What do you think?
Rate this book
Pacemill: A Horror Novel
A Gripping, Psychological Horror
Under the shadow cast by the old Pace Mill, the residents of Pacemill, New Jersey sleep soundly in a town that hasn’t seen a violent crime in its century-long history. This all changes overnight when an elderly woman is savaged in her home. With no evidence of a suspect or motive, the police are baffled, and the town is in a panic. After a second resident is murdered, local journalist Giancarla Messina takes it upon herself to investigate these strange and vicious crimes. What started as the biggest story of her career turns into a nightmare, however, when the police implicate Carla’s twin brother Peter in the killings, and as she races the clock, the mounting evidence suggests the one responsible for these slayings might not be quite human.
Under the shadow cast by the old Pace Mill, the residents of Pacemill, New Jersey sleep soundly in a town that hasn’t seen a violent crime in its century-long history. This all changes overnight when an elderly woman is savaged in her home. With no evidence of a suspect or motive, the police are baffled, and the town is in a panic. After a second resident is murdered, local journalist Giancarla Messina takes it upon herself to investigate these strange and vicious crimes. What started as the biggest story of her career turns into a nightmare, however, when the police implicate Carla’s twin brother Peter in the killings, and as she races the clock, the mounting evidence suggests the one responsible for these slayings might not be quite human.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2024
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 2, 2024
I had a blast reading this book! It grabs you right from the start and keeps you hooked all the way through. I flew through it.
I really liked how the book had some different styles of chapters (e.g., police interviews) and alternated between different points of view, which kept things fresh and exciting. This gave me a deeper insight into the characters’ perspectives and motivations. I also thought the characters were really well-developed, and really likable (Especially Carla, Peter, Lys, and Bailey!). Each was distinct and easy to remember, and I was really rooting for them!
I haven’t read many horror novels so I wasn’t sure if I would find it too scary/gory, but I thought the balance between spooky, hair-raising scenes and more everyday interpersonal moments was perfect. It gave the story a great flow, building tension without being overwhelming. And the scenes with the wispy woman were so spooky!
I also absolutely loved the ending. It wrapped up all the major questions and the central mystery in such a satisfying way, but at the same time, it left me with this lingering eerie feeling. Definitely was a good payoff for all the mystery and tension built throughout the book. It made me want a sequel!
Overall, this was such a fun read. It had great characters, spooky tension, and a memorable, well-paced story. Highly recommend!
Thanks Lynn for the ARC, and huge congrats on your first novel!
I really liked how the book had some different styles of chapters (e.g., police interviews) and alternated between different points of view, which kept things fresh and exciting. This gave me a deeper insight into the characters’ perspectives and motivations. I also thought the characters were really well-developed, and really likable (Especially Carla, Peter, Lys, and Bailey!). Each was distinct and easy to remember, and I was really rooting for them!
I haven’t read many horror novels so I wasn’t sure if I would find it too scary/gory, but I thought the balance between spooky, hair-raising scenes and more everyday interpersonal moments was perfect. It gave the story a great flow, building tension without being overwhelming. And the scenes with the wispy woman were so spooky!
I also absolutely loved the ending. It wrapped up all the major questions and the central mystery in such a satisfying way, but at the same time, it left me with this lingering eerie feeling. Definitely was a good payoff for all the mystery and tension built throughout the book. It made me want a sequel!
Overall, this was such a fun read. It had great characters, spooky tension, and a memorable, well-paced story. Highly recommend!
Thanks Lynn for the ARC, and huge congrats on your first novel!
November 14, 2024
Pacemill is an exceptionally paced horror-mystery novel that will keep you frantically turning pages from start to dizzying conclusion. The story is tightly delivered and comes at you very fast, creating a deliberate and palpable sense of tension as the events spiral out of our heroes' control. While you will come for the well-crafted mystery and unfolding horror you will stay for the themes, which are woven into the heart of the narrative. Although Baker's monster is supernatural and alien, the story's secondary antagonists are all too human and real. I will be eagerly awaiting her next novel!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews