Suckers

by Z. Rider

A horror novel

WHEN WORN-OUT MUSICIAN DAN FERRY decides to take a shortcut back to the band's hotel, he picks the wrong dark alley to go down. Within days of being attacked by a bat-like creature, he becomes consumed with the need to drink human blood. Terrified of what will happen if he doesn't get his fix--and terrified of what he'll do to get it--he turns to his best friend and bandmate, Ray Ford, for help. But what the two don't know as they try to keep Dan's situation quiet is that the parasite driving Dan's addiction has the potential to wipe out humankind.

Poignant and terrifying, heartfelt and ingenious, Suckers is a story of sacrifice and friendship in the face of an alien contagion that threatens to destroy humanity.

Genres: Horror, Vampires, Fiction, Audiobook, Science Fiction

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 17, 2015

Reviews

[Kaora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bandmates Dan and Ray are attacked walking home after a show and Dan is bitten. After the attack he is plagued with headaches, that strangely are abated by ingesting blood. But as his need for blood increases, he finds he needs a little help from his band.

Suckers is a quick horror read from Z. Rider. I was thoroughly impressed by this writer I had heard so little about. The characters are all well done, and you can see the different relationships between the bandmates, dysfunctional as they may be.

I wasn't expecting this to be a vampires book, just a bug book, but was pleasantly surprised in discovering how well the author melded the two creating a new horrible creature that will have you thinking twice about that noise you hear when walking home in the dark.

The beginning was a tad bit slow going, but as the author found her footing, I found it harder and harder to put the book down. I enjoyed the point of view of the infected protagonist, Dan, although there was one scene that even I found a bit hard to swallow.

Recommended for horror fans. While I didn't find this book as creepy as I would have liked, it is still a fun ride. This is definitely an author to watch.

[Magdalena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Musician Dan Ferry gets bitten by a bat-like creature and starts to feel different during the days that follow. He got nasty headaches. And, a buzzing feeling every time he touches another person. But the most worrying part his growing need for human blood...

I actually came to enjoy this book towards the end and that is more than I expected, especially since I was thinking of giving up on the book for a long while. I just had a damn hard time getting into the story, what made me keep reading was pure stubbornness and the fact that Dan and Ray's friendship throughout the book was really great. I just wish the story had been better. In the beginning, I listened to the book and then I went over to read it as an ebook and I was skimming a bit just to get through the boring parts. But somewhere along the way, the book got better and better.

Unfortunately, the beginning and most of the middle was just not that interesting. Dan got bitten by a "vampire bat" and started to change and get a taste for blood. Ray never gave up on his best friend and stayed by his side and helped him. Then, came the part when more and more people were attacked and suddenly the story takes a dystopian turn and that is when I start to really like the book. The ending is a bit sad.

I'm glad I never gave up on and continued to read the book. It may have been slow in the beginning, but towards the end, the story improved enough to make it enjoyable to read.

2.5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Mauoijenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

*NetGalley book review*

Wow! This was outstanding. I really enjoyed the storyline and the relationship between best friends/bandmates. This book is fast and very gripping. I found myself holdoing my breath a few times as you just didn't know what was going to happen next. I hope we get more from Rider real soon. Very much enjoyed this.

[Frank Errington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy

Jaime & Ray Ford, and Danny Ferry are the musicians who make up "Two Tons of Dirt." You might think, what a cool band name, what's it mean? According to Ray - 'Cause that's how much they throw on your grave.

It's seems like they've been on tour for years, but it's finally winding down. Time to get back home and work on their next album. Just a few more dates. After a show in North Carolina, Dan and Ray decide to walk back to their hotel and take a shortcut through an alley. Uh, oh. Shortcuts, alleys, and horror novels are NEVER a good combination. This is where Dan is attacked and bit on the back of his neck by something.

"The thing smacked into the back of his neck like a softball, pitching him forward." Was it a bat? If it wasn't, what could it be? Before long, Dan is fighting headaches and then there's the buzzing, like bees, driving him to distraction. So much so, he winds up slapping his car, hard. Hard enough to slice the edge of his hand, drawing blood. When he shoves the cut in his mouth and sucks the blood to stem the bleeding, the buzzing stops and the headaches are gone. And so it begins.

Although, Dan and his band mates aren't the only ones affected, they do come up with an effective way of dealing with what is happening. Not everyone is so lucky, if you want to call what they have to do, lucky. While the world around them deteriorates, they gather together family and friends together and try to avoid venturing out after dark.

A lot of the story is about the band-mates and their relationships. The author did an exceptional job developing these characters and giving the reader the chance to truly get to know them. At times delightfully disgusting, Suckers is a completely original horror story and as crazy as the premise is, it certainly seems within the realm of possibility.

Available now, as a paperback and for the Kindle, through Amazon.com Suckers is one horror fans shouldn't miss.

Definitely recommended.

[Kaisersoze · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s an old adage deriding the judging of books by their covers. I’ve long thought that adage should be amended to more specifically target book blurbs, and I’m more convinced than ever that I’m right about this after reading Z Rider’s debut novel, Suckers.

As you can see from higher up this page, the summarising blurb paints Suckers as some kind of hybrid zombie-vampire apocalyptic read, which frankly, sounded pretty damn good to me. But in reality, Rider here serves up something more akin to a dramatic exploration of the depths of friendship than an outright horror as pseudo-successful band members Dan and Ray are attacked by a bat-like creature within pages of the opening, setting off a chain of events that will strain the limits of the bond they’ve developed since high school.

You see Dan gets bitten and pretty soon starts needing blood. The story is told from his third-person perspective, and the way Rider gets into his head is commendable. You’re never sure what he’s becoming and whether there is any way forward for him, but Ray is right there with him, helping him in any way he can and keeping his secret while he does it. At this point, I was pretty sure what was going to happen, but I’m pleased to say I was way off base.

Therein, however, lies a major problem. At one point Suckers sets itself up to be about a band struggling with a monster in their midst, but then it completely changes its direction, while still promising apocalyptic horror. But it does not deliver on that promise. Instead it spends a good number of its pages having characters talk about the badness that is happening throughout the country. They watch news reports and comment on it. Then they go charging off to a secluded location to avoid the worst of what seems to be coming their way. Yet nothing of note ever really seems to happen to them. And when it does, it occurs away from Dan’s (and therefore the reader’s) viewing. I kept waiting for things to go (ahem) bat-shit crazy. Instead, I got the Dan and Ray Dramatic Moments Show.

I should emphasise at this point that I think Rider has a definite career as a writer ahead of her. The quality of her prose is strong and her characterisations of the three band members (yes, there’s a third wheel in this band’s mix) was detailed enough to get a real feel for them. But the story itself required more intensity, more action, and definitely more peril; or at the very least a re-blurbing.

3 Unfulfilled Love Bites for Suckers.

The preceding was based on two copies of the book – one provided by the author and the other by Netgalley – in exchange for an honest review.

Find this and other reviews like it at Horror After Dark.

[Michael Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of things I liked a great deal about this book, but the most outstanding thing was the very real and very touching relationship between Dan, our protagonist, and Ray, his best friend and band mate. It seems like male friendship in pop culture is usually portrayed as backslapping, getting drunk, and bonding over banging hot chicks without there ever being all that much of substance going on because guys don't discuss feelings. What we don't usually get are very deep or insightful portrayals of real male platonic friendship. In Suckers we do get a wonderful portrayal of two heterosexual men who love each other to the point that they would do almost anything for each other. The friendship between Dan and Ray is very much central to the book and is a touching thing to witness and caused me to be genuinely invested in their fates.

Don't worry horror fans, Suckers is still very much a horror novel about what happens when something mysterious stars infecting people causing them to become increasingly violent if they don't get human blood. One of the things I most appreciated about Suckers was that as strange things begin to happen, the characters in the book actually deal with them in plausible ways. I especially loved that as events unfolded, Dan and Ray took a very logical approach to trying to deal with a compelling need for human blood. (It also led to one of the books creepiest moments which involves a very stressful scene involving a cat that is heartbreaking to read.

While Suckers doesn't avoid discussing the bigger picture aspects of the world falling apart, it keeps the focus on how our main characters struggle to survive. And is doing so it brings both the heart and horror of its story to the forefront.

[Leigh Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been putting off writing my review while I decide how I feel about this book. I have decided that I really enjoyed it; it is ultimately a well-written and intriguing look at friendship and survival in the face of an apocalyptic bloodbath.

Part vampire, part zombie, part Alien and fully creepy, this book should satisfy fans of horror and end-of-world scenarios. While sections of the book got bogged down with an excess of details and day to day surviving that did not necessarily move the story or the characters along (in my opinion) other parts were gripping and will stay in my mind for a long time. The cat. Oh, my god, the cat.

I feel like the author did her research for the medical scenes and she really thought out how to bring about the end of society. The characters' actions when they start to band together with their families seemed very realistic. However, there were other details later that did not quite work for me people still going to work until nearly the end, the electricity and water still running, that there was not more violence or looting, that the characters did not try to arm themselves better against the humans who were infected, etc.

I am also on the fence for the ending, I would have liked a more detailed epilogue, but since this book is more of an in-depth exploration of friendship between two men, as opposed to plain horror, it ends when it needs to.

Highly recommended reading from a talented, up-and-coming new author in horror.

[Andrew✌️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received the eBook free from the author in exchange for an honest review***

The story begins almost immediately with the attack by a creature, like a bat, against the protagonist, Dan Ferry, return to the hotel with his friend, Ray Ford, after finishing a concert. The first part is perhaps a bit slow, focused on the protagonists, who are trying to figure out how to cure the wounded friend, under pressure to finding a solution to contain the problem. Then, you see the picture in its entirety, the epidemic that spreads 360 degrees and humanity that gradually starts to ruin.

I must say this book conquered me. For the ease with which pulls the reader into the narrative, the characterization, the horror that is perceived to you progress in reading. There are undoubtedly the typical elements of the genre: an unknown threat, at night, materialized in the form of creatures like bats, an epidemic that risk plunging the human race into chaos, the authorities powerless, but also a story of friendship. I think this is the main element of the story.
The author manages to convey well the feelings of fear and anguish over the decay and sadness for the events that follow. Not missing some gruesome episodes, as the attempt to drink the blood of the cat, or the background erotic, as the meeting of the protagonist with Esmerelda.
The book keeps the reader glued to the pages and I think it definitely will satisfy fans of the horror genre.

[Bookschatter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Suckers is the first novel by Zoe Rider - a horror tale.

I liked Zoe's writing style, and I thought the story had a lot of potential.

I felt that the first third of the book was far too slow, with far too detailed descriptions of every action made by the protagonists.

The second third was more interesting, with better pace.

Unfortunately the final third took a funny turn which led to an abrupt ending for the the main characters and a resolution for the main story line totally rushed and squashed into an epilogue.

I have read that the author felt the book was about the two main characters, and not actually about the wider issues surrounding them, hence she had envisaged the ending as it played out.
Unfortunately that simply did not work for me, and this work felt overall unsatisfying for me, hence the "It was OK" final verdict.

I felt that, if the story was just about the two main characters, at least the title of the book should have been different. But there is more than that to it... it felt as if, after the slow start, things would unfold to epic proportions or to earth shattering truths... unfortunately they didn't, and the story just ended.

I look forward to read further works from this author, I just hope they are going to be better paced and constructed, as I truly see a real sparkle within Z. Rider.
 

[ARC received via Netgalley]

BooksChatter

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suckers: A Horror Novel starts by portraying to us the life of a couple of band members. We are introduced to Dan and Ray, best friends with very distinctive voices. Personally, I couldn't really say one was more important than the other in the story, aka the main character, though Dan is the one who suffers the attack from an unknown, bat-like creature, so we end up hearing more about him and what he goes through. But I find Ray equally or more important. He is the very definition of a best friend - someone you are comfortable with 24/7 and who you know will always be there if you need him. Ray was there for Dan every step of the way, ever since the attack, respecting his wishes and doing everything he could to get him through that hell. As the narrative progresses, their friendship is put through some really nasty tests and it's a pleasure to see it endure.

It's a true bro book. The language is harsh. I searched the f word on my Kindle and came up with 427 results. While some, if not most, were necessary to convey the characters' personalities and character, I do think at times it was exaggerated.

Dan and Ray are not the only characters we hear about. We are introduced to several others along the way, most very rich in my opinion (I did have trouble remembering the other characters in the band universe outside of the main 3), and important things are addressed, such as drug dependence issues; how it affects the addicted person and the ones around them, who love and care about him/her. Some may go for unconditional love, almost enabling the person; others go for bordering on desperate, tough love. It's quite disturbing in a very real way.

There are incredibly few misspellings, typos, etc and I enjoyed the art cover a lot - it thoroughly conveys the feeling of the book -, but I was not a fan of the synopsis.
I did have a bit of trouble following some dialogues (like who said what) and visualizing some scenes. I think it would have helped if some transitions had been smoothed out. Small example: around 9% of the book, in chapter 4, one minute they are waiting for the manager to get the room keys and the next they're already in front of the bed.

I found the book very slow paced at times, particularly Part I and beginning of Part 2. While it was interesting to be introduced to the reality of a band - the touring, creative process of writing, etc, some sections were just too detailed, not just how they worked as a band but also Dan's symptoms got pretty repetitive, or rather the way they were described, and other things such as the news reports. So I think even though some of that was needed to set the grounds for the book, I think it could have been summarized.

When I am reading a book, I generally wonder, even if unconsciously, if I would have done the same thing as the characters I am reading about. In this case, I can't say I would have, which is not necessarily a bad thing since I would have probably ended up dead.

For most of the book I felt it was worthy of 3.5 stars. The ending made me round it down because I wish there had been more closure/explanations on how the people dealt or were dealing with the pandemic and if a sequel were to be written approaching those issues I think I would enjoy reading it.

Suckers: A Horror Novel is a book that merges concepts we are all familiar with and which speak to our darkest fears, such as apocalyptic scenarios, vampires, parasites, zombies, alien attacks... It was not a terrifying book per se, but there were definitely scary, even gross bits. Combine that with a fairly detailed account of what it means to be part of a somewhat successful band and you get a pretty entertaining, masculine book, which approaches important concepts such as sacrifice and friendship in a way I had not seen before in literature. It does not stereotype male friendship in the least, and that was a breath of fresh air. So there are no sparkling vampires here and Z. Rider has managed to create something that stands apart from other books of the genre.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was weird but wonderful! The synopsis was sufficiently teasing enough that I knew I had to try it at least, and I'm so glad I did. It was frightening but also heartening with the friendship bonds that are present.

After a gig, Dan and his friend walk home through an alley only for them to be attacked by these almost bat like creatures. Dan gets bitten on the neck and while nothing happens straight away, he finds himself with incredibly bad headaches, and worse, a thirst for blood. Just what is wrong and how will Dan handle it?

The plot was fast paced and well written. The idea of the Suckers was unique and very icky!! At first I thought vampires but it's not, it's much more than that. Its a refreshingly unique vampire/alienesque story and one I devoured. The story grabs you from the start and won't let go till after you finish. I found myself having to read to see what happens!

The characters are all well defined and developed. I actually loved them all. I have to say that the best thing for me in the book is the relationship between the band mates. When Dan gets bitten, he turns to Ray and he does everything in his power to help Dan. Their bond is unbreakable. It was so nice reading their story!!

In all this was a quick listen. I expected a typical vampire story but what I got was so much more. I couldn't take my earbuds out because I had to see what happened next and when the outbreak spread, my heart picked up. So why the 4 stars if I loved it!! I took off one star because we don't get a proper explanation as to where exactly the suckers came from. I wanted that explained a little more, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book!

Chris Vallancourt is a new to me narrator and while I liked his voice, I found that he never changed his tone much from character to character. I got confused sometimes. Other than that, he was great. He brought life to the story and got the atmosphere perfect.

*I received a copy of this, via Audio Jukebox, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

[Greg at 2 Book Lovers Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone says, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” And while this is true, a great cover will always grab my attention. Suckers is one such book, from the first time I saw the bus on the deserted road with the flock of bats (?) blocking out the moonlight while giving chase; I knew this book was for me.

Dan and Ray are the best of friends, they would do anything for each other. When Dan’s infection causes him to have an insatiable thirst for Blood, Ray comes up with a plan. What makes this plan work is how absurd and realistic it is. I know that seems like a contradiction, but the truth is that the crazier the idea, the more likely you are to find someone to do it.

Z. Rider has demonstrated her ingenuity with Suckers: the origin of the infection, the transmission vector and what the characters do to save themselves. Apocalyptic infections have been used so many times, Z. Rider has made it fresh, different and exciting.

The relationship between Dan and Ray is the glue that holds this story together. They are the best of friends, but polar opposites in so many ways. I really enjoyed how they both developed as characters through the story.

I am excited to see what new twists Z. Rider will bring to the horror genre next.

*4 Stars

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this one. I didn't get my hopes too high. Thought it was just another vampire tale. Even though I love a good tale about vampires, there a so few that I have really liked. This one was a totally different take on it. Not really vampire but then again, it kind of was. The writing was great. There was a great bond with the characters. Really liked Ray and Dan. The ending (more like the epilogue) seem kind of rushed but I was very entertained nonetheless.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

When Dan and Ray walk back to their hotel after one of their show they get attacked by a bat-like creature. Ray walks away unharmed, but Dan is bitten. He is plagued by really bad headaches and feels like their are bees in his head and under his skin. This feeling only goes away when he drinks blood… His bloodlust increases by the day and Ray is their to help him out. What they don’t know is that Dan is not the only one who got bitten, and humanity might be in danger.

WOW! This book is so good; it takes everything in me not to type this review with my Caps Lock on. I wanted a good horror novel… well I got one! The bat-like creatures are thoroughly disgusting. The things Dan (and the other people who are bitten) have to go through are horrifying. There were multiple times this book actually made my skin crawl.

The horror is not the only thing I liked about this book. The relationship between Dan and his best friend Ray is another one. It is a big part of the story and it felt very real and heart-warming. They support and respect each other no matter what happens. I can’t really remember the last time I’ve read a book with a friendship like these two have. On top of that they are two very likeable guys who deal with all the weird stuff that’s happening in a very reasonable way. Not a single thing they did made me want to scream at them: WHY?! (as is usually the case in horror novels). No “let’s split up” or “let’s go out in the dark” (well almost none). With every decision made in this book I thought: “Yeah, that’s probably what I would’ve done”.

Also loved the music choices in the book. NIN, Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club, The Death Weather. YES! I also have to mention the insanely good-looking cover and the nice little drawings in the book of the bat-like creatures (not that there is anything actually nice about these things, but still).

Overall I loved SUCKERS. It was very well written and it contained a lot of elements I really liked: Dan & Ray being in a band, they listen to some very good music, the twisted sort of vampirism, and enough other freaky horror parts. So,so, so good! I would definitely recommend this to any fan of a good horror novel.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

 A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. - Walter Winchell

This is one of the best horror stories - and one of the best stories about friendship - that I've read in a long time.

Dan and Ray have been best buddies since freshman year in high school and now are part of the touring band TWO TONS OF DIRT. The band - Dan, Ray and Jamie - travel with their staff of five in close quarters on their tour bus that smells like "farts and old socks" and are just on the last legs of a two year tour.

They finish their show in Asheville, North Carolina and Dan and Ray decide to walk back to their hotel. Should have taken that cab, boys, because some batlike creature flies down and bites Dan on the back of the neck.

I loved this story and I loved author Rider's writing style. The story started off strong, catching my interest right off the bat (couldn't resist) and it kept my interest to the final page.

Blood and guts don't dominate every page. The tension builds slowly. And the gag reflex moments actually are mostly gore-free, at least the ones that hit me the hardest. They hit me viscerally from other angles.

The author has a real talent in drawing word pictures. I was able to visualize the people, the creatures, life as a traveling band on the bus and in close proximity in hotel rooms, the world in chaos, and the friendship of Dan and Ray.

Oh, and I liked the cover art too. Great picture.

NOTE: I received a free advance copy of this book from Dark Ride Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Elke · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the summary I expected more of a B-movie like novel with all the right ingredients: creepy creatures, vampires, blood. While the opening scene fed my expectations perfectly, the book turned out to be very different and so much better.

For the first half, 'Suckers' crawls along almost at snail pace, and had I stopped here I would have given only two stars. But then, after being lulled into a deep slumber, I was jolted awake by the sudden turn of events, and a so far unimpressive book morphed into a perfect story. At the end I found that I really loved 'Suckers' and I couldn't believe I ever even thought about tossing it aside.

The characters are well developed - also thanks to the slow start, but that I only realized afterwards). The donation part was weird, the donors being much stranger than our sucking main character, but it showed a great deal about friendship and loyalty (and I liked the funny ads).

If you can be patient for a while, you are in for a great story which is not so much about bloodsucking creatures but about real friends and how together they manage to go through it all.

(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review)

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not only a pretty good horror novel but an excellently written story about friendship.

The main players in this book are extremely well developed and their different characters explored well. The story builds from the start and ends up being a thoroughly engrossing read. The characters are believable and act accordingly - they do things in situations that I would see myself doing which makes the book even more enjoyable. The Suckers are great creatures and the way their “birth” was described was a really well done “wow” moment and left me feeling quite nauseous - I love it when that happens!

The only little gripe I have, in what is a great story, is I would have liked a bit more interaction and perilous scenes with the “infected” - this is the only thing I think the book missed out on and would have taken it from a great read to a fantastic one.

Overall, a very enjoyable that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this particular genre and I would like to thank www.netgalley.com and the publisher, Dark Ride Publishing, for providing me with a copy in return for a review.

http://haziegaze.blogspot.com/

[Barb McKinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

**NO SPOILERS**
***I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***

This book was very detailed with a solid storyline. I was hooked quickly and couldn't quit because I had to know what was going to happen next. This book would make a great movie. It would be a nail biter. I enjoyed the read.

The problem I had was the lack of character development until toward the end when a friendship transcends itself to become unconditional love. I could not relate emotionally. It is a good horror scenario that needed less detail and more emotion. Sometimes it became bogged in detail and lost the fine edge of terror.

Z. Rider is a young Author who will be one to keep your eyes on as she writes. She definitely understands horror and will write great horror. I look forward to more books from Z. Rider.

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy Crap! This is a science fiction/horror/zombiesque story. At times my skin crawled with the descriptions and others tears ran down my face with the sheer sadness of loss. Don't be thrown off by the beginning - it is a bit slow but quickly picks up speed. The author has left plenty of story untold so there can be future additions to this line but you don't feel like you have been left hanging. This book will appeal to many readers. Enjoy and keep your collars up!

[Chris Torretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding narration! Intensity slowly builds and is worth the wait. Hoping for a book two.

Full review coming soon.

Received in exchange for an honest review from Audiobook Reviewer

[hIpnoticraQs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very realistic slightly disturbing book.
I did enjoy the plot, the characters were realistic and easy to relate to.
The book did slow down in the middle but made up for it in the end.

[Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great new take on a classic old tale. Really looking forward to her next book later this year.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

review to come

[Allison Simms · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Spoilers contained in this review-

This book will take you on a roller coaster between being disturbing and heartbreaking. The action comes from a parasitic alien creature that is injecting its eggs into human beings who then are driven to drink blood which feeds the creatures until they reach maturity, emerge from their hosts and go on to find more people to infect. Our main character, Dan, is one of the earlier people to be infected, so he is able to get through the "process" by finding people willing to give him blood.

As more and more people are affected, the situation escalates to a global disaster. Hospitals are overrun, people are attacked on the streets, and resources dwindle.

The most poignant part of the story for me was the exploration of the circumstances that led to each characters' choices throughout the story. Mainly, that Ray's mother committed suicide when he was a child. The trauma around not being able to help her led to him going to any measures for the people around him, even at his own detriment. His enabling of his drug addicted band mate, Jamie, ultimately is his undoing when he is infected while attempting to find him, and refuses to take the needed blood to get him through the process. While he theorizes that he can starve out the parasite, his attempts lead to his death. This felt very real; there are so many people who will go to the ends of the earth to care for others while being unable to accept care for themselves.

I had a few minor issues with the story. One is that it felt like it became a completely different story halfway through. The first half felt like it was drawing clear parallels between Dan's increasing need for blood and the escalation of addiction. But then he regurgitates the parasites and makes a full recovery. After that it becomes an apocalyptic survival story.

I liked each of these parts in their own ways, but I feel that Dan's recovery weakened the addiction parallel. After all, addicts do not simply become completely cured overnight with no desire to go back to their drug of choice.

Another issue I had was that while Jamie had relevance throughout the story, and the tension between him and Dan over his addiction was an important plot point, we never really got to know Jamie beyond his addiction. We know that his parents and his friends had tried before to help him get clean. So he had some kind of support system. But, while we got to know the background of why Ray was the way he was, we never explore the start or escalation of Jamie's addiction. This led to Jamie and his addiction feeling more like a plot device in how it affected Ray and Dan, rather than Jamie feeling like a fleshed out character who could be understood, even if you don't agree with his actions.

Lastly, the epilogue left a lot of questions unanswered. The epilogue was narrated decades later by Jane, Ray's niece who was a young child during the events of the book. She explained that eventually humanity defeated the parasite. And, that although after Ray's death, Dan opened a window and was covered by parasites, surely reinfected, but ultimately came through the other end somehow.

My biggest question is: how on earth did humanity defeat the parasite? Things seemed completely hopeless and I thought that it would be the end of humanity.

Although I'm okay with this question remaining a mystery, I am curious what the origin of the parasites was. They came to earth after infecting astronauts on the International Space Station. So, we know they came from space, but how did they even get close to earth? Are they able to travel through the vacuum of space? Where did they come from? Had similar things happened on other planets with life? How could a creature that evolved separately from humans so easily use human blood as a nutrient? It was theorized at one point that it was artificially created by intelligent life, but we never find out if that was true or not.

[Kenya Starflight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't a vampire book per se -- you're not going to find fanged undead who lurk only at night and are driven off by silver and garlic. It's more of a "science fiction with some vampire flavor" book. Which isn't bad at all, just that people going into this expecting traditional vampires might be disappointed. Still, it's a well-written read, with entertaining characters... but feels weirdly detached from its own events, is rather slow to get things rolling, and ends up with an abrupt and unsatisfying ending.

Dan is on the road with his band, Two Tons of Dirt, when he's bitten by what he thinks is a bat while leaving a venue one night. The "bat" turns out to be something else... and soon Dan finds himself experiencing weird symptoms, not the least of which is a craving for blood. His bandmates do their best to help him slake his thirst, even as other people begin succumbing to bloodlust around him. And soon Dan realizes that blood thirst is the least of his problems, as the bloodlust begins to bring society crashing down around him...

The writing in this book was quite good, flowing nicely and with decently written characters. I'm used to a lot of self-published Kindle books being rife with errors and bad writing, but I was pleasantly surprised to find this one read well and wasn't riddled with typos (though I did find a missed word a couple times). The author DOES really like the F-word, just as a heads-up -- I'm not against profanity in a work, but after reading the F-word twenty times in a single chapter, it loses a lot of its impact and just feels a little childish.

It takes a bit for this book to get rolling, and it's not until the last third of the book or so that the plot really gets rolling. Also, the unfolding apocalypse is relegated to the background, barely showing up throughout the first half of the book save in brief mentions on the news. Having the book so focused on the main characters was a unique experience, but it also had the unfortunate side effect of making the story seem rather detached from its own apocalyptic concept. A little more attention given to the rest of the world beyond the main characters could have helped set the stage better.

Also, the book's ending feels incredibly rushed, with much of it crammed into a tiny epilogue. It almost feels like the author realized they were hitting a page limit and had to rush to finish it.

"Suckers" is a sci-fi-flavored horror novel that should appeal to people who like their fiction bloody, gritty, and character-centric, though at times it can be way TOO focused on its characters.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being on tour for almost two years has Ton of Dirt musicians wearied. Dan and Ray are going back to their hotel taking a shortcut through a dark alley. They are attacked by a flying "something." When they get back to their room, it is discovered that Dan does have a "mosquito" type bite on the back of his neck. As time goes by, Dan desires blood. He has a headache that won't stop and hears a buzzing sound making him feel crazy. Is he? He tells Ray his desire for blood. Dan tries a rare steak for starters but it doesn't work. He needs human blood. When he does get human blood the buzzing sound and headache leave him. When back at home they hear about friends, family and neighbors attacking each other. Why? Are they turning into vampires? If not, what are they becoming?

The author has written a novel that in many ways describes how Ray tries to cope with his disease. The twist of vampires is done quite well. At times I found the book to be terrifying. It is an excellent original story.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Net-galley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Carrie Slager · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Full disclosure: I requested and received a free ebook copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

When I picked up this book I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the blurb. Would it be a bunch of musicians caught in the middle of a vampire outbreak while on tour? That’s what it seemed like until things got going. I was really glad about that because it was a sign of the unpredictable plot that would be the hallmark of this book for me.

I’ve read a lot of vampire books and a lot of general outbreak books but I’ve never read anything like Suckers. The bat-like creatures that are Z. Rider’s vampires are so unique, so interesting that in a way I wish we could have learned more about them. However, going into the science of the vampires would have been very unrealistic considering that the main character Dan is just a musician, not a scientist. He doesn’t know any scientists, he doesn’t have a desire to learn more about his vampire situation other than how to survive it so if Rider had gone in depth into the science it would have ruined the mysterious atmosphere surrounding the creatures. In that way, the world-building is fantastic. We’re given enough information to understand things and enough information about the world outside Dan’s little bubble that we know things are bad but it never devolves into an info-dump scenario. Again, considering the main character’s background, this is far more realistic.

The plot as a result of the aforementioned unique world-building was quite unpredictable. The world doesn’t immediately go all doomsday, post-apocalyptic everyone out for themselves sort of way. No, it’s more of a slow decay as the suckers start to infect more and more people before they reach a point where hospitals and emergency services can’t handle the influx of new patients. It’s not your typical doomsday scenario and as such is actually pretty unpredictable in terms of plot. In retrospect many of the plot twists make sense because of how the characters were slowly changing throughout the story. I can honestly say that I didn’t see the end coming but it makes sense when you consider the characters Dan and Ray.

Speaking of characters, I was really impressed with them. Dan is the main character and is sort of the leader of the band but Ray is sort of the person who keeps it all together. He takes care of Jamie when Jamie goes back on his drugs, takes care of Dan when his cravings for human blood become insatiable and stays true to himself throughout the novel. Ray could have become cynical and bitter about having to take care of a lot of people but he never did and even in the face of death he stayed true to his principles. Dan himself was of course a fascinating narrator as he slowly discovered (to his horror) that he craved blood but I have to say that Ray was definitely my favourite. All of the characters, both major and minor were well developed so I really can’t complain there.

So here we have a very suspenseful horror story with an interesting new type of vampire, lots of plot twists and really believable characters that you’ll love by the end. You really can’t ask for anything more and I’m definitely excited to see what Rider decides to do with her talent in the future.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life on the road can be tough for touring bands. It gets a whole lot tougher for Two Tons of Dirt, when, nearing the end of their grueling tour, a shortcut down an alley leads to two of the band members being attacked by a small flying something. One of them gets bitten. Following the bite, Dan is never the same. He has painful headaches and a buzzing in his head. He discovers that the only thing that makes the pain go away is blood.

I really liked getting to know the characters, their day to day touring routine, and the cramped and miserable living situation on the bus. You could feel the monotony and the stress that plagues people who are cooped up together. Following Dan’s encounter with the creature and his growing infection, the tension ratchets up. It was fascinating to see how he dealt with his symptoms as they progressed – not knowing what was wrong with him, trying to find solutions and alternatives to stop the pain. You see it from his point of view, and it’s not that all of a sudden he’s a monster. His growing need parallels that of the drug-addled drummer in the band. The final, shall we say, symptom of his infection was completely unexpected, nasty, and an interesting plot development.

The second major character, aside from our main protagonist, Dan, is his best friend Ray, who is possibly the nicest person in the world. He sticks by Dan no matter what and is beyond helpful to him, accepting whatever is happening to Dan with ease. It seemed a bit too easy. I’m sure their relationship would have splintered having gone through what they went through, or at some point Ray would say enough is enough.

The power behind the first two-thirds of the book comes from the story of a major outbreak being told through the viewpoint of a single sympathetic character. Dan’s struggles to cope with his affliction endear him to you and carry you through to the final segment. There is not a huge amount of violence or gore throughout most of the book. It’s sporadic, but when we do get some, the author delivers. There is a truly grotesque cat scene that is not for the faint-hearted. For the final third of the book, more characters come to the fore as the outbreak spreads and it becomes something of a siege narrative. The spread of the infection across the country is told through news reports. It doesn’t have the same impact as we’re not seeing it firsthand. It loses a bit of the personal touch as the story gets diluted. If the scope had stayed small and focused on Dan throughout, it would have been more chilling. It loses some steam, and I wasn’t too gripped by the ending.

I like the way the author plays with our expectations of vampiric tales and makes this something totally new. I would recommend this. The first two parts of the book are exceptional, but it just doesn’t quite come together at the end.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I received a free electronic version of SUCKERS in exchange for an honest review. I am under no obligation to give a favorable review, just an honest one.*

I have to start this review by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is not often that I read a horror novel that I consider to be unique. SUCKERS is not only unique, but it is also a compelling story.

Dan, Ray and Jamie together make up the band "Two Tons of Dirt". Dan and Ray have been best friends since high school. At the beginning of SUCKERS they are close to the end of a two year road trip/concert tour. Jamie is an addict and if he wasn't such a great drummer they would probably have nothing to do with him. After their latest show Ray and Dan head back to their hotel and decide to take a short cut through a dark alley. They are two grown men, they decide that they can handle anyone who might be lurking in the alley.

What they did not anticipate was being attacked by something with wings. Unsure whether it is a bird or a bat they run for the end of the alley. Before reaching the street in front of their hotel Dan is knocked over by the flying creature and he feels like he has been bitten. With no time to lose they reach the lobby of the hotel. Once inside Dan asks Ray if he is bleeding. He is sure he must be gushing blood, but the only physical evidence of the attack is a scratch on Dan's cheek and a small red mark on the back of his neck that resembles a mosquito bite.

Now that they are inside and safe, they phone to warn the rest of the band to be careful when leaving the club. Both men are exhausted and Dan has a headache so they try to sleep and prepare to travel to the next stop on their tour.

As the days wear on and the band gets closer to home Dan starts to experience weird symptoms. He has no idea what is happening to him or how to stop it.

At the same time it seems that people are going crazy in the streets. There are attacks by neighbors, friends and even complete strangers.

Ray struggles to help Dan to cope with his symptoms and despite everything he sticks by his side. The question is not only if Dan will survive, but will anyone.

Often I find that horror novels rely on shock factors and gore to scare readers. In SUCKERS these cheap tactics are completely unnecessary. The story itself compels, enthralls and terrifies the reader. This is exactly what a great horror novel should do.

What is also unique about this book is the fact that it is not just a horror novel. This is also a story about family and friendship and just how far people will go to aid and protect the people they love.

RATING: I give this book an enthusiastic 5 out of 5 stars and have already recommended it to several of my friends and coworkers.

To read more of my reviews visit http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com

[Moon Shine Art Spot ~ Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book description:


“What we have here is a very high-quality junkie novel that happens to be about a unique case of vampirism.” —Evan Clark, author of Movers

WHEN WORN-OUT MUSICIAN DAN FERRY decides to take a shortcut back to the band's hotel, he picks the wrong dark alley to go down. Within days of being attacked by a bat-like creature, he becomes consumed with the need to drink human blood. Terrified of what will happen if he doesn't get his fix--and terrified of what he'll do to get it--he turns to his best friend and bandmate, Ray Ford, for help. But what the two don't know as they try to keep Dan's situation quiet is that the parasite driving Dan's addiction has the potential to wipe out humankind.

Poignant and terrifying, heartfelt and ingenious, Suckers is a story of sacrifice and friendship in the face of an alien contagion that threatens to destroy humanity.

"Mixing recent apocalyptic and zombie stories with classic vampire legends, Rider has come up with a daring and eminently readable new take on both." — Publisher’s Weekly

“Rider brings us convincingly into the life of a band on the road, and Dan and Ray’s bond helps ground this effective horror novel.” — Library Journal

“Touching and occasionally terrifying” — Booklist


Review:

In the first chapters I thought "yeah right, who wouldn't just go to the doctor already. Why make it so complicated." It seemed like a lot of work and secrecy over something that could be fixed by modern science, medicine, or a good doctor. Plus, you wouldn't want to spread it to the community right?!

I actually enjoyed the book more, and it seemed more believable when there was an actual reason not to seek help in public, from the hospital etc. Panic and human nature ran amuck and at that point hiding did seem the best option. The loyalty of friendship was a great bonus and likely the only thing that kept me reading at the beginning. Dan seemed completely taken in an unhealthy way with his friend / band mate Ray. At times his relationship with Ray was as addictive as his craving for blood. It is kind of ironic that Dan goes on & on about a fellow band mate's drug addiction, but has a blood addiction of his own.

I was provided this book free of charge for review purposes. I really didn't like the beginning of the book much, but became more interested in the situation after more people became infected with the bite. The descriptions of the parasites is deserving of a pukeish award. Very gory, gross, and down right disgusting. Blaaaa.

Fair read if you like gross, alien, undead, type things. Gets off to a somewhat slow start and gets even grosser once it gets interesting. Not the worse thing I have read this year.