Mama

by Robin Morris

Something follows the Conover family as they drive from L.A. to Chicago. Nine year old Michael sees a face form in the window of the family car. Fourteen year old Alison sees two creepy children at a motel. A car stays behind them on the road, never passing or falling behind. Wherever the Conovers go, wherever they look, they see a large woman and her children. Patiently, relentlessly, the woman gets closer.

She is superhumanly strong. She can enter and leave a locked room at will. Confused and scared, the Conovers can't understand what is happening. Everywhere they turn they see death coming for them. Mama teaches her children, like a lioness teaches her cubs to hunt. The Conovers realize that they are the prey.

Genres: Horror

Audible Audio

First published May 4, 2011

About the author

I’m an author, editor, and assistant to a literary agent.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mama is the epitome of a thriller, with lots of twists and turns, monsters, and a healthy amount of gore! While primarily a horror novel, there was also the underlying story of a family and their struggles in life. Both stories worked hand in hand and each made the other better and more complex. The action was non-stop, and so was the creepy factor! Mama and her children were very unique villians, and absolutely make me want to rethink any possible road trips in my future.

I think the characters made this story for me, as much as the plot. The Conover family is headed back to Illinois after Jeff's career as an actor has hit a dead end. His wife Lee, although she won't admit it to her husband, is more than happy to not live the Hollywood life. Alison is your typical angry teen, furious at what she sees as her father's failure and how it is "ruining" her life. Of all of them, 9 year old Michael was my favorite character. He was sweet and smart and just a lovable kid. Mama and her family, even though the villians of the story, were relatable in their own way. Mama came from a different world, a world in which you had to be hard and cruel to survive. In her own way, she was trying to teach her own children an important lesson. I never thought I would find a murderous villian a sympathetic character, but there were definately shreds of humanity with Mama and her kids.

I think this was a very unique twist on horror, with a very engaging plot. I wouldn't recommend it for the under 17 crowd necessarily because of the level of gore, but I definately recommend it for those who love a good, creepy read!

[Lyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a signed copy of this book for free from the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Program.

This was a great read and would make a really good movie. Considering that the POVs switch back quite often between the characters, there's no confusion, and it flows flawlessly.

This is very fast paced and hard to put down.

Mama and her children come from beyond the veil, a world they refer to as "The Real." In order for her children to survive "The Real" the must learn lessons in cruelty and survival...meaning, to kill.

This is what brings Mama and her brood into "our" world, which she refers to as the "Toy World" and humans are the "toys."

With that in mind, you can only imagine the horrors that whomever they decide to play with encounter when it's play-time.

I don't want to reveal too much, but I have to say the author took me on an exciting, creepy, adrenaline-pumping ride with Mama.

Not only was I completely unaware to what Mama and her brood's true form was (I thought they were just super-human), I also found myself feeling as helpless as the characters felt.

The only cons I have aren't really cons but personal opinions on how annoying certain characters were and by that, I'm not even talking about the villains.

I still stick to my 5 star rating of the book, though. The cover's lacking, but not to the point that I'd deduct points.

I recommend this to all horror fans!!

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Conover family – Jeff and Lee and their children Allison and Michael – are driving across country, moving from California to Illinois. This in and of itself is bad enough, but then they notice that they are being chased … followed by an uncanny, large woman and her three children. What does she want with the Conovers? Why is she trying to kill them?

I must say that this was a freaky story – after reading it, I think it will be awhile before I start wanting to take a cross-country trip again … The slow build-up of suspense and eeriness is beautifully done, creating a slowly increasing tension in the reader. The action is seen from multiple viewpoints – sometimes we’re with one of the Conovers, sometimes with Mama or one of her children, sometimes with a Nevada patrolman who ends up getting caught up in the whole mess. On some occasions, the author will show us the same scene from different viewpoints, so we can get a full appreciation of exactly what the characters are going through. It is a highly effective ploy and the reader becomes quite attached to the characters. And, since this is a horror novel, that really is a pity …

Nicely done! Horror aficionados should definitely check this one out!

[P.J. Blakey-Novis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mama is a genuinely frightening tale, in which the Conover family make a cross country trip, relentlessly pursued by Mama and her three children. It soon becomes evident that Mama is not human, and it feels as though the family's attempt to survive is futile. A gripping read.

[Benjamin X. Wretlind · Rating 3 out of 5]

At its core, Mama by Robin Morris is a thrilling, edge-of-your seat chase thriller. However, the thrill of the chase is secondary to the development of the characters--both protagonist and antagonist--as they are each faced with circumstances that are unfamiliar. It is a fun read, easy to get into and packed with scene after scene of relentless action.

The Conovers--mom, dad and two kids--are on their way back to Illinois after Jeff Conover's failed attempt to find work as an actor in Los Angeles. The action starts and ends on this trip, and as one who has taken the same route as the Conovers through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and into Colorado, I appreciated the descriptions and detail Robin Morris uses to set the scene. There is a hopeless feeling--even an empty one--knowing the land is so barren that help may be too far away. This, in itself, can elevate the stress levels, but throw in a crazy Mama (who may not be what she seems) and her three kids hell-bent on death, and the stress level is sure to go through the roof.

I enjoyed my time reading Mama. It is well thought out and pieced together with care. There are a few bumps in the road, but nothing that would throw you off the path.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll preface this review by saying I won this book from a Goodreads Giveaway but I have in no way been compensated for this review. Now, for my opinion. When I read the blurb about this book I was very excited. It read like a 1970's throw back horror book. The first 70 pages went by like a blur and I stayed very interested. But then it started to drag, it became a continuous repetitious chase with not much going on. As short as the book is, it didn't give much room to flesh out the characters, and certainly not enough room to explore the Mama character and her other dimension. Without that extra bit of imagery, the climax of the story seemed to come from left field like someone pushing through a case of writers block against a deadline. I also could have done without some of the coarse language which I felt didn't flow with the story and wasn't justified. So, to sum up, it was a great idea but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

[susan murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant really should be made into a film kept me going from page 1 I was riveted the conovers just dont beleive the young boy but in the end they see for themselves how it seems so unreal but it is happening to them mama is so cruel but enjoys it while teaching her young the ways of hunting

[Tanya Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept full of violence and insanity. A fun imaginative read.