What do you think?
Rate this book
Special Investigations #3
Consumption
You are what you eat. Unless your food eats you back.
Detective Sergeants Jessica Holden and Mark Curren face the sting of consequences as their actions from previous cases come back to haunt them. Along with their colleagues in the secretive Special Investigations unit, they battle against the sins of their past.
Across the country people sit down at their dinner tables, unaware of the taint awaiting within their microwaved meals. An eldritch horror lurks within, eager to add people to its malignant mass. To consume them. To reshape their flesh like clay.
The detectives fight their most nightmarish enemy yet as it threatens to swallow everyone and everything they love.
A terrifying twisted horror from author P.W Hillard, Consumption is the third novel in the Special Investigations series.
Detective Sergeants Jessica Holden and Mark Curren face the sting of consequences as their actions from previous cases come back to haunt them. Along with their colleagues in the secretive Special Investigations unit, they battle against the sins of their past.
Across the country people sit down at their dinner tables, unaware of the taint awaiting within their microwaved meals. An eldritch horror lurks within, eager to add people to its malignant mass. To consume them. To reshape their flesh like clay.
The detectives fight their most nightmarish enemy yet as it threatens to swallow everyone and everything they love.
A terrifying twisted horror from author P.W Hillard, Consumption is the third novel in the Special Investigations series.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2019
8 people want to read
About the author
P.W. Hillard
18 books22 followersCurrently living in South Wales with his beautiful wife and two cats, P.W Hillard is a writer of horror and dark urban fantasy. His major influences are Stephen King, Clive Barker and especially the works of John Carpenter. As well as horror, he reads fantasy and science fiction, and is a voracious consumer of novels.
Outside of fiction, his other obsessions are tiny toy soldiers and giant monster movies. He also spends far too much time playing video games when he should be writing books.
Outside of fiction, his other obsessions are tiny toy soldiers and giant monster movies. He also spends far too much time playing video games when he should be writing books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 19, 2020
This was a good thriller / Sci-Fi story. Imagine an alien creature (plant) that comes to earth with intentions to take over the planet. The plant wants humans to consume it so it can take them over from inside. The investigators certainly had their hands full trying to battle the alien instead of their usual ghosts. Interesting story with a continuation of good characters. Even if you don't normally listen to Sci-Fi stories, give it a try. I received this Audiobook free from P. W. Hillard for an honest review.
July 20, 2021
I received a free audio copy from the narrator in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion. Do with that what you will.
Let me begin by saying that I haven't read the first two books in the series, but that didn't stop me enjoying this one. It reads like an episode of Torchwood (I'm a fan, so that's good), with a special branch of Scotland Yard investigating mysteries happenings the length and breadth of Blighty. The main characters throughout the series are Jessica and Mark, a pair of special investigators who are about to suffer the consequences of their various actions from the previous two books. They also have to face their greatest enemy yet, one that could have crawled off the pages of Lovecraft.
Be warned though, while there is a lot of humour and some great slang that I haven't heard since I moved to the New World, there is a dark edge too. Still a good listen though. Oh yeah, kudos to the narrator who did a fine job with the various different accents on show.
Let me begin by saying that I haven't read the first two books in the series, but that didn't stop me enjoying this one. It reads like an episode of Torchwood (I'm a fan, so that's good), with a special branch of Scotland Yard investigating mysteries happenings the length and breadth of Blighty. The main characters throughout the series are Jessica and Mark, a pair of special investigators who are about to suffer the consequences of their various actions from the previous two books. They also have to face their greatest enemy yet, one that could have crawled off the pages of Lovecraft.
Be warned though, while there is a lot of humour and some great slang that I haven't heard since I moved to the New World, there is a dark edge too. Still a good listen though. Oh yeah, kudos to the narrator who did a fine job with the various different accents on show.
November 21, 2019
You are what you eat. Unless your food eats you back.
Detective Sergeants Jessica Holden and Mark Curren face the sting of consequences as their actions from previous cases come back to haunt them. Along with their colleagues in the secretive Special Investigations unit, they battle against the sins of their past.
Across the country people sit down at their dinner tables, unaware of the taint awaiting within their microwaved meals. An eldritch horror lurks within, eager to add people to its malignant mass. To consume them. To reshape their flesh like clay.
The detectives fight their most nightmarish enemy yet as it threatens to swallow everyone and everything they love.
This was a brilliant thriller/sci-fi read.
Wicked twists and turns grabs you from the start and doesn't let you go.
Well written plot and story line that is just so engaging you can't stop reading.
Characters are well fleshed out and enjoyed following them on this journey.
Can't wait to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Detective Sergeants Jessica Holden and Mark Curren face the sting of consequences as their actions from previous cases come back to haunt them. Along with their colleagues in the secretive Special Investigations unit, they battle against the sins of their past.
Across the country people sit down at their dinner tables, unaware of the taint awaiting within their microwaved meals. An eldritch horror lurks within, eager to add people to its malignant mass. To consume them. To reshape their flesh like clay.
The detectives fight their most nightmarish enemy yet as it threatens to swallow everyone and everything they love.
This was a brilliant thriller/sci-fi read.
Wicked twists and turns grabs you from the start and doesn't let you go.
Well written plot and story line that is just so engaging you can't stop reading.
Characters are well fleshed out and enjoyed following them on this journey.
Can't wait to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 18, 2022
You are what you eat. In the case of this book, that is very true! The main part of the book was entertaining and fairly horrific. A couple of bumbling farmers come across a huge plant of some sort and decide to give it a taste. Why would anyone think this was a good idea? Where did the plant come from? The pair market it through a supermarket chain and that's where the horror begins.
I have to saw that if the author had focused solely on this "plant" and its effects, I would have enjoyed the book more. As it was, the side stories and added characters just added a lot of confusion. Maybe if I had read the previous books in the series, some of these side stories might have made more sense. I felt like the main horror would have been enough without the addition of several unresolved (at least to me) side events.
The narrator did a great job and his accents and voices added a lot to the audiobook. I was given an audio version of this book through the author/narrator/publisher and chose to review it.
I have to saw that if the author had focused solely on this "plant" and its effects, I would have enjoyed the book more. As it was, the side stories and added characters just added a lot of confusion. Maybe if I had read the previous books in the series, some of these side stories might have made more sense. I felt like the main horror would have been enough without the addition of several unresolved (at least to me) side events.
The narrator did a great job and his accents and voices added a lot to the audiobook. I was given an audio version of this book through the author/narrator/publisher and chose to review it.
March 5, 2021
Good stories, but definitely in need of an editor.
I've read 6 by this author now, and they are all quite good. Creative, suspenseful, and engaging from beginning to end. If you enjoy a good sci-fi or horror story, you could do a lot worse.
The special investigations series is a fun take on the well-worn trope of a secret paranormal police unit. Although it's been done before, the author has some a lot of unique ideas that make them a great read. Really enjoyed them all from beginning to end.
That said, and I hate to be nitpicky, but Mr. Hillard qould benefit greatly from an editor. The frequent misspellings and jarring changes in perspective were distracting and sometimes made it hard to follow the plot.
Altogether I really enjoyed the books and I hope he keeps up the great work!
I've read 6 by this author now, and they are all quite good. Creative, suspenseful, and engaging from beginning to end. If you enjoy a good sci-fi or horror story, you could do a lot worse.
The special investigations series is a fun take on the well-worn trope of a secret paranormal police unit. Although it's been done before, the author has some a lot of unique ideas that make them a great read. Really enjoyed them all from beginning to end.
That said, and I hate to be nitpicky, but Mr. Hillard qould benefit greatly from an editor. The frequent misspellings and jarring changes in perspective were distracting and sometimes made it hard to follow the plot.
Altogether I really enjoyed the books and I hope he keeps up the great work!
Read
February 15, 2020Consumption (Special Investigations, #3), my third read from author P W Hillard. I was given an Audible copy of Consumption (Special Investigations, #3) by P.W. Hillard & wanted to read the first 2 books in the series before reading it. Not a bad book, just not particularly to my liking. Bordering on paranormal horror, never-the-less well-written, I can see where readers of this particular genre. After reading 3 books I will not be continuing this series. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. Matt Jenkins’s narration & accent added to the listening enjoyment. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
November 10, 2019
Consumption is the third book in the Special investigations series. I knew I would love this book as soon as I read the tagline: "You are what you eat. Unless your food eats you back."
Jessica Holden, Mark Curren, and the rest of the Special Investigations Unit have to battle supernatural forces as their sins from the past come back to haunt them. This book grabs you by the throat and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you consume this gripping horror story.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
Jessica Holden, Mark Curren, and the rest of the Special Investigations Unit have to battle supernatural forces as their sins from the past come back to haunt them. This book grabs you by the throat and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you consume this gripping horror story.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
November 13, 2019
This is another fabulously written book with supernatural enemies wreaking havoc on the people of the world. This is a hauntingly good book, for a cold dark night that may make you think again before your next meal. As always, I look forward to the next book by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 13, 2020
to 1-3 (This one #3) on Audible. Love the Characters!! They are a hoot. This is a branch of the Special Police in London who work with Paranormal beings and such. To get recruited you have to be a officer and had a face to Whatever it is, So now you are in the Loop. A lot of funny, but for the Sqimish it does get into Gross details at times.
April 24, 2020
Audible:This book was awesome!IT had it all,sci fi,horror,whatever it was great.I enjoyed Matt Jenkins narration.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 16, 2021
Enjoyable Read
This book actually has many different stories which the author mingled together.
The style made the content clearer and more fun to read.
I would like to know more about the characters back stories hopefully in future books.
Nicely done!
This book actually has many different stories which the author mingled together.
The style made the content clearer and more fun to read.
I would like to know more about the characters back stories hopefully in future books.
Nicely done!
April 1, 2020
This was the Audible version of the book and was narrated by Matt Jenkins. The book was well written and the plot quite intricate. And it's quite a long book. The chapters are written from different peoples' perspectives. So listening to the story instead of reading it, you sometimes miss the narrator saying Chapter whatever and you have to actively listen to figure out who's actually speaking. To make matters worse, the character names were to close to each other. There were Jess and Mark, Mike and Linda, and Lucille, Mikey and Dale. Each time a chapter changes, you might hear Mike, or Mark, or Mikey and you think is that the guy with Jess or Lucille or Linda. It got very confusing. I really think the author could have put a little more thought into the names of the characters.
Now, will any of that keep me from reading or listening to more of this series? Absolutely not! It took me a while to get through it. Partly because I only listened while working in my studio and partly because it was very long.
The narrator did a good job. It took a bit to get the hang of his accent, but hearing it with a British or Scot accent or dialect was cool since the book takes place in Great Britan, and put a nice twist to listening to the story. I can definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy.
Now, will any of that keep me from reading or listening to more of this series? Absolutely not! It took me a while to get through it. Partly because I only listened while working in my studio and partly because it was very long.
The narrator did a good job. It took a bit to get the hang of his accent, but hearing it with a British or Scot accent or dialect was cool since the book takes place in Great Britan, and put a nice twist to listening to the story. I can definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews