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Welcome To Parkview
In a town built on madness and the macabre, even truth can be a deception ...
"Welcome To Parkview" reads the rusted sign along the outskirts of town. The tarnishing letters seem inviting, yet foreboding and mysterious. Is passing through such a wise idea?
The final destination may be more dangerous than the trip itself—an unapologetic journey through a town that thrives on sex, violence, and the macabre. A place built on deceit and temptation. A spot forever cursed with soulless transients, unforgiving lovers, and merciless vampires who hide in the shadows beyond.
The facade is peeled back just enough for you to see past its surface. There's but a glimpse of the darkness that put Parkview on the map. Then you realize that nothing here is a coincidence. In Parkview, it may be best to keep buried secrets quiet.
"Welcome To Parkview" reads the rusted sign along the outskirts of town. The tarnishing letters seem inviting, yet foreboding and mysterious. Is passing through such a wise idea?
The final destination may be more dangerous than the trip itself—an unapologetic journey through a town that thrives on sex, violence, and the macabre. A place built on deceit and temptation. A spot forever cursed with soulless transients, unforgiving lovers, and merciless vampires who hide in the shadows beyond.
The facade is peeled back just enough for you to see past its surface. There's but a glimpse of the darkness that put Parkview on the map. Then you realize that nothing here is a coincidence. In Parkview, it may be best to keep buried secrets quiet.
- GenresHorror
353 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2010
About the author
Brian Paone
37 books361 followersBrian Paone—a Salem, Massachusetts native displaced to northern Virginia—has been a published novelist since 2007. Brian is primarily a speculative fiction author who doesn’t know how to stay in his lane. His novels feature an array of subgenres for those readers who dare to venture just outside of realism.
Brian is a police detective in Maryland and has worked in law enforcement since 2002. He is the father to four children, a self-proclaimed rollercoaster junkie, a Star Wars 501st member since 2005, a New England Patriots fanatic, and his favorite color is burnt orange. In 2019, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming the proud owner of a 1981 DeLorean!
Brian is a police detective in Maryland and has worked in law enforcement since 2002. He is the father to four children, a self-proclaimed rollercoaster junkie, a Star Wars 501st member since 2005, a New England Patriots fanatic, and his favorite color is burnt orange. In 2019, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming the proud owner of a 1981 DeLorean!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 18, 2015
In a typical horror novel you have a single evil entity that is identified and it follows its only goal which is to scare/kill the main characters. After reading several books with this same arch the shock value wears thin. In Welcome to Parkview, however, evil and darkness lurk around every street corner and every character is capable of the unthinkable.
On the surface, the book reads like a collection of short stories, but you quickly realize the town itself is the backbone holding it all together. Characters mentioned in passing during one tale, find themselves as the target in the next. Crimes from the past influence the actions of residents in the future. Virtual reality cements the book into current times, while classic creatures of the dark pay tribute to old things that go bump in the night.
Through it all, band members from The Reinforcements come together and drift apart, as love, jealousy, and letters from unexpected places swirl around them.
Each story builds on the echoes and legends of the previous, creating a living, breathing three dimensional town, full of the macabre, and just when you think you've got a handle on the mysteries of Welcome to Parkview, you notice a neon sign hanging above a bar called, "Sneakers".
Grab a drink, if you'd like, but beware, you just might not like what you find inside.
On the surface, the book reads like a collection of short stories, but you quickly realize the town itself is the backbone holding it all together. Characters mentioned in passing during one tale, find themselves as the target in the next. Crimes from the past influence the actions of residents in the future. Virtual reality cements the book into current times, while classic creatures of the dark pay tribute to old things that go bump in the night.
Through it all, band members from The Reinforcements come together and drift apart, as love, jealousy, and letters from unexpected places swirl around them.
Each story builds on the echoes and legends of the previous, creating a living, breathing three dimensional town, full of the macabre, and just when you think you've got a handle on the mysteries of Welcome to Parkview, you notice a neon sign hanging above a bar called, "Sneakers".
Grab a drink, if you'd like, but beware, you just might not like what you find inside.
Read
February 18, 2016Unfortunately this wasn't for me. I just couldn't connect to the story nor the characters and really struggled to finish it. I liked the idea of the separate stories all coming together but I thought it just didn't work here. They didn't flow right. Plus the ending was a little abrupt. Saying that, I'm sure a lot of people will love this!!
Rob Shambin did a good job with the narration. I think my disinterest with the story made it hard to listen properly to the narration, but I can't fault Rob for that.
*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
Rob Shambin did a good job with the narration. I think my disinterest with the story made it hard to listen properly to the narration, but I can't fault Rob for that.
*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
December 20, 2015
Not long ago, I read Brian's more recent release, Yours Truly 2095. It was fairly well-written and easy to follow. Maybe that's why Welcome to Parkview wasn't quite what I expected. While the writing was decent, it read more like a book of short stories than a novel. At times the plot was hard to follow, and I spent much of the book feeling confused by all the different characters. At times I was frustrated trying to keep them all straight. In the end, I realized why it was written this way and many of my questions were answered.
Of course, that's just my opinion. If you enjoy a story with a lot going on, that makes you think, and leaves you asking why, this might be a great book for you.
It's interesting to see how Brian has progressed as a writer in the five or so years between the two books. I look forward to reading more of his work.
Of course, that's just my opinion. If you enjoy a story with a lot going on, that makes you think, and leaves you asking why, this might be a great book for you.
It's interesting to see how Brian has progressed as a writer in the five or so years between the two books. I look forward to reading more of his work.
May 19, 2016
two words for this novel: MIND. STRUCK! I want to use a word rhyming with "struck," but gots'ta keep it clean.
I felt like a citizen of a well messed up town. i enjoyed establishing relationships with the citizens, being the nosey neighbor with the eyes always peeping and being a budy body. Then, when i read the ending, i was like "well, so much for the comfort zone."
i didn't want it to end. I wanted more bizarre tales. i see a sequel in the making. hhmmmm fan fiction?
if i enjoyed it so much, then why just four stars and not five? I'm not sure. i mean, the ending was the most bizarre, scariest part of all. yet, it just fell off. when you read it, you'll get what i mean.
I felt like a citizen of a well messed up town. i enjoyed establishing relationships with the citizens, being the nosey neighbor with the eyes always peeping and being a budy body. Then, when i read the ending, i was like "well, so much for the comfort zone."
i didn't want it to end. I wanted more bizarre tales. i see a sequel in the making. hhmmmm fan fiction?
if i enjoyed it so much, then why just four stars and not five? I'm not sure. i mean, the ending was the most bizarre, scariest part of all. yet, it just fell off. when you read it, you'll get what i mean.
July 21, 2019
First, it's a collection of stories, not a novel. That being said, they're not very good stories. I found them confusing and difficult to read, if only for the number of characters who are sometimes referred to by their first names and sometimes their last name. I found the style of writing simplistic and the storylines straight out of the head of a high school sophomore. I really just find this sad and not worth reading.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only
January 24, 2019
Welcome to Parkview by Brian Paone is the most complex modern-day novel I have read. I have my own approach to reviewing a novel and it is completely useless in this case. There are more complex novels; many can be found in the classics, but they are complex for different reasons. There are modern day writers artistically popular but “difficult to understand.” This novel is different. It is like a jigsaw puzzle and it is presented in layers of reality. If there is one central question a reader might ask while reading the novel, the question would be: what is real? Giving a reader that question as a guide is no help. Somewhere near the end of the novel, completely new directions and realities emerge. For those who want to look ahead, forget it. The story is difficult to follow when reading in its order of presentation. Flipping to the last few chapters would make no sense at all.
In other words, this is a fantastic five-star Amazon read for readers who want to work through complexity. Readers constantly meet worlds both real and unreal. Vampires aren’t real, right? One element of the novel is a Vampire romance story. There is a virtual world which contains three mainframes separated by a barren world. One frame is reserved for bad virtual actors; the other two are for good actors who can alter their worlds by thinking of what they desire. Paone does excellent world building for this part and the descriptions are mind-bending. There are occasional hints in all worlds about unseen spiritual-like influences which make sense when you consider the following.
The town is Parkview, Massachusetts. The band is the Reinforcements, a group with six members at the novel’s start. These are two central ideas to keep an eye on in this shell game of “Where is the pea?” Many, many characters will appear and disappear under horrible conditions, but all characters will have some relation to the six original band members. Parkview will emerge as a town with recurring tragedies: murders, kidnappings, robbery, a school shooting, disappearances, suicides, and people trying to escape the town. At least one resident of Parkview, Vinnie, is trying to write things down, figuring there must be a story here somewhere. Except for the writer’s block. It is amusing to encounter a writer writing about a writer writing about …
Other than a jigsaw puzzle, this story structurally resembles a Chinese Nesting Doll. Stories are enclosed within stories. There are many authors of reality. And as each author writes, there are connections and references to the reality of the next reality above. It is impossible for me to examine an incident that is interesting without reference to a connecting element, and that would constitute a spoiler.
If you want a book to challenge your mind, this is it. If you need clear explanations and certainty, move along, there is nothing to see here. There is even a classic creation of the world story/myth.
There is not a lot of graphic sexual language or situations but when they show up, their presentation might shock some readers.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
In other words, this is a fantastic five-star Amazon read for readers who want to work through complexity. Readers constantly meet worlds both real and unreal. Vampires aren’t real, right? One element of the novel is a Vampire romance story. There is a virtual world which contains three mainframes separated by a barren world. One frame is reserved for bad virtual actors; the other two are for good actors who can alter their worlds by thinking of what they desire. Paone does excellent world building for this part and the descriptions are mind-bending. There are occasional hints in all worlds about unseen spiritual-like influences which make sense when you consider the following.
The town is Parkview, Massachusetts. The band is the Reinforcements, a group with six members at the novel’s start. These are two central ideas to keep an eye on in this shell game of “Where is the pea?” Many, many characters will appear and disappear under horrible conditions, but all characters will have some relation to the six original band members. Parkview will emerge as a town with recurring tragedies: murders, kidnappings, robbery, a school shooting, disappearances, suicides, and people trying to escape the town. At least one resident of Parkview, Vinnie, is trying to write things down, figuring there must be a story here somewhere. Except for the writer’s block. It is amusing to encounter a writer writing about a writer writing about …
Other than a jigsaw puzzle, this story structurally resembles a Chinese Nesting Doll. Stories are enclosed within stories. There are many authors of reality. And as each author writes, there are connections and references to the reality of the next reality above. It is impossible for me to examine an incident that is interesting without reference to a connecting element, and that would constitute a spoiler.
If you want a book to challenge your mind, this is it. If you need clear explanations and certainty, move along, there is nothing to see here. There is even a classic creation of the world story/myth.
There is not a lot of graphic sexual language or situations but when they show up, their presentation might shock some readers.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
April 11, 2022
I marked this as horror, because that's certainly what it's billed as and what it's trying to be. It is pretty blatant about that fact -- the Stephen King references alone get tiresome. But in all honesty, I'm not sure quite how to classify it. I never found it scary, and rarely unsettling.
Let me back up. This book is set in the titular Parkview. Instead of one cohesive narrative, this is a series of loosely interconnected shorts all set in and around the place. It's like Wayside books, but less funny and way more violent and sexual. People die. People lose their minds. People will first show up in one story, then return dozens upon dozens of pages later, after you've forgotten who they were.
The stories try to help you keep the characters straight by reminding you who they are, but it often feels a little awkward. Since a lot of the time, those connections don't matter -too- much, I'm not sure if it would have been better not to.
A lot of the ideas in here are interesting, and for most of them you can see why they're vignettes instead of full books in their own right. Occasionally the main characters of one part are really interesting, sticking with you for a while and hoping they come back. Other times, you'll be glad to see them go.
This feels like an early attempt by a talented writer who doesn't know exactly what they want to do. I haven't checked out the writer's history, so that could be totally wrong. But if so, then this was a fascinating look into the creative process. It wears a lot of its influence on its sleeve, it's daring in trying different things, and I give it a lot of props for that. I just wish it worked better as a whole for me.
Let me back up. This book is set in the titular Parkview. Instead of one cohesive narrative, this is a series of loosely interconnected shorts all set in and around the place. It's like Wayside books, but less funny and way more violent and sexual. People die. People lose their minds. People will first show up in one story, then return dozens upon dozens of pages later, after you've forgotten who they were.
The stories try to help you keep the characters straight by reminding you who they are, but it often feels a little awkward. Since a lot of the time, those connections don't matter -too- much, I'm not sure if it would have been better not to.
A lot of the ideas in here are interesting, and for most of them you can see why they're vignettes instead of full books in their own right. Occasionally the main characters of one part are really interesting, sticking with you for a while and hoping they come back. Other times, you'll be glad to see them go.
This feels like an early attempt by a talented writer who doesn't know exactly what they want to do. I haven't checked out the writer's history, so that could be totally wrong. But if so, then this was a fascinating look into the creative process. It wears a lot of its influence on its sleeve, it's daring in trying different things, and I give it a lot of props for that. I just wish it worked better as a whole for me.
December 11, 2018
I received a free copy from Voracious Readers and the author in return for an honest review. Definitely not a horror novel as portrayed to be. I would skip this one.
January 4, 2019
Obligatory disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book courtesy of the author.
This book is NOT good.
It’s a story about some kids who have a band and apparently some crazy stuff starts to happen...maybe...I didn’t get far enough to find out.
So, what’s wrong with it?
1) The dialogue. These kids are supposed to be high schoolers. There is NO WAY this dialogue is representative of them unless they’re like, beatbiks or something.
2) Story progression. There seems to be none of it. I have. I clue what it’s supposed to be about and I don’t think I was going to find out any time soon. And where are there so many sub stories? One kid killed himself. One kid has a mom who was murdered. They also have teenage angst and are trying to get laid. They have a record deal. It’s just TOO MUCH!
3) Can a book be too descriptive? And why does it feel like I’m reading someone’s thoughts that have just been slowed down significantly? And you literally don’t need to explain everything. Paint a picture and let me fill in the blanks.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ll read anything from this author again.
This book is NOT good.
It’s a story about some kids who have a band and apparently some crazy stuff starts to happen...maybe...I didn’t get far enough to find out.
So, what’s wrong with it?
1) The dialogue. These kids are supposed to be high schoolers. There is NO WAY this dialogue is representative of them unless they’re like, beatbiks or something.
2) Story progression. There seems to be none of it. I have. I clue what it’s supposed to be about and I don’t think I was going to find out any time soon. And where are there so many sub stories? One kid killed himself. One kid has a mom who was murdered. They also have teenage angst and are trying to get laid. They have a record deal. It’s just TOO MUCH!
3) Can a book be too descriptive? And why does it feel like I’m reading someone’s thoughts that have just been slowed down significantly? And you literally don’t need to explain everything. Paint a picture and let me fill in the blanks.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ll read anything from this author again.
Read
June 8, 2019When I got this one for free... I thought ooo a good horror book. I stopped around page 20ish because it's too much like Stephen King (whom I love reading) combined with bad writing. I didn't like the characters at all and two things... one the tunnel (It??) was named something 'Lot (Salem's Lot?). Too coincidental for me. I'll pass on this one.
May 3, 2016
I had a hard time with this one.The story is disjointed and confusing.I still am not sure what all happened.Rob Shamblin did a nice job narrating.I was provided this book for an honest review.
July 26, 2018
I received this book free from Voracious Readers. I really enjoyed reading it. The storyline is interesting and i couldnt put the book down till i finished it
May 3, 2019
I received this copy of Welcome to Parkview in return for an honest review. Thank you to @voraciousreadersonly for the opportunity to enjoy this novel.
.
**Mild Spoilers Ahead**
Parkview is a dangerous town in which to live. Located just down the road from Salem, Massachusetts, it is home to kidnappers, vampires, ghosts, and a propensity for suicides. This book is comprised of several stories, all involving the residents of Parkview. These tales span many years (how many, I don't know), with many of the same faces appearing as kids, then again fully grown. IMO, bring a scorecard when you start this book, because the interconnectivity of the cast gets confusing after a while.
.
The author's love of Stephen King is apparent throughout this novel, with many references to King's works (see seconnd photo). In fact, he actually has a nine-year-old girl recreate the climactic scene from her favorite short story, Cain Rose Up from Skeleton Crew. And I'm not even getting into the author introducing himself as a character in the end story, ala SK in the Dark Tower series.
.
Paone has a fresh approach to the horror genre, with the short story collection around a central location, but the confusion surrounding timeframes and the vast cast of characters was a bit offputting. His writing is smooth, and his ability to keep the reader engrossed in the tale is solid. I'd be interested in reading more of his work, hoping his other stories follow a more linear path.
.
My Rating: 3.75/5 stars
.
**Mild Spoilers Ahead**
Parkview is a dangerous town in which to live. Located just down the road from Salem, Massachusetts, it is home to kidnappers, vampires, ghosts, and a propensity for suicides. This book is comprised of several stories, all involving the residents of Parkview. These tales span many years (how many, I don't know), with many of the same faces appearing as kids, then again fully grown. IMO, bring a scorecard when you start this book, because the interconnectivity of the cast gets confusing after a while.
.
The author's love of Stephen King is apparent throughout this novel, with many references to King's works (see seconnd photo). In fact, he actually has a nine-year-old girl recreate the climactic scene from her favorite short story, Cain Rose Up from Skeleton Crew. And I'm not even getting into the author introducing himself as a character in the end story, ala SK in the Dark Tower series.
.
Paone has a fresh approach to the horror genre, with the short story collection around a central location, but the confusion surrounding timeframes and the vast cast of characters was a bit offputting. His writing is smooth, and his ability to keep the reader engrossed in the tale is solid. I'd be interested in reading more of his work, hoping his other stories follow a more linear path.
.
My Rating: 3.75/5 stars
October 23, 2018
First, I received a complementary copy of this book from the author via the Voracious Reader's program.
My feelings about this book are mixed. On one hand, I thought the writing style was a little clunky and didn't seem to flow well in the beginning. On the other hand, the book became an interesting and complex web of individual stories that have connections to each other. I liked that it was complex and made me think, but I will have to go back and try to place each character in relation to the others to fully understand the book. Each story was creative and and I didn't feel like I was reading something I'd read before. If I were to rate it at the first half of the book it would get three stars, while the last half would add another star, if not for the clunkiness of the writing. If Goodreads allowed half stars, I would give this a 3.5. I would probably read something else from this author.
My feelings about this book are mixed. On one hand, I thought the writing style was a little clunky and didn't seem to flow well in the beginning. On the other hand, the book became an interesting and complex web of individual stories that have connections to each other. I liked that it was complex and made me think, but I will have to go back and try to place each character in relation to the others to fully understand the book. Each story was creative and and I didn't feel like I was reading something I'd read before. If I were to rate it at the first half of the book it would get three stars, while the last half would add another star, if not for the clunkiness of the writing. If Goodreads allowed half stars, I would give this a 3.5. I would probably read something else from this author.
April 27, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of Welcome to Parkview from the author through Voracious Readers Only. This book at times was so frustrating and sometimes enjoyable. It is divided into short stories that all have something in common or connecting them in some way. What’s frustrating is some of the short stories weren’t that enjoyable and I could have done without them but others like Lance turning into a vampire and being frozen in the block of ice, I really wanted to hear more about his story and follow him but in stead the story was cut right there. The ending made the book make sense but I didn’t care for the ending the way it was. It kind of felt like a bad Twilight Zone episode. Welcome to Parkview is a good book for those who like short stories and would enjoy putting the pieces of this puzzle together themselves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2018
This book needs a warning... Addictive. I started reading it one night before going to sleep. Three and a half hours later I noticed that it was 3am... on a work night. Finally got the chance to pick it up again and couldn’t put it down.
The book is made up of vignettes of the lives of people in Parkview. It was interesting noting recurring characters and trying to predict characters relationships and connections. The stories are an interesting mix of crime, fantasy, sci-fi, and general fiction. I must say that i’m glad I don’t live in Parkview. The ending is quirky and I didn’t predict most of it.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
The book is made up of vignettes of the lives of people in Parkview. It was interesting noting recurring characters and trying to predict characters relationships and connections. The stories are an interesting mix of crime, fantasy, sci-fi, and general fiction. I must say that i’m glad I don’t live in Parkview. The ending is quirky and I didn’t predict most of it.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
January 8, 2019
While I certainly wouldn't call this a horror novel... It was an interesting read. I didn't know what to expect, but it's like a book of short stories that all connect together in subtle ways... Making you think about the characters and how they relate to each other. It's also pretty dark, and there's a touch of paranormal in there too. The reason I've only given it three stars is the ending, it just got super weird and a bit confusing! But still a fun read, something different! Thanks to Brian Paone and VRO for my copy of this book!
January 16, 2019
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review......
Each chapter is a different short story that ties in somewhere with other characters from a town of Parkview...where the strange, unusual and crazy happen. Kidnapping, murder, cyber world, vampires, and more..
There were some stories I liked better than others but the book kept my interest. I kept thinking Parkview was a crazy place to live with all these situations.
Overall a good book, even though for me it was hard tying all these stories to each other.
Each chapter is a different short story that ties in somewhere with other characters from a town of Parkview...where the strange, unusual and crazy happen. Kidnapping, murder, cyber world, vampires, and more..
There were some stories I liked better than others but the book kept my interest. I kept thinking Parkview was a crazy place to live with all these situations.
Overall a good book, even though for me it was hard tying all these stories to each other.
November 9, 2018
This was not my cup of tea. The novel is written as a series of short stories that tie together by the characters and town. I felt as if there were too many things thrown into this book. I wish the author had chosen maybe just a few of the "stories" and expanded further into those. My preferences aside, the book was well written and has a few surprises.
*I received a free copy of this for review from the author through V.R. The opinions and thoughts stated above are my own.*
*I received a free copy of this for review from the author through V.R. The opinions and thoughts stated above are my own.*
August 14, 2017
In Parkview, what you see isn't always real. The stories in this novel seem to be disjointed, but there is a them as readers follow several people's lives and the connection to the underlying evil in the town. For me, this was a good story although at times hard to follow. The writing is good though and the author gives readers mysteries, horror, and a journey into strangeness.
June 17, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Voracious readers only.
I had a really hard time getting into this book. The style of lots of short stories connecting here and there was really hard for me to follow. Some stories were intriguing whilst others were strange I just couldn’t really get into. Not to my taste but those that like short story type format may enjoy.
I had a really hard time getting into this book. The style of lots of short stories connecting here and there was really hard for me to follow. Some stories were intriguing whilst others were strange I just couldn’t really get into. Not to my taste but those that like short story type format may enjoy.
September 6, 2020
I received this book through Voracious Readers in return for an honest review. I did not like this book I'm sorry to say. Some chapters were ok but the whole thing seemed disjointed. There were no characters that I could bond with, even the final chapter which explains somes things doesn't really give the reader closure.
December 1, 2018
I got a copy of this book via Voracious Readers and found it very interesting. The short stories are standalones but always connected to Parkview. A very ingenious way of writing - thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely look out for more from this author.
June 12, 2021
A some what bizarre selection of different adventures that sort of come together at the end! Mix of fantasy & horror with a little bit of mystery thrown it! If you like quirky, this is for you!
October 28, 2025
Unique scary stories that all link up in a town called Parkview, I enjoyed the entertaining madness through each story till the very end.
April 11, 2026
Really hated the writing
December 30, 2016
I hardly know where to begin when discussing this book. Before proceeding, I'd like to make two disclosures. First, this is a very different type of book of what I generally read--very different. Second, I received this as a free e-book during an author giveaway.
If you like dark (which I generally do not), this is a must read. It's a collection of mostly dark short stories that are woven together in a very unique pattern. Readers must take each story separately before deciding the exact relationship to the other stories. The characters are plentiful, diverse, and multidimensional. Reading this I felt tossed into a modernized Alfred Hitchcock meet Twilight Zone world. Each page swipe produced a feeling of anxiety and suspense. Unlike some horror stories, it did not feel over-the-top unbelievable or predictable. Parkview is a town/world that readers definitely will find believable. It is well-written and does not lag. Definitely, readers will not see the ending coming and will be wowed.
The one area that I personally found problematic was the content related to Christianity (e.g., the Antichrist in the trunk, mockingly dancing around the crucifix). To be fair, many readers will not have issues with that portion of the book, and this is a personal bias that prevents me from giving this five-stars. The positive about that section is that is very surprising and within character and not some added afterthought shock factor. In fact, minus this portion, the short stories that include this content would very much lack something. Thus, this should not be a sole consideration to pass over this book. Aside from that small portion, Welcome To Parkview has many positives that readers will enjoy. Although dark, it's fun. Readers are quickly drawn into the story, and characters sparkle with quirks. It's a book that definitely will leave the reader flooded with emotions.
If you like dark (which I generally do not), this is a must read. It's a collection of mostly dark short stories that are woven together in a very unique pattern. Readers must take each story separately before deciding the exact relationship to the other stories. The characters are plentiful, diverse, and multidimensional. Reading this I felt tossed into a modernized Alfred Hitchcock meet Twilight Zone world. Each page swipe produced a feeling of anxiety and suspense. Unlike some horror stories, it did not feel over-the-top unbelievable or predictable. Parkview is a town/world that readers definitely will find believable. It is well-written and does not lag. Definitely, readers will not see the ending coming and will be wowed.
The one area that I personally found problematic was the content related to Christianity (e.g., the Antichrist in the trunk, mockingly dancing around the crucifix). To be fair, many readers will not have issues with that portion of the book, and this is a personal bias that prevents me from giving this five-stars. The positive about that section is that is very surprising and within character and not some added afterthought shock factor. In fact, minus this portion, the short stories that include this content would very much lack something. Thus, this should not be a sole consideration to pass over this book. Aside from that small portion, Welcome To Parkview has many positives that readers will enjoy. Although dark, it's fun. Readers are quickly drawn into the story, and characters sparkle with quirks. It's a book that definitely will leave the reader flooded with emotions.
February 1, 2016
I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com.
I didn't realize this was a collection of short stories at first, so I was pretty confused after the first story lol. But they were great. Parkview definitely seems like an interesting place to live. It got a little weird at the end because I personally find it a little strange when an author writes himself into his/her books. But this gets a solid 4 stars from me.
I didn't realize this was a collection of short stories at first, so I was pretty confused after the first story lol. But they were great. Parkview definitely seems like an interesting place to live. It got a little weird at the end because I personally find it a little strange when an author writes himself into his/her books. But this gets a solid 4 stars from me.
February 6, 2016
Wow, what a great story! I don't usually go for the horror and thriller genre, but I enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and really brought to life. I often find a book can better carry the horror/ thriller experience when you are invested in the characters. Brian Paone is proving to be an author to watch and I'm excited to enjoy his next book!
*I was provided a free copy of this book via AudiobookBlast for a fair and honest review.
*I was provided a free copy of this book via AudiobookBlast for a fair and honest review.
April 27, 2018
When I was initially contemplating how to review this book, I thought I'd talk a bit about how it's really more connected short stories. But then I realised that's not entirely the truth. This book reads more like a pearl necklace - each bead is its own entity, but strung together, it makes a striking and cohesive whole. (The format alone means that this book is not for those who don't like a good puzzle).
+1 Star for the "I am, I said" reference
-1 Star for the creature origin story
+1 Star for the ironic self-reference
The format (new main characters in every "chapter" with appearances, references to, and/or subsequent actions of previous chapters' main characters) to be a bit jarring until I realised what was happening. (This is neither a point in the novel's favour nor a criticism - it just took me a few chapters to figure out what was going on). I appreciated that the individual sections seemed to be largely in chronological order until about the final third of the book. That helped me, as a reader, understand a bit better, and when the author began moving about in the timeline, I was better equipped to place the setting.
The one element that I had the most difficulty with was the sheer quantity of characters. By the time I was reaching the end of the book, it was hard to recall which character was tied to whom and how. I think the author did a very good job of laying out hints and reminders in a natural way, but this was still a challenge to keep sorted in my own mind. I didn't catch any errors in terms of mis-identifying or misattributing of characters. Of course, I doubt I would have caught subtler errors since I was having to work to keep them all straight.
The down side to having such a short acquaintance with the characters is that the novel, as a whole, lacks emotional depth. I didn't see enough of a single character to care about them or their fate overmuch. This novel has more of an intellectual appeal for me, but it didn't really hit me in the solar plexus, and I didn't mourn any losses as I would have in a more traditionally told tale. (This is not necessarily a criticism - I would venture that the author was more concerned about exploring the meta level anyway).
I also ended up feeling a bit unsatisfied with some of the mythical elements incorporated into the novel. In a couple of cases, they seemed like offshoots that just didn't go anywhere, and I believe the story would have moved along just as well - if not better - without their inclusion.
The final third or so of the book deals with some very interesting questions surrounding the art we create and how it relates to the creator. I found these to be very intriguing ideas, and I think they'll haunt me a little in my own creative pursuits.
Overall, I found the novel to be well-written. The pacing is quite fast, with each chapter having both its own fast-paced action and contributing to a slower build through the whole novel. I found that some (not all) of the mythical elements were more distracting than pushing the story forward. Having said that, it's still a pretty tightly woven novel and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to read it.
I did enjoy this book, and I will continue to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
+1 Star for the "I am, I said" reference
-1 Star for the creature origin story
+1 Star for the ironic self-reference
The format (new main characters in every "chapter" with appearances, references to, and/or subsequent actions of previous chapters' main characters) to be a bit jarring until I realised what was happening. (This is neither a point in the novel's favour nor a criticism - it just took me a few chapters to figure out what was going on). I appreciated that the individual sections seemed to be largely in chronological order until about the final third of the book. That helped me, as a reader, understand a bit better, and when the author began moving about in the timeline, I was better equipped to place the setting.
The one element that I had the most difficulty with was the sheer quantity of characters. By the time I was reaching the end of the book, it was hard to recall which character was tied to whom and how. I think the author did a very good job of laying out hints and reminders in a natural way, but this was still a challenge to keep sorted in my own mind. I didn't catch any errors in terms of mis-identifying or misattributing of characters. Of course, I doubt I would have caught subtler errors since I was having to work to keep them all straight.
The down side to having such a short acquaintance with the characters is that the novel, as a whole, lacks emotional depth. I didn't see enough of a single character to care about them or their fate overmuch. This novel has more of an intellectual appeal for me, but it didn't really hit me in the solar plexus, and I didn't mourn any losses as I would have in a more traditionally told tale. (This is not necessarily a criticism - I would venture that the author was more concerned about exploring the meta level anyway).
I also ended up feeling a bit unsatisfied with some of the mythical elements incorporated into the novel. In a couple of cases, they seemed like offshoots that just didn't go anywhere, and I believe the story would have moved along just as well - if not better - without their inclusion.
The final third or so of the book deals with some very interesting questions surrounding the art we create and how it relates to the creator. I found these to be very intriguing ideas, and I think they'll haunt me a little in my own creative pursuits.
Overall, I found the novel to be well-written. The pacing is quite fast, with each chapter having both its own fast-paced action and contributing to a slower build through the whole novel. I found that some (not all) of the mythical elements were more distracting than pushing the story forward. Having said that, it's still a pretty tightly woven novel and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to read it.
I did enjoy this book, and I will continue to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
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