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Ghost Town
Ghost Town - a novella.
Six strangers wake up in the middle of an endless desert with a ghost town on the horizon. They don't know each other and they don't know how they got there. Their only refuge from the heat and sun is the ghost town shimmering on the horizon.
Once inside the ghost town they become pawns in a twisted game. They must figure out the clues, the connection they all have to each other, and the rules of this game if they have any hope of surviving.
Six strangers wake up in the middle of an endless desert with a ghost town on the horizon. They don't know each other and they don't know how they got there. Their only refuge from the heat and sun is the ghost town shimmering on the horizon.
Once inside the ghost town they become pawns in a twisted game. They must figure out the clues, the connection they all have to each other, and the rules of this game if they have any hope of surviving.
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2014
80 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 10, 2023
Beth and five others wake up in the desert. Who brought them there? When they go to a ghost town nearby the horrors start. Is this a game? An experiment? But the most important question is who will survive? Nail biting horror novella with a good denouement in my opinion. The story grips you from page one and you definitely want to know what this mysterious trip is all about. Highly recommended!
August 15, 2024
A quick, entertaining thrill ride! The story starts right off with these six people waking up in the desert, having no idea how they got there. They no nothing of each other, and all they have on them are these mysterious objects. Do they hold any significance? Are any of these people in on what’s going on? Lukens keeps the suspense meter turned to high, all the way until the twist ending. Although not the most original or fantastical, the conclusion was a decent fit for the story. It could have gone in a lot of other directions, but I’m not sure the story would have worked as well if it was more drawn out and complicated. There were a few loose ends that didn’t necessarily feel totally tightened up by the very end, but it didn’t hurt the overall premise either. I also felt like some of the character development could have had more done with it, as to not potentially spoil the ending, too. But Lukens is like a Matt Shaw to me at this point. He is a great writer who produces interesting books that hold my attention, without overstaying their welcome.
January 22, 2023
Nail-Biting!
Small backstory:
What would you do if you went to sleep in your bed and then woke up somewhere in the desert with five strangers? You would be flipping out, right?
That is what happens to six strangers as they end up in the desert not knowing how they were transported there. The mystery deepens for the six people (Beth, Adam, Eugene, Tony, Carla and Ray) as they try to figure out why they are there, but when they see what looks to be a town of some kind in the distance and they make their way there things become even stranger as they all have to work together to figure out how to solve the puzzle of what is happening to them and how they can get out of their situation so they can go home!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory as if that has intrigued you then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This story was one twisted mystery and when I first started reading it I became captured in what was happening within the story to the point I could not put the book down as I wanted to find out what was going on with these characters. Very fast paced and I really didn't see the major twist coming till it hit me as I was so wrapped within the story that I never saw that rug pulled out from under me! lol
I have read a couple of books by this author before and really enjoyed them. I do own a few more by him on my kindle that I need to step into at some point. This story though took me on a twisted roller coaster ride! Giving this book five "Suspenseful Mystery" stars!
Small backstory:
What would you do if you went to sleep in your bed and then woke up somewhere in the desert with five strangers? You would be flipping out, right?
That is what happens to six strangers as they end up in the desert not knowing how they were transported there. The mystery deepens for the six people (Beth, Adam, Eugene, Tony, Carla and Ray) as they try to figure out why they are there, but when they see what looks to be a town of some kind in the distance and they make their way there things become even stranger as they all have to work together to figure out how to solve the puzzle of what is happening to them and how they can get out of their situation so they can go home!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory as if that has intrigued you then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This story was one twisted mystery and when I first started reading it I became captured in what was happening within the story to the point I could not put the book down as I wanted to find out what was going on with these characters. Very fast paced and I really didn't see the major twist coming till it hit me as I was so wrapped within the story that I never saw that rug pulled out from under me! lol
I have read a couple of books by this author before and really enjoyed them. I do own a few more by him on my kindle that I need to step into at some point. This story though took me on a twisted roller coaster ride! Giving this book five "Suspenseful Mystery" stars!
March 24, 2019
Six Stranger wake up in the middle of a desert. None of the group can figure out how they ended up here. The heat from the sun is taking a toll on the group. They must seek shelter and find water soon. The group decides to take a chance and walk to this town, that is in the middle of the desert. Once they arrive, they can tell that no one has lived here in along time. All the buildings are rundown, except for the white church. The white church looks like someone has just painted it recently. The six strangers, find a different trinket in each one of their pockets. No one has any idea, what the meaning behind them is. The group seek shelter in abandon hotel. They plan on leaving the next day. The group tries to leave the ghost town but are force to stay, by some unseen force. They group needs a plan to escape this hellhole. Will the evil force that lurks in the darkness, let the strangers leave or are they doomed to stay here forever? The author adds a twist at the end of the story, that I didn't see coming. This was a quick enjoyable read.
February 21, 2023
I really liked how things were interwoven. Very well done, sad story overall with some gruesome scenes.
Felt terrible for Beth. Appreciated how things ended. Was rather predictable/stereotypical throughout but also made up for it later, and made a lot of sense. Especially with the characters' behaviors.
The overall story was unexpected but that's cuz I didn't look into it and only read the summary once. Probably worked out better that way.
Would give the author another go.
TW:
Felt terrible for Beth. Appreciated how things ended. Was rather predictable/stereotypical throughout but also made up for it later, and made a lot of sense. Especially with the characters' behaviors.
The overall story was unexpected but that's cuz I didn't look into it and only read the summary once. Probably worked out better that way.
Would give the author another go.
TW:
October 29, 2021
This was a fun read! Lots of suspense, mystery, so many moments of Holy Crap! The setting was unique which set this tale apart from all others in this trope of strangers dropped into a game controlled by an unseen, unknown sinister master. I loved the clues throughout, some I got right off and some took a bit longer to grasp. I still wonder what happened to the toy car and the sand in her pocket . . . Hmm . . .
September 29, 2014
This is the third book by the author I have read, and I have liked each one less and less. This one has some thrills and the hallmarks of a great tale, but looses steam really fast. The resolution comes out of no where and seems to be tacked on as though there was no logical way out of the current story. A deus ex machina kind of ending, and somewhat disappointing.
September 18, 2015
Fantastic read. Mostly unpredictable although I did correctly guess some of the ways the characters would die. But, this was a very well written novel with quite an amazing twist at the end. Lukens is turning out to be one of my new favorite authors. His other work, "Ancient Enemy" was also good. I highly recommend"Ghost Town".
May 6, 2015
Excellent
Loved the book, very easy read, hard to put it down, lost a lot of sleep reading this book, so I have to say I am a bit pissed, a bit sleepy because the book was that good of a read that I couldn't put it down to go to bed at a decent hour.
There, are you happy!
Mark.
Loved the book, very easy read, hard to put it down, lost a lot of sleep reading this book, so I have to say I am a bit pissed, a bit sleepy because the book was that good of a read that I couldn't put it down to go to bed at a decent hour.
There, are you happy!
Mark.
November 22, 2024
“Ghost Town” reads more like an outline for a film or something like “The Twilight Zone” than a novel.
I don't (make that can't!) read horror so I was prepared to drop it like a hot potato should the shrieking violins kick in. Luckily it turned out to be violin free.
Six strangers wake up in the desert. None of them knows why they are there but one, Beth, an abused wife, thinks she just may have a clue, if only she could make sense of it.
All six have been stripped of their possessions but each has a small item hidden about their person. In Beth's case it is a toy car, a replica of the one her husband treasures above all else.
They find their way to a ghost town where, a la Agatha Christie, they are being hunted down.
And it is at this point that that it all goes to hell in a handbasket and what had been quite interesting becomes very, very mundane - authors should be careful when using trick endings.
2 Stars.
I don't (make that can't!) read horror so I was prepared to drop it like a hot potato should the shrieking violins kick in. Luckily it turned out to be violin free.
Six strangers wake up in the desert. None of them knows why they are there but one, Beth, an abused wife, thinks she just may have a clue, if only she could make sense of it.
All six have been stripped of their possessions but each has a small item hidden about their person. In Beth's case it is a toy car, a replica of the one her husband treasures above all else.
They find their way to a ghost town where, a la Agatha Christie, they are being hunted down.
And it is at this point that that it all goes to hell in a handbasket and what had been quite interesting becomes very, very mundane - authors should be careful when using trick endings.
2 Stars.
February 11, 2018
Quick, fun & creepy read
This novella has such a creepy setting! I love how the characters are all so different. They are all strangers who wake up together, all unceremoniously dumped in the desert with no memory of how they cane to be there. No tracks or footprints anywhere around them make the whole situation even more of a mystery, and their belongings gone except for the clothes on their backs. Each of them finds they have a random object in their pocket, making everything even more confusing. The random ghost town definitely adds to the weirdness and ups the scary factor. They must immediately begin working together to figure this out before its too late! Good story!
This novella has such a creepy setting! I love how the characters are all so different. They are all strangers who wake up together, all unceremoniously dumped in the desert with no memory of how they cane to be there. No tracks or footprints anywhere around them make the whole situation even more of a mystery, and their belongings gone except for the clothes on their backs. Each of them finds they have a random object in their pocket, making everything even more confusing. The random ghost town definitely adds to the weirdness and ups the scary factor. They must immediately begin working together to figure this out before its too late! Good story!
January 17, 2023
Very, very good
Another good story from Mark Lumens. I am once again reading till after 2 AM trying to finish this book. I'm glad I did. The characters were compelling. I liked some and disliked some. I did not figure out the end which is what kept me reading. So far, I am definitely a fan. Happy Reading!
Another good story from Mark Lumens. I am once again reading till after 2 AM trying to finish this book. I'm glad I did. The characters were compelling. I liked some and disliked some. I did not figure out the end which is what kept me reading. So far, I am definitely a fan. Happy Reading!
December 30, 2016
Good read
Good quick read nice characters good pacing nice way of fitting in the ending will be reading more of this author's work
Good quick read nice characters good pacing nice way of fitting in the ending will be reading more of this author's work
December 10, 2020
Had me guessing
Fantastic fast read! It had me constantly guessing. Everything I thought I had figured out, BAM!An unexpected surprise. Totally unexpected ending
Fantastic fast read! It had me constantly guessing. Everything I thought I had figured out, BAM!An unexpected surprise. Totally unexpected ending
June 30, 2022
Fast read, couldn't put it down. The ending was both a surprise and a bit of a letdown but still a decent read
March 14, 2017
Different
A very interesting, short story. I enjoyed it even though I don't usually read novellas. I found the story easy to follow and quite thrilling.
A very interesting, short story. I enjoyed it even though I don't usually read novellas. I found the story easy to follow and quite thrilling.
May 6, 2019
Six strangers wake up in the desert. No one remembers how they got there, or knows why they would be there. In the distance they see what looks like a deserted town, and decide to walk to it.
I have to say, I'm a sucker for a plot that starts this way. I love the mystery. What is the story of these people, what do they have in common, who brought them here and why etc. Lukens answers these questions, but does so in a clever way. Hints are given throughout Ghost Town to help explain what is really happening. I wasn't able to put it all together until close to the end of the novella, but I felt very satisfied when I discovered my hunch was right.
Lukens writing is lean and mean. No wasted words here. The pacing is great, and while we don't learn too much about the characters' backgrounds, the characters are developed enough to keep them interesting. When the reveal comes at the end, it is a little too tidy, and reminded me a little of The Usual Suspects, but not in a good way. The conclusion was exactly what I wanted.
While Ghost Town was not the most original novella, Lukens does most things well, and it is worth a look.
I have to say, I'm a sucker for a plot that starts this way. I love the mystery. What is the story of these people, what do they have in common, who brought them here and why etc. Lukens answers these questions, but does so in a clever way. Hints are given throughout Ghost Town to help explain what is really happening. I wasn't able to put it all together until close to the end of the novella, but I felt very satisfied when I discovered my hunch was right.
Lukens writing is lean and mean. No wasted words here. The pacing is great, and while we don't learn too much about the characters' backgrounds, the characters are developed enough to keep them interesting. When the reveal comes at the end, it is a little too tidy, and reminded me a little of The Usual Suspects, but not in a good way. The conclusion was exactly what I wanted.
While Ghost Town was not the most original novella, Lukens does most things well, and it is worth a look.
May 21, 2015
Great and confusing. A real pageturner.
May 24, 2015
Ghost town
Good book easy read kept you guessing to the end good storyline will read more from this author next book
Good book easy read kept you guessing to the end good storyline will read more from this author next book
October 21, 2015
Ghost town
This was a great story! I read it in one sitting. Creepy and crazy, but in the end, the lead character got what was deserved....
This was a great story! I read it in one sitting. Creepy and crazy, but in the end, the lead character got what was deserved....
November 21, 2015
Great
Loved the storyline. Wished the novella was a book. Great characters, twists and turns and a surprising ending. Looking forward to more from this author.
Loved the storyline. Wished the novella was a book. Great characters, twists and turns and a surprising ending. Looking forward to more from this author.
January 15, 2016
Nice quick read that really surprised me with how it ended.
August 31, 2017
Kept me going at the end loved how it end he had it coming to him
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews