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Taine McKenna Adventures #1
Into the Mist
When New Zealand Defense Force Sergeant Taine McKenna and his squad are tasked with escorting a bunch of civilian contractors into Te Urewera National Park, it seems a strange job for the army. Militant Tahoe separatists are active in the area, and with its cloying mist and steep ravines, the forest is a treacherous place in winter. Yet nothing has prepared Taine for the true danger that awaits them. They backtrack toward civilization, stalked by a prehistoric creature intent on picking them off one by one. With their weapons ineffective, the babysitting job has become a race for survival. Taine draws on ancient tribal wisdom as he becomes desperate to bring his charges out alive. Will it be enough to stop the nightmare? And when the mist clears, will anyone be left?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2016
137 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 8, 2025
Taine McKenna and his fellow soldiers escort a group of civilians into a National Park, a treacherous area in New Zealand known for its dense mist and steep ravines. But his real mission is actually to find out why so many people have gone missing there. As they navigate the forest, they encounter a creature with a lust for murder.
It’s a solid creature/monster horror story. The creature being a Taniwha from Māori mythology elevates the story as a whole. There are quite a few Māori words to be found here, and there is a glossary to help you understand what they mean. The setting is pretty cool. And the action horror scenes are written really well.
There’s one area in which the story didn’t manage to win me over to be honest, and that’s the characters. Rawiri Temera is interesting and the protagonist is good enough. But I just didn’t care about any of them for some reason. Maybe there are just too many characters in this book. Or maybe it’s the sexual tension between some of the characters, though I will admit this is all rather subtle. The dog dying also definitely hurts the story for me personally, this is not a spoiler as it happens quite early in the story.
I think I’m just not the right audience for this book as there is actually a lot to like about it. It’s got a great creature horror concept, lots of action, a good plot and there is some cool Māori mythology to elevate what’s already a pretty good story.
It’s a solid creature/monster horror story. The creature being a Taniwha from Māori mythology elevates the story as a whole. There are quite a few Māori words to be found here, and there is a glossary to help you understand what they mean. The setting is pretty cool. And the action horror scenes are written really well.
There’s one area in which the story didn’t manage to win me over to be honest, and that’s the characters. Rawiri Temera is interesting and the protagonist is good enough. But I just didn’t care about any of them for some reason. Maybe there are just too many characters in this book. Or maybe it’s the sexual tension between some of the characters, though I will admit this is all rather subtle. The dog dying also definitely hurts the story for me personally, this is not a spoiler as it happens quite early in the story.
I think I’m just not the right audience for this book as there is actually a lot to like about it. It’s got a great creature horror concept, lots of action, a good plot and there is some cool Māori mythology to elevate what’s already a pretty good story.
August 30, 2018
I've had the pleasure of reading a lot of good creature features lately. This is another one to add to that list. It had plenty of action, a nice range of characters from a-holes to heroes, a big gigantic predator and the added touch of a little Native American mythology.
It was so good I'm about to start reading book two right now. I'm hoping Sergeant McKenna and Dr. Jules Asher are back. I really liked those two and can't wait to see what trouble they get into next.
It was so good I'm about to start reading book two right now. I'm hoping Sergeant McKenna and Dr. Jules Asher are back. I really liked those two and can't wait to see what trouble they get into next.
May 31, 2016
Review copy
Into the Mist by Lee Murray gets off to a strong start. From the fist chapter...
"Terry shook violently, his body already grasping what his mind hadn't yet understood. Bringing his fingers to his face Terry sniffed at the wetness there. Metallic. It wasn't dew. Terry jerked his hands away in horror. Cam's upper body was missing."
The story takes place in Te Urewera an area of mostly forested, sparsely populated rugged hill country in the North Island of New Zealand. A place of many legends, stories every child knew, stories of "the taniwha—vengeful monsters that slaughtered warriors, kidnapped maidens and ate babies whole." But, they're just stories to get children to obey their parents, right?
A combination of events occur leading to a geological task force being commissioned to investigate a possible vein of gold discovered in the forest, and a military escort essentially to provide muscle, but secretly sent to investigate the disappearance of a previous military team and several civilians.
After the strong start, the story bogged down a bit and at times seemed like a bad B-movie, the kind you'd find on the syndicated Svengoolie horrorfest, but by the time we got to the second half of the book it became a pulse-pounding action-packed thrill ride. Actually, Lee Murray is quite adept at writing action sequences.
All in all, Into the Mist was an entertaining military/monster novel with a touch of mysticism.
Recommended
Into the Mist is published by Cohesion Press and is available in both e-book and paperback formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this book at no additional charge and if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Lee Murray is an award-winning writer of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. She lives with her family in the Land of the Long White Cloud where she conjures up stories for readers of all ages from her office on the porch.
Into the Mist by Lee Murray gets off to a strong start. From the fist chapter...
"Terry shook violently, his body already grasping what his mind hadn't yet understood. Bringing his fingers to his face Terry sniffed at the wetness there. Metallic. It wasn't dew. Terry jerked his hands away in horror. Cam's upper body was missing."
The story takes place in Te Urewera an area of mostly forested, sparsely populated rugged hill country in the North Island of New Zealand. A place of many legends, stories every child knew, stories of "the taniwha—vengeful monsters that slaughtered warriors, kidnapped maidens and ate babies whole." But, they're just stories to get children to obey their parents, right?
A combination of events occur leading to a geological task force being commissioned to investigate a possible vein of gold discovered in the forest, and a military escort essentially to provide muscle, but secretly sent to investigate the disappearance of a previous military team and several civilians.
After the strong start, the story bogged down a bit and at times seemed like a bad B-movie, the kind you'd find on the syndicated Svengoolie horrorfest, but by the time we got to the second half of the book it became a pulse-pounding action-packed thrill ride. Actually, Lee Murray is quite adept at writing action sequences.
All in all, Into the Mist was an entertaining military/monster novel with a touch of mysticism.
Recommended
Into the Mist is published by Cohesion Press and is available in both e-book and paperback formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this book at no additional charge and if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Lee Murray is an award-winning writer of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. She lives with her family in the Land of the Long White Cloud where she conjures up stories for readers of all ages from her office on the porch.
January 23, 2022
Un romanzo fra il thriller e l'horror con un buon ritmo e un'ambientazione stupenda. Le foreste della Nuova Zelanda custodiscono il segreto di un essere "mitologico" in cui si imbatte una squadra di scienziati accompagnati da alcuni militari. Interessante scorcio sulla natura, sugli usi e sul paese in generale, solo uno spiraglio certo ma caratterizza tutto il romanzo.
3 stelle e mezzo
3 stelle e mezzo
March 17, 2019
What attracted me to this book was firstly the cover and secondly the idea of there being a scary dinosaur in the forests of New Zealand, a location we rarely see in horror reads. I was really excited to read this one.
A high number of missing people have been reported in the national park and a military team that was sent in to find out what happened has also disappeared. Major Arnold decides to put a second team led by Taine McKenna into the park to find out what happened to the other team and solve the mystery. They go undercover as a military security team for an official scientific expedition to find gold in the area and try to use the opportunity to scout around for any sign of the missing people. However what they find instead is a legendary monster that has been on a killing spree and is determined to add everyone on the expedition to the lunch menu.
The actual main story was interesting. The monster is totally lethal and deadly so just being a few steps adrift of the group can be enough to cost you your life. The monster is scary and the attack scenes are pretty brutal so I liked those parts of it. The expedition does seem to go round in circles though as the team try to trek out after their first encounters with the monsters and then trek back in again, then try to get out again. I would expect a military team to decide to get everyone out immediatly and if two people are idiot enough to go back to try and set a trap for the beast, surely the military has a duty to get the others to safety first and then consider going to fetch the idiots? I found it a very strange decision to take everyone back into the danger zone they were just getting out of.
I'm not much for mystical plot threads about local legends in my horror books so I did struggle a bit with that in this book. A local man is visited by an image of the beast which makes him block the road into the national park and try to stop people going into the danger zone, knowing that a monster is waiting for them. But we then get dream sequences where he goes out walking and meets and talks to the monster and I felt that these additions kept slowing down the plot. I sort of lost interest in this dreamwalker stuff every time it appeared.
I was also a bit disinterested in the conspiracy plots which for me felt a bit half hearted. We have the story of how the gold sample was planted to make everyone think the land is gold rich and the person putting together the survey team was then blackmailed into adding someone to the team but I'm not really clear on the purpose of all this. Someone from Geotech also persuades someone to be a front for their company based on reports of what is in the jungle but again it was all a bit vague as to why this was going on. Add in the militant young locals who are prepared to kill the people on the expedition as they don't want outsiders in their forest despite elders giving permission, and some jungle camp getting attacked and I felt a good horror plot descended into a bit of a mess. I just didn't feel that all this extra stuff added anything to the story and it just slowed things down too much.
Overall, I didn't love this book. I did enjoy the monster bits but not much else about it really appealed to me I'm afraid. I finished it because I needed it for my World Reads challenge but I did consider DNFing it at one point. I decided not to read the sequel. For me it just didn't quite deliver what I was hoping for and just wasn't my thing.
2.5 stars
A high number of missing people have been reported in the national park and a military team that was sent in to find out what happened has also disappeared. Major Arnold decides to put a second team led by Taine McKenna into the park to find out what happened to the other team and solve the mystery. They go undercover as a military security team for an official scientific expedition to find gold in the area and try to use the opportunity to scout around for any sign of the missing people. However what they find instead is a legendary monster that has been on a killing spree and is determined to add everyone on the expedition to the lunch menu.
The actual main story was interesting. The monster is totally lethal and deadly so just being a few steps adrift of the group can be enough to cost you your life. The monster is scary and the attack scenes are pretty brutal so I liked those parts of it. The expedition does seem to go round in circles though as the team try to trek out after their first encounters with the monsters and then trek back in again, then try to get out again. I would expect a military team to decide to get everyone out immediatly and if two people are idiot enough to go back to try and set a trap for the beast, surely the military has a duty to get the others to safety first and then consider going to fetch the idiots? I found it a very strange decision to take everyone back into the danger zone they were just getting out of.
I'm not much for mystical plot threads about local legends in my horror books so I did struggle a bit with that in this book. A local man is visited by an image of the beast which makes him block the road into the national park and try to stop people going into the danger zone, knowing that a monster is waiting for them. But we then get dream sequences where he goes out walking and meets and talks to the monster and I felt that these additions kept slowing down the plot. I sort of lost interest in this dreamwalker stuff every time it appeared.
I was also a bit disinterested in the conspiracy plots which for me felt a bit half hearted. We have the story of how the gold sample was planted to make everyone think the land is gold rich and the person putting together the survey team was then blackmailed into adding someone to the team but I'm not really clear on the purpose of all this. Someone from Geotech also persuades someone to be a front for their company based on reports of what is in the jungle but again it was all a bit vague as to why this was going on. Add in the militant young locals who are prepared to kill the people on the expedition as they don't want outsiders in their forest despite elders giving permission, and some jungle camp getting attacked and I felt a good horror plot descended into a bit of a mess. I just didn't feel that all this extra stuff added anything to the story and it just slowed things down too much.
Overall, I didn't love this book. I did enjoy the monster bits but not much else about it really appealed to me I'm afraid. I finished it because I needed it for my World Reads challenge but I did consider DNFing it at one point. I decided not to read the sequel. For me it just didn't quite deliver what I was hoping for and just wasn't my thing.
2.5 stars
December 15, 2016
Fast paced action horror thriller based in the wild New Zealand bush. Addictive reading and thoroughly recommend!
January 31, 2019
INTO THE MIST is one of those fast paced adventures that, once the action hits, never lets up. This tale isn't too complicated, a giant creature has awakened in remote New Zealand forest and a scientific expedition is in trouble. Or is it that simple? Believe me this book delivers all the gruesome thrills you expect from a giant reptile story but the roots go a bit deeper.
My favorite aspect is the way in which traditional legend and folktales are woven into the fabric of this modern adventure. There's a memorable scene where the survivors try to tap into any historical knowledge of the beast that may have been passed down through stories from the native Tuhoe people. The observation is made that we tell stories for a reason. So maybe this is just another escapist fantasy to take your mind off the humdrum. Or maybe it is a manifesto on the need to recognize our roots, to give them room to grow in our lives so they can sprout knowledge when we need it most. Either way, it's a cracking good read!
My favorite aspect is the way in which traditional legend and folktales are woven into the fabric of this modern adventure. There's a memorable scene where the survivors try to tap into any historical knowledge of the beast that may have been passed down through stories from the native Tuhoe people. The observation is made that we tell stories for a reason. So maybe this is just another escapist fantasy to take your mind off the humdrum. Or maybe it is a manifesto on the need to recognize our roots, to give them room to grow in our lives so they can sprout knowledge when we need it most. Either way, it's a cracking good read!
June 1, 2022
Dinosaurs, or something very like them, are coming to New Zealand. Deep in a national park, people have been disappearing and the government unofficially looks into the problem by sending some special defense force soldiers to escort some civilians looking to track down a new gold source. The civilians are part of a plot to seed the area with gold to create the excuse for largescale exploration on native land, but the dinosaur has its own plan.
This book is a lot of fun. The bad guys are bad enough for the reader to cheer for their demise and the good guys are likable enough you want them to survive. The monster does a particularly good job of being, well, monstrous and creepy as well as appropriately terrifying. I’m not certain that it is realistic for something the size of a T-Rex to sneak silently through the forest, but it certainly gets the blood pumping when the heroes turn around and it’s there.
My favorite part of the novel, however, was the attempts to connect the T-Rex to native legends to see if the soldiers could figure out a way to kill it that didn’t involve their low caliber guns.
A good tale.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
This book is a lot of fun. The bad guys are bad enough for the reader to cheer for their demise and the good guys are likable enough you want them to survive. The monster does a particularly good job of being, well, monstrous and creepy as well as appropriately terrifying. I’m not certain that it is realistic for something the size of a T-Rex to sneak silently through the forest, but it certainly gets the blood pumping when the heroes turn around and it’s there.
My favorite part of the novel, however, was the attempts to connect the T-Rex to native legends to see if the soldiers could figure out a way to kill it that didn’t involve their low caliber guns.
A good tale.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
October 12, 2019
This action horror starts a bit slow as it sets up a host of characters, but once the creature attacks, it’s survival horror at its finest! Author Lee Murray takes you through a terrifying trek through New Zealand jungle, a team of soldiers and civilians with multiple motives slimmed down to one driving force in the end: stay alive.
This is my first go at the author’s novels, and I’ll happily be reading more. I also learned a lot about a creature I wasn’t previously familiar with, actually doing some research on the side.
This is my first go at the author’s novels, and I’ll happily be reading more. I also learned a lot about a creature I wasn’t previously familiar with, actually doing some research on the side.
January 4, 2024
Definitely worth reading! I plan to reread it soon. I wasn't expecting things to take a more supernatural twist but it didn't have a negative impact on the monster horror/suspense. Looking forward to reading more by Murray
June 30, 2017
Lee Murray’s Into the Mist, published in 2016 by Cohesion Press, is a novel that is a mix of the “men on a mission genre” with the “animals run amok” genre with a small peppering of fantasy in the form of Maori mysticism and spiritualism. The story concerns Sergeant Taine McKenna and his men of the New Zealand Defense Force as they accompany a team of scientists into the Te Urewera Forest to validate a gold discovery and assess its impact on the regional flora and fauna if exploited. Separatists, drug runners, corporate schemers and natural obstacles are the least of their worries as the group is hunted by a taniwha, a malevolent spirit in the form of a gigantic tuatara reptile. With their modern weaponry ineffective, McKenna and cohorts must find a way to survive and outwit the beast as it picks off the team one by one.
Into the Mist leverages the same elements that make movies such as Predator and Dog Soldiers successful: competent and well-development military men trying to combat a monster that is beyond their capabilities, forcing them to come up with unique solutions and methods of working together. The protagonists receive the most character development, while the “less desirable” characters receive enough development that the readers know why they do what they do. McKenna, the star of the show, is certainly written and depicted that way, and readers are definitely anchored and invested into him.
Gorehounds will appreciate the New Zealand-levels of evisceration as the taniwha dispatches scientists and soldiers alike, though the book doesn’t reach Dead Alive splatterpunk levels of bloodshed. The novels action does a tremendous job at driving the book, with chapters broken down into different, though chronological, subsections that sometimes switches to a different character’s perspective.
The most unique quality of Into the Mist is its unabashed embracing of Maori legends and lore. The book comes with a glossary of terms to assist, yet the narrative is well written enough that it is not necessary: readers are able to suss out what is what based on Murray’s strong descriptions and applications. The terms may seem foreign, but they are accessible, and really add a unique element to the story to differentiate it from other military thrillers.
One of the most stand out scenes in the book actually happens away from the soldiers, and focuses on a seer, Temera, who has a face-to-face meeting with the taniwha on the spiritual plane. This is a rare opportunity to get insight into the monster’s motives, and it’s chilling: Into the Mist is not simply about a monstrous animal behaving like an animal on a predatory instinct. There are sinister undertones to the beast.
There are only two elements that are not Into the Mist’s strong suit. The first is the character of Jules, the main female protagonist and the object of affection of a few men in the group. Though the primary female-lead, Jules is uninteresting and ineffectual. Her partial ineffectualness comes from her backstory of a climbing expedition gone awry, leaving her friend in a vegetative state that she blames herself for. Jules never really overcomes this internal obstacle, and her role in the narrative is reduced to the two-dimensional damsel-in-distress/monsterbait role. Even with a somewhat developed backstory, she simply isn’t depicted interesting enough, so her being the story’s paramour is quizzical.
The second element is the story’s hidden agenda involving planted gold and corporate mischievousness that works to get the characters to the Te Urewera Forest. There’s only a few paragraphs in the whole novel that concern this plot point, and it’s not really needed for the story. These sections are so far removed from the action that they could’ve been excised from the narrative and it would’ve been perfect.
Aside from these minor two elements, Into the Mist is an otherwise great read. Murray is adept at keeping the action engaging, interesting, with readers really rooting for the soldiers. As a martial-thriller, the novel is excellent, and even with the specialized Maori terminology, it is more than accessible. Just shy of three hundred pages, the book is easily conquerable, unlike the taniwha inside.
Into the Mist leverages the same elements that make movies such as Predator and Dog Soldiers successful: competent and well-development military men trying to combat a monster that is beyond their capabilities, forcing them to come up with unique solutions and methods of working together. The protagonists receive the most character development, while the “less desirable” characters receive enough development that the readers know why they do what they do. McKenna, the star of the show, is certainly written and depicted that way, and readers are definitely anchored and invested into him.
Gorehounds will appreciate the New Zealand-levels of evisceration as the taniwha dispatches scientists and soldiers alike, though the book doesn’t reach Dead Alive splatterpunk levels of bloodshed. The novels action does a tremendous job at driving the book, with chapters broken down into different, though chronological, subsections that sometimes switches to a different character’s perspective.
The most unique quality of Into the Mist is its unabashed embracing of Maori legends and lore. The book comes with a glossary of terms to assist, yet the narrative is well written enough that it is not necessary: readers are able to suss out what is what based on Murray’s strong descriptions and applications. The terms may seem foreign, but they are accessible, and really add a unique element to the story to differentiate it from other military thrillers.
One of the most stand out scenes in the book actually happens away from the soldiers, and focuses on a seer, Temera, who has a face-to-face meeting with the taniwha on the spiritual plane. This is a rare opportunity to get insight into the monster’s motives, and it’s chilling: Into the Mist is not simply about a monstrous animal behaving like an animal on a predatory instinct. There are sinister undertones to the beast.
There are only two elements that are not Into the Mist’s strong suit. The first is the character of Jules, the main female protagonist and the object of affection of a few men in the group. Though the primary female-lead, Jules is uninteresting and ineffectual. Her partial ineffectualness comes from her backstory of a climbing expedition gone awry, leaving her friend in a vegetative state that she blames herself for. Jules never really overcomes this internal obstacle, and her role in the narrative is reduced to the two-dimensional damsel-in-distress/monsterbait role. Even with a somewhat developed backstory, she simply isn’t depicted interesting enough, so her being the story’s paramour is quizzical.
The second element is the story’s hidden agenda involving planted gold and corporate mischievousness that works to get the characters to the Te Urewera Forest. There’s only a few paragraphs in the whole novel that concern this plot point, and it’s not really needed for the story. These sections are so far removed from the action that they could’ve been excised from the narrative and it would’ve been perfect.
Aside from these minor two elements, Into the Mist is an otherwise great read. Murray is adept at keeping the action engaging, interesting, with readers really rooting for the soldiers. As a martial-thriller, the novel is excellent, and even with the specialized Maori terminology, it is more than accessible. Just shy of three hundred pages, the book is easily conquerable, unlike the taniwha inside.
September 15, 2020
Hat mir gut gefallen. Guter Schreibstil, coole Idee und immer wieder gute Action.
Nur bei einzelnen Kapiteln zog es sich manchmal etwas.
Hab noch kein Buch gelesen, dass in Neuseeland spielt. War interessant ein bisschen was über die Legenden der Maori zu erfahren.
Werde die Reihe sicher weiterlesen.
Nur bei einzelnen Kapiteln zog es sich manchmal etwas.
Hab noch kein Buch gelesen, dass in Neuseeland spielt. War interessant ein bisschen was über die Legenden der Maori zu erfahren.
Werde die Reihe sicher weiterlesen.
November 30, 2018
I got this as a e book from tbc review facebook page that I am a member of. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book by this author. My review of the next book in this series is next.
April 15, 2016
As a reviewer one of the greatest pleasures I have in life is when I discover the work of someone new that blows me away. So when I first read the blurb and pre-order information for Into the Mist I was excited. Another military thriller/horror from the amazing Cohesion Press... by the relatively unknown (at least to me) Lee Murray... shut up and take my money!
Six weeks later the book dropped, and now I'm sitting here writing this review after reading it in one marathon sitting.
Into the Mist can bascially be summarised by one word.
Extraordinary.
I loved everything about it. Yes, everything.
Into the Mist is a perfect military horror novel in every way, shape, and form. From it's ragtag group of scientists and military guardians through to the terrifying monster stalking them, Into the Mist smashed through my expectations and went higher then I could ever imagine.
This book is the epitome of what works when trying to write a scintillating military horror. It has fascinating and varied characters, a world that feels both real and unreal, tension riddled scenes and breathtaking action sequences. It also doesn't pull its punches. You are genuinely mentally assaulted over and over again by primordial and sphincter clenching scenes of terror and dread throughout this story. And fuck me it's glorious! Imagine, for a moment, being stalked and hunted by something that goes bump in the night. Now turn that something into a creature the size of a small bus... with a tendency to bite things in two. Yeah, see what I mean?
Into the Mist is so creepy and enthralling that, as the creature picks the soldiers and contractors off one by one, my wife actually expressed concern for me as I was reading it (apparently I had a look of deep worry on my face). I was so enamoured with Murray's ability to weave a magnificent and cinematic story that I also forgot all about going to bed until I had actually finished the book.
But that's not all that impressed me with Into the Mist. I was also blown away by Murray's inclusion of Maori culture and myths within this story. I adored reading about the Taniwha, and the parts that touched on other facets of Maori culture and magic were both hauntingly beautiful and fascinating. One of the everlasting emotions that this book left me with was that Maori culture should be further explored, honoured, and celebrated by speculative fiction.
I really didn't have any issues with this book, and the ending was a fitting conclusion to what was an evocative and action packed story. Into the Mist resonated with me on so many levels, and was one of the best military horrors I've read since Greig Beck first released Beneath the Dark Ice seven years ago.
Creepy and addictive, Into the Mist is an irresistible tapestry of military action, dark myths, and an ancient and terrifying horror.
A must read for speculative fiction fans.
5 out of 5 stars.
Six weeks later the book dropped, and now I'm sitting here writing this review after reading it in one marathon sitting.
Into the Mist can bascially be summarised by one word.
Extraordinary.
I loved everything about it. Yes, everything.
Into the Mist is a perfect military horror novel in every way, shape, and form. From it's ragtag group of scientists and military guardians through to the terrifying monster stalking them, Into the Mist smashed through my expectations and went higher then I could ever imagine.
This book is the epitome of what works when trying to write a scintillating military horror. It has fascinating and varied characters, a world that feels both real and unreal, tension riddled scenes and breathtaking action sequences. It also doesn't pull its punches. You are genuinely mentally assaulted over and over again by primordial and sphincter clenching scenes of terror and dread throughout this story. And fuck me it's glorious! Imagine, for a moment, being stalked and hunted by something that goes bump in the night. Now turn that something into a creature the size of a small bus... with a tendency to bite things in two. Yeah, see what I mean?
Into the Mist is so creepy and enthralling that, as the creature picks the soldiers and contractors off one by one, my wife actually expressed concern for me as I was reading it (apparently I had a look of deep worry on my face). I was so enamoured with Murray's ability to weave a magnificent and cinematic story that I also forgot all about going to bed until I had actually finished the book.
But that's not all that impressed me with Into the Mist. I was also blown away by Murray's inclusion of Maori culture and myths within this story. I adored reading about the Taniwha, and the parts that touched on other facets of Maori culture and magic were both hauntingly beautiful and fascinating. One of the everlasting emotions that this book left me with was that Maori culture should be further explored, honoured, and celebrated by speculative fiction.
I really didn't have any issues with this book, and the ending was a fitting conclusion to what was an evocative and action packed story. Into the Mist resonated with me on so many levels, and was one of the best military horrors I've read since Greig Beck first released Beneath the Dark Ice seven years ago.
Creepy and addictive, Into the Mist is an irresistible tapestry of military action, dark myths, and an ancient and terrifying horror.
A must read for speculative fiction fans.
5 out of 5 stars.
December 1, 2018
WARNING: CONTAINS COARSE LANGUAGE. Here’s another quip for the Tui billboards: “I’ll just read one chapter of this new Lee Murray book before bed” – “Yeah, right”. Into the Mist is not the usual book we feature on Bookrapt, as there is quite a bit of swearing. But … none of it is gratuitous, it would sound silly without as it’s how those particular characters would speak in real life, and it’s a great read to attract boys.
As with all of Lee’s previous books, “Into the Mist” is another can’t-put-it-down read. Perhaps even more so, as it’s a thriller, and the tension and drama builds all the way through. Set in the remote parts of the Urewera National Park, Lee captures the essence of the New Zealand landscape as well as any nature photographer.
“Into the Mist” has a large cast, a wonderful range of colourful characters, who draw the reader into their lives, thoughts, and adventures. You worry about them; you rejoice in their victories; you grieve at some of their deaths. Listed on Amazon under Military and Supernatural Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, the story certainly covers all these genres, and seamlessly blends then into an excellent and compulsive read.
Reviewed by Karolyn Timarkos (Bookrapt).
An ancient beast has hatched in Te Urewera National Park and people are going missing. A story about militant Tūhoe separatists is circling, but an army battalion has disappeared in the misty, dense forest while investigating. NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his crew are to escort biologist Jules Asher and some geologists into the forest to investigate a gold discovery. However, they will use this as a cover to look into the disappearances. Little do they know that a prehistoric creature is stalking them, studying them, learning about them, and will pick off their group off one by one. Ancient Māori wisdom and the legends of how they dealt with Taniwha may be the only thing that can save them as their modern day weapons prove fairly ineffective. This was creepy and scary, a great book by a talented author and well deserving of its place in the horror genre! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, ‘Into the Sounds’.
Reviewed by Debbie McCauley (Bookrapt).
As with all of Lee’s previous books, “Into the Mist” is another can’t-put-it-down read. Perhaps even more so, as it’s a thriller, and the tension and drama builds all the way through. Set in the remote parts of the Urewera National Park, Lee captures the essence of the New Zealand landscape as well as any nature photographer.
“Into the Mist” has a large cast, a wonderful range of colourful characters, who draw the reader into their lives, thoughts, and adventures. You worry about them; you rejoice in their victories; you grieve at some of their deaths. Listed on Amazon under Military and Supernatural Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, the story certainly covers all these genres, and seamlessly blends then into an excellent and compulsive read.
Reviewed by Karolyn Timarkos (Bookrapt).
An ancient beast has hatched in Te Urewera National Park and people are going missing. A story about militant Tūhoe separatists is circling, but an army battalion has disappeared in the misty, dense forest while investigating. NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his crew are to escort biologist Jules Asher and some geologists into the forest to investigate a gold discovery. However, they will use this as a cover to look into the disappearances. Little do they know that a prehistoric creature is stalking them, studying them, learning about them, and will pick off their group off one by one. Ancient Māori wisdom and the legends of how they dealt with Taniwha may be the only thing that can save them as their modern day weapons prove fairly ineffective. This was creepy and scary, a great book by a talented author and well deserving of its place in the horror genre! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, ‘Into the Sounds’.
Reviewed by Debbie McCauley (Bookrapt).
November 21, 2018
Disclaimer: I consider the author a friend; however, I purchased an electronic copy of this novel for full price.
For those of you who are averse to the horror genre, I'm happy to report that this novel is instead a thrilling action-adventure. There are some gory bits, but it's not gratuitous, and the moments that literally made me jump while I read were shocking in the way that marks excellent writing. This was a blast to read, even for a wuss like me.
There are so many characters that it was hard to know who to root for, other than Taine McKenna himself. In fact, the most stressful part of reading this book was wondering who was going to survive to the end! In a book with a giant monster (who is a fabulous character/villain in itself), half the fun is hoping that the characters who are too stupid to live do end up as lunch. No spoilers here, but I was entirely satisfied AND heartbroken by the final deaths and survivors -- the best of both worlds.
Other than McKenna, Jules and Temera were standout characters. Jules had the most character development through the course of the story, based on both her traumatic history and the awkward love triangle (I will admit that I did spend some time yelling at her to stand up for herself in the beginning). Temera was a surprise sleeper-hit for me. A giant monster is a giant monster, but the spiritual element Temera brought to the plot took things in a fascinating direction for me.
Overall, the atmosphere was my favorite part of the book. I felt like I was actually there, in the wilds of New Zealand. If the monster was a character, so was the environment, and New Zealand itself.
For those of you who are averse to the horror genre, I'm happy to report that this novel is instead a thrilling action-adventure. There are some gory bits, but it's not gratuitous, and the moments that literally made me jump while I read were shocking in the way that marks excellent writing. This was a blast to read, even for a wuss like me.
There are so many characters that it was hard to know who to root for, other than Taine McKenna himself. In fact, the most stressful part of reading this book was wondering who was going to survive to the end! In a book with a giant monster (who is a fabulous character/villain in itself), half the fun is hoping that the characters who are too stupid to live do end up as lunch. No spoilers here, but I was entirely satisfied AND heartbroken by the final deaths and survivors -- the best of both worlds.
Other than McKenna, Jules and Temera were standout characters. Jules had the most character development through the course of the story, based on both her traumatic history and the awkward love triangle (I will admit that I did spend some time yelling at her to stand up for herself in the beginning). Temera was a surprise sleeper-hit for me. A giant monster is a giant monster, but the spiritual element Temera brought to the plot took things in a fascinating direction for me.
Overall, the atmosphere was my favorite part of the book. I felt like I was actually there, in the wilds of New Zealand. If the monster was a character, so was the environment, and New Zealand itself.
August 27, 2017
Rich with evocative detail from New Zealand’s landscape and heritage, we see a backdrop of existing tensions and competing personalities. When they are all piled together into a field team to plunge deep into the wilderness, we can expect some fun.
The characters that we follow most closely are Taine McKenna and Jules. Taine is an action hero that I can’t wait to read more of, and Jules is a troubled scientist who must call on her inner strength when the group are in deep trouble. There are some excellent supporting characters, including a Maori seer, who helps from a distance, while struggling to explain to his concerned family why his behaviour is so erratic.
What about the beast that threatens the group? It’s a full-on monster. It’s the biggest, baddest thing that you could ever expect to meet in the forest, and it possesses reserves of cunning and intelligence that the group do not expect. This is a horror story, and lots of blood gets spilt, but more than that it’s a classic chase thriller, something like the ones that Dean Koontz is famous for.
The characters that we follow most closely are Taine McKenna and Jules. Taine is an action hero that I can’t wait to read more of, and Jules is a troubled scientist who must call on her inner strength when the group are in deep trouble. There are some excellent supporting characters, including a Maori seer, who helps from a distance, while struggling to explain to his concerned family why his behaviour is so erratic.
What about the beast that threatens the group? It’s a full-on monster. It’s the biggest, baddest thing that you could ever expect to meet in the forest, and it possesses reserves of cunning and intelligence that the group do not expect. This is a horror story, and lots of blood gets spilt, but more than that it’s a classic chase thriller, something like the ones that Dean Koontz is famous for.
March 29, 2017
A great concept but not quite pulled off
I love the idea of this book but unfortunately the author just doesn't quite have the skills to pull it off.
There are far too many POV characters which just makes the story confusing. Especially since many of them then get killed. Most characters are very cardboard cut out, to the extent of being completely unbelievable.
The premise and subplot that takes this group into the forest just seems lame and wasn't needed. A group of city folks on a work bonding trip could have put a disparate group in harm's way a lot more unbelievably.
I did like the. Maori mythology part and would have liked more of Temera and his side of things.
I did however actually read all the way to the end and I don't always if a book is bad.
I love the idea of this book but unfortunately the author just doesn't quite have the skills to pull it off.
There are far too many POV characters which just makes the story confusing. Especially since many of them then get killed. Most characters are very cardboard cut out, to the extent of being completely unbelievable.
The premise and subplot that takes this group into the forest just seems lame and wasn't needed. A group of city folks on a work bonding trip could have put a disparate group in harm's way a lot more unbelievably.
I did like the. Maori mythology part and would have liked more of Temera and his side of things.
I did however actually read all the way to the end and I don't always if a book is bad.
May 23, 2016
I haven’t read much in the way of military horror/thriller but I really enjoyed this compelling novel about military crew accompanying a team of scientists into the Urewera ranges. The characterisation is really strong, you can’t help caring about them and I enjoyed how intelligent and competent the team was. I like horror where the danger arises from some inescapable terror rather than characters making reckless decisions, and Into the Mist really nails this with a vicious, terrifying threat.
Lee Murray makes fantastic use of Māori myth and the eerie isolation of native bush to create a gripping read in Aotearoa . I would love to watch the film adaptation of the book
Lee Murray makes fantastic use of Māori myth and the eerie isolation of native bush to create a gripping read in Aotearoa . I would love to watch the film adaptation of the book
June 8, 2016
Classic, traditional and brilliant. Almost read it in one sitting. I loved it. The New Zealand setting added so much to a classic monster vs military. With a story like this I expected a straight forward plot but there were so many questions waiting to be resolved I had to keep reading. So many of the minor characters were so real I was urging them on. In a story like this you hope the characters will get the ending they deserve, for better or worse. I was very pleased with final scenes.
The lesson we should all take from this book is that you are heading off on an adventure or any kind of trip and an elderly person crosses your path with a cryptic warning DON'T IGNORE THEM.
The lesson we should all take from this book is that you are heading off on an adventure or any kind of trip and an elderly person crosses your path with a cryptic warning DON'T IGNORE THEM.
June 3, 2016
This is a creature feature - straight up, you have to go in knowing that. It follows a certain formula there. And it's a little slow to get going. But then it kills. The New Zealand voice is refreshing and fantastic. The Maori lore and mythology woven in makes this unique. Murray does a great job mixing action with mythology and the whole thing takes on a powerful new angle. Get away from the US-focussed novels so common to this genre and treat yourself to a thrilling and fascinating new take.
July 10, 2016
A solid action romp in the vein of military sci fi tales like Aliens and Predator. Set in the forests of New Zealand, a government funded task force encounters a very dangerous creature linked to local mythology. The blend of Maori mythology kept this story fresh and interesting for me, and made this tale unique. Recommended.
June 4, 2016
I became hooked on this novel after hearing Lee Murray's reading of the first chapter at StokerCon in Las Vegas about three weeks ago. it's a well crafted story of a group of soldiers assigned to a geological expedition into the wilds of New Zealand where they encounter a cunning beast more dangerous than they could ever imagine. This would make an interesting movie. Highly recommended!
July 10, 2016
Rollicking good soldiers-versus-monster thriller set in the New Zealand mountainous wilderness.
October 8, 2021
I’ve had this book on my Kindle for some time, and as I’ve made my way through my TBR and its slowly ascended to the tip top, Lee Murray has went from a revered author who has been nominated for a number of awards, to a revered author who has won numerous awards. Through all of that, Lee has remained one of the kindest and most generous people in the horror community.
(Hilariously – I finished this last night and I’m posting this review today – which just happens to also be a celebratory day as the ‘Tortured Willows’ poetry anthology Lee is a part of has launched! Big congrats, my full review for that will be on Kendall Reviews in the next few days!)
So, Taine McKenna. His first adventure. Oddly – this won’t be my first go-around with Mr. McKenna. In fact, I’ve already read a story of his in Lee’s fantastic ‘Grotesque: Monster Stories’ that came out last year. I really enjoyed that story, but definitely felt like I was missing a bit about him, his character, so it was great to go back to the start.
What I liked: The story is relatively straightforward. Taine and his crew are sent alongside a geological survey team on an “off-the-record” mission. People have been going missing, including a relative of a high ranking official.
From there, Murray transports us into the remote jungles of Te Urewera National Park and we quickly discover that the beast that is creating all of this havoc is more powerful, and intelligent, than previously understood.
I loved the fact that Lee took her time to set this up and we get some solid backstory, lead up and hike in, which often can be pushed aside to get the reader to arrive at the creature as soon as possible, which usually is a detriment to character development. Not here, not in the hands of a master storyteller.
We also get a large amount of traditional stories and history peppered throughout, which was fantastic. There is a lot of slang terms used/location specific words (there is a glossary in the back) but it only worked to heighten the feeling of being a part of McKenna’s team and being actually on location.
McKenna himself is a well done character, not over the top military, but a kind, caring leader who wants to ensure everyone survives. His right-hand man, Trigger, was also really well done.
I actually found myself enjoying Jules (Dr. Asher!) and Jug’s characters maybe the most. Jug was a really great secondary character to root for, and as the team medic, I loved how he stayed grounded and rational. Jules was a strong female in an otherwise testosterone based cast, especially after another female character disappears.
What I didn’t like: A number of the other characters ultimately felt unnecessary, and Jules boss showing up didn’t have the dynamic I thought we’d get. These other characters (while necessary in the sense that the army would send all of McKenna’s team) didn’t add any emotional impact along the way, so when any of them met their ends, I easily moved on.
Why you should buy this: You may find it odd that I got to the end of my review and haven’t really even mentioned the antagonist, the beastie featured within. Well, stress no more. The creature (they ultimately give it a genus name) is truly fantastic and every single scene where they arrive and chaos ensues was top notch and such a fun moment to see how the characters reacted and what the outcomes would be.
Murray has started a series here that is engaging, feels fresh and incredibly cinematic in scope, which is phenomenal when you consider the good versus bad/evil story plot that we get.
Really great stuff from one of the best out there!
(Hilariously – I finished this last night and I’m posting this review today – which just happens to also be a celebratory day as the ‘Tortured Willows’ poetry anthology Lee is a part of has launched! Big congrats, my full review for that will be on Kendall Reviews in the next few days!)
So, Taine McKenna. His first adventure. Oddly – this won’t be my first go-around with Mr. McKenna. In fact, I’ve already read a story of his in Lee’s fantastic ‘Grotesque: Monster Stories’ that came out last year. I really enjoyed that story, but definitely felt like I was missing a bit about him, his character, so it was great to go back to the start.
What I liked: The story is relatively straightforward. Taine and his crew are sent alongside a geological survey team on an “off-the-record” mission. People have been going missing, including a relative of a high ranking official.
From there, Murray transports us into the remote jungles of Te Urewera National Park and we quickly discover that the beast that is creating all of this havoc is more powerful, and intelligent, than previously understood.
I loved the fact that Lee took her time to set this up and we get some solid backstory, lead up and hike in, which often can be pushed aside to get the reader to arrive at the creature as soon as possible, which usually is a detriment to character development. Not here, not in the hands of a master storyteller.
We also get a large amount of traditional stories and history peppered throughout, which was fantastic. There is a lot of slang terms used/location specific words (there is a glossary in the back) but it only worked to heighten the feeling of being a part of McKenna’s team and being actually on location.
McKenna himself is a well done character, not over the top military, but a kind, caring leader who wants to ensure everyone survives. His right-hand man, Trigger, was also really well done.
I actually found myself enjoying Jules (Dr. Asher!) and Jug’s characters maybe the most. Jug was a really great secondary character to root for, and as the team medic, I loved how he stayed grounded and rational. Jules was a strong female in an otherwise testosterone based cast, especially after another female character disappears.
What I didn’t like: A number of the other characters ultimately felt unnecessary, and Jules boss showing up didn’t have the dynamic I thought we’d get. These other characters (while necessary in the sense that the army would send all of McKenna’s team) didn’t add any emotional impact along the way, so when any of them met their ends, I easily moved on.
Why you should buy this: You may find it odd that I got to the end of my review and haven’t really even mentioned the antagonist, the beastie featured within. Well, stress no more. The creature (they ultimately give it a genus name) is truly fantastic and every single scene where they arrive and chaos ensues was top notch and such a fun moment to see how the characters reacted and what the outcomes would be.
Murray has started a series here that is engaging, feels fresh and incredibly cinematic in scope, which is phenomenal when you consider the good versus bad/evil story plot that we get.
Really great stuff from one of the best out there!
August 15, 2019
4.5 stars rounded to 5
A few years ago I had read a military fantasy series by Myke Cole called Shadow Ops. More recently I’ve been wondering why can’t I find a good military/horror crossover. That’s not to say there isn’t anything of the sort, I just hadn’t found it yet. I came across Into the Mist, by Lee Murray and I’m pleased to say that if this book is indicative of rest of the series, I’ve found what I’m looking for.
Sergeant Taine Mckenna, a member of the New Zealand Defence Force and his squad are tasked with providing security for a civilian research team in the Te Urewera National Park. What’s initially seen as a babysitting task turns life or death for not only the task force, but local separatists as well. The atmosphere of this book is incredible. The author's love and respect for her homeland shines through in the story, with her descriptions of the setting and her infusion of Māori language and legends. I loved being able to flip to the back of the book and discover the meaning of the unfamiliar words that I was reading, this glossary also extends to some of the military acronyms readers may be unfamiliar with. The book is very well written and contains both likable characters, and one character just begging to be slaughtered. I wish that we had gotten to know more about Mckenna in this book, and that’s about the only issue I have as far as characterization goes. Once things pick up, the book maintains a constant level of tension. Murray does an excellent job of creating a creature that is steeped in Māori legend, while at the same time being based on a native species which in turn leads to a believable killing machine. The creature in this book is death incarnate. Murray writes good action sequences and brings gruesome death to those in the way of this mythological creature come to life.
Into The Mist, by Lee Murray is an excellent creature novel. It’s well constructed , the characters are believable and the creature here is relentless. Murray’s use of the New Zealand setting, local Māori legend and the fusion of military and horror come together to create an amazingly fun read. The story in these pages felt like a cross between Jurassic Park and the Predator. This is one of my favorite creature horrors I’ve ever read, I’m buying the sequels soon and I recommend you buy Into the Mist.
A few years ago I had read a military fantasy series by Myke Cole called Shadow Ops. More recently I’ve been wondering why can’t I find a good military/horror crossover. That’s not to say there isn’t anything of the sort, I just hadn’t found it yet. I came across Into the Mist, by Lee Murray and I’m pleased to say that if this book is indicative of rest of the series, I’ve found what I’m looking for.
Sergeant Taine Mckenna, a member of the New Zealand Defence Force and his squad are tasked with providing security for a civilian research team in the Te Urewera National Park. What’s initially seen as a babysitting task turns life or death for not only the task force, but local separatists as well. The atmosphere of this book is incredible. The author's love and respect for her homeland shines through in the story, with her descriptions of the setting and her infusion of Māori language and legends. I loved being able to flip to the back of the book and discover the meaning of the unfamiliar words that I was reading, this glossary also extends to some of the military acronyms readers may be unfamiliar with. The book is very well written and contains both likable characters, and one character just begging to be slaughtered. I wish that we had gotten to know more about Mckenna in this book, and that’s about the only issue I have as far as characterization goes. Once things pick up, the book maintains a constant level of tension. Murray does an excellent job of creating a creature that is steeped in Māori legend, while at the same time being based on a native species which in turn leads to a believable killing machine. The creature in this book is death incarnate. Murray writes good action sequences and brings gruesome death to those in the way of this mythological creature come to life.
Into The Mist, by Lee Murray is an excellent creature novel. It’s well constructed , the characters are believable and the creature here is relentless. Murray’s use of the New Zealand setting, local Māori legend and the fusion of military and horror come together to create an amazingly fun read. The story in these pages felt like a cross between Jurassic Park and the Predator. This is one of my favorite creature horrors I’ve ever read, I’m buying the sequels soon and I recommend you buy Into the Mist.
December 14, 2018
Into the Mist, by Lee Murray, was a fresh take on the Jurassic Park sub-genre.
Although not related to the mega story classic about dinosaurs, there were similar and dissimilar qualities one can appreciate if you are a fan of such tales and epic adventure. Having taken place entirely in another part of the world, New Zealand to be exact, two of the most unlikely groups (a geological survey team and a squad of defense force soldiers) join together to experience something truly extraordinary. And not necessarily for the better. Each having their own objectives, they set out into wild bush of New Zealand to encounter some truly horrific and worthwhile discoveries. Narcissistic ambitions, conservation of protected lands, the search for missing persons. It’s all here in this tight packed story of reconnaissance field work. Deception waits beyond the bush. As mentioned before, there is a huge presence of Jurassic Park influence in this story, however, one could throw some Predator into the mix as well, for the very word implies what sort of action takes place in the story.
The two groups are forced to worked together to survive an immediate threat seemingly plaguing the park in which their expedition takes place.
But this story wasn’t all science and guns. Throw some mythical lore coupled with some spiritualistic shaman and you have another set of doors opened to you. There’s enough point of view to keep you interested and the plot loops were easy enough to follow. The ending to this fast-paced action adventure had a nice twist to the end to give it its own flare. I recommend the book to those looking for an intense survival mode type story in a short period of time (just my kind of tale). The writing was solid and confident, leaving very little room for error. I am reading the next one in the series titled, Into the Sounds, curious as to what sort of new threat awaits. 4 out of 5 stars.
F. D. Gross
grelldragon@hotmail.com
Although not related to the mega story classic about dinosaurs, there were similar and dissimilar qualities one can appreciate if you are a fan of such tales and epic adventure. Having taken place entirely in another part of the world, New Zealand to be exact, two of the most unlikely groups (a geological survey team and a squad of defense force soldiers) join together to experience something truly extraordinary. And not necessarily for the better. Each having their own objectives, they set out into wild bush of New Zealand to encounter some truly horrific and worthwhile discoveries. Narcissistic ambitions, conservation of protected lands, the search for missing persons. It’s all here in this tight packed story of reconnaissance field work. Deception waits beyond the bush. As mentioned before, there is a huge presence of Jurassic Park influence in this story, however, one could throw some Predator into the mix as well, for the very word implies what sort of action takes place in the story.
The two groups are forced to worked together to survive an immediate threat seemingly plaguing the park in which their expedition takes place.
But this story wasn’t all science and guns. Throw some mythical lore coupled with some spiritualistic shaman and you have another set of doors opened to you. There’s enough point of view to keep you interested and the plot loops were easy enough to follow. The ending to this fast-paced action adventure had a nice twist to the end to give it its own flare. I recommend the book to those looking for an intense survival mode type story in a short period of time (just my kind of tale). The writing was solid and confident, leaving very little room for error. I am reading the next one in the series titled, Into the Sounds, curious as to what sort of new threat awaits. 4 out of 5 stars.
F. D. Gross
grelldragon@hotmail.com
January 2, 2019
Into the mist by Lee.
When NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his squad are tasked with escorting a bunch of civilian contractors into Te Urewera National Park, it seems a strange job for the army.
Militant Tūhoe separatists are active in the area, and with its cloying mist and steep ravines, the forest is a treacherous place in winter.
Yet nothing has prepared Taine for the true danger that awaits them. Death incarnate.
They backtrack toward civilisation, stalked by a prehistoric creature intent on picking them off one by one. With their weapons ineffective, the babysitting job has become a race for survival.
Desperate to bring his charges out alive, Taine draws on ancient tribal wisdom. Will it be enough to stop the nightmare? And when the mist clears, will anyone be left?
This was a fantastic read with great characters. Apart from de haas I did not like him at all. He was a big head. I was surprised with what happened to Anaru. The way Lee described the monster he was massive. I really wanted Taine Erikson Miller Read Nathan Trigger Lefty Keirei Singh Ben Jules and Louise to make it. Wasnt bothered about de Haas or Foster. Didn't like them. Shame about ben Anaru Coolie. I'm glad with how it ended. Looking forward to reading more from Lee. 5*.
When NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his squad are tasked with escorting a bunch of civilian contractors into Te Urewera National Park, it seems a strange job for the army.
Militant Tūhoe separatists are active in the area, and with its cloying mist and steep ravines, the forest is a treacherous place in winter.
Yet nothing has prepared Taine for the true danger that awaits them. Death incarnate.
They backtrack toward civilisation, stalked by a prehistoric creature intent on picking them off one by one. With their weapons ineffective, the babysitting job has become a race for survival.
Desperate to bring his charges out alive, Taine draws on ancient tribal wisdom. Will it be enough to stop the nightmare? And when the mist clears, will anyone be left?
This was a fantastic read with great characters. Apart from de haas I did not like him at all. He was a big head. I was surprised with what happened to Anaru. The way Lee described the monster he was massive. I really wanted Taine Erikson Miller Read Nathan Trigger Lefty Keirei Singh Ben Jules and Louise to make it. Wasnt bothered about de Haas or Foster. Didn't like them. Shame about ben Anaru Coolie. I'm glad with how it ended. Looking forward to reading more from Lee. 5*.
December 3, 2018
To my eternal shame, this book had been sitting on my bookshelf, waiting to be read, for well over a year. I discovered this author via one of my favourite authors, Greig Beck, and I have to say that this novel did not disappoint in any way! It is just as thrilling, tense and well-written as any of his books, which makes Lee Murray one of my favourites now as well :)
Taine McKenna is tasked with accompanying a group of scientists into a forest, a forest which has already swallowed up a number of people, civilians and soldiers alike.... Maybe someone should have listened to Maori elder Temera, who could have told them about the taniwha which was stalking the forest?
I found this book intriguing, as it deals with Maori legends and myths, and as I am a person who lives her life by the motto: "there are things we do not understand, doesn't mean they aren't real", this story appealed to me a great deal. Throw in a real beast, some disenchanted young people and a few scientists with hidden agendas and this novel had all the ingredients you need for a cracking read.
I loved it!! I can't wait to read the next book in the series :)
Taine McKenna is tasked with accompanying a group of scientists into a forest, a forest which has already swallowed up a number of people, civilians and soldiers alike.... Maybe someone should have listened to Maori elder Temera, who could have told them about the taniwha which was stalking the forest?
I found this book intriguing, as it deals with Maori legends and myths, and as I am a person who lives her life by the motto: "there are things we do not understand, doesn't mean they aren't real", this story appealed to me a great deal. Throw in a real beast, some disenchanted young people and a few scientists with hidden agendas and this novel had all the ingredients you need for a cracking read.
I loved it!! I can't wait to read the next book in the series :)
January 3, 2019
I recieved this book from a facebook group I am a member of and decided to give it a whirl for a different genre. It certainly didnt disappoint. I enjoyed the book and the variety of characters, and am heading into the next one.
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