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Cedar Hill #2
Keepers
When he witnesses the death of an old man who warns him that "The Keepers are coming," Gil Stewart becomes submerged in a nightmarish world where strange animals and reminders of a past he cannot remember follow him at every turn. Original.
339 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2005
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820 people want to read
About the author
Gary A. Braunbeck
223 books232 followersGary A. Braunbeck is a prolific author who writes mysteries, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mainstream literature. He is the author of 19 books; his fiction has been translated into Japanese, French, Italian, Russian and German. Nearly 200 of his short stories have appeared in various publications.
His fiction has received several awards, including the Bram Stoker Award in 2003 for "Duty" and in 2005 for "We Now Pause for Station Identification"; his book Destinations Unknown won a Stoker in 2006. His novella "Kiss of the Mudman" received the International Horror Guild Award in 2005."
His fiction has received several awards, including the Bram Stoker Award in 2003 for "Duty" and in 2005 for "We Now Pause for Station Identification"; his book Destinations Unknown won a Stoker in 2006. His novella "Kiss of the Mudman" received the International Horror Guild Award in 2005."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 25, 2024
While I applaud Braunbeck's vision here, and the mysterious (almost) Lovecraftian vibes, this just seemed a bit too similar to In Silent Graves and I hope the rest of the books in the series are not so formulaic. Once again set (largely) in Cedar Hills, Ohio, Keepers stars Gil Stewart, who owns and runs a movie memorabilia store in Cedar Hills, and just recently, opened a second one in Columbus. Like our protagonist in In Silent Graves, Gil is a bit of a loner (although he is single here rather than married), but very introspective. One day, returning from the store in Columbus, he witnesses a bizarre death on the highway; some old man in snazzy suit with a bowler hat is walking on the side of the road, the wind blows off his hat into the highway, and reaching for it, gets plowed.
Gil, a bit shook up by this, tries to continue with life, but it seems life has taken some new twists and turns. Gil, for over a decade, has had some 'mental issues' and takes a variety of pills, etc., to deal with it. One of his problems concerns his 'selective forgetting' and some moments of his past are just gone. After some strangeness, a good chunk of this deals with prior events in Gil's live, as he became forced to recall some particularly painful episodes when he was a growing boy and young man...
I do not want to go into the plot to avoid spoilers, but expect the same style prose; one can either call it poetic and beautiful, or run on and overly melodramatic. How you feel about this will probably shape your perception of the book. The plot, however, is just too close to the first book in the series, albeit different in the particulars-- some otherworldly force has shaped human history and now is time for payback. While In Silent Graves featured abused and deformed children, Keepers focuses upon abused animals and 'discarded' elderly. While the shock value is high on both (beating two year olds, or kicking small kittens), it often seems these scenes were just for the shock value. I can dig me some shock, but these came rather predictably. Humans can be nasty, and yes, we could do much better how we live our lives and treat animals, but the 'morality play' aspects of this one were a bit too much for me. Expect long, emotional dialogues, some shocking scenes, and an OTT plot that bleeds into fantasy. 2.5 stars, rounding up for the novelty.
Gil, a bit shook up by this, tries to continue with life, but it seems life has taken some new twists and turns. Gil, for over a decade, has had some 'mental issues' and takes a variety of pills, etc., to deal with it. One of his problems concerns his 'selective forgetting' and some moments of his past are just gone. After some strangeness, a good chunk of this deals with prior events in Gil's live, as he became forced to recall some particularly painful episodes when he was a growing boy and young man...
I do not want to go into the plot to avoid spoilers, but expect the same style prose; one can either call it poetic and beautiful, or run on and overly melodramatic. How you feel about this will probably shape your perception of the book. The plot, however, is just too close to the first book in the series, albeit different in the particulars-- some otherworldly force has shaped human history and now is time for payback. While In Silent Graves featured abused and deformed children, Keepers focuses upon abused animals and 'discarded' elderly. While the shock value is high on both (beating two year olds, or kicking small kittens), it often seems these scenes were just for the shock value. I can dig me some shock, but these came rather predictably. Humans can be nasty, and yes, we could do much better how we live our lives and treat animals, but the 'morality play' aspects of this one were a bit too much for me. Expect long, emotional dialogues, some shocking scenes, and an OTT plot that bleeds into fantasy. 2.5 stars, rounding up for the novelty.
August 19, 2015
Review copy
Gary A. Braunbeck is the author of 19 books and nearly 200 of his short stories have appeared in various publications. Born in Newark, Ohio; the city that serves as the model for the fictitious Cedar Hill in many of his stories. His fiction has received numerous awards, including the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction in 2003 for "Duty" and in 2005 for "We Now Pause for Station Identification"; his collection Destinations Unknown won a Stoker in 2006. His novella "Kiss of the Mudman" received the International Horror Guild Award for Long Fiction in 2005.
When first published, Keepers, was nominated for a 2005 Bram Stoker Award for "Superior Achievement in a Novel."
“The Keepers are coming…” The last words of a man who died in the middle of a highway through Cedar Hill, Ohio, still echo in Gil Stewart’s ears when he discovers a dying dog in his front yard. At the same moment a package arrives on his doorstep. A package holding hope that a past young love might not be lost after all."
Anytime I get to visit Braunbeck's Cedar Hill, I know I'm in for a treat. This story is certainly no exception.
I found myself smitten with Beth, then there's a truly delightful octogenarian in Marty Weis. More than once I found myself just smiling at the interaction between Marty and Beth's beau. One such interaction...
"Pot. Kettle. Black. Fill in the blanks." "Me. Go. Bring women and dogs." "Here. Me. Wait. Air-conditioning. Bring adverbs when you return."
Keepers is not all fun and games. By the end of the story I'd had my heart yanked out more than once. Some folks have found this work to be confusing and there were points where I thought that myself, but by the end of the tale it was like someone threw a light switch and suddenly chased away the darkness.
More of an epic fantasy/love story than horror, Keepers is, without a doubt, my most satisfying read of 2015.
Before I wrap things up, I'd like to acknowledge the cover for this new version of Keepers from Alerim at 99designs.com. Once you've read the book, you'll see how the artwork fully captures the story.
First published in 2005, this new, author's preferred version is available now in a wide variety of formats and is published by Journalstone.
My highest recommendation.
Gary A. Braunbeck is the author of 19 books and nearly 200 of his short stories have appeared in various publications. Born in Newark, Ohio; the city that serves as the model for the fictitious Cedar Hill in many of his stories. His fiction has received numerous awards, including the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction in 2003 for "Duty" and in 2005 for "We Now Pause for Station Identification"; his collection Destinations Unknown won a Stoker in 2006. His novella "Kiss of the Mudman" received the International Horror Guild Award for Long Fiction in 2005.
When first published, Keepers, was nominated for a 2005 Bram Stoker Award for "Superior Achievement in a Novel."
“The Keepers are coming…” The last words of a man who died in the middle of a highway through Cedar Hill, Ohio, still echo in Gil Stewart’s ears when he discovers a dying dog in his front yard. At the same moment a package arrives on his doorstep. A package holding hope that a past young love might not be lost after all."
Anytime I get to visit Braunbeck's Cedar Hill, I know I'm in for a treat. This story is certainly no exception.
I found myself smitten with Beth, then there's a truly delightful octogenarian in Marty Weis. More than once I found myself just smiling at the interaction between Marty and Beth's beau. One such interaction...
"Pot. Kettle. Black. Fill in the blanks." "Me. Go. Bring women and dogs." "Here. Me. Wait. Air-conditioning. Bring adverbs when you return."
Keepers is not all fun and games. By the end of the story I'd had my heart yanked out more than once. Some folks have found this work to be confusing and there were points where I thought that myself, but by the end of the tale it was like someone threw a light switch and suddenly chased away the darkness.
More of an epic fantasy/love story than horror, Keepers is, without a doubt, my most satisfying read of 2015.
Before I wrap things up, I'd like to acknowledge the cover for this new version of Keepers from Alerim at 99designs.com. Once you've read the book, you'll see how the artwork fully captures the story.
First published in 2005, this new, author's preferred version is available now in a wide variety of formats and is published by Journalstone.
My highest recommendation.
January 27, 2016
There are some authors who have the knack for whipping up a horrific tale that is as confusing as it is interesting; others who write with a dark style that’s impossible to learn through schooling or practice, and still more writers with either the natural knack for scaring the socks off their readers or the food out of their stomachs. Braunbeck has already shown he possesses each of these talents, which seem to come to him effortlessly. When you read his words, they’re real, dark, brooding, and just…well, you’d never mistake the man for a romance novelist.
Keepers is a very different kind of book, clever in its originality, confusing in its clues and hints, and morbid with its premise. Braunbecks goal was to horrify, I’m sure; he succeeded. I’ve said it before in movie reviews, and I’ll say the same thing with books – when you involve animals, you can get some of the creepiest effects possible. I mean, brrrr. These natural creatures can be the most menacing things around! Braunbeck keeps the horror deceivingly subtle, not throwing scary antics right in the readers face, instead letting it seep in through the pores. Without debate, Braunbeck has an amazing knack at bringing the reader into areas of the mind were surreal horror lurks, mystifying while at the same time seducing.
The plot itself is just strange; I felt a few brain hemorrhages reading it. You never know what the hell is really going on, and amidst the creepy atmosphere, you can sympathize with the main character’s seemingly constant state of confusion. From the bizarre opening sequence of a man on the highway being chased by virile dogs, to the bizarre hospital laboratory experiments, to strange comic book scrawlings, it’s impossible to keep a clear, sane head. This is always a good thing with horror, as heightening this state and being able to tap into this part of the human brain can result in the best kind of horror out there.
There were flaws, though. For some reason I couldn’t stay as focused as I would have liked with the book. The flashbacks were the more interesting, while the modern times were peppered with lengthy memories and sometimes anemic messages. Being back in one time, then going in another, can almost be two different books. This method almost always works, but if enough detail of the past is given – that is not always relevant to the future – then the reader may end up caring more about what happened then, and get impatient when thrust back in the ‘now.’ The different modes I got into when reading a flashback vs. current event ended up slightly distracting.
The Keepers were an intriguing lot, but I didn’t know whether to find them threatening or friendly, depending on the circumstance. It’s almost as if the author himself wasn’t sure till the end. For brownie points, a speech made by an important character at the end, about the treatment of our senior citizens, forgotten animals, and deformed children was both memorable and heart-gripping.
Braunbecks’ other book I read, In Silent Graves, was excellent and just as dark, concentrating on children, this one on the world between people and animals. While I enjoyed the previous book more, this one stands as another haunting, lesson-enriched, disturbing horror novel begging to be grabbed and devoured.
Keepers is a very different kind of book, clever in its originality, confusing in its clues and hints, and morbid with its premise. Braunbecks goal was to horrify, I’m sure; he succeeded. I’ve said it before in movie reviews, and I’ll say the same thing with books – when you involve animals, you can get some of the creepiest effects possible. I mean, brrrr. These natural creatures can be the most menacing things around! Braunbeck keeps the horror deceivingly subtle, not throwing scary antics right in the readers face, instead letting it seep in through the pores. Without debate, Braunbeck has an amazing knack at bringing the reader into areas of the mind were surreal horror lurks, mystifying while at the same time seducing.
The plot itself is just strange; I felt a few brain hemorrhages reading it. You never know what the hell is really going on, and amidst the creepy atmosphere, you can sympathize with the main character’s seemingly constant state of confusion. From the bizarre opening sequence of a man on the highway being chased by virile dogs, to the bizarre hospital laboratory experiments, to strange comic book scrawlings, it’s impossible to keep a clear, sane head. This is always a good thing with horror, as heightening this state and being able to tap into this part of the human brain can result in the best kind of horror out there.
There were flaws, though. For some reason I couldn’t stay as focused as I would have liked with the book. The flashbacks were the more interesting, while the modern times were peppered with lengthy memories and sometimes anemic messages. Being back in one time, then going in another, can almost be two different books. This method almost always works, but if enough detail of the past is given – that is not always relevant to the future – then the reader may end up caring more about what happened then, and get impatient when thrust back in the ‘now.’ The different modes I got into when reading a flashback vs. current event ended up slightly distracting.
The Keepers were an intriguing lot, but I didn’t know whether to find them threatening or friendly, depending on the circumstance. It’s almost as if the author himself wasn’t sure till the end. For brownie points, a speech made by an important character at the end, about the treatment of our senior citizens, forgotten animals, and deformed children was both memorable and heart-gripping.
Braunbecks’ other book I read, In Silent Graves, was excellent and just as dark, concentrating on children, this one on the world between people and animals. While I enjoyed the previous book more, this one stands as another haunting, lesson-enriched, disturbing horror novel begging to be grabbed and devoured.
July 4, 2015
"The Keepers are coming..." The last words of a man who died in the middle of a highway through Cedar Hill, Ohio, still echo in Gil Stewart's ears when he discovers a dying dog in his front yard. At the same moment a package arrives on his doorstep. A package holding hope that a past young love might not be lost after all.
The Keepers are coming, and they're bringing with them memories Gil has spent most of a lifetime forgetting, memories leaking through fractures in his psyche.
The Keepers are coming, and the animals — the harbingers — are acting strange.
The Keepers are coming. But from where? And why?
Before the day is over, Gil will have the answers, and the world he thought he knew will be irrevocably altered.
The Keepers are coming, and they're bringing with them memories Gil has spent most of a lifetime forgetting, memories leaking through fractures in his psyche.
The Keepers are coming, and the animals — the harbingers — are acting strange.
The Keepers are coming. But from where? And why?
Before the day is over, Gil will have the answers, and the world he thought he knew will be irrevocably altered.
November 9, 2007
This is one of Braunbeck's more accessable and least-structured novels. A few of the sections stray kind of far afield, but he manages to pull it all together satisfactorily in the end. The long middle section contains what is probably his best, most compelling writing.
June 28, 2011
What a superb book! Wow. This truely stunning novel by Gary A. Braunbeck has raised the bar again. Reading Braunbeck makes me embarrassed to read most any other author -- he's so much better. The quality of his prose, the detailed plotting, and incredibly layered characters are easily among the best of I've ever read -- and I read A LOT. It is uncommon for me to give a book 5 stars -- a perfect book. It is even more rare for an author to garner a second 5 star rating in their body of work -- only four other authors have received this from me (Tom Piccirilli, Richard Laymon, T.M. Wright, and Bentley Little). Braunbeck now joins this elite group after the 5-star rating of his previous work, "In Silent Graves". Reading this profound and emotional story was quite a journey I'll not forget anytime soon.
October 29, 2012
This was a pretty strange book... I did like the narrative style a lot. The writer's voice was quite unique, but, unfortunately the general storyline itself didn't make a whole lot of sense. I expected more of an explanation for the strange occurrences. Plus, it would've been nice if there were more things about the animals since that aspect of the premise was what originally drew me to this book. It was a fast read though, and while it wasn't a great book, it wasn't an all bad one, either. I have another book of his on my to-read list, but I am not in any great rush to read it, though I think I still will - just not right away.
October 1, 2008
Hey kids, you know what’s better than love? Make-up love. That’s right; Mr. Braunbeck and I are back together. After all the tears, the cursing, the screaming, and the heartache, we’ve found our way back home. I have to tell you, I didn’t think it could be done. I had sworn the man off just a few short months ago and declared worldwide that I would never pick up another book by him. Why? Because he always broke my heart and made me cry. No more I tell you, no more. After reading Keepers, my faith has been restored and my black heart is whole again. Mr. Braunbeck, Gary, you…complete…me.
Before we even begin the dissection, let me first point out that the cover of Keepers is stunning. That, right there, earns Mr. Braunbeck half of a point. But, I do have to deduct the same amount for the synopsis. That summary … completely misleading. This book is not a twisted rendition of When Animals Attack. Nor is it a knock-off of Cujo, Them, or Watchers. Want to know how or what sets it apart from these other played-out renditions? Read it and find out for yourself.
Unconventional and clever, the plot is an intricate masterpiece. Shedding layer upon layer, the story constantly unravels and contorts in a new direction that, I promise, you will never see coming and never would have expected to be brought to. And the moment you think you understand what the tale is truly about – you’re wrong. There are levels of subtext and symbols, even in the simplest scene your mind is in overdrive while Braunbeck takes you deeper into his world; never more so than in what could only be called the perfect ending.
Descriptive, but tight, Braunbeck’s prose, while at times can get a bit purple, is never allowed free reign. The details are embellished just enough to grant you a vivid image without painting the picture for you and the dialog is fresh with just a hint of sarcasm. Me likey. In fact, there was one scene in the book that I absolutely loved. The exchange is between the main character, Gil, and Whitey, the secondary character, while at an animal shelter. Take a look and judge for yourself:
“You don’t suppose they drug the animals, do you?”
“I wouldn’t think so. Would they be this active if they had sedatives in their system?”
“Hell-I’m on sedatives half the time and you don’t see it slowing me down any, do you?”
“No, but then you’re freakish.”
“Pot. Kettle. Black. Fill in the blanks.”
-pg. 193
Beautiful.
Now, while Braunbeck usually likes to have the speed and atmosphere develop slowly, carefully, it is not so here. Oh no, you are gripped up from the first chapter and held firmly in place while the air thickens with the smell of decay and repentance. And if you think the ambience will slowly ease up or that you’ll get used to it…give it up. The mood will only get darker, the climate colder, and that feeling of dread, well that will only increase with each page. Welcome to hell, dear readers.
Hand over you’re desolate, discarded, abused, and forgotten and I promise Braunbeck will make them beautiful and wretched. Each character is realistic; written with brutal honesty and without regret, there are no rainbows or sunny days here. In fact, at times this cast may be a little too life-like. In the scene where the main character, Gil, dreams of a place called the Rumble Room you can see a very distinct reenactment of a widely known mock-act that was practiced at Auschwitz.
This isn’t the only scene that hits home. Oh no, there are many and each one will embrace you against your will. But while their flaws are many, and the sins shown are so repugnant that you find yourself almost hating the author, he somehow manages not only to ignite your empathy, but ultimately, your forgiveness as well; both of the cast and yourself.
Horrifying and traumatic, thrilling and intense, Keepers has just become one of my favorite top ten books to read! Only a certain few have been able to capture me so extensively in their arms, move me to tears, and, yet, all the while with one hand over my eye. Great balance and Great Job!! My rating? I give it a 4.5. Grab it today!
-As reviewed for Horror-Web.com
Before we even begin the dissection, let me first point out that the cover of Keepers is stunning. That, right there, earns Mr. Braunbeck half of a point. But, I do have to deduct the same amount for the synopsis. That summary … completely misleading. This book is not a twisted rendition of When Animals Attack. Nor is it a knock-off of Cujo, Them, or Watchers. Want to know how or what sets it apart from these other played-out renditions? Read it and find out for yourself.
Unconventional and clever, the plot is an intricate masterpiece. Shedding layer upon layer, the story constantly unravels and contorts in a new direction that, I promise, you will never see coming and never would have expected to be brought to. And the moment you think you understand what the tale is truly about – you’re wrong. There are levels of subtext and symbols, even in the simplest scene your mind is in overdrive while Braunbeck takes you deeper into his world; never more so than in what could only be called the perfect ending.
Descriptive, but tight, Braunbeck’s prose, while at times can get a bit purple, is never allowed free reign. The details are embellished just enough to grant you a vivid image without painting the picture for you and the dialog is fresh with just a hint of sarcasm. Me likey. In fact, there was one scene in the book that I absolutely loved. The exchange is between the main character, Gil, and Whitey, the secondary character, while at an animal shelter. Take a look and judge for yourself:
“You don’t suppose they drug the animals, do you?”
“I wouldn’t think so. Would they be this active if they had sedatives in their system?”
“Hell-I’m on sedatives half the time and you don’t see it slowing me down any, do you?”
“No, but then you’re freakish.”
“Pot. Kettle. Black. Fill in the blanks.”
-pg. 193
Beautiful.
Now, while Braunbeck usually likes to have the speed and atmosphere develop slowly, carefully, it is not so here. Oh no, you are gripped up from the first chapter and held firmly in place while the air thickens with the smell of decay and repentance. And if you think the ambience will slowly ease up or that you’ll get used to it…give it up. The mood will only get darker, the climate colder, and that feeling of dread, well that will only increase with each page. Welcome to hell, dear readers.
Hand over you’re desolate, discarded, abused, and forgotten and I promise Braunbeck will make them beautiful and wretched. Each character is realistic; written with brutal honesty and without regret, there are no rainbows or sunny days here. In fact, at times this cast may be a little too life-like. In the scene where the main character, Gil, dreams of a place called the Rumble Room you can see a very distinct reenactment of a widely known mock-act that was practiced at Auschwitz.
This isn’t the only scene that hits home. Oh no, there are many and each one will embrace you against your will. But while their flaws are many, and the sins shown are so repugnant that you find yourself almost hating the author, he somehow manages not only to ignite your empathy, but ultimately, your forgiveness as well; both of the cast and yourself.
Horrifying and traumatic, thrilling and intense, Keepers has just become one of my favorite top ten books to read! Only a certain few have been able to capture me so extensively in their arms, move me to tears, and, yet, all the while with one hand over my eye. Great balance and Great Job!! My rating? I give it a 4.5. Grab it today!
-As reviewed for Horror-Web.com
December 16, 2013
The Keepers is the first book I read by Gary A Braunbeck and I must admit that I was a bit disappointed.
It had such a promising beginning, where the reader is following a seemingly ordinary man who witnesses a horrible accident on the turnpike. This accident triggers memories that he thought were long forgotten. The reader then follows the protagonist, as he tries to put these memories back together and solve the puzzle of his past, while strange things start to happen around him in the present.
I liked the narrative, I liked the pace, and I even kinda liked the protagonist and the story of his past. The story that was unfolding in his present, however, left me unmoved. I think it was party because the situation was never clearly explained and the “bad guys” were neither bad nor good: they even protect the protagonist and save his life several times. It’s like the author wasn’t sure either whether his antagonist was good, bad or indifferent.
I think another reason why the book’s conflict fell flat for me was the fact that the author never really explained what the stakes were for the protagonist in all this. So why would I root for him if I don’t know what’s important to him?
The author introduced an interesting intrigue to the book, but failed to explain it or to bring it to a logical resolution. He left too many questions unanswered. Did the Keeper’s plan succeed? Why was Gil important for it? Why were Beth and the dog important? The whole turning people into animals and animals into people angle could have been a bit more developed in my opinion.
The ending also fell flat, in my opinion. It was too rushed and didn’t really explain anything. Why were those Boiler-hat men after the dog? Why did they decide to kill Gil after all? What the heck really happened in the end? The author left too many questions unanswered which is really frustrating. He might have strived for the mysterious “make your own conclusions” ending, but here it doesn’t work.
Right now I am debating whether I should try to read something else by Gary A Braunbeck or if all his book are a bit like the Keeper. I want your opinion on this. Did you like some of his books? If so, which one would you suggest I read?
It had such a promising beginning, where the reader is following a seemingly ordinary man who witnesses a horrible accident on the turnpike. This accident triggers memories that he thought were long forgotten. The reader then follows the protagonist, as he tries to put these memories back together and solve the puzzle of his past, while strange things start to happen around him in the present.
I liked the narrative, I liked the pace, and I even kinda liked the protagonist and the story of his past. The story that was unfolding in his present, however, left me unmoved. I think it was party because the situation was never clearly explained and the “bad guys” were neither bad nor good: they even protect the protagonist and save his life several times. It’s like the author wasn’t sure either whether his antagonist was good, bad or indifferent.
I think another reason why the book’s conflict fell flat for me was the fact that the author never really explained what the stakes were for the protagonist in all this. So why would I root for him if I don’t know what’s important to him?
The author introduced an interesting intrigue to the book, but failed to explain it or to bring it to a logical resolution. He left too many questions unanswered. Did the Keeper’s plan succeed? Why was Gil important for it? Why were Beth and the dog important? The whole turning people into animals and animals into people angle could have been a bit more developed in my opinion.
The ending also fell flat, in my opinion. It was too rushed and didn’t really explain anything. Why were those Boiler-hat men after the dog? Why did they decide to kill Gil after all? What the heck really happened in the end? The author left too many questions unanswered which is really frustrating. He might have strived for the mysterious “make your own conclusions” ending, but here it doesn’t work.
Right now I am debating whether I should try to read something else by Gary A Braunbeck or if all his book are a bit like the Keeper. I want your opinion on this. Did you like some of his books? If so, which one would you suggest I read?
August 31, 2015
When I chose Keepers, I was not sure what to expect from the book after reading the summary, only knew it had something to with animals. But what the author came up with was truly original and surprising. While I was not always satisfied with the plot, which more than once was confusing like hell, the author did a great job at character building. Gil, Beth, Mabel, Marty - they all became so vivid in my imagination it was magic. I also love the author's writing style, making even slower passages (yes, there are some of these as well) a pleasure to go through.
While the ending finally shed some light on my piling questions, they also stole some of the magic from the story. A truly outstanding novel from a remarkable writer I will definitely keep an eye on.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
While the ending finally shed some light on my piling questions, they also stole some of the magic from the story. A truly outstanding novel from a remarkable writer I will definitely keep an eye on.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
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August 20, 2011
KEEPERS is typically well written book. Typical I say because it was written by Gary Braunbeck. His characterization is top notch, his dialogue witty and believable. What you would expect from a Braunbeck novel. The structure was, unusual, to say the least. Large portions of the book featured flashbacks, very lengthy flashbacks. There is an appearance during one of the flashbacks of the rarely seen second person point of view. The end of the book becomes decidedly, perhaps inexplicably, surreal.
Braunbeck made some risky choices considering this is a mass market horror novel. He not only makes it work but he makes it work very well indeed. This is not my favorite Braunbeck but I have never read anything from him that is less than stunning. He took some risks here and it pays off.
Braunbeck made some risky choices considering this is a mass market horror novel. He not only makes it work but he makes it work very well indeed. This is not my favorite Braunbeck but I have never read anything from him that is less than stunning. He took some risks here and it pays off.
June 5, 2012
Bizarre, deeply affecting, but a little disjointed.
September 16, 2014
that book is absorbant... you start reading it ad you cann't stp till the last line
July 17, 2012
Gil Stewart is a successful man in Cedar Hill, Ohio. He’s not the most popular guy, doesn’t have much of a life, but he’s just opened a second Packrat’s Attic store (specializing in “hard-to-find movies, LP records, film posters, CDs, and various other paraphernalia, both from the present and days gone by”) and he’s pretty content. He has a great friend and employee, plus the love of his autistic nephew Carson, with whom he spends one week a month. Today is the day he picks him up from the group home where Carson lives the other three weeks of every month.
Gil and his employee Cheryl are driving back to Cedar Hill from the second store when they see an old man get struck down by a car. Gil runs to help, but it’s too late. Before the old man dies, he tells Gil “The Keepers are coming,” and Gil is struck by the sensation of a deeply-buried memory that wants to come out.
He drops Cheryl at her house, then goes home, meaning to change before going to pick up Carson, but he’s delayed by the delivery of a package, a box full of old records, LPs and .45s, and other miscellany items from his youth and Gil knows the only person these could have come from is Beth, his best friend and the love of his life, whom he’s not seen in twenty years. He sets the items aside, again intending to get Carson from the home, but is waylaid again when he finds a dog dying in his yard. Gil calls for someone to come get it and decides to make the dog as comfortable as possible in its last moments. But when he goes out to tend to it, the dog is gone. He finds it in a crawlspace under his house and as he tries to give it something to drink he gets a call from Carson’s group home saying he needs to come quick; Carson is missing.
Gil goes to the home and, seeing what Carson has left behind, has a good idea where he’s gone; to the Magic Zoo. Gil tracks his nephew and finds him constructing a life-sized effigy of a creature Carson calls Long-Lost, whom he says lives “behind the Scrim” and who talks to him through a magic comic book. All the while, Gil’s memories are beating at his brain, trying to get out, but he’s determined to keep them in. Until Carson tells him, “Long-Lost, he says it’s because I’m one of the ‘special ones.’ Because I don’t have to be helped by the Keepers, I’m getting there faster . . . You should sit down and rest, UncGil. See what Long-Lost has to say,” and hands him his comic book.
And as the memories unfold, Gil is taken on a trip through his adolescence, 1970 to 1983, remembering the gunshot that brought 9-year-old Gil to meet and fall in love with 16-year-old Beth, and how they spent their years growing up and growing together, sharing everything. They became nearly inseparable, young friends who a decade later grew into young lovers, until the day Gil got a call from Beth saying she needed him to come over. But when he got there, Beth was gone and all he found was her dead Aunt Mabel laid out among dozens of confidential patient files, in strict disregard for the confidentiality contract she’d signed when the Keepers took over the retirement home where she worked.
Gil jumped in his car, heading for the Keepers facility just outside town where several years earlier he, Beth, Mabel and their friend Whitey had taken four of Mabel and Beth’s eight dogs, a place where they would be kept well and loved until they died of natural causes. What else Gil found there that night was something that would affect his mind and behaviors for the rest of his life, all leading, two decades later, to this day, this accident on the highway, this package arriving at his house, this dog dying under his house and this magic comic book creating itself page by page in hopes of making Gil remember everything before it’s too late.
Gary Braunbeck’s KEEPERS is a novel I’ve been on the fence about since I first opened it. I think I’ve been biased in favor of Braunbeck since I read his first novel, IN SILENT GRAVES, fell in love with it and proclaimed it one of the greatest, most imaginative and disturbing horror novels I’ve ever read. So, naturally, I expected more from the follow-up.
I don’t think it’s necessarily what I got.
Don’t get me wrong, KEEPERS is all KINDS of imaginative and wild and very disturbing. But still it feels as if there’s something lacking here. The novel is broken into three parts, each part told in a slightly different narrative form. Part one, present, is first-person from Gil, only this Gil is somewhat simple, almost irritatingly so. He seems as if Braunbeck’s trying SO hard to put on the nice, innocent guy routine that he drives it a little too far into the ground. Part two is a very very long flashback where the real bulk of our story takes place, also in Gil’s first-person POV, only the child- and teenage-Gil feels more grown-up than the adult Gil will later on. Part three is present-day again, only there are a lot of flashbacks in part three, as well, and they’re told from a different POV, so where Gil’s narrative was reading “I”, it now reads “you”. It flows pretty well in the context of the story, but in retrospect it feels jumbled and as if the plot shouldn’t be making any sense at all.
And at times, it really doesn’t.
I know Gil is the hero with the buried memories, but he learns of Carson’s magic comic book early on and over the years seems to have forgotten about it or just not cared, because I know if MY kid had a comic book that wrote and drew itself, showing me what I was going to do next, I’d probably make a pretty big deal out of it. Also, there are SO many times over the course of this novel where the Keepers connections are so blatant, it feels at times as if Braunbeck is talking down to the readers, trying to force-feed them the information, and all the while I’m saying back to the book, “Dude, I got it; it’s your numbskull narrator who doesn’t seem to grasp connections!”
And once we get to the backstory, the REAL backstory, not the flashback, this is where Braunbeck’s imagination really starts to let go. I half expected something ambitious and wild based on what I read in IN SILENT GRAVES, but I think in this case he just took the WTF level up a notch. That’s not a bad thing, by any means, I’m just not entirely sure I understand everything that was going on. And then the climax . . . Wow.
At its heart, KEEPERS is, I believe, a love story, with Gil and Beth the doomed couple. But there’s just so much more to it than that, a simple label can’t contain it. Marketed as a horror novel, there are definitely horrible moments in here, but KEEPERS is a dark fantasy novel for sure, only, for the most part, a very suburban dark fantasy that only really kicks into its crazy gear very close to the end.
KEEPERS was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in the category of “Superior Achievement in a Novel” for 2005 and having finished it, I can definitely see how it earned that nomination. There’s so much ambition shoved into these 339 pages, I think only a writer of Braunbeck’s raw talent could pull it off. But given how choppy I felt the first third of the book was, it’s evident to me that even he just barely managed it.
I won’t say I loved KEEPERS. I’m not even sure I can say I liked it. But I very much admire it. It’s packed with subtext and deeper social meaning for the author and, hopefully, for those who read it. The themes are solid and intended to make you think and take a look at the life you’ve built and the life you wanted to have. It’s meant to make you cherish those you love, and more importantly the ones who love you, even if they walk on four feet instead of two.
KEEPERS is definitely not your fast food horror novel. It’s going to make you think, it’s going to make you work for the enjoyment you’re supposed to get out of it. At times it pays off, at times it only confounds. But one thing’s for absolute certain: Gary Braunbeck is a writer out to please himself, writing the books that move him, that he wants to write. KEEPERS was not written with a mass-market audience in mind, but an audience of one. And hopefully, by satisfying his own creative needs, others will find his work to their taste as well and follow his lead. I know I’m going to, no matter where that might be.
Gil and his employee Cheryl are driving back to Cedar Hill from the second store when they see an old man get struck down by a car. Gil runs to help, but it’s too late. Before the old man dies, he tells Gil “The Keepers are coming,” and Gil is struck by the sensation of a deeply-buried memory that wants to come out.
He drops Cheryl at her house, then goes home, meaning to change before going to pick up Carson, but he’s delayed by the delivery of a package, a box full of old records, LPs and .45s, and other miscellany items from his youth and Gil knows the only person these could have come from is Beth, his best friend and the love of his life, whom he’s not seen in twenty years. He sets the items aside, again intending to get Carson from the home, but is waylaid again when he finds a dog dying in his yard. Gil calls for someone to come get it and decides to make the dog as comfortable as possible in its last moments. But when he goes out to tend to it, the dog is gone. He finds it in a crawlspace under his house and as he tries to give it something to drink he gets a call from Carson’s group home saying he needs to come quick; Carson is missing.
Gil goes to the home and, seeing what Carson has left behind, has a good idea where he’s gone; to the Magic Zoo. Gil tracks his nephew and finds him constructing a life-sized effigy of a creature Carson calls Long-Lost, whom he says lives “behind the Scrim” and who talks to him through a magic comic book. All the while, Gil’s memories are beating at his brain, trying to get out, but he’s determined to keep them in. Until Carson tells him, “Long-Lost, he says it’s because I’m one of the ‘special ones.’ Because I don’t have to be helped by the Keepers, I’m getting there faster . . . You should sit down and rest, UncGil. See what Long-Lost has to say,” and hands him his comic book.
And as the memories unfold, Gil is taken on a trip through his adolescence, 1970 to 1983, remembering the gunshot that brought 9-year-old Gil to meet and fall in love with 16-year-old Beth, and how they spent their years growing up and growing together, sharing everything. They became nearly inseparable, young friends who a decade later grew into young lovers, until the day Gil got a call from Beth saying she needed him to come over. But when he got there, Beth was gone and all he found was her dead Aunt Mabel laid out among dozens of confidential patient files, in strict disregard for the confidentiality contract she’d signed when the Keepers took over the retirement home where she worked.
Gil jumped in his car, heading for the Keepers facility just outside town where several years earlier he, Beth, Mabel and their friend Whitey had taken four of Mabel and Beth’s eight dogs, a place where they would be kept well and loved until they died of natural causes. What else Gil found there that night was something that would affect his mind and behaviors for the rest of his life, all leading, two decades later, to this day, this accident on the highway, this package arriving at his house, this dog dying under his house and this magic comic book creating itself page by page in hopes of making Gil remember everything before it’s too late.
Gary Braunbeck’s KEEPERS is a novel I’ve been on the fence about since I first opened it. I think I’ve been biased in favor of Braunbeck since I read his first novel, IN SILENT GRAVES, fell in love with it and proclaimed it one of the greatest, most imaginative and disturbing horror novels I’ve ever read. So, naturally, I expected more from the follow-up.
I don’t think it’s necessarily what I got.
Don’t get me wrong, KEEPERS is all KINDS of imaginative and wild and very disturbing. But still it feels as if there’s something lacking here. The novel is broken into three parts, each part told in a slightly different narrative form. Part one, present, is first-person from Gil, only this Gil is somewhat simple, almost irritatingly so. He seems as if Braunbeck’s trying SO hard to put on the nice, innocent guy routine that he drives it a little too far into the ground. Part two is a very very long flashback where the real bulk of our story takes place, also in Gil’s first-person POV, only the child- and teenage-Gil feels more grown-up than the adult Gil will later on. Part three is present-day again, only there are a lot of flashbacks in part three, as well, and they’re told from a different POV, so where Gil’s narrative was reading “I”, it now reads “you”. It flows pretty well in the context of the story, but in retrospect it feels jumbled and as if the plot shouldn’t be making any sense at all.
And at times, it really doesn’t.
I know Gil is the hero with the buried memories, but he learns of Carson’s magic comic book early on and over the years seems to have forgotten about it or just not cared, because I know if MY kid had a comic book that wrote and drew itself, showing me what I was going to do next, I’d probably make a pretty big deal out of it. Also, there are SO many times over the course of this novel where the Keepers connections are so blatant, it feels at times as if Braunbeck is talking down to the readers, trying to force-feed them the information, and all the while I’m saying back to the book, “Dude, I got it; it’s your numbskull narrator who doesn’t seem to grasp connections!”
And once we get to the backstory, the REAL backstory, not the flashback, this is where Braunbeck’s imagination really starts to let go. I half expected something ambitious and wild based on what I read in IN SILENT GRAVES, but I think in this case he just took the WTF level up a notch. That’s not a bad thing, by any means, I’m just not entirely sure I understand everything that was going on. And then the climax . . . Wow.
At its heart, KEEPERS is, I believe, a love story, with Gil and Beth the doomed couple. But there’s just so much more to it than that, a simple label can’t contain it. Marketed as a horror novel, there are definitely horrible moments in here, but KEEPERS is a dark fantasy novel for sure, only, for the most part, a very suburban dark fantasy that only really kicks into its crazy gear very close to the end.
KEEPERS was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in the category of “Superior Achievement in a Novel” for 2005 and having finished it, I can definitely see how it earned that nomination. There’s so much ambition shoved into these 339 pages, I think only a writer of Braunbeck’s raw talent could pull it off. But given how choppy I felt the first third of the book was, it’s evident to me that even he just barely managed it.
I won’t say I loved KEEPERS. I’m not even sure I can say I liked it. But I very much admire it. It’s packed with subtext and deeper social meaning for the author and, hopefully, for those who read it. The themes are solid and intended to make you think and take a look at the life you’ve built and the life you wanted to have. It’s meant to make you cherish those you love, and more importantly the ones who love you, even if they walk on four feet instead of two.
KEEPERS is definitely not your fast food horror novel. It’s going to make you think, it’s going to make you work for the enjoyment you’re supposed to get out of it. At times it pays off, at times it only confounds. But one thing’s for absolute certain: Gary Braunbeck is a writer out to please himself, writing the books that move him, that he wants to write. KEEPERS was not written with a mass-market audience in mind, but an audience of one. And hopefully, by satisfying his own creative needs, others will find his work to their taste as well and follow his lead. I know I’m going to, no matter where that might be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2012
I instantly became a fan of Braunbeck after seeing him do a powerful reading performance of a zombie story that he had released as a chapbook. It was an emotional, heartbreaking and gut-wrenching performance. After reading my third Braunbeck Novel (In silent Graves and Prodigal Blues) I can say those three descriptions describe each of those novels but Keepers is my favorite of the three.
Half way through the book a friend asked me what the book was about. I tried to explain it to him, but it came out sounding like a mess. My fault Braunbeck told this story in a non-linear but brilliant fashion. It was my explanation that failed.
The story of a loner and souvenir shop owner Gil stewart is almost an inverse of Pet Semetary. It explores similar themes, where do our beloved pets , and family members go when we can’t keep them anymore.
Like many great horror novels the strength of the story is the rich love we as readers develop for Gil’s loved ones. This novel is full of rich emotions that power the story. There is a heart breaking relationship with Beth, the woman Gil loves despite her inability to love him back same way. Gil’s nephew with down syndrome is a charming character, all these emotions are what make horror novel work.
This novel is clearly a post Stephen King novel that is clearly influenced by the master. That is a great thing because Braunbeck is not influenced by King King plots or concepts but by his tone and rich connection to the emotions of his characters.
I was worried this novel would demonize animals, but thankfully this novel was the opposite. Check this novel out!
August 14, 2015
This book hooked me with its first sentence -"The dismal bitch lay on her side in the dry gray October twilight in my front yard, her black wrinkled teats lumped beside her like a cancer grown far too large and malformed for her body to hold inside." - and didn't let go. A complex, compelling and haunting tale, KEEPERS, takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride of the first magnitude.
However, this is not just a run of the mill horror story. No, woven throughout, is a beautiful and touching tale of true love that will pluck at your heartstrings and have you hoping and praying that everyone will make it out alive.
The characters are complex, quirky, amusing and real. The plot is intricate and you do have to pay attention, but the ride is well worth it and I found myself finishing the book at four in the morning, unable to put it down.
Thank you, Mr. Braunbeck for an exquisitely entertaining read. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
However, this is not just a run of the mill horror story. No, woven throughout, is a beautiful and touching tale of true love that will pluck at your heartstrings and have you hoping and praying that everyone will make it out alive.
The characters are complex, quirky, amusing and real. The plot is intricate and you do have to pay attention, but the ride is well worth it and I found myself finishing the book at four in the morning, unable to put it down.
Thank you, Mr. Braunbeck for an exquisitely entertaining read. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
August 13, 2015
I like how this author has a social conscience and his books highlight failings in society. He then weaves these failings into dark, creepy stories. For a lot of the book I wasn't sure exactly what was happening (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) although I knew there was an animal connection. However, the last quarter of the book gathered speed and became quite exciting. A very sad story. I will read more from this author as his offerings are different from anything I've read before.
August 8, 2015
I have previously read In Silent Graves by this author, and absolutely loved it. I was really excited to win a copy of this book. I'm a huge animal lover so this book really was intriguing to me. I sat down and read this entire book in one sitting. It's a unique premise that had me glued to the pages. A great mystery filled with suspense, and an ending that will shock you, make this book a great read!
July 22, 2011
Very fast paced and truly bizarre. It kept me up late. Some of the banter between the characters was a bit cornball, but there wasn't too much of that. The ending could have been a bit more satisfying. I'll certainly be looking to pick up more books by the author. Would be 3.5 stars if such things were allowed.
September 14, 2015
This is a very strange book, but not in a bad way. It sweeps you into its story, even though it's kind of hard to find out what it is really about for quite a while. The timelines are well woven into each other and the style does remind one of the great Stephen King without it feeling epigonal in any way. The mystery is well constructed and well resolved. A very good read indeed!
September 3, 2019
A 4 star book even without reading the authors preferred edition. There’s a good deal here left unsaid or unexplained, but I give the author the benefit the doubt, knowing that some of that is probably resolved in the preferred version (which I plan on reading). Regardless, a genuinely unsettling and spooky read.
August 17, 2022
Well at first its a smooth read, the little home invasion is really well done (scary). The loneliness and all the depression makes it a very sad book too (like the dad or marbel, or whitey's rant about his family forgetting him)
But the last 30 pages holy shit. The whole thing is... something
I just need to recollect:
So the Keepers (dudes with the brown caps) & the others (psychopomps) are giving humans bodies of animals or something and animals human bodies so they can be happy... sound weird but is really well done and sooo sad. Still a few things did not make sense for me. Did Beth & the MC die at the end? (Some talk abkut swans but i dont he will be one), why did the keepers come for his ass?
And the biggest question i was left with: Who were the baddies? The Keepers and Psychopomps? I mean they gave animals and humans what they wanted to be happy. The MC? He just wanted to protect his love and got attacked, but why? Because he knew to much?
Also they supposed to help ppl i thought but the kid that we saw get his brain pumped out in one of the cages at the sure as fuck wasnt helped
But the last 30 pages holy shit. The whole thing is... something
I just need to recollect:
So the Keepers (dudes with the brown caps) & the others (psychopomps) are giving humans bodies of animals or something and animals human bodies so they can be happy... sound weird but is really well done and sooo sad. Still a few things did not make sense for me. Did Beth & the MC die at the end? (Some talk abkut swans but i dont he will be one), why did the keepers come for his ass?
And the biggest question i was left with: Who were the baddies? The Keepers and Psychopomps? I mean they gave animals and humans what they wanted to be happy. The MC? He just wanted to protect his love and got attacked, but why? Because he knew to much?
Also they supposed to help ppl i thought but the kid that we saw get his brain pumped out in one of the cages at the sure as fuck wasnt helped
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2019
This was a very different book in many ways some good and some confusing. I really liked the first half to two-thirds of the book. I felt that the last part of the book could not cash the check of the promising beginning. The parts with the bowler wearing Keepers was confusing and plain weird, the same with the "animals". It seemed almost like a cross between "Twin Peaks" and "The Island of Dr. Moreau". As others have mentioned I enjoyed the voice of the protagonist which proves that Mr. Braunbeck is at the least a decent writer. However, there were questions and I imagine the author thought his writing was being mysterious or enigmatic, but it came out more weird and frustrating. I was at a loss on giving this novel a rating. I finally thought four stars for the first half plus and two stars for the last approximately 125 pages, so three stars is the best I can do.
September 30, 2024
This read like an episode of Fringe or the X files (complimentary)
Gil and Beth's relationship was HIGHLY problematic, given she met him as a nine year old and then groomed him until he was 17...but this was written in the early 2000s so it's not surprising that it was handled this way.
There were some disjointed sections, and confusing plot points, but I did like the writing, especially for the Whitey character (I love old time-y banter). The parts about the loneliness of growing old and feeling discarded by everyone around you were especially poignant.
Gil and Beth's relationship was HIGHLY problematic, given she met him as a nine year old and then groomed him until he was 17...but this was written in the early 2000s so it's not surprising that it was handled this way.
There were some disjointed sections, and confusing plot points, but I did like the writing, especially for the Whitey character (I love old time-y banter). The parts about the loneliness of growing old and feeling discarded by everyone around you were especially poignant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2021
If you’re interested in reading a book full of flashbacks that are confusing and seem to go nowhere than this is the book for you. If you want to read about someone in a situation and than all of a sudden it switches gears and starts talking nonsense about other things this is the book for you. Definitely not in my wheelhouse for I felt it went in circles and if I kept writing a review like this for 339 pages than you would understand this book! Good luck!
May 13, 2022
Keepers is the second novel of Gary's that I've read and both were strange as hell. Strange is not always equated with bad. This was a novel of the unwanted, loneliness and cruelty of others to those with no power. At times this novel was beautiful and then it flew off the rails and landed in dreams. There is no way I can summarize this novel in a paragraph or two. Gonzo bonkers while wearing your heart on your sleeve. I will be reading more of Mr. Braunbeck.
July 6, 2022
Not entirely a fan of this novel, but I'm also not entirely sure of what just happened. Very descriptive, but very chaotic thought process. Also, the whole turning people to animals thing really freaked me out. Don't think I'll be reading this one again...
October 27, 2024
This wasn't scary and it was hard to get into.
October 29, 2025
This did not make any sense. had high expectations bc it won bram stoker award but not compelling and hard to follow. to many unanswered questions for an alternate universe to not explain
November 8, 2025
Was an ok book but wasn't what I thought it would be. didn't like how it would jump to flashbacks in random places, it made it confusing at time. but over all was a good quick read.
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