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Deadlock #1
Regulation 19
Frank Hinkle is thrilled when he is unexpectedly released from prison, but after a few days in his hometown he’s going to wish he had stayed safely behind bars.
Things have changed in Rook Mountain, Tennessee, since Frank went away. His brother Jake has been missing for seven years, a fact no one bothered to share with Frank. His fun-loving buddy Will is now a somber man known for his violent enforcement of the town’s bizarre new laws. Frank’s sister-in-law Christine has a freezer chest containing a collection of illegal objects and a severed head.
As Frank will soon learn, the only thing worse than being in Rook Mountain is being outside of it. Outside of town is where the Unfeathered sing their terrible song and wait for night to fall.
Things have changed in Rook Mountain, Tennessee, since Frank went away. His brother Jake has been missing for seven years, a fact no one bothered to share with Frank. His fun-loving buddy Will is now a somber man known for his violent enforcement of the town’s bizarre new laws. Frank’s sister-in-law Christine has a freezer chest containing a collection of illegal objects and a severed head.
As Frank will soon learn, the only thing worse than being in Rook Mountain is being outside of it. Outside of town is where the Unfeathered sing their terrible song and wait for night to fall.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2014
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1186 people want to read
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April 15, 2020
I've been trying to get through all the books on my Kindle that I had downloaded from Amazon. It's slow but steady progress, but the disappointing thing is that all of them are 1 or 2 stars full of the same tropes and clichés that make my eyeballs vomit.
But Regulation 19 was a wonderful change. The writing is competent and (at the beginning) incredibly compelling to keep you reading. The characters are fine-nothing really special-but they aren't annoying self-obsessed YA teenagers and that is /fantastic/.
The plot is revealed slowly, bit by bit, but unfortunately I found parts of the plot a little ridiculous and lacklustre. It isn't wholly unique but it has excellent imaginative parts (mostly at the beginning). The latter parts, especially when the Tools are introduced, didn't feel as well developed as it could have been.
It is disappointing how the book progressed, but the writing is excellent throughout and, although the characters weren't that developed or interesting, it was more their story as a group that mattered rather than who they were as individuals.
It's an interesting book that falters toward the end a little, with a couple of grammatical errors and typos here and there, and a few paragraphs could have been condensed or removed altogether, but ultimately the fact it is compelling enough to keep you reading is a nice change from a lot of books you get on the kindle.
This is the first book of a trilogy, and whilst this book does have a kind of ending with an almost imperceptible cliffhanger, it does lead you to read the next two, even if you're not quite sure what they're going to be about, unlike most other trilogies. A little more editing, some shifting of paragraphs and maybe a rethink of some elements like the Tools and some of the terms being used and it would be elevated to a very good book.
But Regulation 19 was a wonderful change. The writing is competent and (at the beginning) incredibly compelling to keep you reading. The characters are fine-nothing really special-but they aren't annoying self-obsessed YA teenagers and that is /fantastic/.
The plot is revealed slowly, bit by bit, but unfortunately I found parts of the plot a little ridiculous and lacklustre. It isn't wholly unique but it has excellent imaginative parts (mostly at the beginning). The latter parts, especially when the Tools are introduced, didn't feel as well developed as it could have been.
It is disappointing how the book progressed, but the writing is excellent throughout and, although the characters weren't that developed or interesting, it was more their story as a group that mattered rather than who they were as individuals.
It's an interesting book that falters toward the end a little, with a couple of grammatical errors and typos here and there, and a few paragraphs could have been condensed or removed altogether, but ultimately the fact it is compelling enough to keep you reading is a nice change from a lot of books you get on the kindle.
This is the first book of a trilogy, and whilst this book does have a kind of ending with an almost imperceptible cliffhanger, it does lead you to read the next two, even if you're not quite sure what they're going to be about, unlike most other trilogies. A little more editing, some shifting of paragraphs and maybe a rethink of some elements like the Tools and some of the terms being used and it would be elevated to a very good book.
November 14, 2018
The world has changed since Frank Hinkle went to prison. Now he is given the opportunity of a lifetime, an unconditional release, but it comes with a catch that will turn brother against brother and send him home to a town where no one is free and a supernatural secret is stronger than any prison bars.
P.T. Hylton’s REGULATION 19 is an adult dystopian thriller riddled with mistrust, terror and suspense that will leave readers on the edge of their seats trying to guess what is really going on and why people are cowering in fear.
How far can human behavior be controlled? How far will these people go to remain alive and what secrets are hidden in the woods at night? Has Frank really been given a chance at freedom or has he found himself caught up in a nightmare worse than any prison could hold?
I was fascinated by the premise and felt just as in the dark as Frank, who isn’t a bad man, just one who hopes he can beat the system, save his lost brother and find his own freedom. There is more to this town’s terror than meets the eye and he may be the one person who can stop it…if he survives.
Certainly worth taking a closer look at for something on the dark and twisted side!
Series: Deadlock Trilogy - Book 1
Publisher: Six-String Books (March 24, 2014)
Publication Date: March 24, 2014
Genre: Dystopian
Print Length: 322 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
P.T. Hylton’s REGULATION 19 is an adult dystopian thriller riddled with mistrust, terror and suspense that will leave readers on the edge of their seats trying to guess what is really going on and why people are cowering in fear.
How far can human behavior be controlled? How far will these people go to remain alive and what secrets are hidden in the woods at night? Has Frank really been given a chance at freedom or has he found himself caught up in a nightmare worse than any prison could hold?
I was fascinated by the premise and felt just as in the dark as Frank, who isn’t a bad man, just one who hopes he can beat the system, save his lost brother and find his own freedom. There is more to this town’s terror than meets the eye and he may be the one person who can stop it…if he survives.
Certainly worth taking a closer look at for something on the dark and twisted side!
Series: Deadlock Trilogy - Book 1
Publisher: Six-String Books (March 24, 2014)
Publication Date: March 24, 2014
Genre: Dystopian
Print Length: 322 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 11, 2015
[4.5 Stars] I'm going to lunch, but I'll write a review when I'm back home. Know I had a lot of fun reading this until then!
Edit: Almost forgot to do this. Alright, so basically, I had such an amazing time reading this. Frank has been out of the loop, in prison, for the last 9 years and is finally released under some weird, unexpected conditions. He must return to Rook Mountain and find his missing brother, but a lot has changed in the town since he left. Frank has to figure out what's what before these creepy bird-like being destroy everything and his time limit is up.
My favorite part about this novel was definitely the plot. I had an enormous amount of questions after the first chapter, and these had me flying through the chapters to find out the answers. What the heck is going on in this weird town? Why is everyone a part of this cult? What's up with that naked dude? The story reveals the perfect amount of information at precisely the correct moment and always had me engaged. I thought the mystery elements of the story were very unique and interesting, and I have never read about something like this before. I'm definitely looking forward to learning more about them in the next two books.
In terms of characters, I really did enjoy the characters of the novel. Frank is your stubborn, non-compliant protagonist who has all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. He's someone you can't help but root for, and the same goes for most of the "good guy" characters. I'll admit that I didn't notice a lot of character growth, so if you need major character growth in your books, this may not be the one for you. There's one character who you see a lot of growth in, but he's a child, so it kind of makes sense that he would grow in intelligence as he ages.
Overall, I thought this book was fantastic, and A Place Without Shadows has been bumped up on my TBR list a lot. I hope to read it this month or next to continue to see where Frank's and the others' stories will take them.
Edit: Almost forgot to do this. Alright, so basically, I had such an amazing time reading this. Frank has been out of the loop, in prison, for the last 9 years and is finally released under some weird, unexpected conditions. He must return to Rook Mountain and find his missing brother, but a lot has changed in the town since he left. Frank has to figure out what's what before these creepy bird-like being destroy everything and his time limit is up.
My favorite part about this novel was definitely the plot. I had an enormous amount of questions after the first chapter, and these had me flying through the chapters to find out the answers. What the heck is going on in this weird town? Why is everyone a part of this cult? What's up with that naked dude? The story reveals the perfect amount of information at precisely the correct moment and always had me engaged. I thought the mystery elements of the story were very unique and interesting, and I have never read about something like this before. I'm definitely looking forward to learning more about them in the next two books.
In terms of characters, I really did enjoy the characters of the novel. Frank is your stubborn, non-compliant protagonist who has all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. He's someone you can't help but root for, and the same goes for most of the "good guy" characters. I'll admit that I didn't notice a lot of character growth, so if you need major character growth in your books, this may not be the one for you. There's one character who you see a lot of growth in, but he's a child, so it kind of makes sense that he would grow in intelligence as he ages.
Overall, I thought this book was fantastic, and A Place Without Shadows has been bumped up on my TBR list a lot. I hope to read it this month or next to continue to see where Frank's and the others' stories will take them.
March 29, 2018
Whoa! I enjoyed this book way more than I expected to. There are so many different elements to the story that I don't quite know where to place the genre. I can say it reminded me a little bit of Wayward Pines, but better. So glad I took a chance and bought the trilogy!
September 1, 2020
Original concept, and it was fun to try to figure out where things were going. This is part of a trilogy but is satisfying as a standalone.
September 18, 2015
Overall a good book but nothing great. It never really pulled me in. The most frustrating part of the story was the constant going back and forth between the different timeframes (pre-regulation, regulation, and post regulation). I never really knew in what timeframe I was reading about, and it often got garbled and convoluted. The primary character (Frank) was well developed, but all the other characters weren't. I often got confused about who the characters were and what relation they had to Frank. The story left us hanging, never really understanding the reason for the isolated town of Rook Mountain and what brought about the Unfeathered, and what Zed's interest in the town was. And, the book started with a question (where is Jake) and we never find out (still Away). There seemed to be a bit of metaphor in the story, but I couldn't quite figure it out. Perhaps its just a simple fantasy, thriller, mystery novel and nothing more. In the end, the story piqued my interest just enough to keep me reading, although I sped read through the last five chapters. But, I will not rush out to purchase the second in the series that is due out this Fall.
April 8, 2018
4.0 Stars
Defying genre classification, Regulation 19 mixes together elements of fantasy, science fiction, suspense and horror to create a fresh, engaging story. The mystery surrounding this town is absolutely compelling. Told in multiple perspectives over multiple timelines, the narrative is continually moving forward. Readers will likely fly through this gripping page-turner.
The world-building in this story is fantastic. The readers will be fascinated to learn more about the strange regulations enforced within the community. Over the course of the story, the author slowly pulls back the curtain to reveal the circumstances surrounding this town. The reality of the situation ends up being just as compelling as the original mystery. This first book has a satisfying ending, yet leaves so much potential to be explored in the rest of the trilogy.
This is a must-read for anyone who loves reading those classic stories about small towns with secrets. I highly recommend this addictive story to a wide range of readers who enjoy unraveling mysteries.
I receive a copy of this book from the author.
Defying genre classification, Regulation 19 mixes together elements of fantasy, science fiction, suspense and horror to create a fresh, engaging story. The mystery surrounding this town is absolutely compelling. Told in multiple perspectives over multiple timelines, the narrative is continually moving forward. Readers will likely fly through this gripping page-turner.
The world-building in this story is fantastic. The readers will be fascinated to learn more about the strange regulations enforced within the community. Over the course of the story, the author slowly pulls back the curtain to reveal the circumstances surrounding this town. The reality of the situation ends up being just as compelling as the original mystery. This first book has a satisfying ending, yet leaves so much potential to be explored in the rest of the trilogy.
This is a must-read for anyone who loves reading those classic stories about small towns with secrets. I highly recommend this addictive story to a wide range of readers who enjoy unraveling mysteries.
I receive a copy of this book from the author.
January 26, 2015
A convicted murderer is released from prison so he can help the authorities track down his brother. Then it gets weird.
This is one of those stories that's difficult to talk about without giving too much away. There is a great mystery here, and lots of interesting characters. There are conspiracies, scary creatures, and plenty of action. The back and forth between the "before" and the "after" of some strange event is great - drips of the past add color to the now.
The objects in the story put me in mind of the wonderful 2006 Sci-Fi miniseries "The Lost Room". That was cool.
The main antagonist made me think of Randall Flagg in The Stand. It's been years since I read that book, so I can't say for sure if it's a good comparison, but that's who I thought of. Maybe Gabriel Byrne in End of Days is better. Either way, he's charismatic, but you just know something is out of whack.
I would recommend to fans of Blake Crouch's Wayward Pines series, there's a similar dark, mysterious feel here.
This is one of those stories that's difficult to talk about without giving too much away. There is a great mystery here, and lots of interesting characters. There are conspiracies, scary creatures, and plenty of action. The back and forth between the "before" and the "after" of some strange event is great - drips of the past add color to the now.
The objects in the story put me in mind of the wonderful 2006 Sci-Fi miniseries "The Lost Room". That was cool.
The main antagonist made me think of Randall Flagg in The Stand. It's been years since I read that book, so I can't say for sure if it's a good comparison, but that's who I thought of. Maybe Gabriel Byrne in End of Days is better. Either way, he's charismatic, but you just know something is out of whack.
I would recommend to fans of Blake Crouch's Wayward Pines series, there's a similar dark, mysterious feel here.
August 12, 2015
Video review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU9WM...
This is the story of a man named Frank who learns he has a chance to be released from prison if he finds his missing brother Jake.
When he returns to his hometown of Rook Mountain, he notices that things are a bit... strange. It's been 9 years since he was last in town and since then, there is a new mayor in town, no one is allowed to leave town, and his friends Will and Christine seem to be hiding something.
Frank is determined to figure out what exactly has been happening in his hometown, and what he discovers will change everything.
This is the story of a man named Frank who learns he has a chance to be released from prison if he finds his missing brother Jake.
When he returns to his hometown of Rook Mountain, he notices that things are a bit... strange. It's been 9 years since he was last in town and since then, there is a new mayor in town, no one is allowed to leave town, and his friends Will and Christine seem to be hiding something.
Frank is determined to figure out what exactly has been happening in his hometown, and what he discovers will change everything.
April 28, 2018
This was a great book. Good writing. I really love the concept. It was creepy and original but seemed to fit the context and the genre well. Overall this book reminded me a lot of a Ted Dekker type book, but without any spiritual content.
The characters were good without overwhelming the plot. The concept, though complex, was not difficult to understand.
My only problem with the book was the non-linear storytelling. I actually didn't mind the flashbacks as much in the opening of the book. They were well done so that I didn't feel like I wanted to rush back to the main story, and yet the main story did have a pull on me so that I didn't feel sorry to leave the flashback. My major problem was the second half of the second act.
(Spoilers) After the MC, Frank, destroys the item the antagonist, Zed, was using to keep the monsters at bay, there are several short chapters that skipped most of the action. It's as if the writer was skipping to "the good parts" but didn't know what the good parts were. For instance, the characters would be seen getting ready to go out and fight monsters, and then skip forward. The next night they would come back, skip forward. It all felt very disjointed and awkward, making that whole portion of the book a real struggle. And afterward, it was hard to settle back in because so much was skipped that when people were angry about the monsters killing friends and family I just couldn't feel it. I just saw glimpses of the before and after. I get that he was trying to save space to keep this from turning into a monster book, but I feel like it actually would have done better maybe cut in half (story wise) and with each portion given a lot more fleshed out.
The last chapter also felt rushed and info-dumpy. The conversation the characters were having almost felt like they were aware they had to "sum things up" and didn't contain the emotion it could have.
All things considered though, this is a great book for its genre. It gave me everything I was looking for: creepy monsters, creepy antagonist, mysteries to solve, characters to root for, and a few fast-paced action scenes. I will probably pick up the next books in the series. Well worth the read if you like eerie supernatural thrillers.
The characters were good without overwhelming the plot. The concept, though complex, was not difficult to understand.
My only problem with the book was the non-linear storytelling. I actually didn't mind the flashbacks as much in the opening of the book. They were well done so that I didn't feel like I wanted to rush back to the main story, and yet the main story did have a pull on me so that I didn't feel sorry to leave the flashback. My major problem was the second half of the second act.
(Spoilers) After the MC, Frank, destroys the item the antagonist, Zed, was using to keep the monsters at bay, there are several short chapters that skipped most of the action. It's as if the writer was skipping to "the good parts" but didn't know what the good parts were. For instance, the characters would be seen getting ready to go out and fight monsters, and then skip forward. The next night they would come back, skip forward. It all felt very disjointed and awkward, making that whole portion of the book a real struggle. And afterward, it was hard to settle back in because so much was skipped that when people were angry about the monsters killing friends and family I just couldn't feel it. I just saw glimpses of the before and after. I get that he was trying to save space to keep this from turning into a monster book, but I feel like it actually would have done better maybe cut in half (story wise) and with each portion given a lot more fleshed out.
The last chapter also felt rushed and info-dumpy. The conversation the characters were having almost felt like they were aware they had to "sum things up" and didn't contain the emotion it could have.
All things considered though, this is a great book for its genre. It gave me everything I was looking for: creepy monsters, creepy antagonist, mysteries to solve, characters to root for, and a few fast-paced action scenes. I will probably pick up the next books in the series. Well worth the read if you like eerie supernatural thrillers.
April 29, 2014
Here is one of the best insults in all of novels or movies:
"In another time and another place, you could have been great. But you never get out of your own way. You have all these ideas brewing in there and no clue what to do with them. You lack the resolve, the confidence to do something special. You have original ideas, but you lack originality. You are completely predictable."
Somehow the ring of authenticity in that insult stings. Note to self: quick, quick, forget your own unfinished novels and get lost in this crazy fictional world that P.T. Hylton has created like some scary-very resort that tourists can go visit. Normally the word "horror" paired with "genre" keeps me from even reading the synopsis, but when John L. Monk added “Regulation 19” to his Awesome Indie list, I knew I had to visit the creepy little town of Rook Mountain myself. It was quite the vacation. Whenever life threatens to seem a little mundane, I treasure the ancient Chinese curse, "May you live in exciting times." Or interesting times. I know exactly what this local means: "The great thing about this place is that nothing crazy ever happens. The downside is that nothing crazy ever happens." When things do get crazy, it's human nature to wish for our old, uneventful lives.
We first view the town from the top of Rook Mountain and its unique grassy balds--blunt rounded mountain tops covered with dense vegetation--baffling, because scientists couldn't agree on the lack of trees. "Just another damn Rock Mountain mystery" to add to the list. While others migrated to cities like Chicago, Denver and Phoenix, the locals have treasured their quiet town since the days of Daniel Boone. But there were no huge, singing, people-eating birds in Boone's day.
The story opens with Frank being offered a free pass out of jail if he can help locate his missing brother Jake. For the past nine years Frank had no news of anything outside the prison so he didn't know his brother had been been charged with murder and gone missing for seven years. His liberators warn that everything is different, but it's hard to get anyone in town to explain how or why. His brother's wife has remarried, and Will tells him,
"March 27th, 2014, we went to bed and everything was normal. We woke up on the 28th and everything had changed."
"Changed how?" Frank asked.
"People were dead. Lots of people."
Hylton does something amazing with this novel: he shifts back and forth in time, narrating from multiple points of view, and he makes it work. He takes us back to that landmark day when life changed. A naked man named Zed dropped into town from out of nowhere; then the nightmarish "Birdies" descended, and only Zed knew how to stop them. With the mesmerizing power of the Pied Piper, he secures the town's safety. Just one catch: nobody can leave town. Step across the boundary line, and a Birdie will immediately come to eat you. Also, everyone must abide by Regulations meant to keep them all safe. Each little rule gradually robs the freedom of each resident, while fear of breaking the rules has them turning each other in or even punishing fellow locals with death. If it sounds crazy, read the novel. And some history books about these things happening in real life. Graves and prisons are filled with millions who opposed trivial, annoying little rules and petty tyrants.
But this is not a cautionary tale. It could be, but it's also a thriller, mystery, nightmare, adventure, and great escapist fun. Just beware, squeamish readers among us, that plenty of the most real-life kind of horror is mixed in with the fun. During a sort of Boy Scout trek up the mountain, a citizen and leader enforces Regulation 18* by murdering someone who was trying to leave town. "A life had been taken out of the world in a wholly unnatural way. The laws of the universe, both the laws of nature and the laws of morality, had been broken....He saw looks of shock, horror, revulsion, and terror. There was even a look of awe from (one of the children). But they were all present behind their eyes. Whatever feelings they had about what had just happened, none of them were going to lose it. At least not now." I love that line: they were present behind their eyes. Look at photos of Holocaust survivors, or anyone with PTSD, and the phrase makes sense.
"There was no shame in what we did here," the executioner assures the boys. "We protected ourselves. We protected our families. We did our duty, no more and no less. Everyone understand?"
Those words have been spoken too many times throughout human history.
Line after line of this novel is engaging, memorable, and well written (see my publicly shared highlights or my blog review at carolkean dot wordpress dot com). Finding competent writers shouldn't be so difficult, but as a reviewer who starts and casts aside a thousand books a year, I can assure you that Regulation 19 is a rare treat. Is it flawless? Of course not. Are there plot holes? Certainly. All books require willing suspension of disbelief. Some of the unexplained issues in this novel will likely make sense when we read the sequel. November 2014? Seriously, P.T., you're making your fans wait that long?
* We never do learn what the newest Regulation, 19, really is. And I may be wrong about which Regulation prohibits leaving town. I hunted for the number and realized it really doesn't matter. Read the book.
"In another time and another place, you could have been great. But you never get out of your own way. You have all these ideas brewing in there and no clue what to do with them. You lack the resolve, the confidence to do something special. You have original ideas, but you lack originality. You are completely predictable."
Somehow the ring of authenticity in that insult stings. Note to self: quick, quick, forget your own unfinished novels and get lost in this crazy fictional world that P.T. Hylton has created like some scary-very resort that tourists can go visit. Normally the word "horror" paired with "genre" keeps me from even reading the synopsis, but when John L. Monk added “Regulation 19” to his Awesome Indie list, I knew I had to visit the creepy little town of Rook Mountain myself. It was quite the vacation. Whenever life threatens to seem a little mundane, I treasure the ancient Chinese curse, "May you live in exciting times." Or interesting times. I know exactly what this local means: "The great thing about this place is that nothing crazy ever happens. The downside is that nothing crazy ever happens." When things do get crazy, it's human nature to wish for our old, uneventful lives.
We first view the town from the top of Rook Mountain and its unique grassy balds--blunt rounded mountain tops covered with dense vegetation--baffling, because scientists couldn't agree on the lack of trees. "Just another damn Rock Mountain mystery" to add to the list. While others migrated to cities like Chicago, Denver and Phoenix, the locals have treasured their quiet town since the days of Daniel Boone. But there were no huge, singing, people-eating birds in Boone's day.
The story opens with Frank being offered a free pass out of jail if he can help locate his missing brother Jake. For the past nine years Frank had no news of anything outside the prison so he didn't know his brother had been been charged with murder and gone missing for seven years. His liberators warn that everything is different, but it's hard to get anyone in town to explain how or why. His brother's wife has remarried, and Will tells him,
"March 27th, 2014, we went to bed and everything was normal. We woke up on the 28th and everything had changed."
"Changed how?" Frank asked.
"People were dead. Lots of people."
Hylton does something amazing with this novel: he shifts back and forth in time, narrating from multiple points of view, and he makes it work. He takes us back to that landmark day when life changed. A naked man named Zed dropped into town from out of nowhere; then the nightmarish "Birdies" descended, and only Zed knew how to stop them. With the mesmerizing power of the Pied Piper, he secures the town's safety. Just one catch: nobody can leave town. Step across the boundary line, and a Birdie will immediately come to eat you. Also, everyone must abide by Regulations meant to keep them all safe. Each little rule gradually robs the freedom of each resident, while fear of breaking the rules has them turning each other in or even punishing fellow locals with death. If it sounds crazy, read the novel. And some history books about these things happening in real life. Graves and prisons are filled with millions who opposed trivial, annoying little rules and petty tyrants.
But this is not a cautionary tale. It could be, but it's also a thriller, mystery, nightmare, adventure, and great escapist fun. Just beware, squeamish readers among us, that plenty of the most real-life kind of horror is mixed in with the fun. During a sort of Boy Scout trek up the mountain, a citizen and leader enforces Regulation 18* by murdering someone who was trying to leave town. "A life had been taken out of the world in a wholly unnatural way. The laws of the universe, both the laws of nature and the laws of morality, had been broken....He saw looks of shock, horror, revulsion, and terror. There was even a look of awe from (one of the children). But they were all present behind their eyes. Whatever feelings they had about what had just happened, none of them were going to lose it. At least not now." I love that line: they were present behind their eyes. Look at photos of Holocaust survivors, or anyone with PTSD, and the phrase makes sense.
"There was no shame in what we did here," the executioner assures the boys. "We protected ourselves. We protected our families. We did our duty, no more and no less. Everyone understand?"
Those words have been spoken too many times throughout human history.
Line after line of this novel is engaging, memorable, and well written (see my publicly shared highlights or my blog review at carolkean dot wordpress dot com). Finding competent writers shouldn't be so difficult, but as a reviewer who starts and casts aside a thousand books a year, I can assure you that Regulation 19 is a rare treat. Is it flawless? Of course not. Are there plot holes? Certainly. All books require willing suspension of disbelief. Some of the unexplained issues in this novel will likely make sense when we read the sequel. November 2014? Seriously, P.T., you're making your fans wait that long?
* We never do learn what the newest Regulation, 19, really is. And I may be wrong about which Regulation prohibits leaving town. I hunted for the number and realized it really doesn't matter. Read the book.
May 24, 2018
I read this book when I was unwell...this is very uncommon. This alone is a standing ovation to P.T.Hylton, to how he pulled me into his world and smothered me in its mystery.
Okay, hands up, there are some fundamental flaws to the story. Firstly, it's pace is too quick; skipping and jumping through nights and days with little explanation. Secondly, explanations come too fast; I want to be lost, to not understand, to wonder and theorise. Thirdly, not too sure on some of the characters, Hylton has tried to add strength to them but was found wanting. In other words it was a poormans version of Wayward Pines but still very very good.
Okay, hands up, there are some fundamental flaws to the story. Firstly, it's pace is too quick; skipping and jumping through nights and days with little explanation. Secondly, explanations come too fast; I want to be lost, to not understand, to wonder and theorise. Thirdly, not too sure on some of the characters, Hylton has tried to add strength to them but was found wanting. In other words it was a poormans version of Wayward Pines but still very very good.
October 10, 2015
[Update: read it a second time and still enjoyed it a lot :) ]
First the disclaimers,
The author is a penpal (ok cyber friend, but penpal feels so scholarly) so I might not be entirely objective. However I do love books so I would not be writing this review if I did not truly like the book.
This is a fun first book by an author. It is even more interesting as he had involved everyone in the writing progress by vidcasting his progress through the writing process for this book. Knowing the completeness with which he does stuff I was certain it would be a competent effort.
The book did not disappointed. As I do not want to give away any spoilers I will not say much, except that there are plots and twists and turns and present time and past recollections and time... oops if I continue on the plot will be laid bare. Suffice it to say it is a tele-serial and a mystery movie in the form of a book. And in classic tele-serial style there is a new season on the horizon, and I cannot wait to see what happens next (but that is truly another story)
There was one point when I really appreciated the ease with which PT pulled me into the story. I was reading one of the mid chapters and there was a small mention of a lazy chord and some discussion around jamming (don't worry this is not central to the plot). While reading I smiled to myself, smiling that the author seems to be a guitar fanboy like me. And then it struck me that this was indeed true because the author was PT who was co-podcaster of one of the best guitar podcasts of all time. And it was a shock to realize that, cause I had completely forgotten who had written the book, so engrossed was I !!! Hats off to PT for captivating me so completely in his story.
So go on get the book and enjoy the start of a new journey.
P.S: A beautiful cover by Andy Piper (the other co-pocaster) made me wish I was still buying paperbacks instead of kindle editions.
First the disclaimers,
The author is a penpal (ok cyber friend, but penpal feels so scholarly) so I might not be entirely objective. However I do love books so I would not be writing this review if I did not truly like the book.
This is a fun first book by an author. It is even more interesting as he had involved everyone in the writing progress by vidcasting his progress through the writing process for this book. Knowing the completeness with which he does stuff I was certain it would be a competent effort.
The book did not disappointed. As I do not want to give away any spoilers I will not say much, except that there are plots and twists and turns and present time and past recollections and time... oops if I continue on the plot will be laid bare. Suffice it to say it is a tele-serial and a mystery movie in the form of a book. And in classic tele-serial style there is a new season on the horizon, and I cannot wait to see what happens next (but that is truly another story)
There was one point when I really appreciated the ease with which PT pulled me into the story. I was reading one of the mid chapters and there was a small mention of a lazy chord and some discussion around jamming (don't worry this is not central to the plot). While reading I smiled to myself, smiling that the author seems to be a guitar fanboy like me. And then it struck me that this was indeed true because the author was PT who was co-podcaster of one of the best guitar podcasts of all time. And it was a shock to realize that, cause I had completely forgotten who had written the book, so engrossed was I !!! Hats off to PT for captivating me so completely in his story.
So go on get the book and enjoy the start of a new journey.
P.S: A beautiful cover by Andy Piper (the other co-pocaster) made me wish I was still buying paperbacks instead of kindle editions.
June 24, 2016
Mini-review: https://youtu.be/smb3HR0aHOg
Long Review: https://youtu.be/osA4Fs7H4GM
First Impressions Video(spoilers for first 100pgs): https://youtu.be/Yg_8OGcVUPk
Highlights:
This is a great mixed genre "what in the world is going on in this small town?" type of book. This book reminded me a lot of Twin Peaks, Jericho, Wayward Pines, and some older King novels focusing on small towns. Frank gets released from prison and his hometown of Rook Mountain, TN is not quite like it used to be. The town is controlled by some weird individuals and there are some really strict regulations that are put in place that for some reason the entire town is alright with following. This book is all about unlocking the mystery of Rook Mountain.
My favorite part of this book was the group of friends at the core of the book. Their relationships with each other are of varying degrees and a little bit messy but they are connected to each other in so many ways. This book reads super fast and is very plot focused. There isn't much theme and the prose is rather straight forward without much flowery description or strong emotional moments. During some moments in the book, the plot might have moved a little too quickly. There are definitely moments where you must have suspension of disbelief and just kind of accept that things are what the author says they are. A lot of those things will be covered later in the book or in the two sequels.
A good book that I will definitely be checking out the sequels for. Great ideas and interesting premises I haven't seen in similar books. I want to know more!
3/5
13/25 Possible Score
Plot - 3(Good)
Characters - 3(Good)
Setting/World Building - 3(Good)
Writing Style - 2(OK)
Heart & Mind Aspect - 2(OK - mostly mind)
Long Review: https://youtu.be/osA4Fs7H4GM
First Impressions Video(spoilers for first 100pgs): https://youtu.be/Yg_8OGcVUPk
Highlights:
This is a great mixed genre "what in the world is going on in this small town?" type of book. This book reminded me a lot of Twin Peaks, Jericho, Wayward Pines, and some older King novels focusing on small towns. Frank gets released from prison and his hometown of Rook Mountain, TN is not quite like it used to be. The town is controlled by some weird individuals and there are some really strict regulations that are put in place that for some reason the entire town is alright with following. This book is all about unlocking the mystery of Rook Mountain.
My favorite part of this book was the group of friends at the core of the book. Their relationships with each other are of varying degrees and a little bit messy but they are connected to each other in so many ways. This book reads super fast and is very plot focused. There isn't much theme and the prose is rather straight forward without much flowery description or strong emotional moments. During some moments in the book, the plot might have moved a little too quickly. There are definitely moments where you must have suspension of disbelief and just kind of accept that things are what the author says they are. A lot of those things will be covered later in the book or in the two sequels.
A good book that I will definitely be checking out the sequels for. Great ideas and interesting premises I haven't seen in similar books. I want to know more!
3/5
13/25 Possible Score
Plot - 3(Good)
Characters - 3(Good)
Setting/World Building - 3(Good)
Writing Style - 2(OK)
Heart & Mind Aspect - 2(OK - mostly mind)
August 4, 2015
Full Review: http://pattisbooknook.blogspot.com/20...
This book is a nice blend of elements. We have a Dystopian Tennessee setting nine years in the future, as well as flashback sections to the time before "Unregulated". We also have mystery/thriller/fantasy components with time travel thrown in for good measure. Regulation 19 is distinct and doesn't fit into any one specific genre. Due to the gritty style and excellent writing on a mystery in a small town, I'd liken Hylton's style to Stephen King if I had to think of the closest author comparison. My favorite settings are rustic so this added to my overall enjoyment. Woods, cabins, and mountains simultaneously give the story a comforting feel, but a sinister one as well due to isolation and the event that keeps it walled off from the rest of the world. The juxtaposition makes for an intriguing story.
I enjoy creepy small town stories, and this one delivered. I felt for all the characters and was interested in their relationships with each other. There are lots of twists and turns in this book, and, as some fellow reviewers have said (and I wholeheartedly agree) I never knew where the story was going and enjoyed the continuous surprises. There are a couple devices near the end that helped provide explanation and set the reader up for the second installment in the trilogy. This could easily have felt contrived, but it was done seamlessly and that impressed me even more.
I would also like to promote P.T. Hylton as a fellow Booktuber and a very nice, articulate person. Thrilled to say that I can wholeheartedly recommend his book as well.
This book is a nice blend of elements. We have a Dystopian Tennessee setting nine years in the future, as well as flashback sections to the time before "Unregulated". We also have mystery/thriller/fantasy components with time travel thrown in for good measure. Regulation 19 is distinct and doesn't fit into any one specific genre. Due to the gritty style and excellent writing on a mystery in a small town, I'd liken Hylton's style to Stephen King if I had to think of the closest author comparison. My favorite settings are rustic so this added to my overall enjoyment. Woods, cabins, and mountains simultaneously give the story a comforting feel, but a sinister one as well due to isolation and the event that keeps it walled off from the rest of the world. The juxtaposition makes for an intriguing story.
I enjoy creepy small town stories, and this one delivered. I felt for all the characters and was interested in their relationships with each other. There are lots of twists and turns in this book, and, as some fellow reviewers have said (and I wholeheartedly agree) I never knew where the story was going and enjoyed the continuous surprises. There are a couple devices near the end that helped provide explanation and set the reader up for the second installment in the trilogy. This could easily have felt contrived, but it was done seamlessly and that impressed me even more.
I would also like to promote P.T. Hylton as a fellow Booktuber and a very nice, articulate person. Thrilled to say that I can wholeheartedly recommend his book as well.
May 11, 2015
What a compelling read! I stayed up past my bedtime to read this book, and that is ultra rare.
Regulation 19 is a blend of horror, science fiction, and fantasy that contains many unique elements. The story becomes increasingly enthralling as you read. The characters are distinct and you can't resist caring about them. The author leads you expertly though the world and events. You have enough of an idea of what is possible to speculate about upcoming turns, and yet the author continues to surprise you. I will definitely be picking up book 2 in the series.
Regulation 19 is a blend of horror, science fiction, and fantasy that contains many unique elements. The story becomes increasingly enthralling as you read. The characters are distinct and you can't resist caring about them. The author leads you expertly though the world and events. You have enough of an idea of what is possible to speculate about upcoming turns, and yet the author continues to surprise you. I will definitely be picking up book 2 in the series.
August 21, 2015
A very strong 3.5 stars with caveats...but very positive caveats. A more in depth review incoming.
January 4, 2016
Whoa. 4.5 stars.
July 22, 2015
Enjoyed it
June 28, 2017
Our protagonist Frank Hinkle is released early from prison on the condition that he help the authorities find his brother. Once back in his small home town of Rook Mountain, Tennessee Frank finds that things are quite different than he remembers. For one, there are many strange new regulations which the townsfolk strictly follow. Secondly, there are some very scary bird-like creatures patrolling the town borders preventing the people from leaving. There is much more going on, which leads to an interesting, if confusing at times mystery-thriller. This is the first book of a trilogy so be prepared for unresolved questions heading into book two. Three.point.five for a good start.
May 18, 2019
Surprisingly good
For the first 1/4 of this book I wondered if I was even going to end up finishing it. My first impression was that this was an amalgam of stories that had been told before (The Village, Wayward Pines, The Silence, et al). However, I stand corrected. The story ended up being wholly original and brilliantly imaginative. I inhaled the other 3/4 of the book in a day, and can’t wait to finish the trilogy.
For the first 1/4 of this book I wondered if I was even going to end up finishing it. My first impression was that this was an amalgam of stories that had been told before (The Village, Wayward Pines, The Silence, et al). However, I stand corrected. The story ended up being wholly original and brilliantly imaginative. I inhaled the other 3/4 of the book in a day, and can’t wait to finish the trilogy.
January 24, 2021
An intriguing book that takes it's time to develop and give you a feeling for just what is going on. The casual shooting of someone who has broken a regulation is the first clue that something is very wrong with the town and community and the introduction of the charismatic leader adored by nearly all sends another shiver down the spine. I found the ending a bit disappointing, but it is the first of a trilogy.
September 10, 2018
This book was very different than any book I have ever read before. Parts where confusing to me as the time line went back and fourth between before, during, and after regulations. Overall it was a good story. I connected with the story as I too once lived in Tennessee and could relate to surroundings.
September 30, 2018
Not bad. While I'm enjoying the story so far, at times it seems scattered and forced. The characters are lively and deeply involved but I tend to drift and think about what I want to read next. I'll finish the series and don't want to seem too critical because the story is really interesting. However, the writing leaves quite a bit on the table for me.
November 19, 2018
No. No. No.
Gave up on this one. Bored, boring, dull. Not eerie, strange or mysterious. Uninteresting characters. And the worst offense - that back and forward in time by chapter nonsense. It’s been done to death, seldom done well, and I hate it. Just couldn’t care enough to finish the first book.
Gave up on this one. Bored, boring, dull. Not eerie, strange or mysterious. Uninteresting characters. And the worst offense - that back and forward in time by chapter nonsense. It’s been done to death, seldom done well, and I hate it. Just couldn’t care enough to finish the first book.
December 5, 2018
This genre is not my usual read, but this book captured me immediately and the entire trilogy is very entertaining.
If you are looking for something creative and different, I certainly recommend it.
I was drawn to it by an ad that said something along the lines of "whatever you are reading now, put it down and read this".
I'd agree with that. It's that good.
If you are looking for something creative and different, I certainly recommend it.
I was drawn to it by an ad that said something along the lines of "whatever you are reading now, put it down and read this".
I'd agree with that. It's that good.
June 19, 2019
Excellent book
Well written book about evil doing, supernatural beings, and twightlight-zone type setting. Had a lot of similarities to "The Pines" which had been made into a series, but different enough to carry its own weight. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this trilogy!
Well written book about evil doing, supernatural beings, and twightlight-zone type setting. Had a lot of similarities to "The Pines" which had been made into a series, but different enough to carry its own weight. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this trilogy!
July 18, 2020
This book rocked!
This book might be a good way to explain to young people how dictatorships happen. The story line scared me on so many levels that I couldn't afford to not finish it quickly. I'm ready for book 2, that's how you'll feel when you finish reading Regulation 19 (Deadlock Trilogy).
This book might be a good way to explain to young people how dictatorships happen. The story line scared me on so many levels that I couldn't afford to not finish it quickly. I'm ready for book 2, that's how you'll feel when you finish reading Regulation 19 (Deadlock Trilogy).
July 24, 2020
Scarey Mix of SF and Horror
Quite well done and a very original story. Strong characters and a nasty villain as humans fight against strange creatures and are imprisoned in their little mountain hamlet, cut off from all contact with the outside world. Works quite well as a stand alone novel, but there two sequels, so caveat emptor.
Quite well done and a very original story. Strong characters and a nasty villain as humans fight against strange creatures and are imprisoned in their little mountain hamlet, cut off from all contact with the outside world. Works quite well as a stand alone novel, but there two sequels, so caveat emptor.
June 9, 2019
I'm not very good at this but I will try! Book had a good story line ,the caricatured did capture you imagination. Some things we're to forced . But anyways I will give it a good read. For a cold winter's day
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