Book of the Dead

Matt Kearns #2

by Greig Beck

And the earth shall fall before they rise....

Massive sinkholes are opening across the country—each larger and deeper than the previous one. First the family pets go missing, and anyone living near one of the pits is reporting strange phenomena—the vibrations, sulfurous odors and strange sounds rising up from the stygian depths. Then come the reports of horrifying "things" rising from the darkness.

When the people start disappearing, the government is forced to act. A team is sent in to explore one of the holes—and all hell breaks loose—the Old Ones are rising up again.

From the war zones of the Syrian Desert, to the fabled Library of Alexandria, and then to Hades itself, join Professor Matt Kearns, as he searches for the fabled Al Azif, known as the Book of the Dead. He must unravel an age-old prophecy, and stop Beings from a time even before the primordial ooze, which seek once again to claim the planet as their own. Time is running out, for Matt, and all life on Earth.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook

376 pages, Paperback

First published December 11, 2014

About the author

Hi GoodReaders, I’m an Australian author residing in Sydney with my wife, son and a mad Golden Retriever named Jessie. My novels are now available globally, also in Large Print and now in full AUDIO format.

I grew up spending my days surfing at Bondi Beach before entering a career in Information technology which took me around the world. After completing an MBA, i was appointed both an Australasian director of a multinational software company, and tasked with setting up the USA arm of the organisation.

Today, I spend most of my time writing... with plenty left over for surfing.

More information about me and my works can be found at either www.greigbeck.com, or join me on FaceBook (Greig Beck Author).

Reviews

[John (JC) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world is coming apart at the seams. There are sink holes all over the world and they are getting bigger. There are creatures that only appear in nightmares. Animals, people, houses … all disappearing. Was there a mention of a huge being that is on its way also? The answer to this dilemma is the Book of the Dead and there are at least three groups interested in finding it, each having their own reasons.
Lots of action, suspense, gore and terror are housed in these pages just waiting to be released by the reader. Enjoy the ride.

[Kaora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gates of red granite so huge they could hold back an army. Now swung wide.
Past them the Old Ones eternally slumber - dreaming, and still reaching out to us.
And the Earth shall fall before they rise.

All across the world, strange things are happening. Birds are committing suicide by dive-bombing the earth, moments later sinkholes opening up swallowing enter homes and people. And then people start to disappear, first within the holes, then near them. Professor Matt Kearns has heard this before, in an ancient book of prophecy that may be the key to preventing the end of the world.

I found this story an interesting take on H.P. Lovecraft and the Necronomicon, or Book of the Dead. The author provided a whirlwind of action and gore, that kept me up all night reading. It was a great ride, reminding me slightly of a creepy Dan Brown as the characters race to find and uncover the secrets of the book before an ancient horror arises.

I just wish the characters had been less one dimensional and cliche. The relationships between them felt forced. The women found rivals in each other. The males chased after the hot women. And of course there were a few scenes that were so over the top that I just had to shake my head.

As an homage to H.P. Lovecraft, however this book did a great job and is recommended for fans of Lovecraft or lovers of thrillers.

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 1 out of 5]

Massive sinkholes start appearing all over the place.


I can’t say this is a bad book. It has some very cool Lovecraftian moments. I just did not enjoy reading it. It’s such a shame this series does not have a likeable and well fleshed out protagonist. He also always seems to lose in the end, so what’s the point?

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

All hail Cthulhu!!!

““From the darkest core, they will rise. From beneath the rock, below the soft earth and slime, they will come. The Great Old One and its army. It sleeps, powerful, all knowing, and patient beyond time itself. Cthulhu shall rule again.” “


Wow, I am an instant Greig Beck Fan. Book of the Dead is the perfect way to write a military science fiction book that has the return of Cthulhu as its main plot line. Beck pays homage to the legendary H.P.Lovecraft with this story and also with his awesome afterword. Beck is smart in that he does not try to write a Lovecraft-esque novel, rather he utilizes the subject matter and drops it into a military sci-fi / horror blend.

So many things are done just right, besides the awesome subject matter. First, the book starts out a lot of fun as the earth literally falls out from underneath our protagonists world. The mystery behind these holes in the ground is explored and we find things in the dark that are just damn scary. Second, Beck gives us a slew of cool characters, both good and bad, and makes us care about them. Led by the professor Matt Kearns, there are many colorful sidekicks, from Giant Spec Op officers, to an insanely awesome Israeli agent, from a smart language professor to the cloaked head “Father”, and more. Third, Greig Beck gave this book a bad ass name: The Book of the Dead. (But sorry Ash is not in this one). Finally, like a Dan Brown novel this book spans the globe several times over, and then as if that is not enough, it goes deep underground with the setting. Simply a blast to read.

Beck does an amazing job at slowly bringing the mythos of Cthulhu to light. My love for the squid head made me giddy as can be. The ties of Cthulhu and the race of man is a delight….The people of the world quickly come to realize how serious the event is going to be.

I loved everything about this book and have no real negatives to bring to light. If you like the genre or are a fan of anything Cthulhu, then I am sure that you too will love this book. I will now grab up more from Greig Beck as this one is so well done.


A passage from later on in the book…………………………………


““From the darkest core, they will rise. From beneath the rock, beneath the soft earth and slime, they will come. The Great Old One and its armies. Where man rules, sure of himself and comfortable in his vanity, they know we are but caretakers for the true master. It sleeps, powerful, all knowing, and patient beyond time itself. Cthulhu shall rule again.””

[Viking Jam · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/12/23...


Publisher: Momentum

Publishing Date: December 2014

ISBN: 9781760082437

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 2.5/5

Publisher Description: When a massive sinkhole opens up and swallows a retired couple from Iowa it seems like a freak occurrence. But it’s not the only one. Similar sinkholes are opening all over the world, even on the sea floor. And they’re getting bigger. People living near the pits begin reporting strange phenomena—vibrations, sulfurous odors, and odd sounds in the stygian depths. Then the pets begin to go missing.

Review: This seems to have been written for a “Made for TV” movie deal. The formula is evident: 1) Start novel with foreboding historical passages and the genesis of the horror to come by following the main architects demise 2) shift to present day and begin series of similar gruesome occurrences happening around the world beginning with a retired couple in Iowa. 3) Cue the investigators (civilian and military) with more missing people and other strange occurrences (swirling flocks of birds dying over sinkholes/cockroaches everywhere). 4). Cue the hot chick military investigator and Mr. Goodlookin’ Professor of ancient blah blah blah that has character flaws in all the right places that I am sure he will overcome throughout the course of the novel. 5) Cue Mr. Super Evil that tortures and maims his way in pursuit of our intrepid heroes but is just a pawn to his evil master(s).

IF, you can wade through that for the first 35% of the novel then good for you as it finally starts to get interesting without the formulaic shtick. But that moment is brief. While this convergence of Dan Brown’s Langdon meets the “Thing” meets Indiana Jones is tiresome in the beginning, the story line picks up as the characters are carried by the movement and develop a little out of their one dimensionality. There are some comical additions of un-believability that put the novel in retrograde movie deal mode. Like the trained Mossad assassin super girl that can disarm a Navy Seal and take out 2 four man teams of terrorist ambushers with just her knives and a bad attitude (without breathing hard). But she’s hot and sassy with a tender core. She will tell you just how dumb you are while turning her back and striding confidently into the desert. So you better follow. Oh complexity where is thy sting? So, it turns out that hunky and rumpled Professor D-bag KNOWS our trained Mossad assassin as his buddy was banging her in the Appalachians of all places. Really? This must referent some other novel starring Professor Fugtard.

The novel had some compelling moments yet were few in instance. Get this if you like some good writing and thinly built characters that put on a show.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Description -

Sinkholes are appearing all over the globe... birds are falling from the sky... and people are disappearing. When the government starts to investigate these phenomena they discover more than they bargained for... Cthulhu is rising... and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

"And the Earth shall fall before they... rise."

Review -

I will admit I was excited when I first heard whispers (or should that be guttural squelching from shoggoths?) of this novel. Hardcore military adventure fiction... with Lovecraftian tones... oh hell yes! Sign me up and take my money! Did Greig Beck deliver on my excitement upon reading... is the Pope a Catholic? Of course he did!

Beck has crafted an amazing tale filled with dark horror and violence. The world building and pacing were superb, and the story was filled with squeamish terror and gut wrenching action from start to finish. His characters were well fleshed out, and I loved the reappearance of Kearns and Senesh in this story. Beck's exploration and use of the Cthulhu mythos was also well done, creating a deep sense of foreboding and terror deep within me as a turned page after page (probably didn't help that there were violent storms raging outside at the time! I literally could imagine Cthulhu peering down at me as lightning rippled across the sky behind him). I was grabbed from the first sentence and engrossed in the story until the very end. Even now I still find myself thinking about the possibility of the old ones. That's how I know that Beck has done a tremendous job... the story is lingering in my mind a week after reading!

As a homage to Lovecraft Beck has produced a work to be proud of. The best military horror I have read all year... and Beck's best work yet.

A must read for military horror and Lovecraft fans!

5 out of 5 stars.

smashdragons.blogspot.com.au

[11811 (Eleven) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hated almost every character. It was an okay read, but considering the topic, I was hoping for a five star experience. This was my least favorite Beck book so far.

[Yzabel Ginsberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I got a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)

Enjoyable as a fast-paced read, with appropriate enough doses of action and gory descriptions—and I would definitely expect such descriptions to make their way into a story inspired from the writings of H. P. Lovecraft. It's never easy to picture what's supposed to be "unspeakable horrors", and here I thought the enemies, the creatures, were scary, both because of where they came from and of the way they got rid of humans.

Although not everything was absolutely 100% on mark (I'm thinking of some names, unless my copy had a few typos, that is), it fit into the "mythos" well enough for the purpose of this novel. I liked that the author pointed out at the end what his inspirations were, as well as the reference to the Bloop, which is definitely one mind-blowing thing as far as I'm concerned.

This also seems to be the second novel featuring Matt Kearns as a main character, and... it wasn't a problem. The author made it so that whatever needed to be known about him was known gradually, and I don't think one needs to have read the first book to enjoy this one.

The plot may be seen as stereotypical, in an Indiana Jones-like/mythologically-based thriller way, but most of the time, it didn't bother me. Unfortunately, what I definitely didn't like were the cliché, one-dimensional characters. I found myself rolling my eyes more than once, and it's too bad, since there were interesting profiles in there, including the badass Mossad agent who could clearly hold her own without a blink. I may have grown to like those characters if there had been more meat to them, so to speak, yet there comes a point where you can just see everything coming: who's going to sleep with who, who's thinking with his dick, how the women instantly disliked each other, who's going to die due to making a stupid decision, etc. I'd have rated the novel higher if not for those clichés.

Not a bad story, and an interesting take on how Lovecraftian horrors may be tackled in the 21st century; but the stereotypes can definitely become a problem here.

[FictionFreak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greig Beck's Book of the Dead is a well written Lovecraftian tale. It's got action, horror, apocalypse, beasties, and characters you might know if you've read his other books, (not the Arcadian but you won't miss him). I was very happy with this book, it's a sweet homage to Lovecraft and a good Greig Beck book as well.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever authors create a shared universe, it adds to the fun for fans. This series takes a character from the Alex Hunter series and makes him the protagonist. He's not a soldier or an action hero, but the series is already making compelling adventures just the same. And the occasional references, or even visits, from characters in other books in the shared universe, are clever fun.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published at West Coast Book Reviews.

The Book of the Dead is the second adventure in which Professor Matt Kearns finds himself thrust out front and caught in the middle. I read The First Bird: Omnibus Edition, Kearn's first all-by-himself adventure, before starting this one and found I didn't have to. I enjoyed it too.

I decided to make a list of the top ten things (in no particular order) I love to see in a book like this. To me, The Book of the Dead fits neatly as a horror, supernatural thriller, adventure and an action story. The Book of the Dead covers all ten items on my list and turns them into something delicious and unexpected.

1. Believable threat to the Earth. Not a part or just a few people, all of it. I don't want to root for the evil underdog.
2. Smut, smexy or at least some good flirting.
3. Supernatural/superpowered beings capable of chewing up, consuming, devouring or otherwise sucking the life from everyone. Extra points for doing this without vampires.
4. Unexplained slime.
5. Strong characters of both sexes.
6. That moment when "going in there" is the only part of the plan the characters need to reconsider.
7. Affectionate insults such as numb nuts, asshat or douche bag.
8. Ominous bad smells.
9. THE MILITARY!
10. You don't have to read previous books in the series. I did. You should.

Add this one to your to read list if you haven't already.

Thank you to Momentum and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received my copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book in the also bought items for No Such Thing As Werewolves. The cover was eye catching and I loved the name, so I clicked the link without any idea what to expect.

The Cthulhu Mythos is something I've loved since I was a kid, and action adventure yarns ala Indiana Jones are right up my alley. I decided to do the audio version and i'm glad I did. The narration is great, and the story itself is wonderful.

I could give you more details about the plot, but the real question is did I enjoy the book and am I eager to read Greg's other books? The answer is yes, yes I am. Alex Hunter is mentioned in the book, and I see that there's a whole series about him. I know what I'm likely to read next.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually somewhat enjoyed this, which is more than I can say for the other two Greig Beck action/thrillers I read years ago. Ironically, even though these latter two - Kraken Rising and This Green Hell - were not good books, I still find them to be nostalgic in a certain way now, as I read them both in 2017, a year that was longer ago than it may feel like, considering we are only three years out from 2027. It's insane, the way time flies when you get older. I know it's a cliche, but damn. And I'm still on the right side - just - of thirty. But yeah, 2017 was the year I finally came through the other end of a long and increasingly despairing tunnel with my OCD. More importantly, and very much related, it was the year in which my courtship with my future wife began - more of less, anyway, as we shared our first kiss and made it official at the end of 2016.

Those days carry a bittersweet pang of wistfulness, a yearning and an optimism, a bunch of things that I find too difficult or awkward to describe without simply resorting again to the word "nostalgia," which would just be poor writing, but there you go.

This book, which Beck wrote later than the other two I read, was pretty much just as lame and cheesy. The dialogue, though not consistently terrible, was often annoying and ham-fisted, stereotypical, macho-military shit talk kind of stuff. All the characters are simply caricatures, and ones that are so cut-and-paste they almost make the story, in all its high-octane seriousness, feel more like a parody.

But despite these minor things, I just happened to like the story more overall. To be fair, I also could have said that Kraken Rising also had enough going for it, were it not so long a novel. Book of the Dead, on the other hand, has the same over-the-top, fun but often brutal action, the same injection of supernaturalism, without being nearly as trying on one's patience. I also thought that Matt Kearns was a slightly more relatable character than Alex Hunter - even if only slightly. He's basically Owen Grady meets Indiana Jones. And then, finally, while the whole Necronomicon thing - or even the Lovecraftian mythos more broadly - has never done much for me, I guess I even just enjoyed the Arabic/Middle Eastern elements in this one.

In conclusion, it's not the smartest or the most sophisticated novel. It really is basically just a Michael Bay film translated into book form. But it does exactly what it sets out to do, and for anyone who is a true fan of the genre, or Beck's work in general, there is plenty to like. Oh, and there was also a really cool shark encounter - and even more to my liking, bull sharks themselves made an appearance.

[Karrah X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indiana Jones meets HP Lovecraft - if you love monster horror / mythology or movies like "The Thing", then this is a book for you! Book of the Dead is adventurous, with multiple good characters, while still being easy to follow. Not going to lie: I kind of wish this was a movie because it would be epic! I really appreciate the research and science that goes into these books. My only complaint about these books as a whole is that you don't become particularly emotionally invested in the characters. These books won't make you cry and rage, but they *are* a good bit of action.

[Jessica Seguin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this fast paced adventure, characters were (for the most part) likable, and the end kept me on the edge of my seat. I did feel as if the author borrowed a bit too much from other works but he worked it into the narrative and gave credit where it was due, it just could have used a bit more original thought, like his other titles.

[Penelope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thriller - Horror- Apocalyptic

BOOK OF THE DEAD, a Horror Thriller Suspense nearly Apocalyptic novel by Greig Beck narrated by Sean Mangan.

MY RATING GUIDE: 3 to 3.5 Stars
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= THIS WAS OKAY; 3.5= I ENJOYED IT; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).

Prologue -
The original Book of the Dead was transcribed 1300yrs ago by a learned priest later thought to be mad. He documented terrible memories of events which occurred in ancient Babylon, Arabia within the caves far below where rumors of evil monsters of death and devastation reside. Shortly after completing the script, the learned man died all alone.

Present day -
Massive Sinkholes are occurring in growing numbers worldwide, developing in bedrock rather than the usual sandstone and erupting across both land (urban centers and rural areas) also deep under the surface of the sea. People are disappearing, birds are acting strange, giant cockroaches are appearing from nowhere by the dozens and a revolting, nauseous oily slime covers the sinkhole sites.

A few experts who remember the ancient records believe a terrible ancient evil has suddenly decided to revisit earth, timing this terrible event to coincide during an upcoming solar system convergence which will be occurring for only the 6th time in history (the last time was 1300 yrs ago). Supposedly last time, a mysterious and extremely powerful ancient evil wiped out nearly every creature on the face of the earth - occurring, as it did, during the era of the dinosaurs.

Quotes ~
“Fear gives wings”

What I Liked -
1) The narration and voices by Sean Mangan were well performed.
2) The story was interesting, moved at a good pace (I listened at 1.4 speed), information dumps were added in easily digestible pieces, and the dialogue flowed naturally. I was never bored.
3) The main characters were honorable people pooling their efforts to bring about a positive end - people I could (mostly) respect.


What I liked less -
1) There was an element of Horror I wasn’t expecting with grisly graphic details - such as several torture scenes (cutting away after a bit) and rather vivid descriptions of people’s demise.
2) Several main and secondary characters exhibited what I consider truly TSTL behavior on several occasions, trusting in situations previously proven to be false. Some died for their stupidity. I guess there is Justice. ;)
3) POSSIBLE SPOILER ~
The ending wasn’t a positive victory, rather a compromised settlement until some later date.


PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used.
VIOLENCE - Yes. Thriller Suspense with creepy creature horror and several scenes including torture.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOOK OF THE DEAD is OK. Well, it's better than OK, it's good. For me 3 stars means I liked it, but I have to admit that BOOK OF THE DEAD was my least favorite of everything that Beck has written so far. Nothing wrong with our hero, Matt Kearns, who was featured in the first two and the second most recent Alex Hunter novels, and who was the main character in the outstanding 5 star THE FIRST BIRD trilogy. He is likable, fallible and very smart without being a superman like Alex Hunter, "the Arcadian" (if you don't know what I'm talking about, check out Beck's bibliography and start with BENEATH THE DARK ICE. Anyway, I digress. All of Beck's previous fiction has been sci-fi, mostly biologically based in some way or another. And it's all terrific. Here he veers off into (for him) the uncharted territory of horror. Not only that, he uses (with all due credit, dedication and a long afterword) the most famous creation of H.P. Lovecraft, the "Cthulhu Mythos" and simply takes it into the 21st century.

The writing is as crisp as always, and the pacing is great as usual, but I don't think horror, especially Lovecraft's brand and especially the Cthulhu Mythology is Beck's forte. Great writers like Beck and Lovecraft have their own style and Beck just does not seem up to the "purple prose" that Lovecraft was so expert at. The novel just isn't creepy enough. It doesn't bring up the feeling of dread and impending doom that Lovecraft was so good at.

Furthermore, the worldwide sinkholes that start the whole thing off, and the monstrous things that emerge from them are really, really, really close to what F. Paul Wilson wrote in NIGHTWORLD, the epic conclusion to his legendary ADVERSARY CYCLE, except that Wilson did it better and scarier in 1992. I am not accusing Beck of plagiarism, but as a writer of sci-fi/horror, it would be very surprising to me to think that he had not read FP Wilson's classic and however inadvertently, been influenced by it, even if subconsciously. (remember George Harrison and his My Sweet Lord/ the Chiffons' He's So Fine?).

I'm still glad that I read it, but I think that Charlies Stross does a better job with a modernization of Lovecraftian themes in his LAUNDRY SERIES. I'm still a Greig Beck fan, and I'll still be there for the next novel, but this one is just not one of his best.

JM Tepper

[Gareth Otton · Rating 3 out of 5]

These Matt Kearns novels really need to exist as stand-alone novels in a separate universe. It's not that I don't like seeing Adira returning to the page or even having Matt Kearns as the protagonist, it is more a case of these stories not being able to exist in a way that has everything go back to normal by the end of it.

The last book involved a virus that resulted in the complete breakdown of society in a post-apocalyptic style format. In this book, there is no evidence that this ever happened. This book also deals with widespread destruction and mayhem, again in a way that it is impossible to have the same world after it that you had before. However, I have read Alex Hunter novels written after this one and there is no evidence that they are living in a world post-Cthulu.

I just don't buy these books as part of a series. What is worse is that they really don't need to be part of a series. Other than having the same job as he did in the other book and Adira appearing, having it as part of a series adds nothing to this and actually detracts from the story Mr Beck is trying to tell. Use a different linguistic specialist and military expert and this story would be exactly the same.

Overall a little disappointing. This disappointment goes double for the fact that it would have been a really good book if it wasn't for this.

3-stars.

[Adam Selby-Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across this book when it was recommended by Mike Davis via the Lovecraft eZine. I've never been steered wrong before by Mr Davis' recommendations, and this continues the successful streak. He describes it on the eZine as 'Indiana Jones meets Lovecraft', and I could not agree more, athough I would add a dash of Wilbur Smith to that description.

Sinkholes are appearing all over the planet, starting in the US and then spreading worldwide. Matt Kearns, language professor, is tasked with joining the US military in trying to ascertain the cause of these sinkholes...and it soon becomes apparent that something evil that cannot die has ceased its slumbering beneath the Earth.

I raced through this book, reading all of it in a night, and I loved it. There's a great blend of action and adventure, some gunfights and stealthy sleuthing, and some interesting characters I'm interesting in reading about in the other Matt Kearn books. The plot keeps going nicely, without any real pauses, and none of the chapters seem to be padded out. It ends with a suitably apocalyptic finale, with the heroes fighting cultists and Shoggoths (and worse!) to try and stop a certain Elder God from rising out of central Kentucky.

Five Stars!

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the 2nd book featuring Professor Matt Kearns as the central character, and a much better book than the 1st offering. Once again we get reintroduced to a character from the Alex Hunter/Arcadian series. At the end of the book the author states that many of the ideas for this book came from the work of HP Lovecraft, and personally I feel that he has done a good job of things.
Once again the characters are well crafted, the plotline draws the reader in without giving too much away, and the pacing seemed ideal.
Sinkholes are opening up in the States, swallowing buildings without leaving a trace of their occupants. More sinkholes appear, and they are getting larger and deeper. It seems a baffling mystery, until the US military receives information of exactly where they will occur. The prophecy was foretold in the Necronomicon, or the Book of the Dead. The original was lost or destroyed many years ago, but a partial copy is in the Middle East.
Can the secrets it holds be used to stop the end of the world as we know it? As it is written in various languages Matt Kearns is coopted into lending his assistance as a paleolinguist.

[Daniel Allen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can say a lot about this, but it's ...

This book brings back memories of turning on the SciFi channel back in the early 2000s, at maybe... 3:00 AM, and being unsure if I was dreaming a bad movie, or people actually wrote, funded, and filmed it.

It is the most cheesy thing. It's not even Lovecraftian, remotely, in the sense of style, it just contains Lovecraftian monsters. And sexy exotic ninja women. And one-dimensional characters. The plot is so trashy. I sound elitist as hell right now, but if a regular cheesy thriller is an "Airport novel" this is a gas station novel.

But that's fun for some people! No judgement. It's 5 stars if that's what you're looking for. I'm just leaving a low review because I wish I'd read one before impulse-buying it.

[Julie Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good storyline but I had a little bit of trouble with the pace. I felt that it was slower than his previous novels. I had some issues with how slow the narrator was, but that went away once it was suggested to me to increase the speed of the book in Audible. I really liked the monsters in this book and it was good seeing Matt Kearns again. I enjoyed hearing about the ancient texts mentioned in the book and it was interesting seeing how they related to ancient prophecies. I think my favorite part of the book was the author's notes at the end. I thought all of the info on Lovecraft was very interesting and I plan to go back and read his works.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.
Beck takes a man-made mythos, that of Cthulhu and the pantheon of elder gods he leads, and brings it blazing into the Twenty-First Century. Things that have only caused fear in legend and literature are now rising up to destroy the world. The characters are believable, the pacing is frantic, and the plotline is so incredible only a few authors could make it seem so believable. Beck is one of those authors. He has really hit his stride with Book of the Dead, and I cannot wait to see what he does with his next book.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great ride this book. Action, adventure, horror...part Indiana Jones, part Stephen King, part Clive Cussler.

A well- written, fast-paced book that is sure to appeal to many. In fact most of this book reads like an action movie. I'm not normally a fan of horror, but this book added the gross and macabre in with so much action it was pretty easy to read.

[Wayne Fielding · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely fantastic book. Loved it from beginning to end.

[Natalie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love all of Greig Beck’s books but this one I could just not get into like the others. The story was great I just think the primordial creature didn’t resonate with me this time.

[BookzBookzBookz · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I devoured this book while doing life!

Being able to return to the world of Matt Kearns was already excitement in the making, but to see a face from the Alex Hunter series, too? Oh, I knew who she was as soon as she stepped on to the scene. It's also why I love Greig Beck novels so much.

I've read practically all of Beck's books, via Audible.com, excluding two that were ebooks. When I finally got a hold of Book of the Dead, book two in the Matt Kearns series, I knew I had a piece of gold. This book isn't just a read- its a step into a hellish nightmare.
And I loved every minute of it!

In Book of the Dead, the time of Cthulhu has returned, but there's so much more to it. Thanks to the frantic, yet poetic writings by The Mad Arab, there may be a way to hold back the destruction of all things human. But is it all real? And even is true, where is this book of mythos? And what's causing such unbelievable events, such as sinkholes that suddenly appear all over the face of the earth? Everywhere, people in homes, businesses and other establishments suffer tremors, smell something odorous, and then they're gone... But that's not the end. As with all horror novels, something's down there with any survivors. But this is all the prelude to what's truly coming. It's up to Matt Kearns, a friend from a different series by Beck, and the military to find out what's happening and fix it, before all of humanity is lost- all while holding to their sanity!

This book is a straight up monsterfest! It's got things that only someone like Beck can bring to life. It really is a horror novel and nothing like the A.H. series- it's all on its own. Book of the Dead takes what you think is creepy and scary, amplifies it to the hundredth power, then adds literary glitter. You want to read this and you can not stop yourself until the end has been read. Had I no other obligations, I'd have finished this the day I began it.

As with all my Greig Beck reviews, this one is a winner, winner, seafood dinner! I'm moving on to The Immortality Curse, book three in the Kearns series right now. I hope it's just as fantastic.
#HPLovecraft
*This review will later post to my website, with other reviews from G. Beck novels and other authors. Please visit www.areneehunt.com.

[Ray Palen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started this book I had a feeling of trepidation. The writing was somewhat stilted and characters not very drawn out. However, with a blurb on the front cover from one of my favorite horror authors --- Jonathan Maberry --- and a dedication to the father of horror, H.P. Lovecraft I thought --- how bad could it be?

Glad I stuck with it as the last 2/3 of BOOK OF THE DEAD really picked up steam and was quite entertaining. The Book of the Dead has been depicted in much of Lovecraft's work as well as being a staple of modern horror (i.e. The Evil Dead films). The premise is that the ancient 'Gods' who have been living dormant beneath the earth's core as well as under the ocean are about to rise and wipe out the human race.

The story goes that there have been five appearances of the Old Ones and each time it brought about an extinction level event that wiped the planet clean of every living being. When a series of sink-holes around the globe start claiming lives it is just the start of what appears to be the Old Ones returning and rising up. It is up to Professor Matt Kearns and a team of experts --- both military and non --- to prepare to battle whatever is rising. But what chance do mere mortals have against gods?

Greig Beck does a nice job ramping up the suspense and action. He also provides great detail in his Author's Notes that speaks to H.P. Lovecraft and the demonic mythology he created. Thank you, H.P. and thanks to Greig for keeping that fire burning!

[Jacques Hollands · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Minor spoilers ahead)

I’ve always enjoyed Matt Kearns when he pops up in the Alex Hunter series. He is a fun, quirky addition who brings a different kind of energy to the team. But in his own series, he just doesn’t land the same way. Here, he’s… well, a bit boring. Not awful, just not much more exciting than vanilla ice cream.

One of the bigger issues I have is how disconnected this world feels from the one where Matt coexists with Alex Hunter. It's odd that the events in one series seem to have zero bearing on the other. If the intent was to spin off a new storyline, it might have worked better with a brand-new protagonist altogether. As it stands, it’s tough to reconcile the two versions of Matt Kearns.

Then there's the ending. Once again, we’re left with a downbeat conclusion, just like the first book. I don’t mind a darker tone now and then, but part of the appeal of books like this is watching the hero pull off the impossible and restore some version of normal. When that doesn’t happen, it’s hard to walk away feeling satisfied.

At this point, I’m not sure whether I’ll continue with the rest of the series. It took me a long while to get through this book. I wanted to enjoy it, but two books in, I’m still waiting for that spark.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a few months out from reading "The First Bird" series, and was hooked. I've also read several of Beck's Alex Hunter series. So count me as a Greig Beck fan. However, not so much with this book.

I read a fair amount of Science Fiction and I'm use to stretching the "suspension of belief" factor, but this book challenged even me in that regard. Giant creatures blocks long, that have hidden under the earth for millions if not billions of years and are responsible for every mass extinction. I could go on, but you get the picture.

The thing is, this book is worth reading and with all it's faults, I still gave it four stars. If I sound inconsistent, I agree. Matt Kearns seems like a real guy and the other characters were interesting, especially women. The villain was everything I could have asked for but damn could have been so much better.