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Where Stars Won't Shine
I'll be seeing you.
That's the note left behind for Ivy Longwood when infamous killer Tucker Ashton murders her boyfriend. Several years later, after Tucker vanishes from his jail cell, Ivy travels to Ashton's hometown of Marlowe, Massachusetts. Not for closure or therapy. She's being called there. Steered by forces beyond her control. What she'll find is not the quiet suburban town Marlowe once was. It's something new. Something dark. Something that answers the question: Where did Tucker Ashton go?
That's the note left behind for Ivy Longwood when infamous killer Tucker Ashton murders her boyfriend. Several years later, after Tucker vanishes from his jail cell, Ivy travels to Ashton's hometown of Marlowe, Massachusetts. Not for closure or therapy. She's being called there. Steered by forces beyond her control. What she'll find is not the quiet suburban town Marlowe once was. It's something new. Something dark. Something that answers the question: Where did Tucker Ashton go?
194 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2019
15 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Lacey
46 books144 followersPatrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He currently spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, his oversized cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him.
Twitter: @patlacey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.lace...
Blogspot: http://patrickclacey.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @patlacey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.lace...
Blogspot: http://patrickclacey.wordpress.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 6, 2019
Title: WHERE STARS WON’T SHINE
Author: Patrick Lacey
Publisher: GRINDHOUSE
Originally published in SCREAM MAGAZINE
The stars won’t shine Marlowe, Massachusetts-the hometown of an infamous serial killer, Tucker Ashton. However, despite the town’s gruesome, dark history, our protagonists are traveling there.
“I’ll be seeing you.”
Ivy Longwood got a chilling message written in her boyfriend’s blood; a calling card invitation from Tucker Ashton. Ivy feels called to go to Marlowe, but why? The killer has been dead for a while now. She decides to go, ignoring her sister’s warnings.
Another character preparing to travel to Marlowe, is Zeke Evans, a serial killer fan-boy who runs a website honoring and glorifying his “hero”, Tucker Ashton. Zeke is dragging along his girlfriend, Amy who is troubled about their trip to Massachusetts since Zeke’s behavior has been less obsessed with Ashton and more like ‘possessed’.
The set up for this story could not be any more intriguing. The storytelling is split up between excerpts from a fictional “true crime” style book called, “BIRTH OF A MONSTER” and then separate chapters dedicated to different characters linked to the killer as they make their way to Tucker Ashton’s hometown for different reasons.
This made for a very compelling, page-turning horror story that was unputdownable.
I enjoyed Lacey’s ability to develop his characters through their experiences and flashbacks so that I could invest in them as people. I truly cared about what happened to them instead of the author just using them as stand-in fuel for the slaughter.
“Back to where it all started.
Back to Marlowe.
Back to the darkness.”
There were some clever developments in the storyline that I was impressed by. I did not see them coming. I love when I read a book that grips you hard and manages to keep your attention rapt the entire time but the real icing on the cake is when the ending blows your mind. That is what WHERE STARS WON’T SHINE did for me-which is no small feat since I’m reading horror books all year long. I also appreciate the length of this book; under two hundred pages with no fluff, bloat or filler. Love that.
My only real complaint was that some of the supernatural elements were over the top for me. It was a stretch to believe that certain things were happening--especially when it was contrasted with the authenticity of the true crime sections of the book.
I’m recommending this book to fans of horror, true crime, serial killer stories, slashers, supernatural/paranormal and hauntings. It’s fast paced, brutal and well written.
Author: Patrick Lacey
Publisher: GRINDHOUSE
Originally published in SCREAM MAGAZINE
The stars won’t shine Marlowe, Massachusetts-the hometown of an infamous serial killer, Tucker Ashton. However, despite the town’s gruesome, dark history, our protagonists are traveling there.
“I’ll be seeing you.”
Ivy Longwood got a chilling message written in her boyfriend’s blood; a calling card invitation from Tucker Ashton. Ivy feels called to go to Marlowe, but why? The killer has been dead for a while now. She decides to go, ignoring her sister’s warnings.
Another character preparing to travel to Marlowe, is Zeke Evans, a serial killer fan-boy who runs a website honoring and glorifying his “hero”, Tucker Ashton. Zeke is dragging along his girlfriend, Amy who is troubled about their trip to Massachusetts since Zeke’s behavior has been less obsessed with Ashton and more like ‘possessed’.
The set up for this story could not be any more intriguing. The storytelling is split up between excerpts from a fictional “true crime” style book called, “BIRTH OF A MONSTER” and then separate chapters dedicated to different characters linked to the killer as they make their way to Tucker Ashton’s hometown for different reasons.
This made for a very compelling, page-turning horror story that was unputdownable.
I enjoyed Lacey’s ability to develop his characters through their experiences and flashbacks so that I could invest in them as people. I truly cared about what happened to them instead of the author just using them as stand-in fuel for the slaughter.
“Back to where it all started.
Back to Marlowe.
Back to the darkness.”
There were some clever developments in the storyline that I was impressed by. I did not see them coming. I love when I read a book that grips you hard and manages to keep your attention rapt the entire time but the real icing on the cake is when the ending blows your mind. That is what WHERE STARS WON’T SHINE did for me-which is no small feat since I’m reading horror books all year long. I also appreciate the length of this book; under two hundred pages with no fluff, bloat or filler. Love that.
My only real complaint was that some of the supernatural elements were over the top for me. It was a stretch to believe that certain things were happening--especially when it was contrasted with the authenticity of the true crime sections of the book.
I’m recommending this book to fans of horror, true crime, serial killer stories, slashers, supernatural/paranormal and hauntings. It’s fast paced, brutal and well written.
March 7, 2025
I'll be seeing you...
WHERE STARS WON'T SHINE
by Patrick Lacey
No spoilers. 2 1/2 stars. Serial killer Tucker Ashton disappeared from his hometown of Marlowe, MA...
He is presumed dead...
Ivy Longwood sees blood and gory wounds and sometimes the instruments of death when she looks at people...
Ethan Roberts' daughter Lisa has cancer, and Ethan needs money to pay for her treatments. His brother Andrew coerces him into robbing a pharmacy for drug money...
Serial killer super-fan Zeke Evans gets a surprise letter from his idol Tucker Ashton asking Zeke to meet him in Marlowe... flattered, Zeke takes his girlfriend Amy along for the ride (what a guy!)...
Indeed...
They are all drawn to Marlowe and stranded there by Tucker Ashton. Tucker has invited them to a huge party in the Hotel Marlowe. it's an invitation they can't refuse...
Signed,
I'll be seeing you!...
I found this to be a very rudimentary story sans plot depth of any kind. As a reader of true crime, I've read many TRUE stories that will scare the socks right off of you, so I can't see how so many people found this novel scary. If this story scares you, for heavens' sake, don't read any real TRUE crime novels or you won't be able to sleep!
WHERE STARS WON'T SHINE
by Patrick Lacey
No spoilers. 2 1/2 stars. Serial killer Tucker Ashton disappeared from his hometown of Marlowe, MA...
He is presumed dead...
Ivy Longwood sees blood and gory wounds and sometimes the instruments of death when she looks at people...
Ethan Roberts' daughter Lisa has cancer, and Ethan needs money to pay for her treatments. His brother Andrew coerces him into robbing a pharmacy for drug money...
Serial killer super-fan Zeke Evans gets a surprise letter from his idol Tucker Ashton asking Zeke to meet him in Marlowe... flattered, Zeke takes his girlfriend Amy along for the ride (what a guy!)...
Indeed...
They are all drawn to Marlowe and stranded there by Tucker Ashton. Tucker has invited them to a huge party in the Hotel Marlowe. it's an invitation they can't refuse...
Signed,
I'll be seeing you!...
I found this to be a very rudimentary story sans plot depth of any kind. As a reader of true crime, I've read many TRUE stories that will scare the socks right off of you, so I can't see how so many people found this novel scary. If this story scares you, for heavens' sake, don't read any real TRUE crime novels or you won't be able to sleep!
November 6, 2019
An author is haunted by the serial killer he spent years researching. And he’s not the only one!
Tucker Ashton went on a killing spree that took the lives of many (most) of the people residing in Marlowe, MA and he’s been locked up until now . . .
Three people feel compelled to travel to Marlowe for reasons of their own despite the fact that Ashton may or may not be on the loose. Call them crazy, if you will, but their reasons make a lot of sense once you get to know them and the author takes care creating their motivation for putting themselves in peril. Ivy needs closure because the love of her life was one of Tucker’s victims, Zeke is a collector of serial killer memorabilia and is obsessed in a bad way with Tucker and Ethan is a man desperate for a little cash no matter the cost. They all hole up in the decrepit Marlowe hotel which seems the perfect place for a little murder, lol.
There is something strange going on in Marlowe but there’s no way I’m going to spoil it. The fun of this book is discovering exactly what the heck is going on and it surprised me at many turns. Especially the final reveal. Wow, I can’t express how much I loved it! So fitting, so perfect, SO DARK. Yes! He went there and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Anyhow, this is a creepy book that builds a unique little world for itself while also crafting interesting, imperfect and haunted characters which I always appreciate. It also keeps you off kilter. I had no clue what was happening or why until the author chose to reveal it to me. That’s good writing in my book. I enjoyed the excerpts from the serial killer book which were placed throughout the story giving you a bit of background on the killer who was fascinating in his horribleness. The build is slow and I appreciated that and when the action starts it doesn’t stop until the very end.
A definite recommend for any horror fan.
Tucker Ashton went on a killing spree that took the lives of many (most) of the people residing in Marlowe, MA and he’s been locked up until now . . .
Three people feel compelled to travel to Marlowe for reasons of their own despite the fact that Ashton may or may not be on the loose. Call them crazy, if you will, but their reasons make a lot of sense once you get to know them and the author takes care creating their motivation for putting themselves in peril. Ivy needs closure because the love of her life was one of Tucker’s victims, Zeke is a collector of serial killer memorabilia and is obsessed in a bad way with Tucker and Ethan is a man desperate for a little cash no matter the cost. They all hole up in the decrepit Marlowe hotel which seems the perfect place for a little murder, lol.
There is something strange going on in Marlowe but there’s no way I’m going to spoil it. The fun of this book is discovering exactly what the heck is going on and it surprised me at many turns. Especially the final reveal. Wow, I can’t express how much I loved it! So fitting, so perfect, SO DARK. Yes! He went there and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Anyhow, this is a creepy book that builds a unique little world for itself while also crafting interesting, imperfect and haunted characters which I always appreciate. It also keeps you off kilter. I had no clue what was happening or why until the author chose to reveal it to me. That’s good writing in my book. I enjoyed the excerpts from the serial killer book which were placed throughout the story giving you a bit of background on the killer who was fascinating in his horribleness. The build is slow and I appreciated that and when the action starts it doesn’t stop until the very end.
A definite recommend for any horror fan.
February 24, 2019
4.5 stars!
WHERE STARS WON'T SHINE, by Patrick Lacey, is a complex novel that weaves some excellent characterization, emotions, and backstories with an idolized serial killer and the supernatural. The combination--much like other books I've read by this author--resulted in a fast-paced, original tale that I was captivated with throughout the entire read.
". . . There aren't any stars."
One thing I have to add is that not one of the books I've already seen by Patrick Lacey has the same "formula" as another one. It would be near impossible to pin down a generalization in regards to what he writes about, because every one of his stories is so original, and the themes vary so widely.
What I will say is that he is damn good!
". . . He'd dug his own hole and could no longer see the surface. There was only darkness down here . . . "
A serial killer named Tucker Ashton became infamous when he began uploading videos of all of his victims. For some reason, he returned to his hometown of Marlowe, Massachusetts for a massive one-night killing spree--afterwards, calmly waiting for the police in his old home. Sometime later he mysteriously disappeared from jail, leaving no clue as to how or where he'd gone.
". . . he would stare deep into the shadows for hours. Eventually he came to believe the shadows stared back."
Something that really impressed me in this book was how Lacey let us see the different mindsets of all the starring individuals. There are several "main" characters, and each one of them is summoned to Marlowe--a town that's been dying out since Tucker's final massacre there--on a very specific date. Each is connected to the killer in some way, whether it be a loved one murdered by him (Ivy), growing up in the same town (Ethan), or simply worshipping the maniac and blogging about his many kills (Zach). Of course, there are others, but these are the ones the reader really gets to know.
". . . She thought they were just taking a road trip to visit the site of the Marlowe Massacre . . . "
Naturally, Lacey takes us back into Tucker Ashton's life as well, but the way he does it puts an interesting twist on things. Chronicled in a book that was just released about the making of a serial killer, excerpts are taken and interspersed throughout the novel. As we are learning the personalities of the other characters, we are also starting to learn about Tucker.
". . . I may have gone somewhere, someplace that's as far from reality as possible, but I came back . . . "
The town itself undergoes a transformation--at least for our characters--as well. From a nearly "dead" place with only horrific murders for people to remember it by, to practically an amusement park for the most sadistic and demented kinds.
". . . They don't seem to be playing by the rules of reality."
In here, we are given a look into Tucker's imagination, without him having to say a word, or others speaking about him. I've always felt that an author's "showing" the reader things as opposed to merely stating them, makes us think about it that much more, thereby becoming almost a part of the story, ourselves.
". . . Even when everything seemed perfect on the surface, there was always something close by to ruin the facade."
Overall, I felt this was yet another phenomenal read from Patrick Lacey. His characterization is stronger than ever, giving us insight into many different personalities. Depending on the situation in which you find yourself, even the best of people can make a bad decision. Lacey shows this unapologetically, as his characters are merely "human" and no better or worse than any one of us. (Well, except for perhaps the serial killer . . . )
". . . The reality was far more complicated and troublesome. Because killers did exist . . . "
The only thing I wasn't thrilled with is that the story became a little predictable near the end. However, another twist or two made up for that moment.
". . . metaphorical beasts lurked around every corner . . . "
A mind bending story which takes our knowledge of "reality" to an entirely new level. The characters feel "alive". Whether you love them or hate them, they're all very human, in my eyes.
Highly recommended!
WHERE STARS WON'T SHINE, by Patrick Lacey, is a complex novel that weaves some excellent characterization, emotions, and backstories with an idolized serial killer and the supernatural. The combination--much like other books I've read by this author--resulted in a fast-paced, original tale that I was captivated with throughout the entire read.
". . . There aren't any stars."
One thing I have to add is that not one of the books I've already seen by Patrick Lacey has the same "formula" as another one. It would be near impossible to pin down a generalization in regards to what he writes about, because every one of his stories is so original, and the themes vary so widely.
What I will say is that he is damn good!
". . . He'd dug his own hole and could no longer see the surface. There was only darkness down here . . . "
A serial killer named Tucker Ashton became infamous when he began uploading videos of all of his victims. For some reason, he returned to his hometown of Marlowe, Massachusetts for a massive one-night killing spree--afterwards, calmly waiting for the police in his old home. Sometime later he mysteriously disappeared from jail, leaving no clue as to how or where he'd gone.
". . . he would stare deep into the shadows for hours. Eventually he came to believe the shadows stared back."
Something that really impressed me in this book was how Lacey let us see the different mindsets of all the starring individuals. There are several "main" characters, and each one of them is summoned to Marlowe--a town that's been dying out since Tucker's final massacre there--on a very specific date. Each is connected to the killer in some way, whether it be a loved one murdered by him (Ivy), growing up in the same town (Ethan), or simply worshipping the maniac and blogging about his many kills (Zach). Of course, there are others, but these are the ones the reader really gets to know.
". . . She thought they were just taking a road trip to visit the site of the Marlowe Massacre . . . "
Naturally, Lacey takes us back into Tucker Ashton's life as well, but the way he does it puts an interesting twist on things. Chronicled in a book that was just released about the making of a serial killer, excerpts are taken and interspersed throughout the novel. As we are learning the personalities of the other characters, we are also starting to learn about Tucker.
". . . I may have gone somewhere, someplace that's as far from reality as possible, but I came back . . . "
The town itself undergoes a transformation--at least for our characters--as well. From a nearly "dead" place with only horrific murders for people to remember it by, to practically an amusement park for the most sadistic and demented kinds.
". . . They don't seem to be playing by the rules of reality."
In here, we are given a look into Tucker's imagination, without him having to say a word, or others speaking about him. I've always felt that an author's "showing" the reader things as opposed to merely stating them, makes us think about it that much more, thereby becoming almost a part of the story, ourselves.
". . . Even when everything seemed perfect on the surface, there was always something close by to ruin the facade."
Overall, I felt this was yet another phenomenal read from Patrick Lacey. His characterization is stronger than ever, giving us insight into many different personalities. Depending on the situation in which you find yourself, even the best of people can make a bad decision. Lacey shows this unapologetically, as his characters are merely "human" and no better or worse than any one of us. (Well, except for perhaps the serial killer . . . )
". . . The reality was far more complicated and troublesome. Because killers did exist . . . "
The only thing I wasn't thrilled with is that the story became a little predictable near the end. However, another twist or two made up for that moment.
". . . metaphorical beasts lurked around every corner . . . "
A mind bending story which takes our knowledge of "reality" to an entirely new level. The characters feel "alive". Whether you love them or hate them, they're all very human, in my eyes.
Highly recommended!
June 27, 2025
3.5 stars. This was a little hard to follow. I definitely agree with some of the other reviewers in that I didn't think it was clear as to what the intentions of Tucker Ashton were here. At first, I thought it would be victims that he wanted, but for some reason wasn't able, to harm. So he brought them all back to his hometown to finish the job from beyond that grave. But the characters were seemingly random, and that hurt my overall interest in the story. And it was written very well, and the effort was there, but I needed some more clarity on everything to warrant a better rating. But the book did have some great atmosphere and creepy moments. Tucker Ashton is a solid antagonist and I liked how the author gave him a cult following. It always bothered me how society glorifies such individuals, and the story took advantage of strange events like this. Like how many times have you heard of fans writing serial killers in prison? And how many movies about Ted Bundy do we need? Call me crazy, but I was raised to believe that we should look up to more successful and stable individuals, and not the worst of the worst. Again, what the hell do I know, right? So my overall experience wasn't bad here, but there needed to be some further finessing of the content to tie everything together.
January 13, 2019
I absolutely loved Where Stars Won't Shine! This book had everything I wanted. It had a great plot and setting, and I had so much fun getting to know the characters. I could have spent more time in this book, and I would love if Patrick Lacey came back to this universe.
I think this book would be good for horror, thriller, and true crime fans - there's so much to enjoy here. There were some parts that were even reminiscent of other stories I love like The Shining and NOS4A2 (I'm not comparing it to those books, so don't freak out; I'm just saying they all have good horror qualities). Fans of Practitioners co-written by Lacey and Matt Hayward will like this one, too.
I had so much fun reading this one & I highly recommend it. I could still see this being on my favorites list toward the end of the year. Thank you so much to Patrick Lacey & Grindhouse Press for sending this one to the NightWorms!
I think this book would be good for horror, thriller, and true crime fans - there's so much to enjoy here. There were some parts that were even reminiscent of other stories I love like The Shining and NOS4A2 (I'm not comparing it to those books, so don't freak out; I'm just saying they all have good horror qualities). Fans of Practitioners co-written by Lacey and Matt Hayward will like this one, too.
I had so much fun reading this one & I highly recommend it. I could still see this being on my favorites list toward the end of the year. Thank you so much to Patrick Lacey & Grindhouse Press for sending this one to the NightWorms!
January 11, 2019
My year of 2019 reading is off to a strong start with WHERE STARS WON'T SHINE, the latest horrific offering from author Patrick Lacey. I was introduced to Lacey last year when I was sent copies of his books Practitioners--an insanely fun book--and Bone Saw--one of my favorite books of 2018--for review. Since then, I've been eager to check out more of his work. Now, thanks to the fine folks at Grindhouse Press, we have STARS, yet another home-run for Lacey.
The story is a lot like Practitioners and Bone Saw in that it's about a small-town that is coming undone. Marlowe, Massachusetts is the home of Tucker Ashton, a man responsible for the brutal murders of hundreds of people. Many years later, Ashton simply vanishes from his jail cell at the same time that Ivy Longwood, the girlfriend of one of Tucker Ashton's victims, returns to Marlowe with the idea that she is being called there by unseen forces. But Marlowe isn't like it was when she lived there years ago. It's different somehow. And Tucker Ashton might be waiting...
Coming in at just under 180 pages, STARS is a lean, mean, fast-paced novel that cuts out all unneeded fat and moves right along. While I would have liked a little more explanation as to why certain events were occurring, I simply couldn't put the book down. It throws its realistic characters--who are dealing with their own personal demons--into an eerie, photo-negative world where everything is familiar but nothing is the same. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
P.S. VIDEO REVIEW COMING SOON
The story is a lot like Practitioners and Bone Saw in that it's about a small-town that is coming undone. Marlowe, Massachusetts is the home of Tucker Ashton, a man responsible for the brutal murders of hundreds of people. Many years later, Ashton simply vanishes from his jail cell at the same time that Ivy Longwood, the girlfriend of one of Tucker Ashton's victims, returns to Marlowe with the idea that she is being called there by unseen forces. But Marlowe isn't like it was when she lived there years ago. It's different somehow. And Tucker Ashton might be waiting...
Coming in at just under 180 pages, STARS is a lean, mean, fast-paced novel that cuts out all unneeded fat and moves right along. While I would have liked a little more explanation as to why certain events were occurring, I simply couldn't put the book down. It throws its realistic characters--who are dealing with their own personal demons--into an eerie, photo-negative world where everything is familiar but nothing is the same. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
P.S. VIDEO REVIEW COMING SOON
January 6, 2019
Had so much fun with this one. Full review for Sci Fi and Scary on release day 1/5
My full review:
Tucker Ashton IS a monster. Reminiscent of Michael Myers and Haddonfield, he has a home base and perpetrates a massive killing spree across the country and in his hometown; the body count in the hundreds. As the book progresses, fans of Nightmare On Elm Street will enjoy the supernatural twists that emerge. I am a huge fan of the Halloween series and just slasher movies and books in general, as well as dear old Freddy. I revel in the chase, the blood, and the sheer horror joy they bring me. Now, this is not to say that this book is exactly like every other “slasher” story – it isn’t.
We follow the lives of Ivy, Zeke, Amy, and Ethan (all connected to the killer in some fashion), at first separately and then as they are all slowly, inexorably drawn back to the quiet, blood-soaked and ruined town of Marlowe. Lacey really shows his storytelling abilities as he deftly combines amazing character development, pacing, and sheer originality. Sometimes when supernatural elements are introduced in horror books it can feel forced, or unnecessary – not the case with this one.
Another aspect I enjoyed is that this book isn’t “just” dedicated to one subgenre of horror fiction. The character Charles is the author of a (fictional) true crime novel about Tucker Ashton. There are chapters of this “true crime” novel interspersed throughout the others. These are actually some of my favorite chapters. They add a depth and a refreshing change of pace, plus – I’ve never seen it done quite this seamlessly before.
Where Stars Won’t Shine is definitely a book that will reach a variety of different readers. I found it unique and entertaining; moreover it was exactly what I wanted to read to kick off 2019. I will be picking up more of Patrick Lacey’s work in the future. Be sure to check this one out. Also – watch out for the potatoes, seriously.
My full review:
Tucker Ashton IS a monster. Reminiscent of Michael Myers and Haddonfield, he has a home base and perpetrates a massive killing spree across the country and in his hometown; the body count in the hundreds. As the book progresses, fans of Nightmare On Elm Street will enjoy the supernatural twists that emerge. I am a huge fan of the Halloween series and just slasher movies and books in general, as well as dear old Freddy. I revel in the chase, the blood, and the sheer horror joy they bring me. Now, this is not to say that this book is exactly like every other “slasher” story – it isn’t.
We follow the lives of Ivy, Zeke, Amy, and Ethan (all connected to the killer in some fashion), at first separately and then as they are all slowly, inexorably drawn back to the quiet, blood-soaked and ruined town of Marlowe. Lacey really shows his storytelling abilities as he deftly combines amazing character development, pacing, and sheer originality. Sometimes when supernatural elements are introduced in horror books it can feel forced, or unnecessary – not the case with this one.
Another aspect I enjoyed is that this book isn’t “just” dedicated to one subgenre of horror fiction. The character Charles is the author of a (fictional) true crime novel about Tucker Ashton. There are chapters of this “true crime” novel interspersed throughout the others. These are actually some of my favorite chapters. They add a depth and a refreshing change of pace, plus – I’ve never seen it done quite this seamlessly before.
Where Stars Won’t Shine is definitely a book that will reach a variety of different readers. I found it unique and entertaining; moreover it was exactly what I wanted to read to kick off 2019. I will be picking up more of Patrick Lacey’s work in the future. Be sure to check this one out. Also – watch out for the potatoes, seriously.
January 14, 2019
Wow. Where did this book come from all of a sudden? As I was reading it I realized that I actually own Bone Saw by Lacey, and that book has immediately shot up to my February TBR. For some reason it got lost in my TBR shuffle, but now that I'm familiar with Lacey's writing I cannot wait to read it.
Where Stars Won't Shine has a little bit of something for every horror lover. It grabbed me from the very beginning, and it was hard to put down, especially when life kept intruding. I have a feeling I would have read this in one sitting if things hadn't been so busy for me when I started it. I was completely wrapped up in this story and the characters.
I also love the format. Some of the chapters are excerpts from a true crime novel that was written about the killer Tucker Ashton, who is really the star of this story. Ashton had a childhood that had all the necessary messed up things that would turn a kid into a serial killer, and once he got older and finished a cross country killing spree he returned to his hometown of Marlow, Massachusetts and decimated the population. Now virtually a ghost town, four strangers converge on Marlow, all of them there because of Tucker Ashton, a man who most people believe is actually dead. Some nasty things happen while the visitors are in Marlow, and soon they find that it isn't as easy to leave the town as it is to enter.
I love the creepy cast of side characters that Lacey created. His main characters are also relatable and easy to root for. Ashton is larger than life and just as evil, and Marlow is like a character as well. I would love to see Lacey revisit the town. This book is such a gory bit of fun. I highly recommend this one.
Where Stars Won't Shine has a little bit of something for every horror lover. It grabbed me from the very beginning, and it was hard to put down, especially when life kept intruding. I have a feeling I would have read this in one sitting if things hadn't been so busy for me when I started it. I was completely wrapped up in this story and the characters.
I also love the format. Some of the chapters are excerpts from a true crime novel that was written about the killer Tucker Ashton, who is really the star of this story. Ashton had a childhood that had all the necessary messed up things that would turn a kid into a serial killer, and once he got older and finished a cross country killing spree he returned to his hometown of Marlow, Massachusetts and decimated the population. Now virtually a ghost town, four strangers converge on Marlow, all of them there because of Tucker Ashton, a man who most people believe is actually dead. Some nasty things happen while the visitors are in Marlow, and soon they find that it isn't as easy to leave the town as it is to enter.
I love the creepy cast of side characters that Lacey created. His main characters are also relatable and easy to root for. Ashton is larger than life and just as evil, and Marlow is like a character as well. I would love to see Lacey revisit the town. This book is such a gory bit of fun. I highly recommend this one.
January 9, 2019
It's always a big decision to choose the first book of the year to read. I decided on Where Stars Won't Shine by Patrick Lacey as it seemed interesting and was also going to be a 'group read' for the month, too. It's always nice to know when you make the right decision! And every time I look at this gorgeous, dark, cold, blue cover... I will be enveloped with the feeling I had while reading this book. It's difficult to explain to others that -actual- feeling, but I am excited to have it and hope that my review will encourage others to read this book and search for that feeling of your own.
Where Stars Wont't Shine has so much going on for fans of any horror sub-genre to love as it blends its horror with true crime and a serial killer, dark fantasy, a little supernatural, haunted house/town, etc. I was totally engrossed from the opening chapter and read it in two sittings. It takes a really good book to not allow me to at least get pulled away to browse social media, turn on a show or movie for a quick break, or pause to play some computer games. I only stopped this book to sleep (because I am not as young as I once was and need sleep so that I function properly and do not end up getting fired for being a total a$$hole at work!)
Some of the chapters were separated by excerpts from a book written about the serial killer IN the book. So basically it was like reading a book within a book sometimes. And it was fascinating and I love when authors do this - I wish it was done more! It just adds a little bit more to bringing the reader into the story and the psyche of the characters. It's kind of like when there are newspaper clippings, podcast transcriptions, etc in books.
I found myself rooting for all the characters, even the "villain(s)" of the story. I could connect with each of them on different levels based on their losses, hopes, and experiences. It makes reading a book so much more effortless when you love the characters you are reading about. And the town of Marlowe, Massachusetts is like a character all on its own, too. I love when the setting IS a character and is just as integral with its descriptions and nuances as any character in a story with dialogue and actions. Lacey nailed it when it comes to creating this town!
5 stars to my first completed book of the 2019! Loved this one!! This will most definitely not be the last Patrick Lacey book I read - I plan on getting some more of his works and he is an author that I will seek to read more whenever I get the chance. Thanks to the author for sending the Night Worms copies for an honest review!
Where Stars Wont't Shine has so much going on for fans of any horror sub-genre to love as it blends its horror with true crime and a serial killer, dark fantasy, a little supernatural, haunted house/town, etc. I was totally engrossed from the opening chapter and read it in two sittings. It takes a really good book to not allow me to at least get pulled away to browse social media, turn on a show or movie for a quick break, or pause to play some computer games. I only stopped this book to sleep (because I am not as young as I once was and need sleep so that I function properly and do not end up getting fired for being a total a$$hole at work!)
Some of the chapters were separated by excerpts from a book written about the serial killer IN the book. So basically it was like reading a book within a book sometimes. And it was fascinating and I love when authors do this - I wish it was done more! It just adds a little bit more to bringing the reader into the story and the psyche of the characters. It's kind of like when there are newspaper clippings, podcast transcriptions, etc in books.
I found myself rooting for all the characters, even the "villain(s)" of the story. I could connect with each of them on different levels based on their losses, hopes, and experiences. It makes reading a book so much more effortless when you love the characters you are reading about. And the town of Marlowe, Massachusetts is like a character all on its own, too. I love when the setting IS a character and is just as integral with its descriptions and nuances as any character in a story with dialogue and actions. Lacey nailed it when it comes to creating this town!
5 stars to my first completed book of the 2019! Loved this one!! This will most definitely not be the last Patrick Lacey book I read - I plan on getting some more of his works and he is an author that I will seek to read more whenever I get the chance. Thanks to the author for sending the Night Worms copies for an honest review!
January 25, 2019
This is very well done.
Clean and neat, as you can always expect from Grindhouse.
The story negotiates some very dark territory with finesse. I only had to gloss over one page that tugged at my deepest fears, so it was just the right amount of horror for me. If I were Goldilocks, this would have been the porridge I ate.
I would have eaten the shit out of it.
And I’m ready for seconds. Now.
The characters are memorable, and you genuinely want them to survive. They tug at your heartstrings early on and never let go.
The quality is sustained throughout. So many books I read these days start out strong and then lose steam. Not this one. What you get going in is what you get coming out.
Best horror book of 2019 I have read so far.
Clean and neat, as you can always expect from Grindhouse.
The story negotiates some very dark territory with finesse. I only had to gloss over one page that tugged at my deepest fears, so it was just the right amount of horror for me. If I were Goldilocks, this would have been the porridge I ate.
I would have eaten the shit out of it.
And I’m ready for seconds. Now.
The characters are memorable, and you genuinely want them to survive. They tug at your heartstrings early on and never let go.
The quality is sustained throughout. So many books I read these days start out strong and then lose steam. Not this one. What you get going in is what you get coming out.
Best horror book of 2019 I have read so far.
April 7, 2019
Review copy
Tucker Ashton, the subject of the book, Birth of a Monster, written by Charles Williamson...
"But I can tell you everything leading up to his disappearance. I can tell you about the victims and the families. I can tell you about the trail of bloodshed Tucker Ashton left over much of the country. I can tell you about his childhood and home life, both of which molded him into the monster he became. And that’s a term I’ll use frequently: monster. You can call him a human if you’d like but you haven’t sat across a table and stared into his eyes. You haven’t heard him speak of disemboweling little girls like he was recalling a fond memory. You haven’t seen his smile when he studies photos of his crime scenes. I hope you never do but if, for some reason, you find yourself in such a position, you’ll understand my choice of words."
Believed deceased, Ashton is planning a return engagement to the town of Marlowe, the scene of his most notorious killing spree and this time he's invited fans old acquaintances whether they want to be there, or not.
A haunting tale, one the writer fills with a sense of urgency. Filled with unending terror. Don't let this one slip through the cracks.
Recommended.
Published by Grindhouse Press, Where Stars Won't Shie is available in both paperback and Kindle formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Patrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He currently spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable. He lives in Massachusetts with his fiancee, his Pomeranian, his over-sized cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him
Tucker Ashton, the subject of the book, Birth of a Monster, written by Charles Williamson...
"But I can tell you everything leading up to his disappearance. I can tell you about the victims and the families. I can tell you about the trail of bloodshed Tucker Ashton left over much of the country. I can tell you about his childhood and home life, both of which molded him into the monster he became. And that’s a term I’ll use frequently: monster. You can call him a human if you’d like but you haven’t sat across a table and stared into his eyes. You haven’t heard him speak of disemboweling little girls like he was recalling a fond memory. You haven’t seen his smile when he studies photos of his crime scenes. I hope you never do but if, for some reason, you find yourself in such a position, you’ll understand my choice of words."
Believed deceased, Ashton is planning a return engagement to the town of Marlowe, the scene of his most notorious killing spree and this time he's invited fans old acquaintances whether they want to be there, or not.
A haunting tale, one the writer fills with a sense of urgency. Filled with unending terror. Don't let this one slip through the cracks.
Recommended.
Published by Grindhouse Press, Where Stars Won't Shie is available in both paperback and Kindle formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Patrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He currently spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable. He lives in Massachusetts with his fiancee, his Pomeranian, his over-sized cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him
December 22, 2020
That. Was. So. Good. (I'm clapping in between each of those pauses, so just imagine that ok. ) Review coming.
January 29, 2019
Thanks to Grindhouse Press and the author for the free review copy!
What with the upcoming Ted Bundy movie coming soon (which I cannot wait for!) it seems appropriate to read books about serial killers. Pat Lacey’s latest fictional outing, Where Stars Won’t Shine, is about an infamous killer and the small town in which he grew up.
This was my first Lacey novel, and I must say I was impressed with the writing. His style is professional . . . and, let’s be honest: many small press writers’ releases read like they were not given more than a second glance.
What I must complain about, however, is the length. It’s simply too short for all the characters that are introduced (rather quickly, at that!). All the characters are interesting, just not developed well enough. So by the time the action started, I found myself not caring much for them.
This is an enjoyable, albeit far too brief, outing into the real-world horrors of serial killers. Thanks again to the author and publisher for the free review copy!
What with the upcoming Ted Bundy movie coming soon (which I cannot wait for!) it seems appropriate to read books about serial killers. Pat Lacey’s latest fictional outing, Where Stars Won’t Shine, is about an infamous killer and the small town in which he grew up.
This was my first Lacey novel, and I must say I was impressed with the writing. His style is professional . . . and, let’s be honest: many small press writers’ releases read like they were not given more than a second glance.
What I must complain about, however, is the length. It’s simply too short for all the characters that are introduced (rather quickly, at that!). All the characters are interesting, just not developed well enough. So by the time the action started, I found myself not caring much for them.
This is an enjoyable, albeit far too brief, outing into the real-world horrors of serial killers. Thanks again to the author and publisher for the free review copy!
March 18, 2022
Honestly, I had to force myself to get though it. It’s not that it’s BAD so much as unpleasant, tedious and confusing. Did not like the characters at all or understand why they were doing anything. There are some good ideas though and the writing is ok but bleh.
January 4, 2020
Where Stars Won’t Shine is my third read from Patrick Lacey, and my favorite so far. I’m glad that I have more of his novels on my shelf, as I’ve enjoyed all that I’ve read from this author. I started reading this book at night, during a recent power-outage, which intensified the creep factor. Darkness aside, I was gripped by the story from the very beginning. I loved the format used for introducing the reader to the villain, and the subject matter was of immediate interest to me. The main antagonist in this story is a depraved killer, and it reads like true crime with a healthy dose of horror.
There are some great storytelling elements at play here—an excellent plot, solid character development, and perfect pacing. All of these facets made for a great read that I couldn’t put down. I cared about the characters, and found myself fully invested in their journey. The author provides enough backstory on each character without too much detail. The details given on each person allowed me to have empathy for them all, even the villains, which made for an engaging read.
I’m aware that Patrick Lacey is a “Nightmare on Elm Street” fan, and I sensed some of that influence in this story. I really loved that vibe. It’s an original tale, but has that same dreamlike quality with memorable moments of terror. Ashton’s town of Marlowe is like a nightmare that the protagonists are desperate to escape. Most great stories play out like movies in my mind while I read, and this one was no exception. Lacey’s most recent novel (A Voice So Soft) has this same quality���his love of horror films really translates to his writing.
Overall, Where Stars Won’t Shine is a compelling read, and the subject matter rekindled my interest in true crime, despite the fact that this particular tale is fiction. At this point, I’m sold on Patrick Lacey’s skill as a writer, and I can’t wait for what’s in store when I pick up another one of his books.
There are some great storytelling elements at play here—an excellent plot, solid character development, and perfect pacing. All of these facets made for a great read that I couldn’t put down. I cared about the characters, and found myself fully invested in their journey. The author provides enough backstory on each character without too much detail. The details given on each person allowed me to have empathy for them all, even the villains, which made for an engaging read.
I’m aware that Patrick Lacey is a “Nightmare on Elm Street” fan, and I sensed some of that influence in this story. I really loved that vibe. It’s an original tale, but has that same dreamlike quality with memorable moments of terror. Ashton’s town of Marlowe is like a nightmare that the protagonists are desperate to escape. Most great stories play out like movies in my mind while I read, and this one was no exception. Lacey’s most recent novel (A Voice So Soft) has this same quality���his love of horror films really translates to his writing.
Overall, Where Stars Won’t Shine is a compelling read, and the subject matter rekindled my interest in true crime, despite the fact that this particular tale is fiction. At this point, I’m sold on Patrick Lacey’s skill as a writer, and I can’t wait for what’s in store when I pick up another one of his books.
January 23, 2019
I was instantly sucked in to Where Stars Won’t Shine, which begins with an excerpt from a book about infamous serial killer Tucker Ashton, who ended his reign of terror with a mass killing spree in a little Massachusetts town called Marlowe. This intro puts the reader right in the thick of reality, in a world where evil lives and breeds and gets glorified, but also where traumatized people have to live with the consequences of that evil. A world not all that dissimilar from our world.
True crime is having more than a moment right now; as a culture we seem to be fascinated into obsession with killers, strange crimes, and finding out why. Perhaps it’s a need to assert some balance in a world that is spinning wildly out of control. If we can just figure out what makes people tick, maybe that will make everything make sense.
While Tucker Ashton’s world begins simply enough, things start spiraling out of control pretty quickly. There is something wrong with the town of Marlowe, and Ivy, whose boyfriend was a victim of Ashton’s; Ethan, who grew up in Marlowe and is now tangled in some bad business; and Zeke, who is obsessed with the killer to the point of hero worship are all about to find out what is really going on. You can bet they aren’t going to like it.
This is an excellent horror novel. It considers different perspectives, such as Ivy’s grief and loss and how that physically and emotionally manifests for her—very powerful! Ethan’s story is compelling too, and you see how easy it is for people to sink to a life of crime when it is for a good reason. And Zeke—he is the most uncomfortable character of all, because if you are interested in true crime, you probably see a little bit of yourself in him. It is so easy to make the killer the central part of the story because we want to know what makes them different, when it is really the victims that deserve the spotlight. So the characterization of the book really worked for me, setting up a compelling background to drive the action of the book.
Because once you get into the action, it is going to get crazy. I did not see this book taking all the strange twists and turns that it did, but I was along for the ride despite it getting weirder and weirder because I was attached to the characters and their story. That’s good writing.
The book wasn’t a complete home run for me. I think there could have been better development of the action at the climax, especially based on how the tension was built throughout. One of the characters gets a bit underused and I kept waiting for her to be further developed throughout the novel. But it really does stick the landing and ends up being a thoroughly satisfying read.
My thanks to the author and Grindhouse Press for sending copies of this one to the Night Worms to read and review.
True crime is having more than a moment right now; as a culture we seem to be fascinated into obsession with killers, strange crimes, and finding out why. Perhaps it’s a need to assert some balance in a world that is spinning wildly out of control. If we can just figure out what makes people tick, maybe that will make everything make sense.
While Tucker Ashton’s world begins simply enough, things start spiraling out of control pretty quickly. There is something wrong with the town of Marlowe, and Ivy, whose boyfriend was a victim of Ashton’s; Ethan, who grew up in Marlowe and is now tangled in some bad business; and Zeke, who is obsessed with the killer to the point of hero worship are all about to find out what is really going on. You can bet they aren’t going to like it.
This is an excellent horror novel. It considers different perspectives, such as Ivy’s grief and loss and how that physically and emotionally manifests for her—very powerful! Ethan’s story is compelling too, and you see how easy it is for people to sink to a life of crime when it is for a good reason. And Zeke—he is the most uncomfortable character of all, because if you are interested in true crime, you probably see a little bit of yourself in him. It is so easy to make the killer the central part of the story because we want to know what makes them different, when it is really the victims that deserve the spotlight. So the characterization of the book really worked for me, setting up a compelling background to drive the action of the book.
Because once you get into the action, it is going to get crazy. I did not see this book taking all the strange twists and turns that it did, but I was along for the ride despite it getting weirder and weirder because I was attached to the characters and their story. That’s good writing.
The book wasn’t a complete home run for me. I think there could have been better development of the action at the climax, especially based on how the tension was built throughout. One of the characters gets a bit underused and I kept waiting for her to be further developed throughout the novel. But it really does stick the landing and ends up being a thoroughly satisfying read.
My thanks to the author and Grindhouse Press for sending copies of this one to the Night Worms to read and review.
January 23, 2019
I'll be seeing you.
Not to be dramatic, but Where Stars Won't Shine has officially become one of my favorite horror novels?!@#! I've seen a bit of hype on this Patrick Lacey book (see: Cameron's YouTube video, Emily's Review & Mindi's Review), so I had to pick up Where Stars Won't Shine & see what was up, and WOW I'M SO GLAD THAT I DID.
Where Stars Won't Shine features a couple of my favorite horror sub-genres; hauntings/ hallucinations/weird unexplainable things (okay, maybe that's most horror, lemme have my moment anyway) & serial killers/slashers. I'm gonna be real with ya, ghouls, this book is the total package.
Tucker Ashton was a brutal sonnuva gun; he'd film himself killing his victims in the most gruesome way & toss it onto a forum for snuff films. Years later, Ashton vanishes from his cell & four people find themselves at Hotel Marlowe, a place much darker than it once was, to find out where Tucker Ashton really went.
In the first few pages, I found myself nervous about the several characters introduced & having to keep track of who’s who, but that fear instantly vanished. In only 190 pages, Patrick Lacey manages to make each character stand out. All carry their own personalities & all have different reasons as to why they arrived in Marlowe.
Throughout reading, I found myself saying out loud, "wow, this is so good," -- at this point, my cat probably understands how much I enjoyed this book & wishes I would stop talking to her about it. Also, it's worth noting that I had 0 idea how this was going to end, which kept me wanting to turn those pages. I didn't find Where Stars Won't Shine predictable whatsoever.
As Emily states in her review (see link above), I too, found it to be reminiscent of The Shining. In fact, that's one of the things I noticed while reading & am so glad that she brought it up in her review!
I have absolutely no complaints on Where Stars Won't Shine, it was amazing from beginning to end. Although I personally didn't find myself quivering in my boots, I can definitely see this book scaring others; there are a lot of amazing qualities & horror-ific visuals within these pages. Where Stars Won't Shine is one of those books that inspires me to write my own horror, so thank you for that, Patrick Lacey! I can't wait to read more Lacey novels & more from Grindhouse Press!
January 12, 2019
Pop Sugar Challenge: Read a book published in 2019
3.5
Four people who were affected by infamous serial killer Tucker Ashton find themselves in his hometown of Marlowe, Massachusetts. Except it's not quite the same, and it looks like Tucker Ashton is back and running things in his town.
There was a lot of things I liked about this story, inlcuding the chapters that were snippets from a true crime story about Tucker Ashton. Ivy was a fantastic character with a lot of trauma from finding her boyfriend's dead body. I found the scenes that describe what she is going through especially chilling. I wanted a little more of a connection to the characters, but this was a good fast-paced, plot driven story.
This is a fun quick read. Great for fans of horror, true crime, and Stranger Things.
3.5
Four people who were affected by infamous serial killer Tucker Ashton find themselves in his hometown of Marlowe, Massachusetts. Except it's not quite the same, and it looks like Tucker Ashton is back and running things in his town.
There was a lot of things I liked about this story, inlcuding the chapters that were snippets from a true crime story about Tucker Ashton. Ivy was a fantastic character with a lot of trauma from finding her boyfriend's dead body. I found the scenes that describe what she is going through especially chilling. I wanted a little more of a connection to the characters, but this was a good fast-paced, plot driven story.
This is a fun quick read. Great for fans of horror, true crime, and Stranger Things.
May 24, 2019
DNF after 40%. Cheesy, not intriguing. Do not believe I'll pick this up again
January 4, 2019
2018 was a great year for horror and the small press, and it looks like that trend is carrying on into 2019 with one of the first releases of the year, WHERE STARS WON'T SHINE by Patrick Lacey.
Tucker Ashton is a serial killer. He has murdered people from coast to coast, and then went on a killing spree in his home town of Marlowe, Massachusetts. After being caught he just disappeared from his cell and was not seen again. Most believe that Tucker is dead, or at least they hope he is. Four strangers will soon learn the truth as they are drawn to the town of Marlowe. What they find there will make them question their reality and their sanity. Can they survive Marlowe, and its dark starless night?
Patrick Lacey has given us a horrific, mind-bending story that will have you continually checking the dark corners of your room while you're reading. Tucker Ashton is a truly frightening character, brought to life (really almost too real) by the author's use of character building and interactions. All the main characters are believable and well fleshed out. They are all given enough back-story for you to care about them (and of course hate others). The world the author has created for them is split in two. One side being your normal small home town, the other a perverted mirror image (think the upside-down from Stranger Things on crack). It is the author's ability to blend these two worlds into one constantly shifting narrative that makes this story so terrifying. At times you do not know which world you might be in.
But the star of this story is Tucker himself. A lot of his background is given through excerpts from an autobiography that was written by an author who died on the day of its release. At times you can almost feel bad for Tucker, he is a product of the hard childhood he was subjected to. I think one of the scariest aspect of the character is that he could be real. Kids see horrifying images on TV and the internet on a daily basis. This does not have adverse effects on all kids, but those that it does could lead them down a dark path. You see it in the news regularly. Just imagine this going on unchecked, then add in the loss of a parent and abuse at the hands of another; this is the world the author had Tucker reared in.
Another aspect of the story that I think was important that the author touched on was how the public views such horrors. There are websites dedicated to killers. Have we just become desensitized by it all? And there is, scary as it sounds, people who idolize these killers (as also shown in the story). By this idolization, do we give these "larger-than-life" killers more power than they deserve? Does the public's view and sometimes misguided support strengthen and help create theses characters? That is a whole other discussion that could go on forever. Let's just say that Patrick covers some of these questions in the story. So along with the well crafted tale, he makes you really think about the world around you.
It also might instill in you a dreaded fear of potatoes.
I would highly recommend picking this book up to start your New Year off right.
So prepare yourself, Tucker Ashton has come home. God help us all.
Tucker Ashton is a serial killer. He has murdered people from coast to coast, and then went on a killing spree in his home town of Marlowe, Massachusetts. After being caught he just disappeared from his cell and was not seen again. Most believe that Tucker is dead, or at least they hope he is. Four strangers will soon learn the truth as they are drawn to the town of Marlowe. What they find there will make them question their reality and their sanity. Can they survive Marlowe, and its dark starless night?
Patrick Lacey has given us a horrific, mind-bending story that will have you continually checking the dark corners of your room while you're reading. Tucker Ashton is a truly frightening character, brought to life (really almost too real) by the author's use of character building and interactions. All the main characters are believable and well fleshed out. They are all given enough back-story for you to care about them (and of course hate others). The world the author has created for them is split in two. One side being your normal small home town, the other a perverted mirror image (think the upside-down from Stranger Things on crack). It is the author's ability to blend these two worlds into one constantly shifting narrative that makes this story so terrifying. At times you do not know which world you might be in.
But the star of this story is Tucker himself. A lot of his background is given through excerpts from an autobiography that was written by an author who died on the day of its release. At times you can almost feel bad for Tucker, he is a product of the hard childhood he was subjected to. I think one of the scariest aspect of the character is that he could be real. Kids see horrifying images on TV and the internet on a daily basis. This does not have adverse effects on all kids, but those that it does could lead them down a dark path. You see it in the news regularly. Just imagine this going on unchecked, then add in the loss of a parent and abuse at the hands of another; this is the world the author had Tucker reared in.
Another aspect of the story that I think was important that the author touched on was how the public views such horrors. There are websites dedicated to killers. Have we just become desensitized by it all? And there is, scary as it sounds, people who idolize these killers (as also shown in the story). By this idolization, do we give these "larger-than-life" killers more power than they deserve? Does the public's view and sometimes misguided support strengthen and help create theses characters? That is a whole other discussion that could go on forever. Let's just say that Patrick covers some of these questions in the story. So along with the well crafted tale, he makes you really think about the world around you.
It also might instill in you a dreaded fear of potatoes.
I would highly recommend picking this book up to start your New Year off right.
So prepare yourself, Tucker Ashton has come home. God help us all.
December 29, 2018
Where Stars Won’t Shine
The latest novel by Mr Lacey is an enjoyable combination of horror and dark fantasy that left me feeling satisfied. The author always provides a compelling plot that keeps me hooked all the way. The characters were interesting. They felt complete and I found myself rooting for them. But this was more of a plot driven story. There was a good amount of action and gore without it being over the top. The bad guy was interesting though I would have loved to learn more about his motivations and disfunctions. I loved the ending. It made me happy with what might come next. Overall this is a fun short horror novel with lots to enjoy.
The latest novel by Mr Lacey is an enjoyable combination of horror and dark fantasy that left me feeling satisfied. The author always provides a compelling plot that keeps me hooked all the way. The characters were interesting. They felt complete and I found myself rooting for them. But this was more of a plot driven story. There was a good amount of action and gore without it being over the top. The bad guy was interesting though I would have loved to learn more about his motivations and disfunctions. I loved the ending. It made me happy with what might come next. Overall this is a fun short horror novel with lots to enjoy.
May 6, 2019
A nightmare of a story with bits of Silent Hill and Lovecraft sprinkled throughout. I highly recommend anything Lacey writes and this is no exception!
March 31, 2020
4.5⭐️
Where Stars Won’t Shine was such a great read and there are so many different elements packed into this that I think it would appeal to fans of multiple genres!
I was able to binge read this in a day and I think that’s largely because rather then just reading what was written, it almost felt like I was watching the chapters play out in front of me as if I was watching it on tv. The setting and descriptions were so vivid and well written that it just felt effortless to read through. There were also chapters of a true crime book written about the serial killer Tucker Ashton spread throughout, which was such a creative way to give more backstory that added so much more depth to the story as a whole.
I also loved the main characters and felt as if I genuinely got to know them. While there was a part at the end that I found a tiny bit predictable, the last few pages made up for it and made for a super solid ending overall.
Where Stars Won’t Shine was such a great read and there are so many different elements packed into this that I think it would appeal to fans of multiple genres!
I was able to binge read this in a day and I think that’s largely because rather then just reading what was written, it almost felt like I was watching the chapters play out in front of me as if I was watching it on tv. The setting and descriptions were so vivid and well written that it just felt effortless to read through. There were also chapters of a true crime book written about the serial killer Tucker Ashton spread throughout, which was such a creative way to give more backstory that added so much more depth to the story as a whole.
I also loved the main characters and felt as if I genuinely got to know them. While there was a part at the end that I found a tiny bit predictable, the last few pages made up for it and made for a super solid ending overall.
March 5, 2019
Originally posted on my blog, http://undivineinterventions.blogspot...
I keep apologizing for my reviews getting sparser and sparser, but this will be my last apology. I'm simply going to read and review books when I can. Things show no sign of slowing down for me, so I will simply get back to this just being a hobby and reading at my leisure. Turning it into this workman-like thing has certainly gotten to me and somewhat extracted the joy of reading.
So let's get back to it.
Patrick Lacey and the joy of reading. They rhyme for me. His books tend to be exactly what I am looking for, true love letters to horror fans, with as many creatures, gory deaths and crazy stuff as he can pack into the pages. He tends to be a bit tongue in cheek, and very scant in his prose, all the fat chopped away. Where Stars Won't Shine does that exactly, but I bit more seriously in tone than he usually goes for.
Hell, there's even some sociological commentary to be seen here. It's not heavy handed or anything, but it's a nice edition to Lacey's writing.
The book has something to say about how we, as a society, tend to glorify perversion and morbidity, exploded by the internet, asking the question: how far is too far and how much of this encourages the producers of this content to continue.
Where Stars Won't Shine follows a gang of folks to the town of Marlow, the hometown of the disappeared infamous serial killer, Tucker Ashton. They're all there for various reasons, all delved out in the various subplots present, but most interesting to me is Zeke Evans, who runs a website dedicated to serial killers, and idolizes Ashton. This later takes a wild turn in the story that makes for a lot of fun towards the end of the book.
Our group, finds not only Tucker, but that Marlowe is not all it appears to be, with noone and nothing being quite of reality.
I enjoyed WSWS a good deal, but couldn't help but feel it was not too far off in tone or subject matter than Lacey's other recent works, Bone Saw and Practitioners, a novel he co-wrote. This is not to say it's not well worth reading, I am huge fan of Patrick's and recommend each of his books.
The slightly more serious tone, digging into tough topics as child abuse, loss, grief and trauma is a welcomed addition to Lacey's repertoire; but the gore and outrageousness are never far from the limelight.
If one can say anything about Lacey and this, his newest offering, is that the ability to turn something fairly standard in the horror novel world (both the serial killer novel and the small-town horror novel) into something new and imaginative, with vibrant bursts of creativity marbled throughout, is ever-present.
Give this and all of Lacey's work a read.
4/5
I keep apologizing for my reviews getting sparser and sparser, but this will be my last apology. I'm simply going to read and review books when I can. Things show no sign of slowing down for me, so I will simply get back to this just being a hobby and reading at my leisure. Turning it into this workman-like thing has certainly gotten to me and somewhat extracted the joy of reading.
So let's get back to it.
Patrick Lacey and the joy of reading. They rhyme for me. His books tend to be exactly what I am looking for, true love letters to horror fans, with as many creatures, gory deaths and crazy stuff as he can pack into the pages. He tends to be a bit tongue in cheek, and very scant in his prose, all the fat chopped away. Where Stars Won't Shine does that exactly, but I bit more seriously in tone than he usually goes for.
Hell, there's even some sociological commentary to be seen here. It's not heavy handed or anything, but it's a nice edition to Lacey's writing.
The book has something to say about how we, as a society, tend to glorify perversion and morbidity, exploded by the internet, asking the question: how far is too far and how much of this encourages the producers of this content to continue.
Where Stars Won't Shine follows a gang of folks to the town of Marlow, the hometown of the disappeared infamous serial killer, Tucker Ashton. They're all there for various reasons, all delved out in the various subplots present, but most interesting to me is Zeke Evans, who runs a website dedicated to serial killers, and idolizes Ashton. This later takes a wild turn in the story that makes for a lot of fun towards the end of the book.
Our group, finds not only Tucker, but that Marlowe is not all it appears to be, with noone and nothing being quite of reality.
I enjoyed WSWS a good deal, but couldn't help but feel it was not too far off in tone or subject matter than Lacey's other recent works, Bone Saw and Practitioners, a novel he co-wrote. This is not to say it's not well worth reading, I am huge fan of Patrick's and recommend each of his books.
The slightly more serious tone, digging into tough topics as child abuse, loss, grief and trauma is a welcomed addition to Lacey's repertoire; but the gore and outrageousness are never far from the limelight.
If one can say anything about Lacey and this, his newest offering, is that the ability to turn something fairly standard in the horror novel world (both the serial killer novel and the small-town horror novel) into something new and imaginative, with vibrant bursts of creativity marbled throughout, is ever-present.
Give this and all of Lacey's work a read.
4/5
February 10, 2019
The short version: WSWS is a fun, creepy romp through the mind of a supernaturally inclined serial killer, and it evokes the mood of a crazy, twisted 'Nightmare on Elm Street' funhouse.
The long version: (Spoilers incoming) This book was nothing like what I expected. After reading the back cover, and being unfamiliar with Lacey's previous works, I looked at page 1 expecting a dark, grounded tale along the lines of Hannibal, Halloween, or I Know What You Did Last Summer, with a serial killer stalking his victims through a familiar small town setting with a simple knife in his hands. I was so wrong, and it took me about half of the book to wrap my head around what was actually happening. And once I 'got it,' it was awesome.
The book gets weird. With constant twists and turns throughout, which I don't want to spoil, the book is wild and entertaining throughout. Entering Marlowe completely blind to what awaited me, kept me on my toes through the entire read. The monsters which appeared were wonderfully creative. The ghosts and zombies and Tucker Ashton himself were all surprising, grotesque, and unsettling in the best way, and the farther our heroes dove into the darkness, the more engrossing WSWS became for me as a reader as I tried to figure out the mythos of this killer and his world, alongside the tortured main characters.
Most of my problems with the book revolved around a couple of characters who fell flat for me, and the way that pacing left me disappointed at times. Lacey established grand set pieces which I wanted to spend more time with, but which the characters, in their rush to escape, bolted their way straight through in mere pages. I wanted more time in the (spoilers) parade, in the studio, hell, even just in the town of Marlowe itself, and when characters ran from an area, I felt disappointed that I didn't get to revel in that horror a little more. Also, while some characters like Ivey felt great and deep, making it easy to cheer for them among the madness, there were some who I never understood or felt connected with.
These complaints are minor though, and my overwhelming recommendation is: Go Read This Book!
The long version: (Spoilers incoming) This book was nothing like what I expected. After reading the back cover, and being unfamiliar with Lacey's previous works, I looked at page 1 expecting a dark, grounded tale along the lines of Hannibal, Halloween, or I Know What You Did Last Summer, with a serial killer stalking his victims through a familiar small town setting with a simple knife in his hands. I was so wrong, and it took me about half of the book to wrap my head around what was actually happening. And once I 'got it,' it was awesome.
The book gets weird. With constant twists and turns throughout, which I don't want to spoil, the book is wild and entertaining throughout. Entering Marlowe completely blind to what awaited me, kept me on my toes through the entire read. The monsters which appeared were wonderfully creative. The ghosts and zombies and Tucker Ashton himself were all surprising, grotesque, and unsettling in the best way, and the farther our heroes dove into the darkness, the more engrossing WSWS became for me as a reader as I tried to figure out the mythos of this killer and his world, alongside the tortured main characters.
Most of my problems with the book revolved around a couple of characters who fell flat for me, and the way that pacing left me disappointed at times. Lacey established grand set pieces which I wanted to spend more time with, but which the characters, in their rush to escape, bolted their way straight through in mere pages. I wanted more time in the (spoilers) parade, in the studio, hell, even just in the town of Marlowe itself, and when characters ran from an area, I felt disappointed that I didn't get to revel in that horror a little more. Also, while some characters like Ivey felt great and deep, making it easy to cheer for them among the madness, there were some who I never understood or felt connected with.
These complaints are minor though, and my overwhelming recommendation is: Go Read This Book!
January 17, 2019
Ivy sees blood during most of her hours awake, and decides to journey back to the small town where her fiance, along with several others, were murdered. Is it the killer that lures her back, the supernatural powers of the town itself, or all in her head? The story rooted in my head, and while the ending wasn't painted with the clearest lines, it is a great picture when you step back and see it as a whole.
January 22, 2019
3.5-4 stars.
A little bit of horror, ghosts, some gore and sci fi made this into a fun thrill ride! Would love to see it made into a movie - and that ending!
A little bit of horror, ghosts, some gore and sci fi made this into a fun thrill ride! Would love to see it made into a movie - and that ending!
February 1, 2019
A few years after infamous serial killer Tucker Ashton murdered her boyfriend and escaped prison, Ivy Longwood begins seeing visions of blood and is being called to Tucker's hometown of Marlowe, Massachusetts. Ivy isn't the only one being called, and Marlowe isn't what it used to be.
Where Stars Won't Shine by Patrick Lacey is like a checklist of things I love in a horror story. Serial killer? Check. Creepy little town? Check. Ghosts, creatures in the woods, and protagonists you actually want to see survive? Check, check, and check! Not only is this a perfectly creepy read, but the pacing was so perfect, things are creepy from the get go, and the dread and unease never stop growing, there's no lagging, no sudden rush to wrap things up, just that perfect sweet spot where you can't stop turning pages until you reach the end.
Where Stars Won't Shine by Patrick Lacey is like a checklist of things I love in a horror story. Serial killer? Check. Creepy little town? Check. Ghosts, creatures in the woods, and protagonists you actually want to see survive? Check, check, and check! Not only is this a perfectly creepy read, but the pacing was so perfect, things are creepy from the get go, and the dread and unease never stop growing, there's no lagging, no sudden rush to wrap things up, just that perfect sweet spot where you can't stop turning pages until you reach the end.
August 29, 2019
Four strangers have all been affected by a serial killer for one reason or another and find themselves in the same small town where all the murders took place as the escaped killer is back for more. But not everything is as it seems here.
This book came out this week and if you love horror, this book definitely gets you in the mood for this year. I liked the multiple perspectives that eventually meet up, I loved the parts where read a fictional true crime book that gives us more info, and I loved the natural dialogue. This was an all around win for me! I recommend to those who love true crime stories.
This book came out this week and if you love horror, this book definitely gets you in the mood for this year. I liked the multiple perspectives that eventually meet up, I loved the parts where read a fictional true crime book that gives us more info, and I loved the natural dialogue. This was an all around win for me! I recommend to those who love true crime stories.
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