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Rogue
Cameron Horne has it all, an intelligent, beautiful and loving wife, a great home and a successful and important career. His life is the American Dream come true. Until things begin to change.
Without warning, he exhibits strange behavior he can't seem to control, loses time and memories, has horrific nightmares and finds blood on his hands that may or may not be his own.
When a mysterious young man who seems to know the future begins appearing in Cameron's backyard, things go from bad to worse. As voices and visions flood his mind, and shadowy figures watch his every move, something deep inside him comes awake, manifesting in acts of extreme rage and violence.
Is he losing his mind, or is something evil stalking him, possessing him from within and turning Cam from the mild-mannered man he's always been into someone else…something else…
The truth is coming for Cameron Horne, and there's going to be Hell to pay.
Without warning, he exhibits strange behavior he can't seem to control, loses time and memories, has horrific nightmares and finds blood on his hands that may or may not be his own.
When a mysterious young man who seems to know the future begins appearing in Cameron's backyard, things go from bad to worse. As voices and visions flood his mind, and shadowy figures watch his every move, something deep inside him comes awake, manifesting in acts of extreme rage and violence.
Is he losing his mind, or is something evil stalking him, possessing him from within and turning Cam from the mild-mannered man he's always been into someone else…something else…
The truth is coming for Cameron Horne, and there's going to be Hell to pay.
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
1 person is currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Greg F. Gifune
79 books352 followersCalled "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene, Greg F. Gifune is the author of numerous short stories, several novels and two short story collections. His work has been published in a wide range of magazines and anthologies all over the world, and has recently garnered interest from Hollywood. His novels include The Bleeding Season, Deep Night, Saying Uncle, A View From The Lake, Night Work, Drago Descending, Blood In Electric Blue and Dominion.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 24, 2014
This was an ARC from Netgalley.
Welcome to one man's journey into madness.
We all know the stresses of making it in the world today, those seemingly insurmountable challenges of careers and relationships Fate throws our way. Is it enough to drive a man to the frayed edge of sanity, where Reality itself becomes a waking nightmare? Or is he by demons driven? You decide, in this tale of madness and all the mayhem it brings. Gifune knows what makes us tick, knows what it is that makes our minds jump the track. He knows the fear of losing control, of mind, body and soul, that haunts us all, and he brings that knowledge to bear in this powerful tale that cements his place as one of the most quietly powerful authors in the business.
Highest recommendation possible.
This one is off the charts, people.
Welcome to one man's journey into madness.
We all know the stresses of making it in the world today, those seemingly insurmountable challenges of careers and relationships Fate throws our way. Is it enough to drive a man to the frayed edge of sanity, where Reality itself becomes a waking nightmare? Or is he by demons driven? You decide, in this tale of madness and all the mayhem it brings. Gifune knows what makes us tick, knows what it is that makes our minds jump the track. He knows the fear of losing control, of mind, body and soul, that haunts us all, and he brings that knowledge to bear in this powerful tale that cements his place as one of the most quietly powerful authors in the business.
Highest recommendation possible.
This one is off the charts, people.
October 6, 2016
Warning: "Something bad is going to happen"......says the mysterious man in Cameron Horne's backyard.......and it does!
Cameron is living the good life. He has an important job and a wonderful, loving wife, but that life as he knows it begins to change. Every dam morning, like clockwork, a blasted car alarm commences its wail, and the horrendous nightmares just keep getting worse. He believes he is losing his mind....he sees slinking ghostly apparitions....he becomes aggressive....he can no longer distinguish fantasy from reality....and then....well....I truly could not believe what happened!
Nothing is what it seems in this super creepy, super clever, super atmospheric read, but it has it all for those who want a glimpse of the dark side and an experience of absolute horror! Great pick for an October read with more to it than meets the eye!
June 19, 2014
What is reality? Is it all in our perception of it, what we are told, what we believe to be true? We all have our demons. Cam Horne is no exception. As his grip on sanity slips away, he knows something bad is going to happen, even as he is entranced by 'the beautiful light bleeding through the trees'.
Excellent foray into dark horror. Recommended for those who are appreciative of such things. Perfect pacing, crazy good ending. My first experience reading this author. Will be going for more of his fare, pronto.
Excellent foray into dark horror. Recommended for those who are appreciative of such things. Perfect pacing, crazy good ending. My first experience reading this author. Will be going for more of his fare, pronto.
April 6, 2014
Rogue is the latest novel from Greg F Gifune and if you’re familiar with his intelligent and emotionally dark work, then get this - you’re in for a treat.
Cameron Horne works for a branch of the Office of Public Safety and Security in Massachusetts, that specializes in registering and tracking sex offenders, he meets and deals with the lowest of the low, a job that constantly nips at the heels of his sanity.
When Cam confronts a dishevelled young man nonchalantly sitting in his back garden, the man has a warning for him and knows his name, he’s tells him they’re watching him and that ‘something bad is going to happen’. He sees his knuckles scraped raw and bloody and the young man’s words through the steam in his mirror, he looks again and all is as it should be.
We then witness Cam’s rapid spiral into darkness, into madness, his world comes apart, slowly tearing at the seams, visions, lost memories and nightmares, horrifically lucid hallucinations, he’s suspended from work to undergo a psych evaluation and he attempts to track back to when it all started. To a home visit involving a sex offender who appears to have no records, who doesn’t exist and another who knows Cam, in a different life, bleeding into this one.
A quote from early on, page 2 in fact and the start of a trip with no return.
‘Am I dreaming? The nightmares don’t stop anymore, so it’s hard to tell. They quite down now and then, but they’re always here. Screeching in my head, the constant din echoes through my skull like the deafening clamour of giant invisible machines. Makes it difficult to tell where the world of shadows end and reality begins.’
As Cam’s life plunges out of his control, he loses all bearing on reality, he loses time and starts to believe he is someone else heading for a fateful swan song.
Another quote, there really is loads to choose from in the tension and atmosphere created by Greg Gifune and a man losing all control.
‘A strange darkness deep within me comes loose just then, crashing over me like a rogue wave. Horrible bursts of unspeakable carnage blink in strobe light flashes across my mind’s eye, and terrifying screams of agony ring in my ears.’
Highly recommended.
Cameron Horne works for a branch of the Office of Public Safety and Security in Massachusetts, that specializes in registering and tracking sex offenders, he meets and deals with the lowest of the low, a job that constantly nips at the heels of his sanity.
When Cam confronts a dishevelled young man nonchalantly sitting in his back garden, the man has a warning for him and knows his name, he’s tells him they’re watching him and that ‘something bad is going to happen’. He sees his knuckles scraped raw and bloody and the young man’s words through the steam in his mirror, he looks again and all is as it should be.
We then witness Cam’s rapid spiral into darkness, into madness, his world comes apart, slowly tearing at the seams, visions, lost memories and nightmares, horrifically lucid hallucinations, he’s suspended from work to undergo a psych evaluation and he attempts to track back to when it all started. To a home visit involving a sex offender who appears to have no records, who doesn’t exist and another who knows Cam, in a different life, bleeding into this one.
A quote from early on, page 2 in fact and the start of a trip with no return.
‘Am I dreaming? The nightmares don’t stop anymore, so it’s hard to tell. They quite down now and then, but they’re always here. Screeching in my head, the constant din echoes through my skull like the deafening clamour of giant invisible machines. Makes it difficult to tell where the world of shadows end and reality begins.’
As Cam’s life plunges out of his control, he loses all bearing on reality, he loses time and starts to believe he is someone else heading for a fateful swan song.
Another quote, there really is loads to choose from in the tension and atmosphere created by Greg Gifune and a man losing all control.
‘A strange darkness deep within me comes loose just then, crashing over me like a rogue wave. Horrible bursts of unspeakable carnage blink in strobe light flashes across my mind’s eye, and terrifying screams of agony ring in my ears.’
Highly recommended.
March 25, 2024
If you are asking yourself whether you are going mad then not all is lost. Once you don’t ask yourself that question anymore, that’s when you are on a downhill ride of no return.
The main character of the story experiences terrible, weird things that should not be real. Yet, there are hints that at least some of the strangeness is. It is a good story and it keeps the mystery going till close to the end. Certainly worth reading with perhaps the caveat that there is a graphic description of a rather despicable sex act that could be off putting for some. Recommended
The main character of the story experiences terrible, weird things that should not be real. Yet, there are hints that at least some of the strangeness is. It is a good story and it keeps the mystery going till close to the end. Certainly worth reading with perhaps the caveat that there is a graphic description of a rather despicable sex act that could be off putting for some. Recommended
September 22, 2014
Greg Gifune is very quickly becoming a favorite of mine among contemporary horror writers. Books like "Rogue" are the driving force behind that.
According to the author's notes at the end of "Rogue", the idea for this novel was originally presented in a short story entitled "Runaway" that was published in 1999. The short-story was fleshed out for Darkfuse into this full-length novel. I'm glad it was.
Gifune has some wonderful ideas floating around in his head. When those ideas are spilled onto paper, the results are quite often astounding. When I finished "Rogue", I had to sit for a minute and let the reveal sink in a bit, to mentally chew on the idea. Hours later, I am still really loving what I read.
5 STARS
According to the author's notes at the end of "Rogue", the idea for this novel was originally presented in a short story entitled "Runaway" that was published in 1999. The short-story was fleshed out for Darkfuse into this full-length novel. I'm glad it was.
Gifune has some wonderful ideas floating around in his head. When those ideas are spilled onto paper, the results are quite often astounding. When I finished "Rogue", I had to sit for a minute and let the reveal sink in a bit, to mentally chew on the idea. Hours later, I am still really loving what I read.
5 STARS
May 15, 2014
Another great read by Greg! The main character in the story is Cameron Horne. The story starts out one day when a guy appears in his yard. Cam goes out to see why this guy is in his yard. The guy knows things about Cam's life. This man keeps reappearing in his yard telling Cam things. If this is not enough, Cam is put on leave from his job as a Officer of Public Safety and Security in Massachusetts. Because of a complaint from one of his clients. Little by little his life is being thrown upside down and torn apart. He is not sure what is real and what is not. Wondering if he is losing his mind. Having these dreams or thoughts that can't be real. Like most of Greg's books he creates this atmosphere that is so vivid that you think you are there. A great story by Greg, I gave Rogue 4 1/2 stars.
February 22, 2015
Cameron Horne has the perfect life. Or does he? He's got the loving wife, the nice house and the good job. But lately, things aren't what they seem. Reality is beginning to unravel in front of Cam's very eyes. What starts as a car alarm waking him up every morning at 3:30 is now causing him to see things that may or may not be real. On one of these sleepless mornings, he encounters a stranger sitting in his back yard that delivers a cryptic message - "They're watching you through the phone" - without any further explanation. Cam begins to experience violent visions and unexplained loss of time. What is going on? What is real and what are delusions? Is this what it's like to lose your mind?
This is my first experience with Greg Gifune and I'm hooked. For me, Rogue evokes shades of the movie Angel Heart. The atmosphere is delightfully eerie and dreamlike. The character development and dialogue is excellent. Rogue sucks you in and will not let you put it down. The anticipation to figure out what is going on is too much. Five stars and I've already downloaded my next Gifune novel.
5 out of 5 stars
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
This is my first experience with Greg Gifune and I'm hooked. For me, Rogue evokes shades of the movie Angel Heart. The atmosphere is delightfully eerie and dreamlike. The character development and dialogue is excellent. Rogue sucks you in and will not let you put it down. The anticipation to figure out what is going on is too much. Five stars and I've already downloaded my next Gifune novel.
5 out of 5 stars
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
November 6, 2014
I think this read will end up being one of my favourite reads this year. I thought nothing would touch The Bleeding Season, but this tale reaches the same dizzy heights and may even surpass it in some ways.
Cam has it all, the perfect life, the perfect wife and a challenging career. Cam's perfect life comes to end when he starts to notice strange things happening, his career also begins to unravel as one of his clients, a convicted child molester, makes a complaint about him. Put on paid leave, Cam decides to investigate further.
Cam was a fantastic character, but ultimately you're left wondering how you could be so engaged in someone that you really know nothing about. As a reader you wonder if Cam's observations are real or if they are of a mind spiralling into madness.
I found myself reluctant to put this read down, the author continually feeds out titbits of information making it impossible to stop until the next chapter. The ending was something I would have never seen coming, everything coming together but not without the author making you work a little to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Highly recommended.
Cam has it all, the perfect life, the perfect wife and a challenging career. Cam's perfect life comes to end when he starts to notice strange things happening, his career also begins to unravel as one of his clients, a convicted child molester, makes a complaint about him. Put on paid leave, Cam decides to investigate further.
Cam was a fantastic character, but ultimately you're left wondering how you could be so engaged in someone that you really know nothing about. As a reader you wonder if Cam's observations are real or if they are of a mind spiralling into madness.
I found myself reluctant to put this read down, the author continually feeds out titbits of information making it impossible to stop until the next chapter. The ending was something I would have never seen coming, everything coming together but not without the author making you work a little to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Highly recommended.
April 19, 2014
4.5 stars, rounded up.
In ROGUE, Gifune gives us the tale of one man's sudden plunge from his day-to-day reality, into an unending nightmare where there are no clear answers in sight. Cam starts by having moments where his thoughts don't quite seem to be his own. People around him begin telling him that he has been acting "like someone different" at times.
Is he losing his mind, or is it something....more?
As usual, Gifune's prose has the power to relentlessly sweep you away into the world he creates. His expertise at creating believable atmosphere, and an intense character-driven tale is in full evidence here. I was completely immersed into Cam's world, going through all of the doubts, fears, and confusion with him. It takes a great author to be able to write a story so convincing....Greg Gifune is just such an author.
In ROGUE, Gifune gives us the tale of one man's sudden plunge from his day-to-day reality, into an unending nightmare where there are no clear answers in sight. Cam starts by having moments where his thoughts don't quite seem to be his own. People around him begin telling him that he has been acting "like someone different" at times.
Is he losing his mind, or is it something....more?
As usual, Gifune's prose has the power to relentlessly sweep you away into the world he creates. His expertise at creating believable atmosphere, and an intense character-driven tale is in full evidence here. I was completely immersed into Cam's world, going through all of the doubts, fears, and confusion with him. It takes a great author to be able to write a story so convincing....Greg Gifune is just such an author.
April 6, 2014
Review copy
I don't believe there's any writer who better captures a descent into madness than Greg F. Gifune.
In Rogue we meet Cameron Horne, a thirty-something man, happy with his life and his job at the Office of Public Safety and Security in the Commonweath of Massachusetts.
But, recently, Cam has been awakened every morning by a car alarm from the other side of the wooded area behind his home and then he meets a mysterious young man in his back yard. From there things get stranger by the day. He is placed on paid leave from his job when a complaint about his treatment of a client leads to an investigation. He thinks he might be going insane, but is that really what's happening, or could it be something even worse, something more sinister. And just who is Zeke?
Sometimes unsettling, occasionally disturbing and a few times totally disgusting, Rogue is one of the best stories I've read in 2013.
Coming in May from Darkfuse Publications, Rogue will be available as a Limited edition Hardcover, Paperback and in ebook formats. If you want, you can pre-order now through Amazon.com.
Highly recommended.
I don't believe there's any writer who better captures a descent into madness than Greg F. Gifune.
In Rogue we meet Cameron Horne, a thirty-something man, happy with his life and his job at the Office of Public Safety and Security in the Commonweath of Massachusetts.
But, recently, Cam has been awakened every morning by a car alarm from the other side of the wooded area behind his home and then he meets a mysterious young man in his back yard. From there things get stranger by the day. He is placed on paid leave from his job when a complaint about his treatment of a client leads to an investigation. He thinks he might be going insane, but is that really what's happening, or could it be something even worse, something more sinister. And just who is Zeke?
Sometimes unsettling, occasionally disturbing and a few times totally disgusting, Rogue is one of the best stories I've read in 2013.
Coming in May from Darkfuse Publications, Rogue will be available as a Limited edition Hardcover, Paperback and in ebook formats. If you want, you can pre-order now through Amazon.com.
Highly recommended.
April 6, 2014
Rogue by Greg F. Gifune was a recent offering from Dark Fuse publications.
A unique study in first person of a man believing he is going insane. I not sure how to review this book without giving too much of the story away. The story was well written and certainly kept me guessing as to what the heck was really going on.
Cam works for the Justice Department or Social Services...something like that. He follows those convicted of pedophilia related crimes. Cam has an almost unbelievably calm, sweet, understanding and employed wife.
When his "problem" starts he is shocked because he has a history of being an outstanding citizen. Nice home, good job, loving parents, darn it he was probably an Eagle scout!! So why is he cracking up now.
To find the answer to this, you will just have to read the story.
A unique study in first person of a man believing he is going insane. I not sure how to review this book without giving too much of the story away. The story was well written and certainly kept me guessing as to what the heck was really going on.
Cam works for the Justice Department or Social Services...something like that. He follows those convicted of pedophilia related crimes. Cam has an almost unbelievably calm, sweet, understanding and employed wife.
When his "problem" starts he is shocked because he has a history of being an outstanding citizen. Nice home, good job, loving parents, darn it he was probably an Eagle scout!! So why is he cracking up now.
To find the answer to this, you will just have to read the story.
June 19, 2014
There's nothing more frightening than when reality begins to warp out of place around you, when you begin to realize you may have done things you can't remember, horrible things. I was right there in the head of the protagonist from the beginning of this novel to the end. Deftly, written. Gifune does it effortlessly.
June 3, 2014
What if you wake up one day, living the seemingly perfect life, married to a beautiful wife, working a job that satisfies you, and then suddenly things change...your boss puts you on a paid leave because of unprofessional behavior you swear on your life never happened. You wake up in predawn hours to a faint cry of a car alarm, and then you spy a mysterious visitor in your backyard that, inexplicably, knows you...even though you don't know him...and soon you experience other bizarre occurences, including a frightening rage building inside, howling to be let out.
Greg Gifune crafts a masterful dark thriller from Darkfuse about the thin line between perception and reality, and how tenuous and fragile that barrier can be. If you haven't read Gifune yet, you're missing out on one of the best. Highest recommendation. I received a digital copy of this book for an honest review.
Greg Gifune crafts a masterful dark thriller from Darkfuse about the thin line between perception and reality, and how tenuous and fragile that barrier can be. If you haven't read Gifune yet, you're missing out on one of the best. Highest recommendation. I received a digital copy of this book for an honest review.
January 23, 2015
The following is based on an eARC obtained through NetGalley courtesy of DarkFuse publishing.
Celebrated horror author Greg F Gifune's latest is a fascinating tour into the darkening mind of a man who is either going insane or is the subject of some form of supernatural attack. There are a number of similarities with his most acclaimed work, The Bleeding Season, insofar as both deal with an uncertain and somewhat unreliable protagonist, and the question of some form of supernatural spectre looms over all that occurs. Rogue, however, benefits from a shorter length than its predecessor, as developments lurch from strange to alarming to worse with very few pauses for breath in between.
Easily consumable in one to two sittings - thanks largely to the effortless ease with which Gifune seems to write - Rogue packs a powerful final punch that is both fascinating and satisfying.
Fans of Gifune will not be disappointed.
4 Black Shapes Out of the Corner of My Eye for Rogue.
Celebrated horror author Greg F Gifune's latest is a fascinating tour into the darkening mind of a man who is either going insane or is the subject of some form of supernatural attack. There are a number of similarities with his most acclaimed work, The Bleeding Season, insofar as both deal with an uncertain and somewhat unreliable protagonist, and the question of some form of supernatural spectre looms over all that occurs. Rogue, however, benefits from a shorter length than its predecessor, as developments lurch from strange to alarming to worse with very few pauses for breath in between.
Easily consumable in one to two sittings - thanks largely to the effortless ease with which Gifune seems to write - Rogue packs a powerful final punch that is both fascinating and satisfying.
Fans of Gifune will not be disappointed.
4 Black Shapes Out of the Corner of My Eye for Rogue.
October 16, 2014
This was definitely a page turner, because every page keeps you wondering and trying to figure out what is going on. And you don't even find out until the very end. Brilliant!
Cam wakes up every morning to a car alarm and a young man sitting in his back yard. He also starts having visions and dreams, and many strange things happening to him. What is going on with him? Can you figure it out?
This was the first book I have read by Greg F. Gifune and I will be reading more. Have two downloaded already.
Cam wakes up every morning to a car alarm and a young man sitting in his back yard. He also starts having visions and dreams, and many strange things happening to him. What is going on with him? Can you figure it out?
This was the first book I have read by Greg F. Gifune and I will be reading more. Have two downloaded already.
May 12, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
This is the second book I read by Greg F. Gifune, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first.
Cameron Horne works for a local branch of the Office of Public Safety and Security in Massachusetts. He’s married to the most wonderful woman he could ever imagine – Remy. He has some great friends, who he plays poker with just about every week. He lives in a beautiful house, living the dream. If it weren’t for how his job has been weighing on him – there’s only so many times one can work with sex offenders and rapists before you start to lose your sanity.
For Cam, it starts with seeing a man in his backyard. A car alarm starts waking him up every morning. Then it starts with visions of reality unraveling, of dark night clubs where sinister things happening, of colleagues turning against him, of depraved acts committed by all those around him. But is it real – or is it all in his mind? This all started with a visit to a sex offender – nothing out of the ordinary, just a scheduled visit, but from that point on, Cam’s world has been unravling. Has the man done something to him? Or is it all Cam doing this to himself?
Rogue kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept on wondering whether or not what Cam was going through, was real. And if it was, then how the heck did it happen, and what was going to happen next? And if it wasn’t, what caused him to lose his sanity like that? A slow descent into madness, but a brilliant one.
With excellent writing from start to finish, and a strong, brilliant plot, Rogue is one of the best books I’ve read all year.
This is the second book I read by Greg F. Gifune, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first.
Cameron Horne works for a local branch of the Office of Public Safety and Security in Massachusetts. He’s married to the most wonderful woman he could ever imagine – Remy. He has some great friends, who he plays poker with just about every week. He lives in a beautiful house, living the dream. If it weren’t for how his job has been weighing on him – there’s only so many times one can work with sex offenders and rapists before you start to lose your sanity.
For Cam, it starts with seeing a man in his backyard. A car alarm starts waking him up every morning. Then it starts with visions of reality unraveling, of dark night clubs where sinister things happening, of colleagues turning against him, of depraved acts committed by all those around him. But is it real – or is it all in his mind? This all started with a visit to a sex offender – nothing out of the ordinary, just a scheduled visit, but from that point on, Cam’s world has been unravling. Has the man done something to him? Or is it all Cam doing this to himself?
Rogue kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept on wondering whether or not what Cam was going through, was real. And if it was, then how the heck did it happen, and what was going to happen next? And if it wasn’t, what caused him to lose his sanity like that? A slow descent into madness, but a brilliant one.
With excellent writing from start to finish, and a strong, brilliant plot, Rogue is one of the best books I’ve read all year.
July 23, 2016
Something is wrong on Forest View Lane. Cam is rapidly slipping into madness as everything in his life becomes suspect as he careens off the rails straight into the darkest reaches of his own nightmares. He has gone Rouge.
Creepy, dark and surreal at times, Rouge is an excellent tale of a life gone sideways where nothing is as it appears and there is no salvation in sight. Gifune is a master…No doubt. 5 Stars! Highly Recommended!
Creepy, dark and surreal at times, Rouge is an excellent tale of a life gone sideways where nothing is as it appears and there is no salvation in sight. Gifune is a master…No doubt. 5 Stars! Highly Recommended!
March 20, 2020
Picked up this after enjoying ‘the rain dancers’ and probably expected too much. ‘Rogue’ is a story about reality unraveling as Cam Horne’s perfect life starts to fall apart. Interesting enough and comes together with the twist at the end, but just two many ‘you must have dreamed it' type events for it to keep me fully transfixed.
January 23, 2015
Fantastic, the author really manages to bring you into the story!
February 5, 2019
This was another intense story from Gifune, a writer that has easily become one of my definitive to entertain choices from the horror field.
Like all the other works this has a heavy psychological factor to it, we`re not sure if our character it`s loosing his mind, or there is something else, more sinister than this, in the middle of things.
And, yes, the reveal in the end was quite a Big Unexpected Thing.
Yeah, definitely Gifune really knows to deliver and create new and unexpected thrills!
Like all the other works this has a heavy psychological factor to it, we`re not sure if our character it`s loosing his mind, or there is something else, more sinister than this, in the middle of things.
And, yes, the reveal in the end was quite a Big Unexpected Thing.
Yeah, definitely Gifune really knows to deliver and create new and unexpected thrills!
July 27, 2023
Always nice to dive back into a Greg Gifune novel, knowing I’m gonna once again, be immersed in some of the finest horror writing out there. This one was no exception. As usual, well rounded characters, horrifying moments, and another fantastic ending. I only have a few unread Gifune novels still lying around, and I can honestly say, everything he has written has been an absolute treasure.
October 8, 2015
Sheets of rain soak the city, casting everything in a blurred murkiness.. This book is classic Gifune. If you like his style, you'll love this book. And if you don't know this guy, you must do everything in your power to obtain a copy! Gifune pulls you right in and never lets you go. I finished the book yesterday and I'm still walking around in a fog (yeah, a classic Gifunesque wet and dreary fog) and can't get the characters and events out of my head. Gifune is an artist. He paints a scene so vivid and real, that it confuses me when I look out the window and don't see what he describes. Really, in my opinion, no one can draw a scene like Gifune.
Rogue is pure madness. The weather, the streets, the woods...and that narrator. The madness is quite hypnotic.
In addition to his settings, I also love Gifune's characters, from his main protagonists to (and especially to) those characters from society's underground. And in this novel Rogue, Gifune brings to life the amazing Cameron, or "Cam". Within the first paragraph your pulled into Cam's madness, or dream, or reality, or whatever it is. From any description of the book, you know that Cam is central to the story, events and setting. But I really enjoyed his other characters, especially the neighbor Bruce Deacon.
"I don't go in those woods," Bruce says, downing more beer, racing to become even drinker than he already is. " Don't like them, something creepy about those trees out there. I got no reason to go out there, so I don't. Some places, just like some people, you just need to stay clear of, know what I mean?"
Do you hear that? Some places, just like some people, you just need to stay clear of. I love that line. I love that scene with Bruce and "Cam-o". I love this book so much!
I just can't get enough of Greg Gifune.
Rogue is pure madness. The weather, the streets, the woods...and that narrator. The madness is quite hypnotic.
In addition to his settings, I also love Gifune's characters, from his main protagonists to (and especially to) those characters from society's underground. And in this novel Rogue, Gifune brings to life the amazing Cameron, or "Cam". Within the first paragraph your pulled into Cam's madness, or dream, or reality, or whatever it is. From any description of the book, you know that Cam is central to the story, events and setting. But I really enjoyed his other characters, especially the neighbor Bruce Deacon.
"I don't go in those woods," Bruce says, downing more beer, racing to become even drinker than he already is. " Don't like them, something creepy about those trees out there. I got no reason to go out there, so I don't. Some places, just like some people, you just need to stay clear of, know what I mean?"
Do you hear that? Some places, just like some people, you just need to stay clear of. I love that line. I love that scene with Bruce and "Cam-o". I love this book so much!
I just can't get enough of Greg Gifune.
January 28, 2015
Rogue is the latest work of horror fiction by Greg Gifune. The author has always been a talented writer, creating horror and speculative fiction tales that are multilayered – sometimes literally as protagonists must address childhood trauma to make sense of adult horrors. While I have not read all of his works, I do believe Rogue is the best of those I have read.
Cameron Horne’s life begins spinning out of control one morning when he spots a mysterious young man sitting in his backyard by a fire pit. The young man cannot explain his presence or reason for trespassing on Horne’s property. His comments are both chilling and confusing – much like you would expect if you found a deranged person violating your personal space. Soon afterwards, Horne’s behavior becomes erratic and troubling. Disturbing visions, uncontrollable behavior, and lost chunks of time are just the beginning. Horne begins to wonder if he is developing a severe mental illness or if he is being stalked by some evil entity.
Gifune’s tale is seamless in its construction. The pace is dramatic and swift, and the sequence of events is precisely drawn and consistent with the characterizations. The descent into the haunting atmosphere of Rogue is quite unsettling. I could not turn myself away. Gifune’s prose is relentless and I had no clue how it was going to end. And, the ending was very satisfying in a clever Twilight Zone-kind of way. A wonderful read.
Cameron Horne’s life begins spinning out of control one morning when he spots a mysterious young man sitting in his backyard by a fire pit. The young man cannot explain his presence or reason for trespassing on Horne’s property. His comments are both chilling and confusing – much like you would expect if you found a deranged person violating your personal space. Soon afterwards, Horne’s behavior becomes erratic and troubling. Disturbing visions, uncontrollable behavior, and lost chunks of time are just the beginning. Horne begins to wonder if he is developing a severe mental illness or if he is being stalked by some evil entity.
Gifune’s tale is seamless in its construction. The pace is dramatic and swift, and the sequence of events is precisely drawn and consistent with the characterizations. The descent into the haunting atmosphere of Rogue is quite unsettling. I could not turn myself away. Gifune’s prose is relentless and I had no clue how it was going to end. And, the ending was very satisfying in a clever Twilight Zone-kind of way. A wonderful read.
April 15, 2019
Something deep within me insists I should believe him.
“Who are you?”
The young man takes another drag on his cigarette, exhales through his nose, then flicks the butt into the fire pit.
“I’m sorry. That’s who I am.”
I WISH I AM DEAD RIGHT NOW...
That’s the feeling me going through while ending it. That was madness, total madness I say and there’s that dizziness in my head that I sure couldn’t get rid off until something happen to me…
That was totally unbelievable. Such a breathtaking experience for me. I really never thought it could turn out like that. Why didn’t I read before! I should’ve read this before I read other Greg’s book. By far it was one the best book I read by the author. I would divide this book in three half. 1st half I found it really weird (in a positive way), 2nd or say in the middle half I found it literally slow to read but the 3rd and final part well that was a blow. The ending just knock me off as if I just couldn’t take my breathe. It was so good that I wish I could revisit the scenery myself and do something magic and save my wife (if you know what I mean). It’s the ending that caught me really off guard no doubt…
My Name is Cameron Horne, No! No you are not! You are Zeke! & we are here to take you back, to take you to your home…
Well I don’t know what to make with these sentences that I just wrote but it sure gives creeps that I never want have again. Cameron Horne who was devoted to his work life and to his family too, having a beautiful and caring wife whose name was Remy he (Cameron) felt he had nothing to worry about in his life. But he was wrong & he even didn’t have any idea what could happen to him in just a few days. It was one day suddenly out of a nowhere a mysterious young man who seems to know the future begins appearing in Cameron’s life. The day he shows himself to him (Cameron) the day exact the life began to shifting. Cameron from that day couldn’t hold his self right together. It was as if nothing is real and he was losing his mind even his normal daily life. He feared to lose his wife amid all of this madness but he hold on, never back off. He was determined to fight it down with every strength he has in him and eventually he did or try his utter best to subdue everything around him which were not real in normal human world. But did he succeed? Did he really find out who was in that corner of his bedroom at night in that darkness that almost creep him out? Or who was he really? Was he really Cameron Horne who was married and a good husband and good person too? Time will tell of course. As the time went by so the circumstance around you and your life. But be attentive till you read the last line of this book. It will sure blow you mind I say again. Definitely going to read more work from my favorite author Greg F. Gifune…
5 out of 5…
October 28, 2019
Review originally published at: https://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookr...
Rogue is the story of a man losing his mind, but not only that; Rogue is much more. It is a story in which nothing is what it seems. Gifune’s prose sucked me in from the beginning, and even though this was not my favorite genre, it kept my attention until the end. Please note that there are demonic presences in this book, which may delight some, just not me.
The ending was unexpected and somehow fitted the story perfectly. It reminded me of one of David Lynch’s movies. I am not going to say which to avoid spoiling the story, but this ending was a masterpiece and made everything worth it.
I still think that the book was a bit long-winded, and the final twist would have suited a shorter story too. It was very well written though, and I found myself often relating to the main character.
The writing was very good but to make this work, the narration needs to let it shine, and Steven Jay Cohen’s was the perfect fit. He not only brought the characters to life but was able to transmit Cam’s torment and anguish in a way that I was suffering for him. The audio production was spotless.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Rogue is the story of a man losing his mind, but not only that; Rogue is much more. It is a story in which nothing is what it seems. Gifune’s prose sucked me in from the beginning, and even though this was not my favorite genre, it kept my attention until the end. Please note that there are demonic presences in this book, which may delight some, just not me.
The ending was unexpected and somehow fitted the story perfectly. It reminded me of one of David Lynch’s movies. I am not going to say which to avoid spoiling the story, but this ending was a masterpiece and made everything worth it.
I still think that the book was a bit long-winded, and the final twist would have suited a shorter story too. It was very well written though, and I found myself often relating to the main character.
The writing was very good but to make this work, the narration needs to let it shine, and Steven Jay Cohen’s was the perfect fit. He not only brought the characters to life but was able to transmit Cam’s torment and anguish in a way that I was suffering for him. The audio production was spotless.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
November 12, 2014
Second book I have read by Greg Gifune and 100% will not be the last.
Cam Horne has it all. Steady, reliable, well paid job. Beautiful loving wife. Beautiful home. Friends that would do anything for him. He awakens one morning to a car alarm incessantly drilling through his head. He gets up and there is a strange man sitting in his garden. He approaches him and has a conversation with him that makes no sense to him whatsoever. When he gets to work his boss puts him on forced leave after a "client" makes a complaint against him. Day 2 arrives with the same car alarm and the same stranger sitting in his back garden. From this point on, Cam's life starts to unravel in front of his eyes with horrifying speed and devastating consequences. Is anything he has know as his normal life been real?
This book is so powerful it's mesmerising. I read it in 1 day as I just could not put it down. From the very first page you are solidly embedded in Cam's head, living his life as he does and when it starts to go wrong you can't help but feel that it is going wrong for you as well. It's psychological horror at it's very best. When Cam meets people who shouldn't know him but do and people who should know him but don't you feel his confusion. You feel his fear when he ends up in situations that would normally be totally alien to him in his normal day to day life. You feel yourself urging him not to do things when you see an awkward situation coming up, almost reading the story from behind a cushion. You will feel emotional when reading this book. You can't help it.
The very highest recommendation again. If you like books that mess with your head then this is one for you.
No less than 5 stars.
Cam Horne has it all. Steady, reliable, well paid job. Beautiful loving wife. Beautiful home. Friends that would do anything for him. He awakens one morning to a car alarm incessantly drilling through his head. He gets up and there is a strange man sitting in his garden. He approaches him and has a conversation with him that makes no sense to him whatsoever. When he gets to work his boss puts him on forced leave after a "client" makes a complaint against him. Day 2 arrives with the same car alarm and the same stranger sitting in his back garden. From this point on, Cam's life starts to unravel in front of his eyes with horrifying speed and devastating consequences. Is anything he has know as his normal life been real?
This book is so powerful it's mesmerising. I read it in 1 day as I just could not put it down. From the very first page you are solidly embedded in Cam's head, living his life as he does and when it starts to go wrong you can't help but feel that it is going wrong for you as well. It's psychological horror at it's very best. When Cam meets people who shouldn't know him but do and people who should know him but don't you feel his confusion. You feel his fear when he ends up in situations that would normally be totally alien to him in his normal day to day life. You feel yourself urging him not to do things when you see an awkward situation coming up, almost reading the story from behind a cushion. You will feel emotional when reading this book. You can't help it.
The very highest recommendation again. If you like books that mess with your head then this is one for you.
No less than 5 stars.
July 30, 2014
This is the story of Cam Horne. He has the perfect job & the perfect wife. In short, his life is everything he could hope for. Something is going wrong though and his perfect life is unravelling at the seams. He is awoken by a car alarm every morning and see a strange man in his back yard. After being put on paid sick leave due to uncharacteristic behaviour and having terrible nightmares he fears he may be going insane and his perfect world may be collapsing around him....
This was a really good dark, horror. Greg has this ability to draw you in from the beginning and invest in the characters before taking you on a wild ride. I really got inside Cam's head and felt his fears and worries. When I got to the end there was a totally unexpected twist that knocked me sideways. I love Greg's writing and will continue to look out for his work.
This was a really good dark, horror. Greg has this ability to draw you in from the beginning and invest in the characters before taking you on a wild ride. I really got inside Cam's head and felt his fears and worries. When I got to the end there was a totally unexpected twist that knocked me sideways. I love Greg's writing and will continue to look out for his work.
June 5, 2014
Excellent roller coaster ride that keeps you guessing whether Cam is possessed or slowly losing his mind. I was totally blown away by this page turner. Very highly recommended.
May 4, 2019
Well written but just not my type of plot.
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