Three Nights at the Jupiter

by John Ryland

For three days every June, the town of Friendly, Alabama, sequesters in their homes in hopes of being spared by an unseen creature that feeds on their community. Isolated and fearing no one would believe them, the town has endured the annual macabre ritual for as long as anyone can remember. But when Truman Malone begins to dig deeper into the killings, his life begins to unravel, and he starts to wonder if he really wants to know the truth. Could the creature be an old woman allegedly hailing from Transylvania? Is it the eccentric owner of the Jupiter Hotel where he lives? Could it be the woman that he loves? His boss, the police chief? The mayor? With no shortage of suspects, the only thing he’s sure of is that it could be anyone.

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2024

About the author

John Ryland (1753–1825) was an English Baptist minister and religious writer. He was a founder and for ten years the secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society.

Reviews

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 5 stars were given for the amazing writing and the originality of the premise's execution: the plot unfolds in ways unlike any I've read before, since, though it's a creature feature story, it doesn't read like one and goes for something more European-styled than SFX Hollywood. Physically, the setting may be a small town terrorized, once a year, by a mysterious vampire-like menace, forcing everyone to barricade themselves at home for three days. Most of the book takes place in the town's hotel, where the protagonist of the story, a local cop, lives after his divorce. In fact, however, the setting is his own's psyche, his own mind: his self-understanding, quintessentially American, is challenged when he has to face a definitely non-American kind of threat - his feelings, his weaknesses, his own life priorities. I loved the ending, but I suspect most people won't. Again, I praise highly the writing: assured, clean prose, very relatable characters, deeply insightful approaches to a small town's mentality and the vagaries of one's being in love. Recommended!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Will Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I loved this book. The flow of the book was great and always left me wanting more. The words and phrases used truly made the book feel like a mystery set in small town Alabama. The way the book panned out was original and the characters were great, especially Truman Malone. I will definitely be reading more books from John Ryland.

[Jerry Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more action than what I got. I grabbed the book b/c it's set in Alabama (I live here) and it was on the bad side of "just ok" for me.

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

Officer Truman lives at the Jupiter Hotel and has lived there for the past 10 years the only thing new is he is slowly but surely falling in love with the owners daughter. The three days in June that they need to stay sequestered in their homes has come and gone any helps to restore order and count the dead it isn’t until he starts investigating strange happenings around friendly Alabama and all roads lead somewhere familiar that he thinks he may have a problem. It seems the more he finds out the weirder it gets but nothing is a strange as the truth in finding that out will hurt Truman the most. This is a spooky touristy horror story. I was not at all write about how it would end and it truly is an awesome awesome read. I truly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to any horror fan. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional writing and unparalleled execution of the premise set this book apart. The plot unravels in unprecedented ways, leaving readers captivated from start to finish. The prose is polished, the characters are remarkably relatable, and the exploration of small-town mentality and the complexities of love is deeply insightful. Seamlessly blending elements of horror into its narrative, this book offers a truly mesmerizing experience.

I found myself eagerly flipping through the pages, driven by the compelling mystery of why the townspeople of Friendly, AL barricaded themselves indoors for three consecutive nights. As the story unfolds, unexpected twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, ultimately leaving me astounded. With an abundance of suspense, an eerie sense of dread, and a constant air of the unknown, this novel is an enthralling read that delivers on every front. Prepare to be surprised by the cleverly crafted twist that awaits within its pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truman Malone is an officer of the Friendly, Alabama, police department. and livess in the Jupiter Hotel. It is the beginning of June and the official start of preparations for the sequestering for the annual anomaly. There 867 people preparing. Some people move away but most stay.
There is no predictability to the deaths that come just that they are always brutal. Truman is a cop and his responsibilities encompass everything from traffic to nailing up plywood. The night is here and everyone in town is tense and scared. People have been trying to figure out who it could be. The mayor, the chief of police, the hotel owner or his daughter. That last strikes home with him because he loves her. Slowly he starts to see things that shouldn't be. Could it really be his love or her father? Will anyone find out for sure and live to tell the tale?
A fascinating story with hints of horror.



I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carolyn Breckinridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year the town of Friendly, Alabama faces a terrifying monster. It rips into buildings, savagely killing and drinking the blood of occupants. It is Friendly’s secret. A secret the citizens accept as inevitable although they do their best to prepare. Truman is a policeman tasked with the well-being of his neighbors. This year, he is assigned the safety of those holed up in the Jupiter Hotel. But is the monster locked in the building with him? If so, can he identify it and defend others from a creature with superhuman strengths? Can he vanquish the vampire in a battle of intellect and wills? Or does he succumb to his dangerous Achilles heel? Three Nights at the Jupiter is filled with suspense, well-defined characters and an ending sure to leave your neck feeling vulnerable. Beta Reader.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendly, Alabama is a small, idyllic community - for 364 days every year. But on June 4, year-in and year-out, an unknown creature tears its victims apart. In an abundance of caution, the good folks of Friendly sequester - many of them at the Jupiter Hotel - from the third to the fifth of June. From this premise, John Ryland has created a truly spell binding tale that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good scare!

[Terri Ryland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Another page turner from John Ryland. Do not know how he can keep writing such good books over and over again!

[Kristin Daryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read by a great author! The build-up of the story was my favorite part as each conversation with community members works its way into the MC’s psyche. What will he do when he learns the truth?

[Jazlyn Filion · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75. Was a good read

[Carie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read. However, I wish the mystery had not been hinted at so early. The actual discovery didn’t fully make sense and the ending could have been fleshed out more.