The Street Between the Pines: A Southern New England Horror

by J.J. Alo

A strange creature lurks between the pines of Forest Street.

Since the deadly DUI that ruined his life, Curtis Reynolds has long since struggled with sleep deprivation, debt, a failing marriage, and, frankly, justifying his own existence. But when his elderly neighbor is murdered, the Gulf War Veteran returns home to Forest Street, where a dangerous encounter sends him spiraling.

Battling insomnia and PTSD induced visions, Curtis begins an investigation of a mysterious monster, falling down a rabbit hole of folk mythology, government conspiracy, and ghosts from his past that threaten to destroy his fragile psyche and, possibly, all he holds dear.

Book One in a new and exciting Southern New England Horror anthology series. Book Two, Misery Plaza will release in winter 2023.

*eBook and paperback now contain an excerpt of Book II, Misery Plaza!*

Those who've downloaded, please remove download and redownload to view the excerpt.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Action, Monsters

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

J.J. Alo is a commercial actor, designer, and author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was a bartender and library media specialist.

As a lover of the macabre, J.J. has written several award-winning screenplays and novels, creating his Southern New England Horror Anthology filled with inherently flawed, complex characters and antiheroes. Misery Plaza represents Book II in his Southern New England Horror anthology series.

Street has been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews and awarded five stars for Best Book from Chanticleer Book Reviews, Reader’s Choice Book Reviews, and The Book Commentary. Links below!

2024 Florida Authors & Publishers Association - President's Book Award Medalist (Thriller/Horror)

Chanticleer Int'l Book Awards (CIBA) Winner - 2023 Paranormal Finalist

Linktree: linktr.ee/jjalo143

Kirkus Reviews: https://bityl.co/MGNI

Chanticleer Book Reviews: https://bityl.co/K8ib

Reader's Choice Book Reviews: https://bityl.co/KOnj

Amazon: https://amz.run/6yLC

Facebook: https://fbook.cc/4rqm

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost]

DNF at 85% I wasn't into it and the prayer after the sappy scene or dream with the wife was more than I could take. The imagery was great and there were interesting aspects but the pacing just wasn't it for me.

[Horror Haus Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is written so well with so much detail. At no point does this story feel like it’s dragging and the tension build up kept me tearing through the pages. I mean, some of these chapters had me so anxious it was like watching a scary movie between your fingers because you’re THAT afraid to completely look.

This book also gave me slight X-File vibes (not the alien stuff, obviously, but the other government experiments the show is known for) which I absolutely loved. The monster in this book is terrifying!

I’m expecting some great things from Alo going forward. He writes extremely well and really has a knack for story telling.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cover: AMAZING!!

Story: meh…. Wasn’t a fan of the pacing, characters, and was hoping for something a bit more thrilling.

[Roz Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the writing style. It flows nicely, setting the scene and creating the tension and horror. Each death is described in such detail that it feels as though you are watching it unfold. It was truly horrifying. 

You get a real sense of who Curtis is and his bleak existence. I thought the author handled mental health and PTSD themes really well. The relationship between Curtis and Amy was also well observed. I think many would find it relatable.

I love a good monster horror, and the creature in this book was not something you want to find in your basement or anywhere else for that matter! 

A lot of reviews comment on how descriptive some parts of the book are. I enjoyed this as I felt that we got to know Curtis on a deeper level. He was well developed, and the descriptions helped me see his perspective on the world. The scenes in the basement were just so vivid, and I really felt the tension.

This was an enjoyable read, and I will look out for more work from this author.

With thanks to Black Tide Book Tours (Henry ROI PR) and the author for providing a copy of the book. This is my honest opinion, which I'm leaving voluntarily. 

[Marion Over · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely enthralling. The setting, the bizarre circumstances, fantastic characters and non-stop action. The kick you in the teeth beginning, didn't hurt at all.

PTSD from war, tragedy, failing marriage and a crappy job; Curtis can't sleep.
Now there's a storm coming. He's working third shift out of town when something tragic has happened to his neighbors and he must return home.
One thing after another goes wrong and Curtis is now facing a monster that can only be something out of urban folklore; or can it be something even worse?

I appreciated J. J. Alos writing style, it's clear and descriptive without nonsense filler bogging it down. The characters are well developed and interesting. The ending is fantastic. Especially for cat lovers.

This one does earn a trigger warning: There are monsters in the book and they are violent against both people and animals. It's 100% part of the narrative, not overdone or unnecessary. Like in all great horror stories, it's cringe worthy violence.
I'd like to thank Henry Roi PR for my copy of this great book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Gareth Is Haunted · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good creature feature.

I have mixed feelings about this story. Firstly I'll point out the good stuff.
The creature feature parts of this were an absolute treat. They were both written well and also paced nicely. Giving just enough detail without revealing the true identity of the creature. The author's writing was concise and extremely descriptive throughout, but here lies what has led me to only award 3 stars.
I felt that the story got kinda buried under lots of unnecessary backstories for each of the characters. I'm talking pages on pages explaining about a relationship or how someone felt. It's unfortunate because other than this it would've been a much more complete novel.
Unfortunately, the devil did live in the detail

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Street Between the Pines by J.J. Alo is the kind of horror novel that creeps under your skin and lingers long after the final page. If you love atmospheric dread, small-town secrets, and a protagonist who refuses to back down, this book is a must-read.

From the moment we meet the Gulf War veteran at the heart of this story, I was hooked. He’s struggling to get by, but when people start dying and an unnatural presence prowls his neighborhood, survival takes on a whole new meaning. The eerie, slow-burn horror is masterfully done—think Stephen King meets Southern Gothic, with a touch of Lovecraftian unease. And the old pharmaceutical facility across the river? Chilling. The deeper the mystery unraveled, the more I needed to know what was lurking in the shadows.

What I really loved was how this book balances psychological horror with real-life struggles. The veteran’s past haunts him just as much as whatever beast stalks his town, and that emotional weight adds so much depth to the story. J.J. Alo doesn’t just throw monsters at you—he builds a world where you feel the isolation, the paranoia, and the creeping realization that something is terribly, terribly wrong.

If you love horror with substance, characters with grit, and stories where the real horror might not be the monster at all, The Street Between the Pines is absolutely worth the read. I’m already looking forward to the next book in this anthology series!

🌲🔪👀 – Dark, haunting, and impossible to put down.

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

So pumped when I got approved for this ARC. Yall, know I love some creature features, and this one is fantastic. If you're looking for a nightmare wrapped in the familiar, The Street Between the Pines by J.J. Alo will send the chills for sure. Set in the eerie, fog-choked corners of Connecticut, this tale begins with the mundane—dissatisfaction at work, a failing marriage, and the biting tension of family gatherings. But don’t let that fool you. What starts as an everyday drama spirals into something far more insidious.

Imagine a creature—wild, bloodthirsty, and stalking the woods. Government secrets buried beneath layers of deception. The line between sanity and madness blurs. And then, yes, kitty cats. But these aren’t your friendly, purring companions; these are harbingers of something darker, far darker than you can imagine. Alo’s writing crawls under your skin, building a sense of dread with every turn, every shadow. I found myself questioning what’s real, what’s not, and where the cat was.

The pacing is relentless: a heart-pounding opening, a deliberate lull, then a spine-shaking crescendo that pulls you into a nightmare you can’t escape. And that ending? Well let’s just say it might bother a lot of people, but it was insane. The Street Between the Pines is a chilling, unforgettable ride. If you read it, you might want to keep an eye on your cats. You never know who—or what—they’re watching.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

[Megan Rang · Rating 3 out of 5]

*****I received this free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This book had some interesting elements. It also drug in a few places. It was unique in what was taking place. I don’t want to give anything away. The descriptions were decent.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun thriller/supernatural read, and I was impressed for how well it was written as a debut.

I had a heck of a time figuring out where this story was headed up until 80% of the way through, but I was glad to see how well the plot wrapped up. There was a lot of supernatural elements mixed with urban mythology which was a well-done combo for this book and its urban-ish setting

Both the internal and external dialogue were unique and honestly quite fun to read through. I felt that it brough a level of real emotion to a genre that typically focuses more on plot than characters. I noticed some character development, not as much as most books but more than I was expecting for the genre as a whole.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love 80s horror movies and generally the macabre as well, so when I was given the opportunity to read The Street Between the Pines, I was excited to find that J.J. Also incorporated exactly that into his story. It was a nostalgic ride through many different aspects including slasher films, creature films, and references to being a kid in the 80’s and 90’s. The characters were raw and multi-layered which gave more to the story. The imagery was unique and painted the idea of what a Southern New England Horror story would include. Many twists and turns and interesting surprises abound. If you’re a fan of all the above, Stranger Things, and/or cats, you’re going to love this book. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and to SNE Horror LLC for an advanced readers copy. All of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I immediately recommend this to anyone who enjoys detailed descriptions. The scene and atmosphere are always setup in a way that envelops you into the story, and allows you to feel what the characters are feeling. It never feels overdone though, and suits the book well.

If you are a horror fan you will be familiar with elements from this book. There were times I was reminded of Ash from Evil Dead, and of a certain company and character from Resident Evil. These were moments that I was really engrossed with the story, and enjoying the ride. There were a few scenes during the climax that did lose me a bit, and felt a little out of nowhere, but they did not take me out of the story completely.

There are multiple POVs, but they are infrequent and only last for a chapter at a time. The chapters are quite short, which I appreciate, so we do spend a majority of the time with the main character, Curtis. Everything flows well into each other, and the book reads fairly easily. You will probably learn a few new words of vocabulary.

Overall, for the first entry of a series the story stands complete on it's own, so you don't have to worry about any huge cliffhangers. Creature feature fans should consider this a must read, and Alo does not shy away from gore, so prepare for some brutal imagery !

[C.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.J. Alo, where have you been all my life?

The Street Between the Pines is a delightful psychological thriller that has been written in the most satisfying way.

If you've followed my reviews, you know my standard is pretty high, so I want to start with the mechanics. Mr. Alo has done his work. This manuscript is clean, flows well, and I found myself breezing through this book without any obstacles for my editor brain. Absolutely fantastic.

As for the story, in a word: engaging.

The story doesn't start with the main character, but though the involved character meets his demise, I was invested in the story's intricate nuance. The anticipation is palpable, every step of the way, and I wanted to see how the next chapter unfolded. (Yes, this is a 'just one more chapter and then it's morning' book)

The main character, Curtis, is completely relatable (I'm a veteran with lots of veteran friends) and realistic. He goes through the rather human process of acknowledging his shortcomings, struggling with what would be required to overcome them, and dealing with this otherworldly monster threatening his neighborhood on top of everything. His interactions with the other characters, especially his estranged wife Amy, only add to the overall realness of this story.

There are some key signs of the appearance of the monster, and every time it happened, I felt myself tensing up as I read. Like watching a horror movie and yelling at the screen for the characters to run or look behind them.

The twists are divine and intertwined so well I wondered how I had missed the signs I saw so clearly now. I won't spoil the story for you, but simply leave this review with a heartfelt recommendation that you pick this up.

Especially if you love cats.

Well done, Mr. Alo. Well done, indeed.

I received an ARC of this book through Reedsy Discovery.

[Johna Treadwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story, only 1 book. yay

Love, love the complete story told in one book. I so hate when there are more than 4-5 books to tell the story. Loved the “star” of the story and the great ending. .. if you love cats, this is great for you. Great description of “monster” in story created by the “bad” scientist. Good prevails…will read more books by this author.

[Horror Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books are a funny thing sometimes. One person's "meh" is another's "awesome". I would never discourage anybody from reading a book just because it wasn't, personally, for me. Such is the case for this novel.

The story itself was good enough. Scary monsters, shady organisations, and the kills were brutal and bloody. I liked the main story.

But the main character, Curtis, was annoying. I think he was meant to be a sympathetic character but, to me, he was annoying, surly, and kind of an ass throughout most of the book. Everything wrong from his past is described in great detail but, still, he came across as obnoxious and overbearing.

The main reason why I didn't rate it higher is because of the exacting amount of detail thrown into every situation. At one point, Curtis is building a trap in his home to catch a creature. And we get to read how he built it step by step. It was like reading an instruction manual and these instances were all through the book. It took me out of the story and I found myself skimming pages at a time trying to get back to the main narrative.

There's a really good scary book here to be sure but, in my own personal opinion, it needed some editing and culling. At 360 some pages I think it would have had much better pacing at around 250-280.

As I said, we are all different readers so I would recommend it for the story and if you like intricate attention to small details, you'll probably love this!

[Jessi · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you took out all the unimportant descriptions that didn’t help move the story forward, I’m guessing this book would be about three chapters total. In other words, 80% boring or irrelevant details and 20% action and/or important information that moved the story forward. Don’t get me wrong, details are important and this author was painstakingly detailed, but the detail needs to serve a purpose. When I read chapters upon chapters of the mundane lives of the people of Forest Street, I expect there to be a reason I’m getting to know the character, but in this story, there was no point and that just lead to my frustration. Further, I wouldn’t classify this book as horror. The only odd, slightly creepy, yet the only part of the book never explained, is the cats. I do not recommend.

[Cierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possible spoilers?

I’ve seen some fairly meh reviews about this book but I personally really enjoyed it. I read a lot of Fantasy (outside of all the horror novels I read) so I really enjoy books with a lot of in depth detail and I feel like this book had more than the typical horror genre. I also may be a bit bias because the amount of things I had in common with this main character was more than usual. I happen to be a military vet that specialized in the same electronics area as Curtis (just in a different branch). I also struggle with PTSD so that was easy to relate to as well. The pop culture references such as music and movies are also things I listen to and watch. Lastly I also have a special needs son.

I really enjoyed the swapped povs for some of the chapters as well. It was fun to see the creature through others eyes and not just the MMC.

I will say I had an idea about the cause of everything before I got to the end but they didn’t make me enjoy it any less.

Overall I thought it was a fun read! Plus cats. Cats are great.

[Brian Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really looking for a book to grab my attention and pull me in to another reality. Luckily, I hit the jackpot when someone recommend "The Street Between the Pines" to me.

The incredible detail displayed throughout the story had me envisioning every precise move of the characters in this page turning thriller. The sense of reality and relationships with the characters made me feel like I was actually a resident in the community. In addition, I truly appreciated the eerie and stealth introduction and reintroduction of the beast. Like Jaws, you knew it was lurking, but where and how?!

I found this to be an excellent book by an excellent author. A true psychological brain twister that is a MUST for any true fan of the genre. Bravo, J.J. Alo! I am already craving your next book!

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Street Between the Pines’ is a psychological thriller filled with horror elements. This ghost fiction begins with Curtis Reynolds, who is really struggling to make sense of his life. Nothing is really going well for him. He finds it hard to sleep, is in debt, and is lonely. Things take a turn for him when his neighbor is murdered, and he investigates the mystery behind it. Curtis also has insomnia and PTSD, which induced a very informed personality and character with mental issues. Touching on subject matters that some authors may not, this author creates a very intriguing story and masterfully narrates a thriller.

I found the book cover to be very attractive. It represented the rich content inside. This is a detailed written story that contains descriptive writing. This added to the suspense.

The depth of the storylines and characters pulled the dynamic of the tale to a level that paired everything together. This also enables synchronization and a very enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy fiction thrillers.

[Dreenie Beenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟- The storyline was fun, and we learned of the presence of a monster early on. However, it contained myriad descriptions that had me skimming paragraphs here and there as they were not pertinent to the outcome of the story. It's written in a way for us to commiserate with the main character who despises the way his life turned out following a bad choice. He bothered the hell out of me, but I guess he redeemed himself at the end. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. Rating is between 3 and 4 because the story was cohesive overall.

[Darian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. The terminology was fantastic and made it read very poetically. Creature features are my favorite, and this book is a prime example of why. The tension was palpable on all fronts, and I got through the book in record time just so I could see what happened. The ending was great, and my only complaint is that I want more time with the Norwaukus (one of my new favorites).

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Not sure if it was me or what, but I found the first part of the story slow. I absolutely love thriller books though it took some time to get into this one for me. I did love the cats. It did make me chuckle the moment I first read about them. Plus the cover of this book, it is wonderful and I know I will give the next book a chance since I think it was more of a me issue not finding the wow to this book right away. I will give it another read down the line since I do see rave reviews on it.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Street Between the Pines by J.J. Allo

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


I am very impressed with this book, considering this is the author’s debut.. and it was this well crafted.. I will surely reach whatever else he puts out.

The author has beautifully weaved a complex story in this horror book, and that honestly rarely happens. These characters are real, fully fleshed out, and you understand and can empathize with their experiences. I can understand after reading this book why the blurbs had Stephen King comparisons! His writing, much like King’s is a true character study! He is very intentional with every detail that he has added to the book.

This book was like peeling back the layers of an onion. There is so much going on as we follow Curtis, a hard working father with a unsavory past, that is trying his best just to stay strong and stay afloat while things just keep happening around him, whether it’s from exterior forces or the ghosts in his own head. He is a combat veteran that is still trying to deal with PTSD, and the description in the book is tragically beautiful. In his home life, strange things are happening in his neighborhood, which sends him down one spiral after another to try to understand and save his family.

The gore in this book was great, the pacing was great, it was a very character driven horror, so if that’s up your alley, definitely check this out!

[Jasmine Plaunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable and easy to devour. I felt it was a thriller mixed with horror with amazing written detail that you could actually see and hear/feel if you closed your eyes. I loved the premise of the book, though I did have a feeling that pharma/government was involved in some way or another. I loved how his time across seas in the army connected with the story as well. I will definitely recommend this book to my thriller / horror readers!!

[PrettyBookish13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4.5
This was an incredibly well thought out story and I thoroughly enjoyed all the parts that were woven together to make this story so gripping! At first, I thought the cats were going to be part of the horror, and I was beginning to worry I’d never be able to look at one the same way again, however by the end of the book I was amazed at how they came back (multiple times) and added an extra level of depth. The interconnecting character storylines made things more interesting as well.

[Art the Turtle of Amazing Girth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.18

Not too bad at all

I enjoyed the lore and the creatures, and the cats' involvement

The long monologue of Aldrich regarding the govt and their control over diseases was a bit too long for me

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this but it just wasn’t for me! Not much happened until the 70% mark and then it really picked up. Then the last line was basically ‘it was all a dream’.

[J.T. Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way better than I was ready for. Fantastic debut novel. Not for everyone -- dude can be graphic -- but it was for me.

[Callum King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written and i ended up reading it in one sitting. I felt like I was reading a horror film and I've watched a lot. I thought it was very original. At some points in the book the tension kept coming to a head and that's when the author just rips it away from you and you just want to carry on.
I Absolutely can't wait to read more of this authors stuff.

[Mika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book