Stare

by Edward Fleck

In the haunting tale of Stare, Jack Miller, a solitary factory worker, retreats into a small cabin in rural Ohio, seeking refuge from a world that feels increasingly menacing. Yet within the silence of his isolation, he finds himself haunted by fragments
of a troubled past, plagued by unsettling hallucinations and nightmares, and gripped by an ever-present sense that something sinister lurks both within his home and his very being.

As Jack navigates the disturbing events surrounding him, the boundaries between reality and illusion begin to dissolve, plunging him into a terrifying journey of self-discovery. Themes of paranoia, trauma, and identity intertwine as Jack confronts his memories and relationships, unearthing the darker truths hidden beneath the surface of his existence.

Every encounter—be it with the suspicious figure of Tommy or the seemingly trustworthy friend Mike—forces Jack to confront his deepest fears and grapple with the unsettling realization that not everything is as it seems. As the shadows of his past close in, Jack must decide what is real and what is merely a figment of his fractured reality. Will he find the
strength to face his demons, or will he be consumed by the darkness that surrounds him?

211 pages, Hardcover

Published November 22, 2024

Reviews

[LaLa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an arc read for me.
Short read that I felt kept a good pace.
It didn’t really occur to what was actually happening until we really get into the book but wild. That’s how felt once I hit the halfway mark I was hooked on the story.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stare by Edward Fleck is a tense, fast-moving psychological horror story with an intriguing premise and plenty of suspense to keep the pages turning. Fleck has a clear knack for building tension and crafting memorable plot beats.

While I never found the vocabulary difficult to understand, the word choices at times felt overly elaborate, which occasionally slowed the pacing and made the story feel more drawn out than it needed to be. Additionally, the characters—though interesting—often shared similar voices, which made it harder to distinguish between them and fully connect on an individual level.

Still, Stare is a solid and enjoyable read, especially for those who appreciate a story that blends intensity with creativity, or are looking to deep dive into the darkest corners of human psyche. With some refinement in character voice and pacing, Fleck’s work has the potential to become even more impactful in future projects.

[Abdulwarith Olalekan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stare is a haunting and captivating tale that masterfully explores themes of paranoia, trauma, and identity. Jack Miller's journey into isolation and the unraveling of his reality had me hooked from start to finish. The way the story blurs the lines between illusion and truth keeps you on edge, and every character encounter adds another layer of tension and mystery.

This book is a dark and immersive exploration of the human psyche, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves psychological thrillers with a hint of the supernatural.

A must-read!

[kassidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Stare absolutely got under my skin in the best, creepiest way. Jack’s descent into paranoia and self-doubt felt so real, I caught myself questioning what was real right along with him. The writing is sharp, eerie, and full of that slow-burning dread that sticks with you.

If you love psychological horror that messes with your head and heart, Stare is a must-read. I couldn't put it down, and honestly, I didn’t want to.

[Kim Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Jack Miller who untangles his world of childhood trauma, losing time, nightmares and some unexpected realizations of what is real. Kind of a slow burn but once you got to the action, it was non stop. my only complaint was the feeling that the author used the thesaurus alot. I got lost in all of the very descriptive words especially at the beginning which killed the momentum of the story. But overall, a great story! I listen to this on Audible.

[Hooterbby · Rating 4 out of 5]

So bear with me here. Trust the process! The first 50%, 3 stars. The next 25%, 4 stars. Then the last 25% had me in 5 star feels. I want to be honest on how this read went for me. I struggled to find something to grip onto in the first half. Interactions between characters were missing the mark for me. My minds eye needed more. Then, I hit the half way mark and it all makes sense. Hook, Line, Sinker.. I was in it! This psychological horror rollercoaster I end up on was a lot of fun! I love twist and especially when I can't guess where a story is going. It was an absolute mind f*ck reaching some turning points in this story. Bravo!