Static

by Stacey L. Pierson

Jesse is beginning to be haunted. Additionally, she is caught in a time loop that she is unaware of until she visits Lorna, the neighborhood dream reader.

Tatum lives in Jesse's house. Something is haunting her. Her mother doesn't seem to be listening when she tries to tell her. Tatum decides to investigate the identity and desires of the ghost. There's a problem: there are other people with plans.

One residence

Two eerie encounters

Of them, only one is static.

238 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2024

Reviews

[Kim Novak (The Reading Rx) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aww, shucks. I hate giving low star reviews. I really liked the premise of this story… the living haunting the dead, 2 POVs from a ghost and a live character. Overall the story worked, but (and it’s a big BUT), there were too many inconsistencies in years, character ages, injuries, and technology applications to ignore, and they detracted from my enjoyment of the story. A more thorough round of editing review would have been helpful for this book.

[Yolanda Sfetsos · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A nostalgic, dual-timeline trip that twists the ghost story trope into a never-ending groundhog nightmare with deadly revelations."


I want to thank Stacey for giving me the chance to read an ARC of this cool novel.

Jesse leads an average life during the late 1990s. Tatum is trying to get used to life changes in 2024. Both might be living in a haunted house with plenty of secrets...

This is an intriguing story told by several characters, and certainly throws the traditional ghost story upside down. At many times, it feels like a fever dream on repeat, that reveals a little more with the building tension until the devastating truth is revealed.

[Wicked Words · Rating 1 out of 5]

In the small town of Sager, Louisiana, nineteen year old Jesse Stapleton is reliving the same day over and over again, but is haunted by a mysterious figure and terrifying nightmares.

When Tatum McKenna moves with her mother Maeve into an old house in a similar town, she, too, experiences unsettling hauntings.

The two girls meet with a Dream Reader to find their fates align in ways they never could have imagined.

Wrought with tension, drama, twists, and moments of true terror, this story is laden with potential. The only thing this book suffers from is a woeful lack of editing. With the right editor, this story could be outstanding.

[Mr. Kreher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The words drip like blood off the pages of Stacey L Pierson's newest book Static! A must read for anyone who grew up with horror masters like Stephen King, Wes Craven, or Clive Barker! Make room for Stacey for she is the next generation of eclectic masters in the horror genre!

Being alive in the ancient history of the nineteen nineties, I was immediately transported to the times because this is the starting era for the book Static. We learn of Jesse, reading it I soaked up the times in which seems like a typical 90s fashion life, hanging out with friends and watching Urban Legends. We are then presented a mystery of strange circumstances that Jesse takes on to explore.

In a flight of intensity and hanging on the edge of the seat wondering how this happened, the reader is presented with a second story about midway. I found this interesting as it felt like two stories in one book. Now, we are presented with the present with the story of Tatum and her estranged mother Maeve getting together again. The rekindling does not go well and there was this conflicting dynamic between the two that was cringe-worthy in itself.

In the third act, all hell lets loose, as both stories are now interwoven together for an ultimate twist. This is when Stacey releases her twisted darkness onto the page and our fearless MCs are put through excruciating horror. The shocking turn of events will leave your fingernails gripping to your seat, only to release after you fall asleep after two blink less days awake. If you dare to fall asleep.

In reading the book Static, I can see a multitude of horror influences that Stacey has incorporated within the pages. I get the feels of The Shining, and Poltergeist, which when I saw the cover, I immediately thought of the movie. There is also another movie I thought of, but I will not disclose the name because if I do, you will know one of the plot twists. I might say, it involved an actress with the initials N.K..

Static, itself, seems like I'm reading a movie at times. Maybe the universe will make it happen. If you love the classic horrors I mentioned above, I encourage you to read Static, if you dare. If you have yet to read other books by Stacey, this is a good one to start with, or if you have read the others, you need to add this to your collection today!

[L.N. Holmes]

This is a Small Spec Book Awards nominee!