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Mask of Flies
Rick Soblinski, a caretaker at Oak Leaf Retirement Home, has a new resident in his hallway: an extremely disfigured Jane Doe. She was found abandoned at a sister facility.
In her presence, Rick is stifled by anxiety and determines that the woman’s maladies extend far beyond the surface. The experience manifests into a bizarre nightmare that bleeds into reality, changing everything.
Allie, Rick’s older girlfriend and alpha-businesswoman, copes with his erratic behavior; Oak Leaf’s Office Manager, Tony Delgado, is determined to find the disfigured woman’s family; and the retirement home’s administration endures a string of disappearances of both staff and patients alike. Multiple pathways converge to uncover the Jane Doe’s origins and ultimate purpose.
Mask of Flies eBook Categories:
- Supernatural Thriller Novels
- Horror Novels 2015
- New Horror Books
- Dark Thriller
- Horror Novels
- Zombie Novels
- New Novels
In her presence, Rick is stifled by anxiety and determines that the woman’s maladies extend far beyond the surface. The experience manifests into a bizarre nightmare that bleeds into reality, changing everything.
Allie, Rick’s older girlfriend and alpha-businesswoman, copes with his erratic behavior; Oak Leaf’s Office Manager, Tony Delgado, is determined to find the disfigured woman’s family; and the retirement home’s administration endures a string of disappearances of both staff and patients alike. Multiple pathways converge to uncover the Jane Doe’s origins and ultimate purpose.
Mask of Flies eBook Categories:
- Supernatural Thriller Novels
- Horror Novels 2015
- New Horror Books
- Dark Thriller
- Horror Novels
- Zombie Novels
- New Novels
- GenresHorror
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2015
9 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 3, 2016
Book was free at the time from Amazon. Book started rough and rambled at times. I did enjoy the core story and that is why I gave it three stars.
June 10, 2021
Not entirely sure why I bothered to finish this one. The lore was interesting, but the author tried to follow too many characters, which made the book feel very jumpy, especially when he'd cut from something happening to one character, then jump back in time to show the same scene through the lens of another character.
This book has potential, but reads more like a first draft in need of editing (both story structure and copyediting).
This book has potential, but reads more like a first draft in need of editing (both story structure and copyediting).
August 23, 2015
4.5 Stars! I loved this Horror!
**We received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
I learned something new...well, several things. This book had so many great facts and lore that it was hard not to learn something new. What I would not suggest while reading this book though, is eating. I managed to have the wrong timing, every time. It's not gratuitous, but there are some graphic descriptions.
It begins with Rick, who's a bit misunderstood in his life. He has good intentions that often turn sideways but he makes due. What he didn't expect was to be a victim of a possession and this is where things get really interesting. Rick and his girlfriend Allie were well-developed characters and even secondary characters were given realistic and interesting backgrounds that made them, and their actions, feel real.
I really like the mystery behind High Hat, Angeni's abilities and the Seneca reservation. Every time Elias (Angeni's great great grandson), took to learning more of his relative, the more fascinated I became. The background into what made Angeni into the deformed woman that she is was engrossing.
There were a few confusing scenes, for me. Like, a set of characters would be talking about events that happened to Rick, then it would cut to Rick's pov and Rick would then clear up the whole confusion. But by then, I'd spent several pages trying to piece it together, which was a little frustrating. There are also a few grammatical mistakes. Normally, I can ignore one or two, but there were a few more than that.
That being said, the story was hypnotic, especially surrounding the Kingbird family. It was hard to put the book down when sorting through the last 130 years of their history.
CONCLUSION
The story was interesting, the pacing was great and the action was thrilling. There was gore that stayed in the imagination but didn't become gratuitous and great characters that you'll find yourself attached to.
**We received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
I learned something new...well, several things. This book had so many great facts and lore that it was hard not to learn something new. What I would not suggest while reading this book though, is eating. I managed to have the wrong timing, every time. It's not gratuitous, but there are some graphic descriptions.
It begins with Rick, who's a bit misunderstood in his life. He has good intentions that often turn sideways but he makes due. What he didn't expect was to be a victim of a possession and this is where things get really interesting. Rick and his girlfriend Allie were well-developed characters and even secondary characters were given realistic and interesting backgrounds that made them, and their actions, feel real.
I really like the mystery behind High Hat, Angeni's abilities and the Seneca reservation. Every time Elias (Angeni's great great grandson), took to learning more of his relative, the more fascinated I became. The background into what made Angeni into the deformed woman that she is was engrossing.
There were a few confusing scenes, for me. Like, a set of characters would be talking about events that happened to Rick, then it would cut to Rick's pov and Rick would then clear up the whole confusion. But by then, I'd spent several pages trying to piece it together, which was a little frustrating. There are also a few grammatical mistakes. Normally, I can ignore one or two, but there were a few more than that.
That being said, the story was hypnotic, especially surrounding the Kingbird family. It was hard to put the book down when sorting through the last 130 years of their history.
CONCLUSION
The story was interesting, the pacing was great and the action was thrilling. There was gore that stayed in the imagination but didn't become gratuitous and great characters that you'll find yourself attached to.
August 3, 2015
Like many self-published e-books, Mask of Flies is in need of a healthy edit (not just proofreading, though it does need quite a bit of that). It's a great rough draft, but I wish the author had kept working at it, tightening up the structure and dialog, fixing errors and inconsistencies, and making some judicious cuts.
The positives: it's scary, it makes you think, and the combination of Native American mythology, zombie lore, parapsychology, and conspiracy make for a unique milieu. The author also does a great job providing local flavor and authentic-seeming detail about the management of a retirement home. The main characters also had convincing, well-rounded personalities.
The positives: it's scary, it makes you think, and the combination of Native American mythology, zombie lore, parapsychology, and conspiracy make for a unique milieu. The author also does a great job providing local flavor and authentic-seeming detail about the management of a retirement home. The main characters also had convincing, well-rounded personalities.
August 11, 2015
Got lost....
Although the story started with a path forward,I felt it ended up being totally lost. Very hard to follow.So much back and forth,I really got lost.The ending totally bad. The only good part of the story,was the diary..should have focused on that more.never did put an end to grandmother.Just felt the author got really lost at times.....
Although the story started with a path forward,I felt it ended up being totally lost. Very hard to follow.So much back and forth,I really got lost.The ending totally bad. The only good part of the story,was the diary..should have focused on that more.never did put an end to grandmother.Just felt the author got really lost at times.....
March 2, 2016
welllllll it is in major need of a good edit. there were far too many distracting grammatical errors as well as just poor typing mistakes. the story itself was an interesting concept and I respect the author's willingness to not shy away from horrendous imagery. overall I would not read this author's work again if it continues to be self published. too frustrating
January 7, 2016
The story did keep me reading, and the premise was original and interesting, but toward the end felt rushed and unfinished. Grammatical and spelling errors also detracted from enjoying the story fully. Indie writers, I beg you, please get competent proofreaders.
February 9, 2016
Haven't finished this book. Cannot get into it. I guess it's just too weird and beyond my imagination.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews