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A Wall for Teeth and Stingers
In the summer of 2017, small town America is terrorized as a swarm of American honey bees migrates its way across the country at unprecedented speeds. Without warning, the mass begins descending upon unknowing residences, trapping entire families inside their homes.
The news is calling it the lottery of nightmares.
With three families dead, nobody knows exactly who's next. No one, that is, except Hugh Sistard. In fact, Hugh’s fairly certain the swarm is heading his way. Because there’s a pattern amongst the trail of dead that only he can see. One that will send him shivering back to his childhood memories to face his deepest, darkest secret.
With the odds stacked against him, can retired hostage negotiator Rupert Loren hold his team together long enough to prevent Hugh from doing something terrible to his wife and child?
The news is calling it the lottery of nightmares.
With three families dead, nobody knows exactly who's next. No one, that is, except Hugh Sistard. In fact, Hugh’s fairly certain the swarm is heading his way. Because there’s a pattern amongst the trail of dead that only he can see. One that will send him shivering back to his childhood memories to face his deepest, darkest secret.
With the odds stacked against him, can retired hostage negotiator Rupert Loren hold his team together long enough to prevent Hugh from doing something terrible to his wife and child?
- GenresHorror
348 pages, Paperback
Published May 14, 2017
314 people want to read
About the author
J.B. Kish
11 books32 followersOriginally from the Southwest, J.B. Kish moved to Portland, Oregon, in 2012. He is currently working on his third novel.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 21, 2017
Incredibly intense and impossible to put down
Hesitant to say more because I think it's a good one to go into blind. Highly highly highly recommended. I'll be reading it again very soon.
Hesitant to say more because I think it's a good one to go into blind. Highly highly highly recommended. I'll be reading it again very soon.
September 13, 2018
I have never read a book in the horror genre before, but I have to believe this is one of the best ones anyway. It had me hooked from the beginning, and I couldn’t put it down! It was refreshing to read a book with a desert motif, and despite the horror in the story, the desert itself is an engaging character. I am not sure if heavy symbolism and metaphor are standard with this genre, but this book has both. It is really well done. I could say more but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone! Although, warning, if you’ve avoided this genre because of horror imagery, it’s definitely here. But I survived it, and I still really enjoyed the story!
December 31, 2018
4.5 out of 5 from me! Full review to come - been a little busy so may not get around to posting for a week or so after holidays/work/life get back to normal! Highly recommended!
September 25, 2017
Creepy and compelling. I don't look at bees the same way anymore...!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2017
Im not typically a reader of thrillers, but A Wall for Teeth and Stingers had me when I read the title. I was intrigued. You join the story by meeting Hugh Sistard and his family. Hugh seems to be carrying a heavy burden and the author hooks you into wanting to know more with lines like, "He'd known it ever since the night Jordan Gautier died. He'd figured it out while the rest of the country watched from their televisions - the bees unstitching themselves from Gautiers' home." What did he figure out? Bees? They're the villain? What? I couldn't stop reading. I found myself staying up late and reading at work just to figure out what the fate of these seemingly doomed characters was to be. I even found myself talking to the book a couple of times. "Are you kidding me?" "Ugh - that's disgusting!"
The author left me more than satisfied at the end of the story, but I was disappointed there wasn't a sequel to follow up with. I wanted more.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for an escape from reality for a bit. The author has a smooth style of merging multiple story lines into one. The story was rich in imagery and creativity. My imagination felt like it was being led on a ride, sometimes to places I was uncomfortable going to. This thriller won't give you what you expect, but you won't be able to put it down.
Damn you, J.B Kish. You got me, got me good.
The author left me more than satisfied at the end of the story, but I was disappointed there wasn't a sequel to follow up with. I wanted more.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for an escape from reality for a bit. The author has a smooth style of merging multiple story lines into one. The story was rich in imagery and creativity. My imagination felt like it was being led on a ride, sometimes to places I was uncomfortable going to. This thriller won't give you what you expect, but you won't be able to put it down.
Damn you, J.B Kish. You got me, got me good.
May 15, 2017
As luck would hive it I read JB's first book which I enjoyed, but A Wall for Teeth and Stingers really shows his growth as an author. If truth bee told, I'm not really a huge thriller fan. I like reading Stephen King, and the occasional outlier thriller, but on the whole, the genre doesn't really hold my attention. But I did like this book; I think one of the reasons is because you can clearly see the influence of King work. From the quirky characters, a variety of small, off the beeten path towns, and the dread of an unknowable threat. But while the author is clearly taking cues from that work, he also takes the story in his own way and in the end the events are downright buzzare. The story starts a little slow as you learn about the various characters, but it really takes flight after that.
I'd strongly recommend this to any thriller fans, and cautiously recommend it to anyone willing to give the genre a shot.
I'd strongly recommend this to any thriller fans, and cautiously recommend it to anyone willing to give the genre a shot.
May 15, 2017
Such a captivating read! Also it's impossible not to love a book with the line "freshly painted with a coat of buzzing fuck-all," and several other fun phrases. I found myself getting wrapped up in the history and background of each of the characters and the way their mind(s) worked, and was basically speed reading so I could find out what had happened and what was going to happen. Highly recommended - keep 'em coming, John Boy!
May 15, 2017
Truly chilling. I love the use of overlapping timelines and character arcs to underline the present horror. He's got a great cadence for suspense and paranoid tension.His crafted descriptions and banter serve the rising terror well and offer a deep care for people and place.
Kish is a promising writer with a deep, dark well of twisted thoughts and I can't wait to see what he does next. I highly recommend picking this one up!
Kish is a promising writer with a deep, dark well of twisted thoughts and I can't wait to see what he does next. I highly recommend picking this one up!
June 15, 2017
Really fun read - couldn't put it down. The pace at which information was revealed was super well done, and the overall tone and mysterious sense of dread was fantastic (I found myself looking over my shoulder constantly after getting off the bus late at night while reading). Definitely one of the most unique stories I've read in a while. I didn't love the ending (would love to hear an explanation of why), but the journey was more important than the end. Attempting to make bees truly horrifying without being too campy was a bold move, and pulled off perfectly.
May 16, 2017
Could not put down! A great mystery/thriller with vivid, multi-dimensional characters. Had some similar themes to one of my favorite Stephen King novels (I won't say which to avoid spoilers).Jumped a few times while reading and had to sit and stew for a bit on it after I was done, while mentally piecing together characters and storylines and having "a-ha!" moments. Well done!
May 14, 2017
Im not typically a reader of thrillers, but A Wall for Teeth and Stingers had me when I read the title. I was intrigued. You join the story by meeting Hugh Sistard and his family. Hugh seems to be carrying a heavy burden and the author hooks you into wanting to know more with lines like, "He'd known it ever since the night Jordan Gautier died. He'd figured it out while the rest of the country watched from their televisions - the bees unstitching themselves from Gautiers' home." What did he figure out? Bees? They're the villain? What? I couldn't stop reading. I found myself staying up late and reading at work just to figure out what the fate of these seemingly doomed characters was to be. I even found myself talking to the book a couple of times. "Are you kidding me?" "Ugh - that's disgusting!"
The author left me more than satisfied at the end of the story, but I was disappointed there wasn't a sequel to follow up with. I wanted more.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for an escape from reality for a bit. The author has a smooth style of merging multiple story lines into one. The story was rich in imagery and creativity. My imagination felt like it was being led on a ride, sometimes to places I was uncomfortable going to. This thriller won't give you what you expect, but you won't be able to put it down.
Damn you, J.B Kish. You got me, got me good.
The author left me more than satisfied at the end of the story, but I was disappointed there wasn't a sequel to follow up with. I wanted more.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for an escape from reality for a bit. The author has a smooth style of merging multiple story lines into one. The story was rich in imagery and creativity. My imagination felt like it was being led on a ride, sometimes to places I was uncomfortable going to. This thriller won't give you what you expect, but you won't be able to put it down.
Damn you, J.B Kish. You got me, got me good.
May 24, 2017
Started and finished this book in less than a day. If that doesn't tell you how quickly the author draws you into this thrilling story than I'm not sure what else will. I absolutely loved the story - at the same time captivating and frightening and thrilling - it made you not want to put the book down. There were a couple of instances where I felt like the author was "trying too hard" to be descriptive or create some unique imagery in the reader's mind, but outside of that, I can't think of any other complaints. Looking forward to recommending this book to friends for a long time and can't wait to see what the author comes out with next!
May 14, 2017
As a reader of suspense and thrillers for years this one had me from the very beginning. Kish is a master of creating a true page-turner.
Once "A Wall for Teeth and Stingers" bites its reader, the hooks are in. The story and characters course through the readers veins like venom, forcing complete and undivided attention. Every scene leaves the reader yearning for more. I read most of this excellent book in one sitting having to put less important things such as sleep on hold until I had gotten my fill.
I highly recommend this story for all readers of suspense novels.
Once "A Wall for Teeth and Stingers" bites its reader, the hooks are in. The story and characters course through the readers veins like venom, forcing complete and undivided attention. Every scene leaves the reader yearning for more. I read most of this excellent book in one sitting having to put less important things such as sleep on hold until I had gotten my fill.
I highly recommend this story for all readers of suspense novels.
October 30, 2023
Good gravy!
Here's the thing: I pass out when I read sometimes (sleep disorder). Often, I read a few pages and take a break. I did that for the first chapter of this book over a few weeks, as I always do. Then, I threw caution to the wind. My brain loved it so much, I devoured it in one sitting. 5 hours of straight reading with no tipping over is unheard of for me.
But everypony, it's just THAT bingeable.
I didn't even want to try and figure it out. The ride was so wild and tense that I just let it happen, and wow, I'm glad I did.
This is spec crip horror at it's finest!
Here's the thing: I pass out when I read sometimes (sleep disorder). Often, I read a few pages and take a break. I did that for the first chapter of this book over a few weeks, as I always do. Then, I threw caution to the wind. My brain loved it so much, I devoured it in one sitting. 5 hours of straight reading with no tipping over is unheard of for me.
But everypony, it's just THAT bingeable.
I didn't even want to try and figure it out. The ride was so wild and tense that I just let it happen, and wow, I'm glad I did.
This is spec crip horror at it's finest!
May 14, 2017
A wall of bees? How does that work? Those were my original thoughts, but one page in and that was it, I knew I was embarking on an amazing literary journey. The imagery and language were enthralling, the plot-line complex and irresistible, but what really got me was the character development. Every character revealed immense psychological depth that I think few writers could portray with such unapologetic eloquence.
I'm definitely impressed and I can't wait for you to read it!
I'm definitely impressed and I can't wait for you to read it!
May 15, 2017
This was a very dynamic and suspenseful read; one you cannot put down until you turn the last page. The author did a nice job creating different perspectives of each character, keeping the reader on his/her toes until the very end. I'm not usually a big fan of fiction but this story line was a good play on fiction and some realistic and intriguing aspects of mother nature.
If you're looking for a suspenseful and page-turning story, you've found the right book!
If you're looking for a suspenseful and page-turning story, you've found the right book!
May 15, 2017
What a fantastic Novel! Somehow the author manages to weave together Fantasy, Mystery, murder and bees in an oddly Truman Capote-esque "In Cold Blood" feeling novel. This is is a novel which you you will have no trouble reading in a couple of 8 hour binges while you burn with a desire to know what exactly is going on in this Arizona town.
The only thing more intriguing than the story is the end. I can guarantee you that picking this book up will not be a choice you regret.
The only thing more intriguing than the story is the end. I can guarantee you that picking this book up will not be a choice you regret.
May 15, 2017
This book will hook you and want you to keep reading even after the book is finished JB Kish does an amazing job at giving you such details that you can really imagine the story line playing out in your mind as you read. This book forces you to have the debate in your mind sleep or find out more. Read this book if you are looking for a fun adventure!
November 1, 2024
This book would have made an awesome X Files episode!
It answers your questions at the end (unlike many similar stories that just leave you hanging), though there's still a lot about it I'm trying to process.
The violence was way over the top, so I definitely skipped paragraphs.
Still, I'm a busy mom of three, and I finished this book in three days. That tells you all you need to know!
It answers your questions at the end (unlike many similar stories that just leave you hanging), though there's still a lot about it I'm trying to process.
The violence was way over the top, so I definitely skipped paragraphs.
Still, I'm a busy mom of three, and I finished this book in three days. That tells you all you need to know!
May 14, 2017
A Wall for Teeth and Stingers is a captivating tale full of suspense, vivid horrors, and gripping mystery. Kish has created a read that will grab hold and not let go. A must-read for fans of the genre.
January 4, 2025
Excellent. Really enjoyed this book all the way through, it even had a solid ending. It felt a lot like some of my favourite Stephen King books, but it definitely has it's own flavour. Highly recommended.
May 15, 2017
Got sucked in and couldn't put it down! Really liked the story, fun, fast-moving storyline with interesting, well-developed characters. Very imaginative, put plausible with interesting plot twists along the way.
May 15, 2017
This book is delightful, I couldn't put it down and especially loved the imagery. It's darkly funny and will keep you intrigued until the end. I highly recommend this read!
January 30, 2018
Absolutely compelling, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread until long after I finished the book. Well-developed characters ground the supernatural premise into something truly horrifying.
December 27, 2024
An unpredictable thriller, great for fans of Stephen King - it very much felt like one of his small town America novels, with an element of magical realism.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews