Stung

by Chad Olson

Gary Schoenfeld is hoping for an express ticket out of his lonely life, but gets more than he bargained for when he strikes up a relationship with a beautiful Russian stranger named Natalya. Things go from super to supernatural faster than you can say perestroika when she rescues him from an attack by an insect as big as he is in a Chicago alley. But not before he is stung by it. Gary is determined to find out what happened, but is also determined to let nothing get in the way of his blossoming romance with Natalya. The questions continue to pile up, though. Why are police ignoring attacks by the same creature all around Chicago? Why has Gary’s body begun to change in remarkable and disturbing ways? Why has his soon-to-be ex-wife decided to reinsert herself in his life at exactly the wrong time? To find answers, he will face down insane gypsies wielding unearthly powers, human-insect hybrids bent on his destruction and a telepathic mutt who’s equal parts philosopher and finicky eater. Gary realizes it’s not just his own life at stake. The new love of his life might just be the greatest enemy humankind has ever faced.

388 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 19, 2016

Reviews

[R.L. Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT FUN! This is a great read for horror or suspense fans. I was completely immersed in the crazy world in which Gary Schoenfeld finds himself after he meets an exotic stranger. This novel questions the depths of love and devotion one minute, and then terrorizes you the next. The prose is eloquent and the story is one of the wildest rides you will take on the pages of a book. I highly recommend this read.

[DL · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book builds your suspicions like a good “Twilight Zone” episode with an ordinary guy finding himself in an extraordinary situation. The author ramps up the tension and dread, then delivers on all of it with a chilling and horrific reveal. And that’s just when the story kicks into a higher gear and takes you on some twists you won’t see coming. Sure, this novel has a little bit of classic monster movie in its blood, but it also has well crafted characters that you care about and root for, along with a plot that keeps moving. It also has something deeper to say about how we all long for connection, purpose, and love. Stung is a smart sci-fi that is equal parts weird and wonderful.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original Twist on First Contact

In a tightly written page-turner, Olson weaves a love story with alien first-contact in unexpected and uncomfortable ways. Maintaining a steadily rising tempo of action and suspense, the author weaves fascinating combinations of the known, the unknown, and the deeply dreaded. There’s real nightmare fodder here, but also a very human tale of love in its most heroic and most destructive forms. Ultimately, it’s a story about what it means, and sometimes what it costs, to be human.

[Jay Leazott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I know the author personally (casually) but purchased/reviewed the book of my own free will and volition. A very good debut novel with well drawn characters and a kinetic plot. I think Chad has a confident and conversational voice that lends itself well to a plot-driven narrative. I found the whole story quite original (although I tend to lean towards more SCI-FI than Fantasy/Supernatural so I'm no expert.) Without giving away too much, I was a little surprised at how the whole ending played out and while I largely enjoyed it, I felt as though perhaps one of the characters hadn't been focused on enough in the first half of the book, but it's a small quibble. Although there are enough threads left hanging at the end to allow a sequel, I think enough had been resolved to allow the book to stand on it's own. Overall, I enjoyed the story and thought it was a fun ride, maybe a bit weightier than a typical "beach-summer read" but not by much.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that was a great read. I was so wrapped up in it that I wound up finishing it in a single sitting. Started at roughly 9pm, closed the Kindle and realized it was now 4:00am!

I'm eagerly awaiting this author's next creation.