Twisted

by Michaelbrent Collings

The Douglas family just wants to live their lives, and maybe find a bit of happiness. But when the ghost in their home breaks out of a centuries-long sleep, all hope for happiness will die. Because the thing that haunts them is not just evil... It is something much, much worse.

Watching them from the shadows. Hungry to start killing once more. and thirsty for the blood of the children, the blood he has so long been denied. The thing that haunts them is not just evil it is twisted.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Ghosts, Audiobook

Unknown Binding

First published December 9, 2014

About the author

One of the most versatile writers around, Michaelbrent Collings is an internationally bestselling novelist, produced screenwriter, and multiple Bram Stoker Award finalist. While he is best known for horror (and is one of the most successful indie horror authors in the United States), he has also written bestselling thriller, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, humor, young adult, and middle grade works, and Western Romance.

In addition to being a bestselling novelist, Michaelbrent has also received critical acclaim: he is the only person who has ever been a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award, a Dragon Award, a RONE Award, and a Whitney award: and he and his work have been reviewed and/or featured on everything from Publishers Weekly to Scream Magazine to NPR. He is also a frequent guest at comic cons and on writing podcasts like Six Figure Authors, The Creative Penn, and Writing Excuses.

Find more about him at his website, WrittenInsomnia.com, or sign up for his mailing list (and get a free book!) at http://writteninsomnia.com/michaelbre....

Reviews

[Misty Marie Harms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alyssa thought bringing her newborn baby home would complete her family. She already has a wonderful husband, even though he is haunted by an abusive childhood and an 8-year-old son. Seemly overnight an army of toxic centipede takes over her son's room and something is lurking in the shadows. Something that has been waiting to be reborn. Soon, the past and present clash to make for one scary read.

Let me just say if I wake up in the middle of the night and an army of whatever bugs takes over my room, I am burning it all down. Right after I am revived from the heart attack, I would have escaping that 6th ring of hell. Creepy read indeed.

[Paul Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

'C'mere, kid. Daddy's gonna play a game.'

Michaelbrent Collings is a master at instilling sheer and unadulterated terror into a story, I've never known an author be able to twist the tension and your emotions so capably and so bloody easily.

The first chapter immediately makes you sit up and narrow your vision, kids in bad situations will do that but it's soon followed by another gut wrenching moment. One that emotionally bonds you to the plight of the Douglas family, Blake, Alyssa, 8 year old Mal and baby Ruthie. Baby Ruthie is born with a serious condition and a vaso-occlusive crisis could happen at any time, in other words, pain, for a baby, screaming and just a trifle heart breaking.

They get back home and this poor family must have really pissed someone off in the past because life doesn't just turn upside down for them, it jumps out of an aeroplane with no parachute and points, laughing at what's coming next, all the way down. The next disaster is creepy crawly based and its in young Mals room. Blake rushes to help.

'He backed up and kicked the door.
Again. Again. Again,
againagainagainagain.
Mal's screams bled together'

It's fast turning into a world of screams for our family, the next thing, they have to evacuate and move into a rented house. Things don't get any better though, this house has a rather worrying and horrific history. Ghosts, abuse and transformations all worm into your mind as you watch a man fight a battle with his own destiny, succumb to the pain of his childhood and a house that will destroy their sanity.

'He felt a phantom hand across his cheek. The last beating his father had given him.'

The story is told from the perspective of each family member, you can feel the terror from every one of them, it doesn't take a break, nor give you a break from a relentless onslaught of distress and tension. There's an overwhelming feeling of disaster, doom, not everyone's going to survive, people will change, something old, twisted and evil will infect them, play with them. This book will take you to places you really don’t want to go and that’s with no gore or extreme horror vibes, just good old fashioned screams. And yes,I did enjoy my second read from this author and recommend him if you've not read MbC before, especially the audio if you're into that, he's picks the perfect narrators.

A 4.5* rating

Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple are anxiously awaiting the birth of their daughter but when she arrives sadness follows in the form of a rare medical condition that will stress them both financially and emotionally. As they’re settling into a new normal, some really bizarre and terrifying things begin to happen and they’re forced to temporarily relocate. But they soon discover they can’t outrun the horror.

I can’t put my finger on why this book didn’t work for me as well as it did for most of my friends. The atmosphere was dripping in dread which usually hooks me. It had well written characters and I felt sadness for the parents, especially the dad who was trying so hard to outrun his past and not allow it to ruin his present. I had much empathy for their bad to worse situation and parts of the story were definitely creepy as hell but I found it a book that was all too easy to put down (unlike this author’s novel Strangers). Why? Hell if I know. My only guess is the constant POV switches kept throwing me off and made it difficult for me to stay 100% engaged. Or maybe I wasn’t in the mood and it might just be a sad case of “It’s me. Not you.”

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5, rounded up.

The action starts out immediately, as does the emotional attachment to the characters in Michaelbrent Collings latest novel, TWISTED. From the heart wrenching "Prologue" to the beginning of our association with the Douglas family (Blake, Alyssa, eight-year-old Mal, and baby Ruthie), we are intimately bonded to them and the horrors they have--and are about to--face.

Collings' words have a way of getting into the readers' minds, of latching on and demanding their undivided attention as we are transported mentally into the world he has created:
"The doorway frames darkness. Not just an absence of light, but of right. Something wrong stands behind the sheet. Evil, yes. But also something that should not be. Something that rubs at the fabric of reality, rubs it raw and eventually scrapes it away to nothing."

The intense attachment to the characters was what really made this novel star out to me. Their fears, motivations, everything that makes them "human", served to make me honestly care about the sinister events transpiring around them. Collings also hits on some key emotional factors that many people can identify with:
"People are hardwired to look to the unknown, because sometimes that is the only thing that stops them from going mad. Even if knowing means only that you comprehend the manner of your demise, that is better to most people than the greater pains of ignorance. The infinite terror of our imagination allowed to ravage the dark halls of our mind."

From the very beginning , to the startling, gut-churning ending, this book had me riveted to its pages the entire read.

Highly recommended!

[WendyB]

About 100 pages into this book and not much has happened and it's taken page after page after page for that not much to happen.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted is an apropos title for this one from Michaelbrent Collings. What should be a happy time in the life of the Douglas family goes sideways when their newborn Ruthie is diagnosed with a rare medical disorder. Unfortunately, that’s the least of their current worries. It seems that a sinister presence has targeted them and covets the blood of their children. Damn. That’s messed up.

A fast and creepy ride with very good characterization and some genuinely skin crawling and disturbing moments. The narrator did an excellent job and kept the tone and pacing moving deftly throughout the story. 4 Stars and recommended for fans of ghostly chills.

*I received a review copy of this audiobook from Audioblast.com in exchange for an honest review and this is it.

**Edited from 3.5 stars to a solid 4 stars 6-21-15, because I couldn't stop thinking about a few parts of the ending.**

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that was well written but never really caught me, it took me about a month to finish because it was just blah. Then I hated the ending.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got Twisted through the giveaways and was super excited about it as I am about all the awesome free books I get. I'm a big fan of horror stories, so this was right up my ally. In some ways it's a typical haunted house story, but still I think it is unique the way the author plays it out. Overall, I'm a fan and would definitely recommend this to others who like scary stories. At no point was I legit scared, but that's probably just because the events aren't that closely related to my life. The book is really dark, which I love, and it deals with child abuse and the aftermath of that and how it creates evil that spirals continuously.

That said, I would have loved if the author or someone would have done a better edit. There are numerous grammatical and just plain silly mistakes that a good edit would have gotten rid of. I never recommend self-publishing, but if you're going to do it, find an editor friend or pay some nice soul to do it. Mistakes, especially silly ones like repeating words, are very distracting and unprofessional. If you expect people to buy the book, it needs to be good quality, and right now, this one needs some work. There are even a few sentences I couldn't understand because of how poorly worded they were.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a new addition to the Douglas family money is tight. Baby Ruthie was born with a rare disease that causes her a lot of pain.The Douglas family just wants to try and live a normal life. Moving into their new home should have been a good thing but it was not The house was over run with thousands upon thousands of centipedes. The Douglas family had to find a new place to live but for only a couple of days. Once they returned to the house, all hell broke loose. The house starts to change members of the family. Blake was reminded of his childhood and some disturbing things that took place. The evil ghosts are not after the grownups but they are after the children. This book was an emotional roller coaster ride from the start to the finish!

[Jon Von · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know where this came from, I thought it was a review copy, but it didn't exist when I tried to log it. Maybe it was a free Amazon sale? I don't remember buying it. Is this book haunting my phone? I started to suspect it was a Christian novel about halfway through and the first thing the author says in the afterward is, "Well, I got the idea for the audiobook when I was a missionary. I saw a woman who was being beaten by her husband and it made me sad." It's not a bad book, this is like a dimestore knock-off for people who like Stephen Chobosky's Imaginary Friend. But it's just a super-tame horror novel about what if a haunted house could make a loving husband sort of turn evil (but in like a super bland Mormon way). They don't say it! They're not going to church and having a weirdly-specific metaphorical talk. It's not preachy. It's passable, it's a TV movie horror novel for nice people that's well-written enough that I feel like it could pass for a supermarket paperback. But then it starts talking about how a husband's responsibility is to support his family, and women and kids in a weird way, and it's kind of gross.

[Sharon Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a creepy awesome and sad book . Loved it

[11811 (Eleven) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an average ghost story that was written well enough but it never went above average for me. It reminded me of one of the author's other books, The Haunted, which was also an average ghost story. With both books, I found them entertaining enough to keep going, but neither one is going to end up on my favorites shelf. Too many ghost story cliches.

I listened to the audio book and the narration was excellent. If you decide to tackle this one, I'd recommend going with the audio. If I was reading it, I may have DNF'd, but audio was well done and kept me hanging in.

I received a free copy from AudioBookBlast in exchange for an honest review.

[Paul Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time with this because I couldn’t stop making comparisons. It just felt like The Shining combined with Poltergeist. That’s not a bad thing but I was never able to get immersed into the story because of that.

[The Behrg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Michaelbrent Collings. Happy to say it won't be my last. This book cleverly melds both past and present into a terrifying ghost story. Just as I started to feel I knew where it was going, Collings twists the plot into unexpected yet believable paths. What really elevated this from a 4 star read however was the ending. No wonder the book is called "Twisted." Make sure you give this one time to marinate and read through the end - you won't be disappointed.

[Elusive · Rating 4 out of 5]

In ‘Twisted’, Blake and Alyssa’s elation at the birth of their daughter Ruthie is dampened as she is diagnosed with vaso-occlusive crisis. Upon returning home together with their eight-year-old son Mal, they are bedeviled by a series of alarming events with no end in sight for something vicious is wide awake and baying for blood…

Malevolent, eerie and tense all the way, the book was unputdownable as there was no telling what would happen next. The writing was top-notch (save some errors), with evocative imagery that captured the family’s terror and emotions. My pick for the standout scene was the centipedes taking over Mal’s room. The terrifyingly intricate descriptions made it impossible to not imagine.

Some sentences that stuck with me:

But that was memory for you: a strange thing that gave halos to so many dead, and transformed imps to demons and demons into Lucifer himself.

One of humanity’s greatest gifts is the ability to avoid the present by burying itself in past memory or future dreams.

Past problems steal present joys because of future fears.

The different points of view (Blake, Alyssa, Mal and Ralph) enhanced the depth of the characters, hence I found myself rooting for their survival. Blake was especially fleshed out on account of his traumatic childhood abuse which affected him in many ways. Alyssa’s concern for her family and Mal’s protectiveness over Ruthie were well telegraphed. Seeing the world from Ralph’s eyes was fascinating.

A handful of seemingly innocuous, common objects were utilized in a sinister manner for maximum creep / chill factor without compromising the emotional component. There was also suspense regarding who or what was following them and why, with clues scattered along this unpredictable ride.

The explanation behind the haunting was well-thought-out and the ending packed a punch as the truth finally came to light: Unbeknownst to the family, the abused boy wanted them to banish his abusive serial killer father. When Alyssa risked her life and sanity to save her loved ones by getting rid of said father, he killed all of them.

Overall, ‘Twisted’ certainly lived up to its title. Deliciously dark and spine-chilling, it delivered several unforgettable scenes and featured characters that one could care about.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I'm not going to give you the 'what this book is about' blurb - you can read that elsewhere.

1. There is layer upon layer of disaster and horror happening in this book. Newer home, new baby, health issues, money problems, trying to outrun your past, hauntings, etc. There is something for everyone in this one. It has both paranormal horrors and horrors that are very real-life and relatable.
2. I liked this book while I was reading it, but nothing about it stuck with me. I had to go back and read a bit to remind myself what actually happened just to write this review. I know I've mentioned before that I'm a read it and forget it kind of person, but to not remember anything at all about the book is a little odd for me. I'm rating it accordingly - entertaining, but not mind-blowing.
3. We live in an area where basements are a must and our soil is filled with clay which means basements tend to be a bit damp and the perfect breeding ground for the most disgusting, huge, and horrible centipedes I've ever laid my eyes upon and this book added another layer of fear when it comes to those creatures. *shiver*

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It has 2 speeds: (1) Terrifyingly fast and exciting, (2) Painstakingly , but appropriately, slow as it creeps up on the inevitable event to come that you can't wait to read about but don't want to happen at all.
The author, as usual, uses brilliant imagery and character development. The characters are likeable. They are also helpless victims that I wished I could protect but knew I couldn't.
I was pulled right into the story so strongly that my fear level was to the point of chest tightness. Then, just when I thought the author must have run out of fear-inducing details to add to the story, he pulls some other horrific thing out of his hat.
If you like to be terrified, you should read this novel. (unless you have a heart condition) lol

[Ahbet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why only 3 stars

The writing is exceptional. The characters are done very well. After a while they grow on you so much you feel like you want to reach out and help them. Mr Collings, this is the first book of yours i have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, finding it hard to put down. But I hated the ending. SPOILER: why did everybody have to die??? Like I said, I grew to love these characters & BOOM. they're all dead. What became of Ruthie?? All in all, it was a really scary story. Kudos for your brief writings on child abuse, especially the story of the poor woman. Now - onto another Michaelbrent story, because this one was fabulous!!!

[karin whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepier

OMG!!! I love good horror stories, creepy scary, sleep with a light on type of book . This one, um, this one scared the bejesus outta me. It's like the nightmares I had as a child, the kind you wake screaming from. I'm 70years old, I remember those dreams, you, Michaelbrent Collings, tapped into my nightmares, woke the evil lurking there. What next? Keep writing, I'll keep having nightmares!
Dear readers, he prepared, you will not regret reading this, but remember it can awaken the thrill of being scared!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love letter to the genre's best haunted house stories, especially King's incident at the Overlook, Twisted is a messy masterpiece. Collings' masterful character building and mythology are showcased here, with a rare explicit moral message behind the thrills. The Author's Note at the conclusion not only ties together the themes of the story, but helps to emphasize the love and heartache behind the words. Editing gaffs like mixing up peddle and pedal notwithstanding, this is a near perfect book, a work of true love for the genre. Readers--it's time to give this guy some attention.

[Gonzalo Corvera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido y bien escrito

Tiene buenas ideas, y la justificación final sobre la causa del despertar del "mal" se acerca incómodamente a la realidad de la vida, además de que toca bien el tema de la violencia familiar. Pero no estoy seguro de porqué, nunca me cautivó tanto. Sentí un poco trillados muchos de los temas digamos 'fantasmagóricos', y hay elementos de la trama que no se les da mucho juego y quedan colgando.

[DAVID TAYLOR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sick

Very disturbing book. Michael is an artist with seriously sick thoughts. I find it very interesting. I hope he keeps developing his craft. He goes to places that I find uncomfortable. That is what I want from a story. Give me something to think about and consider. Keep up the work. I will read the stories.

[Nick Watters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was exactly what I've come to expect from Michael Brent Collings. Dark, intense, fast paced, and sinister. I highly recommend reading it. without any spoilers I will implore that you read the author's notes at the end.

this novel is fiction, but Collings throws an incredible amount of reality into it with this author's note.

[Ozzlem "Ozzy" · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. The writing was very inconsistent, going from third person to third person subjunctive. Lots of inserts in between lines - is it what that character or another character was thinking or something else? No way to tell. Time went backward often and to other subjects, not sure who or when he was referring.

[Jeff D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent ghost story/ horror novel. Creepy, scary, riveting with well developed characters. Would have been 5 star but I felt the ending was disappointing.. almost felt like a non ending. Still worth the read and Mr. Collings is a new favorite of mine.

[LaDonna W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy

Although the underlying subject matter of Twisted is rough, it’s woven into this eerie story quite ingeniously. Michaelbrent Collings is a master storyteller who will leave you with the heebie-jeebies, so be warned...

[LaDonna W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the underlying subject matter of Twisted is rough, it’s woven into this eerie story quite ingeniously. Michaelbrent Collings is a master storyteller who will leave you with the heebie-jeebies, so be warned...

[Andrea oller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

What an awesome story! This book was so well written I was able to do sucked into the story just waiting for the next twists and turns. Don't pass this up if you love scary paranormal psychological thrillers.

[Linda Luong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted for sure

It was hard to stop reading. Yet I did have to stop for awhile. There were several twists I didn’t see coming. No predictability in this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it!

[timj26 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and creepy this was a fantastically good story
The Narrators voice fit this perfectly

There’s a little something for every horror fan in this one with an ending I truly didn’t see coming highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review