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Snowblind #2
Snowblind: The Killing Grounds
There are some places man was never meant to go.
For the past seven years, John Avery has been combing the wilderness for any sign of his missing girlfriend, who set out upon the ski trip of a lifetime and was never seen again.
Regions utterly isolated by geography and time.
The discovery of a video camera prompts Sheriff Wayne Dayton to dispatch a search party into one of the most remote areas of the Rockies in hopes of learning her fate.
Where few species can survive.
When a freak blizzard strikes, they find themselves wandering blindly into the killing grounds of a predator they can't even see.
For the past seven years, John Avery has been combing the wilderness for any sign of his missing girlfriend, who set out upon the ski trip of a lifetime and was never seen again.
Regions utterly isolated by geography and time.
The discovery of a video camera prompts Sheriff Wayne Dayton to dispatch a search party into one of the most remote areas of the Rockies in hopes of learning her fate.
Where few species can survive.
When a freak blizzard strikes, they find themselves wandering blindly into the killing grounds of a predator they can't even see.
116 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2015
121 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Michael McBride
122 books480 followersMichael McBride was born in Colorado and still resides in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. He hates the snow, but loves the Avalanche. He works with medical radiation, yet somehow managed to produce five children, none of whom, miraculously, have tails, third eyes, or other random mutations. He writes fiction that runs the gamut from thriller to horror to science fiction...and loves every minute of it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 8, 2022
Rating - 3.5 stars
John Avery has spent the last seven years looking for his missing girlfriend, Michelle. (Michelle went on a skiing holiday with some friends and they were never seen again.) Now John is contacted by the police. A ranger has found a videotape machine with a video in it in the wilderness, and on it is a message from Michelle. This prompts the sheriff to form a search party. The party goes into the snowy wilderness in search for some answers. But they discover something more terrifying than they would have imagined…
This was a very eerie and tense read. It had great atmosphere… the snow, the cold, the wind, the isolation, and the characters not knowing what is out there. I didn’t like how the story ended, though. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but it is better to read with the previous one, “Snowblind”, which I enjoyed a bit more.
John Avery has spent the last seven years looking for his missing girlfriend, Michelle. (Michelle went on a skiing holiday with some friends and they were never seen again.) Now John is contacted by the police. A ranger has found a videotape machine with a video in it in the wilderness, and on it is a message from Michelle. This prompts the sheriff to form a search party. The party goes into the snowy wilderness in search for some answers. But they discover something more terrifying than they would have imagined…
This was a very eerie and tense read. It had great atmosphere… the snow, the cold, the wind, the isolation, and the characters not knowing what is out there. I didn’t like how the story ended, though. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but it is better to read with the previous one, “Snowblind”, which I enjoyed a bit more.
November 22, 2015
Michael McBride takes us back to the Rockies and once more we're blind in the snow, we're in the killing grounds, the panic is mounting and the tensiometer is pinging like a metal detector in a shipping container.
Seven years ago John Avery's girlfriend went on a skiing trip with friends, none of them were ever seen again and he's searched for them, relentlessly, he was even a suspect.
Sheriff Wayne Dayton once shot a man who staggered into a diner carrying a severed head, a tortuous ending to a harrowing journey that is not easily forgotten. A conservation biologist searching for a missing bighorn sheep finds a video camera hidden in a tree and evidence of the missing party is finally discovered.
'A scream from the television cut him off. It was loud and clear and filled with so much raw terror that the hackles rose along his shoulders and neck.'
Sheriff Dayton investigates, resulting in a group setting out to ascertain exactly what happened all those years ago. Darkness and a freak blizzard put them in the killing grounds of a predator even Arnie would struggle to get away from.
There's a cabin hidden in the snow and the trees, on a wall inside is scrawled the names of those unfortunate enough to realise that there's definitely no hiding place, not here. And a warning 'They come at night'.
Snowblind 2: The Killing Grounds is another exemplary suspense filled horror from McB, in a perfect setting for terror, the pace and trepidation rise exponentially until it's just unbearable. Will there be any survivors in the most extreme of conditions and if there are, can the U.S. law department take them out (kill them that is, not for lunch). Well worth finding out and I do recommend the two Snowblind novellas, heavy on terror, light on humour and there’s a good deal of pronounced nail-biting and heart pounding tension going down.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
Seven years ago John Avery's girlfriend went on a skiing trip with friends, none of them were ever seen again and he's searched for them, relentlessly, he was even a suspect.
Sheriff Wayne Dayton once shot a man who staggered into a diner carrying a severed head, a tortuous ending to a harrowing journey that is not easily forgotten. A conservation biologist searching for a missing bighorn sheep finds a video camera hidden in a tree and evidence of the missing party is finally discovered.
'A scream from the television cut him off. It was loud and clear and filled with so much raw terror that the hackles rose along his shoulders and neck.'
Sheriff Dayton investigates, resulting in a group setting out to ascertain exactly what happened all those years ago. Darkness and a freak blizzard put them in the killing grounds of a predator even Arnie would struggle to get away from.
There's a cabin hidden in the snow and the trees, on a wall inside is scrawled the names of those unfortunate enough to realise that there's definitely no hiding place, not here. And a warning 'They come at night'.
Snowblind 2: The Killing Grounds is another exemplary suspense filled horror from McB, in a perfect setting for terror, the pace and trepidation rise exponentially until it's just unbearable. Will there be any survivors in the most extreme of conditions and if there are, can the U.S. law department take them out (kill them that is, not for lunch). Well worth finding out and I do recommend the two Snowblind novellas, heavy on terror, light on humour and there’s a good deal of pronounced nail-biting and heart pounding tension going down.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
November 8, 2015
SNOWBLIND II: THE KILLING GROUNDS takes place after the events in Michael McBride's award-winning novella, SNOWBLIND. However, it is not a "continuation" of that story, but rather more of a backstory--chronicling the disappearance of a group of teenagers on a skiing trip seven years prior. John Avery's girlfriend, Michelle Jenkins, was one of those that went missing, and he has spent the last seven years of his life searching for the truth behind the loss of the "love of his life".
The search is led by Sheriff Wayne Dayton, but our sympathies are mainly with John Avery in his desperate attempt to find the answers to Michelle's disappearance. Michael McBride does not disappoint in his characterization. Despite the novella length, I was able to truly empathize with Avery and could virtually "feel" his hope, anxiety, and frustration right along with him.
Another trademark of McBride is his ability to utilize the atmosphere to an incredibly real extent. Through the midst of the rapidly increasing blizzard, the feeling of paranoia, terror, and breathtaking suspense heightens to an almost palpable extent. These atmospheric conditions that are a "natural" force are often enough to rival the amount of bloodshed, gore, and graphic scenes in a reader's mind!
I really enjoyed how this story expanded on questions raised in the original SNOWBLIND, without relying on that story to tell a tale all of its own.
Once again, McBride has demonstrated his mastery of the art of writing with a tightly woven storyline, complex characterization, and exemplary use of the weather to create the ideal atmosphere.
Highest recommendation!.
The search is led by Sheriff Wayne Dayton, but our sympathies are mainly with John Avery in his desperate attempt to find the answers to Michelle's disappearance. Michael McBride does not disappoint in his characterization. Despite the novella length, I was able to truly empathize with Avery and could virtually "feel" his hope, anxiety, and frustration right along with him.
Another trademark of McBride is his ability to utilize the atmosphere to an incredibly real extent. Through the midst of the rapidly increasing blizzard, the feeling of paranoia, terror, and breathtaking suspense heightens to an almost palpable extent. These atmospheric conditions that are a "natural" force are often enough to rival the amount of bloodshed, gore, and graphic scenes in a reader's mind!
I really enjoyed how this story expanded on questions raised in the original SNOWBLIND, without relying on that story to tell a tale all of its own.
Once again, McBride has demonstrated his mastery of the art of writing with a tightly woven storyline, complex characterization, and exemplary use of the weather to create the ideal atmosphere.
Highest recommendation!.
November 18, 2016
THEY COME AT NIGHT.
Fug.
Again?
Yep.
There’s a killing ground deep in the woods outside of Archuleta County where a highly intelligent and ruthless monster(s) hunts its prey using the terrain and the treetop canopies for camouflage. If you see it coming, it is too late - if you don’t see it coming, the end result is largely going to be the same. You are toast.
John Avery has been searching, wondering and obsessing for the past seven years over his girlfriend that disappeared while on a skiing trip in these very mountains years earlier. When a long lost video turns up, there are new clues to investigate and John has never been this close to answers before. Unfortunately for him and the small group that takes him into the unforgiving terrain, he may just find them.
This is a super solid 4+ stars on its own, but coupled with the first installment it is much more. Michael McBride has a knack for writing fast paced and truly engrossing tales and has never failed to thoroughly entertain. I highly recommend anything this guy puts out there.
*As a member of the DarkFuse NetGalley Readers Group, I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Fug.
Again?
Yep.
There’s a killing ground deep in the woods outside of Archuleta County where a highly intelligent and ruthless monster(s) hunts its prey using the terrain and the treetop canopies for camouflage. If you see it coming, it is too late - if you don’t see it coming, the end result is largely going to be the same. You are toast.
John Avery has been searching, wondering and obsessing for the past seven years over his girlfriend that disappeared while on a skiing trip in these very mountains years earlier. When a long lost video turns up, there are new clues to investigate and John has never been this close to answers before. Unfortunately for him and the small group that takes him into the unforgiving terrain, he may just find them.
This is a super solid 4+ stars on its own, but coupled with the first installment it is much more. Michael McBride has a knack for writing fast paced and truly engrossing tales and has never failed to thoroughly entertain. I highly recommend anything this guy puts out there.
*As a member of the DarkFuse NetGalley Readers Group, I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2020
I enjoyed this one a bit more, I think because it was a bit longer but the story arc was pretty much the same. A bunch of people go out in a blizzard to find another bunch of people (well bodies really) who disappeared ages ago. There is ever more blood this time around. It almost needs a book 3 though to finish off this story because I can’t imagine that this latest bunch of disappearances would go unnoticed so you’d think with helicopters and thermal imaging and heavy duty guns... just saying. Maybe I should take a point off though for killing the dog 😡 although it was an accident.
November 13, 2015
Michael McBride follows up on his 2012 DarkFuse Reader's Choice Award-winning title, SNOWBLIND, with this terrific follow-up.
In THE KILLING GROUNDS, we follow a group composed of the local Sheriff (who we saw a little bit of in the first book's closing chapter), a game warden, and a Search & Rescue officer on the hunt for a handful of missing skiers who disappeared seven years ago. The discovery of a buried video recorder reopens their cold case, and brings in Avery, the boyfriend of the missing Michelle, who also filmed the moments leading up to her disappearance.
Readers of McBride's earlier effort will have a much better understanding of what's happening, and what will occur, than the characters, and there's a sort of grim satisfaction in that knowledge. The only negative here is that as a sequel, THE KILLING GROUNDS lacks the mystery and sense of urgency brought out by the unknown that made the first book so freaking exciting. That said, you do kind of know what you're getting going into this one, and McBride serves up the expected requisite mayhem in spades.
Rather than trying to repeat the success of SNOWBLIND and deliver a virtual copy-and-paste sequel, McBride does change things up rather nicely. There's a solid procedural element at play in the book's opening moments, and the pacing is more methodical, giving us a slow-burning fuse before these new characters find themselves way in over their heads.
Sequels are rarely better than the first, and SNOWBLIND is a tough one to beat, that's for sure. SNOWBLIND II, though, is at least pretty darn close to being just as a good as the original. It also leaves me immediately wanting to see a third title in this series crop up at some point, which is as solid of an indicator of "Mission Accomplished" as I can think of.
In THE KILLING GROUNDS, we follow a group composed of the local Sheriff (who we saw a little bit of in the first book's closing chapter), a game warden, and a Search & Rescue officer on the hunt for a handful of missing skiers who disappeared seven years ago. The discovery of a buried video recorder reopens their cold case, and brings in Avery, the boyfriend of the missing Michelle, who also filmed the moments leading up to her disappearance.
Readers of McBride's earlier effort will have a much better understanding of what's happening, and what will occur, than the characters, and there's a sort of grim satisfaction in that knowledge. The only negative here is that as a sequel, THE KILLING GROUNDS lacks the mystery and sense of urgency brought out by the unknown that made the first book so freaking exciting. That said, you do kind of know what you're getting going into this one, and McBride serves up the expected requisite mayhem in spades.
Rather than trying to repeat the success of SNOWBLIND and deliver a virtual copy-and-paste sequel, McBride does change things up rather nicely. There's a solid procedural element at play in the book's opening moments, and the pacing is more methodical, giving us a slow-burning fuse before these new characters find themselves way in over their heads.
Sequels are rarely better than the first, and SNOWBLIND is a tough one to beat, that's for sure. SNOWBLIND II, though, is at least pretty darn close to being just as a good as the original. It also leaves me immediately wanting to see a third title in this series crop up at some point, which is as solid of an indicator of "Mission Accomplished" as I can think of.
November 29, 2015
Snowblind II: The Killing Grounds is the long-awaited (by me) sequel to DarkFuse’s 2012 Book of the Year, Snowblind.
As the second storm in a row passes through Wolf Creek Pass, philandering Len Badgett and his current fling are heading back to civilization after their cozy (ski-less) skiing trip in the mountains, when Len hits what appears to be a man standing in the middle of the snow-covered road…
Seven years ago John Avery’s girlfriend and four of her friends vanished without a trace during a ski trip in Colorado’s untamed Rocky Mountains. Although Avery has been searching for her since then, it isn’t until his video camera is unearthed that the Sheriff’s office agrees to take another look. With Avery in tow, Archuleta County’s Sheriff Wayne Dayton (the same Sheriff Dayton from Snowblind) attempts to track down the locations seen in the videotape and perhaps squeeze some more information (a confession?) out of Avery.
“THEY COME AT NIGHT”
When something starts attacking and killing their little search party, it quickly becomes apparent that whatever is hunting them is a lot larger and smarter than they ever could have imagined. As the storm rages on their chance of finding out what happened to Avery’s girlfriend diminishes as rapidly as their chance of survival.
Snowblind was excellent. In my opinion, SB2 is better! And for a limited time you can still pre-order a signed/limited hardcover edition from DarkFuse. I have already secured mine. Although this book can stand on its own, I highly recommend reading Snowblind so that you can get the full awesomeness of Michael McBride’s perfect little winter collection.
As the second storm in a row passes through Wolf Creek Pass, philandering Len Badgett and his current fling are heading back to civilization after their cozy (ski-less) skiing trip in the mountains, when Len hits what appears to be a man standing in the middle of the snow-covered road…
Seven years ago John Avery’s girlfriend and four of her friends vanished without a trace during a ski trip in Colorado’s untamed Rocky Mountains. Although Avery has been searching for her since then, it isn’t until his video camera is unearthed that the Sheriff’s office agrees to take another look. With Avery in tow, Archuleta County’s Sheriff Wayne Dayton (the same Sheriff Dayton from Snowblind) attempts to track down the locations seen in the videotape and perhaps squeeze some more information (a confession?) out of Avery.
“THEY COME AT NIGHT”
When something starts attacking and killing their little search party, it quickly becomes apparent that whatever is hunting them is a lot larger and smarter than they ever could have imagined. As the storm rages on their chance of finding out what happened to Avery’s girlfriend diminishes as rapidly as their chance of survival.
Snowblind was excellent. In my opinion, SB2 is better! And for a limited time you can still pre-order a signed/limited hardcover edition from DarkFuse. I have already secured mine. Although this book can stand on its own, I highly recommend reading Snowblind so that you can get the full awesomeness of Michael McBride’s perfect little winter collection.
November 30, 2015
Snowblind was one of my favorite novellas from Darkfuse when it came out in 2012 and the second installment adds depth to the story without being a direct sequel. However, I do recommend reading Snowblind first in order to get the full effect of this one.
A small group of people find themselves in a remote area in the Rockies that seems to be a ground zero for disappearances. They have all come for different reasons: one to search answers as to what happened to his girlfriend seven years ago, a game warden is trying to track something big and savage enough to tear apart big horn sheep and leave their bodies scattered in pieces over the landscape, and a sheriff, perhaps the most troubled of all, has a video tape and photos in his possession that may provide the answers to these questions. Answers that are perhaps worse than not knowing at all. Especially since it has grown dark, there are noises in the woods, and the answers to those questions come with the realization that you are in a killing ground from which there is no escape.
Even though this is a graphic and violent story, McBride has compassion for his characters, which makes the inevitability and savagery much more devastating.
Another great novella from Michael McBride and from Darkfuse.
A small group of people find themselves in a remote area in the Rockies that seems to be a ground zero for disappearances. They have all come for different reasons: one to search answers as to what happened to his girlfriend seven years ago, a game warden is trying to track something big and savage enough to tear apart big horn sheep and leave their bodies scattered in pieces over the landscape, and a sheriff, perhaps the most troubled of all, has a video tape and photos in his possession that may provide the answers to these questions. Answers that are perhaps worse than not knowing at all. Especially since it has grown dark, there are noises in the woods, and the answers to those questions come with the realization that you are in a killing ground from which there is no escape.
Even though this is a graphic and violent story, McBride has compassion for his characters, which makes the inevitability and savagery much more devastating.
Another great novella from Michael McBride and from Darkfuse.
April 1, 2020
Author Michael McBride is quickly becoming a creature horror writer I can really depend on, who never fails to provide tense, atmospheric, and well-paced, popcorn-ready tales of suspense that are easy to read and always satisfying. This is the sequel to his great novella Snowblind, a wintry monster tale that was also a great read. This sequel really works on it's own as it doesn't exactly follow-up on the events of the first book, but features all- new characters who get stuck in the remote Rockies during a search mission after they encounter something truly bloodthirsty in the snowed-in forest. This novella is short but somehow McBride finds the time to really develop compelling characters, especially the character of John Avery, who's desperate dedication to finding his missing girlfriend is potent, relatable, and sympathetic. This book is just as good as the first but can also be read as a total stand-alone.
November 2, 2015
Michael McBride is a very skilled writer and just as good a researcher, as almost everything I have read by him is rich in technical detail. His 2012 novella Snowblind is a wonderful example of both of these things, and remains my favourite work of his. So it was with no small sense of expectation that I approached this sequel to that outstanding effort.
Snowblind II: The Killing Grounds follows a small group of people who march into a remote area of the Rockies, looking for evidence of what befell a lost group of skiers some seven years earlier. Among their number are the Sheriff who featured at the end of Snowblind in a small cameo, the boyfriend of one of the missing skiers who has never given up searching for her, and a ranger looking for answers regarding what is killing the animals he is tracking.
The rest is vintage McBride, with tension that slowly ratchets up before there is an explosion of action and bloodshed. That said, the major gripe I have is it never felt like the ending was in any doubt, given the knowledge readers of the preceding novella have about what is waiting for the searchers and just how deadly said threat is.
Still, the destination is not always the most important part of the journey, and in this case, McBride manages to elicit some genuine warmth for at least one of his characters whose connection to his lost girlfriend is heart-rending.
Though not as engaging or as surprising as its predecessor, Snowblind II is a worthy sequel and one that fans of McBride should waste not a second getting their hands on.
3.5 Escalating Heartbeats for Snowblind II: The Killing Grounds.
Snowblind II: The Killing Grounds follows a small group of people who march into a remote area of the Rockies, looking for evidence of what befell a lost group of skiers some seven years earlier. Among their number are the Sheriff who featured at the end of Snowblind in a small cameo, the boyfriend of one of the missing skiers who has never given up searching for her, and a ranger looking for answers regarding what is killing the animals he is tracking.
The rest is vintage McBride, with tension that slowly ratchets up before there is an explosion of action and bloodshed. That said, the major gripe I have is it never felt like the ending was in any doubt, given the knowledge readers of the preceding novella have about what is waiting for the searchers and just how deadly said threat is.
Still, the destination is not always the most important part of the journey, and in this case, McBride manages to elicit some genuine warmth for at least one of his characters whose connection to his lost girlfriend is heart-rending.
Though not as engaging or as surprising as its predecessor, Snowblind II is a worthy sequel and one that fans of McBride should waste not a second getting their hands on.
3.5 Escalating Heartbeats for Snowblind II: The Killing Grounds.
November 21, 2015
This was the sixteenth book by MM I have read. The story centers around a group of people that went missing on a ski trip in Colorado. And after seven years of looking the boyfriend (John Avery) of one of the missing girls finally gets a break. The Sheriff Wayne Dayton contacts him. They found a video camera that helps them in the search for the lost ski party. This is when the story gets going, will stop here. Like all of MM books they are well written, good flow, good characters and great atmosphere. But just like most books and movies the first is usually the best. And for me I did like the first better then this one. I gave Snowblind 5 stars. I could only give Snowblind II 4 stars. Don't get me wrong, both books are very good reads. I just liked the first little more than the second, One stars worth.
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review
February 27, 2016
I love this type of horror story but I can't say what type it is without spoiling the first book. I love the cover art but you can't look at it without potentially spoiling the first book. So, no peeking. Go read Snowblind.
March 21, 2016
Shit hits the fan and you don't realize how scared you are until your dog jump on you out of the dark and you scream in terror. Snowblind 3?
February 6, 2016
A fantastic sequel to Snowblind by Michael Mcbride I think it important to have read Snowblind before the sequel Snowblind 2 “The Killing Grounds” where the fate of William Coburn is granted respectful closure by Sheriff Wayne Dayton “He thought about William Coburn, the man who’d walked into the Alferd Packer Grill with his friend’s head under his jacket.”At the start and conclusion of Snowblind 2 we meet Len Badgett who is cheating on his wife with the somewhat despicable and career minded Ashley Gale driving through the dangerous and snowbound Rockies in their SUV. I like the way that Michael McBride has used this illicit affair to bind this exciting and frightening horror story together and I am very pleased to note that Ashley is justly dealt with in the final pages by a very fair hand of fate :)The “star” or the giver of pain in The Killing Grounds is a creature that is similar or has evolved from Bigfoot a large hairy bipedal humanoid! Sheriff Wayne Dayton has sent out a search party to discover the whereabouts of Michelle Jenkins the long lost girlfriend of John Avery who disappeared some 7 years ago on an outing with friends. It soon becomes clear that Dayton is dealing with a very intelligent foe...”The way they hunted. As a pack. Like it was a sport. Using the corpses as decoys, to lure them closer, to flush them into the open. They were as cunning as man and as fearsome as primates”.... and the hunters are in reality the hunted as fate draws them towards the pine wooden ranch where so many in the past have encountered a grisly and bloody conclusion.....”The building materialized from the storm and he recognized it immediately. He’d seen that abandoned ranch house before. In fact, he had a picture of it folded up in his pocket...”The claustrophobic writing of Michael Mcbride in some ways reminds me of Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley and her battles with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred to as the Alien or indeed Predator where a group of mercenary soldiers discover they are being hunted by creature with superhuman strength and the ability to disappear into its surroundings. The creatures in The Killing Grounds retain such characteristics and more both the ability to kill and the skill to blend silently and expertly into their surroundings.As is only natural in a good horror story there is no happy conclusion and yet why should there be? We have a creature who has enjoyed relative survival, seclusion and contentment for many years only to have it suddenly interrupted by the unwanted incursion of man. A nice intelligent touch by the author perhaps portraying the creatures as protecting rather than destroying….for you the reader to decide! “How they survived. This was their killing grounds, and the reason no one lived long enough to betray the secret of their existence.”A fantastic sequel to Snowblind and a worthy 5 star recommendation!!
May 15, 2016
Snowblind was my first introduction to McBride’s work, an intro that was highly overdue. I’ve since come to devour pretty much anything he writes, and when I saw that a sequel to Snowblind was in order, I knew I had to jump in for the ride.
I was intrigued with how McBride would handle a sequel, considering the ending of the first novella (don’t worry, no spoilers here – though I definitely recommend reading that one first). I mean, this could have been Paranormal Activity 18, with the same plot and storyline, just different characters thrown into the lion’s den. Thankfully, McBride throws an immediate curve ball, and the story only ramps up from there.
The setup is simple: Sheriff Dayton (who we’ve had a run-in with before, though briefly, in the first novella) is brought in with the discovery of a video camera out in the Rockies with footage that depicts a young girl in her final moments before death (presumably). In the video she mentions her love for John Avery, her boyfriend who, incidentally, has spent the past 7 years searching for her after her mysterious disappearance with a ski party. He is asked to join them in their search for what really happened.
If you’ve read the first novella, it’s easy to imagine why they never returned.
I love that McBride departed from the setup of the first story while still bringing us back to the hallowed Killing Grounds, though with a different agenda. In the short format of a novella, there wasn’t much time to dive into the background of all of the characters, but I found the characters in the sequel much more approachable, with both external and internal conflict carrying the story along at a lightning pace.
The reveal of what’s really happening isn’t the focus here, like it was in the first, but we’re still confronted with impossible situations and some brave moves (from both the author and his characters). One moment near the end had me literally smiling as Avery makes a decision that you’re both cheering for and dreading at the same time. The nods to the first book were well done and added rather than detracted from the story.
I feel McBride has created a unique franchise here with this concept, one that can be mined for more great tales within the Snowblind-universe. I’d certainly sign up for another go-around.
If you haven’t yet broken into McBride’s work, he’s an author I highly recommend, and there’s no better place to start than with these two novellas. An easy 4 1/2 stars out of 5.
I was intrigued with how McBride would handle a sequel, considering the ending of the first novella (don’t worry, no spoilers here – though I definitely recommend reading that one first). I mean, this could have been Paranormal Activity 18, with the same plot and storyline, just different characters thrown into the lion’s den. Thankfully, McBride throws an immediate curve ball, and the story only ramps up from there.
The setup is simple: Sheriff Dayton (who we’ve had a run-in with before, though briefly, in the first novella) is brought in with the discovery of a video camera out in the Rockies with footage that depicts a young girl in her final moments before death (presumably). In the video she mentions her love for John Avery, her boyfriend who, incidentally, has spent the past 7 years searching for her after her mysterious disappearance with a ski party. He is asked to join them in their search for what really happened.
If you’ve read the first novella, it’s easy to imagine why they never returned.
I love that McBride departed from the setup of the first story while still bringing us back to the hallowed Killing Grounds, though with a different agenda. In the short format of a novella, there wasn’t much time to dive into the background of all of the characters, but I found the characters in the sequel much more approachable, with both external and internal conflict carrying the story along at a lightning pace.
The reveal of what’s really happening isn’t the focus here, like it was in the first, but we’re still confronted with impossible situations and some brave moves (from both the author and his characters). One moment near the end had me literally smiling as Avery makes a decision that you’re both cheering for and dreading at the same time. The nods to the first book were well done and added rather than detracted from the story.
I feel McBride has created a unique franchise here with this concept, one that can be mined for more great tales within the Snowblind-universe. I’d certainly sign up for another go-around.
If you haven’t yet broken into McBride’s work, he’s an author I highly recommend, and there’s no better place to start than with these two novellas. An easy 4 1/2 stars out of 5.
Want to read
June 13, 2016This is copy 67 of 100 signed and numbered copies, signed by Michael McBride.
January 31, 2025
I was a nervous wreck, sweatin n swearin' the whole time. I'm so upset for Keke he was such a good boy 😭
December 8, 2015
To me, this book had a somewhat different feel than its predecessor, Snowblind. Both were excellent, but the original did not have as much of a focus on the characters, it was pretty much a pulse-pounding thrill ride nearly from start to finish. As I mentioned in my review for that one, even the prose was lean, with short, choppy sentences, adding to the frantic feel.
This one had moments like that, but it also had a much more human side to it, getting into the head and emotions of John Avery, whose girlfriend went missing in the Rockies 7 years ago, before the events of the original work. You don't need to have read that one to enjoy this, but both are well worth your time!
Once again Mike McBride shows off his research skills, including once again a set of author's notes that I found interesting. Also as with the original, the door is left wide open for a sequel. Some may be bothered by the lack of resolution here, but I welcome more books set in this world.
Highly recommended, along with the original - I'd even recommend you read them both back to back like I did if you haven't read either. It is interesting to see both the similarities and the differences in style between the 2.
This one had moments like that, but it also had a much more human side to it, getting into the head and emotions of John Avery, whose girlfriend went missing in the Rockies 7 years ago, before the events of the original work. You don't need to have read that one to enjoy this, but both are well worth your time!
Once again Mike McBride shows off his research skills, including once again a set of author's notes that I found interesting. Also as with the original, the door is left wide open for a sequel. Some may be bothered by the lack of resolution here, but I welcome more books set in this world.
Highly recommended, along with the original - I'd even recommend you read them both back to back like I did if you haven't read either. It is interesting to see both the similarities and the differences in style between the 2.
October 29, 2015
Michael McBride follows up on his award winning and fan favorite novella Snowblind with this sequel. The "II" after the title may scare off new readers, so be assured that knowledge of the first Snowblind is not necessary to enjoy this one. The stories take place in the same universe and complement each other, but it isn't like one picks up right where the other left off.
As a previous reviewer mentioned, Snowblind II does a more effective job of creating empathy for the protagonist, thus making it a better read for me. There is an added element of Blair Witch style found footage mystery that makes this volume different from the first one as well. The framing device of the main story confused me at first, but I should have known to trust Mr. McBride's mastery of the craft because everything fell in to place perfectly.
Snowblind II is an excellent short horror story with survival elements, and I highly recommend it to anyone. 5 stars.
As a previous reviewer mentioned, Snowblind II does a more effective job of creating empathy for the protagonist, thus making it a better read for me. There is an added element of Blair Witch style found footage mystery that makes this volume different from the first one as well. The framing device of the main story confused me at first, but I should have known to trust Mr. McBride's mastery of the craft because everything fell in to place perfectly.
Snowblind II is an excellent short horror story with survival elements, and I highly recommend it to anyone. 5 stars.
January 8, 2016
Snowlind 2: The Killing Ground is the sequel to Snowblind. Seven years ago John Avery girlfriend went on a skiing trip with a bunch of her friends. The group of skiers were never heard from again. John had never given up that Michelle might still be alive, even after her parents thought she was dead. Sheriff Dayton contacted John Avery to tell him about the video camera that was found on the mountain range where the skiers vanished. Sheriff Dayton, John Avery a Game Warden and a Search and Rescue Officer will try and find some clues about the missing skiers. This group is going to search the area where the camera was found. On there way up the mountain it began to snow. I am going to stop here, because I do not want to give away the plot. The level of intensity just keeps on building and building until the final page. McBride does not let his reader down. This is another great novella from Michael McBride. I highly recommend this book!
September 1, 2016
Snowblind II...
I've had a sick child this week so I'm way behind & I have a number of reviews I want to wrap up before I start Halloween Bingo so I'm going to make this short & sweet...
If you read the first book, Snowblind, then this a definite must read. Both books are fantastic but I think I liked this one even more then the first. Perfect for a cold - weather night!
I've had a sick child this week so I'm way behind & I have a number of reviews I want to wrap up before I start Halloween Bingo so I'm going to make this short & sweet...
If you read the first book, Snowblind, then this a definite must read. Both books are fantastic but I think I liked this one even more then the first. Perfect for a cold - weather night!
August 9, 2020
John was unable to go on a ski trip with his friends and they, including his girlfriend, go missing without a trace. It is seven years later that a video camera is found that finally gives a clue to their location, footage that includes a run down cabin. For the Sheriff it brings back bad memories of an incident connected to the mountain that still haunts him and he is unaware that he is going to find out what happened first hand. Also with them is the conservation man who found the camera while searching for his missing sheep, and he is able to guide John, Sheriff Dayton, a tracking expert with her dog, and a tech expert to where he made the disturbing discovery. Instantly, things start to go badly wrong.
As the group try to come up with a plan, a blizzard is forming and night is drawing near. It isn't long before they realise that they are being hunted by whatever got the missing group and now it is going to be a matter of trying to survive the night and get off the mountain to find help. At first they are relieved to find the run down cabin from the photos but it will take them time to realise the significance of their discovery. Sheriff Dayton soon realises the connection to the incident that haunts him and he realises what kind of trouble they are really in. It comes down to the same dilemma that faced others before the. Stay and wait for the beasts to come or take the dangerous route out into the storm and try to get to help?
This sequel gets off to a slightly slower start than the other one, as it sets the scene for John's seven years of waiting, the tracking of the sheep and the guilt that the Sheriff is feeling over his own troubles. It is not slow, just slower to get to the action compared to the first book, and if you have read the first book, the anticipation is building as you wait for the beasts to appear. The book has the same level of gore as the first and again is mixed nicely with the building tension.
My bugbear is the ending which had me yelling in fury at the book! It was an excellent twist, one that I never saw coming, but it doesn't stop me from not wanting it to happen!
3.5 stars.
As the group try to come up with a plan, a blizzard is forming and night is drawing near. It isn't long before they realise that they are being hunted by whatever got the missing group and now it is going to be a matter of trying to survive the night and get off the mountain to find help. At first they are relieved to find the run down cabin from the photos but it will take them time to realise the significance of their discovery. Sheriff Dayton soon realises the connection to the incident that haunts him and he realises what kind of trouble they are really in. It comes down to the same dilemma that faced others before the. Stay and wait for the beasts to come or take the dangerous route out into the storm and try to get to help?
This sequel gets off to a slightly slower start than the other one, as it sets the scene for John's seven years of waiting, the tracking of the sheep and the guilt that the Sheriff is feeling over his own troubles. It is not slow, just slower to get to the action compared to the first book, and if you have read the first book, the anticipation is building as you wait for the beasts to appear. The book has the same level of gore as the first and again is mixed nicely with the building tension.
My bugbear is the ending which had me yelling in fury at the book! It was an excellent twist, one that I never saw coming, but it doesn't stop me from not wanting it to happen!
3.5 stars.
June 10, 2016
Great little sequel. Even though you know what's coming Michael McBride manages to build up the tension again. Excellent.
November 30, 2015
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Mike's writing so I had the typical high expectations for Snowblind 2. One thing I really liked was that even though this is listed as a sequel, one could read Snowblind 2 and get a great story without reading Snowblind first.
I would encourage all readers to read Snowblind first though to get the ultimate reading experience. Mike keeps the suspense and action coming throughout and there is no reveal until almost the very end. Snowblind 3, anyone?
I would encourage all readers to read Snowblind first though to get the ultimate reading experience. Mike keeps the suspense and action coming throughout and there is no reveal until almost the very end. Snowblind 3, anyone?
December 4, 2016
I liked this book better than the first; the emotional stake is much stronger, making for a more satisfying ending.
It's just..... the evil yeti thing. I've always thought of them as quite gentle and shy. Every time you read about accounts of sasquatches, they are always described as shy and gentle. (If the accounts are actually true...) Even so, this is a pretty good plot driven series. Fast paced, scary.
It's just..... the evil yeti thing. I've always thought of them as quite gentle and shy. Every time you read about accounts of sasquatches, they are always described as shy and gentle. (If the accounts are actually true...) Even so, this is a pretty good plot driven series. Fast paced, scary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2016
The excellent followup to Snowblind. An emergency triggering of a longhorn sheep's GPS tracker ultimately leads to the discovery of a video of a college student. She and her friends have been missing for 7 years. The resultant search party finds more than it bargained for. I highly recommend this page-turner.
April 12, 2020
Snowblind 2 the horror continues. Not the continuation of 1st part but a new tale to know. Gruesome, horrifying and full of tension...
The novella's main theme linked with
John Avery's girlfriend Michelle who had been missing for seven years while hiking in a ski trip with her friends and was never seen again. John loves her very dearly that he lost his past seven years only to search her girlfriend...
With the leading of Sheriff Dayton John alongside Seaver (desoite the fact that he was in a situation that he had no idea what cause the death of his ram), Thom, Crowell and that German shepherd dog Zeke. They began their journey and soon the circumstances around them changes dramatically. First they lost Crowell and by sensing the danger at the beginning Dayton sent Thom to get help but it was last they all seen of him. The time went faster and so the environment around them. But because of Zeke they in some way did gain some advantages in there but no for so long. There's something or say the kind of creature which are lurking in there and they could sense it. But it might be too late if they don't took the measure of the danger seriously. But yeah It's again as they could feel the situation getting out of their hands and specially it was the dog I must have to admit I feel terrible sorry for the pet. It was really heartbreaking to know the fate of that dog. I didn't see that coming...
Snowblind 3? Who knows!...
The novella's main theme linked with
John Avery's girlfriend Michelle who had been missing for seven years while hiking in a ski trip with her friends and was never seen again. John loves her very dearly that he lost his past seven years only to search her girlfriend...
With the leading of Sheriff Dayton John alongside Seaver (desoite the fact that he was in a situation that he had no idea what cause the death of his ram), Thom, Crowell and that German shepherd dog Zeke. They began their journey and soon the circumstances around them changes dramatically. First they lost Crowell and by sensing the danger at the beginning Dayton sent Thom to get help but it was last they all seen of him. The time went faster and so the environment around them. But because of Zeke they in some way did gain some advantages in there but no for so long. There's something or say the kind of creature which are lurking in there and they could sense it. But it might be too late if they don't took the measure of the danger seriously. But yeah It's again as they could feel the situation getting out of their hands and specially it was the dog I must have to admit I feel terrible sorry for the pet. It was really heartbreaking to know the fate of that dog. I didn't see that coming...
Snowblind 3? Who knows!...
January 22, 2025
I loved Snowblind so it was an easy decision to read the second book, Killing Grounds. First off, take a gander and the freakin’ cover. I love it.
Second. It’s a found footage story. John missed the ski trip and his buddies and girlfriend disappear. Seven years later the footage is discovered and points him in a direction to search for them.
Third. There are some interesting characters helping John in his search, including a tracker and her dog, a technician, and Sheriff Dayton. The footage was found at a cabin and the Sheriff has a connection with it. Something that occurred in the past.
Then things start to really ramp up. A snowstorm is on the way. They’re miles from help. And whatever caused the group’s disappearance seven years ago is now hunting them. Curious what it is. Take a look at the cover again. Bloody mayhem is fast approaching and I loved every word of this story.
Second. It’s a found footage story. John missed the ski trip and his buddies and girlfriend disappear. Seven years later the footage is discovered and points him in a direction to search for them.
Third. There are some interesting characters helping John in his search, including a tracker and her dog, a technician, and Sheriff Dayton. The footage was found at a cabin and the Sheriff has a connection with it. Something that occurred in the past.
Then things start to really ramp up. A snowstorm is on the way. They’re miles from help. And whatever caused the group’s disappearance seven years ago is now hunting them. Curious what it is. Take a look at the cover again. Bloody mayhem is fast approaching and I loved every word of this story.
October 6, 2019
a great read, good fast-paced follow-up to its predecessor. in some places it tends to feel a bit repetitive, but when there's only one way it can really end, that's to be expected; stories like this are character-driven, anyway, and they're decent enough, if not vaguely stereotypical. avery's death was a little emotional because of its setup. a part three would be intriguing, especially so if there was a perspective from the bigfoot included; i really want to know more about them. they're obviously sentient and smart, but being told and shown are two separate things.
August 17, 2017
Like its predecessor, this sequel is a mad dash for the finish line. Deep breath, ready, go!
I really didn't think Snowblind II could be as good as its namesake, but it was. Despite the fact that I knew (from book I) who/what was doing the killing, the suspense was just as keen, the pace just as frenzied, and the fear every bit as palpable as in the first book.
I don't know how he continues to do it, but McBride has penned another winner.
Read book 1 first.
I really didn't think Snowblind II could be as good as its namesake, but it was. Despite the fact that I knew (from book I) who/what was doing the killing, the suspense was just as keen, the pace just as frenzied, and the fear every bit as palpable as in the first book.
I don't know how he continues to do it, but McBride has penned another winner.
Read book 1 first.
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