Them

by James Watts

In the small town of Maple Grove, Alabama, an ancient evil resurfaces to claim its right to life and the human race be damned. When Ray Sanders returned to Maple Grove to attend his mother’s funeral, he never planned to have to overcome all of his insecurities in order to save the town from an evil as old as time itself. For over a hundred years, the town of Maple Grove has suffered from the deranged minds and unquenchable hunger of parasitic creatures not of our Earth. Once before in a sacrifice of blood, the forces from beyond were locked away presumably forever. Now they have returned, hungering for their chance to evolve. It will be up to Ray Sanders, his cousin Roy, and a woman either them recall to stop this evolution and prevent the reign of these ageless creatures before their evil can spread.

Genres: Horror

214 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2022

About the author

James Watts was born in Birmingham, Alabama in March of 1976. Growing up in the small town of West Jefferson, Alabama, Watts spent his days lost in his vivid imagination.



At age 10, he discovered the Hardy Boys mystery series and fell in love with reading. By Age 12 the discovery of Stephen King's The Stand gave life to his need to write, to tell stories that he hoped the world would love.



It would take twenty years of rejections and working low paying jobs, and go through two divorces before he would see the publication of his horror novel Them.



James Watts currently resides in West Jefferson, Alabama and has one 19-year-old son, Bailey Watts.

Reviews

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met this author at a horror con (Scarefest Lexington), and when I looked, I realized I had owned this book for over a year and hadn't read it yet. So I read it. The forward, was by an author that I am familiar with through various forms of social media, so that was pretty cool. The forward was pretty much about how those authors had been at the same horror con I had met Watts, but just a few years earlier. I'm pretty sure the forward also mentioned Stephen King a bit. I am not a huge King fan. I almost put the book down, but persevered. I told Watts at the convention I would read his book, and I like to stay true to my word.
Onto the story. This is a basic small-town story, but there's some sort of evil happening around town. It starts with a death, and then a funeral. By the end of the third chapter, I was hooked on the main character, rooting for him. I did feel some parts kinda dragged on. I'm used to reading novellas, so that's a 'me' thing, and nothing against the author. Then at 5o(something) percent, an event happened that totally intrigued me. Once the ending started unfolding, everything made perfect sense. I pretty much had an idea of what was up, but not completely. A solid 4 star read

[Todd Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book by James and what can I say … this book is great. Looking forward to the next book! Do yourself a great favour and read this one, you will love it!

[Chris Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had a book sitting upon the throne of my "favorite of the past year" for quite some time now, and every book I have come across since it has not quite topped it, though several have come close to equaling it.

THEM by James Watts unseats the King and drops down on that iron throne, scepter in hand, and blows everyone else out of the room.

At once a horror story, a gothic tale, and a generations-old mystery story, THEM sets itself apart by being wholly original while at the same time nodding in homage to the horror stories of the 80s. The details and setting are so authentic, you feel as though you're right there in Maple Grove with Ray and Roy, and the characters are so well drawn I actually forgot they were fictional. The dialogue is spot on and rich with the feel and ambiance of the South.

The story doesn't lag for an instant but manages to build and grow authentically and organically, not giving us everything at once, but letting it peel back like an onion until we find out what is at the core of this rotting evil around town. I found myself slack-jawed more than once during this read as Mr. Watts's masterful storytelling took me on this moderately paced rollercoaster ride. I say moderately paced because this isn't a balls to the wall trek through a Southern Hell, but it is constantly moving forward, constantly building the story and developing the characters. Not a word is wasted in this masterpiece of the genre, and when it was over, I was left utterly satisfied and craving for more at once.

There's literally not a single thing I can critique in this book. It's masterful. It's as close to perfect as any book I've ever read. Every twist was perfect and caught me off-guard. Every character was genuine and flawlessly depicted. I cannot say enough good about this book.

It feels right at home alongside classics such as 'Salem's Lot, Cujo, and IT. It's literally THAT good, and Mr. King would be proud to place THEM alongside his most praised works.

Horror fan? You want this. You NEED this. It literally doesn't get any better. Not a horror fan? THEM will make you one.

5/5-Stars

[TBM Horror · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Watts is a very complex author, difficult to sort or describe. Although, all readers seem to agree —he's brilliant.
The book starts with a shuddering scene that doesn't let you go anymore. It makes you ask yourself several times what are you witnessing.
The novel is full suspense, keeping you in the dark watching over your shoulder. You can observe uncountable references to traditional and neo horror, which shows hard work on research and composition of the different storylines sewing this thread.
Watts takes you back in a disturbing family history's secret, that will break the fine balance between life and doom. A war to conquer and devour all souls they find in their path.
I add myself to the long list of amazed readers who have labelled this book as a masterpiece. It will easily be the best horror book you might grab in months.

[Negan88 · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is wow! I felt like trying to draw parallels to the story from other tales I have heard, but there was so much originality it was hard to put my finger on one thing. At times I felt vibes of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Others felt like Ridley Scott’s alien universe. Other times The Thing. All the while none were like, similar maybe, but not like James’s wild ride! James picks the scab and pours salt on the wound of the fear all humans have... loosing control of themselves, their identity, and ultimately their life.
I can definitely see heavy influence by Stephen King, yet I feel as though James tried to be himself as well. The articulation and seemingly ease that James writes is amazing! The vocabulary and adjectives he uses is as skillful as the delicate brushstrokes of a painter. James is a painter. A painter with words. Forever will the images, characters, creatures, and environment of Them will be seared into my brain!

[Lee Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome body snatching critters

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's well-rounded characters and wicked creatures. Sets a solid pace, yet teases you along wanting to know more. Reminiscent of King but with Watts definite own flavour in the pot.
Small US towns officially scare the bejesus out of me.

[Timothy Friesenhahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we got a great novel. Straight country fried horror. It's got very reminiscent feel of early Koontz. It starts off quick and keeps the flow throughout. If you're into early Koontz give this one a try.

[P.J. Blakey-Novis · Rating 5 out of 5]

THEM is a horror novel, and the debut from this author. It tells the story of Ray Sanders, who returns home to bury his mother. But not all is as it seems in the small town, as something evil lurks in the shadows, threatening all who live there. The story was incredibly well written, with scenes which are easy to envisage, and believable characters. The plot was tense, and well thought out, which kept me reading on, desperate to find out what happened next. THEM is a must-read for any fan of horror stories, and James Watts is an author to watch out for.

[Robert W. Easton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.


In Them, the author has crafted a horror novel reminiscent of a modern day analog to 1922 from Full Dark, No Stars, particularly by the steady building of tension with fully realized characters mired in blue collar Americana.


The story is set in modern times in a small town when a son returns for his mother's funeral. Without giving anything away, the son and a few other key characters begin a slow build into a confrontation with the titular Them. The nature of Them is withheld until very late in the book which keeps the suspense and horror ramped up.


Save for one spot about ⅔ of the way through (where a single pivotal scene was revisited from about 4 different perspectives), the book was an enjoyable read, filled with tension.

[P.J. Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I like a book, I develop book fever and nothing will stop me reading the book from cover to cover as quickly as possible. This book cost my family two substandard dinners because I was too busy reading. The story built up tension slowly and deliberately as the apparent quaintness of small town living was explored and its dark shadows uncovered one by one. Until the full reality of the horror of Maple Grove is revealed.
The characters in this book are well rounded and interesting each bringing their own piece of backstory to the plot. The full range of characters made this book stand out from other horrors because they were real, gritty and honest. You could identify with them and hope they made it out alive.
Another feature of this book was the great portrayal of the Alabama working-class culture and life which I found very interesting.
This is a thinking man/woman's horror story and I thoroughly recommend it.

[Shaun Filion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one day casually looking through books that I wanted to order, and by chance, I happened upon "THEM"! Decided to take a chance on it, and was not disappointed! James Watts gives you an immediate like of his characters, all while weaving an intricate Tale of Terror. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ray Sanders comes home to Maple Grove when his mother dies and is the catalyst for the horrors that threaten the lives of the townsfolk and everyone that Ray holds dear. In this story, you get death, mayhem and the ultimate battle between good and evil. This is a must read for fans of the horror genre.

[Jeremy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense is real.

Fantastic book. All the main characters were well developed, and even the secondary characters are memorable. I had a lot of fun with this book, and it will get on top of you if you let it. So, keep the lights on when you give it a go.

The writer trends some good old horror ground while always keeping it fresh enough to not only keep you flipping pages but to keep you fully involved with what was happening.

If you like horror there is no reason to not give this one a try. I was disappointed that this author only has one book, and I hope he pens some more.

[Horror DNA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say my favorite trope in horror is of the small-town-fights-evil variety. I often complain about throwaway characters that are introduced and killed off without a hint of backstory. Small town horror introduces you to these characters, gives them a background and makes the reader actually invested in the story. Them is this very kind of tale.

You can read Jennifer's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the read but it ended quickly.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would have been 5 stars except for the following:

- The ending felt like it was wrapped up too quickly & conveniently.
- Although a brief explanation of the creatures was given, it still didn’t explain how/why there were orbs (especially if they came from a well?!), suddenly all the characters just knew about the orbs and their function.
- Who were the masters? Are they the same species? If creatures from the 1st plane could be reborn as trees/humans/animals on the second plane, why couldn’t the Odomulites be born as something different.
- Julie mentions the Odomulites are “Ancient Sins”, it seems they have been encountered by humans in the past… how did they eradicate them before.

I loved the writing and premise, but was left confused, with too many question, feeling that the ending was rushed and the main characters didn’t get the conclusion they deserved.

[P.A. Rudders · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great debut horror novel that would sit comfortably among the works of Stephen King & James Herbert ...

With ancient malevolent forces occupying human bodies, innocent looking creatures morphing into hungry life-draining parasites, and a history of evil dating back millennia, these ingredients alone are a recipe for an intriguing horror tale. Added to the mix though are family secrets and rivalries, murder, and an emerging horror triggered by the main character’s return to his childhood home and town to attend his mother’s funeral.

I liked the dramatic start to this book i.e. the events and horror that prelude the opening scenes of Ray Sanders' return and his mother’s funeral as already mentioned. Having said that, once past the dramatic opening, the book adopts a slower pace while it lays the groundwork for the wider story that follows; James Watts does an excellent job of setting the scene, creating the characters and relationships of a small town, and of relating old rivalries, friendships, and family secrets. Even before events start to take a more sinister turn, the author’s impressive descriptive skills have already conjured up the perfect setting and surroundings in which they unfold … one can almost hear the sound of banjos playing on a southern porch while picturing the image of cabins in the woods, and a character out of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre lurking behind every corner, though there are horrors here far worse than any human monster

Apart from a well-constructed story and a rich array of characters, the nitty gritty of the writing was also first class, not shying away from explicit and graphic language at times, but not over-doing it either. Although set in the present, in some ways, ‘THEM’ reads much like old-style horror – not in a dated or old-fashioned way, but in the tradition of, say, Dennis Wheatley or H.P. Lovecraft, though with a healthy resemblance to the blood and gore of some classic 70s/80s' horror too - in terms of more modern writers, ‘THEM’ would sit quite comfortably nestled among the works of Stephen King and James Herbert … a great debut novel and addition to the horror genre, and hints too of more to come ...

[R. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly Creepy

The author unwinds the mystery of Them gradually, building suspense and keeping you turning pages. The characters are well fashioned and relatable.

There's lots of action and plenty of gore as the story heats up and heads to the final pages. I won't issue any spoilers save to say it was a hell of a conclusion.

Have fun with this one, horror fans.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a while for the story to move beyond meeting the characters. As the novel progress the mystery and deaths increase as to wanted to learn what is going on.

[Lisa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The synopsis for Them by James Watts paints it as a small-town-with-a-big-secret horror story, and it is that, but it is more than that. The synopsis does not do the story justice, not at all (but many excellent authors cannot write a good synopsis, so there is that). Them is a story reminiscent of and on par with the works of Bentley Little and John Saul, but darker, edgier. It is small town cosmic horror, and horror is the operative word.

James Watts weaves a dark and suspenseful horror with truly vivid characters who are defined by their actions and reactions. The sideline and back stories have a spark of realism that draws you in deeper and deeper. The story was in my mind even when I wasn’t actively reading it. The tension and emotion evoked by this book left me physically exhausted and jumping at noises.

James Watts is an amazing story teller. Them has made me an instant fan of his writing, and I look eagerly forward to reading more of his work.

That being said, I do have a disclaimer.
Some of you are sensitive to sloppy editing, so I want to say that while there is an unfortunate number of editing errors in the book, they are generally not major and are not a reflection of the author’s talent or the quality of the story. The story is absolutely worth ignoring the scattering of punctuation flaws and minor typos. Things happen, no book is perfect, the publishing process is a strange thing. Overlook it. It’s a fantastic story.

I want this book on the shelf for future rereading. It is shelf-worthy like that. Unfortunately, someone’s booboo has kept the paperback version and kindle version separated, so I originally thought this book was not available in paperback. But it is. This makes me happy.

[Craig Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a horror novel, Them certainly delivers. It's an intense, fast-paced nightmare following a small community of relatable and unique characters as they uncover a horrible secret that plagues their small town. It's a story that spans generations, and the secrets they keep from each other. And those secrets come crawling, and clawing, and snarling out of the darkness to destroy them. There are some passages in this book that will challenge you to turn the next page. Luckily, James Watts' expert pacing will force your hand, and, like the characters, you'll tiptoe into places you never should have gone. It's a classic tale showcasing one of horror's most enduring themes: death interrupting life.

In all the vivid horror depicted within its pages, for some reason, the one that sticks with me the most is the barking of a dead dog... To find out what I mean, you'll have to pick up a copy for yourself. You won't regret it!

[Beyond · Rating 5 out of 5]

keeping it clean and to the cut, this book is definitely a must read for anyone into supernatural situations. the characters seemed good to me on a scale of zero to interesting along with the comedic and horror levels too. I only had an issue with keeping up with who was who (Ray and Roy) at certain times, because sometimes I would go a couple weeks without reading and kept having to look at the back of the book quickly to find out who the main character was.

all in all, im gonna be lookin more into James Watts and seein if I can get into the other books he's written/going to have written because I like his writing style, for sure.

[Kyle Cheuvront · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a good horror book from an up and coming author, THEM certainly fits the bill. I was hooked in from the beginning and enjoyed the whole story. There were some truly terrifying passages in this book which is exactly what I was hoping for.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book and worth the time.

[Barb]

Gotta take a break at 32%. I really, really, don’t like rats.