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Sign
Jim Thompson received a phone call from a dead man - a man he watched die one drunken, adulterous night while out of town on business. Jim's wife, Deirdre, doesn't know his secret. Neither does Detective Frank Gibbons, who is hot on the case of the year-old crime. In this supernatural thriller, Jim's past surfaces through his guilt and lies. As Detective Gibbons closes in on the truth, Jim and Deirdre must run from a malevolent stalker in this terrifying horror tale of deception and murder.
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First published June 24, 2014
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About the author
Lou Rera
7 books32 followers
AWAKE: Tales of Terror by Lou Rera,
a collection of short stories in the horror genre, published in May 2020. Lou Rera's first novel,
SIGN
, a supernatural thriller of deception and murder, published in June 2014. His collection of flash fiction stories,
There are no doors on a cocoon
is available through Amazon.
Lou Rera retired as Professor at SUNY Buffalo State to write full time. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) , a member of the Just Buffalo Literary Center and a member of IMDB
Lou Rera retired as Professor at SUNY Buffalo State to write full time. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) , a member of the Just Buffalo Literary Center and a member of IMDB
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 28, 2015
This is a great supernatural horror thriller. It seems to be marketed as a thriller, but there is a definite horror feel to this novel too. This novel is a great combination of supernatural, horror, crime and thriller, so should appeal to fans of all those genres, as there is something for everyone in this novel.
As this is Lou Rera’s debut novel, I really didn’t know what to expect. This is a surprisingly well-written, edited and structured story for a first novel.
I don’t really want to say too much about the story or give too much away. The overall gist is that it is about a married couple, Jim and Deirdre, who decide to go away to try and sort out some issues in their marriage. Little does Deirdre know that these issues are due to Jim carrying a secret about something bad that happened the year previously.
The story progresses along two different paths. Firstly, the very sinister supernatural ‘Twilight Zone’ horror, that Jim and Deirdre go through when their trip away turns into something terrifying. I found this part of the story surprisingly eerie and scary. I’ve seen far too many American horror films to feel calm about any isolated petrol stations in the country, but this almost tipped me over the edge on a couple of occasions.
The other path this story takes, is the more crime thriller aspect, which focuses on a police investigation, which is also linked to the secret Jim is hiding from his wife.
I felt these two very separate, yet connected aspects of the story worked well. Sometimes the sinister part of the story was rather intense, so the crime investigation aspect worked almost as light relief on occasions and helped to bring a sense of realism to the story.
There was good character development for the main characters, Jim & Deirdre. I found I connected with Deirdre more, especially upon discovering her fears after a past attack:
“Deirdre could not shake the fear that it could happen again, that she might not be lucky a second time, that it could be anywhere at anytime.”
I did also briefly connect with Jim, when I discovered he suffered with insomnia and also had a dream about a creepy clown, as I have insomnia and used to have a reoccurring dream about a creepy clown when I was a young child.
Other than for Detective Frank Gibbons, I felt most of the other characters connected with the crime investigation, were somewhat shallow and one-dimensional. However, this wasn’t really a problem for me. In a strange way, it kind of worked, that the characters in the surreal surroundings felt like the more real characters and vice versa.
This was a descriptive novel and I loved the occasional references to other films or novels, such as A Clockwork Orange and The Shining. As a huge fan of Clive Barker, it was of course great to see a little reference to him too:
“It wasn’t some mystical puzzle box from the mind of Clive Barker.”
By combining genres, this novel felt it had a good level of depth and diversity. Covering topics such as secrets, lies, lust, revenge, fear, murder and a good dose of supernatural.
I recommend this novel to fans of any of the genres I’ve mentioned in my review, as I do not think you will be disappointed.
I wish Lou Rera great success with his debut novel and look forward to reading more by him in the future.
I received this book through Goodreads Giveaways First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
As this is Lou Rera’s debut novel, I really didn’t know what to expect. This is a surprisingly well-written, edited and structured story for a first novel.
I don’t really want to say too much about the story or give too much away. The overall gist is that it is about a married couple, Jim and Deirdre, who decide to go away to try and sort out some issues in their marriage. Little does Deirdre know that these issues are due to Jim carrying a secret about something bad that happened the year previously.
The story progresses along two different paths. Firstly, the very sinister supernatural ‘Twilight Zone’ horror, that Jim and Deirdre go through when their trip away turns into something terrifying. I found this part of the story surprisingly eerie and scary. I’ve seen far too many American horror films to feel calm about any isolated petrol stations in the country, but this almost tipped me over the edge on a couple of occasions.
The other path this story takes, is the more crime thriller aspect, which focuses on a police investigation, which is also linked to the secret Jim is hiding from his wife.
I felt these two very separate, yet connected aspects of the story worked well. Sometimes the sinister part of the story was rather intense, so the crime investigation aspect worked almost as light relief on occasions and helped to bring a sense of realism to the story.
There was good character development for the main characters, Jim & Deirdre. I found I connected with Deirdre more, especially upon discovering her fears after a past attack:
“Deirdre could not shake the fear that it could happen again, that she might not be lucky a second time, that it could be anywhere at anytime.”
I did also briefly connect with Jim, when I discovered he suffered with insomnia and also had a dream about a creepy clown, as I have insomnia and used to have a reoccurring dream about a creepy clown when I was a young child.
Other than for Detective Frank Gibbons, I felt most of the other characters connected with the crime investigation, were somewhat shallow and one-dimensional. However, this wasn’t really a problem for me. In a strange way, it kind of worked, that the characters in the surreal surroundings felt like the more real characters and vice versa.
This was a descriptive novel and I loved the occasional references to other films or novels, such as A Clockwork Orange and The Shining. As a huge fan of Clive Barker, it was of course great to see a little reference to him too:
“It wasn’t some mystical puzzle box from the mind of Clive Barker.”
By combining genres, this novel felt it had a good level of depth and diversity. Covering topics such as secrets, lies, lust, revenge, fear, murder and a good dose of supernatural.
I recommend this novel to fans of any of the genres I’ve mentioned in my review, as I do not think you will be disappointed.
I wish Lou Rera great success with his debut novel and look forward to reading more by him in the future.
I received this book through Goodreads Giveaways First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2015
First off, I just want to thank Lou Rera from the bottom of my heart. I belong to the “Psychological Thrillers” group on Goodreads which hosts 1400 members. Sign was chosen as our May BOTM and not only did Lou ensure that every member who wanted a copy was able to get one but he also gave away 5 signed paperback copies of his book and I was one of these lucky winners :) On top of this, Lou made daily appearances to our group discussion board where he interacted in our group discussions and answered every possible question thrown his way. It’s not often that you find an author who’s willing to put forth so much of their time for so long. I know I truly enjoyed having him around and loved getting to know him better this past month!
Now on to my review! I absolutely loved this book, it was at times incredible creepy and scary and at others times just pure horror fun. The mixing of genres has become increasingly popular lately and that’s what we have here. This book is one part crime thriller, in which a detective is trying to solve a year old murder case and one part paranormal horror, in which our two main characters, Jim and Deirdre embark on a road trip from hell. The best part of this book is trying to figure out how exactly these two storylines will connect in the end.
The story opens with our two main characters getting ready to leave for a romantic weekend getaway. Their marriage has been on shaky ground in the past year so this is supposed to be their chance to re-connect and talk about things that Jim’s kept secret from his wife. Right away we know things aren’t going to turn out well for this couple when Jim receives a phone call from the man he saw die last year with his own eyes. Sure enough, they set off on their trip and along the way are forced to stop at a deserted gas station which kicks off one of the scariest nights I’ve ever had to read through! I live in an area where we have lots of old, rundown gas stations in the middle of nowhere so ya, I got totally freaked out!!
Sign isn’t one long creep out fest though; there are so many more elements and layers to this book that I just loved. Remember the classic Twilight Zone? That vibe ran through Jim and Deirdre’s entire road trip and there were a lot of fun references to Stephen King and Clive Barker, just to name a few. I’m a HUGE fan of books that reference other books and/or authors in them so these parts helped lighten the mood a little for me when I came across them :)
Overall, Sign was a hugely satisfying read for me and I am so glad it was chosen for our book of the month as I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to discover it otherwise. I would highly recommend this one to anyone who loves horror, paranormal, supernatural and crime books. Since this book sparked up so many great conversations on our discussion board I would also recommend this as a terrific book club read. Even if your book club doesn’t typically read paranormal or horror, give this one a try and I think anyone would be pleasantly surprised! Congratulations to Lou Rera for writing a spectacular debut novel and I’m eagerly awaiting your next book!!
Now on to my review! I absolutely loved this book, it was at times incredible creepy and scary and at others times just pure horror fun. The mixing of genres has become increasingly popular lately and that’s what we have here. This book is one part crime thriller, in which a detective is trying to solve a year old murder case and one part paranormal horror, in which our two main characters, Jim and Deirdre embark on a road trip from hell. The best part of this book is trying to figure out how exactly these two storylines will connect in the end.
The story opens with our two main characters getting ready to leave for a romantic weekend getaway. Their marriage has been on shaky ground in the past year so this is supposed to be their chance to re-connect and talk about things that Jim’s kept secret from his wife. Right away we know things aren’t going to turn out well for this couple when Jim receives a phone call from the man he saw die last year with his own eyes. Sure enough, they set off on their trip and along the way are forced to stop at a deserted gas station which kicks off one of the scariest nights I’ve ever had to read through! I live in an area where we have lots of old, rundown gas stations in the middle of nowhere so ya, I got totally freaked out!!
Sign isn’t one long creep out fest though; there are so many more elements and layers to this book that I just loved. Remember the classic Twilight Zone? That vibe ran through Jim and Deirdre’s entire road trip and there were a lot of fun references to Stephen King and Clive Barker, just to name a few. I’m a HUGE fan of books that reference other books and/or authors in them so these parts helped lighten the mood a little for me when I came across them :)
Overall, Sign was a hugely satisfying read for me and I am so glad it was chosen for our book of the month as I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to discover it otherwise. I would highly recommend this one to anyone who loves horror, paranormal, supernatural and crime books. Since this book sparked up so many great conversations on our discussion board I would also recommend this as a terrific book club read. Even if your book club doesn’t typically read paranormal or horror, give this one a try and I think anyone would be pleasantly surprised! Congratulations to Lou Rera for writing a spectacular debut novel and I’m eagerly awaiting your next book!!
May 4, 2015
Let me say at the outset that I am not, nor have I ever been a Stephen King fan. That being said, I cannot say I really enjoyed this book, as the King influence on this author is quite evident. I have always been a "reality guy" when it comes to fiction, and the situations in this book that are supposed to be frightening are so far removed from reality that, as with King's books, they are not, because they could not possibly occur.
On the other hand, Mr. Rera does write well. He uses the language well and does a creditable job of developing his characters. The narration in the third person is quite good, as is the dialogue among the characters. There are, however, many flashbacks and changes of point of view that some, myself included, will find jarring.
The book is basically a morality play based on the concept of "Oh what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive", and does a good job of proving the point. I believe this author has a lot to offer and would not hesitate to recommend him to others, as long as they also enjoy Stephen King.
On the other hand, Mr. Rera does write well. He uses the language well and does a creditable job of developing his characters. The narration in the third person is quite good, as is the dialogue among the characters. There are, however, many flashbacks and changes of point of view that some, myself included, will find jarring.
The book is basically a morality play based on the concept of "Oh what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive", and does a good job of proving the point. I believe this author has a lot to offer and would not hesitate to recommend him to others, as long as they also enjoy Stephen King.
May 1, 2015
If this author's future books are at the caliber this book was written he has a fan for life. If you are a Stephen King, Dean Koontz fan you will enjoy reading this book. It is very well written. Mr. Lera takes you on a rollercoaster ride into the unthinkable.
The book starts when Jim picks up the phone and hears a voice from the past. You see while Jim was on a business trip in San Francisco he thought he would be able to have a fling with a Marlene who is raven hair siren. While on their way back to her place a murder occurs that Jim and/or Marlene are witness too but neither one tell the police when they come to investigate a car being stolen. Jim buries the incident in the back of his mind. Fast forward to a year later when Tom and Diedre are scheduled to go on a weekend trip to talk about things. The fun begins when Tom and Diedra leave on their weekend trip it all starts with the GPS so they drive to the nearest gas station and learn that this particular station hasn't been open for years. While they are in the gas station someone flattens all four of their tires. Are they in a predictament or what, read to find out what happens to this couple.
The book starts when Jim picks up the phone and hears a voice from the past. You see while Jim was on a business trip in San Francisco he thought he would be able to have a fling with a Marlene who is raven hair siren. While on their way back to her place a murder occurs that Jim and/or Marlene are witness too but neither one tell the police when they come to investigate a car being stolen. Jim buries the incident in the back of his mind. Fast forward to a year later when Tom and Diedre are scheduled to go on a weekend trip to talk about things. The fun begins when Tom and Diedra leave on their weekend trip it all starts with the GPS so they drive to the nearest gas station and learn that this particular station hasn't been open for years. While they are in the gas station someone flattens all four of their tires. Are they in a predictament or what, read to find out what happens to this couple.
May 17, 2015
Cheers, all.
Finished 'SIGN' last night. I'm a junky for "gimmicky" thriller novels, and I love noir so this would seem a match made in heaven for me.
Sadly, in the final verdict, not so much.
*** SPOILERS FOLLOW ***
'Sign' started promising enough for me, with the kitsch of a Twilight Zone episode and the initial scenes driving into the fog & at the gas station. The antiquated Ford pickup gave every hint the storyline might follow some sort of time travel tangent, which would have been right in-line with the vibe created up to that point.
The introduction of Marlene's story also held promise, as the noir-lite style was both engaging (for me) and intriguing regarding the potential tie-in to our protagonist. I had given thought to the possibility that one of the two storylines was entirely fantasy existing in the mind of one of the character's of their counterparts in the other timeline.
As things progressed however in the guilt-driven fantasy storyline, I felt the plot became more & more unwieldy. The events never seemed to intertwine in any meaningful way (the repeated explosions, the green needles, the contents inside the mausoleum, even the infamous 'Man with the Cane' really never gelled in any way other than their existing within some semblance of the protagonist's "thoughts made real" nightmare.
On the Marlene front, we saw little character development from Marlene and her instant jump from successful art curator to international forgery ring front-liner seemed just a bit too contrived to be believable. We got fits and stops of backstories (Gibbon's wife & daughter; the mention of Ray LaCongo's "previous life skinning animals alive") which never went anywhere, and the ultimate reveal that Charlie was an accomplice in the forgery ring also could have benefitted from a bit more exposition as to why a career cop would succumb to an art forgery gig - an arena he clearly would have known little to nothing about - in the first place (the "he was brought in to keep the cops from snooping around" explanation was a bit thin IMO; how does a local beat cop even become exposed to the world of fine art to begin with, let alone prove himself trustworthy to a league of international art forgers?)
The denouement...left me cold. In the noir plot line, of course Charlie had to die for his transgressions, and of course Marlene had to live on to present the possibility of a sequel. Gibbons "catharsis" towards his relationship with his estranged daughter seemed a bit of a forced outcome as it relates to the base story line (none of the characters had children, none of the characters were in an estranged relationship and no one confessed any death bed regrets which might have served as catalyst for Gibbons' newfound resolved towards his relationship with his daughter).
In the fantasy-made-real storyline, we're given a swarm of pine needles followed by more explosions and what felt to me like a drive-in style replay of the San Fran events played out for no apparent reason other than to absolve our protagonist in his wife's eyes from being a murderer. Then things just...kind of...stop. No further exposition other than a quick an unexplored reference to their initial destination town being "cursed" (cursed how? did the town bring about the bizarre visions that were somehow made 'real'?). No further discussion of the troll-man who tormented Deidre throughout the fantasy storyline, no intersection to any of the current events in San Fran, no intersection of any of the pronounced visuals in the fantasy (crows, maggots, the comic book, the prominent letter 'S') to the real world or to our protagonist's infidelity, not even any semblance of a cliched 'it was all a dream' wrap-up. Things just...end.
Overall, I found this book to be a concept rich with potential but lacking in precise execution. More deftly inter-connecting the two storylines and building the fantasy in a meaningful way towards the 'big reveal' (rather than what was apparently a random collection of events prior to a sudden 'Voila!' revelation near the end of the novel) would have built more suspense and intrigue. Not horrible for a first-time author; he's got potential.
I'd give this a strong 2 to a light 3 (out of 5).
Finished 'SIGN' last night. I'm a junky for "gimmicky" thriller novels, and I love noir so this would seem a match made in heaven for me.
Sadly, in the final verdict, not so much.
*** SPOILERS FOLLOW ***
'Sign' started promising enough for me, with the kitsch of a Twilight Zone episode and the initial scenes driving into the fog & at the gas station. The antiquated Ford pickup gave every hint the storyline might follow some sort of time travel tangent, which would have been right in-line with the vibe created up to that point.
The introduction of Marlene's story also held promise, as the noir-lite style was both engaging (for me) and intriguing regarding the potential tie-in to our protagonist. I had given thought to the possibility that one of the two storylines was entirely fantasy existing in the mind of one of the character's of their counterparts in the other timeline.
As things progressed however in the guilt-driven fantasy storyline, I felt the plot became more & more unwieldy. The events never seemed to intertwine in any meaningful way (the repeated explosions, the green needles, the contents inside the mausoleum, even the infamous 'Man with the Cane' really never gelled in any way other than their existing within some semblance of the protagonist's "thoughts made real" nightmare.
On the Marlene front, we saw little character development from Marlene and her instant jump from successful art curator to international forgery ring front-liner seemed just a bit too contrived to be believable. We got fits and stops of backstories (Gibbon's wife & daughter; the mention of Ray LaCongo's "previous life skinning animals alive") which never went anywhere, and the ultimate reveal that Charlie was an accomplice in the forgery ring also could have benefitted from a bit more exposition as to why a career cop would succumb to an art forgery gig - an arena he clearly would have known little to nothing about - in the first place (the "he was brought in to keep the cops from snooping around" explanation was a bit thin IMO; how does a local beat cop even become exposed to the world of fine art to begin with, let alone prove himself trustworthy to a league of international art forgers?)
The denouement...left me cold. In the noir plot line, of course Charlie had to die for his transgressions, and of course Marlene had to live on to present the possibility of a sequel. Gibbons "catharsis" towards his relationship with his estranged daughter seemed a bit of a forced outcome as it relates to the base story line (none of the characters had children, none of the characters were in an estranged relationship and no one confessed any death bed regrets which might have served as catalyst for Gibbons' newfound resolved towards his relationship with his daughter).
In the fantasy-made-real storyline, we're given a swarm of pine needles followed by more explosions and what felt to me like a drive-in style replay of the San Fran events played out for no apparent reason other than to absolve our protagonist in his wife's eyes from being a murderer. Then things just...kind of...stop. No further exposition other than a quick an unexplored reference to their initial destination town being "cursed" (cursed how? did the town bring about the bizarre visions that were somehow made 'real'?). No further discussion of the troll-man who tormented Deidre throughout the fantasy storyline, no intersection to any of the current events in San Fran, no intersection of any of the pronounced visuals in the fantasy (crows, maggots, the comic book, the prominent letter 'S') to the real world or to our protagonist's infidelity, not even any semblance of a cliched 'it was all a dream' wrap-up. Things just...end.
Overall, I found this book to be a concept rich with potential but lacking in precise execution. More deftly inter-connecting the two storylines and building the fantasy in a meaningful way towards the 'big reveal' (rather than what was apparently a random collection of events prior to a sudden 'Voila!' revelation near the end of the novel) would have built more suspense and intrigue. Not horrible for a first-time author; he's got potential.
I'd give this a strong 2 to a light 3 (out of 5).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2015
Review: Sign by Lou Rera Publication Date: 24th June 2014
Publisher: Mirador Publishing
ISBN: 978-1910105214
Synopsis:
Jim Thompson received a phone call from a dead man-a man he watched die one drunken, adulterous night while out of town on business. Jim's wife, Deirdre, doesn't know his secret. Neither does Detective Frank Gibbons, who is hot on the case of the year-old crime. In this supernatural thriller, Jim's past surfaces through his guilt and lies. As Detective Gibbons closes in on the truth, Jim and Deirdre must run from a malevolent stalker in this terrifying horror tale of deception and murder.
Review:
In 'Sign', we follow Jim and Deidre on their ill-fated weekend away to discuss the issues within their marriage. Both characters were well written and convincing, especially Deidre.
The various parts of this story were told in a convincing manner with great attention to detail. As more things started to occur on their journey, everything seemed very scary as I was continued to read into the small hours of the night. Appropriate references to 'The Shining', 'The Twilight Zone', Stephen King and Clive Barker were well placed and warranted, as I couldn't ignore the shivers running down my spine as I turned the pages.
At the same time, Detective Gibbons is following up on a year-old murder case, slowly linking the clues together and getting ever nearer the truth. I found the Detective to be a likeable character, while the rest of the police department were background characters that didn't really feature.
Well written, Sign is an impressive first novel from Lou Rera. With twists and turns aplenty, an unsolved murder, horrifying events, more than a touch of the supernatural and some truly terrifying scenes, Sign will appeal to fans of thrillers, crime, supernatural, paranormal and horror. Lou Rera is certainly one to watch.
I'd like to thank Jules for her recommendation of this book.
Publisher: Mirador Publishing
ISBN: 978-1910105214
Synopsis:
Jim Thompson received a phone call from a dead man-a man he watched die one drunken, adulterous night while out of town on business. Jim's wife, Deirdre, doesn't know his secret. Neither does Detective Frank Gibbons, who is hot on the case of the year-old crime. In this supernatural thriller, Jim's past surfaces through his guilt and lies. As Detective Gibbons closes in on the truth, Jim and Deirdre must run from a malevolent stalker in this terrifying horror tale of deception and murder.
Review:
In 'Sign', we follow Jim and Deidre on their ill-fated weekend away to discuss the issues within their marriage. Both characters were well written and convincing, especially Deidre.
The various parts of this story were told in a convincing manner with great attention to detail. As more things started to occur on their journey, everything seemed very scary as I was continued to read into the small hours of the night. Appropriate references to 'The Shining', 'The Twilight Zone', Stephen King and Clive Barker were well placed and warranted, as I couldn't ignore the shivers running down my spine as I turned the pages.
At the same time, Detective Gibbons is following up on a year-old murder case, slowly linking the clues together and getting ever nearer the truth. I found the Detective to be a likeable character, while the rest of the police department were background characters that didn't really feature.
Well written, Sign is an impressive first novel from Lou Rera. With twists and turns aplenty, an unsolved murder, horrifying events, more than a touch of the supernatural and some truly terrifying scenes, Sign will appeal to fans of thrillers, crime, supernatural, paranormal and horror. Lou Rera is certainly one to watch.
I'd like to thank Jules for her recommendation of this book.
December 13, 2015
When I am really into a book, it consumes me to the point where I will take any and every opportunity to read it.
I had great hopes for this book, but it just never happened for me. By 80% through I was wanting to get to the end simply so that I could start to read something else. I found my attention wandering as i read, to the point where i would get up and go off to do something else - even (yes I hate to admit it)*work*!
There was so much promise in this book that remained, in my honest opinion, unfulfilled.
There were bits of it that were great - the comic book for instance - but so much more could have been made of it.
The book just didn't flow - the flashbacks and switching between POV's - seemed largely random, often giving the narration a jumpy, disconnected feel.
Other things that didn't work for me were: We are told at the beginning of the story that Jim and Deidre are not going to make it to their weekend destination of Fairhaven. What was the point of that? And this was not the only instance of telling us what was going to happen first, and then telling us how. Also, I felt at time like I was being hammered over the head with basic facts in the story being repeated. A little subtlety goes a long way.
Then in the epilogue, we have virtually the whole plot encapsulated.....I could have saved myself a lot of time and just read that.
I really wanted to like this book - but, sorry Lou, I didn't find it at all creepy, or the least bit suspenseful.
Thank you to the author for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I had great hopes for this book, but it just never happened for me. By 80% through I was wanting to get to the end simply so that I could start to read something else. I found my attention wandering as i read, to the point where i would get up and go off to do something else - even (yes I hate to admit it)*work*!
There was so much promise in this book that remained, in my honest opinion, unfulfilled.
There were bits of it that were great - the comic book for instance - but so much more could have been made of it.
The book just didn't flow - the flashbacks and switching between POV's - seemed largely random, often giving the narration a jumpy, disconnected feel.
Other things that didn't work for me were: We are told at the beginning of the story that Jim and Deidre are not going to make it to their weekend destination of Fairhaven. What was the point of that? And this was not the only instance of telling us what was going to happen first, and then telling us how. Also, I felt at time like I was being hammered over the head with basic facts in the story being repeated. A little subtlety goes a long way.
Then in the epilogue, we have virtually the whole plot encapsulated.....I could have saved myself a lot of time and just read that.
I really wanted to like this book - but, sorry Lou, I didn't find it at all creepy, or the least bit suspenseful.
Thank you to the author for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2015
Good first novel, though I did spend a lot of time wondering what was going on. A husband and wife set off on a weekend away, but the husband is keeping a secret, a guilty conscience.
As the story is revealed things gradually become clear, though not the reason why the couple are affected in such a way.
As the story is revealed things gradually become clear, though not the reason why the couple are affected in such a way.
February 23, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it kept me wanting more. I was unsure when it started to get supernatural as I don't normally read those sort of books, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend it as a book worth reading.
May 13, 2015
Sign is a dark thriller debut by Lou Rera with influences of Stephen King that will have the reader sleeping with the lights on. A highly entertaining four star read!
December 20, 2014
In the interest of full disclosure, I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Given that fact and the fact that this is a first novel, I was prepared for a bit of amateurishness, perhaps some sloppy writing or bad editing. I have to say I was quite pleasantly surprised. I won't bore you with a repeat of the synopsis, since you can certainly get that from the other reviews. I should mention, however, that I felt the description on the back cover did not do the book justice. It really downplays the supernatural elements of the storyline, which quickly take center stage and don't let go until the end. I grew up with Stephen King et. al. and I love a good supernatural horror story. If you are a horror fan and you just read the blurb provided, you might just see "thriller" and pass over a book you might have really enjoyed.
As others have stated, this book features two parallel storylines that are told in alternating chapters; one the supercharged paranormal horror of Jim's and Deirdre's experiences, the other the straight crime thriller storyline. Though the two stories are interwoven and connected, they are not as tightly connected as I might have hoped. They almost read like two different novels of different genres. I kept waiting for things to come together, but in the end, the connection (aside from the obvious) was a tenuous one and the ending was a bit disappointing after all the tension and buildup.
The characters were good, though as one reviewer commented, the thugs were... well, thuggish. Marlene, the sexy siren, was a bit of a dark Mary Sue. It seems to me that it is often difficult for writers to write convincing characters of the opposite gender, just because they can never experience what it is really like to be them. The same could be said for any type of life experience the author has never lived that cannot be grasped in an intrinsic way through research. This doesn't mean that it cannot be done and done well. The wife Deirdre felt more real...perhaps the book had a subtle dash of a madonna/whore complex. Don't get me wrong; I love a good sexy siren. I just find her more compelling if she is human underneath the alluring facade. Even the best of us have flaws and quirks that make us unique. She came across to me almost as much a plot device as a character.
That said, I was very pleasantly surprised by the writer's very fertile imagination. The horrors he conjured were intriguing and kept me turning pages to see what would happen next. They didn't always make a lot of sense within the context of the story, but hey, it is a first novel. The pacing was very well done, the tension held taut like a wire. Polish comes with practice, and I will be interested to see what the author does next. The writing was solid and clear and had some good visceral moments. I will be keeping an eye on this one.
This novel wasn't meant to be War and Peace. It was an entertaining mad dash through a dark and twisted world and perhaps a cautionary tale about honesty and integrity. I read through the whole thing in one sitting while my husband slept. In a field choked with vampire and werewolf wanna-bes, it was incredibly refreshing to find something different that was written by a capable and competent author. Thank you, Mr. Rera, for sharing your dark imaginings with us. I look forward to seeing your future work as you hone your craft. Take us to the edge and back- the territory there is dark and scary, but it is exhillarating and just the way I like it.
As others have stated, this book features two parallel storylines that are told in alternating chapters; one the supercharged paranormal horror of Jim's and Deirdre's experiences, the other the straight crime thriller storyline. Though the two stories are interwoven and connected, they are not as tightly connected as I might have hoped. They almost read like two different novels of different genres. I kept waiting for things to come together, but in the end, the connection (aside from the obvious) was a tenuous one and the ending was a bit disappointing after all the tension and buildup.
The characters were good, though as one reviewer commented, the thugs were... well, thuggish. Marlene, the sexy siren, was a bit of a dark Mary Sue. It seems to me that it is often difficult for writers to write convincing characters of the opposite gender, just because they can never experience what it is really like to be them. The same could be said for any type of life experience the author has never lived that cannot be grasped in an intrinsic way through research. This doesn't mean that it cannot be done and done well. The wife Deirdre felt more real...perhaps the book had a subtle dash of a madonna/whore complex. Don't get me wrong; I love a good sexy siren. I just find her more compelling if she is human underneath the alluring facade. Even the best of us have flaws and quirks that make us unique. She came across to me almost as much a plot device as a character.
That said, I was very pleasantly surprised by the writer's very fertile imagination. The horrors he conjured were intriguing and kept me turning pages to see what would happen next. They didn't always make a lot of sense within the context of the story, but hey, it is a first novel. The pacing was very well done, the tension held taut like a wire. Polish comes with practice, and I will be interested to see what the author does next. The writing was solid and clear and had some good visceral moments. I will be keeping an eye on this one.
This novel wasn't meant to be War and Peace. It was an entertaining mad dash through a dark and twisted world and perhaps a cautionary tale about honesty and integrity. I read through the whole thing in one sitting while my husband slept. In a field choked with vampire and werewolf wanna-bes, it was incredibly refreshing to find something different that was written by a capable and competent author. Thank you, Mr. Rera, for sharing your dark imaginings with us. I look forward to seeing your future work as you hone your craft. Take us to the edge and back- the territory there is dark and scary, but it is exhillarating and just the way I like it.
December 26, 2014
First of all, I wish to thank Goodreads First Reads and author Lou Rera for the good fortune to be a winner of a copy of this book in a giveaway. Thank you!!!!!!
Jim Thompson was involved in a life changing incident a year ago that involved a horrific murder and infidelity. He has been living with the guilt which has been driving him crazy. He finally decides that he can no longer keep the secret, so he and his wife plan a weekend road trip so that he can clear his conscience once and for all. Before the trip, he receives a phone call....from the dead man. From there, they end up entering the "twilight zone" where things start off bad and only get worse. In the meantime, there is an ongoing police investigation into the disappearance of the victim. The investigation part of the story contains all the classic type characters: the flawed but brilliant police detective, the disgusting muscle brain crooks, the femme fatale among others. The format goes back and forth between the present day nightmare incidents the Thompsons are experiencing, to the police police investigation. This is an extremely well written and edited book, with terrific character development. Some of the characters are somewhat cliche, but that actually adds to the overall plot. I am truly impressed with author Lou Rera's nightmarish portion of the book, which gave me the "icky chills" and nightmares. I am a lover of good spookers, and a life long fan of Stephen King, but have found that most horror stories fall short. But this story did get under my skin. I do look forward to reading more by this talented author.
Jim Thompson was involved in a life changing incident a year ago that involved a horrific murder and infidelity. He has been living with the guilt which has been driving him crazy. He finally decides that he can no longer keep the secret, so he and his wife plan a weekend road trip so that he can clear his conscience once and for all. Before the trip, he receives a phone call....from the dead man. From there, they end up entering the "twilight zone" where things start off bad and only get worse. In the meantime, there is an ongoing police investigation into the disappearance of the victim. The investigation part of the story contains all the classic type characters: the flawed but brilliant police detective, the disgusting muscle brain crooks, the femme fatale among others. The format goes back and forth between the present day nightmare incidents the Thompsons are experiencing, to the police police investigation. This is an extremely well written and edited book, with terrific character development. Some of the characters are somewhat cliche, but that actually adds to the overall plot. I am truly impressed with author Lou Rera's nightmarish portion of the book, which gave me the "icky chills" and nightmares. I am a lover of good spookers, and a life long fan of Stephen King, but have found that most horror stories fall short. But this story did get under my skin. I do look forward to reading more by this talented author.
May 4, 2015
Jim Thompson receives a strange phone call, just as he and his wife are preparing for a week-end getaway. He is called by a dead man whom he saw murdered a year before. From that point on this novel is riveting and hard to put down. (I read it all on a Sunday) There are references to The Twilight Zone and that's what this feels like. Jim has kept secrets from his wife and is eaten up with guilt that finally seems to be catching up to him. This book is well-written and edited, hard to believe that it is the author's first novel. I loved the interconnectedness of the novel. We find out that the phone call from a dead man is a "sign" but begin to see other signs throughout the book ... signs that something is wrong and something terrible has happened. I would call this a supernatural thriller; not everything has a rational explanation but it all blends together. At the same time Jim and his wife are setting out on their journey, a detective in San Francisco is digging into a cold case file -- a missing person and the murder Jim saw the year before. There are surprises throughout the novel. The eerie quality would work for an old Alfred Hitchcock episode. The imagery is wonderful as you picture this couple lost in nowhere land struggling to find their way as Jim struggles to find his way in dealing with his secrets and revealing them to his wife.
April 25, 2015
I won this book in a giveaway on Goodreads. It started out pretty well with a detective noir/ horror feel to it. But as the book progressed it started unraveling first with only a few problems here and there, but escalated to the point were it finally unraveled. The story has multiple povs and in the first area it was fine, but as it progressed and switched though the point of views it as I said before unraveled. It has really strong bones and I can see where the author was trying to go, However he didn't fully succeed though I don't believe it was for a lack of trying. Though with more practice and experience the author should be able to do better with his next book if there is to be one.
May 11, 2015
The whole time I was reading this, the "Twilight Zone theme kept playing in my head. Then I'd start humming the Alfred Hitchcock theme. This book definitely had the quality of both in it. I wouldn't normally read this type of story, but I 'm glad that I did. Well paced, believable characters, (especially Marlene) kept me wanting more. Great job Lou, look there's a signpost up ahead, you've just entered The Twilight Zone...
May 13, 2015
Lou Rera certainly knows how to weave a spell, and this one caught me up along with a cast of characters and "others" you won't soon forget. Having been caught in more than one time warp, this book is closer to the real thing than I expected.
Keep watch for Lou ' s next one, which is bound to give you many sleepless nights.
Keep watch for Lou ' s next one, which is bound to give you many sleepless nights.
October 17, 2014
Great story and a perfect Halloween read! Read it with the lights on. Hoping for a sequel...
May 20, 2015
I'm a sucker for a supernatural thriller, heavy on the creepy atmosphere. This book absolutely delivers on that aspect. Lou Rera is a master at creating a setting reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode. I loved the eeriness of the story. As the mood darkened, I ventured ahead with both trepidation and fascination. The scenes play out with a cinematic feel, and I felt like I was standing alongside the characters, seeing exactly what they saw.
Throughout this book, the reader, like the characters, is kept off balance. We're shrouded in a dense fog of the unknown, left on our own to determine what, if anything, is real. While this held me riveted in the first half of the book, by the second half of the book this aspect became too convoluted. I needed some sort of foothold to keep me grounded in the story. We have a lot of back-and-forth in time, with scenes shifting constantly, which added to confusion.
This book is heavy on symbolism. Again, this worked well for me in the first half, but, by the second half, I wanted to understand their meanings. Things such as the green needles and the man with a cane are never explained. This could have been a stylistic choice by the author, allowing readers to reach their own conclusions. For me, though, the sudden shift away from the things that played such a huge role in the story left me feeling cheated. I wanted the connection, so I could understand the pieces of the puzzle.
The plot has some loose ends, with minor aspects unresolved. And, unfortunately, the ending fell apart for me. This has to do with Marlene's character, as well as some police involvement. I don't want to give spoilers, so I'll leave it at that.
Ultimately, the second half didn't live up to the promise of the first half. That being said, Rera's writing style easily pulled me right into the story and kept me turning pages. The issues that bothered me certainly won't bother all readers. So, if you enjoy supernatural stories that make you question reality, give this book a try.
Throughout this book, the reader, like the characters, is kept off balance. We're shrouded in a dense fog of the unknown, left on our own to determine what, if anything, is real. While this held me riveted in the first half of the book, by the second half of the book this aspect became too convoluted. I needed some sort of foothold to keep me grounded in the story. We have a lot of back-and-forth in time, with scenes shifting constantly, which added to confusion.
This book is heavy on symbolism. Again, this worked well for me in the first half, but, by the second half, I wanted to understand their meanings. Things such as the green needles and the man with a cane are never explained. This could have been a stylistic choice by the author, allowing readers to reach their own conclusions. For me, though, the sudden shift away from the things that played such a huge role in the story left me feeling cheated. I wanted the connection, so I could understand the pieces of the puzzle.
The plot has some loose ends, with minor aspects unresolved. And, unfortunately, the ending fell apart for me. This has to do with Marlene's character, as well as some police involvement. I don't want to give spoilers, so I'll leave it at that.
Ultimately, the second half didn't live up to the promise of the first half. That being said, Rera's writing style easily pulled me right into the story and kept me turning pages. The issues that bothered me certainly won't bother all readers. So, if you enjoy supernatural stories that make you question reality, give this book a try.
April 14, 2017
Great read! Dark horror/suspense with supernatural elements. Freaking loved it!
A husband harboring a year long guilty conscious that's eating away at him and his wife who just knows something is amiss pack for a weekend away. Each is hoping for some quality time to talk things over....so much for that plan! While on the road to a B&B they are somehow thrown into a living nightmare of unnatural and freaky proportions.
Meanwhile, an investigation concerning a beautiful, sensual looking art dealer involved with the aforementioned husband deals with a hot tryst between the two that goes horribly wrong, a stolen car, another man gruesomely maimed and murdered during the same time frame, and a cover-up that one of the detectives is unraveling. This all going on during the start of the vacation from hell.
Both situations culminate into a startling and suspenseful ending.
Good plot and awesome twists and turns.
A husband harboring a year long guilty conscious that's eating away at him and his wife who just knows something is amiss pack for a weekend away. Each is hoping for some quality time to talk things over....so much for that plan! While on the road to a B&B they are somehow thrown into a living nightmare of unnatural and freaky proportions.
Meanwhile, an investigation concerning a beautiful, sensual looking art dealer involved with the aforementioned husband deals with a hot tryst between the two that goes horribly wrong, a stolen car, another man gruesomely maimed and murdered during the same time frame, and a cover-up that one of the detectives is unraveling. This all going on during the start of the vacation from hell.
Both situations culminate into a startling and suspenseful ending.
Good plot and awesome twists and turns.
January 5, 2016
I won this through a goodreads giveaway.
I can't believe I missed this review! I thought I'd written it.
First off, this is a short mystery-thriller story with little twists and turns. Not the average joe. The beginning of the story felt extremely slow and spoon-fed. The moment I picked up this book and started reading, I cringed. Okay, we get it: Jim did something. Something bad. Never told his wife. Now his past has come back to haunt him. Literally. He's freaked out, trying to play it off, but he can't. He's guilty. We get it. Fortunately, after husband and wife set off on vacation, there's much less of spoon-feeding and finally the story can really begin. I won't give out spoilers, just bare through the beginning and enjoy the read!
I can't believe I missed this review! I thought I'd written it.
First off, this is a short mystery-thriller story with little twists and turns. Not the average joe. The beginning of the story felt extremely slow and spoon-fed. The moment I picked up this book and started reading, I cringed. Okay, we get it: Jim did something. Something bad. Never told his wife. Now his past has come back to haunt him. Literally. He's freaked out, trying to play it off, but he can't. He's guilty. We get it. Fortunately, after husband and wife set off on vacation, there's much less of spoon-feeding and finally the story can really begin. I won't give out spoilers, just bare through the beginning and enjoy the read!
April 27, 2017
The Twilight Zone meets Stephen King. For me, this book had all of the good and bad of a Twilight Zone episode. Those episodes used to frustrate me to no end because there never seemed to be any clear answers or closure. But all of the unique and eerie weirdness is there as well. I found myself both compelled and frustrated throughout the story.
I have to say that there were a few moments that had me quite tense, and there was one in particular that was so grisly, that I had to stop reading for a minute. I ended up saving several lines of really beautiful writing that stood out. I like stories that take real human sins and manifest them into something supernatural. Overall, I liked broadening my horizons with this book.
I have to say that there were a few moments that had me quite tense, and there was one in particular that was so grisly, that I had to stop reading for a minute. I ended up saving several lines of really beautiful writing that stood out. I like stories that take real human sins and manifest them into something supernatural. Overall, I liked broadening my horizons with this book.
May 6, 2015
I read Lou Rera’s Sign with trepidation. I’m not much on horror, sci-fi or detective stories. But the book trailer grabbed me, so I signed on and downloaded the book. Immediately I was drawn into the mystery of a phone call from the grave, the tense dynamics of a marriage going south, and harrowing scenes of unearthly visions. Or are they for real? I was hooked. Rera cleverly braids several genres: a crime mystery, spousal conflicts, ominous mind games and the super natural. No spoilers here, but readers will need to fasten their seatbelts and hang on. It’s a bumpy ride!
December 24, 2014
I was a First Read Winner of this book, and I know I will be thinking about it long after I am done reading. I was not sure what to expect, but what I got was one intense read that had me at the edge of my seat, and there was no way I was going to read the book before going to sleep. I don't want to give anything away, just be warned not for the faint of heart. But if you are a fan of Stephen King than I am sure you will love this book.
May 26, 2015
Well, I like the beginning. It kept my interest. I loved the way that the couple was in a car, then all of a sudden they didn't know where they were. Then stuff started happening. The thin man kept following, then all of a sudden, a lady that has the looks and the body pops in the scene. All subjects turn to an art scamming and people dying, and green slime, and, and ,and,,,Well you read the book..........
December 21, 2014
I won this book thru goodreads!
Jim Thompson is getting phone calls from a dead man!
I loved this book I hope to see more from this author. Mr Rera has got the nack for the ordinary and extraordinary. He takes a simple quiet weekend for his characters and turns it into the trip from hell. I hope to be able to read more from this author.
Jim Thompson is getting phone calls from a dead man!
I loved this book I hope to see more from this author. Mr Rera has got the nack for the ordinary and extraordinary. He takes a simple quiet weekend for his characters and turns it into the trip from hell. I hope to be able to read more from this author.
May 9, 2015
EXCELLENT MUST READ...This is by far one of the best books read in this general area of reading. If you like The Twilight Zone or Stephen King or any of those then YES I RECOMMEND THIS TO EVERYONE. This was one picked for our BOM reads and was every bit worth the time, money and read. I won this from the author himself for a review in our group...
April 19, 2015
I won this book through the giveaways. I really liked it. Scary and mysterious. Only downside I have with it is the constant references to movies and tv shows. It took me out of the book several times.
May 3, 2015
This one gets rather scary. The author mentions THe Twilight Zone, and there are vestiges of that. THe young couple sets out on a trip to help cement their relationship. Various weird things happen. THere are not too many other characters, but they are ominous.
Read
June 6, 2015Interesting Read
Entertaining read. Finished this one record time. The only thing was the author jumped from theme to often. I found myself rereading passages to make sure I was getting the story right.
Entertaining read. Finished this one record time. The only thing was the author jumped from theme to often. I found myself rereading passages to make sure I was getting the story right.
March 11, 2015
Crazy good. Check out why by reading my blog www.lysbooklist.blogspot.com. (You might have to hunt down some posts on the book.)
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