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Closer
Maplewood, Vermont is a picturesque town filled with unique shops, unique homes, and a quaint familiarity all centered around a lake with an unusual history.
Legends, old as well as Urban, float around like the mist that hovers above the lake at break of dawn.
But they're just stories, right?
Hayden Moore's life was destroyed when his husband, Malcolm, was murdered. Giving up his job as an assistant district attorney in Boston, Hayden moved to the little burg of Maplewood to recover.
A new life.
A fresh start.
However, something underneath the water is stirring. Something rotten. A deadly secret wakes underneath the black waters of Lake Veronica so disturbing it haunts the nightmares of the local residents.
It's coming closer...
Legends, old as well as Urban, float around like the mist that hovers above the lake at break of dawn.
But they're just stories, right?
Hayden Moore's life was destroyed when his husband, Malcolm, was murdered. Giving up his job as an assistant district attorney in Boston, Hayden moved to the little burg of Maplewood to recover.
A new life.
A fresh start.
However, something underneath the water is stirring. Something rotten. A deadly secret wakes underneath the black waters of Lake Veronica so disturbing it haunts the nightmares of the local residents.
It's coming closer...
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
F.E. Feeley Jr.
19 books256 followersNoted author, poet, producer, and all-around badass, F.E. Feeley Jr. is one of the most important queer voices writing today. He lives in the Deep South with his fur babies, campaigning for social justice, and occasionally howling at the moon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 17, 2018
Now Available on Audible. Narrated by: Vance Bastian
https://www.audible.com/pd/Closer-Aud...
https://www.audible.com/pd/Closer-Aud...
March 27, 2018
Holy cow, this novel was freaking amazing! A perfect combination of horror, romance, and survival all rolled into a fast-paced, terrifying story that kept me up well into the night, reading with every light blazing in the house. F.E. Feeley Jr. has released a spellbinding story in his latest book, Closer. It documents the rise of a well-known folk tale that surrounds the small community of Maplewood, Vermont. A rather sleepy place that owes its livelihood to the tourism it attracts from the skiing set during the winter months.
One of the newer residents, Hayden Moore, has just bought a beautiful home that sits on Lake Veronica. Hayden is trying to start fresh, newly retired from the DA’s office in Boston after his husband was shot and killed by a mob family seeking revenge. The death pushed Hayden over the edge, and now he has come to the remote village to try and put his life back together. When he hires a local contractor to do some minor repairs to his new home, he never imagines that he will be drawn to the man so immediately.
Tommy Law is a bit of an outcast in his hometown due to a colorful and dangerous past. However, a stint in Special Forces and an uncanny knack for keeping out of harm’s way has given the ex-Army Ranger a pretty good ability to take care of himself. When he meets Hayden Moore, he realizes just what has been missing from every other relationship he’s attempted to have. Despite the fact that Tommy has never given much thought to his sexuality, it is a pleasant surprise when he realizes just how attracted he is to Hayden and how much he wants to take care of the man who is emotionally fragile yet stronger than he realizes.
As the two men grow closer, the thing that haunts the lake grows stronger. It will take everything the small community has to fight the evil that is rising from Lake Veronica. One grisly murder after another brings help from the unlikeliest of places, and strangers who almost immediately become involved with long standing members of the small town. Together with Tommy and Hayden, this ragtag team will be in the fight for their lives before it’s all over.
This is an admittedly shallow synopsis of a complex novel. While there are multiple players in this story, there was never a time when I was confused or unsure of who was who and with each new layer revealed, I was pulled deeper into the story. This was a horror story done to perfection. Each creepy murder gave you one more clue to the depth of perversion that lived beneath the lake and the lengths the evil would go to in order to regain its power. With almost mystical ties to the ancient religion of the druid, the story bounced back and forth between those who fought to contain and destroy the evil, those who were chained to the demon, and those who were sent to warn those who would lead the fight.
With chilling clarity, the author unwrapped the secret of what exactly lived in the lake and what its ultimate goal actually was. Closer had so many things going for it. Characters such as Tommy and Hayden and Paul and Michelle, to name a few, who capture your heart and have you rooting for them right from the start, grounded the story in realism even as the mystical took center stage. With a story reminiscent of the likes of Stephen King, the horror that unfolds as the novel progressed grips you in it’s fearful grasp and kept this reviewer up at night reading with one eye continually glancing into darkened corners and an ear attuned for any bump in the night. It was just so good.
Closer is a captivating horror story that begins with a bang and never lets up till the final chapter. Woven through the mysterious nightmare the novel imparts is a solid core of love and bravery found in a small group of people who stand against the tide despite the danger. It is a triumphant story of love and its ability to conquer the darkest evil. I highly recommend it to you.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
One of the newer residents, Hayden Moore, has just bought a beautiful home that sits on Lake Veronica. Hayden is trying to start fresh, newly retired from the DA’s office in Boston after his husband was shot and killed by a mob family seeking revenge. The death pushed Hayden over the edge, and now he has come to the remote village to try and put his life back together. When he hires a local contractor to do some minor repairs to his new home, he never imagines that he will be drawn to the man so immediately.
Tommy Law is a bit of an outcast in his hometown due to a colorful and dangerous past. However, a stint in Special Forces and an uncanny knack for keeping out of harm’s way has given the ex-Army Ranger a pretty good ability to take care of himself. When he meets Hayden Moore, he realizes just what has been missing from every other relationship he’s attempted to have. Despite the fact that Tommy has never given much thought to his sexuality, it is a pleasant surprise when he realizes just how attracted he is to Hayden and how much he wants to take care of the man who is emotionally fragile yet stronger than he realizes.
As the two men grow closer, the thing that haunts the lake grows stronger. It will take everything the small community has to fight the evil that is rising from Lake Veronica. One grisly murder after another brings help from the unlikeliest of places, and strangers who almost immediately become involved with long standing members of the small town. Together with Tommy and Hayden, this ragtag team will be in the fight for their lives before it’s all over.
This is an admittedly shallow synopsis of a complex novel. While there are multiple players in this story, there was never a time when I was confused or unsure of who was who and with each new layer revealed, I was pulled deeper into the story. This was a horror story done to perfection. Each creepy murder gave you one more clue to the depth of perversion that lived beneath the lake and the lengths the evil would go to in order to regain its power. With almost mystical ties to the ancient religion of the druid, the story bounced back and forth between those who fought to contain and destroy the evil, those who were chained to the demon, and those who were sent to warn those who would lead the fight.
With chilling clarity, the author unwrapped the secret of what exactly lived in the lake and what its ultimate goal actually was. Closer had so many things going for it. Characters such as Tommy and Hayden and Paul and Michelle, to name a few, who capture your heart and have you rooting for them right from the start, grounded the story in realism even as the mystical took center stage. With a story reminiscent of the likes of Stephen King, the horror that unfolds as the novel progressed grips you in it’s fearful grasp and kept this reviewer up at night reading with one eye continually glancing into darkened corners and an ear attuned for any bump in the night. It was just so good.
Closer is a captivating horror story that begins with a bang and never lets up till the final chapter. Woven through the mysterious nightmare the novel imparts is a solid core of love and bravery found in a small group of people who stand against the tide despite the danger. It is a triumphant story of love and its ability to conquer the darkest evil. I highly recommend it to you.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
March 9, 2018
Closer
By F.E. Feeley, Jr.
Beaten Track Press, 2018
Five stars
“The opposite of love is indifference, and hatred is the perversion of love.”
A picturesque town, an ancient curse, the power of love to heal and to destroy. These are the classic elements that F.E. Feeley Jr. weaves together into this complex ghost story. Maplewood, Vermont, is an archetypal New England town, whose violent destruction and rebirth has all but been forgotten by its citizens. Summer visitors, leaf-peepers, and winter skiers are the mainstay of Maplewood’s economy, and nobody remembers or cares about the centuries-old diaries shuttered away in the town library.
Hayden Moore comes to Maplewood seeking solace and forgetting. A hotshot young Boston prosecutor who lost his husband to violence, Hayden hopes he’ll find peace in the Vermont backwoods. To help him renovate the beautiful, long-empty house on the shore of Lake Veronica, Hayden hires Tommy Law, ex GI and former town bad boy. Tommy, always a loner, discovers that this beautiful, melancholy city man stirs something in him that he has never recognized before. Indeed, unbeknownst to anyone in town, Hayden’s arrival in Maplewood stirs up something deeper and more sinister in the unexplored waters of Lake Veronica.
What makes this book such a pleasure to read is that the two men at its center are not the only important players, not the only love story. Hayden and Tommy are the pivotal pair in the story—its triggers and, ultimately, its moral center—but there are other people around them who play critical roles, without whom the story would have far less weight. From Suzie, the outgoing manager of the local diner, the Maple Leaf, to Paul, the lonely, nerdy geologist, the cast of characters are all lovingly portrayed as living members of this harrowing tale of violence and redemption. Hayden, the outsider, is not alone; Amanda and Terri, his best friend and former boss, respectively, are brought into the narrative to underscore Hayden’s worth and to remind us of the life he lived and lost in the name of duty.
I particularly like the way Feeley deals with religion in “Closer.” Christianity is both the bogeyman and an ultimate source of good, as the author turns a gimlet eye to both the power of faith and its abuse, whether intentional or accidental. Feeley is something of a cynic in regard to religion and its misuse to control people; but he understands the power and healing that faith can bring. From the very start, the pre-Christian beliefs of Celtic Druidism swirl through the story, providing pointed opportunities to skewer the weaknesses as well as the strengths of any belief system.
F.E. Feeley Jr. brings a distinctively personal passion to his writing. He has a big heart and is not unfamiliar with suffering. He is a soldier, but he believes in magic. I suspect it is his personal duality that makes his story-telling so powerful. “Closer” seems to be the beginning of a series. I look forward to it.
By F.E. Feeley, Jr.
Beaten Track Press, 2018
Five stars
“The opposite of love is indifference, and hatred is the perversion of love.”
A picturesque town, an ancient curse, the power of love to heal and to destroy. These are the classic elements that F.E. Feeley Jr. weaves together into this complex ghost story. Maplewood, Vermont, is an archetypal New England town, whose violent destruction and rebirth has all but been forgotten by its citizens. Summer visitors, leaf-peepers, and winter skiers are the mainstay of Maplewood’s economy, and nobody remembers or cares about the centuries-old diaries shuttered away in the town library.
Hayden Moore comes to Maplewood seeking solace and forgetting. A hotshot young Boston prosecutor who lost his husband to violence, Hayden hopes he’ll find peace in the Vermont backwoods. To help him renovate the beautiful, long-empty house on the shore of Lake Veronica, Hayden hires Tommy Law, ex GI and former town bad boy. Tommy, always a loner, discovers that this beautiful, melancholy city man stirs something in him that he has never recognized before. Indeed, unbeknownst to anyone in town, Hayden’s arrival in Maplewood stirs up something deeper and more sinister in the unexplored waters of Lake Veronica.
What makes this book such a pleasure to read is that the two men at its center are not the only important players, not the only love story. Hayden and Tommy are the pivotal pair in the story—its triggers and, ultimately, its moral center—but there are other people around them who play critical roles, without whom the story would have far less weight. From Suzie, the outgoing manager of the local diner, the Maple Leaf, to Paul, the lonely, nerdy geologist, the cast of characters are all lovingly portrayed as living members of this harrowing tale of violence and redemption. Hayden, the outsider, is not alone; Amanda and Terri, his best friend and former boss, respectively, are brought into the narrative to underscore Hayden’s worth and to remind us of the life he lived and lost in the name of duty.
I particularly like the way Feeley deals with religion in “Closer.” Christianity is both the bogeyman and an ultimate source of good, as the author turns a gimlet eye to both the power of faith and its abuse, whether intentional or accidental. Feeley is something of a cynic in regard to religion and its misuse to control people; but he understands the power and healing that faith can bring. From the very start, the pre-Christian beliefs of Celtic Druidism swirl through the story, providing pointed opportunities to skewer the weaknesses as well as the strengths of any belief system.
F.E. Feeley Jr. brings a distinctively personal passion to his writing. He has a big heart and is not unfamiliar with suffering. He is a soldier, but he believes in magic. I suspect it is his personal duality that makes his story-telling so powerful. “Closer” seems to be the beginning of a series. I look forward to it.
June 8, 2018
Feeley's CLOSER is one of the best ghost stories I've read in a long time. Spooky, well-written, nicely plotted. Raised the little hairs on the back of my neck more than once. If you like scary tales, this should be right up your alley.
March 1, 2018
Editor's Review:
March 1st, 2018 sees the release of Closer - a spectacular supernatural thriller from F.E. Feeley Jr. - not his first novel by a long shot, but the first of (hopefully) many published with Beaten Track.
The setting of the story is Maplewood, a town in Vermont - rural, picturesque, with woods, a lake and lots of touristy things to do. It's a vacation spot, and seemingly the perfect place for Hayden (our sort-of protagonist) to relocate after his husband's murder.
I say 'sort-of' protagonist because there is a small band of characters at the heart of this story, but Hayden gets a little more on-page time for reasons that become apparent as events unfold.
There's also some romance in store - what the author calls 'romance with a small r', and I agree with that. The relationships that bud are not limited to romance; friendships feature strongly, as does family, and some of the secondary characters are a real delight (Mr. and Mrs. Hatch, for instance).
The richly described setting and often flawed characters create a stunning backdrop to the supernatural element, and we, the readers, are treated to insights that the characters do not yet have. Indeed, the novel begins with the retelling of the events from the distant past, some of which are known to the people of Maplewood.
This is the beauty of the omniscient narrator; they share details with the reader, drawing us into the inner circle. It works especially well in thrillers, putting us in a state of suspense, waiting for the 'jump scare', while the character remains blissfully unaware. I must confess, I found myself muttering 'Don't do it! Don't go in there!' a good few times while editing.
That said, it would be a pretty naff story if we knew everything from the beginning, so readers can expect a few twists and turns on the journey - a happy ending for many in relationship terms, a solid conclusion to the main arc, and an intriguing hook for the next novel.
Closer by F.E. Feeley Jr. is available in paperback and ebook formats from Beaten Track Publishing and all the usual places.
March 1st, 2018 sees the release of Closer - a spectacular supernatural thriller from F.E. Feeley Jr. - not his first novel by a long shot, but the first of (hopefully) many published with Beaten Track.
The setting of the story is Maplewood, a town in Vermont - rural, picturesque, with woods, a lake and lots of touristy things to do. It's a vacation spot, and seemingly the perfect place for Hayden (our sort-of protagonist) to relocate after his husband's murder.
I say 'sort-of' protagonist because there is a small band of characters at the heart of this story, but Hayden gets a little more on-page time for reasons that become apparent as events unfold.
There's also some romance in store - what the author calls 'romance with a small r', and I agree with that. The relationships that bud are not limited to romance; friendships feature strongly, as does family, and some of the secondary characters are a real delight (Mr. and Mrs. Hatch, for instance).
The richly described setting and often flawed characters create a stunning backdrop to the supernatural element, and we, the readers, are treated to insights that the characters do not yet have. Indeed, the novel begins with the retelling of the events from the distant past, some of which are known to the people of Maplewood.
This is the beauty of the omniscient narrator; they share details with the reader, drawing us into the inner circle. It works especially well in thrillers, putting us in a state of suspense, waiting for the 'jump scare', while the character remains blissfully unaware. I must confess, I found myself muttering 'Don't do it! Don't go in there!' a good few times while editing.
That said, it would be a pretty naff story if we knew everything from the beginning, so readers can expect a few twists and turns on the journey - a happy ending for many in relationship terms, a solid conclusion to the main arc, and an intriguing hook for the next novel.
Closer by F.E. Feeley Jr. is available in paperback and ebook formats from Beaten Track Publishing and all the usual places.
February 27, 2018
A really dark paranormal mystery.
Maplewood has fallen under a curse and it seems to have latched on to Hayden Monroe, a widower, who has recently moved into the town.
There is so much happening which drags you deep into the maelstrom of events and just when you think events must be drawing to a conclusion, you are sent another thunderbolt sending you hurtling towards further disaster. It is unclear right until the very end who will survive and who will be lost.
An incredibly well devised page turner.
Maplewood has fallen under a curse and it seems to have latched on to Hayden Monroe, a widower, who has recently moved into the town.
There is so much happening which drags you deep into the maelstrom of events and just when you think events must be drawing to a conclusion, you are sent another thunderbolt sending you hurtling towards further disaster. It is unclear right until the very end who will survive and who will be lost.
An incredibly well devised page turner.
May 2, 2018
It started with an old wives tale of doomed love, a curse over a town. A woman's dying revenge on those who dared to fall in love.
A typical small town, where people raised families and lived quiet lives. Gossip was received and given at the post office. A malicious post mistress delighting in the power she wields.
Into this idyllic setting comes Hayden, buying a home in a new place, trying to recover from the murder of his husband. He hires Tommy to do some handiwork. Finding in him a friend.
A malevolent force is threatening Maplewood. People are drowning in the lake and on land. Dreams are invading everyone's sleep, seeping into their waking hours. A ghostly apparition seen by many, unexplainable.
Hayden and Tommy begin an exploration towards each other amidst the evil surrounding them. Helping a diverse group of people to figure out what it is that is haunting the town.
It was hard to review this book without leaving spoilers. It's a paranormal, love story, with emphasis on the love. Hayden and Tommy are wounded souls, making a connection that is unexpected for both of them. If you like your love stories with a supernatural element, you should like this one. It does appear to be the first in a series.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads
A typical small town, where people raised families and lived quiet lives. Gossip was received and given at the post office. A malicious post mistress delighting in the power she wields.
Into this idyllic setting comes Hayden, buying a home in a new place, trying to recover from the murder of his husband. He hires Tommy to do some handiwork. Finding in him a friend.
A malevolent force is threatening Maplewood. People are drowning in the lake and on land. Dreams are invading everyone's sleep, seeping into their waking hours. A ghostly apparition seen by many, unexplainable.
Hayden and Tommy begin an exploration towards each other amidst the evil surrounding them. Helping a diverse group of people to figure out what it is that is haunting the town.
It was hard to review this book without leaving spoilers. It's a paranormal, love story, with emphasis on the love. Hayden and Tommy are wounded souls, making a connection that is unexpected for both of them. If you like your love stories with a supernatural element, you should like this one. It does appear to be the first in a series.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads
May 22, 2018
I picked up this book because it was advertized as a fantastic thriller with a gay, fourty-something couple at its helm and it received fairly good ratings here from respected reviewers. Indeed, Closer was not shabby (there are things I enjoyed, especially the ensemble cast of heroes, and others that let me down, mainly in matters of literary technique), yet it lags far behind the most acclaimed novels in this genre, the formula of which it tries too hard to replicate with hardly any tweaking. Mr Feeley is no Peter Straub or Graham Masterton of James Herbert, none of whom would ever have given away so much of their overall plot by prefixing the novel with an explanatory flashback; what is the point of identifying the evil force at work and telling in quite graphical details what happened to create it, at the outset no less? Instead of building the anguish in the first part of the book by progressively disseminating clues as to what is to happen, such a beginning forcibly implants into the reader's mind a morass of tired tropes (the Other who seduces the village girl, the bigoted, hateful father who has him killed, the sweet girl who becomes enraged and bargains her soul with a demon so that her whammy may fell on the evil-doers) that is far less imagination-catching than sheer uncertainty. Worse, this incipit has one inclined to surmise that the creepy clergyman who attempted to break up his daughter and the gypsy will play a significant part, as well as the girl herself, in the climax of the story - so much for any element of surprise! My other, informed guess that said gypsy would play a not unimportant part in due time also turned out to be correct; I was even right in speculating that he would be a sort of archetypal opposite to the demon, magic-wise. Has Mr Feeley ever heard about the importance of misdirection? Nor was I impressed at his handling of the supernatural atmosphere; instead of creating a climate of malevolence and an ambience in which the tension rises slowly, to great effect, he unloads on his characters the care of declaring how much things are weird or how such and such an occurrence bodes ill. I would by far have preferred concrete, and if possible lyrical, descriptions of the various aspects by which the lake is creepy. On the other hand, the character building is strong, if sparse (here the constraints of working with huit or nine primary heroes break out most conspicuously), the descriptive and evocative values do not disappoint (in a rather bland, not very visual fashion, though; this sure is not Shrine or The Ghosts of Sleath by Herbert, two of my absolute references for the build up of ghostly horror), and the final confrontation between the platoon of heroes and the demon first at the bottom of the lake then all around and over its furious waters, has a breathless quality to it that impressed me, despite the bad taste of most of its pyrotechnics. Unfortunately, this is not a book that will stay long with me - it simply lacks the evocative power and unforgettable imagery of truly great horror novels.
June 8, 2018
Background: Detroit born F.E. Feeley Jr is an author of multiple novels and a large amount of poetry. He is married to the love of his life, John, has a German Shepherd, and is an avid gamer
Closer follows Hayden Moore who, after the murder of his husband Malcolm, moves to a community in Maplewood, Vermont. He wants a fresh start, and a chance to work through his loss, but things are not quite as quiet and tranquil as they seem. Urban legends circulate the town, and something nightmarish is just around the corner.
The Good: The first thing that I noticed when reading this book was how smooth the writing is. The author has a really accessible style that goes a long way towards not only making the book easy to follow along with, but also draw you in. It never feels stilted, it just flows.
That would all be for nought if the story wasn’t up to much though. Thankfully, that isn’t the case here. Closer tells a thoroughly engrossing tale that does a great job of balancing horror and romance in a way that feels realistic, even amidst the paranormal events. I think that part of that really comes down how well paced the book is. A great deal of care has clearly been taken in ensuring that things don’t escalate too quickly, and that the impending threat is given time to grow as we learn different things about what is actually going on. Yes, death happens early on, but it’s entirely possible to start with a bang and let the cloud grow from that rather than treat the story like a series of hard shots. That what happens here. We start at a point and it grows from there.
The supernatural aspects in particular really benefit from this approach, I think. We are never in doubt as to how dangerous what’s happening is, but at the same time, there’s a lot more to what’ going on than a simple battle of good versus evil.
The romance side of the story is dealt with well too. You really feel for Hayden, and you want to see him recover. Meanwhile, his love interest Tommy is flawed in the best sort of way. He has a shady past that doesn’t feel convoluted, and has clearly grown from his wilder days in his youth, yet the shadow of his previous actions still haunt him. There’s a sweetness to how he and Hayden interact, and by the end of the book, you do feel like they’re a good couple. Outside out main pair though, the cast is littered with strong characters that really help ground the story and offer insights to the world unfolding on the pages.
By the end of the book, we know that there will also be a sequel. For those that dislike cliff hangers though, we don’t get a feel of that here. If anything, the main story that was being told in the book feels like it had a satisfactory conclusion, and the sequel will likely add to the lore rather than fill in non-existent gaps.
The Bad: As always, this is highly subjective. When it comes to romance, I prefer a slower build over either multiple books or a longer timeframe. By the end of closer, Haydon and Tommy are in love. As I’ve said before, there’s nothing overtly wrong with love-at-first-sight or whirlwind romances, it’s just that neither are my personal preference. What we have here is well written, and the speed of the relationship doesn’t detract from the story for me despite being outside my own preferences, which should be a good sign.
Final View: Closer gives us a wonderful mix of horror and romance, all presented in a beautifully written style. If you like your paranormal stories with a touch of LGBT romance and a decent backstory, this one is for you.
Final Score: 4.5 / 5
Closer follows Hayden Moore who, after the murder of his husband Malcolm, moves to a community in Maplewood, Vermont. He wants a fresh start, and a chance to work through his loss, but things are not quite as quiet and tranquil as they seem. Urban legends circulate the town, and something nightmarish is just around the corner.
The Good: The first thing that I noticed when reading this book was how smooth the writing is. The author has a really accessible style that goes a long way towards not only making the book easy to follow along with, but also draw you in. It never feels stilted, it just flows.
That would all be for nought if the story wasn’t up to much though. Thankfully, that isn’t the case here. Closer tells a thoroughly engrossing tale that does a great job of balancing horror and romance in a way that feels realistic, even amidst the paranormal events. I think that part of that really comes down how well paced the book is. A great deal of care has clearly been taken in ensuring that things don’t escalate too quickly, and that the impending threat is given time to grow as we learn different things about what is actually going on. Yes, death happens early on, but it’s entirely possible to start with a bang and let the cloud grow from that rather than treat the story like a series of hard shots. That what happens here. We start at a point and it grows from there.
The supernatural aspects in particular really benefit from this approach, I think. We are never in doubt as to how dangerous what’s happening is, but at the same time, there’s a lot more to what’ going on than a simple battle of good versus evil.
The romance side of the story is dealt with well too. You really feel for Hayden, and you want to see him recover. Meanwhile, his love interest Tommy is flawed in the best sort of way. He has a shady past that doesn’t feel convoluted, and has clearly grown from his wilder days in his youth, yet the shadow of his previous actions still haunt him. There’s a sweetness to how he and Hayden interact, and by the end of the book, you do feel like they’re a good couple. Outside out main pair though, the cast is littered with strong characters that really help ground the story and offer insights to the world unfolding on the pages.
By the end of the book, we know that there will also be a sequel. For those that dislike cliff hangers though, we don’t get a feel of that here. If anything, the main story that was being told in the book feels like it had a satisfactory conclusion, and the sequel will likely add to the lore rather than fill in non-existent gaps.
The Bad: As always, this is highly subjective. When it comes to romance, I prefer a slower build over either multiple books or a longer timeframe. By the end of closer, Haydon and Tommy are in love. As I’ve said before, there’s nothing overtly wrong with love-at-first-sight or whirlwind romances, it’s just that neither are my personal preference. What we have here is well written, and the speed of the relationship doesn’t detract from the story for me despite being outside my own preferences, which should be a good sign.
Final View: Closer gives us a wonderful mix of horror and romance, all presented in a beautifully written style. If you like your paranormal stories with a touch of LGBT romance and a decent backstory, this one is for you.
Final Score: 4.5 / 5
March 9, 2018
Alors alors… alors comme je vous le disais en introduction, il ne s’agit pas là d’une romance et je dois avouer que dès les premières pages, j’ai été prise par l’ambiance de ce roman. Et j’ai adoré. C’était fort, dérangeant, prenant, intriguant, palpitant.. bref j’ai adoré; Ça faisait longtemps que je n’avais pas lu ce genre de roman et je dois avouer que j’ai vraiment beaucoup aimé. J’avais l’impression de lire un Stephen King ou un roman de science fiction (je ne parle pas ici de l’écriture mais de l’ambiance et des codes du genre qu’on retrouve dans ce roman)
J’ai adoré retrouver ces fameux codes du genre. Tout d’abord l’ambiance, mystérieuse et à la limite du malsain qui se dégage de la ville et des « méchants ». J’ai adoré détester les « méchants » et voir la noirceur qui se dégageait de la malédiction et de ces personnages.
Ensuite, ce qui est pour moi un fondamental dans ce genre de roman est l’effet groupe. On va découvrir et suivre un petit groupe de personnages plus qu’un « couple » de personnage comme dans les romances. Et c’est quelque chose que j’adore. J’ai adoré découvrir ces personnages à tour de rôle, leur passé, leurs forces et leurs faiblesses. J’ai aimé voir les rapprochements entre les personnages, les liens se créer si fort alors que tout se déroule sur quelques jours. J’ai aimé m’attacher à chacun d’entre eux et j’ai adoré les suivre tout au long de leur aventure.
J’ai également aimer le coté « enquête » qui est un passage obligé dans ce genre de roman et j’ai aimé suivre les personnages tout au long de leurs découvertes. Le contexte, la malédiction l’intrigue m’ont semblé cohérents et très bien amenés et j’ai adoré le contexte développé par l’auteur.
J’avoue cependant que le fait que les personnages « principaux » dans ce petit groupe soit un couple gay a beaucoup aidé vu que ces derniers temps je ne lis plus ou presque plus de MF. J’ai beaucoup aimé les personnages de Hayden et de Tommy. J’ai adoré leur relation et je me suis vraiment attachée à eux. Et j’avoue que les derniers mots , « à suivre » m’a donné un énorme sourire.
Je ne connaissais pas du tout cet auteur et je me suis un peu plus penchée sur ses écrits et j’avoue que vais surement y regarder de plus prêt. Le changement de genre par rapport à la romance que je lis plus majoritairement était vraiment rafraichissant et j’ai énormément aimé la plume de l’auteur. Je pense fortement vous en reparler rapidement.
J’ai adoré retrouver ces fameux codes du genre. Tout d’abord l’ambiance, mystérieuse et à la limite du malsain qui se dégage de la ville et des « méchants ». J’ai adoré détester les « méchants » et voir la noirceur qui se dégageait de la malédiction et de ces personnages.
Ensuite, ce qui est pour moi un fondamental dans ce genre de roman est l’effet groupe. On va découvrir et suivre un petit groupe de personnages plus qu’un « couple » de personnage comme dans les romances. Et c’est quelque chose que j’adore. J’ai adoré découvrir ces personnages à tour de rôle, leur passé, leurs forces et leurs faiblesses. J’ai aimé voir les rapprochements entre les personnages, les liens se créer si fort alors que tout se déroule sur quelques jours. J’ai aimé m’attacher à chacun d’entre eux et j’ai adoré les suivre tout au long de leur aventure.
J’ai également aimer le coté « enquête » qui est un passage obligé dans ce genre de roman et j’ai aimé suivre les personnages tout au long de leurs découvertes. Le contexte, la malédiction l’intrigue m’ont semblé cohérents et très bien amenés et j’ai adoré le contexte développé par l’auteur.
J’avoue cependant que le fait que les personnages « principaux » dans ce petit groupe soit un couple gay a beaucoup aidé vu que ces derniers temps je ne lis plus ou presque plus de MF. J’ai beaucoup aimé les personnages de Hayden et de Tommy. J’ai adoré leur relation et je me suis vraiment attachée à eux. Et j’avoue que les derniers mots , « à suivre » m’a donné un énorme sourire.
Je ne connaissais pas du tout cet auteur et je me suis un peu plus penchée sur ses écrits et j’avoue que vais surement y regarder de plus prêt. Le changement de genre par rapport à la romance que je lis plus majoritairement était vraiment rafraichissant et j’ai énormément aimé la plume de l’auteur. Je pense fortement vous en reparler rapidement.
April 20, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
This is more a horror story than a romance and I found myself enjoying both parts equally. There’s a touch of Steven King to the story and to the writing. The many and varied characters flesh out Maplewood, showing us both the good and the bad and the indifferent in people.
Hayden loved his husband very much, but it’s been a long year of recovery. He’s ready, not to move on or move past Malcolm, but to move forward. His feelings towards Tommy aren’t simply lust or infatuation, though he does move quickly from interest to infatuation to love, but the story has a reason for this, and it’s more than just “it’s been a year of celibacy.” I won’t go into details, here, but the speed of their relationship — it’s maybe a week from their first meeting to the end of the book — is seen as a strangeness even by Hayden and Tommy.
Tommy doesn’t identify as gay; he’s just not straight. Hayden interests him in a way the women he’s been with haven’t. He’s been isolated from the town due to his past as a very bad kid and his stint in the army as a Ranger. No one quite knows what to do with him and while he doesn’t mind the silent speculations of the town, it’s refreshing to have Hayden — who knows nothing of his past — look past the rough exterior to see the man inside. Tommy wants to protect Hayden who, considering the violence of his past year and the high stress of his work, is more than willing to curl up in Tommy’s arms and to let himself relax. Tommy makes Hayden feel safe, and Hayden makes Tommy feel wanted.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
This is more a horror story than a romance and I found myself enjoying both parts equally. There’s a touch of Steven King to the story and to the writing. The many and varied characters flesh out Maplewood, showing us both the good and the bad and the indifferent in people.
Hayden loved his husband very much, but it’s been a long year of recovery. He’s ready, not to move on or move past Malcolm, but to move forward. His feelings towards Tommy aren’t simply lust or infatuation, though he does move quickly from interest to infatuation to love, but the story has a reason for this, and it’s more than just “it’s been a year of celibacy.” I won’t go into details, here, but the speed of their relationship — it’s maybe a week from their first meeting to the end of the book — is seen as a strangeness even by Hayden and Tommy.
Tommy doesn’t identify as gay; he’s just not straight. Hayden interests him in a way the women he’s been with haven’t. He’s been isolated from the town due to his past as a very bad kid and his stint in the army as a Ranger. No one quite knows what to do with him and while he doesn’t mind the silent speculations of the town, it’s refreshing to have Hayden — who knows nothing of his past — look past the rough exterior to see the man inside. Tommy wants to protect Hayden who, considering the violence of his past year and the high stress of his work, is more than willing to curl up in Tommy’s arms and to let himself relax. Tommy makes Hayden feel safe, and Hayden makes Tommy feel wanted.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
May 21, 2018
This is my review of Closer by F.E. Feeley Jr, from my M/M Romance Books Blog, OJ He Say.
THE CHARACTERS
Hayden Moore:
…Tommy laid eyes on Hayden for the first time. The young man was handsome, with blond hair and green eyes, and something about him made Tommy hesitate for a second. He wasn’t sure what it was, just a tingle in the back of his head. Hayden smiled broadly, something that made that tingle even worse, and extended his hand…
… Tommy spun around, startled a little, and saw Hayden standing there in a pair of cutoff shorts and a tank top. His muscles were well maintained on his thin frame. His legs were strong and muscular as well. Tommy swallowed hard.
Tommy Law:
Standing at over six-foot-tall, with a shaved head and a gruff demeanor, people thought he was either a skinhead or a biker. He didn’t much appreciate either description. He was, in fact, a former army ranger. He’d worked Special Ops for about fifteen years and had deployed to countless places, countless shit holes throughout the world…
He still kept in great shape; his body was toned, and he was built like a quarterback. He kept up his army days physique by lugging around wheelbarrows full of cinderblock and other masonry. His large callused hands were rough from years of handling rifles and digging trenches, and they were kept that way by wood working and lugging around five-gallon paint buckets. Washing his hands in turpentine to get the paint off, didn’t help much for that matter…
…Hayden’s eyes grew wide at the sheer size of the man. He was muscular, no doubt about it, but not in the way pretty boys were. No, this guy was solid in the get in my way and there won’t be anything left of you sort of way.
THE STORY
Closer is such an incredibly told ghost/possession story in the great setting of Maplewood, Vermont, a small and quaint town with a dark history and awful, mysterious occurrences that keep coming back – except this time they’re here for good.
Hayden Moore, an assistant district attorney in Boston, loses his husband to the hit men out to for a revenge killing to avenge a case against the mob, except that instead of the hit men killing Hayden, they killed his husband, Malcolm. Hayden never stepped back into the courtroom and instead wen to Maplewood to restart his life.
As he needed a handyman to help fix the wonderful, historic home he purchased Hayden hires Tommy, an ex Army Ranger. Tommy came back from the Middle East and has also been trying to rebuild his life, except although he knows something is missing he doesn’t realize what it is until he meets Hayden.
Maplewood’s past holds a dark story of a crushed love and the poltergeist/demon/ghost that was conjured up by the preacher’s daughter when her lover is killed at the hands of his father. As her lover is killed she swears vengeance upon the town and conjures up the demon from the depths of darkness. It is this demon that is now bent on destroying the town for good and all those in it.
THE WRITING
The one thing that always stands out about Mr. Feely’s writing is the sense of reality.
There is an authenticity to his stories that I really enjoy. They are down to earth, with honest, everyday characters. His stories are a reflection of real life and they contain the full spectrum – gay, straight, male, female, young old – that is real life, folks. So refreshing and it is so enjoyable to read an honest ghost story told incredibly well!
I zipped through this book and now I want to read more by Mr. Feely. Try it, you’ll see.
THE CHARACTERS
Hayden Moore:
…Tommy laid eyes on Hayden for the first time. The young man was handsome, with blond hair and green eyes, and something about him made Tommy hesitate for a second. He wasn’t sure what it was, just a tingle in the back of his head. Hayden smiled broadly, something that made that tingle even worse, and extended his hand…
… Tommy spun around, startled a little, and saw Hayden standing there in a pair of cutoff shorts and a tank top. His muscles were well maintained on his thin frame. His legs were strong and muscular as well. Tommy swallowed hard.
Tommy Law:
Standing at over six-foot-tall, with a shaved head and a gruff demeanor, people thought he was either a skinhead or a biker. He didn’t much appreciate either description. He was, in fact, a former army ranger. He’d worked Special Ops for about fifteen years and had deployed to countless places, countless shit holes throughout the world…
He still kept in great shape; his body was toned, and he was built like a quarterback. He kept up his army days physique by lugging around wheelbarrows full of cinderblock and other masonry. His large callused hands were rough from years of handling rifles and digging trenches, and they were kept that way by wood working and lugging around five-gallon paint buckets. Washing his hands in turpentine to get the paint off, didn’t help much for that matter…
…Hayden’s eyes grew wide at the sheer size of the man. He was muscular, no doubt about it, but not in the way pretty boys were. No, this guy was solid in the get in my way and there won’t be anything left of you sort of way.
THE STORY
Closer is such an incredibly told ghost/possession story in the great setting of Maplewood, Vermont, a small and quaint town with a dark history and awful, mysterious occurrences that keep coming back – except this time they’re here for good.
Hayden Moore, an assistant district attorney in Boston, loses his husband to the hit men out to for a revenge killing to avenge a case against the mob, except that instead of the hit men killing Hayden, they killed his husband, Malcolm. Hayden never stepped back into the courtroom and instead wen to Maplewood to restart his life.
As he needed a handyman to help fix the wonderful, historic home he purchased Hayden hires Tommy, an ex Army Ranger. Tommy came back from the Middle East and has also been trying to rebuild his life, except although he knows something is missing he doesn’t realize what it is until he meets Hayden.
Maplewood’s past holds a dark story of a crushed love and the poltergeist/demon/ghost that was conjured up by the preacher’s daughter when her lover is killed at the hands of his father. As her lover is killed she swears vengeance upon the town and conjures up the demon from the depths of darkness. It is this demon that is now bent on destroying the town for good and all those in it.
THE WRITING
The one thing that always stands out about Mr. Feely’s writing is the sense of reality.
There is an authenticity to his stories that I really enjoy. They are down to earth, with honest, everyday characters. His stories are a reflection of real life and they contain the full spectrum – gay, straight, male, female, young old – that is real life, folks. So refreshing and it is so enjoyable to read an honest ghost story told incredibly well!
I zipped through this book and now I want to read more by Mr. Feely. Try it, you’ll see.
March 9, 2018
Great suspense story, keeps you on your toes, with plenty of twists and turns. It's very well written and moves along at a good pace. I also really enjoyed the supernatural aspect. I've read FE Feeley's books previously, so I know that he handles this aspect well.
I don't want to give any details of the story, there's so much going on here, it would be easy to do so and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. So many surprises and sitting on the edge of your seat moments here!
There is some romance and I did enjoy the dialogue between the MCs. They were a curious couple, who certainly held my interest. Of course, due to the nature of the story, there are some darker moments. I certainly recommend this, if you like something on the shadowy side, that will keep you guessing until the end.
I don't want to give any details of the story, there's so much going on here, it would be easy to do so and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. So many surprises and sitting on the edge of your seat moments here!
There is some romance and I did enjoy the dialogue between the MCs. They were a curious couple, who certainly held my interest. Of course, due to the nature of the story, there are some darker moments. I certainly recommend this, if you like something on the shadowy side, that will keep you guessing until the end.
April 16, 2018
Mr. Feeley is a new author to me and damn he can write! Using a large cast of well fleshed out characters, Mr. Feeley churns out a tale of horror and romance that hit the small town of Maplewood. The back story of Veronica, her father and Riley is woven into the story beautifully giving the reader more info as the main story unfolds. Many of the characters are totally believable from the grandmotherly Mrs. Hatch to Rose the town gossip. Tommy and Hayden's story is well thought out and runs parallel to the main plot line so that there is a balance of each. Highly recommended read!
October 21, 2018
I absolutely was enthralled in this story. All I'm really going to say is that it really shows that sometimes the past can come back to truly haunt us.
P.S. The ending was spectacular and completely unexpected.
You can see my full review here: Christinas-Bookshelf
P.S. The ending was spectacular and completely unexpected.
You can see my full review here: Christinas-Bookshelf
May 7, 2020
I got this audiobook from the author. It’s was compelling and engaging; I wanted to keep listening to it. It was also spooky and romantic. I knocked a couple stars because of the mass amount of insta love and all the POVs. I’m glad I finally got around to listening to it.
August 26, 2018
Geprobeerd en vond alleen het proloog leuk. Daarna werd er zoveel omschreven over het gebied dat ik bijna in slaap viel. Voor nu hou ik ermee op.
September 8, 2020
Loved this book, great ghost story,wonderful characters.
February 2, 2025
Well written horror with a complex plot and lots of twists and turns.
The audio version is nicely performed by Vance Bastian.
The audio version is nicely performed by Vance Bastian.
June 24, 2018
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Closer by F.E. Feeley Jr. when I read the mysterious blurb, but I was instantly drawn into the story’s steady pace and dynamic setting.
Hayden is making a fresh start after losing his husband Malcolm in a tragic outcome from his work as a lawyer. Leaving that world behind him and starting again in a small town has its challenges. But when enigmatic events begin to unravel, the types of hurdles Hayden faces are not what he expected! Along with adversity comes the opportunity for new relationships. And strong bonds can be formed during difficult times.
Tommy has seen his fair share of tragedy in war-torn environments. He is as dependable as you can get. Could he be just what Hayden needs right now – even though Tommy has never had a relationship with a man before?
F.E. Feeley Jr. writes a deeply poignant tale full of vivid descriptions, well thought through folklore and at a pace that keeps you tuned to the page with rapt attention.
The mysterious legend that plagues this small town is about to awaken and along with it comes unimagined terrors that would test any bond.
F.E. Feeley Jr. writes a deeply poignant tale full of vivid descriptions, well thought through folklore and at a pace that keeps you tuned to the page with rapt attention. The balance of fiction, paranormal, romance and Stephen King-type horror is beautifully combined into an engaging journey, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Closer by F.E. Feeley Jr. is not a shallow tale, but one that will stick with you for some time afterwards while you digest the complexities of interconnections between families, communities and loved ones.
Hayden is making a fresh start after losing his husband Malcolm in a tragic outcome from his work as a lawyer. Leaving that world behind him and starting again in a small town has its challenges. But when enigmatic events begin to unravel, the types of hurdles Hayden faces are not what he expected! Along with adversity comes the opportunity for new relationships. And strong bonds can be formed during difficult times.
Tommy has seen his fair share of tragedy in war-torn environments. He is as dependable as you can get. Could he be just what Hayden needs right now – even though Tommy has never had a relationship with a man before?
F.E. Feeley Jr. writes a deeply poignant tale full of vivid descriptions, well thought through folklore and at a pace that keeps you tuned to the page with rapt attention.
The mysterious legend that plagues this small town is about to awaken and along with it comes unimagined terrors that would test any bond.
F.E. Feeley Jr. writes a deeply poignant tale full of vivid descriptions, well thought through folklore and at a pace that keeps you tuned to the page with rapt attention. The balance of fiction, paranormal, romance and Stephen King-type horror is beautifully combined into an engaging journey, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Closer by F.E. Feeley Jr. is not a shallow tale, but one that will stick with you for some time afterwards while you digest the complexities of interconnections between families, communities and loved ones.
April 5, 2018
I really enjoyed Fred's When Heaven Strikes a few weeks ago, and horror is not usually my thing, but I decided to pull up my big girl pants and go for it. 4.25 stars from me.
I wouldn't specifically call this a horror story actually; there is a romance thread running through it...and not just for the 2 MC's either. We have supernatural goings-on, religious overtones [both of the good and bad variety] DRUIDS!!, ancient curses, small town values and busybodies unfortunately and a lake. A sinister-looking lake which appears to be at the centre of all that is going wrong in the town. Into this town arrives Hayden Moore, escaping the horrors of his life in Boston and the violent death of his husband....for which Hayden feels more than a little guilty, in view of the circumstances.
Anyhoo, back to the story - as there are unanswered questions at the end of the story, watch this space...there will be a sequel....😁
I wouldn't specifically call this a horror story actually; there is a romance thread running through it...and not just for the 2 MC's either. We have supernatural goings-on, religious overtones [both of the good and bad variety] DRUIDS!!, ancient curses, small town values and busybodies unfortunately and a lake. A sinister-looking lake which appears to be at the centre of all that is going wrong in the town. Into this town arrives Hayden Moore, escaping the horrors of his life in Boston and the violent death of his husband....for which Hayden feels more than a little guilty, in view of the circumstances.
Anyhoo, back to the story - as there are unanswered questions at the end of the story, watch this space...there will be a sequel....😁
June 21, 2018
Closer, by F.E. Feeley Jr., is a supernatural thriller/horror story that happens to have a romantic interest develop between the main characters (with a little paranormal influence). Set in the picturesque town of Maplewood, Vermont, the past and present are expertly woven together to create an extremely detailed, suspenseful, gripping, and heartfelt adventure.
Hayden Moore suffers the loss of his true love, Malcolm. He comes to Maplewood to escape the hustle and bustle of Boston, where he was an extremely successful prosecutor. After tragedy upends his world, Hayden yearns for a quieter reality so as to mourn and recover from this loss brought upon him by his professional world.
Tommy Law is a native of Maplewood who has returned after a 15-year stint in the military. A loner and reputed “bad boy”, Tommy is not popular around town. Relationship “stuff” eludes Tommy. Suzie, the local diner manager/waitress, has been his longest companion. His military career has distanced him from people and he believes he will never fill the loneliness or hole inside.
After purchasing a house on the lake, Hayden hires Tommy to help bring the property back into shape. Both men feel something immediate upon their first meeting. The feelings are strange for Tommy and Hayden is too lost in his own grief to understand them. But there is a pull…
Little do Hayden and Tommy know but the past has been awakened. It started off as an old wive’s tale, based on a dying woman’s revenge against the town and her father who betrayed her. It is coming for those who dare to love. Is this the beginning of love for Hayden and Tommy? Is it too soon for Hayden? Is Tommy really attracted to a man?
Strange things are happening around town. Most of the folks are having dreams. Unexplained deaths keep occurring. The Lake is setting off weird vibes. Water is found in odd places. All these happenings spur an amateur investigation into the town and its past. Through the discovery of journals and some supernatural assistance, the town’s history is revealed – along with what is coming for its current inhabitants.
Closer has a cast of compelling side characters and events that make the story exciting. Yes, Hayden and Tommy are pivotal players in this thriller but the full effect comes from the combination of Suzie, Paul (the geologist), Amanda and Terri (Hayden’s best friend and former boss), Rose (the town gossip) and her posse, Michelle (the librarian), and of course Malcolm (Hayden’s dead husband) among others.
Closer is a masterfully written suspense story with twists and turns that keep you guessing. Hayden and Tommy’s romance just heightens the experience. Religion, good and bad, is craftily woven to become an integral part of the plot. Closer leaves you shedding tears, experiencing joy and laughter, the creepy crawlies, outright annoyance, and a sense of love and new beginnings for Maplewood’s inhabitants.
Banter Buddies: http://www.kimmerseroticbookbanter.co...
Review: http://www.kimmerseroticbookbanter.co...
Hayden Moore suffers the loss of his true love, Malcolm. He comes to Maplewood to escape the hustle and bustle of Boston, where he was an extremely successful prosecutor. After tragedy upends his world, Hayden yearns for a quieter reality so as to mourn and recover from this loss brought upon him by his professional world.
Tommy Law is a native of Maplewood who has returned after a 15-year stint in the military. A loner and reputed “bad boy”, Tommy is not popular around town. Relationship “stuff” eludes Tommy. Suzie, the local diner manager/waitress, has been his longest companion. His military career has distanced him from people and he believes he will never fill the loneliness or hole inside.
After purchasing a house on the lake, Hayden hires Tommy to help bring the property back into shape. Both men feel something immediate upon their first meeting. The feelings are strange for Tommy and Hayden is too lost in his own grief to understand them. But there is a pull…
Little do Hayden and Tommy know but the past has been awakened. It started off as an old wive’s tale, based on a dying woman’s revenge against the town and her father who betrayed her. It is coming for those who dare to love. Is this the beginning of love for Hayden and Tommy? Is it too soon for Hayden? Is Tommy really attracted to a man?
Strange things are happening around town. Most of the folks are having dreams. Unexplained deaths keep occurring. The Lake is setting off weird vibes. Water is found in odd places. All these happenings spur an amateur investigation into the town and its past. Through the discovery of journals and some supernatural assistance, the town’s history is revealed – along with what is coming for its current inhabitants.
Closer has a cast of compelling side characters and events that make the story exciting. Yes, Hayden and Tommy are pivotal players in this thriller but the full effect comes from the combination of Suzie, Paul (the geologist), Amanda and Terri (Hayden’s best friend and former boss), Rose (the town gossip) and her posse, Michelle (the librarian), and of course Malcolm (Hayden’s dead husband) among others.
Closer is a masterfully written suspense story with twists and turns that keep you guessing. Hayden and Tommy’s romance just heightens the experience. Religion, good and bad, is craftily woven to become an integral part of the plot. Closer leaves you shedding tears, experiencing joy and laughter, the creepy crawlies, outright annoyance, and a sense of love and new beginnings for Maplewood’s inhabitants.
Banter Buddies: http://www.kimmerseroticbookbanter.co...
Review: http://www.kimmerseroticbookbanter.co...
April 24, 2018
5******Stars
Book: Closer
Author: FE Feeley Jr
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
Genre: Horror Thriller
Rated: Mature M/M
Release: March 1, 2017
Pages: 358
I have read FE Feeley when he first entered the writing scene. His writing was always good…… I have to say after reading Closer……Wow has he matured!
Closer is not for the feint of heart. It is a gripping story of the past coming to end the world. Mr. Feeley has used a fantastic way of introducing the large cast of characters to us, one chapter at a time. Then he places them, intertwining them into our story so their position is not confusing or unclear to the reader.
As always Mr. Feeley, the lover of horror and paranormal sets this back drop on the east coast, Vermont, Maplewood a small town. Hayden Moore moves to Maplewood to get away from the hustle and bustle of a big city to heal. It is almost a year that Hayden lost his husband to a Mafia hit to get back at Hayden.
What Hayden needs is to renovate the old house he has purchased, hiring Tommy Law to help him with jobs that are over his pay grade. Tommy is ex- Military. The first business is to get the two guest bedrooms ready for his best friend and old boss who are coming to visit and help paint!!!!
As we slowly meet the cast, Mr. Feeley introduces us to the background of the town, its history, and the local lore. I have always likened Mr. Feeley’s writing to Stephen King. It is sharp, not confusing, and gets us where he wants us to be.
Hayden and Tommy are the heart of this story, but the cast is large, each is pivotal to the story and the horror that lays beneath Lake Veronica. Mr. Feeley you have again truly impressed me. I loved it and I cannot wait for more.
Book: Closer
Author: FE Feeley Jr
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
Genre: Horror Thriller
Rated: Mature M/M
Release: March 1, 2017
Pages: 358
I have read FE Feeley when he first entered the writing scene. His writing was always good…… I have to say after reading Closer……Wow has he matured!
Closer is not for the feint of heart. It is a gripping story of the past coming to end the world. Mr. Feeley has used a fantastic way of introducing the large cast of characters to us, one chapter at a time. Then he places them, intertwining them into our story so their position is not confusing or unclear to the reader.
As always Mr. Feeley, the lover of horror and paranormal sets this back drop on the east coast, Vermont, Maplewood a small town. Hayden Moore moves to Maplewood to get away from the hustle and bustle of a big city to heal. It is almost a year that Hayden lost his husband to a Mafia hit to get back at Hayden.
What Hayden needs is to renovate the old house he has purchased, hiring Tommy Law to help him with jobs that are over his pay grade. Tommy is ex- Military. The first business is to get the two guest bedrooms ready for his best friend and old boss who are coming to visit and help paint!!!!
As we slowly meet the cast, Mr. Feeley introduces us to the background of the town, its history, and the local lore. I have always likened Mr. Feeley’s writing to Stephen King. It is sharp, not confusing, and gets us where he wants us to be.
Hayden and Tommy are the heart of this story, but the cast is large, each is pivotal to the story and the horror that lays beneath Lake Veronica. Mr. Feeley you have again truly impressed me. I loved it and I cannot wait for more.
March 30, 2018
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews. Rated 4.5 out of 5.0 Love Bytes)
I’m a fan of this author and have been since I read his book The Haunting of Timber Manor. I enjoyed the story in this current book, but I’ve got to keep it honest and note that there were a few things that threw me out of the story. They probably wouldn’t stand out to the average reader, but if you grew up in Northern Vermont, there were some issues. Some of them, like a date discrepancy might have been caught in the final copy. But either way…did they ruin the story for me? By no means. I loved the story. I can’t wait for whatever comes after the ‘to be continued’ at the end of this one.
Hayden Moore moves to Vermont after his husband is killed in a mafia family payback for a case that Hayden tried in Boston. He buys an old house that perches above a deep dark lake named for a woman who died there over 150 years previously. The woman’s death was traumatic, there was drama and murder, and an evil curse.
Now Hayden and the residents of the small town of Maplewood, Vermont are dealing with a malevolent force. Something is killing people. No one knows why or who. No one remembers the old town legends. Hayden, and a small group of others, start to suspect the truth. But by the time they finally figure it out, will it be in time to save the town? I liked the building drama, and the building story.
I highly recommend this one.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2018/03/2...
I’m a fan of this author and have been since I read his book The Haunting of Timber Manor. I enjoyed the story in this current book, but I’ve got to keep it honest and note that there were a few things that threw me out of the story. They probably wouldn’t stand out to the average reader, but if you grew up in Northern Vermont, there were some issues. Some of them, like a date discrepancy might have been caught in the final copy. But either way…did they ruin the story for me? By no means. I loved the story. I can’t wait for whatever comes after the ‘to be continued’ at the end of this one.
Hayden Moore moves to Vermont after his husband is killed in a mafia family payback for a case that Hayden tried in Boston. He buys an old house that perches above a deep dark lake named for a woman who died there over 150 years previously. The woman’s death was traumatic, there was drama and murder, and an evil curse.
Now Hayden and the residents of the small town of Maplewood, Vermont are dealing with a malevolent force. Something is killing people. No one knows why or who. No one remembers the old town legends. Hayden, and a small group of others, start to suspect the truth. But by the time they finally figure it out, will it be in time to save the town? I liked the building drama, and the building story.
I highly recommend this one.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2018/03/2...
March 3, 2018
Gripping, creepy, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I'll admit that early in Closer, I was worried that was going to be more cheesy than creepy, but I was pleasantly surprised with the direction this one took. As I write this, I also realize that there are enough surprises in the story that almost any details would give spoilers, so I'll try to avoid that and stick to the basics. The story moves at a good pace with several edge of your seat moments and an intriguing supernatural aspect. We even get a little romance to lighten things up a bit. Of course, this is a horror, so it does turn dark again. As much as I enjoy being totally creeped out by a good scary tale, one of my favorite things about this one was the interesting characters and their interactions with each other. Love them or hate them, and there were certainly a couple who fell into the latter category, they were all interesting, which makes the suspense of who will make it to the end and who won't that much better. On that note, I have to give credit where credit is due - this one kept me guessing right up until the very end.
July 18, 2019
It says to be continued at the end and I shall look for the next one!!
We start with the telling of the old tale to kids - though I was expecting some of them to pop up in the story.
Then we start out gently enough with Hayden relocating and gradually we learn of gruesome deaths, people’s history, a big cast of secondary characters. Everyone has some sort of darkness in their soul.
It is this darkness that the malevolent force feeds on.
It did take a bit of a side step from the ‘norm’ for a horror story but with a trusty band of friends and a new lover, Hayden becomes the someone special to lead everyone into the future.
I enjoyed, was intrigued and invested. The sometimes overly descriptive prose works for setting the spooky scenes but can be a bit much in other aras.
We start with the telling of the old tale to kids - though I was expecting some of them to pop up in the story.
Then we start out gently enough with Hayden relocating and gradually we learn of gruesome deaths, people’s history, a big cast of secondary characters. Everyone has some sort of darkness in their soul.
It is this darkness that the malevolent force feeds on.
It did take a bit of a side step from the ‘norm’ for a horror story but with a trusty band of friends and a new lover, Hayden becomes the someone special to lead everyone into the future.
I enjoyed, was intrigued and invested. The sometimes overly descriptive prose works for setting the spooky scenes but can be a bit much in other aras.
December 18, 2018
A wonderfully written, intriguing paranormal thriller filled with complex and interesting characters. F.E. Feeley Jr has created a thrilling and chilling story of this haunted town and its inhabitants. Hayden and Tommy are amazing as the main characters and their chemistry feels real. The other characters in the book also add to the tale and envoke emotions. The events that take place captivates and makes you crave to know more and seek a satisfying conclusion. One of my favorite paranormal thrillers read recently.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
March 25, 2018
Have you ever watched Supernatural? In first season there is this episode with hunted lake. After I had had watched that epiosode I kept my light on whole night. I must say I'm scared of water, demonic possesion and this book played on my dread so damn well that I kept my light on yesterday. Super easy to read, sure I like both MCs but the real hero in this is this small city stright from Norman Rockwell's paintings. For sure I will be waiting for next book in this seems to be series. 4,3 stars
April 23, 2018
It took me a while longer than usual to read this book, not because I didn't like it or the style or such, but because I was so grabbed into the story that I had to pause every now and then to regroup.
I adored this story, it kept me on my feet, I had goosebumps, smiles and some tears too.
This was the first story I read by FE Feely and it definitely won't be the last!
I adored this story, it kept me on my feet, I had goosebumps, smiles and some tears too.
This was the first story I read by FE Feely and it definitely won't be the last!
March 8, 2018
omg this was amazing.. it had some mystery.. it had some romance.. it had intrigue and curiosity.. it kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was coming next. it was amazingly written and a beautiful story. i loved it
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