Tranquility Pond

by C.R. Allen

A tale that harkens back to the classics of the monster genre—part Jaws, part The Relic, told in the style of The Princess Bride—Tranquility Pond is the story of one teenager struggling to cope with his father's death in the Vietnam War while trying to protect his friends and family from the ancient creature that haunts the town's past and present.A grandfather takes his grandson fishing on the pristine and quiet waters of Tranquility Pond. It's the young boy's first time, and he's excited to spend it with his grandfather. Out on the water, the boy quickly grows impatient and asks his grandfather to tell him a story to help pass the time. What follows is a monster story unlike anything he could have imagined, as his grandfather's words transport them both back to the 1970s.

What awaits them in the past is a small Wisconsin town in turmoil, reeling from the losses of the Vietnam War as brothers, sons, and fathers fail to return home. Clinging to friendships that are quickly growing apart, a group of teenagers confront a beast that lurks in the water, a beast that can tear through human flesh as if it were paper, hunting in the darkness of night.

As the town's elders claim the deaths are nothing more than tragic accidents, the teenagers delve deeper into the town's history to uncover the truth of the monster's origins and, more importantly, its weaknesses. What they discover is far more than any of them could have ever imagined, and they must quickly band together, friend and foe, to stop the death and destruction once and for all. But will that be enough to protect them, or are they in over their heads?



If you liked Stranger Things, if you liked Lake Placid, if you are just a fan of a good old-fashioned monster story; then you'll love Tranquility Pond.

Genres: Horror

199 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2024

About the author

C.R. Allen, an Arizona native, balances life as a dad, business professional, and a passionate author. A proud alumnus of Arizona State University, where he completed both his undergraduate and master's degrees, his fascination with storytelling began early, crafting his first screenplay at age 10. Today, he is known for his compelling novels, novellas, and short stories of horror, supernatural thrillers, and historical fiction. Allen's writings stand out for their dark and mysterious narratives that explore sociological, psychological, and technological themes.

Reviews

[Natalie Coelho · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently received this book as an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) for review. Initially, I was uncertain about diving into yet another monster narrative featuring teenagers. However, I quickly discovered that this story was anything but typical. From the very beginning, I was captivated by the plot, which commences with the experiences of Indigenous people and swiftly transitions into the horror elements of the tale. This book is told from a third-person perspective, which was my first experience with this narrative style, and I found it to be quite enjoyable. If you have an interest in horror, murder, and monsters, I highly recommend this book. In all honesty, I loved it and I look forward to reading more works from this author in the future.

[Katherine Jacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timeslip novel that reads very much like Stephen King. I loved this book so much . It has horror, friendship, and coming of age all rolled into one. It's absolutely brilliant.
When an ancient curse starts taking the lives of their friends and families, Rufus, Jonathan, and Co decide to take revenge. This book is so well written, and you could really imagine the scene.

[Christine Choptovy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a horror story, based on the Indigenous creature known as a Mishipeshu. It’s seen as a benevolent creature to the Ojibwe but the author decided to make it malevolent (otherwise, there wouldn’t be a horror story). There are savage murders that occur once every seventeen years and it has been determined that the Mishipeshu is responsible. It seems to want the youngest member of the community. Joe’s little brother Levi was one of the children taken by the creature in 1972 and he, plus a few others, having been hunting ever since. Joe decides to take his grandson Asher fishing on Tranquility Pond. They’re stopped by the Mayor and an Ojibwe named Ian. Ian explains that the water is sacred to them and no one should disturb the water in any way. Joe insists that they’re going fishing and nothing can stop them from doing so. Ian is frustrated by this and he gifts Asher with a Kingfisher knife. Once Asher and Joe are out on the water, Joe tells Asher the tale of what happened to his brother Levi. Asher was shocked because he wasn’t aware that his grandpa even had a brother. I won’t say anything further because I don’t want to ruin the story. I gave the book a 4* rating because I refuse to believe Joe’s motivations.

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

[Maxwell Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic novel from C.R. Allen! I came in without expectations and he just crushed it again.

I loved being transported back to the 70s and seeing the world through the brain of a teenager of the time period. As all teenagers do, the MC is trying to make sense of the small world they live in, not really understanding how much bigger it can become. Unlike Hollywood portrayals of the period, it's not just about drugs, as the impact at home and anxiety of the Vietnam War seem to haunt all the characters as they try to live their lives and enjoy their summer break.

The monster seems to be a symbol of that war, directly impacting their lives at key moments while also feeling far away, distant.

The love story was the icing on the cake, it felt real throughout, with all the innocence of adolescent love and how it sometimes manifests.

Oh and did I forget to mention it's scary? With twists and turns in the story that somehow straddle the familiar with the innovative, it was never over the top and always entertaining.

You'll enjoy it!

[Mc Chanster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an awesome read!

The initial premise was what caught my attention, but as soon as I began, I was completely pulled into the plot. The characters were engaging, the time jumps were well planned and there was a great balance between action and rest. I was also quite impressed with how the author put together his time jumps. It can be quite easy for these to be confusing, especially with younger / older characters, but Allen did a great job keeping the whole plot smooth. Wonderfully creepy and a thoroughly entertaining, Tranquility Pond was a great read!

Thank you Booksprout and CR Allen for my copy! I received an ARC of this novel and am voluntarily leaving this review. All above thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Megan Mclellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love their writing style! I really loved club lithium and I really loved tranquility! They do a masterful job of weaving a really suspenseful and otherworldly and complex story together in such an addicting way!! Once again fantastic world building and character development! I love that this one is being presented as a story being retold to a grandson and brought princess brides vibes goodness! I have always liked that writing concept but it is really really difficult to do well,to make you forget you're being told a story of memory and then be seamlessly being brought back by that fact without losing anything from the story and this is an example of it being done really really well and effectively! I cannot wait to see what they put out next bc I will be snapping it up!

[Mordestia M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the complete revolving door mystery. The characterizations of each main player reminds you of their place within the story. The switching of past and present are perfectly placed with legend and carnage. Tranquility Pond is truly worth the read.

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

[Wes Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't put it down!

Very well written despite the typos! I was engrossed almost immediately and didn't stop, I cannot wait for your next novel!!