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We Came Back
"WE CAME BACK is an emotional trip through our darkest fears. One of the best books I've read in years."--Kristopher Rufty, author of SOMETHING VIOLENT and DESOLATION.
Growing up dead.
Melvin Brown sees things that aren’t there. Monsters with tentacles and razor-sharp teeth. Ever the social outcast, he is bullied to the point of suicide. And his hatred of those who did him wrong does not die with him.
One decade after Melvin's death, something strange is happening to Lynnwood High School's smartest and most popular students. They begin to act out and spend time at the former high school, now abandoned and said to be haunted. And their numbers grow at an alarming rate.
Is this just a passing fad or are the rumors true? Does Lynnwood really have a teenage cult on their hands?
Growing up dead.
Melvin Brown sees things that aren’t there. Monsters with tentacles and razor-sharp teeth. Ever the social outcast, he is bullied to the point of suicide. And his hatred of those who did him wrong does not die with him.
One decade after Melvin's death, something strange is happening to Lynnwood High School's smartest and most popular students. They begin to act out and spend time at the former high school, now abandoned and said to be haunted. And their numbers grow at an alarming rate.
Is this just a passing fad or are the rumors true? Does Lynnwood really have a teenage cult on their hands?
- GenresHorrorSupernaturalDeath
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2017
21 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Lacey
46 books144 followersPatrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He currently spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, his oversized cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him.
Twitter: @patlacey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.lace...
Blogspot: http://patrickclacey.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @patlacey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.lace...
Blogspot: http://patrickclacey.wordpress.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 5, 2020
"Would it be wrong?,
would it be right?
If I took my life tonight
Chances are that I might..."
LAST RESORT by Papa Roach
That's right, at the heart of this story is the suicide of a teenager.
Melvin didn't have it easy. It must have felt like the world was against him. He was weird and unpopular, what with the voices in his head, the obsessive drawings of octopi-like creatures with razor sharp teeth, and...
I don't want to upset people, but really, what kind of parent names their child Melvin? It is not the the type of name that demands respect or strikes fear into the hearts of others, like Krull the warrior king, for example. So, if your name happens to be Melvin, I know you had no choice in the matter and you have my sympathy. Take it up with your parents if you feel offended by my statement.
So, unsurprisingly, the Melvin in this book gets bullied until he is pushed over the edge and he shoots himself in the school cafeteria in front of everybody.
And then we move forward ten years. That's right, it has to be ten, for even vengeful spirits prefer a nice, even number that is easily dividable. Unlike that damn thirteen everybody keeps going on about!
"Teenagers scare
The living shit out of me
They could care less
As long as someone'll bleed..."
TEENAGERS by My Chemical Romance
Meet Frank. At the start of the book, he is a fairly normal teacher who still mourns his dead son. He is also the one who looked Melvin straight in the eye when he pulled the trigger ten years ago. I bet you can see where this is going, right?
Frank still has a teenage daughter. And I think it is difficult for any man to watch his little girl grow up. Why is it easier for a father to raise a son? Well, if you have a son, you have one penis to look after. If you have a daughter, you have the whole neighborhood's penises (or is that penisi?) to look after.
Them's the facts, people.
What's worse, his daughter had dumped her boyfriend (who Frank didn't like) for a Goth looking motherfucker named Busty (who Frank liked even less).
Will there be no end to this man's woes?
"Every breath you take and every move you make
Every bond you break, every step you take, I'll be watching you
Every single day and every word you say
Every game you play, every night you stay, I'll be watching you..."
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE by The Police.
Meet Justin. He is the jilted ex boyfriend who happens to live right next door to the love of his life. He spends most of his time pumping iron while watching from his window. It's not really stalking if you only care that she is safe, he'll tell you.
Justin turns out to be one of the good guys in this story, believe it or not, but somebody needs to warn him that the bigger you get, the smaller your dick looks, Hmkay...
"Tonight
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely
I'm tired
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely tonight..."
LEAVE ME ALONE by Pink.
Meet Alyssa. Frank's daughter, Justin's ex girlfriend and all round confused as shit, hormonal teenager, who is attracted to Busty's bad boy image. Oh yes, let's not forgot, sexually frustrated because Busty just won't fuck her - sorry if that sounds harsh ladies, but you know there comes a time when you just need a good...ravishing? (If I'd read those romances I might not have been so stuck for words, but, alas...)
Those are your main characters. They all have issues. Just the way we like them, right?
_______________________________
This book was a blast to read - I loved every moment of the story. The atmosphere reminded me of a story I'd read many many years ago - it could possibly be SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK by Stephen King, but I can't say that with any certainty.
Patrick Lacey's writing was smooth and easy, and I will certainly read more of his work in the future.
I can recommend this to all horror fans.
would it be right?
If I took my life tonight
Chances are that I might..."
LAST RESORT by Papa Roach
That's right, at the heart of this story is the suicide of a teenager.
Melvin didn't have it easy. It must have felt like the world was against him. He was weird and unpopular, what with the voices in his head, the obsessive drawings of octopi-like creatures with razor sharp teeth, and...
I don't want to upset people, but really, what kind of parent names their child Melvin? It is not the the type of name that demands respect or strikes fear into the hearts of others, like Krull the warrior king, for example. So, if your name happens to be Melvin, I know you had no choice in the matter and you have my sympathy. Take it up with your parents if you feel offended by my statement.
So, unsurprisingly, the Melvin in this book gets bullied until he is pushed over the edge and he shoots himself in the school cafeteria in front of everybody.
And then we move forward ten years. That's right, it has to be ten, for even vengeful spirits prefer a nice, even number that is easily dividable. Unlike that damn thirteen everybody keeps going on about!
"Teenagers scare
The living shit out of me
They could care less
As long as someone'll bleed..."
TEENAGERS by My Chemical Romance
Meet Frank. At the start of the book, he is a fairly normal teacher who still mourns his dead son. He is also the one who looked Melvin straight in the eye when he pulled the trigger ten years ago. I bet you can see where this is going, right?
Frank still has a teenage daughter. And I think it is difficult for any man to watch his little girl grow up. Why is it easier for a father to raise a son? Well, if you have a son, you have one penis to look after. If you have a daughter, you have the whole neighborhood's penises (or is that penisi?) to look after.
Them's the facts, people.
What's worse, his daughter had dumped her boyfriend (who Frank didn't like) for a Goth looking motherfucker named Busty (who Frank liked even less).
Will there be no end to this man's woes?
"Every breath you take and every move you make
Every bond you break, every step you take, I'll be watching you
Every single day and every word you say
Every game you play, every night you stay, I'll be watching you..."
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE by The Police.
Meet Justin. He is the jilted ex boyfriend who happens to live right next door to the love of his life. He spends most of his time pumping iron while watching from his window. It's not really stalking if you only care that she is safe, he'll tell you.
Justin turns out to be one of the good guys in this story, believe it or not, but somebody needs to warn him that the bigger you get, the smaller your dick looks, Hmkay...
"Tonight
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely
I'm tired
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely tonight..."
LEAVE ME ALONE by Pink.
Meet Alyssa. Frank's daughter, Justin's ex girlfriend and all round confused as shit, hormonal teenager, who is attracted to Busty's bad boy image. Oh yes, let's not forgot, sexually frustrated because Busty just won't fuck her - sorry if that sounds harsh ladies, but you know there comes a time when you just need a good...ravishing? (If I'd read those romances I might not have been so stuck for words, but, alas...)
Those are your main characters. They all have issues. Just the way we like them, right?
_______________________________
This book was a blast to read - I loved every moment of the story. The atmosphere reminded me of a story I'd read many many years ago - it could possibly be SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK by Stephen King, but I can't say that with any certainty.
Patrick Lacey's writing was smooth and easy, and I will certainly read more of his work in the future.
I can recommend this to all horror fans.
Want to read
February 1, 2018This hardcover edition is copy 14 of 52 editions published and is signed by Patrick Lacey.
February 1, 2018
4.5 stars!
WE CAME BACK is the second book I've read from author Patrick Lacey. His first, DREAM WOODS, impressed me with its originality and characterization, but WE CAME BACK expanded on both of these elements to produce an amazing tale of anger that grows stronger even after death.
"It was neither alive nor dead but something in between . . . "
Ten years prior, at the old--now abandoned--Lynnwood High School, a senior named Melvin Brown was ruthlessly bullied for years. The atrocious treatment was continuously ignored by the teachers, who were more concerned with their own reputations--and even when he sought out help, he was cruelly denied. Finally unable to endure his own existence, he shot himself in the full cafeteria--where teachers and students alike just stood there in shock.
But something fundamental changed in the building that day. The faculty moved everything into a new school building, hoping to ignore the uneasiness by boarding up the old; however, rumors persisted . . .
". . . death isn't always the end. Sometimes, when you're angry enough, when you have so much hate in your body and soul, it jumpstarts you. Hate is the only thing stronger than death."
Ten years later, Alyssa Tanner brings in a new boyfriend to meet her parents. Busty is tall, Goth, and more pale than anybody living has a right to be. It's no wonder that Frank Tanner takes an instant dislike to the boy, but beneath that, something more uneasy begins to fester. . . Frank was the teacher closest to Melvin when he took his own life, and had since lost his own son. Now with only Alyssa to protect, his internal alarms start wildly going off about his particular boy.
". . . Nightmares, as he'd learned, weren't just for the sleeping . . . "
As one by one the honor students start . . . changing . . . into caricatures like Busty, it isn't long before the entire town is forced to acknowledge the problem.
". . . Last week he was a normal kid who tried to be discreet about checking out girls. Now he looks at them dead on but more importantly he looks dead."
Lacey's second novel hits hard with the first chapter, and forges ahead with lightning speed. At around the middle of the book, I found myself questioning what he could possibly do to further the plot . . . and that's when Lacey went above and beyond. Things that were sinister enough at first glance took on a whole new, horrific meaning that spared nobody in its wake. The tension went as high as it could--and then some--until the very end. The unease quickly turned into an undeniable fear as the very atmosphere in the town began to change along with the ominous new personalities. With every page I turned, I began to brace myself for the worst, most unexpected scenes.
The character development was an incredibly important aspect to this novel, as well. Lacey did a fantastic job of introducing us to the key players, and making us believe in the mental transformations that were happening. No matter how implausible the changes, in Lacey's hands, they become quite possible.
"There is a fine line between real and unreal. Sometimes the two become confused . . . "
As supernatural powers take hold of the town, Frank battles his own conscious in order to try and stop--whatever it is--that is happening to his family and friends. In the meantime, the power of the group dubbed the "Lynnwood Vampires" increases exponentially, their reign of terror overwhelming the small community.
". . . the true meaning of a haunting. It wasn't ghosts or ghouls but pure, unadulterated sadness, a place where hope and happiness had left for good, replaced with a sense of dread so heavy, it could suffocate you . . ."
Lacey takes on what was "left behind" in the old high school, and gives it life with his words. If you're ready to tackle that which fermented in the darkness, growing as its hatred spread, then welcome to the pages of WE CAME BACK.
Don't be surprised if some . . . thing . . . is already opening the door for you---
Highly recommended!
**Re-read January-February 2018: Thunderstorm Books, Black Voltage Series #81**
WE CAME BACK is the second book I've read from author Patrick Lacey. His first, DREAM WOODS, impressed me with its originality and characterization, but WE CAME BACK expanded on both of these elements to produce an amazing tale of anger that grows stronger even after death.
"It was neither alive nor dead but something in between . . . "
Ten years prior, at the old--now abandoned--Lynnwood High School, a senior named Melvin Brown was ruthlessly bullied for years. The atrocious treatment was continuously ignored by the teachers, who were more concerned with their own reputations--and even when he sought out help, he was cruelly denied. Finally unable to endure his own existence, he shot himself in the full cafeteria--where teachers and students alike just stood there in shock.
But something fundamental changed in the building that day. The faculty moved everything into a new school building, hoping to ignore the uneasiness by boarding up the old; however, rumors persisted . . .
". . . death isn't always the end. Sometimes, when you're angry enough, when you have so much hate in your body and soul, it jumpstarts you. Hate is the only thing stronger than death."
Ten years later, Alyssa Tanner brings in a new boyfriend to meet her parents. Busty is tall, Goth, and more pale than anybody living has a right to be. It's no wonder that Frank Tanner takes an instant dislike to the boy, but beneath that, something more uneasy begins to fester. . . Frank was the teacher closest to Melvin when he took his own life, and had since lost his own son. Now with only Alyssa to protect, his internal alarms start wildly going off about his particular boy.
". . . Nightmares, as he'd learned, weren't just for the sleeping . . . "
As one by one the honor students start . . . changing . . . into caricatures like Busty, it isn't long before the entire town is forced to acknowledge the problem.
". . . Last week he was a normal kid who tried to be discreet about checking out girls. Now he looks at them dead on but more importantly he looks dead."
Lacey's second novel hits hard with the first chapter, and forges ahead with lightning speed. At around the middle of the book, I found myself questioning what he could possibly do to further the plot . . . and that's when Lacey went above and beyond. Things that were sinister enough at first glance took on a whole new, horrific meaning that spared nobody in its wake. The tension went as high as it could--and then some--until the very end. The unease quickly turned into an undeniable fear as the very atmosphere in the town began to change along with the ominous new personalities. With every page I turned, I began to brace myself for the worst, most unexpected scenes.
The character development was an incredibly important aspect to this novel, as well. Lacey did a fantastic job of introducing us to the key players, and making us believe in the mental transformations that were happening. No matter how implausible the changes, in Lacey's hands, they become quite possible.
"There is a fine line between real and unreal. Sometimes the two become confused . . . "
As supernatural powers take hold of the town, Frank battles his own conscious in order to try and stop--whatever it is--that is happening to his family and friends. In the meantime, the power of the group dubbed the "Lynnwood Vampires" increases exponentially, their reign of terror overwhelming the small community.
". . . the true meaning of a haunting. It wasn't ghosts or ghouls but pure, unadulterated sadness, a place where hope and happiness had left for good, replaced with a sense of dread so heavy, it could suffocate you . . ."
Lacey takes on what was "left behind" in the old high school, and gives it life with his words. If you're ready to tackle that which fermented in the darkness, growing as its hatred spread, then welcome to the pages of WE CAME BACK.
Don't be surprised if some . . . thing . . . is already opening the door for you---
Highly recommended!
**Re-read January-February 2018: Thunderstorm Books, Black Voltage Series #81**
June 16, 2017
Review copy
Patrick Lacey explains We Came Back in the dedication to his latest novel.
"This book is about loss. It's also about monsters and cults and family. But loss is the theme if, indeed, there is one."
With that in mind, every dime Patrick earns from the sales of We Came Back will be donated to a cancer-related charity in memory of his father, Steven Joseph Lacey.
The creep factor is amped up right from the start and continues throughout.
Suddenly, the best and brightest students at Lynnwood High School are showing up for class looking pale, dressing in black, and letting their grades slide dramatically. Other students and faculty soon begin referring to them as the Lynnwood vamps.
Alyssa, Frank and Mona Tanner's daughter, has dropped her long-time boyfriend and taken up with an older goth guy, Busty Brown. Her ex, Justin Wright, lost his father to cancer and now his girlfriend to this loser. Alyssa lost her brother in a car accident. The characters in We Came Back all seem to be dealing with loss in one way or another. Even the villain has experienced great loss.
We Came Back is a page turner that's fun to read and features real people in dire circumstances and let's not forget the monster.
When Justin and his best friend, Art, go undercover as reporters, I got a big kick out of the names Justin came up with...
"She nodded. 'You must be the reporter from the phone. Mr. Raimi was it?' Justin nodded and felt Art’s eyes bore into him. 'That’s right ma’am, and this is my assistant, Art Craven. Say hi, Art.'"
Ever notice how rumors make everything seem worse, not that things aren't bad enough in Lynnwood.
“There is a fine line between real and unreal. Sometimes the two become confused."
We Came Back may not be perfect, but it's certainly a fun and breezy read. Fully recommended.
We Came Back is available in both paperback and e-book formats and is published by Sinister Grin Press. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Patrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable. He lives in Massachusetts with his Pomeranian, his mustached cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him.
Patrick Lacey explains We Came Back in the dedication to his latest novel.
"This book is about loss. It's also about monsters and cults and family. But loss is the theme if, indeed, there is one."
With that in mind, every dime Patrick earns from the sales of We Came Back will be donated to a cancer-related charity in memory of his father, Steven Joseph Lacey.
The creep factor is amped up right from the start and continues throughout.
Suddenly, the best and brightest students at Lynnwood High School are showing up for class looking pale, dressing in black, and letting their grades slide dramatically. Other students and faculty soon begin referring to them as the Lynnwood vamps.
Alyssa, Frank and Mona Tanner's daughter, has dropped her long-time boyfriend and taken up with an older goth guy, Busty Brown. Her ex, Justin Wright, lost his father to cancer and now his girlfriend to this loser. Alyssa lost her brother in a car accident. The characters in We Came Back all seem to be dealing with loss in one way or another. Even the villain has experienced great loss.
We Came Back is a page turner that's fun to read and features real people in dire circumstances and let's not forget the monster.
When Justin and his best friend, Art, go undercover as reporters, I got a big kick out of the names Justin came up with...
"She nodded. 'You must be the reporter from the phone. Mr. Raimi was it?' Justin nodded and felt Art’s eyes bore into him. 'That’s right ma’am, and this is my assistant, Art Craven. Say hi, Art.'"
Ever notice how rumors make everything seem worse, not that things aren't bad enough in Lynnwood.
“There is a fine line between real and unreal. Sometimes the two become confused."
We Came Back may not be perfect, but it's certainly a fun and breezy read. Fully recommended.
We Came Back is available in both paperback and e-book formats and is published by Sinister Grin Press. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Patrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable. He lives in Massachusetts with his Pomeranian, his mustached cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him.
June 6, 2017
4.5 stars
This was a surprisingly fluid read, especially considering that the novel sets off at a rapid pace, and then never once lets up.
Years on from unfortunate events involving the death of one of his students, Frank Tanner begins to suspect that all is not well in the world. Frank's daughter has brought her new boyfriend home to meet the parents, but there is something not-quite-right about Alyssa's fella. Busty Brown is a tall lad, with skin as pale as death - seriously, he is whiter than your average toothpaste - but this isn't the crux of Frank's concern. There is something about the way Busty carries himself, and whatever the issue with Busty, it is something that is beginning to affect other local youths.
This is a fun and gory read, and although the author chooses to let events unfold from many different points of view, these character switches are never jarring.
Oh, and did I mention there is something unpleasant lurking in the basement of the (now abandoned) old high school? Oh, I didn't? Well, all I'm saying is you might want to avoid going down them stairs. You've been warned!
This was a surprisingly fluid read, especially considering that the novel sets off at a rapid pace, and then never once lets up.
Years on from unfortunate events involving the death of one of his students, Frank Tanner begins to suspect that all is not well in the world. Frank's daughter has brought her new boyfriend home to meet the parents, but there is something not-quite-right about Alyssa's fella. Busty Brown is a tall lad, with skin as pale as death - seriously, he is whiter than your average toothpaste - but this isn't the crux of Frank's concern. There is something about the way Busty carries himself, and whatever the issue with Busty, it is something that is beginning to affect other local youths.
This is a fun and gory read, and although the author chooses to let events unfold from many different points of view, these character switches are never jarring.
Oh, and did I mention there is something unpleasant lurking in the basement of the (now abandoned) old high school? Oh, I didn't? Well, all I'm saying is you might want to avoid going down them stairs. You've been warned!
May 7, 2017
4.5 stars!
WE CAME BACK is the second book I've read from author Patrick Lacey. His first, DREAM WOODS, impressed me with its originality and characterization, but WE CAME BACK expanded on both of these elements to produce an amazing tale of anger that grows stronger even after death.
"It was neither alive nor dead but something in between . . . "
Ten years prior, at the old--now abandoned--Lynnwood High School, a senior named Melvin Brown was ruthlessly bullied for years. The atrocious treatment was continuously ignored by the teachers, who were more concerned with their own reputations--and even when he sought out help, he was cruelly denied. Finally unable to endure his own existence, he shot himself in the full cafeteria--where teachers and students alike just stood there in shock.
But something fundamental changed in the building that day. Faculty moved everything into a new school building, hoping to ignore the uneasiness by boarding up the old; however, rumors persisted . . .
". . . death isn't always the end. Sometimes, when you're angry enough, when you have so much hate in your body and soul, it jumpstarts you. Hate is the only thing stronger than death."
Ten years later, Alyssa Tanner brings in a new boyfriend to meet her parents. Busty is tall, Goth, and more pale than anybody living has a right to be. It's no wonder that Frank Tanner takes an instant dislike to the boy, but beneath that, something more uneasy begins to fester. . . Frank was the teacher closest to Melvin when he took his own life, and had since lost his own son. Now with only Alyssa to protect, his internal alarms start wildly going off about his particular boy.
". . . Nightmares, as he'd learned, weren't just for the sleeping . . . "
As one by one the honor students start . . . changing . . . into caricatures like Busty, it isn't long before the entire town is forced to acknowledge the problem.
". . . Last week he was a normal kid who tried to be discreet about checking out girls. Now he looks at them dead on but more importantly he looks dead."
Lacey's second novel hits hard with the first chapter, and forges ahead with lightning speed. At around the middle of the book, I found myself questioning what he could possibly do to further the plot . . . and that's when Lacey went above and beyond. Things that were sinister enough at first glance took on a whole new, horrific meaning that spared nobody in its wake. The tension went as high as it could--and then some--until the very end. The unease quickly turned into an undeniable fear as the very atmosphere in the town began to change along with the ominous new personalities. With every page I turned, I began to brace myself for the worst, most unexpected scenes.
The character development was an incredibly important aspect to this novel, as well. Lacey did a fantastic job of introducing us to the key players, and making us believe in the mental transformations that were happening. No matter how implausible the changes, in Lacey's hands, they become quite possible.
"There is a fine line between real and unreal. Sometimes the two become confused . . . "
As supernatural powers take hold of the town, Frank battles his own conscious in order to try and stop--whatever it is--that is happening to his family and friends. In the meantime, the power of the click dubbed the "Lynnwood Vampires" increases exponentially, their reign of terror overwhelming the small community.
". . . the true meaning of a haunting. It wasn't ghosts or ghouls but pure, unadulterated sadness, a place where hope and happiness had left for good, replaced with a sense of dread so heavy, it could suffocate you . . ."
Lacey takes on what was "left behind" in the old high school, and gives it life with his words. If you're ready to tackle that which fermented in the darkness, growing as its hatred spread, then welcome to the pages of WE CAME BACK.
Don't be surprised if some . . . thing . . . is already opening the door for you---
Highly recommended!
WE CAME BACK is the second book I've read from author Patrick Lacey. His first, DREAM WOODS, impressed me with its originality and characterization, but WE CAME BACK expanded on both of these elements to produce an amazing tale of anger that grows stronger even after death.
"It was neither alive nor dead but something in between . . . "
Ten years prior, at the old--now abandoned--Lynnwood High School, a senior named Melvin Brown was ruthlessly bullied for years. The atrocious treatment was continuously ignored by the teachers, who were more concerned with their own reputations--and even when he sought out help, he was cruelly denied. Finally unable to endure his own existence, he shot himself in the full cafeteria--where teachers and students alike just stood there in shock.
But something fundamental changed in the building that day. Faculty moved everything into a new school building, hoping to ignore the uneasiness by boarding up the old; however, rumors persisted . . .
". . . death isn't always the end. Sometimes, when you're angry enough, when you have so much hate in your body and soul, it jumpstarts you. Hate is the only thing stronger than death."
Ten years later, Alyssa Tanner brings in a new boyfriend to meet her parents. Busty is tall, Goth, and more pale than anybody living has a right to be. It's no wonder that Frank Tanner takes an instant dislike to the boy, but beneath that, something more uneasy begins to fester. . . Frank was the teacher closest to Melvin when he took his own life, and had since lost his own son. Now with only Alyssa to protect, his internal alarms start wildly going off about his particular boy.
". . . Nightmares, as he'd learned, weren't just for the sleeping . . . "
As one by one the honor students start . . . changing . . . into caricatures like Busty, it isn't long before the entire town is forced to acknowledge the problem.
". . . Last week he was a normal kid who tried to be discreet about checking out girls. Now he looks at them dead on but more importantly he looks dead."
Lacey's second novel hits hard with the first chapter, and forges ahead with lightning speed. At around the middle of the book, I found myself questioning what he could possibly do to further the plot . . . and that's when Lacey went above and beyond. Things that were sinister enough at first glance took on a whole new, horrific meaning that spared nobody in its wake. The tension went as high as it could--and then some--until the very end. The unease quickly turned into an undeniable fear as the very atmosphere in the town began to change along with the ominous new personalities. With every page I turned, I began to brace myself for the worst, most unexpected scenes.
The character development was an incredibly important aspect to this novel, as well. Lacey did a fantastic job of introducing us to the key players, and making us believe in the mental transformations that were happening. No matter how implausible the changes, in Lacey's hands, they become quite possible.
"There is a fine line between real and unreal. Sometimes the two become confused . . . "
As supernatural powers take hold of the town, Frank battles his own conscious in order to try and stop--whatever it is--that is happening to his family and friends. In the meantime, the power of the click dubbed the "Lynnwood Vampires" increases exponentially, their reign of terror overwhelming the small community.
". . . the true meaning of a haunting. It wasn't ghosts or ghouls but pure, unadulterated sadness, a place where hope and happiness had left for good, replaced with a sense of dread so heavy, it could suffocate you . . ."
Lacey takes on what was "left behind" in the old high school, and gives it life with his words. If you're ready to tackle that which fermented in the darkness, growing as its hatred spread, then welcome to the pages of WE CAME BACK.
Don't be surprised if some . . . thing . . . is already opening the door for you---
Highly recommended!
May 29, 2017
Loved this book! It has all the things I like. There were definitely creepy, scary things going on at this school. I especially liked how he did the characters and how they were related to to each other and the story. The setting was great for me too. A lot of the book took place in a school and I am a teacher, so I could relate to all the goings on there. I liked the ending as well. I guessed how that was going to go, but I thought it was perfect for the story.
This was my first read by this author, but I definitely would read him again.
Also, thank you Patrick for being involved in the group read and being so accessible to us by answering questions we had. It made the read that much better for me!
This was my first read by this author, but I definitely would read him again.
Also, thank you Patrick for being involved in the group read and being so accessible to us by answering questions we had. It made the read that much better for me!
April 16, 2017
Review of WE CAME BACK
by Patrick Lacey
When I discovered this novel, my first thought was to remember reading the author's wonderful DREAM WOODS, and thinking “oh, this is going to be scary.” Then the title triggered a remembrance of Stephen King's “Sometimes They Come Back,” and I upgraded that perception to “seriously scary.” Author Patrick Lacey not only fulfilled those expectations admirably; he delivers a story with tremendous emotional impact, peeling his characters right down to their cores. This is true not just for the good guys: ex-boyfriend Justin, father Frank, mother of two boys Mrs. Brown. It's also true for the bad guys, and those who had been good guys till they invested in the dark side. (That term is intentional.)
Mr. Lacey's stated intent is to honor the memory of his late father, and indeed, all proceeds go to a cancer charity. He certainly fulfills that intent as well, writing in depth of a father who passed from cancer and the consequences for his adolescent son and his widow. He also examines so clearly the psyche of a father who has lost a young son. By turns terrifying, heartwrenching, and even heartwarming, WE CAME BACK goes far beyond “simple” scary horror into the realms of the human spirit, manipulation of minds and spirits, emotional depths. I know I'll be coming back to reread this soon.
by Patrick Lacey
When I discovered this novel, my first thought was to remember reading the author's wonderful DREAM WOODS, and thinking “oh, this is going to be scary.” Then the title triggered a remembrance of Stephen King's “Sometimes They Come Back,” and I upgraded that perception to “seriously scary.” Author Patrick Lacey not only fulfilled those expectations admirably; he delivers a story with tremendous emotional impact, peeling his characters right down to their cores. This is true not just for the good guys: ex-boyfriend Justin, father Frank, mother of two boys Mrs. Brown. It's also true for the bad guys, and those who had been good guys till they invested in the dark side. (That term is intentional.)
Mr. Lacey's stated intent is to honor the memory of his late father, and indeed, all proceeds go to a cancer charity. He certainly fulfills that intent as well, writing in depth of a father who passed from cancer and the consequences for his adolescent son and his widow. He also examines so clearly the psyche of a father who has lost a young son. By turns terrifying, heartwrenching, and even heartwarming, WE CAME BACK goes far beyond “simple” scary horror into the realms of the human spirit, manipulation of minds and spirits, emotional depths. I know I'll be coming back to reread this soon.
May 10, 2017
I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE NIGHTMARE THAT IS 'WE CAME BACK'!!
If you're reading this review & you like horror stories, creepy tales, or simply enjoy excellent writing-then 'We Came Back' is for you.
I liked this book right away from the beginning & I've put off reading the last few chapters for days as I didn't want it to end. This story carried it's weight from beginning, & all through the middle & ended perfectly! I honestly think I've found myself a new favorite master of all that is freaky & creepy in Patrick Lacey. This is the best horror story I've read in years!! A 5 star rating means perfect, which is why I rated this book as such. Lacey's writing is relatable. I especially enjoy the way we get to hear the characters thoughts at times. (We may get a paragraph or only a fragment of a sentence but it's always just right.) Again, perfect! Lacey put me in the story on this one. By the middle of the book, I felt as if I lived in Lynnwood & I found myself rooting for some characters, adoring others, & of course hoping that some would die a bloody & painful death. I just completed this book & I'm still a bit emotionally out of breath. Simply put, WE CAME BACK is awesome!
"Nightmares, as he’d learned, weren’t just for the sleeping."
If you're reading this review & you like horror stories, creepy tales, or simply enjoy excellent writing-then 'We Came Back' is for you.
I liked this book right away from the beginning & I've put off reading the last few chapters for days as I didn't want it to end. This story carried it's weight from beginning, & all through the middle & ended perfectly! I honestly think I've found myself a new favorite master of all that is freaky & creepy in Patrick Lacey. This is the best horror story I've read in years!! A 5 star rating means perfect, which is why I rated this book as such. Lacey's writing is relatable. I especially enjoy the way we get to hear the characters thoughts at times. (We may get a paragraph or only a fragment of a sentence but it's always just right.) Again, perfect! Lacey put me in the story on this one. By the middle of the book, I felt as if I lived in Lynnwood & I found myself rooting for some characters, adoring others, & of course hoping that some would die a bloody & painful death. I just completed this book & I'm still a bit emotionally out of breath. Simply put, WE CAME BACK is awesome!
"Nightmares, as he’d learned, weren’t just for the sleeping."
November 16, 2017
I enjoyed this book but I think that leaving it for a while messed it up for me. It should have been read all in one piece.
Anyway, it was pretty intriguing from the beginning. I thought it would be about vampires, but they were something weirder and that surprised me. I couldn't get very close to the characters, though, maybe only Justin and Frank and I didn't find that the explanation for .
Overall, good read!
Anyway, it was pretty intriguing from the beginning. I thought it would be about vampires, but they were something weirder and that surprised me. I couldn't get very close to the characters, though, maybe only Justin and Frank and I didn't find that the explanation for .
Overall, good read!
May 24, 2017
I really liked this book! Have read Dream Woods as well and love his writing. This book is about horror at a high school, and reminded me a lot of high school...the cliques, bullies, boyfriend drama, etc. Was a great read and the characters were so well built, felt like I knew them! Highly recommended by me!
May 14, 2017
Melvin Brown has been bullied for many years. Kids make fun of him, because he acts and dresses different, from the other kids. The teachers, would look the other way and not say a thing. Melvin got to the point, where he could not stand to be picked on anymore. One day Melvin brought a gun to school and during his lunch break, pulled out the gun, and stuck in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The teachers, just stood there in shock and could not believe what just happened. Shortly after Melvin death, the faculty, staff and students, moved into the brand new high school. The old Lynnwood High School, was closed up and not used for anything. There rumors, that the old high school, maybe be haunted. Ten years, after Melvin Browns death, Alyssa Tanner, had just broken up with her boyfriend, Justin. Justin, who lives next store to Alyssa, watches her, as she brings her new boyfriend Busty, to meet her parents. Alyssa parents, took an instant disliking to him. Alyssa Tanner's father Frank, was a teacher at the old high school, he was the nearest to Melvin, when he killed himself. Busty, was older than Alyssa but she did not care. All of a sudden, the smartest kids in the the high school, were turning in to Goth like characters, like Busty. These students, hung around the old Lynnwood High School. There were also given a nickname, The Lynnwood Vampires. A strange supernatural power, has taken hold of the city and no one is safe. Lacey does an excellent job of introducing us to the main characters and developing them from there. There are many twists and turns, along this bumpy road to hell. This is horror at it best. Looking forward to other books by this author. I highly recommend this book!
May 29, 2017
STORY - 4/5 (I was really surprised by how smoothly everything ran since the last few horror novels I read weren't as great. I loved how everything the characters did made sense and it didn't feel like their actions were just there to move along the plot. The monster was scary and so were his "minions")
CHARACTERS - 4.5/5 (Every character felt realistic not matter what their age or situation. I really like the teacher perspective as well. You don't usually see a teacher in a book who isn't a jerk or a role model for another character. In this book they're just normal people.)
WRITING - 4/5 (It wasn't spectacular but it's definitely not bad.)
UNIQUENESS - 4/5 ( I felt like I'd seen the monster before but in terms of how everything wrapped up, it was completely new and interesting to me.)
CHARACTERS - 4.5/5 (Every character felt realistic not matter what their age or situation. I really like the teacher perspective as well. You don't usually see a teacher in a book who isn't a jerk or a role model for another character. In this book they're just normal people.)
WRITING - 4/5 (It wasn't spectacular but it's definitely not bad.)
UNIQUENESS - 4/5 ( I felt like I'd seen the monster before but in terms of how everything wrapped up, it was completely new and interesting to me.)
June 17, 2017
Another great book - I've been having an awesome month!
We Came Back really sucked me in, and I thought about the story all day at work - I just wanted to get home to finish!
Full review posted soon!
We Came Back really sucked me in, and I thought about the story all day at work - I just wanted to get home to finish!
Full review posted soon!
July 1, 2017
Frank Tanner has been a bit over protective of his teenage daughter ever since he lost his son, but it's not just his over cautious nature that his him suspecting something is not right with her weird looking new boyfriend Busty. Something evil is waking up at the old abandoned Lynwood High School. Something that wants revenge on Frank, and will use his daughter to get it.
Meanwhile there's a frightening change coming over the "good" kids in town. They're dressing differently, acting differently, and what used to be the honors society has turned into something dark and foul. Frank has enlisted the help of Justin, his daughter's former boyfriend to see if he can find any dirt on Busty, but he had better hurry because it's getting closer to Halloween and a party you'll never forget.
This was a real spine tingler!
Meanwhile there's a frightening change coming over the "good" kids in town. They're dressing differently, acting differently, and what used to be the honors society has turned into something dark and foul. Frank has enlisted the help of Justin, his daughter's former boyfriend to see if he can find any dirt on Busty, but he had better hurry because it's getting closer to Halloween and a party you'll never forget.
This was a real spine tingler!
December 25, 2017
Some people see high school as the best years of their lives. Other see it as the horror they do not want to go back to. I'm in the latter group. Maybe it's why I liked We Came Back so much because the demons of my high school would have felt at home in the old haunts of Patrick Lacey's Lynwood High School.
Melvin Brown is one of those kids for which high school was hell. At the bottom of the food chain and ignored by even the teachers, he takes a gun to himself in the cafeteria and kills himself. The creatures he drew endlessly in his notebook may or may not have had anything to do with it. Ten years later, The now abandoned old Lynwood High seems to be calling the best and the brightest and now they are dressing Goth and calling their "club" the Lynwood Vampires.
To be sure, the monsters of We Came Back seem more demonic than vampiric to me. Yet they are at the heart of this novel which makes some interesting twists on the theme of teen cliches and angst. Also at the center of this book is Frank, a high school teacher who was present at Melvin's death and is now attempting to protect his daughter Alyssia from the evils of the world. Needless to say, Alyssia is led straight to the allures of the Lynwood Vamps.
Patrick Lacy's tale has some very scary moments and is quite entertaining as a straight horror story. The perspectives of the teens and one teen's parent is at the heart of this book and, despite a good amount of gore, I think the young adult crowd would enjoy it. Melvin, or more precisely what he becomes, is a first class terror which feels like a cross between a Lovecraft monster and a vampire. There are a few problems that crop up. For instance, the late introduction of a weapon to fight the monsters that comes out of left field and challenges one's ability to accept the farfetched. However there isn't anything that takes away from the fun. Others might want to know why it is The popular students and the jocks that are initially drawn to the strange cult but for those who remember high school in a darker light, we know that many of those students are one step from the demonic to begin with.
OK, so I read my own baggage into this a bit. I think others will too. We Came Back is a good horror tale but its setting and its character are likely to take you back to your own school experiences and that is part of the fun. This is straight horror and a very entertaining read at that.
Melvin Brown is one of those kids for which high school was hell. At the bottom of the food chain and ignored by even the teachers, he takes a gun to himself in the cafeteria and kills himself. The creatures he drew endlessly in his notebook may or may not have had anything to do with it. Ten years later, The now abandoned old Lynwood High seems to be calling the best and the brightest and now they are dressing Goth and calling their "club" the Lynwood Vampires.
To be sure, the monsters of We Came Back seem more demonic than vampiric to me. Yet they are at the heart of this novel which makes some interesting twists on the theme of teen cliches and angst. Also at the center of this book is Frank, a high school teacher who was present at Melvin's death and is now attempting to protect his daughter Alyssia from the evils of the world. Needless to say, Alyssia is led straight to the allures of the Lynwood Vamps.
Patrick Lacy's tale has some very scary moments and is quite entertaining as a straight horror story. The perspectives of the teens and one teen's parent is at the heart of this book and, despite a good amount of gore, I think the young adult crowd would enjoy it. Melvin, or more precisely what he becomes, is a first class terror which feels like a cross between a Lovecraft monster and a vampire. There are a few problems that crop up. For instance, the late introduction of a weapon to fight the monsters that comes out of left field and challenges one's ability to accept the farfetched. However there isn't anything that takes away from the fun. Others might want to know why it is The popular students and the jocks that are initially drawn to the strange cult but for those who remember high school in a darker light, we know that many of those students are one step from the demonic to begin with.
OK, so I read my own baggage into this a bit. I think others will too. We Came Back is a good horror tale but its setting and its character are likely to take you back to your own school experiences and that is part of the fun. This is straight horror and a very entertaining read at that.
July 30, 2018
WE CAME BACK is the impressive sophomoric effort from Patrick Lacey. While, yes, there are shades of King's SOMETIME'S THEY COME BACK and CARRIE, WE CAME BACK is it's own monster. A high school revenge tale that takes on a twisted life of it's own. We can imagine the Melvins in the world. We've seen many a teenager in the news that has taken his own life with their high school as their stage as they paint the walls red with their own blood and brain matter. We've all experienced various levels of bullying and, while we may not go so far as agreeing with Melvin's solution to take his own life, we do understand where he's coming from. We can also imagine what it would do to small, close-knit Lynwood High. Ten years later, the old high school is closed and abandoned. A new school is built on the other side of town. The teachers are doing their very best to forget that there ever was another Lynwood High. That the old brick building with the chained doors and roof leaking into the classrooms never existed. The students are chalking up the stories of Melvin's ghost wandering the halls as an urban legend. Frank Tanner is especially trying to forget that day a decade ago. Frank was a young teacher that witnessed Melvin's suicide first-hand. Now his straight-laced daughter is dating the new goth kid and damn, if he doesn't look familiar. And damn, if she isn't acting up like never before. Is this all just teen rebellion or is there something evil about her new boyfriend?
Lacey builds the layers nicely in WE CAME BACK. The characters are three dimensional and realistically fleshed out. The atmosphere slowly builds and ratchets up as the story unfurls. He really does a nice job with this one. No sophomore jinx here. I'm looking forward to novel number 3.
4 Pasty White Complexions our of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://intothemacabre.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
Lacey builds the layers nicely in WE CAME BACK. The characters are three dimensional and realistically fleshed out. The atmosphere slowly builds and ratchets up as the story unfurls. He really does a nice job with this one. No sophomore jinx here. I'm looking forward to novel number 3.
4 Pasty White Complexions our of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://intothemacabre.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
July 5, 2017
We Came Back is an engaging work of character driven horror with an atmosphere reminiscent of the best films in the horror section of your old video store. A haunting backstory helps set the tone of the book from the beginning, and I found myself hooked nearly immediately.
The monsters in We Came Back are not your typical creatures of the night. Lacey comes at the vampire concept from a visceral and original perspective, revealing just enough about the creatures without demystifying them. Meanwhile his arch-antagonist blends the real world horror of a haunted mind with Lovecraftian concepts of evil beyond human understanding.
An incredible work of fiction that pulls you in and holds you captive up until the last page.
The monsters in We Came Back are not your typical creatures of the night. Lacey comes at the vampire concept from a visceral and original perspective, revealing just enough about the creatures without demystifying them. Meanwhile his arch-antagonist blends the real world horror of a haunted mind with Lovecraftian concepts of evil beyond human understanding.
An incredible work of fiction that pulls you in and holds you captive up until the last page.
May 10, 2017
This is the first book by Patrick Lacey that I've read, and I am floored.
I'll be honest, from the cover and description I was ready for a full on horror show. But this bad boy runs the gamut of emotions.
I really hesitate to say too much because a little bit can give away a lot. Especially with this one.
But let's just say if you're a fan of books like The Ruins or 'Salems Lot, you are in for a great ride!!!
But on top of that there is a great story of a father living with a great guilt and his coming to terms with that guilt.
So, while this story is chock full of suspense and terror, it really has a genuinely touching subplot running throughout.
I'll be honest, from the cover and description I was ready for a full on horror show. But this bad boy runs the gamut of emotions.
I really hesitate to say too much because a little bit can give away a lot. Especially with this one.
But let's just say if you're a fan of books like The Ruins or 'Salems Lot, you are in for a great ride!!!
But on top of that there is a great story of a father living with a great guilt and his coming to terms with that guilt.
So, while this story is chock full of suspense and terror, it really has a genuinely touching subplot running throughout.
July 2, 2017
This was a really good book. Highly recommend
May 15, 2017
When 'straight A' students suddenly start acting out, not studying, and dressing all in black, parents and teachers wonder what is happening. But this is no average teenage rebellious phase! Years before, a pupil who was being bullied committed suicide at the now abandoned old high school. Is there a link?
I enjoyed reading this. It was like an adult (sexual references and violence) version of the Point Horror books I read as as teenager. I loved them so much I still have them all years later. Not too gory but doesn't ultimately disappoint like some horrors I have read lately.
I enjoyed reading this. It was like an adult (sexual references and violence) version of the Point Horror books I read as as teenager. I loved them so much I still have them all years later. Not too gory but doesn't ultimately disappoint like some horrors I have read lately.
August 6, 2017
This is the second book of his that I have read, following Dream Woods and I was definitely impressed. It has the feel of a great, gritty kind of thriller in which a small town is slowly taken over by a cult of teenagers. There are a lot of dark, creepy moments throughout this and he effectively builds his way up to a satisfying conclusion. It's a great, fast read.
March 14, 2021
(Been way behind on my reviews over the past several months, so please excuse the lateness of this!)
My first ever Patrick Lacey horror novel but after thoroughly enjoying this novel, I've already purchased more. Lynnwood High has a dark secret that many in town wished they could forget. When Melvin Brown killed himself at school in a horribly spectacular fashion, the old high school was shut down and boarded up. But many of those at the new school haven't forgotten. Especially when some good students begin to behave differently. Badly. And thus begins the rumors of the Lynnwood Vamps. But there's far worse on the horizon and no one in town will ever be the same!
Smartly, tautly written, with lots of thrills and chills, don't miss out on this bloody good horror novel!
Highly recommended!
My first ever Patrick Lacey horror novel but after thoroughly enjoying this novel, I've already purchased more. Lynnwood High has a dark secret that many in town wished they could forget. When Melvin Brown killed himself at school in a horribly spectacular fashion, the old high school was shut down and boarded up. But many of those at the new school haven't forgotten. Especially when some good students begin to behave differently. Badly. And thus begins the rumors of the Lynnwood Vamps. But there's far worse on the horizon and no one in town will ever be the same!
Smartly, tautly written, with lots of thrills and chills, don't miss out on this bloody good horror novel!
Highly recommended!
April 25, 2021
Wow. This book has it all! Small towns, teenagers, secret cults, mind control, and ancient evil. Ten years ago, a violent situation happened during school and after that, teens all over are taking on the goth look and are slowly becoming more deranged. Parents, teachers, and other students are trying to figure out the mystery as the cause of this is hiding below the surface and it’s much more evil and ancient.
I love this book! It had everything I needed in a great horror story with its realistic characters that all stood out strong to me, and I also love how this was a gradual process that began in a typical way most YA books start; but then you see the mystery and horror progressively become unraveled as the tension is increased. What’s even better is that there’s no one main character, just an ensemble cast that keeps alternating chapters to get a full view of the story. So far, this is my favorite Patrick Lacey book and I would tell anyone to read it!
I love this book! It had everything I needed in a great horror story with its realistic characters that all stood out strong to me, and I also love how this was a gradual process that began in a typical way most YA books start; but then you see the mystery and horror progressively become unraveled as the tension is increased. What’s even better is that there’s no one main character, just an ensemble cast that keeps alternating chapters to get a full view of the story. So far, this is my favorite Patrick Lacey book and I would tell anyone to read it!
May 10, 2017
Another great story from Patrick Lacey. Dynamic characterization, a smooth reading style, and an interesting take on old horror tropes, WE CAME BACK is a quick, fun read to satisfy every horror reader's expectation. It reminded me of Salem's Lots meets The Faculty. If that doesn't get you jacked up, then listen to this - all royalties from this book are being donated to cancer research. Check it out!
March 7, 2018
Although the explanation of why the creatures could be destroyed was a little shaky, I totally enjoyed this Lovecraftian revenge based creepfest. Well written and fast paced with interesting characters. Highly recommended.
May 12, 2017
Not good
I am sure glad this book is over. I didn't like the characters, didn't care about the giant squid monster part and thought it was very corny and dumb. That said, the author would have potential if he thought of better plots for future work. His writing style isn't bad.
I am sure glad this book is over. I didn't like the characters, didn't care about the giant squid monster part and thought it was very corny and dumb. That said, the author would have potential if he thought of better plots for future work. His writing style isn't bad.
May 28, 2017
Another winner from Lacey. This story of afterlife revenge digs deep and evokes a great deal of honest pain, making it much more than the generic creature novel it could have been. One of my favorites of 2017 so far.
May 16, 2018
Eh, it was okay. I have to admit I found the name of the lead antagonist to be rather ridiculous and I was rolling my eyes whenever his name was mentioned so that might have dampened my enjoyment of the story. Busty. Who would feel threatened by someone named Busty?
April 29, 2017
Damn! What an awesome story that was! This is now on my top ten list for the year.
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