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The Infinity Killer Trilogy #1
Dante's Town of Terror
Gold Medal Winner of the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards for Horror
THE GRIPPING START OF THE INFINITY KILLER TRILOGY. Bill, Brian, and Cathy had the perfect camping trip planned. It was supposed to be a weekend filled with good friends and healing. But when an unexpected collision with fate leaves them stranded deep in the wilderness, they find a deserted town not listed on any map. Somewhere time doesn't exist and nothing seems quite right. Somewhere no one ever leaves and insidious things wait in the dark. When they meet a desperate man searching for his lost love and a suspiciously prepared stranger they are forced to work together to find an escape. A vacation soon becomes a fight for survival when a mysterious figure from Bill's past returns and the true nature of the town is revealed.
THE GRIPPING START OF THE INFINITY KILLER TRILOGY. Bill, Brian, and Cathy had the perfect camping trip planned. It was supposed to be a weekend filled with good friends and healing. But when an unexpected collision with fate leaves them stranded deep in the wilderness, they find a deserted town not listed on any map. Somewhere time doesn't exist and nothing seems quite right. Somewhere no one ever leaves and insidious things wait in the dark. When they meet a desperate man searching for his lost love and a suspiciously prepared stranger they are forced to work together to find an escape. A vacation soon becomes a fight for survival when a mysterious figure from Bill's past returns and the true nature of the town is revealed.
- GenresHorror
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2018
118 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 22, 2019
I was given a PDF of the book for free by the author after volunteering to read it in exchange for an honest review. (I will say I did end up buying my own Kindle copy because the PDF was driving me crazy. Yes, I now know that you can upload PDFs into Kindle to read them.)
I will say, I liked the beginning of this book. Stories with people in the forest (especially lost) are some of my favorites. However, it quickly became apparent that there were going to be many plot holes. We kind of get told why they’re lost in the forest, but we never get a real explanation. Then they drive to a city in a car that hasn’t been driven in decades, meet a guy who has WAY TOO LONG OF A BACKSTORY, and then it just ends up in a series of interchanging boringness and action scenes.
My biggest issue was lots of telling but not showing. The writing wasn’t bad, but it definitely needed more proofreading and editing. There were unnecessarily long scenes, repetition, tropes, etc. There was literally one of the biggest horror tropes where two people are hiding, hear noises, then the door bursts open! But it’s just their friend, of course, and anyone who likes horror would have figured that out. Also, at one point it describes one of the characters as wearing dress shoes...to go camping. What?
I also didn’t really find the characters interesting or likable, and didn’t feel bad for them even though I’m pretty sure I was supposed to. I could also never really figure out what the plot was revolving around; it all seemed random. It had a lot of action scenes, which are not my favorite anyway, but were more of the telling not showing.
I don’t want to fully hate on this book, so I will say the main pro which I do find important is that you can tell the author loved the story he wrote and put his heart into writing it.
Even though this book was not for me at all, and I do not plan on continuing the series, I wish the best for the author.
I will say, I liked the beginning of this book. Stories with people in the forest (especially lost) are some of my favorites. However, it quickly became apparent that there were going to be many plot holes. We kind of get told why they’re lost in the forest, but we never get a real explanation. Then they drive to a city in a car that hasn’t been driven in decades, meet a guy who has WAY TOO LONG OF A BACKSTORY, and then it just ends up in a series of interchanging boringness and action scenes.
My biggest issue was lots of telling but not showing. The writing wasn’t bad, but it definitely needed more proofreading and editing. There were unnecessarily long scenes, repetition, tropes, etc. There was literally one of the biggest horror tropes where two people are hiding, hear noises, then the door bursts open! But it’s just their friend, of course, and anyone who likes horror would have figured that out. Also, at one point it describes one of the characters as wearing dress shoes...to go camping. What?
I also didn’t really find the characters interesting or likable, and didn’t feel bad for them even though I’m pretty sure I was supposed to. I could also never really figure out what the plot was revolving around; it all seemed random. It had a lot of action scenes, which are not my favorite anyway, but were more of the telling not showing.
I don’t want to fully hate on this book, so I will say the main pro which I do find important is that you can tell the author loved the story he wrote and put his heart into writing it.
Even though this book was not for me at all, and I do not plan on continuing the series, I wish the best for the author.
December 16, 2020
I honestly expected this book to be more about a serial killer.. Don't get me wrong, there is a madman on the loose, but monsters and a strange town are more the focal point of the story. I also get this is the first in a trilogy, so I'm not too shocked that I was left with more questions than answers.
The book started solid,but my curiosity peaked in the beginning. A few characters start in woods,find a woman in a cabin, and she points them in the direction of a town. Abandoned and strange, but still a town.
Supernatural portals and winged creatures are not my style. With that being said, it's still a decent book.
The book started solid,but my curiosity peaked in the beginning. A few characters start in woods,find a woman in a cabin, and she points them in the direction of a town. Abandoned and strange, but still a town.
Supernatural portals and winged creatures are not my style. With that being said, it's still a decent book.
June 9, 2018
From my blog: www.kateyreads.wordpress.com
"**Light spoilers!**
I was kindly given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I would also like to briefly give a “Congrats!” to the author who was recognized for “excellence in independent publishing” by the Independent Publisher Book Awards.
Dante’s Town of Terror introduces you to Bill, Brian and Cathy and their strange journey through an unknown area and city they are somehow lost inside of. Creatures of all shapes and sizes are around every corner with only one intention; to kill.
The story begins with Bill, Brian and Cathy coming across an abandoned cabin where they are taken in by a strange old woman. I found this part of the story to be a little random now that I have read the entire book. I don’t understand her purpose or how she has managed to survive isolated with the kind of creatures you will read about later on in book. She also knew about the town and directed them to it, so does she know the danger there? Her role is still a little unclear to me; however, I am very cautious to criticize plot or character in a “Part One” book. These questions could be cleared up in future books later on.
After the strange woman directs them to “the nearest town” to find a phone or a car to get them out of the area, they soon realize this is not an ordinary town at all. The town descriptions were very well written. The world was random yet organized and there was a deeper meaning, I believe, to the things found inside the buildings than is yet being revealed to the readers. It was also interesting for there to be no real sense of time, only day or night. The constant rain fall was a great environment description consistently kept throughout the book.
After camping out for a little while trying to discover a car and/or gas for a car, the group stumbles upon another survivor stuck within the town’s walls. They learn the other survivor, Shawn, has a wife who is missing within the town and he is adamant on finding her before trying to leave the town.
The reader is then given a good five to eight chapters about Shawn and his wife Jaime. Who they are, how they got to the town and why are all explained in great detail. The flashback was long, but necessary to understanding Shawn’s feelings towards finding her. It also was smoothly aligned to bring you all the way up to the point where Shawn first meets the group with no holes in the story.
The “new” group then discovers yet another survivor and are “shocked” (there’s a pun there if you read the book) to say the least. When they all meet Addison they find him at the only large mansion in the town. He takes them in under his wing and provides them with shelter in his home, weapons, a car, and food. Addison believes he has been in the town for approximately four years. He obviously wants to get out badly as well. My only struggle with Addison’s home is the food is not expired (they eat bacon in one scene), there is electricity (elevators) and running water. This seems very strange to me when everything else in the town is described as empty or run-down. The characters do acknowledge in dialogue how it could be possible for him to have these things but the book never actually explains it. Neither does Addison.
The remainder of the book is their journey through getting necessary materials to search for Shawn’s wife and to leave the town. I don’t want to spoil the ending so you’ll have to find out the rest for yourself!
The author does a realistic approach to a father-daughter dialogue and the almost third wheel of Bill who is a family friend. However, as the book continues, they become a type of family themselves. The reader can start to see the character development and how the three of them can detect through body language when the other is not OK. Shawn also becomes a part of the “family”. Addison’s character, while sometimes cold or blunt, is very generous and at times willing to give anything up for these strangers in his home. I wonder if Addison is trying to make-up for the years of solitude he’s dealt with and perhaps sins from his past before getting lost in the town?
I felt Dante’s character was very powerful and sophisticated but his role in the book seemed a bit lacking. He would randomly show up, antagonize, then leave. I expected a lot more on him and his story since the book gives ownership of the town to him. He does play a bigger role towards the very end of the book which was a fun twist I wasn’t expecting. I will reiterate though that this is only “Part One” so I will be patient and read the next book in the series to find out more!
I really enjoyed reading this book. If you enjoy horror or thriller book genres and movies like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, you will definitely enjoy this book! I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!!
Happy reading, amigos!"
"**Light spoilers!**
I was kindly given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I would also like to briefly give a “Congrats!” to the author who was recognized for “excellence in independent publishing” by the Independent Publisher Book Awards.
Dante’s Town of Terror introduces you to Bill, Brian and Cathy and their strange journey through an unknown area and city they are somehow lost inside of. Creatures of all shapes and sizes are around every corner with only one intention; to kill.
The story begins with Bill, Brian and Cathy coming across an abandoned cabin where they are taken in by a strange old woman. I found this part of the story to be a little random now that I have read the entire book. I don’t understand her purpose or how she has managed to survive isolated with the kind of creatures you will read about later on in book. She also knew about the town and directed them to it, so does she know the danger there? Her role is still a little unclear to me; however, I am very cautious to criticize plot or character in a “Part One” book. These questions could be cleared up in future books later on.
After the strange woman directs them to “the nearest town” to find a phone or a car to get them out of the area, they soon realize this is not an ordinary town at all. The town descriptions were very well written. The world was random yet organized and there was a deeper meaning, I believe, to the things found inside the buildings than is yet being revealed to the readers. It was also interesting for there to be no real sense of time, only day or night. The constant rain fall was a great environment description consistently kept throughout the book.
After camping out for a little while trying to discover a car and/or gas for a car, the group stumbles upon another survivor stuck within the town’s walls. They learn the other survivor, Shawn, has a wife who is missing within the town and he is adamant on finding her before trying to leave the town.
The reader is then given a good five to eight chapters about Shawn and his wife Jaime. Who they are, how they got to the town and why are all explained in great detail. The flashback was long, but necessary to understanding Shawn’s feelings towards finding her. It also was smoothly aligned to bring you all the way up to the point where Shawn first meets the group with no holes in the story.
The “new” group then discovers yet another survivor and are “shocked” (there’s a pun there if you read the book) to say the least. When they all meet Addison they find him at the only large mansion in the town. He takes them in under his wing and provides them with shelter in his home, weapons, a car, and food. Addison believes he has been in the town for approximately four years. He obviously wants to get out badly as well. My only struggle with Addison’s home is the food is not expired (they eat bacon in one scene), there is electricity (elevators) and running water. This seems very strange to me when everything else in the town is described as empty or run-down. The characters do acknowledge in dialogue how it could be possible for him to have these things but the book never actually explains it. Neither does Addison.
The remainder of the book is their journey through getting necessary materials to search for Shawn’s wife and to leave the town. I don’t want to spoil the ending so you’ll have to find out the rest for yourself!
The author does a realistic approach to a father-daughter dialogue and the almost third wheel of Bill who is a family friend. However, as the book continues, they become a type of family themselves. The reader can start to see the character development and how the three of them can detect through body language when the other is not OK. Shawn also becomes a part of the “family”. Addison’s character, while sometimes cold or blunt, is very generous and at times willing to give anything up for these strangers in his home. I wonder if Addison is trying to make-up for the years of solitude he’s dealt with and perhaps sins from his past before getting lost in the town?
I felt Dante’s character was very powerful and sophisticated but his role in the book seemed a bit lacking. He would randomly show up, antagonize, then leave. I expected a lot more on him and his story since the book gives ownership of the town to him. He does play a bigger role towards the very end of the book which was a fun twist I wasn’t expecting. I will reiterate though that this is only “Part One” so I will be patient and read the next book in the series to find out more!
I really enjoyed reading this book. If you enjoy horror or thriller book genres and movies like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, you will definitely enjoy this book! I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!!
Happy reading, amigos!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2020
Horror at its best! I ran through this, it was so good.
Bill, Brian and his daughter Cathie are lost. The depth of the wilderness leaving them disoriented. They come across an old cabin with a lone old woman. She warns them of what is out there in the dark. What she saw take her father as a young girl. What she’s been able to ward off for many years. As they set off to find civilization, they stumble across an abandoned town where the clock tower hands spin uncontrollably. Where are they and can they make it out alive? Then they find him. The lone survivor in a mansion equipped to withstand the evil around them. Is this too good to be true?
Bill, Brian and his daughter Cathie are lost. The depth of the wilderness leaving them disoriented. They come across an old cabin with a lone old woman. She warns them of what is out there in the dark. What she saw take her father as a young girl. What she’s been able to ward off for many years. As they set off to find civilization, they stumble across an abandoned town where the clock tower hands spin uncontrollably. Where are they and can they make it out alive? Then they find him. The lone survivor in a mansion equipped to withstand the evil around them. Is this too good to be true?
March 3, 2020
Excellent simply excellent
First off that cover. One of the best ever and there is so much storytelling in those pictures alone. The world building will blow your mind, the mystery will haunt your dreams, the plot is so realistic you believe you will wake up tomorrow in Dante's Town of Terror. Awesome sauce!
First off that cover. One of the best ever and there is so much storytelling in those pictures alone. The world building will blow your mind, the mystery will haunt your dreams, the plot is so realistic you believe you will wake up tomorrow in Dante's Town of Terror. Awesome sauce!
April 24, 2018
It was a very good read, but what about that ending? It just leaves you no place to go! Is there another sequel coming out?
January 2, 2022
After reading The House That Fell From The Sky and Silvers Hollow, I literally HAD to check out this book. Considering Silvers Hollow was a surprise "sequel" to The House, I figured this was probably gonna be a prequel of sorts--and it is! Kinda. The eponymous Town of Terror is (or is related to) the Grey World that The House is from/sort of still residing in. Other than that, it has a completely unrelated cast of characters.
The Bad:
Firstly, I am going to begin with "The Bad," though I don't think this book is itself bad by any means. Given that this is (I think?) the first novel by the author, I came in expecting it to not be as well written/polished as The House, and I found that to be the case. There are more details given than is necessary, so scenes often get bogged down by the characters doing things that really don't matter. This isn't too big of a deal, but my biggest problem is that I couldn't connect to any of the main characters. They all feel a little flat and are often indistinguishable. In Brian's case, he has so distant of a personality that I feel like he is outright psychopathic. I mean, I began to formulate how HE is actually the Infinity Killer, but I am not sure that's the intention. Maybe it IS, and I have to see in the next book? Another problem is that they're all dumber than a sack of bricks. Multiple times, they all leave safety to see if the threatening figure is, in fact, another of the hundreds of monsters they've almost been killed by; or they leave safety to see if the monster is REALLY dead; or they leave safety in the hopes of getting killed, apparently. For as dangerous as the town is, it feels like they are far too quick to forget that fact.
That said....I like Cathy a lot. She was asking the important questions about there being fresh bacon in the UTTERLY ABANDONED town (girl, it's probably long pig or scuttlesnake) and pointing out logical problems in the others' plans. Also, Addison is pretty great, considering how much I love the "almost crazy survivalist" type. And I am *dying* to see the return of the enthusiastic hearse-driving monster who waved at Shawn. It only had a single scene, but already I love it. My favorite character is the town. It is basically a character, and I am SO here for it. But before I get into that, I'll move into...
The Good:
THE TOWN. OMG I WANT TO LIVE HERE AND DOCUMENT EVERY LAST INCH OF THIS HORRIBLE PLACE. It's so atmospheric and moody. Everything that intrigued me about The House is here: horrifying monsters, the mysterious Dante, bizarre architecture, constant rain, and most importantly, so many questions that are unanswered and remain tantalizingly just out of reach. Where did everyone go? Where there even people here before? What does the constant rain mean? Who and what is Dante? I LOVE these kinds of unanswered questions, the ones that leave you feeling okay with not getting answers. I think in general that cosmic horror can get away with this while also being better for it, and this story is no exception.
In brief: characters = weak, setting = great. The plot is simply "escape," which is fine by me. If you have ever seen the movie Dave Made A Maze (which, unfortunately, you probably haven't), I would say this book is comparable to that. The characters are the weakest point, but the setting is so phenomenal that is makes it absolutely worth it. And consider this: I tend to value characters above all else in a story, and I firmly believe the setting more than makes up for what the characters lack in both instances.
Highly recommended for fans of The House That Fell From The Sky, cosmic horror, Resident Evil, or Silent Hill.
The Bad:
Firstly, I am going to begin with "The Bad," though I don't think this book is itself bad by any means. Given that this is (I think?) the first novel by the author, I came in expecting it to not be as well written/polished as The House, and I found that to be the case. There are more details given than is necessary, so scenes often get bogged down by the characters doing things that really don't matter. This isn't too big of a deal, but my biggest problem is that I couldn't connect to any of the main characters. They all feel a little flat and are often indistinguishable. In Brian's case, he has so distant of a personality that I feel like he is outright psychopathic. I mean, I began to formulate how HE is actually the Infinity Killer, but I am not sure that's the intention. Maybe it IS, and I have to see in the next book? Another problem is that they're all dumber than a sack of bricks. Multiple times, they all leave safety to see if the threatening figure is, in fact, another of the hundreds of monsters they've almost been killed by; or they leave safety to see if the monster is REALLY dead; or they leave safety in the hopes of getting killed, apparently. For as dangerous as the town is, it feels like they are far too quick to forget that fact.
That said....I like Cathy a lot. She was asking the important questions about there being fresh bacon in the UTTERLY ABANDONED town (girl, it's probably long pig or scuttlesnake) and pointing out logical problems in the others' plans. Also, Addison is pretty great, considering how much I love the "almost crazy survivalist" type. And I am *dying* to see the return of the enthusiastic hearse-driving monster who waved at Shawn. It only had a single scene, but already I love it. My favorite character is the town. It is basically a character, and I am SO here for it. But before I get into that, I'll move into...
The Good:
THE TOWN. OMG I WANT TO LIVE HERE AND DOCUMENT EVERY LAST INCH OF THIS HORRIBLE PLACE. It's so atmospheric and moody. Everything that intrigued me about The House is here: horrifying monsters, the mysterious Dante, bizarre architecture, constant rain, and most importantly, so many questions that are unanswered and remain tantalizingly just out of reach. Where did everyone go? Where there even people here before? What does the constant rain mean? Who and what is Dante? I LOVE these kinds of unanswered questions, the ones that leave you feeling okay with not getting answers. I think in general that cosmic horror can get away with this while also being better for it, and this story is no exception.
In brief: characters = weak, setting = great. The plot is simply "escape," which is fine by me. If you have ever seen the movie Dave Made A Maze (which, unfortunately, you probably haven't), I would say this book is comparable to that. The characters are the weakest point, but the setting is so phenomenal that is makes it absolutely worth it. And consider this: I tend to value characters above all else in a story, and I firmly believe the setting more than makes up for what the characters lack in both instances.
Highly recommended for fans of The House That Fell From The Sky, cosmic horror, Resident Evil, or Silent Hill.
May 3, 2018
Reviewed by Ankita Shukla for Readers' Favorite
Dante's Town of Terror by Patrick R. Delaney is a horrifying tale of a camping trip from hell. Brian took his friend, Bill, and daughter, Cathy, on a camping trip. However, somewhere along the road, they took a wrong turn and got lost in a deep, dark forest. This forest was not just filled with vicious animals, but monsters that were flesh and blood hungry. By a stroke of luck, they managed to get out of this forest and into a town. Nevertheless, as soon as they gave a sigh of relief for being out of that godforsaken place, they realized the town was a hell on earth. The whole town showed no signs of humans. It seemed as if every living being, with the exception of the demonic creatures that lurked in the town day and night, had abandoned the place. From the moment they entered the town, it did not stop raining; they were cold and tired, but the terrible sights in front of them kept them moving. With Bill's cop instincts guiding Brian and Cathy, they kept going forward, despite having all kinds of terrifying thoughts. As more and more sightings of blood and dead bodies appeared in their path, the camping trip that was supposed to be a relaxing getaway quickly turned into a struggle for survival.
I am extremely impressed by the gripping tale that the author has created. I had goosebumps throughout the read. The author's talent is apparent on every page. I was on the edge of my seat until the last page. As a reader, I connected with the characters so easily that I actually prayed for their survival. Any fatal attack on their lives gave me the chills. I could not bear the thought of reading further without the presence of any one of them. The author has so many tricks up his sleeves that there is never a dull moment. This is no ordinary fiction story. Every little detail, including but not limited to scenes, buildings, characters, and monsters is described so meticulously that I was drawn into Dante's Town of Terror and could not get out of it, even after finishing the last chapter. I know with certainty that this book will remain with me for a long time to come. It will become a benchmark whereby I'll measure every other book of similar genres.
The same review is also available on my blog: Mojito With a Twist
Dante's Town of Terror by Patrick R. Delaney is a horrifying tale of a camping trip from hell. Brian took his friend, Bill, and daughter, Cathy, on a camping trip. However, somewhere along the road, they took a wrong turn and got lost in a deep, dark forest. This forest was not just filled with vicious animals, but monsters that were flesh and blood hungry. By a stroke of luck, they managed to get out of this forest and into a town. Nevertheless, as soon as they gave a sigh of relief for being out of that godforsaken place, they realized the town was a hell on earth. The whole town showed no signs of humans. It seemed as if every living being, with the exception of the demonic creatures that lurked in the town day and night, had abandoned the place. From the moment they entered the town, it did not stop raining; they were cold and tired, but the terrible sights in front of them kept them moving. With Bill's cop instincts guiding Brian and Cathy, they kept going forward, despite having all kinds of terrifying thoughts. As more and more sightings of blood and dead bodies appeared in their path, the camping trip that was supposed to be a relaxing getaway quickly turned into a struggle for survival.
I am extremely impressed by the gripping tale that the author has created. I had goosebumps throughout the read. The author's talent is apparent on every page. I was on the edge of my seat until the last page. As a reader, I connected with the characters so easily that I actually prayed for their survival. Any fatal attack on their lives gave me the chills. I could not bear the thought of reading further without the presence of any one of them. The author has so many tricks up his sleeves that there is never a dull moment. This is no ordinary fiction story. Every little detail, including but not limited to scenes, buildings, characters, and monsters is described so meticulously that I was drawn into Dante's Town of Terror and could not get out of it, even after finishing the last chapter. I know with certainty that this book will remain with me for a long time to come. It will become a benchmark whereby I'll measure every other book of similar genres.
The same review is also available on my blog: Mojito With a Twist
September 13, 2018
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
Dante's Town of Terror by Patrick R. Delaney is the first part of the Infinity Killer trilogy. A camping trip. It should have been the perfect weekend for Brian, Bill, and Cathy but it turned into the weekend from hell. Taking a wrong turn on the journey, the trio finds themselves lost in a deep forest. This is no ordinary forest though; it isn’t just full of wild animals but monsters too. Monsters that are hungry for blood. On the run, they manage to find their way to a deserted town, a place they should have been safe in. But their hell was only just beginning. Constant rain, dead bodies everywhere, blood all over the place, a mysterious person from the past, everything conspiring to stop them from escaping. Just what is this town and can they get away with their lives? What should have been the perfect weekend is now a fight to survive.
Dante’s Town of Terror by Patrick R. Delaney is a gripping story, alive with vivid imagery. The story is a little slow getting off the ground but when it does, you’d better hang on for dear life. Patrick Delaney has a real talent, a meticulous sense of detail that will leave nothing and everything to your imagination. The descriptions are excellent, bringing the story alive in your mind, seeing it, living it, and every chapter will leave you shivering in anticipation for the next one. Be prepared to enter a world like no other, a world of suspense, terror, a new dimension. Don’t bother trying to work out the ending; every time you think you have it, you’ll come up against something that changes everything. The characters' stories are brought out gradually and they are developed slowly but surely. Really looking forward to book 2; I hope it’s as good as this one.
Dante's Town of Terror by Patrick R. Delaney is the first part of the Infinity Killer trilogy. A camping trip. It should have been the perfect weekend for Brian, Bill, and Cathy but it turned into the weekend from hell. Taking a wrong turn on the journey, the trio finds themselves lost in a deep forest. This is no ordinary forest though; it isn’t just full of wild animals but monsters too. Monsters that are hungry for blood. On the run, they manage to find their way to a deserted town, a place they should have been safe in. But their hell was only just beginning. Constant rain, dead bodies everywhere, blood all over the place, a mysterious person from the past, everything conspiring to stop them from escaping. Just what is this town and can they get away with their lives? What should have been the perfect weekend is now a fight to survive.
Dante’s Town of Terror by Patrick R. Delaney is a gripping story, alive with vivid imagery. The story is a little slow getting off the ground but when it does, you’d better hang on for dear life. Patrick Delaney has a real talent, a meticulous sense of detail that will leave nothing and everything to your imagination. The descriptions are excellent, bringing the story alive in your mind, seeing it, living it, and every chapter will leave you shivering in anticipation for the next one. Be prepared to enter a world like no other, a world of suspense, terror, a new dimension. Don’t bother trying to work out the ending; every time you think you have it, you’ll come up against something that changes everything. The characters' stories are brought out gradually and they are developed slowly but surely. Really looking forward to book 2; I hope it’s as good as this one.
August 22, 2018
I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Dante's Town of Terror started off a bit slow for me, but after about 200 pages in, I felt that the suspense and pace of the story really picked up. From that point on, I was very curious to see what was going to happen next. There are several aspects of this novel that I enjoyed. One of these was the setting, which the author did a great job of describing. I could easily visualize the town and the atmosphere, feeling the dread and the cold chill of the place. I also thought that the story was unique, and the creatures described in the story are very creepy! My only trouble was that it took a bit to grab my interest, and I didn't personally connect with the characters all that much; I would've liked a bit more back story on the main trio of characters toward the beginning of the book. I am giving this one 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded up to 4), and I would definitely read the next book in the series, as I am curious to find out what happens next!
October 19, 2019
Awesome
Different kind of book for sure. Packed with action and full of imagination. I really enjoyed this book. It is not a stand alone story but does not leave you hanging at the end. Only thing is it had lots of errors in the writing. Could use a good proof reader. Otherwise great. I'm not going to tell any parts of the story they would decrease the mystery. Read it you won't be disappointed.
Different kind of book for sure. Packed with action and full of imagination. I really enjoyed this book. It is not a stand alone story but does not leave you hanging at the end. Only thing is it had lots of errors in the writing. Could use a good proof reader. Otherwise great. I'm not going to tell any parts of the story they would decrease the mystery. Read it you won't be disappointed.
October 3, 2018
With an interesting premise and a well-crafted storyline, this novel was a fun little read. The pacing of the action seemed to drag at times, but overall it was a good start to the upcoming series.
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My Rating: 3.5/5 starts
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My Rating: 3.5/5 starts
May 7, 2018
Can’t wait for the next book to come out!
February 17, 2020
Great read
The book started out a little slow but really took off. I did enjoy the book and it was really detailed.
The book started out a little slow but really took off. I did enjoy the book and it was really detailed.
October 20, 2020
I'm very torn on this book. I liked it and found it annoying, it was cool and boring at the same time. I find the lack of Dante misleading.
October 29, 2020
"Where are we anyway? I've been getting a Deliverance vibe out there in the forest. We're eager to get back to the city before the banjos start playing," he said.
A little Deliverance, and some Wrong Turn meets The Mist meets Silent Hill. For some reason, this just never got over the top of the hill for me. The characters were are a bit one dimensional and the story line had a few jump scares in between bouts of boredom. But I think the main problem was I've already read the authors latest novel, The House That Fell From the Sky back in May. I thought that was a masterpiece. The story, the characters, the action. The whole way through my mind kept comparing the two pretty different books with the authors distinct writing style. Right from the start I was off balance with these characters. I just didn't care about their fate. With no prologue I was thrown into the story with no point of reference, no back story. It was a different kind of unsettling.
With a cliffhanger ending that I'm sure will be resolved in book two, I don't think I'll continue with this series.
A little Deliverance, and some Wrong Turn meets The Mist meets Silent Hill. For some reason, this just never got over the top of the hill for me. The characters were are a bit one dimensional and the story line had a few jump scares in between bouts of boredom. But I think the main problem was I've already read the authors latest novel, The House That Fell From the Sky back in May. I thought that was a masterpiece. The story, the characters, the action. The whole way through my mind kept comparing the two pretty different books with the authors distinct writing style. Right from the start I was off balance with these characters. I just didn't care about their fate. With no prologue I was thrown into the story with no point of reference, no back story. It was a different kind of unsettling.
With a cliffhanger ending that I'm sure will be resolved in book two, I don't think I'll continue with this series.
June 11, 2018
I enjoyed the book because you knew something was up but it wasn't until the end that the story all came together leaving the reader open-mouthed! I never saw the ending coming. There's rarely anything more terrifying than finding oneself or group lost in the woods, another terrifying thing is to come face to face with your deepest fear. Lost in the woods and then later in a town that holds the most vicious terrifying creatures, Brian, Bill & Cathy must find their way back to the woods and back to safety. One problem - no gas, no food, and no idea how to leave a town that goes on and on and on. Their adventures in Dante's town is captivating, engaging and overall a read that cannot be put down until the end. I love horror - zombies, monsters, demons, you name it. I found this book completely different from anything I have read in a long time. Delaney brings together one's fears and one's choices to a climatic end that will literally haunt you for days.
I thought the characters were well developed; the plot flowed smoothly as did the action. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it challenged one's ethics/morals and fears. Well done! Highly recommend.
I thought the characters were well developed; the plot flowed smoothly as did the action. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it challenged one's ethics/morals and fears. Well done! Highly recommend.
March 2, 2020
Good Little Read
Bill, Brian and Cathy, Brian's daughter were trying to go camping when they crashed their vehicle.
They tried to cut through the forest to find a phone but instead found an entire city that should not exist. It's always raining and the creatures that are only found in Lovecraft horror come out to hunt. They need to find a way to escape but how? The town was not on a map and they maybe stuck for a long time, that is if they dont become creature food.
I liked the story and it did grasp me with its concepts. However, it gave me a screenplay feel where everything that's going on, even the mundane, was written down. Also some minor plot holes were here and there but not enough to have me stop reading
This story, of course, has been heavily influenced by Dante's Divine Comedy and gives it's own unique flavor to it.
The book was good and the story kept me hooked to see what happens next, bottom line.
Bill, Brian and Cathy, Brian's daughter were trying to go camping when they crashed their vehicle.
They tried to cut through the forest to find a phone but instead found an entire city that should not exist. It's always raining and the creatures that are only found in Lovecraft horror come out to hunt. They need to find a way to escape but how? The town was not on a map and they maybe stuck for a long time, that is if they dont become creature food.
I liked the story and it did grasp me with its concepts. However, it gave me a screenplay feel where everything that's going on, even the mundane, was written down. Also some minor plot holes were here and there but not enough to have me stop reading
This story, of course, has been heavily influenced by Dante's Divine Comedy and gives it's own unique flavor to it.
The book was good and the story kept me hooked to see what happens next, bottom line.
May 6, 2019
No one was more surprised than me how much I enjoyed this book. I do not like Sci-Fi and only read it at a friend's recommendation. I think the reason I bought into it is that there was enough "this really could exist" to quiet my normal overthinking and checking out at the first sign of impossibility. The author did such a good job of detailing each character and the city that I could almost smell it. It took longer to read because of that, but it was worth it. I was left with many unanswered questions but since I know it was meant to be a trilogy, I'm sure they will be answered in future books that I will definitely be reading.
October 8, 2018
A solid debut novel!
I liked the setup to this story a lot. Fans of Silent Hill would especially enjoy it. The characters were well rounded, and the descriptions were clear. There were plenty of scary moments too!
Almost 5 stars for me, but I felt some of the passages could have been shortened.
Looking forward to the next book!
I liked the setup to this story a lot. Fans of Silent Hill would especially enjoy it. The characters were well rounded, and the descriptions were clear. There were plenty of scary moments too!
Almost 5 stars for me, but I felt some of the passages could have been shortened.
Looking forward to the next book!
February 17, 2019
Very Strange Story Indeed
You won't believe how this horror story ends, and do believe me it is a horror story. It took me several hours to read, stopping periodically, and it was hard for me to stop reading it. You'll love it.
You won't believe how this horror story ends, and do believe me it is a horror story. It took me several hours to read, stopping periodically, and it was hard for me to stop reading it. You'll love it.
December 31, 2019
I was finding the pace a bit difficult at first, but once I got used to it - things finally got going. I won't spoil, I will just say that it's a good thing that Book 2 was available to me right when I finished - else this would have been a much different review.
June 28, 2023
Gripping
The book has characters you'll want to get to know more about. The words used paints a perfect picture of the grotesque monsters that dwell in the town. It'll leave you wanting to know more!
The book has characters you'll want to get to know more about. The words used paints a perfect picture of the grotesque monsters that dwell in the town. It'll leave you wanting to know more!
April 30, 2019
Original storyline
Great story but needs a lot of editing - perhaps my own reasons for a smoother read? Still a worthy read
Great story but needs a lot of editing - perhaps my own reasons for a smoother read? Still a worthy read
May 22, 2019
Interesting. Slightly terrifying and completely open ended. Not sure what could happen in the next book, if there is one. Not much explanation of what happened in this one.
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