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The Listening Room
Not yet published
Expected 29 May 26473 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 29, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an incredible book that found its niche with me; as I hope a lot of others like me will click with it as well.
BUT there’s some people that WILL NOT get it or want to stick around for the long haul, and I get that (I guess, but boo to them).
The repetition became comforting very quickly, it wasn’t overused as more of another narration tool; while making it immersive beyond most books I’ve read. AND WITHOUT using outside medias! After a while, the thoughts and habits of the main “characters” feel familiar, them having to say things over and over becomes a blatant necessity. The use of Lovecraftian themes and techniques without fully showing standard images and things people have seen before was masterful. It was more a looming feeling, as many cosmic Gods feel, than anything else; that good old school Lovecraft.
I liked that, in a lot of ways, the book wasn’t exactly who they said it was about, while also still being about them. I choose to think it’s more of a “catalyst” situation. But I know some people might be salty regardless. My argument is that at least it’s not a dream and the events DID happen. Despite the attempts at correction otherwise.
The feeling of something BIGGER, something MORE was building and building through the entire book; and slammed through at the end. It felt like the book almost broke into reality.
As intended, I want the next book NOW. I want to see how Cassidy plays into all of this. I want to see how Victor dies, or if he can. I want to see if John changes fully or if he stays in that hellish stasis.
Jonathan Gonzalez has a unique voice that builds and weaves a story that feels (at the risk of sounding crazy) PLAUSIBLE. These events that are on the fringes of reality and the people who slip through the cracks willingly and unwillingly. A study on the spaces between and were people don’t or can’t look, because that’s not what NORMAL is.
BUT there’s some people that WILL NOT get it or want to stick around for the long haul, and I get that (I guess, but boo to them).
The repetition became comforting very quickly, it wasn’t overused as more of another narration tool; while making it immersive beyond most books I’ve read. AND WITHOUT using outside medias! After a while, the thoughts and habits of the main “characters” feel familiar, them having to say things over and over becomes a blatant necessity. The use of Lovecraftian themes and techniques without fully showing standard images and things people have seen before was masterful. It was more a looming feeling, as many cosmic Gods feel, than anything else; that good old school Lovecraft.
I liked that, in a lot of ways, the book wasn’t exactly who they said it was about, while also still being about them. I choose to think it’s more of a “catalyst” situation. But I know some people might be salty regardless. My argument is that at least it’s not a dream and the events DID happen. Despite the attempts at correction otherwise.
The feeling of something BIGGER, something MORE was building and building through the entire book; and slammed through at the end. It felt like the book almost broke into reality.
As intended, I want the next book NOW. I want to see how Cassidy plays into all of this. I want to see how Victor dies, or if he can. I want to see if John changes fully or if he stays in that hellish stasis.
Jonathan Gonzalez has a unique voice that builds and weaves a story that feels (at the risk of sounding crazy) PLAUSIBLE. These events that are on the fringes of reality and the people who slip through the cracks willingly and unwillingly. A study on the spaces between and were people don’t or can’t look, because that’s not what NORMAL is.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay yeah, this was really good.
This book pulled me in fast and got under my skin more and more the farther I got into it. I liked that it started with mystery and investigation, but then slowly turned into something way darker and creepier than I expected. There were multiple times I told myself I was stopping after one more chapter and then just kept going.
The vibe of this book was honestly my favorite part. It feels heavy, tense, weird, and unsettling in a way that really worked for me, but what made it hit even harder was how much I actually cared about the characters. Cassidy was probably the one I felt most connected to because I was stressed for her basically the entire time. There’s something about the way she moves through everything that felt very real, and I kept wanting her to make it through.
This is such a good pick if you like horror that feels eerie the whole time instead of relying on nonstop shock.
This book pulled me in fast and got under my skin more and more the farther I got into it. I liked that it started with mystery and investigation, but then slowly turned into something way darker and creepier than I expected. There were multiple times I told myself I was stopping after one more chapter and then just kept going.
The vibe of this book was honestly my favorite part. It feels heavy, tense, weird, and unsettling in a way that really worked for me, but what made it hit even harder was how much I actually cared about the characters. Cassidy was probably the one I felt most connected to because I was stressed for her basically the entire time. There’s something about the way she moves through everything that felt very real, and I kept wanting her to make it through.
This is such a good pick if you like horror that feels eerie the whole time instead of relying on nonstop shock.
Review of advance copy received from Author
John Calder is a digital forensic investigator who finds a corrupted symbol buried in video evidence, and it refuses to stay on the screen. Pair that with Marie Bellows trying to outrun a past she buried, and you get tension with cosmic dread sprinkled into the mix.
What works here is the setup - the mix of the cult conspiracy and psychological horror, is something I like. The idea of a hidden Colorado facility where control is ritualized and identity is unstable? That’s why I pick up horror for. If the execution matches the blurb, the atmosphere should be claustrophobic in the best way.
The characters felt real and I found myself rooting for them and stressing myself out. I would definitely recommend. As this book creeps in and crawls into your skin in the best unsettling way. It sticks with you.
What works here is the setup - the mix of the cult conspiracy and psychological horror, is something I like. The idea of a hidden Colorado facility where control is ritualized and identity is unstable? That’s why I pick up horror for. If the execution matches the blurb, the atmosphere should be claustrophobic in the best way.
The characters felt real and I found myself rooting for them and stressing myself out. I would definitely recommend. As this book creeps in and crawls into your skin in the best unsettling way. It sticks with you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a really solid read for me.
It starts as an investigative horror story, but the deeper it goes, the more oppressive and unsettling it gets. What I liked most was the atmosphere - everything feels weird in a very controlled, procedural way, which made it stand out from a lot of other horror books I’ve read.
John and Cassidy both felt real, and that made the book work even better. The middle and back half were especially strong for me once the story fully leans into the nightmare side of things. Some of those scenes were genuinely creepy and stuck with me after I finished.
It’s dark, tense, and definitely not a light read, but if you like horror with mystery, cult vibes, and a slow descent into something much worse, I’d recommend it. I’d read the next book.
It starts as an investigative horror story, but the deeper it goes, the more oppressive and unsettling it gets. What I liked most was the atmosphere - everything feels weird in a very controlled, procedural way, which made it stand out from a lot of other horror books I’ve read.
John and Cassidy both felt real, and that made the book work even better. The middle and back half were especially strong for me once the story fully leans into the nightmare side of things. Some of those scenes were genuinely creepy and stuck with me after I finished.
It’s dark, tense, and definitely not a light read, but if you like horror with mystery, cult vibes, and a slow descent into something much worse, I’d recommend it. I’d read the next book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews