Breed: A Novel

by Chase Novak

Critically celebrated novelist Scott Spencer delivers a Rosemary's Baby-like novel of gothic horror, set against the backdrop of modern-day Upper East Side Manhattan. Alex and Leslie Twisden lead charmed lives-fabulous jobs, a luxurious town house on Manhattan's Upper East Side, a passionate marriage. What they don't have is a child, and as they try one infertility treatment after the next, yearning turns into obsession. As a last-ditch attempt to make their dream of parenthood come true, Alex and Leslie travel deep into Slovenia, where they submit to a painful and terrifying procedure that finally gives them what they so fervently desire . . . but with awful consequences. Ten years later, cosseted and adored but living in a house of secrets, the twins Adam and Alice find themselves locked into their rooms every night, with sounds coming from their parents' bedroom getting progressively louder, more violent, and more disturbing. Driven to a desperate search for answers, Adam and Alice set out on a quest to learn the true nature of the man and woman who raised them. Their discovery will upend everything they thought they knew about their parents and will reveal a threat so horrible that it must be escaped, at any cost.

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2012

About the author

A pen name of Scott Spencer.

Reviews

[Charlene · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Corny" is the best word I can think of to describe this story. I can't believe Stephen King called it the "best horror novel since Peter Straub's Ghost Story." This book was extremely hard to finish.

[Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in need of a book and walking the shelves of my neighborhood library when I saw this title. Dark satire, tongue in cheek, and subversive commentary on parenthood. I really loved this. I'm sorry to see some people either didn't get it or didn't like it. A fun read so thank you Chase Novek!

[Deb O rah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. not quite 4 stars for me. loved the ending.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending------the way a mother's love prevailed at the end.

[Nicole Petri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I don't even know what to say. I went into this not really expecting to like it. The blurb peeked my interest but I honestly didn't think it would be as good as it was. It definitely had its creepy moments and the first part was a bit slow. But once you hit Part 2, it takes off running. I was in a constant state of anxiety and depression from page 64 to page 253. It was a constant fight or flight happening and I stayed up way too late trying to calm down. I really loved this book. I do want to mention, if you cannot handle things being done to animals or children, please skip this one. There are a lot of mentions (not really in detail) but enough that you know what's happening to them. It was gruesome, lots of body horror and the creep factor was top tier. The ending also destroyed me.