The Lodge

by Jeremy Eads

A demon runs a bed and breakfast in southwest Virginia where sin never needs a reservation. A guilt-ridden retiree, two little boys, and a pair of meth making cousins will challenge America's most wanted black widow, a haunted southern town, and the Devil himself. The quest for salvation will lead to the darkest parts of themselves as well as the beating black heart of Summit Valley, Virginia. The Maple Lodge, a B&B where the turn down service is to die for.

Genres: Horror, Fiction

258 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2023

About the author

Author of The Lodge, Rock God and Reptile, and A Splinter in Your Mind, Jeremy Eads is a natural storyteller. First published at six years old he's since gone on to be a traveling musician, soldier, spy, and software engineer before settling on his true love, writing. He is a single father of four, a caretaker, and lives with a bossy Chihuahua named Sambone.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was a weird and wild ride. The Lodge is basically a horror B-movie in novel form, complete with meth-making hillbilly cousins and a demon-run bed-and-breakfast. It certainly wasn't fine literature and I don't exactly see a Pulitzer Prize in its future, but it was still kind of fun?

The premise of this book was fantastic – a lodge run by a gentlemanly demon that attracts less-than-savory travelers to its doors? Yes, please! I enjoyed the different points of view from the various characters, particularly the interludes that told the stories of various lodgers and their (very short) stays at the B&B. The plot itself kind of superficially meandered about, however, and I found it hard to care about any of the characters (who were all rather one-dimensional). The hillbilly cousins were rather amusing at times, but even their storyline lacked depth. The ending was satisfying, although it kind of had a Raiders of the Lost Ark thing going on, you know where everything would have played out exactly the same had Indiana Jones not been involved at all? Like that.

Overall, I thought that this was a decent light and campy read. If you go into it hoping for Stephen King, you'll probably be disappointed. If you go into it expecting, I dunno, perhaps Studio 666-level horror* with less Dave Grohl (zero Dave Grohl, if we're getting technical) and more Appalachia, this might be right up your alley.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

*Studio 666 is a terrible comparison but it's the only horror B-movie I can think of right now, so please don't come back to this review and yell at me when said comparison is inevitably misleading.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloodcurdling B&B

Small backstory:

The Maple Lodge, a bed and breakfast, that sets in Southwest Virginia is home to Solomon Drury VI, a demon who runs the Lodge and anyone that passes on their way through the area is welcome to stay there.

Shirley McGreggor is on the run from the law and needs a place to stay for the night - when she comes across the Maple Lodge she finds Solomon to be accommodating and helpful to her, but what she doesn't realize is that something is not quite right about Solomon and the Lodge and before she realizes it Shirley becomes entangled in a web of terror!

That is about all I can hand out on a small backstory so if you want to know more then go read this book!

Thoughts:

This was my first time reading this author and I was quickly drawn into the story fast as I didn't have time to catch my breath as things happen right away in the story. The story just grabbed me from the first page and it sent me on a spooky trip into a mystery and cold terror zone!

I would find myself staying up late at night to read the book and I just could not lay the book down! There are a few story lines with different characters that come into play as they all come in contact with the main character Solomon but the author kept everything flowing smoothly and I found myself just drawn into the world of the Maple Lodge.

Another author added to my list of ever growing indie authors and looking forward to reading more by this author in the future. Giving this book five "Dangerous Demon" stars!

[Angel (Bookn.All.Night) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lodge is a B-Rated Horror Flick on pages. It's fun, corny and mildly scary. I loved all the different story lines that led to the same place...Maple Lodge. I just wish the ending wasn't so rushed and parts of the story were actually fleshed out more. Otherwise this is a good one for Spooktober and for fans who enjoy horror that isn't too scary or gory.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ughhh I tried to force myself to love this story, but alas…. I couldn’t.

I mean, the premise sounds phenomenal and original. The execution…. All over the place.

If you want to feel a little crazy and be driven a little crazy by all the different POVs, storyline, etc, then definitely give this one a go by all means.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Wicked House Publishing for a copy.

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
This was an absolutely crazy good book. Very well written. I was absolutely sucked in from the first chapter. Action packed from page one. Small town horror at its finest. And that last paragraph....ummm what?? Very creepy.

[Lexxi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a strange book - another reviewer called it a killer B-movie and yes, that's exactly it. I very much enjoyed it - it was well written, the characters were clearly defined, and it was a fun/bizarre/wild ride.

We have a creepy inn, Summit Lodge, which is run by a demon, Solomon Drury VI. He spends all his time staring into the giant fire in the giant hearth in the lobby. He has a cane with a color changing stone and smiles with an unnatural amount of teeth - basically everything you want in a demon innkeeper.

Shirley is running from the law - she's a black widow who's wanted for killing multiple people (the book was a little unclear on this, but she was on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted, so it had to be a good amount of people - right?). She's drawn to the inn and enters employment there. She's given superhuman strength and Solomon works his demon magic to remove her from the Most Wanted list. As she goes around town, there are comments about her smell, and how "he's hired another one".

Then there are 2 hillbilly cousins whose family line is cursed. They see Shirley and want to turn her in for the reward. But Solomon doesn't want them to interfere with Shirley who is "his".

Plus there are sporadic interludes where bad people are drawn to the Inn and then bad things happen to them.

I'm struggling to write a coherent review here because the book was just so nuts. It was a fun fever dream read.

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lodge has a B-Movie feel to it, but that's not a bad thing since I enjoy B-Movie horror. A demon runs a lodge attracting less-than-savory characters to do his bidding, ha! The premise already had me going. It gets off to a fast start, which is a plus for me. What made it fun was the simple-to-understand language and fun characters. It won't win any 'prestigious' awards, but who cares about that? It earns a 5-star from me and it's a fun read for what it is.

Sometimes I love my horror to be fun and the Lodge hits that mark for me. I will say the ending is pretty intense and I couldn't stop saying Solomon haha. Just wait until you read the book and you'll see how much of a bastard Solomon is.

Enjoyed this book immensely!

[Alyssa Berman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t remember getting on a crystal meth roller coaster…
That was creepy, original, overall just very fucking bizarre.
It had great potential. But I think it lacked in execution.
Had it focused on just a couple of the story lines instead of trying to include all the different ones in did, I think it would have held up better and flowed more smoothly. It was hard to follow at times and skipped around a lot. The ending felt rushed.

Thank you nonetheless to NetGalley for this eARC opportunity.

[Fiction Majorette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full thoughts: https://fictionmajorette.blogspot.com...

Overall, this was a great horror story that I loved the more I read. The horror elements were used masterfully and the care that Eads took with crafting the characters just meant that I was that much more invested when it was their turn to face the horrors of the Lodge.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for the ARC.

Publication date was July 28, 2023

[grnbaypakrgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written & each character seemed well thought out. The way everything came together was also pretty cool. I actually lived in Roanoke for a couple of years so the setting was familiar. Pretty happy I didn't read this while I lived there. 😂

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly really enjoyed this book.. it was weird, creepy, and a little gross. And despite all that, a really fun read with different storylines that all converge into one by the end. Definitely reminiscent of Stephen King in his heyday.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read. I went in not knowing much about what this book was about which was a good thing. This book was totally awesome and worth reading. I will definitely recommend and read more by this author.

[Christy Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was tempted to read this because the author is somewhat local to my area. It's always neat to read a book with references close to home. I will say this isn't my typical genre. And I found parts to be gross, and a bit crude. But...the story kept pulling me back in, I had to know what was going to happen next. Also, I enjoyed the different POVs. I believe this was the author's debut novel. I might need to check out his other two that are out now.

[Ash Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! There was an odd sense of humor that I loved, with the cursed hillbillies, and I mean who wouldn't wanna stay at a bed and breakfast ran by the devil 😂 There are multiple points of view though, with multiple different story lines. If you have a hard time keeping up with multiple story lines, be weary. I usually have a harder time, but I didn't struggle so much with this book, and was able to keep track. Overall i really enjoyed this book!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sounds of struggling came from the darkness beyond the end of the hall."

I've been an avid reader ever since I could comprehend the words between the covers of Goosebumps bumps in Elementary school. I remember devouring so many books growing up. Some were magical, like going through the Chocolate Factory with Willy Wonka and Charlie. Some were fun, like going on adventures with the Boxcar Children. Some were scary, like living through the stories told by R.L. Stine. As an adult, I still chase the thrill of a good book. It's not as easy now since I've gone through so many adventures. So many just seem too similar to other adventures I've had.

Then I found this book. On a whim, I noticed a post advertising it since it had just dropped on kindle. Reviews weren't out yet but I am using a Kindle trial and thought I'd test it out. This book made me hungry. I couldn't satiate my want for more fast enough. The opening hits you in the face and takes off running and you spend the rest of the book trying to catch up. It does not slow down and you will be one hundred percent okay with that.

I would be surprised if this book doesn't get optioned for a movie at some point. It's so fresh and different. There's multiple segways of stories that somehow come together and it just WORKS. The characters have their quirks and some have their sins. Even the 'saints' have their flaws but you can't help but root for them in some way. They all dream and want happiness but there's one being that works hard to prevent that happiness from ever materializing for them.

In southwest Virginia, the Maple Lodge is what an outsider might consider a staple. Run by Solomon Drury, it's a place that always has vacancy. Certain visitors find themselves in the hospitality of the Devil himself and while things seem swell at first... they soon find that you can't outrun your sins. This bed and breakfast sits in the heart of Summit Valley, a place with a population count lower than a town of its size should maintain. Despite such few visitors, the Maple Lodge still tends to make a name for itself. Can those who find themselves in its grasp escape the hands of Solomon or will they find themselves wishing they had paid heed to the warnings the boogeyman had given them before Solomon showed his face?

Sometimes we get caught up in ourselves and don't walk away from situations we know we should walk away from. As humans, we sometimes fail to pay attention to the warning signs. Sometimes we kill ourselves in the process of trying to escape from something we should have never run from in the first place.

This book is gold in my opinion. It's intense. It's scary. It's forboding. It's everything I want in a horror. It's got a dash of thrill with a pinch of suspense. I was rooting for several of the characters even though I knew where their fates were heading. It's a great read that doesn't dull at all. I'm really hoping there's a sequel actually..

What a RIDE.

#JeremyEads #TheLodge #WickedHousePublishing #books #book #read #reads #horror #kindle #indiebrawl2023 #booksofhorror #indiehorrorbrawl2023

[Jennifer Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tired town full of terrified people, a demon holding court over his subjects, and a b&b where sin is welcome for business. Gruesome murders, revenge dealt by invisible monsters, and the simple intelligence of children lead retired detective Aron to the real monster behind it all. A monster that will do anything to ensure everything remains as it ever was.

Solid four stars, with a slow start, and a large cast of often temporary characters. I’m interested to see where Eads goes next.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, there is a lot to this awesome story! First of all the book starts with Sheriff Buck and Detective Aaron Weaver trying to arrest a pedophile Who win the end Aaron had to shoot. The child molester wasn’t the only case on sheriff Bucks mind he also was investigating A case where a state trooper was sent to jail for life after his jerk OK captain didn’t believe the astonishing story the state trooper had to tell about the death of a woman whose car supposedly drove off the bridge by itself fortunately for the trooper sheriff buck was there chasing down a lead about a lot of money loss by the cartel. There’s also a woman named Shirley who is on the FBI’s most wanted list and while she’s traveling through Virginia she stopped at the Travelodge in summit Valley here is where she will meet Solomon dreary and Solomon isn’t your ordinary lodge owner needless to say when Solomon meets surely he sees his soulmate and at first she was just passing through but because there’s devil a foot she somehow decides to stay this is why I went grocery shopping Sherriff Buck tries to arrest her and the little boy named Kayden witnesses at all. This will be the beginning of the end but I haven’t even mention Clem and Ray Ray. Clem sees Shirley at the travel lodge and wants the reward money and when he feels the sheriff let him down he decides he and Ray Ray are going to find surely their self. These two are definitely the comic relief in the book and this is a fabulous book it seems all the residents of Summit Valley of frightened but of what? This is a question that sheriff Buck tried to answer but that in the end Aaron Weaver will have too. There is so much more to this horror mystery and it is a great one if you love supernatural mysteries steeped deep in reality you will love The Lodge by Jeremy Ed’s. I cannot reiterate enough hall greatly this book is executed with intelligence humor and although there is murder pedophilia and other crimes I’m forgetting it truly is a fascinating book and one I found hard to put down I have never read a book by Jeremy ads before but I will definitely be looking for his books in the future. I want to thank Net Galley and wicked house publishing for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremy Eads' 'The Lodge' is essentially a small-town horror book, with well-developed characters and an intriguing plot, which gets revealed rather slowly, without much fuss, via multiple viewpoints, and in stylistically diverse installments. The basic idea is that Summit Valley, a small, quiet town in Virginia, has been under the thumb of a demon for the past two hundred years; the demon lives as the owner of a bed and breakfast, the eponymous Maple Lodge; but the demon is so arrogant that things get in motion which are not so easy for it to control. Eads allows us glimpses of various situations, from an action-packed sequence in the beginning, where a cop faces a child killer, to a riveting description of a female serial killer's escape (she ends up in the Lodge), to cozy scenes of family and male friendship. There are some very well-done interlude chapters, describing the fate of people who come to stay in the Lodge. But the real merit of the book lies in the characters: they are quite endearing, so the story never gets boring, even when it's rather slow, even when the manifestations of the demon's power are ridiculously strong. Admittedly, in the middle, things slow down a bit too much, but from this slow and ponderous regrouping of the story, Eads leads us to an explosive, absolutely satisfying conclusion. For any fans of horror in small towns, this one's definitely for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for the ARC.

[Luke Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark and nasty with great pacing. Really enjoyed this one.

[Amanda Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Water is wet, the sky is up, grass is green, and death is coming up the stairwell.”

Summit Valley, Virginia is a sleepy little town in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Roanoke. But this town has a secret - the Devil himself runs the local bed and breakfast, the Maple Lodge. People in town steer clear of the Lodge, but passer-bys are somehow drawn to it. Unfortunately for them, they check in without realizing it is the last place they will ever lay their heads down to rest.

Wow! I don’t believe I have ever read so many different ways to die a horrible death in one book. The descriptions of the people, the places, and the events were all eloquently worded and painted pictures with such detail that I felt like I was there. It was a true page turner, wondering if the Devil was going to be stopped. My biggest struggle (and complaint) was while the story was told from multiple perspectives and on occasion, intertwined, the author never “announced” the change in perspective before switching. I had a hard time keeping the stories straight from time to time. However, it is not something that would keep me from recommending it.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I have fallen under the spell of a new horror writer! Jeremy Eads’s The Lodge is a terrific, character driven roller coaster of a ride. From the first glimpse of the Maple Lodge in the beautiful Summit Valley Virginia to the end I was hooked as this story unfolded. The proprietor himself, Solomon Drury, is dressed in his finest to meet the customers and show them some Southern Hospitality. The book begins with a bang, and then the plot doubles back on itself. And the ending…well, as Sondheim himself put it so perfectly in Sweeney Todd “…what happens now well that’s the play and he wouldn’t want you to give it away…”. Read the book. But don’t plan on getting very much else done! 5 huge stars!

[Jesse Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole book was a wild ride with some unique characters. I love it. Solomon is mysterious and fascinating and utterly cruel. He's a great villain and stole every scene he is in. I enjoy how Mr. Eads doesn't give any character plot armor, any one is up for a gruesome death. The meth cousins made me laugh out loud, and the kids were also fun to read about. I don't want to give spoilers, but I can say that I'll be watching to grab any book the author writes. This was such a fun read that I finished it in a day.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for allowing me to read a copy of this book. I like how there are multiple characters' perspectives, so you get insight multiple POVs. I really enjoyed reading this book; it had just the right amount of horror and suspense and the ending was great. I hadn't heard of this author before, but I will definitely read more of his books.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Saul meets Stephen King and now we have a love child. I found this to be similar to both aforementioned authors earlier works. It was a bit hectic start with so many characters thrown out there at once but give it a few and you’ll catch up. Glad I stuck it out. The ending left me wanting more by this author.

[D.K. Hundt · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LODGE – by Jeremy Eads

‘A demon runs a bed and breakfast in southwest Virginia where sin never needs a reservation.’

THAT. WAS. AWESOME! A bit of a long, at times heartbreaking, journey worth every horror-filled minute of it—Highly Recommend!

Love The Ending!

Thank you, NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of THE LODGE at the request of an honest review.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, old-fashioned horror at its best! A captivating, suspenseful, twisted and chilling delight!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ A fun, interesting ride of a book with a cast of almost caricature, cookie cutter “bad guys” and a couple of lovable characters (Logan and Caden, really).

Worth a read if you just want something a little gory, a little cheesy, and a lot of B list horror!

[Elizabeth Devecchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. So many twists and turns all spinning about a constant thread of fear and terror.

[Lauren Fitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised by how good this story was

[Teah Sennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story. So original. And I enjoyed the characters, albeit TJ was super cringe. Otherwise, great. The cousins and little boys were my favorite characters. The villain was awesome as well.