing just seemed to be off for me. Overall, it was a good story, but the “menace” didn’t build like I was hoping and I never really got the sense of any impending dread. The ending I though could have been longer and drawn deeper upon the authors dark family history.
January 12, 2021
Although, for me, there are a few trite and predictable elements to this denouement, I remain as if paranoiacally ‘enceinte’ by what is hardly more than a long short story in size, entrammelled by its containing book’s physical context and by the author’s skill at a driven plainspoken art as if he, too, was caught by it as well being its catcher. The Catcher in the Lie as well as of it. An ultimate lie to which Jane is born by first being born as an innocent in this story and then giving birth to it as a vicious circle. And I the reviewer feel as if I myself have been photographed inside the book itself, with my hands grasping at the words, wringing out the flow of meaning and of feeling. It wouldn’t have worked so well, perhaps, if I hadn’t read it effectively in one sitting and simultaneously reported upon my conscientious rite of passage with others reading my words as well as the book’s words as I duly proceeded. Even if nobody eventually reads this review or the book, it was important that I actually believed I was thus being read as I wrote my real-time review for my involvement as such an ‘active’, rather than ‘passive’, reader to have been airbrushed in (if that’s not a contradiction in terms).
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long or impractical to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long or impractical to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.
January 21, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
Another horror novella by DarkFuse. These books all have one thing in common: they’re definitely quality work. Menace is no exception.
Jane Marlow is a succesful model who, after a night of passion with a B-movie actor, finds herself pregnant with his child. She decides to make the most of it, and try to earn as much money as she can before she starts showing. When a mysterious modeling project lands in her mailbox, she doesn’t hesitate. The project is for a book cover by a mystery and suspense author, and to complete it, she must travel to a remote house by the sea in northeast England.
When Jane arrives at the house, she’s immediately taken aback by its exterior, by the creepy vibe it gives off, and by the sullenness of the place. When she changes into her clothes for the photoshoot, and sees a bunch of children playing near the shore, she panicks at first, fearing for the kids’ safety. But when she rushes downstairs, there’s no one to be seen.
After the shoot, she gets the proof of the cover in her mailbox, sent by the photographer, and to her surprise and horror, the kids show up in the background. She contacts the author, trying to figure out what’s happening once and for all. But Jane has no idea what she signed up for when she accepted the job, and now something dark and menacing is growing inside her…
This dark mystery with a ghostly tale woven in is a little disturbing, and a good read. The author manages to keep the atmosphere tense all the time. The ending was a tad bit dissapointing for me – the big reveal didn’t seem like much of a reveal, and I found the entire explanation a bit lacking – but all in all, this was a very pleasant reading experience. What I perhaps enjoyed the most, are the atmosphere, and the subtleness of the horror.
Another horror novella by DarkFuse. These books all have one thing in common: they’re definitely quality work. Menace is no exception.
Jane Marlow is a succesful model who, after a night of passion with a B-movie actor, finds herself pregnant with his child. She decides to make the most of it, and try to earn as much money as she can before she starts showing. When a mysterious modeling project lands in her mailbox, she doesn’t hesitate. The project is for a book cover by a mystery and suspense author, and to complete it, she must travel to a remote house by the sea in northeast England.
When Jane arrives at the house, she’s immediately taken aback by its exterior, by the creepy vibe it gives off, and by the sullenness of the place. When she changes into her clothes for the photoshoot, and sees a bunch of children playing near the shore, she panicks at first, fearing for the kids’ safety. But when she rushes downstairs, there’s no one to be seen.
After the shoot, she gets the proof of the cover in her mailbox, sent by the photographer, and to her surprise and horror, the kids show up in the background. She contacts the author, trying to figure out what’s happening once and for all. But Jane has no idea what she signed up for when she accepted the job, and now something dark and menacing is growing inside her…
This dark mystery with a ghostly tale woven in is a little disturbing, and a good read. The author manages to keep the atmosphere tense all the time. The ending was a tad bit dissapointing for me – the big reveal didn’t seem like much of a reveal, and I found the entire explanation a bit lacking – but all in all, this was a very pleasant reading experience. What I perhaps enjoyed the most, are the atmosphere, and the subtleness of the horror.
June 12, 2014
Okay, I admit up front, that I am biased towards liking horror stories written by psychologists. I am not too sure how many there are beyond my immediate sphere of existence, but Gary Fry is a psychologist who writes riveting horror tales. His latest novella, Menace, is a brilliant piece of subtle horror.
Jane Marlow is a successful young model who finds herself pregnant after a brief fling with a TV actor. She begins taking as many modeling jobs as she can before her pregnancy starts showing. One is at an old coastal home in rural England where she is on a shoot that will end up on a book cover. In the process, she has a strange experience – noticing a group of small boys playing dangerously close to a cliff. She sees them only for an instance, and then they are gone. Was she just imagining them? She is perplexed, but diverts her attention to her developing child. When she sees the copy of the print which will serve as the cover, she is stunned to see the boys in the picture with her.
To offer any more information will detract a reader from a clever horror tale which is very shrewd in its delivery. The story is surprisingly complex and yet understated. The reader becomes increasingly uneasy as the plot advances due to incremental chills. Dr. Fry is a master of delicate writing that snares you against your will. I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen to poor Jane. I was essentially glued to my Kindle. Some reviewers complained about the abruptness of the ending, given the pacing that came before. That may be true, but I didn’t mind the resolution. Some also commented on how the ending has been done before. That is also true. Still, Gary Fry had the guts to give it a go, and he had me guessing. This is the third work of his that I have read, and he has jolted me with each one. Highly recommended.
Jane Marlow is a successful young model who finds herself pregnant after a brief fling with a TV actor. She begins taking as many modeling jobs as she can before her pregnancy starts showing. One is at an old coastal home in rural England where she is on a shoot that will end up on a book cover. In the process, she has a strange experience – noticing a group of small boys playing dangerously close to a cliff. She sees them only for an instance, and then they are gone. Was she just imagining them? She is perplexed, but diverts her attention to her developing child. When she sees the copy of the print which will serve as the cover, she is stunned to see the boys in the picture with her.
To offer any more information will detract a reader from a clever horror tale which is very shrewd in its delivery. The story is surprisingly complex and yet understated. The reader becomes increasingly uneasy as the plot advances due to incremental chills. Dr. Fry is a master of delicate writing that snares you against your will. I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen to poor Jane. I was essentially glued to my Kindle. Some reviewers complained about the abruptness of the ending, given the pacing that came before. That may be true, but I didn’t mind the resolution. Some also commented on how the ending has been done before. That is also true. Still, Gary Fry had the guts to give it a go, and he had me guessing. This is the third work of his that I have read, and he has jolted me with each one. Highly recommended.
February 1, 2014
Jane, a professional model, learns she's pregnant by a B-list television star. She soldiers on alone, but while on an assignment posing for a cover of a book by a Yorkshire author her life begins to unravel: she glimpses a group of children in old-fashioned clothes who then disappear into thin air. Later, a nurse taking an ultrasound of Jane's fetus is shaken by something she sees. And on top of it all Jane, a native Londoner, begins to affect a Yorkshire accent.
It's a difficult pregnancy alright. But Jane's a resourceful character; she does the research, and finds out the story behind the cover shoot that seemingly started the events, and learns her role in it all.
When there's a baby on the way, it's not too much of a leap to think of Rosemary's Baby. A similar scenario plays out in Menace, but here it's a rather convoluted scheme, even if it is solidly based on folklore (or, as I like to think, Iron Maiden's brilliant 1988 concept album). Nevertheless, the story starts out well – Jane, an admirably fleshed out character, is like a protagonist in a Ramsey Campbell novel, holding up bravely as her life gets increasingly weirder. It's all good, with good characters, great atmosphere, an intriguing mystery, and a strong sense of, well, menace.
Sadly the ending doesn't match; the subtlety is gone, far too much is explicitly spelled out, and the reveal proves to be both predictable and slightly over the top. But until then, it's a good read.
***½ (3½/5)
Read all my reviews at mikareadshorrorfiction.com
It's a difficult pregnancy alright. But Jane's a resourceful character; she does the research, and finds out the story behind the cover shoot that seemingly started the events, and learns her role in it all.
When there's a baby on the way, it's not too much of a leap to think of Rosemary's Baby. A similar scenario plays out in Menace, but here it's a rather convoluted scheme, even if it is solidly based on folklore (or, as I like to think, Iron Maiden's brilliant 1988 concept album). Nevertheless, the story starts out well – Jane, an admirably fleshed out character, is like a protagonist in a Ramsey Campbell novel, holding up bravely as her life gets increasingly weirder. It's all good, with good characters, great atmosphere, an intriguing mystery, and a strong sense of, well, menace.
Sadly the ending doesn't match; the subtlety is gone, far too much is explicitly spelled out, and the reveal proves to be both predictable and slightly over the top. But until then, it's a good read.
***½ (3½/5)
Read all my reviews at mikareadshorrorfiction.com
January 25, 2014
Menace by Gary Fry is part of the Darkfuse novella series. I was given a few of the books for review purpose. Menace is the first one I've read and I have to say that, if this novella is typical of the series, it is a quality act indeed.
Gary Fry's short novella (about 60 or so pages) is a quick read but it is nicely paced and manages to convey a good bit of...if you pardon the redundancy...menace. The tale is about a model, Jane Marlow, who finds herself pregnant by a B-movie actor. She considers aborting it but soon becomes fond of the idea of having her child. She is also developing some strange behavioral and physical changes as is the father...
This story works because the author introduces these changes logically and gradually, along with strategically placed clues about what may be going on. This is not a blood and gore story. It is more of a supernatural psychological suspense story, the kind that grabs you slowly but firmly. The ending may not surprise the seasoned horror fan but it is quite satisfying in that eerie "gotcha" way. This is also my first book by Gary Fry and I am very pleased with it. I believe Fry and the Darkfuse novella series will be in my radar for a while. If you like your horror on the quietly scary and somewhat literary side then this novella is for you.
Gary Fry's short novella (about 60 or so pages) is a quick read but it is nicely paced and manages to convey a good bit of...if you pardon the redundancy...menace. The tale is about a model, Jane Marlow, who finds herself pregnant by a B-movie actor. She considers aborting it but soon becomes fond of the idea of having her child. She is also developing some strange behavioral and physical changes as is the father...
This story works because the author introduces these changes logically and gradually, along with strategically placed clues about what may be going on. This is not a blood and gore story. It is more of a supernatural psychological suspense story, the kind that grabs you slowly but firmly. The ending may not surprise the seasoned horror fan but it is quite satisfying in that eerie "gotcha" way. This is also my first book by Gary Fry and I am very pleased with it. I believe Fry and the Darkfuse novella series will be in my radar for a while. If you like your horror on the quietly scary and somewhat literary side then this novella is for you.
May 3, 2014
This is the story of Jane Marlow, a model. After a short-lived affair with a soap actor she finds herself pregnant. Knowing her commissions will now be limited, Jane takes on all the jobs she can before she begins to show. One such commission is for a book cover for a mysterious unknown author. She sets off for Yorkshire and finds herself in front of a huge and imposing old country house. When she goes inside to get changed for the shoot, she looks outside to see 6 children, all with startling blue eyes. On going back outside they have disappeared. On her return to London, strange things start happening to her, and her ex-lover. In a panic she reaches out to the author of the book. That's when things really start to get strange...
This was a nice easy read with a suitably horrifying ending. The tale built up slowly, and then in the last quarter rocketed to it's horrific ending. The descriptions were vivid, making me feel like I was there in Yorkshire. The characters were solid and I was invested in what happened to them. I read this in one sitting, as I could not put it down. I find myself enjoying Gary's work more and more and I am so glad he has found a home at DarkFuse.
This was a nice easy read with a suitably horrifying ending. The tale built up slowly, and then in the last quarter rocketed to it's horrific ending. The descriptions were vivid, making me feel like I was there in Yorkshire. The characters were solid and I was invested in what happened to them. I read this in one sitting, as I could not put it down. I find myself enjoying Gary's work more and more and I am so glad he has found a home at DarkFuse.
February 12, 2014
With his latest novella, Gary Fry takes a bit of a break from his usual cosmic horror themes and focuses on a more traditional horror story. The result is a fairly entertaining read.
Jane, a London model, is recently pregnant and worrying about how to handle her new situation. At the same time, she books a job, one which specifically requested her and requires her to take a trip to northern Britain to a creepy old house. Some spooky things happen while there that will have drastic effects on Jane and her unborn baby.
Like I said, fairly traditional and outside of what's typically found in Fry's oeuvre (or at least the parts with which I'm familiar). It seems obvious this is not a type of horror Fry has a lot of experience with writing; he has a few problems with focus, as if he wasn't sure what aspects of Jane's life he needed to focus on, and pacing is an issue sometimes. As I see it, both of these problems could have been solved by a bit more judicious editing, or by fleshing the story out into novel length. However, these are minor complaints and the novella is still solid and entertaining.
Jane, a London model, is recently pregnant and worrying about how to handle her new situation. At the same time, she books a job, one which specifically requested her and requires her to take a trip to northern Britain to a creepy old house. Some spooky things happen while there that will have drastic effects on Jane and her unborn baby.
Like I said, fairly traditional and outside of what's typically found in Fry's oeuvre (or at least the parts with which I'm familiar). It seems obvious this is not a type of horror Fry has a lot of experience with writing; he has a few problems with focus, as if he wasn't sure what aspects of Jane's life he needed to focus on, and pacing is an issue sometimes. As I see it, both of these problems could have been solved by a bit more judicious editing, or by fleshing the story out into novel length. However, these are minor complaints and the novella is still solid and entertaining.
January 22, 2014
I received this novella today from DarkFuse. Not sure I have read the author prior to this. The protagonist was young and a some what successful model. At least she made enough money to live on. She finds herself pregnant after spending the night with her boyfriend.
*****SPOILER ALERT******
She is hired for a mysterious job modeling an author's mother for the story of his family. Soon after we see this young lady grow. Gary Fry has our hero's personality go through some major changes at he writes in a mild way . I like the way he developed her and the other main character.
I gave the book 4 because I had some issues with what our hero accepts in the end. I should probably think about this for a few days, but wanted to leave the review before I forgot. I recommend this book to anyone interested in a good creepy story
*****SPOILER ALERT******
She is hired for a mysterious job modeling an author's mother for the story of his family. Soon after we see this young lady grow. Gary Fry has our hero's personality go through some major changes at he writes in a mild way . I like the way he developed her and the other main character.
I gave the book 4 because I had some issues with what our hero accepts in the end. I should probably think about this for a few days, but wanted to leave the review before I forgot. I recommend this book to anyone interested in a good creepy story
January 26, 2014
Gary Fry rarely disappoints whatever the story length but his style is particularly suited to the novella length. In Menace he builds a sense of creepiness whilst skillfully weaving the necessary back-story into the narrative. The characters of Jane and Luke are well developed and the ending is nicely pitched. My only criticism would be an apparent lack of trust that the reader would be able to remember the role of Neil who the author seems to refer to by his full name and his role in Jane's pregnancy every couple of pages. A minor quibble, although it did jar somewhat, which hardly impinges on a wonderfully creepy slice of claustrophobic horror.
May 2, 2014
Three stars does not mean this story was bad... I liked what was there. Menace was the second title by Gary Fry that I've read. I enjoyed them both. Lurker was my first - a good read. Go look that one up.
Menace has an interesting overall concept - one that was revealed a smidge too far into the book for my taste. I wanted to have more time with creepy kids, plotting family members, spooky old mansions, etc. I enjoy novellas - this one needed more scare and action, less build-up.
I enjoy Fry's writing style and hope to read more of his work. He'd be great at mysteries. I hope he tries that soon.
I received this title from Dark Fuse via NetGalley. Thank you!
Menace has an interesting overall concept - one that was revealed a smidge too far into the book for my taste. I wanted to have more time with creepy kids, plotting family members, spooky old mansions, etc. I enjoy novellas - this one needed more scare and action, less build-up.
I enjoy Fry's writing style and hope to read more of his work. He'd be great at mysteries. I hope he tries that soon.
I received this title from Dark Fuse via NetGalley. Thank you!
July 5, 2015
Quite enjoyable story.After I read the book it was obvious that it shares common territory with other films and books I`ve read or seen, maybe it's not the
most original story I've read these days, but still it's a powerful and well written one.
The reader travels,alongside the protagonist Jane, in a journey to know what's happening to her and her baby(she's pregnant)
and the autor did a good job keeping the tensión,the mystery and the interest until the truth is unveiled at the end.I,certainly,enjoyed
it.
most original story I've read these days, but still it's a powerful and well written one.
The reader travels,alongside the protagonist Jane, in a journey to know what's happening to her and her baby(she's pregnant)
and the autor did a good job keeping the tensión,the mystery and the interest until the truth is unveiled at the end.I,certainly,enjoyed
it.
June 9, 2014
I clicked on this randomly while scrolling through my Kindle book list. I really quite enjoyed it, although I found the ending disappointed. The suspense had built up quite nicely, only to hit an anti-climatic end.
December 7, 2013
Another very good novella from Gary Fry and DarkFuse
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/menace... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/menace... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
August 3, 2014
A creepy short story with an abrupt ending.
I did enjoy reading it!!
I did enjoy reading it!!
March 10, 2014
Enjoyable quick read with a curiously flat and terse ending.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews