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Dread and Breakfast
WELCOME TO THE DANDY DROP INN, WHERE EVERYBODY
IS TREATED LIKE FAMILY!
It's the worst snowstorm Missouri has ever seen, and nine strangers, each harboring their own secrets, find themselves sharing a roof at the Dandy Drop Inn.
CHECKING IN'S EASY, …
Tommy and Heather Goodenow, the inn's only scheduled guests, are young newlyweds brought together by God himself. They plan to start their life together by carrying out the Lord's work, and God help anybody who gets in their way.
Harold Carsten, an accountant for the mob, is on the run with $700,000 stolen from his employer.
Winston Ashford is a man on a mission. His mission? Retrieve the money Carsten stole and make sure the man never does it again.
And then there's Rebecca Stanchfield and her six-year-old daughter, Kyra; they're risking their lives running from an abusive past.
… CHECKING OUT'S A BITCH.
Jim and Delores Dandy wouldn't dream of turning anybody away, especially not on the worst night in Missouri's history, because that just wouldn't be neighborly.
Before the storm is over, blood will flow.
Who will survive to see the storm finally pass?
IS TREATED LIKE FAMILY!
It's the worst snowstorm Missouri has ever seen, and nine strangers, each harboring their own secrets, find themselves sharing a roof at the Dandy Drop Inn.
CHECKING IN'S EASY, …
Tommy and Heather Goodenow, the inn's only scheduled guests, are young newlyweds brought together by God himself. They plan to start their life together by carrying out the Lord's work, and God help anybody who gets in their way.
Harold Carsten, an accountant for the mob, is on the run with $700,000 stolen from his employer.
Winston Ashford is a man on a mission. His mission? Retrieve the money Carsten stole and make sure the man never does it again.
And then there's Rebecca Stanchfield and her six-year-old daughter, Kyra; they're risking their lives running from an abusive past.
… CHECKING OUT'S A BITCH.
Jim and Delores Dandy wouldn't dream of turning anybody away, especially not on the worst night in Missouri's history, because that just wouldn't be neighborly.
Before the storm is over, blood will flow.
Who will survive to see the storm finally pass?
- GenresHorror
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2016
2 people are currently reading
501 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 15, 2017
4.5 stars.
DREAD AND BREAKFAST, by Stuart R. West, was nothing less than a vicious, adrenaline-filled novel, in which both the pacing and the terror NEVER seemed to let up. I sat down to begin this novel with the anticipation of getting the first couple of chapters read. Two-thirds of the way through, I stopped purely out of necessity (had to feed the family ;) ).
During a relentless snowstorm in Missouri, nine people--most strangers to each other--find themselves lodging at the Dandy Drop Inn . . . all of them harboring secret reasons for coming out that way. Then we have the Dandys, the most sickeningly sweet, elderly couple to ever welcome people into their home. As if that wasn't enough to get things moving, it seems like each guest at the Inn has more than the secrets they know about, following in their wake. . .
". . . she took a deep breath, the only thing on her mind: survival."
I've read plenty of novels that started out strong, only to flounder after a short while, lapsing into "tell" in place of "show" techniques that made me feel as though I were in a lecture hall. I can honestly say that there was none of that lull in DREAD AND BREAKFAST. This pace just kept amping on up. If one situation temporarily resolved, another would immediately open up. The characterization was also in top-form--I felt that I knew everything I needed to about each individual present, their motivations, mindsets, reasonings, and ultimate goals. All of this was conveyed smoothly, interspersed throughout the length of the novel, without ever resorting to a random narration of a jumble of facts.
". . . What happened in her home scared her more . . . whatever waited for her on the second floor didn't frighten her at all. Not like Daddy . . . "
Stuart R. West's new novel is already a serious contender for my "Year's Best" list. This is one book that I simply couldn't put aside for another--I had to keep reading at the breakneck pace set by the author. For those who like their horror coming at you from all directions at once, this is the book for you.
Happy nightmares . . .
Highly recommended!
DREAD AND BREAKFAST, by Stuart R. West, was nothing less than a vicious, adrenaline-filled novel, in which both the pacing and the terror NEVER seemed to let up. I sat down to begin this novel with the anticipation of getting the first couple of chapters read. Two-thirds of the way through, I stopped purely out of necessity (had to feed the family ;) ).
During a relentless snowstorm in Missouri, nine people--most strangers to each other--find themselves lodging at the Dandy Drop Inn . . . all of them harboring secret reasons for coming out that way. Then we have the Dandys, the most sickeningly sweet, elderly couple to ever welcome people into their home. As if that wasn't enough to get things moving, it seems like each guest at the Inn has more than the secrets they know about, following in their wake. . .
". . . she took a deep breath, the only thing on her mind: survival."
I've read plenty of novels that started out strong, only to flounder after a short while, lapsing into "tell" in place of "show" techniques that made me feel as though I were in a lecture hall. I can honestly say that there was none of that lull in DREAD AND BREAKFAST. This pace just kept amping on up. If one situation temporarily resolved, another would immediately open up. The characterization was also in top-form--I felt that I knew everything I needed to about each individual present, their motivations, mindsets, reasonings, and ultimate goals. All of this was conveyed smoothly, interspersed throughout the length of the novel, without ever resorting to a random narration of a jumble of facts.
". . . What happened in her home scared her more . . . whatever waited for her on the second floor didn't frighten her at all. Not like Daddy . . . "
Stuart R. West's new novel is already a serious contender for my "Year's Best" list. This is one book that I simply couldn't put aside for another--I had to keep reading at the breakneck pace set by the author. For those who like their horror coming at you from all directions at once, this is the book for you.
Happy nightmares . . .
Highly recommended!
January 6, 2017
Review copy
Dread and Breakfast begins with violence and barely gives readers a chance to catch their breath.
When Rebecca takes her daughter Kyra and leaves her abusive husband for her sister's home the last thing she's thinking about is the weather. When her car slides off the road in a snow storm she's lucky Office Gurley happens by and rescues them from the intensifying storm. They end up at a cozy bed and breakfast called the Dandy Drop Inn.
Other's stranded by the storm include a mob accountant who made off with a small fortune and a mob hit-man who'd looking for the accountant, then there's the newlywed couple who was spending their wedding night at the inn and the charming owners, Jim and Dorothy Dandy.
The writer takes all of the stereotypes and turns them upside-down. The characters have depth and are so twisted it just leads to a number of genuine surprises along the way. Little Kyra is absolutely adorable and in many ways is the star of this story.
By the midway point things are unraveling at a frenetic pace in this horror farce. The circumstances for all of these people being tossed together could easily have seemed forced, but West's writing made it all seem like the most natural thing in the world.
For a thrilling read on a cold winter's night, I can certainly recommend Dread and Breakfast, published by Grinning Skull Press and available in both paperback and e-book formats.
From the author's bio - Stuart R. West is a lifelong resident of Kansas. Stuart writes thrillers tinged with horror and horror tinged with thriller, both for adult and young adult readers.
Dread and Breakfast begins with violence and barely gives readers a chance to catch their breath.
When Rebecca takes her daughter Kyra and leaves her abusive husband for her sister's home the last thing she's thinking about is the weather. When her car slides off the road in a snow storm she's lucky Office Gurley happens by and rescues them from the intensifying storm. They end up at a cozy bed and breakfast called the Dandy Drop Inn.
Other's stranded by the storm include a mob accountant who made off with a small fortune and a mob hit-man who'd looking for the accountant, then there's the newlywed couple who was spending their wedding night at the inn and the charming owners, Jim and Dorothy Dandy.
The writer takes all of the stereotypes and turns them upside-down. The characters have depth and are so twisted it just leads to a number of genuine surprises along the way. Little Kyra is absolutely adorable and in many ways is the star of this story.
By the midway point things are unraveling at a frenetic pace in this horror farce. The circumstances for all of these people being tossed together could easily have seemed forced, but West's writing made it all seem like the most natural thing in the world.
For a thrilling read on a cold winter's night, I can certainly recommend Dread and Breakfast, published by Grinning Skull Press and available in both paperback and e-book formats.
From the author's bio - Stuart R. West is a lifelong resident of Kansas. Stuart writes thrillers tinged with horror and horror tinged with thriller, both for adult and young adult readers.
May 30, 2018
Reminiscent of Laymon in terms of pace (and this really is a frenetic ride) – but West’s characterization is better and his plotting tighter. Anyone with a healthy sense of black humor will devour this, but it is so much more than a rib-tickling gore-fest. There is a pervading sense of unease throughout, and some great little twists and turns, that all lead to a very satisfying climax. A masterful display of how to present, and keep tabs on, a large array of (unhinged) characters. This was my first West novel, but it won’t be my last – finishing it was a ‘tiny death’. Not so much ‘balls to the wall’ as ‘balls nailed to the wall’ – Highly recommended.
January 3, 2017
Wow. What a great book to begin 2017 with!
West's Dread and Breakfast is spooky fun, horror and suspense spiked with just enough humour for much-needed comic relief.
The Dandy Drop Inn is everything you'd expect a small-town bed & breakfast to be, down to the sweet, elderly proprietors. Problem is, all of the guests are hiding very dark secrets, and those charming old folks? Perhaps they have more than a few skeletons in their closet as well.
I loved the characters in this book, and how West skillfully set up the situation so everyone was on a collision course and nothing was as it seemed at first. And the ending? Chilling. I didn't want this book to end, but I couldn't put it down, especially when it came to the last 50 pages.
Highly recommended!
West's Dread and Breakfast is spooky fun, horror and suspense spiked with just enough humour for much-needed comic relief.
The Dandy Drop Inn is everything you'd expect a small-town bed & breakfast to be, down to the sweet, elderly proprietors. Problem is, all of the guests are hiding very dark secrets, and those charming old folks? Perhaps they have more than a few skeletons in their closet as well.
I loved the characters in this book, and how West skillfully set up the situation so everyone was on a collision course and nothing was as it seemed at first. And the ending? Chilling. I didn't want this book to end, but I couldn't put it down, especially when it came to the last 50 pages.
Highly recommended!
December 29, 2016
The Dandy Drop Inn has a homely feel about it – at least that’s how it appears to this bunch of weary travelers, each of whom has their own agenda. Jim and Delores Dandy are such good, old, down-home folks. What could possibly go wrong? Pretty much everything, as it turns out – and right in the middle of the worse storm Missouri has ever seen. Take the newlyweds. They take religious fanaticism to new levels (depths?). Then there’s the accountant who is on the run with $700,000 of the mob’s money. Unfortunately for him, he is being pursued. Then there’s Rebecca and her daughter, Kyra, running away from an abusive relationship – but the abuser is on their tail. They hunker down at the Dandy Drop Inn where Jim and Delores will take good care of them. Real good care…
I love this author’s style and his characterisations. These are all flawed – seriously flawed in many instances – people, but I was rooting for them. Well, most of them at any rate. The story is pacy, addictive and different. A winner for me.
I love this author’s style and his characterisations. These are all flawed – seriously flawed in many instances – people, but I was rooting for them. Well, most of them at any rate. The story is pacy, addictive and different. A winner for me.
January 5, 2017
Review: DREAD AND BREAKFAST by Stuart R. West
Bring on the gore, the violence, the total insanity! The small insular snowbound community of Hilston, Missouri, resembles the small European towns in WWII, huddled near concentration camps, smelling the overpowering malodor, but always, always denying. "We didn't know! We never thought!" Such is Hilston. Rampant psychotic insanity in its midst, and the citizens either play "hear no evil--see no evil" or become part of the assembly line of evil.
DREAD AND BREAKFAST possesses one of the most absolutely convoluted plots I have ever read. Truly I did not see the denouement, could not have imagined its extent. It was stunning, shocking, and superbly twisted. What a novel! 12 stars doesn't begin to praise it. Not for the easily sensitive, but for aficionados of extreme, rock on.
Bring on the gore, the violence, the total insanity! The small insular snowbound community of Hilston, Missouri, resembles the small European towns in WWII, huddled near concentration camps, smelling the overpowering malodor, but always, always denying. "We didn't know! We never thought!" Such is Hilston. Rampant psychotic insanity in its midst, and the citizens either play "hear no evil--see no evil" or become part of the assembly line of evil.
DREAD AND BREAKFAST possesses one of the most absolutely convoluted plots I have ever read. Truly I did not see the denouement, could not have imagined its extent. It was stunning, shocking, and superbly twisted. What a novel! 12 stars doesn't begin to praise it. Not for the easily sensitive, but for aficionados of extreme, rock on.
February 20, 2017
I feel like I practically devoured this book and it was such a fun and fantastic read that I'm honestly sad to say it's over. Basically an epic snowstorm has hit Missouri and an eclectic cast of characters (and that's putting it mildly) end up taking shelter in a small town bread and breakfast ran by Delores and Jim Dandy (and if I have a dollar for every time I heard "Go Jim Dandy Go!" in my head, I'd easily pay for my lunches this week). Anyway, basically this book is pretty much about a bunch of people trying to kill each other and if that isn't enough to grab your attention, it should be.
There are quite a few things which I found made this book that much more enjoyable. First of all, the book starts out with action right from the very beginning. There are very few lulls in this novel and if you do run across one here or there, just take a deep breath because you're going to need it. Secondly, this book is set entirely smack-dab in the middle of a horrible snowstorm. I love this setting for horror/thriller novels and in "Dead and Breakfast," I actually felt that the the snowstorm was one of the characters. Speaking of characters, there are so many good ones in this book - and not too many of them likable. Jim and Delores and their trusty caretaker Christian run the B&B, Rebecca and her daughter Kyra are on the run from an abusive husband and Rebecca will do practically anything to protect her daughter. There is a germophobic mobster and his stupid nephew, a crook, two religious fanaticals and a hitman with a heart of gold. Add in a few side players and you can see why I found this book so interesting and action-packed.
It would have been easy to make this book a gore-fest. However, West manages to make it creepy and eerie while building up suspense for the next thing that's about to happen. I did find it predictable in one place, but honestly, the element I predicated only made the book that much more fun so it really provided no real problem for the flow of the book at all. If you love suspense, horror and characters with large personalities, then you need to pick up "Dread and Breakfast." Also, look at that cover - that should be reason enough!
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and it in no way influenced my thoughts.
There are quite a few things which I found made this book that much more enjoyable. First of all, the book starts out with action right from the very beginning. There are very few lulls in this novel and if you do run across one here or there, just take a deep breath because you're going to need it. Secondly, this book is set entirely smack-dab in the middle of a horrible snowstorm. I love this setting for horror/thriller novels and in "Dead and Breakfast," I actually felt that the the snowstorm was one of the characters. Speaking of characters, there are so many good ones in this book - and not too many of them likable. Jim and Delores and their trusty caretaker Christian run the B&B, Rebecca and her daughter Kyra are on the run from an abusive husband and Rebecca will do practically anything to protect her daughter. There is a germophobic mobster and his stupid nephew, a crook, two religious fanaticals and a hitman with a heart of gold. Add in a few side players and you can see why I found this book so interesting and action-packed.
It would have been easy to make this book a gore-fest. However, West manages to make it creepy and eerie while building up suspense for the next thing that's about to happen. I did find it predictable in one place, but honestly, the element I predicated only made the book that much more fun so it really provided no real problem for the flow of the book at all. If you love suspense, horror and characters with large personalities, then you need to pick up "Dread and Breakfast." Also, look at that cover - that should be reason enough!
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and it in no way influenced my thoughts.
January 3, 2018
A great book to end the year with! The deep winter setting made me shiver already, but the clever plot was even more chilling. Imagine being stranded in a cute little B&B during heaviest freezing snowfall - could be worse, couldn't it? The old couple owning the place are sweet as honey and your room is warm and cozy. A safe haven in a winter nightmare - only, nightmare has entered the Dandy Drop inn as well...
Each of the guests has their own dark secrets: we learn about the creepy young couple on their honeymoon trip, the accountant on the run with a stolen case of money, the woman and her daughter escaping an abusive husband. Soon, the idyllic B&B turns into a surreal stage for murder and other horrors. When an angry gang leader and a furious husband arrive at the Dandy Drop Inn, all hell breaks lose and suddenly the freezing night seems the lesser danger.
Once the action starts, an unstoppable avalanche drags you along with incredible speed, at the end spitting you out gasping for air and wondering how you got there... Highest recommendation!
Each of the guests has their own dark secrets: we learn about the creepy young couple on their honeymoon trip, the accountant on the run with a stolen case of money, the woman and her daughter escaping an abusive husband. Soon, the idyllic B&B turns into a surreal stage for murder and other horrors. When an angry gang leader and a furious husband arrive at the Dandy Drop Inn, all hell breaks lose and suddenly the freezing night seems the lesser danger.
Once the action starts, an unstoppable avalanche drags you along with incredible speed, at the end spitting you out gasping for air and wondering how you got there... Highest recommendation!
December 23, 2016
A fast-paced thrill ride through a winter slaughterland!
April 18, 2018
So this was also a strange little read. It's my first book by Stuart West and I am so glad I tried one as it was very interesting and I will be trying more.
So it has a lot of different points of views about these people who are stuck at The Dandy Drop Inn. You have a newlywed couple who are wacked out crazy, a mom and her daughter on the run from her husband, a crook, the hitman who is after the crook, the guy the crook stole money from and the wife beater husband, plus The Dandy's and their host who runs the desk Christian.
The first like 40% of the book is really just getting to know everyone as is kind of boring and then things begin to happen and after that is was like a killing spree and it was CRAZY!! Can't really say much or it would be spoilery and so if you like horror then you really should just try it..lol.
I did have my favorite people I was rooting for and not all of them survived but that was to be expected in this type of novel and so I went into it really not carrying a whole lot about anyone. :) It does make me a bit leery about out of the way bed and breakfast in small towns during a snowstorm. :)
So yeah, check it out it's crazy strange but good!
So it has a lot of different points of views about these people who are stuck at The Dandy Drop Inn. You have a newlywed couple who are wacked out crazy, a mom and her daughter on the run from her husband, a crook, the hitman who is after the crook, the guy the crook stole money from and the wife beater husband, plus The Dandy's and their host who runs the desk Christian.
The first like 40% of the book is really just getting to know everyone as is kind of boring and then things begin to happen and after that is was like a killing spree and it was CRAZY!! Can't really say much or it would be spoilery and so if you like horror then you really should just try it..lol.
I did have my favorite people I was rooting for and not all of them survived but that was to be expected in this type of novel and so I went into it really not carrying a whole lot about anyone. :) It does make me a bit leery about out of the way bed and breakfast in small towns during a snowstorm. :)
So yeah, check it out it's crazy strange but good!
September 20, 2017
Fun, fast read. Puts me in the mind of Laymon.
May 5, 2018
The setup is familiar enough - a storm, disparate people converging on an apparent refuge from the weather, each with their own problems, their own reasons to be travelling, some running, others chasing. But don't be fooled into thinking you're about to read a cosy ghost story or predictable slasher tale. Dread and Breakfast is much better than that. Without giving too much away, this is an immersive, non-stop ride into terror and the extremes of human behaviour. Once you start, you won't be able to put it down. And that's as much a testament to the excellent writing of Stuart R West as it is the story. Don't just take my word for it - read it and find out for yourself. Highly recommended.
October 1, 2017
A strange little book. a group of weird, evil people all meet in a snowstorm in a weird evil little town in a weird evil little bed and breakfast
Rebecca and Kyra, escaping from an abusive husband and dad, go off the road in a snoiw storm and get taken to the nearest town by the local police officer - to the weird little bed and breakfast. Everyone else seems to be there for a nefarious reason
You just have to read it to understand
Rebecca and Kyra, escaping from an abusive husband and dad, go off the road in a snoiw storm and get taken to the nearest town by the local police officer - to the weird little bed and breakfast. Everyone else seems to be there for a nefarious reason
You just have to read it to understand
June 26, 2019
You would think that you would be safe and cozy at a Bed & Breakfast run by a sweet, older couple, but than you'd be wrong. This book takes place during a blizzard and traps a bunch of people at this spot and things turn deadly very quickly. It's graphic, so it's more for the horror/thriller crowd.
February 27, 2017
Thrills and chills galore, that would make Stephen King proud. This was my first novel by the author, and it won't be my last.
January 31, 2017
I like stories that introduce multiple characters from various backgrounds and bring them together in a violent collision. Dean Koontz did this well, as did Richard Laymon. With Dread and Breakfast, Stuart West provides his own take on this tradition with a fast paced novel filled with a multitude of dramatic characters all harboring grave secrets and dark aspirations. Psychopaths, mobsters, and religious zealots all check in to the Dandy Drop Inn Bed and Breakfast during a debilitating blizzard for a couple nights of complete mayhem. Tense, yet with touches of levity, this novel will please readers who enjoy fast paced thrillers loaded with intersecting storylines.
March 17, 2018
With DREAD AND BREAKFAST, author Stuart R. West puts on a master clinic for pacing and tension building...the keys to establishing a terrific thriller. Juggling a cast of antagonists with their own villainous motivations is a daunting task, but West manages to pull their strings with ease, layering in conflicts and plot points that keep the reader on edge and trying to guess what happens next. Of course, NOBODY could have seen that nightmare ending coming. Great book.
December 1, 2023
If you’re looking for non-stop terror, this is it. The pacing of this book doesn’t let up. I was constantly torn between putting the book in time out and not wanting to put it down. West sticks the ending after an incredibly wild and frenzied ride. Perfect winter read.
October 7, 2018
Entertaining read
A well-written story that follows several characters through a complicated story without losing the reader. Very good use of suspense.
A well-written story that follows several characters through a complicated story without losing the reader. Very good use of suspense.
January 7, 2017
A Hybrid Horror Suspense Thriller
After reading Dread and Breakfast I’m not sure you’ll ever want to stay at a quaint bed and breakfast ever again. The Dandy Drop Inn sounds cozy enough and Jim and Dolores Dandy will make y’all feel right at home but all is not right with the Inn’s keepers and the buried secret you’ll never see coming from beneath the polished wood floors.
The story opens with Rebecca a woman on the run with her daughter, Kyra. Driving through a miserable snowstorm, their car careens off the road and a kindly cop, Randy Gurly happens by and takes them to the Dandy Drop Inn. Here several more travelers caught in the blizzard arrive and that’s when all of their lives collide in an edge of your seat read that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
West blends the horror and thriller genres by setting the stage with wicked weather, creating a treacherous environment for the Inn’s guests who are desperate to escape and through the use of alternating points of views we’re given up close and personal insight into their lives, making for a riveting read.
After reading Dread and Breakfast I’m not sure you’ll ever want to stay at a quaint bed and breakfast ever again. The Dandy Drop Inn sounds cozy enough and Jim and Dolores Dandy will make y’all feel right at home but all is not right with the Inn’s keepers and the buried secret you’ll never see coming from beneath the polished wood floors.
The story opens with Rebecca a woman on the run with her daughter, Kyra. Driving through a miserable snowstorm, their car careens off the road and a kindly cop, Randy Gurly happens by and takes them to the Dandy Drop Inn. Here several more travelers caught in the blizzard arrive and that’s when all of their lives collide in an edge of your seat read that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
West blends the horror and thriller genres by setting the stage with wicked weather, creating a treacherous environment for the Inn’s guests who are desperate to escape and through the use of alternating points of views we’re given up close and personal insight into their lives, making for a riveting read.
January 5, 2017
Another fascinating horror novel by Stuart R. West. A freak blizzard sends a diverse group of people to a remote bed and breakfast for the night. But will they survive their stay? A little girl, her mom who's running away from a violent husband, a shyster, and many other questionable characters. But worst of all, the couple who runs the bed and breakfast. What do they have in store for their guests? Find out. I did.
January 13, 2017
I always enjoy Stuart West's books. I guess that's why I keep reading them no matter what genre they are. I'm usually very picky about genre and horror is kind of far down on my list.
One thing I've learned about West's writing is that he just can't help making it funny in the midst of gore splattering, magic spelling, ghostly encounters, and serial killers. Now, creating a humorous and frightening book is not an easy thing. Stuart West has a real talent for doing just that. Maybe it takes the edge off a little of the more disturbing aspects, but that's okay with me.
Another masterful talent he has is the ability to take a bunch of diverse characters, and put them in a situation like a deadly B&B full of thieves, killers, and the generally insane. Many writers would lose a character here or there, making a small mistake (was Colonel Mustard in the Parlor or the Kitchen?) which makes a reader stop short and have to flip back to find out when the misplacement occurred. It's not as easy to flip back in an ebook, so I really appreciate a writer who does not make this type of mistake. I feel I can trust Stuart West to keep track of all the characters. I can then relax and enjoy the story.
Why isn't this a 5-star review? Hey, nobody's perfect. The few very minor things that took me out of the story even briefly aren't worth mentioning. I'd give the book 4-1/2 stars, but these review sites don't let you do that. So, rounding down for now. It'll keep Mr. West hungry working hard to write great books. He's working his way into being a well-known writer. Nobody will remember me as a kvetchy reviewer.
Highly recommended even for people who aren't into horror (like me). There's plenty here to like.
I received an Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.
One thing I've learned about West's writing is that he just can't help making it funny in the midst of gore splattering, magic spelling, ghostly encounters, and serial killers. Now, creating a humorous and frightening book is not an easy thing. Stuart West has a real talent for doing just that. Maybe it takes the edge off a little of the more disturbing aspects, but that's okay with me.
Another masterful talent he has is the ability to take a bunch of diverse characters, and put them in a situation like a deadly B&B full of thieves, killers, and the generally insane. Many writers would lose a character here or there, making a small mistake (was Colonel Mustard in the Parlor or the Kitchen?) which makes a reader stop short and have to flip back to find out when the misplacement occurred. It's not as easy to flip back in an ebook, so I really appreciate a writer who does not make this type of mistake. I feel I can trust Stuart West to keep track of all the characters. I can then relax and enjoy the story.
Why isn't this a 5-star review? Hey, nobody's perfect. The few very minor things that took me out of the story even briefly aren't worth mentioning. I'd give the book 4-1/2 stars, but these review sites don't let you do that. So, rounding down for now. It'll keep Mr. West hungry working hard to write great books. He's working his way into being a well-known writer. Nobody will remember me as a kvetchy reviewer.
Highly recommended even for people who aren't into horror (like me). There's plenty here to like.
I received an Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2017
The cover art for this book is great and does an excellent job of reflecting what the novel is about. The Inn appears quaint and sweet but death lies just below the surface. When a bunch of strangers end up stranded in town by a snow storm, they all go to the Inn—and walk right into death’s waiting arms.
The main character, Rebecca, has escaped with her daughter from a very bad relationship. She’s on her way to hide out at her sister’s house, but stops at the Inn to let the storm pass. Unfortunately, her aggressive husband is hot on her trail, determined to make her pay for her betrayal. The other characters are complex and more dangerous than expected. I was worried about Rebecca and Kyra all the way through the story.
This novel is full of murders, fast-paced action, and shocking twists. I couldn’t predict what was going to happen or who would die next. It’s like Agatha Christie meets Saw. If you like your suspense interwoven with true evil and served with a side dish of blood and gore, then you’ll love this exciting novel! Highly recommended!
The main character, Rebecca, has escaped with her daughter from a very bad relationship. She’s on her way to hide out at her sister’s house, but stops at the Inn to let the storm pass. Unfortunately, her aggressive husband is hot on her trail, determined to make her pay for her betrayal. The other characters are complex and more dangerous than expected. I was worried about Rebecca and Kyra all the way through the story.
This novel is full of murders, fast-paced action, and shocking twists. I couldn’t predict what was going to happen or who would die next. It’s like Agatha Christie meets Saw. If you like your suspense interwoven with true evil and served with a side dish of blood and gore, then you’ll love this exciting novel! Highly recommended!
February 10, 2017
I've been a huge fan of Stuart's work for quite a while now. All of his novels are really well written, have amazing characters, and are bound to keep you reading well into the night. Dread and Breakfast is an intricately plotted novel with a host of interesting (and a little crazy) characters who all end up at the bed and breakfast during a storm. As the events of the night unfold, I definitely wasn't turning the lights out, nor putting the book down until I knew for sure what was going to happen. I loved it! Everyone has a backstory here, and most are ones you'll never expect. And some left my skin crawling, haha! Stuart isn't one one to shy away from a little (or a lot) of horror, and for this reader, it's awesome. Plus, in true form, there are some great witty lines--so I was often laughing while totally being creeped out :) I highly recommend this one, and all of Stuart's books!
January 7, 2017
Wow, I don’t know what to say. This is one of my favorite authors, though the book is the sort I haven’t read since high school. In typical Stuart West fashion, this tale is full of well-developed, wacky characters and plenty of surprising twists. And we can’t forget West’s dark, witty humor (my favorite aspect of his writing). If you like blood and violence, there’s plenty of it. Personally, I think I’ll stick to Mr. West’s paranormal teen angst (as in his Tex the Witch Boy series) and flat-out hilarity (as in his Zach and Zora mysteries). But my black-clad, edgy teen son would love this one!
June 16, 2019
The cover tells you what you're in for and the cover doesn't lie. The inn houses more killers than victims. Mafia hit men, bad cops, neighborly folk with screws loose. It's not clear who you can trust. Nobody to be on the safe side, but can anyone escape without trusting somebody? Another twisty tale from Stuart West filled with surprises and his twisted sense of humor.
February 28, 2018
This is classified as a horror, but don't let that scare you, or turn you off this book. Twists and turns around every corner and of course a good dose of wacky humour along the way.
Don't turn your back and always question who you can trust.
Don't turn your back and always question who you can trust.
January 9, 2017
Good story. Loved the characters and good ending.
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