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The Fatal Folklore Trilogy #1
The Beast of Barcroft
Fans of Stephen King and Bentley Little will devour The Beast of Barcroft, Bill Schweigart’s brilliant new vision of dark suburban horror. Ben thought he had the neighbor from hell. He didn’t know how right he was. . . .
Ben McKelvie believes he’s moving up in the world when he and his fiancée buy a house in the cushy Washington, D.C., suburb of Barcroft. Instead, he’s moving down—way down—thanks to Madeleine Roux, the crazy neighbor whose vermin-infested property is a permanent eyesore and looming hazard to public health.
First, Ben’s fiancée leaves him; then, his dog dies, apparently killed by a predator drawn into Barcroft by Madeleine’s noxious menagerie. But the worst is yet to come for Ben, for he’s not dealing with any ordinary wild animal. This killer is something much, much worse. Something that couldn’t possibly exist—in this world.
Now, as a devilish creature stalks the locals, Ben resolves to take action. With some grudging assistance from a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the crackpot theories of a self-styled cryptozoologist, he discovers the sinister truth behind the attacks, but knowing the Beast of Barcroft and stopping it are two different animals.
Ben McKelvie believes he’s moving up in the world when he and his fiancée buy a house in the cushy Washington, D.C., suburb of Barcroft. Instead, he’s moving down—way down—thanks to Madeleine Roux, the crazy neighbor whose vermin-infested property is a permanent eyesore and looming hazard to public health.
First, Ben’s fiancée leaves him; then, his dog dies, apparently killed by a predator drawn into Barcroft by Madeleine’s noxious menagerie. But the worst is yet to come for Ben, for he’s not dealing with any ordinary wild animal. This killer is something much, much worse. Something that couldn’t possibly exist—in this world.
Now, as a devilish creature stalks the locals, Ben resolves to take action. With some grudging assistance from a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the crackpot theories of a self-styled cryptozoologist, he discovers the sinister truth behind the attacks, but knowing the Beast of Barcroft and stopping it are two different animals.
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First published November 17, 2015
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About the author
Bill Schweigart
7 books103 followersBill Schweigart is the author of THE GUILTY ONE (3/21/23) and "Women and Children First," a story co-written with James Patterson in THREE DAYS TO LIVE (2/14/23). He is also the author of The Fatal Folklore Trilogy, which includes THE BEAST OF BARCROFT, NORTHWOODS, and THE DEVIL'S COLONY. He is a former Coast Guard officer who drew from his experiences at sea to write the nautical thriller, SLIPPING THE CABLE and the romantic comedy, RUNNING LIGHT. Bill currently lives in Arlington, VA with his wife and daughter, who along with their monstrous Newfoundland and four cats, provide him with all the adventure he can handle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
October 27, 2015
Ben and his fiance buy a bigger house..they just don't realize they are moving next door to this.
Ben has a few other issues because his fiance has decided to dump him and he is left with his dog and a rat problem from his neighbor's animal hoarding.
(I hate rats so that's about the scariest I'm going on that one)
Then that same neighbor passes away in her home. Shortly after that some weird stuff starts going on in the neighborhood.
The animal problem is getting worse since the hoarder lady is not around to feed the animals and the neighborhood has gotten together to try and get something done about her house and the critters that it is attracting.
Then Ben is outside and his dog is attacked by a mountain lion in front of Ben's eyes.
Ben calls out the feisty police lady and she gives him the brush off, because mountain lion in fancy suburbs? Plus Ben admits to flushing his antidepressants and smells like pee. Come on people-I would smell like pee too if I just saw a critter chomping on my dog.
Then some more attacks begin to happen.
Ben finally gets someone to halfway believe him when he teams up with Lindsay, the National zoo's assistant curator for great cats.
Of course, Ben tries to put some moves on her.
"You know who makes a move like that in the woods? After they show you their basement? Serial killers, that's who."
"This isn't the woods, it's a park. With roses in it."
"They're not even in bloom!"
Ben is full of smooth. When he isn't busy on Wikipedia orinternet porn watching watching the Discovery channel.
(He is actually pretty snarky and I loved his character.)
The monster finally gets figured out and it's good. Really good but
Towards the end of this book I kept thinking this would be great as a series. Yes, I know I can't believe I just said that..but it would. Then I look and it's going to be.
Dear author, please keep up the story line that you are starting and pick a better cover. This cover was pretty fugly.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Mommacat's review is the featured review for this one. I don't catch Mommacat on here much but I love her reviews when I do.
Ben has a few other issues because his fiance has decided to dump him and he is left with his dog and a rat problem from his neighbor's animal hoarding.
(I hate rats so that's about the scariest I'm going on that one)
Then that same neighbor passes away in her home. Shortly after that some weird stuff starts going on in the neighborhood.
The animal problem is getting worse since the hoarder lady is not around to feed the animals and the neighborhood has gotten together to try and get something done about her house and the critters that it is attracting.
Then Ben is outside and his dog is attacked by a mountain lion in front of Ben's eyes.
Ben calls out the feisty police lady and she gives him the brush off, because mountain lion in fancy suburbs? Plus Ben admits to flushing his antidepressants and smells like pee. Come on people-I would smell like pee too if I just saw a critter chomping on my dog.
Then some more attacks begin to happen.
Ben finally gets someone to halfway believe him when he teams up with Lindsay, the National zoo's assistant curator for great cats.
Of course, Ben tries to put some moves on her.
"You know who makes a move like that in the woods? After they show you their basement? Serial killers, that's who."
"This isn't the woods, it's a park. With roses in it."
"They're not even in bloom!"
Ben is full of smooth. When he isn't busy on Wikipedia or
(He is actually pretty snarky and I loved his character.)
The monster finally gets figured out and it's good. Really good but
Towards the end of this book I kept thinking this would be great as a series. Yes, I know I can't believe I just said that..but it would. Then I look and it's going to be.
Dear author, please keep up the story line that you are starting and pick a better cover. This cover was pretty fugly.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Mommacat's review is the featured review for this one. I don't catch Mommacat on here much but I love her reviews when I do.
December 27, 2016
An entertaining and relentless page turner.
One of the best compliments that can be given a book is that “I couldn’t put it down” and I almost literally could not, blazing through this tight, fast paced novel in a couple days.
Protagonist Ben McKelvie has moved to Arlington Virginia, in an older suburban neighborhood and has unfortunately put down roots next to the local crackpot, a woman who’s conservationist ideals and love for animals has been sidetracked by mental illness and substance abuse. But Ben and his neighbors soon learn that they have more to deal with than an infestation with rats and a nut. Next comes paranormal activity, Native American folklore and a rich, charismatic cryptozoologist.
Though the publisher has marketed this in the horror genre with invitations to Stephen King fans, and there are ample examples of horror elements in the novel, I would group this more in the urban fantasy sub-genre, akin to Jim Butcher and Kevin Hearne. Like the Dresden files and Iron Druid series, Bill Schweigart has a great idea and has crafted a damn fine story around a solid design.
This all makes me think – and I cannot believe I am typing this – that Schweigart has a great idea for a series. True, the market is glutted with book 3 of this and the fifth installment of that, but WHAT THE HELL?? This was a fun book to read, and if we’re hunting cryptids, Schweigart seems to be well prepared to deliver.
Schweigart’s writing is a lot of fun, well paced and enjoyable. His prose is smart and witty with many cultural and pop references to keep things moving. His characterization and dialogue, frequently a soft spot in this genre, is well defined and approachable.
Finally, author Bill Schweigart has created a tense, fun thriller with psychological and occult elements. He also used a fantastic term that I will be looking for in my fantasy selections: Cryptozoology.
And I’ll look for more books from this talented writer.
One of the best compliments that can be given a book is that “I couldn’t put it down” and I almost literally could not, blazing through this tight, fast paced novel in a couple days.
Protagonist Ben McKelvie has moved to Arlington Virginia, in an older suburban neighborhood and has unfortunately put down roots next to the local crackpot, a woman who’s conservationist ideals and love for animals has been sidetracked by mental illness and substance abuse. But Ben and his neighbors soon learn that they have more to deal with than an infestation with rats and a nut. Next comes paranormal activity, Native American folklore and a rich, charismatic cryptozoologist.
Though the publisher has marketed this in the horror genre with invitations to Stephen King fans, and there are ample examples of horror elements in the novel, I would group this more in the urban fantasy sub-genre, akin to Jim Butcher and Kevin Hearne. Like the Dresden files and Iron Druid series, Bill Schweigart has a great idea and has crafted a damn fine story around a solid design.
This all makes me think – and I cannot believe I am typing this – that Schweigart has a great idea for a series. True, the market is glutted with book 3 of this and the fifth installment of that, but WHAT THE HELL?? This was a fun book to read, and if we’re hunting cryptids, Schweigart seems to be well prepared to deliver.
Schweigart’s writing is a lot of fun, well paced and enjoyable. His prose is smart and witty with many cultural and pop references to keep things moving. His characterization and dialogue, frequently a soft spot in this genre, is well defined and approachable.
Finally, author Bill Schweigart has created a tense, fun thriller with psychological and occult elements. He also used a fantastic term that I will be looking for in my fantasy selections: Cryptozoology.
And I’ll look for more books from this talented writer.
November 21, 2015
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
Wow! I ended up enjoying this book a lot. I was in the mood for something a little different with a bit of blood and freaky stuff and this book filled that need perfectly. This story kept me guessing and I found it really hard to put down once all the weird stuff started happening. I ended up reading most of it in a single night.
This is the story of the Bancroft neighborhood. The neighborhood has that one house that is causing everyone trouble and Ben happens to live next door. The woman who lives at the problem house has created a bit of an animal problem for the entire area. She nursed raccoons back to health in her house, fed every bird in the area, and created a huge rat infestation. When she dies, you would think that things would get better but it doesn't. Ben's large dog, a 90 pound greyhound, is killed in his own backyard by an animal, possibly a cougar. This event starts a chain of events that will terrorize the entire neighborhood.
This story started out strong and really stayed strong throughout the story. There was a lot of action with quite a few bloody moments to keep things interesting. I will admit that I was really wondering where everything was going in the story which is a huge plus. I just love a book that is unpredictable and keeps me guessing. Some of the weird things that happen in this story are outside the realm of what would be considered normal.
I thought that the characters in this book were strong and likable. I think that anyone who owns a house in a neighborhood has that one house on the block that drives everyone crazy. Let me tell you...that house is a palace compared to the Bancroft house. I think that Ben has done much better than I ever could have with his next door neighbor. I did like how the author showed how the stress had had an impact on Ben. Lindsay works for the National Zoo and specializes in big cats. Her job and the way she deal with the situation were very well done in the story.
I really enjoyed this author's writing. The pacing of the story was well done with lots of excitement. The story seemed to flow together very nicely. The characters were average people and I found myself chuckling at their dialog at times. I love how the author worked a few movie lines into the story sometimes tweaking them to make it work. All in all this book was just a lot of fun.
I would highly recommend this book to others. It has just the right blend of horror, unexplained events, and even a few comical moments to keep the pages turning. This is the first book by Bill Schweigart that I have had a chance to read. I look forward to other book in the future from this author.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Hydra via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Initial Thoughts
I really liked this one. Just what I was in the mood to read.
Wow! I ended up enjoying this book a lot. I was in the mood for something a little different with a bit of blood and freaky stuff and this book filled that need perfectly. This story kept me guessing and I found it really hard to put down once all the weird stuff started happening. I ended up reading most of it in a single night.
This is the story of the Bancroft neighborhood. The neighborhood has that one house that is causing everyone trouble and Ben happens to live next door. The woman who lives at the problem house has created a bit of an animal problem for the entire area. She nursed raccoons back to health in her house, fed every bird in the area, and created a huge rat infestation. When she dies, you would think that things would get better but it doesn't. Ben's large dog, a 90 pound greyhound, is killed in his own backyard by an animal, possibly a cougar. This event starts a chain of events that will terrorize the entire neighborhood.
This story started out strong and really stayed strong throughout the story. There was a lot of action with quite a few bloody moments to keep things interesting. I will admit that I was really wondering where everything was going in the story which is a huge plus. I just love a book that is unpredictable and keeps me guessing. Some of the weird things that happen in this story are outside the realm of what would be considered normal.
I thought that the characters in this book were strong and likable. I think that anyone who owns a house in a neighborhood has that one house on the block that drives everyone crazy. Let me tell you...that house is a palace compared to the Bancroft house. I think that Ben has done much better than I ever could have with his next door neighbor. I did like how the author showed how the stress had had an impact on Ben. Lindsay works for the National Zoo and specializes in big cats. Her job and the way she deal with the situation were very well done in the story.
I really enjoyed this author's writing. The pacing of the story was well done with lots of excitement. The story seemed to flow together very nicely. The characters were average people and I found myself chuckling at their dialog at times. I love how the author worked a few movie lines into the story sometimes tweaking them to make it work. All in all this book was just a lot of fun.
I would highly recommend this book to others. It has just the right blend of horror, unexplained events, and even a few comical moments to keep the pages turning. This is the first book by Bill Schweigart that I have had a chance to read. I look forward to other book in the future from this author.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Hydra via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Initial Thoughts
I really liked this one. Just what I was in the mood to read.
September 20, 2017
In this book, we met for the first time Ben Mckelvie who together with his fiance moved to the Barcroft, a suburb in Washington, D.C. However, what they didn't know that they would be neighbors with crazy raccoon-loving Madeleine Roux. Everything just gets worse with Ben's fiance leaving him and his poor dog gets killed. But, it even gets worse than that when the predator that killed his dog seems to start to kill his neighbors one by one...
I read Northwoods and absolutely loved the book so I had to get The Beast of Barcroft that is the first book in the series. And, this book is good, not amazingly good as Northwoods, but still pretty darn good and I especially liked getting to know how Richard Severance, Ben McKelvie, Lindsay Clark, and Alex Standingcloud first met. And, now everything I read about Barcroft in Northwoods makes much more sense. Ben McKelvie is a normal guy and he never expected to have to deal with a supernatural predator that seems to be targeting his neighbors (and him), but thankfully with some help from new "friends" will he try to save the neighborhood (and himself). And, it's action, some gore and even some humor in the book. Just the way I like it!
I'm a big monster fan. I just love those X-files episodes with monsters in the woods, etc. So, reading books like this, well-written and interesting and intense is pure happiness for me. The Beast of Barcroft is thrilling to read, but it never gets as fascinating and heart pounding to read as Northwoods did. I guess partly because I was more worried about whom would live and who would die in Northwoods, but also because I found the story in Northwoods with its monster more exciting.
So, if you like monster books, then I recommend this book to you and after you read it should you definitely go for Northwoods. Me? I'm waiting for the next book to be released!
I read Northwoods and absolutely loved the book so I had to get The Beast of Barcroft that is the first book in the series. And, this book is good, not amazingly good as Northwoods, but still pretty darn good and I especially liked getting to know how Richard Severance, Ben McKelvie, Lindsay Clark, and Alex Standingcloud first met. And, now everything I read about Barcroft in Northwoods makes much more sense. Ben McKelvie is a normal guy and he never expected to have to deal with a supernatural predator that seems to be targeting his neighbors (and him), but thankfully with some help from new "friends" will he try to save the neighborhood (and himself). And, it's action, some gore and even some humor in the book. Just the way I like it!
I'm a big monster fan. I just love those X-files episodes with monsters in the woods, etc. So, reading books like this, well-written and interesting and intense is pure happiness for me. The Beast of Barcroft is thrilling to read, but it never gets as fascinating and heart pounding to read as Northwoods did. I guess partly because I was more worried about whom would live and who would die in Northwoods, but also because I found the story in Northwoods with its monster more exciting.
So, if you like monster books, then I recommend this book to you and after you read it should you definitely go for Northwoods. Me? I'm waiting for the next book to be released!
August 9, 2016
Very entertaining and original take on the shapeshifter story. This was fast-paced and very humorous. It's a quick quality read. Consider it Recommended!
December 7, 2015
Review copy
I must admit, I never heard of Bill Schweigart until I came across this book in Netgalley, but I found the title, description, and cover to be enough to pique my curiosity. I am so glad I took a chance. The Beast of Barcroft was a genuinely pleasant surprise.
Great writing and interesting storytelling. The author is quite skilled in character construction and creating believable situations out of beyond believable events.
There are a number of twists as the facts slowly come to light and several "Oh, Wow!" moments.
The story begins in the Arlington, Virginia, community of Barcroft where, recently divorced, Ben McLelvie is having a bit of a rat problem due to a neighbor, Madeleine Roux, who calls herself an animal rehabilitator. Her activities have lead to all kinds of vermin which seem to have attracted a bigger predator to the neighborhood.
As deaths mount and the story changes, Ben is put in touch with Lindsay Clark, the curator of great cats at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo. She has a friend who is a cryptozoologist, and that's when things really get interesting.
I'm kind of beating around the bush here because I don't want to give too much away, but I will tell you I did enjoy the read and will likely read the sequel when it comes out in February of 2016.
The Beast of Barcroft is currently available, as an e-book, and is published by Hydra Books, a division of Random House LLC.
Recommended.
Bill is a former Coast Guard officer who drew from his experiences at sea to write the taut nautical thriller, SLIPPING THE CABLE. Bill currently residents in Arlington, VA with his wife and daughter, who along with their monstrous Newfoundland and mischievous kitten, provide him with all the adventure he can handle.
I must admit, I never heard of Bill Schweigart until I came across this book in Netgalley, but I found the title, description, and cover to be enough to pique my curiosity. I am so glad I took a chance. The Beast of Barcroft was a genuinely pleasant surprise.
Great writing and interesting storytelling. The author is quite skilled in character construction and creating believable situations out of beyond believable events.
There are a number of twists as the facts slowly come to light and several "Oh, Wow!" moments.
The story begins in the Arlington, Virginia, community of Barcroft where, recently divorced, Ben McLelvie is having a bit of a rat problem due to a neighbor, Madeleine Roux, who calls herself an animal rehabilitator. Her activities have lead to all kinds of vermin which seem to have attracted a bigger predator to the neighborhood.
As deaths mount and the story changes, Ben is put in touch with Lindsay Clark, the curator of great cats at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo. She has a friend who is a cryptozoologist, and that's when things really get interesting.
I'm kind of beating around the bush here because I don't want to give too much away, but I will tell you I did enjoy the read and will likely read the sequel when it comes out in February of 2016.
The Beast of Barcroft is currently available, as an e-book, and is published by Hydra Books, a division of Random House LLC.
Recommended.
Bill is a former Coast Guard officer who drew from his experiences at sea to write the taut nautical thriller, SLIPPING THE CABLE. Bill currently residents in Arlington, VA with his wife and daughter, who along with their monstrous Newfoundland and mischievous kitten, provide him with all the adventure he can handle.
December 7, 2015
What IS the Beast of Barcroft? That is a very good question. And as you continue reading the story, the answer my surprise you. Ben's fiance dumped him for being an angry nutcase and that he lived next door to a house that is so rat infested, it should've been condemened long ago. All of the surrounding neighbors file complaints left and right, but to no avail. The crazy lady that lives there always seems to skate by with a slap on the wrist. When the lady dies, the dilapitated house is tied up in legal red tape and continues to draw vermin. While out one night walking Bucky, a cougar attacks them and kills Ben's dog. How in the hell is there a cougar in Bancroft, a suburb of Arlington? Is the infested house next door drawing in the wild beast? What can Ben do about any of this?
For me, I thought the Beast of Barcroft was going to be one of these paint-by-the-numbers suburban horror stories without any substance and an annoying lead character that was hard to have any sympathy for. He stops taking his happy pills and then mopes about while bad things keep happening in his life. And then, Schweigart does something really clever with his characters - they ridicule Ben's missteps and it creates this kind of anti-hero main character filled with flaws. No you can't feel too sorry for Ben because of all the stupid things he does and thats exactly how Schweigart wants it. Things really kick into high gear around the half way mark in the book and you'll be flipping through the pages at light speed. The dialogue is witty and clever with shades of Quentin Tarantino and I found myself really enjoying the story. Schweigart's writing flows easily and its easy to see how he got picked up by a large publisher like Random House.
4 1/2 bloody greyhound carcasses out of 5
*** I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
For me, I thought the Beast of Barcroft was going to be one of these paint-by-the-numbers suburban horror stories without any substance and an annoying lead character that was hard to have any sympathy for. He stops taking his happy pills and then mopes about while bad things keep happening in his life. And then, Schweigart does something really clever with his characters - they ridicule Ben's missteps and it creates this kind of anti-hero main character filled with flaws. No you can't feel too sorry for Ben because of all the stupid things he does and thats exactly how Schweigart wants it. Things really kick into high gear around the half way mark in the book and you'll be flipping through the pages at light speed. The dialogue is witty and clever with shades of Quentin Tarantino and I found myself really enjoying the story. Schweigart's writing flows easily and its easy to see how he got picked up by a large publisher like Random House.
4 1/2 bloody greyhound carcasses out of 5
*** I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
November 12, 2015
REVIEW: THE BEAST OF BARCROFT by Bill Schweigart
A compelling supernatural-themed horror novel starring a pair of unlikely heroes. Ben lives alone, supporting a mortgage after his fiancee' s departure and struggling through depression and newly, panic attacks. Lindsay is a curator at Washington D. C.'s National Zoo, with a shallow itinerant girlfriend. Ben's drug-addicted neighbor's misbehavior has infested the quiet, formerly peaceful, neighborhood with raccoons, pigeons, and rats. But the worst is yet to come, and in no way is this a spawn of Mother Nature. THE BEAST OF BARCROFT is the exciting first entry in a new cryptozoological series, with wildly horrifying beasts and excellently characterized individuals.
A compelling supernatural-themed horror novel starring a pair of unlikely heroes. Ben lives alone, supporting a mortgage after his fiancee' s departure and struggling through depression and newly, panic attacks. Lindsay is a curator at Washington D. C.'s National Zoo, with a shallow itinerant girlfriend. Ben's drug-addicted neighbor's misbehavior has infested the quiet, formerly peaceful, neighborhood with raccoons, pigeons, and rats. But the worst is yet to come, and in no way is this a spawn of Mother Nature. THE BEAST OF BARCROFT is the exciting first entry in a new cryptozoological series, with wildly horrifying beasts and excellently characterized individuals.
August 9, 2015
4.5 stars
It twisted. It turned. It reached out and grabbed. Literally. THE BEAST OF BARCROFT was the Matterhorn of stories. What's a guy supposed to do when he moves into a new house and doesn't check out the neighborhood first? Hint to prospective homebuyers: always look over the neighbors! Well, for Ben McKelvie, it meant nothing but problems.
Bill Schweigart expertly wove a tale that kept me guessing right up to the end. What is terrorizing this quiet Virginia town? Why did it kill Ben's greyhound, but not Ben? As the creature goes on it's murderous rampage through Barcroft, I was glad that Schweigart did all his research. He kept me hanging on and tapping pages as fast as I could! I loved his believable sub-plot and the outcome of that storyline. It was positively refreshing.
Random House/Hydra gave me a copy of THE BEAST OF BARCROFT in exchange for my review. I think it will take any horror reader on a wild ride.
It twisted. It turned. It reached out and grabbed. Literally. THE BEAST OF BARCROFT was the Matterhorn of stories. What's a guy supposed to do when he moves into a new house and doesn't check out the neighborhood first? Hint to prospective homebuyers: always look over the neighbors! Well, for Ben McKelvie, it meant nothing but problems.
Bill Schweigart expertly wove a tale that kept me guessing right up to the end. What is terrorizing this quiet Virginia town? Why did it kill Ben's greyhound, but not Ben? As the creature goes on it's murderous rampage through Barcroft, I was glad that Schweigart did all his research. He kept me hanging on and tapping pages as fast as I could! I loved his believable sub-plot and the outcome of that storyline. It was positively refreshing.
Random House/Hydra gave me a copy of THE BEAST OF BARCROFT in exchange for my review. I think it will take any horror reader on a wild ride.
September 19, 2017
Finally finished this. LOL.
So this story is about a man named Ben. One night, he watches his poor dog get killed by a mountain lion and decides to find out WTF is happening (well, he starts by trying to inform ppl of said lion but he's ignored.) As he "investigates", things turn a bit more supernatural in nature.
You know how good a book is when you forget the MCs name like 5 minutes after finishing the book. True story. Just finished it a couple minutes ago and realized I'd already forgotten his name. LOL.
This felt like a first draft of a story. The idea isn't bad. Neither is the technical writing, but it had no depth to it. It like almost like the author decided this book needed X things, so he just stuck them in there. The plot is very straight forward. There's no minor plot lines, no character development, or any of that. So the stuff the MC says sounds incredibly cheesy and strange, and very disjointed.
As an example, he's met this woman about a week ago. They aren't in a relationship. So, together they go off to find this monster and he locks her in his car. She's understandingly upset about this, saying that she's already saved his life once. Why lock her up? And he, very seriously, presses his hand against the window and says "I know. You saved me from everything" with a soulful look. He was being serious.
Who says that to some he met a week ago, who is gay (so no chance of a relationship), and their only together because of this monster?
Another part of the book has him saying, after he sends a monster packing, 'I best not see you here again... or else!'
Really? I'm waiting for the CSI Miami start music to play.
The book is riddled with shit like that. I'm going to give book 2 a shot. Hopefully he's improved...
So this story is about a man named Ben. One night, he watches his poor dog get killed by a mountain lion and decides to find out WTF is happening (well, he starts by trying to inform ppl of said lion but he's ignored.) As he "investigates", things turn a bit more supernatural in nature.
You know how good a book is when you forget the MCs name like 5 minutes after finishing the book. True story. Just finished it a couple minutes ago and realized I'd already forgotten his name. LOL.
This felt like a first draft of a story. The idea isn't bad. Neither is the technical writing, but it had no depth to it. It like almost like the author decided this book needed X things, so he just stuck them in there. The plot is very straight forward. There's no minor plot lines, no character development, or any of that. So the stuff the MC says sounds incredibly cheesy and strange, and very disjointed.
As an example, he's met this woman about a week ago. They aren't in a relationship. So, together they go off to find this monster and he locks her in his car. She's understandingly upset about this, saying that she's already saved his life once. Why lock her up? And he, very seriously, presses his hand against the window and says "I know. You saved me from everything" with a soulful look. He was being serious.
Who says that to some he met a week ago, who is gay (so no chance of a relationship), and their only together because of this monster?
Another part of the book has him saying, after he sends a monster packing, 'I best not see you here again... or else!'
Really? I'm waiting for the CSI Miami start music to play.
The book is riddled with shit like that. I'm going to give book 2 a shot. Hopefully he's improved...
March 25, 2016
"One twisted, gnarled body, thousands of tiny heads protruding. The mass crested over her swaying like a cobra for a moment, hundreds of black eyes looking down on her, before it crashed over her in a wave and thousands of razor-sharp teeth found purchase at once." When I read this about a quarter of the way into The Beast of Barcroft I thought whoa!! James Herbert eat your heart out!! this is like a modern retelling of The Rats, 70's horror at its best.....but unfortunately that was as good as it got.......
The Rats was one of the first horror books I ever read and was influential in my early love of the horror genre. It was a book with a great and simple story, a rat plague strikes London, and a wonderful list of characters that instantly got me interested in the story that each had to tell. So why I am talking about The Rats when this is a review of an entirely different book? Simply put The Beast of Barcroft is unfortunately a book that will do little to ingratiate new readers to the horror genre in the way that The Rats did for me all those years ago. It is utter drivel! with characters that are instantly forgettable and a story line that had the potential to relive all those great books from so many years ago and instead turns out to be a damp squib.
Ben McKelvie has moved into a new pad in Arlington Virginia with his dog Bucky, and a disorganised neighbour whose chaotic and irresponsible lifestyle is attracting all types of rodents and vermin to the streets outside his home. What more is there to say....the beast/shapeshifter arrives, takes on whatever form he chooses and terrorizes and kills a few inhabitants. So will our hero (who loves Lindsay but she is really in love with her new partner Faith, so then he loves Lisa!) save the day. Do I really care about the puerile and petty little lives of hollow and forgettable characters in some nondescript town, I can only hope that in this battle of attrition against a poor and defenceless beast that the beast wins. You will of course, dear reader, have to read the story (if you can be bothered) to find out the answer but personally I would prefer to be buried up to my neck in pig swill rather than have to endure such drivel again!
I cannot understand why so called horror authors have the audacity to present such poorly written rubbish for print, are all those positive reviews a fair and unbiased point of view?.....I simply state this point as the Amazon star system always makes me a little suspicious of reviewers who claim...... a very good read, compellingly creepy and well written.....well written my ar*e
So an honest one star from me and I'm being generous :)
The Rats was one of the first horror books I ever read and was influential in my early love of the horror genre. It was a book with a great and simple story, a rat plague strikes London, and a wonderful list of characters that instantly got me interested in the story that each had to tell. So why I am talking about The Rats when this is a review of an entirely different book? Simply put The Beast of Barcroft is unfortunately a book that will do little to ingratiate new readers to the horror genre in the way that The Rats did for me all those years ago. It is utter drivel! with characters that are instantly forgettable and a story line that had the potential to relive all those great books from so many years ago and instead turns out to be a damp squib.
Ben McKelvie has moved into a new pad in Arlington Virginia with his dog Bucky, and a disorganised neighbour whose chaotic and irresponsible lifestyle is attracting all types of rodents and vermin to the streets outside his home. What more is there to say....the beast/shapeshifter arrives, takes on whatever form he chooses and terrorizes and kills a few inhabitants. So will our hero (who loves Lindsay but she is really in love with her new partner Faith, so then he loves Lisa!) save the day. Do I really care about the puerile and petty little lives of hollow and forgettable characters in some nondescript town, I can only hope that in this battle of attrition against a poor and defenceless beast that the beast wins. You will of course, dear reader, have to read the story (if you can be bothered) to find out the answer but personally I would prefer to be buried up to my neck in pig swill rather than have to endure such drivel again!
I cannot understand why so called horror authors have the audacity to present such poorly written rubbish for print, are all those positive reviews a fair and unbiased point of view?.....I simply state this point as the Amazon star system always makes me a little suspicious of reviewers who claim...... a very good read, compellingly creepy and well written.....well written my ar*e
So an honest one star from me and I'm being generous :)
November 17, 2015
Rats, rats, rats and rats. That's all I can think about in when I try to come up with something to say in this review. I can remember a lady eaten alive by rats. In the end, I was surprised the beast wasn't a rat. I get that this book belongs in the horror genre, but the rats are gross and a little weird. I swear that if the book wasn't mostly from Ben's point of view I those tiny creatures would have been the thing that has appeared the most in this book.
The book has many elements from varius lores and creatures that exists in our imagination only which was a little confusing first (I didn't have my google at the time I was reading it), but it was appreciated later when I saw the book was a whole. I didn't even know that this is a paranormal and fantasy book and I was taken by surprise when Ben started to discover things about this beast.
Ben is a complex character and he was nicely built. His background story is nicely built. I don't think I saw a character in this book that was one dimensional. Each had something that made him unique and I will read more of the author's works in the future. A sequel is coming next year and it has already been added to my to read list.
I must admit that I missed my genre while reading the book. I missed my dose of romance, but it wasn't very bad. I would like to see the direction Ben's like taking after the events in Barcroft. I guess I will have to wait for book number 2.
The book has many elements from varius lores and creatures that exists in our imagination only which was a little confusing first (I didn't have my google at the time I was reading it), but it was appreciated later when I saw the book was a whole. I didn't even know that this is a paranormal and fantasy book and I was taken by surprise when Ben started to discover things about this beast.
Ben is a complex character and he was nicely built. His background story is nicely built. I don't think I saw a character in this book that was one dimensional. Each had something that made him unique and I will read more of the author's works in the future. A sequel is coming next year and it has already been added to my to read list.
I must admit that I missed my genre while reading the book. I missed my dose of romance, but it wasn't very bad. I would like to see the direction Ben's like taking after the events in Barcroft. I guess I will have to wait for book number 2.
October 17, 2015
Ben didn't know that he would lose everything when he moved him and his fiancée to Barcoft in Arlington. What he thought was going to be a dream home ended up having him living alone beside a nasty house. The house next to him was lived in by a woman who seemed to take in all animals, from rats to raccoons and it was an eye shore.
Ben has been having a hard time since his father died and he thought the move would help but he still hadn't snapped out of it and eventually his fiancée left him. Then one day he was letting his dog out and his dog is taken by something that looked like a big cat, but different. The police won't take him serious but then other strange things start happening around Barcroft. Pets have gone missing, etc.
The town has a meeting about the nasty house that is no longer occupied by the woman as she died, but nobody is doing anything about all the rats and other animals. They bring in a zoologist to help explain things and she ends up being curious about Ben and his big cat that he complains about. They go looking for it and run into more than they bargained for but the policewoman still doesn't believe him until she witnesses some things herself.
The Beast of Barcroft is a bit different than what I thought it was going to be as it's not a werewolf, nor a big cat, but it seems to be several different things and I will let you find out what it is. The story gets off to a bit of a slow start but it picks up and then gets pretty interesting.
Ben annoyed me a little at first but I am assuming his attitude is because of his depressive conditions and the lose of his dog, but he quickly loses the whine when faced with grave danger. Lindsay, is the zoologist who tries to help Ben fight the beast, she ends up enlisting the help of a cryptologist who she thinks is crazy, but maybe not as crazy as she previously thought since they are dealing with something that is not normal. She was pretty brave for a zoologist who studies cats...lol.
Overall I found the novel to be interesting and I liked that it was not your typical beast. I didn't find it to be to scary but I have a higher tolerance than some so others might find it creepy. If you are into light horror novels then you might enjoy this one.
Ben has been having a hard time since his father died and he thought the move would help but he still hadn't snapped out of it and eventually his fiancée left him. Then one day he was letting his dog out and his dog is taken by something that looked like a big cat, but different. The police won't take him serious but then other strange things start happening around Barcroft. Pets have gone missing, etc.
The town has a meeting about the nasty house that is no longer occupied by the woman as she died, but nobody is doing anything about all the rats and other animals. They bring in a zoologist to help explain things and she ends up being curious about Ben and his big cat that he complains about. They go looking for it and run into more than they bargained for but the policewoman still doesn't believe him until she witnesses some things herself.
The Beast of Barcroft is a bit different than what I thought it was going to be as it's not a werewolf, nor a big cat, but it seems to be several different things and I will let you find out what it is. The story gets off to a bit of a slow start but it picks up and then gets pretty interesting.
Ben annoyed me a little at first but I am assuming his attitude is because of his depressive conditions and the lose of his dog, but he quickly loses the whine when faced with grave danger. Lindsay, is the zoologist who tries to help Ben fight the beast, she ends up enlisting the help of a cryptologist who she thinks is crazy, but maybe not as crazy as she previously thought since they are dealing with something that is not normal. She was pretty brave for a zoologist who studies cats...lol.
Overall I found the novel to be interesting and I liked that it was not your typical beast. I didn't find it to be to scary but I have a higher tolerance than some so others might find it creepy. If you are into light horror novels then you might enjoy this one.
October 17, 2025
Right from the beginning I felt almost like I was watching a movie. Cue the music as an ominous scene unfolds and the mystery of the The Beast Of Barcroft began. I was hooked.
Ben is a sympathetic character. He thinks he’s finally moving up in the world. That his hard work has paid off. That’s until he discovers that his posh new digs are planted right alongside a rundown house riddled with rats and stray cats. His life begins to fall apart. And it changes forever when he sees the creature that killed his beloved dog.
Yep, I thought I should warn you, a dog dies in this story. But the author doesn’t describe it’s death. Just what happens afterwards. When Ben faces the beast, it’s so otherworldly yet so beautiful.
The story moves swiftly then. The mystery deepens, some vital characters are introduced and the horror of the beast takes over.
Wowser. I thought I knew what the beast was. But I was way off. It was something new to me and that’s a huge bonus. I love cryptids and this one prowled right out of folklore in all its shiny newness. Some scenes were more subtle. And some were so intense I couldn’t see how anyone would survive. Some didn’t. Some did, and they want after the beast. The final confrontation seemed hopeless. I braced myself and took what the author dished out. But, wait. It wasn’t over. There was one more violent confrontation. Then it was over.
Now, about the final battle. I thought about it for awhile. Then I decided it worked. Might not be what I wanted, but it worked.
Did I enjoy The Beast Of Barcroft? Yes I did. The audible is over seven hours long and I listened to it straight through. Would I recommend it? In a heartbeat.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Ben is a sympathetic character. He thinks he’s finally moving up in the world. That his hard work has paid off. That’s until he discovers that his posh new digs are planted right alongside a rundown house riddled with rats and stray cats. His life begins to fall apart. And it changes forever when he sees the creature that killed his beloved dog.
Yep, I thought I should warn you, a dog dies in this story. But the author doesn’t describe it’s death. Just what happens afterwards. When Ben faces the beast, it’s so otherworldly yet so beautiful.
The story moves swiftly then. The mystery deepens, some vital characters are introduced and the horror of the beast takes over.
Wowser. I thought I knew what the beast was. But I was way off. It was something new to me and that’s a huge bonus. I love cryptids and this one prowled right out of folklore in all its shiny newness. Some scenes were more subtle. And some were so intense I couldn’t see how anyone would survive. Some didn’t. Some did, and they want after the beast. The final confrontation seemed hopeless. I braced myself and took what the author dished out. But, wait. It wasn’t over. There was one more violent confrontation. Then it was over.
Now, about the final battle. I thought about it for awhile. Then I decided it worked. Might not be what I wanted, but it worked.
Did I enjoy The Beast Of Barcroft? Yes I did. The audible is over seven hours long and I listened to it straight through. Would I recommend it? In a heartbeat.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
July 15, 2017
Ben McKelvie has lost his father, his wife, and now a mountain lion with glowing orange eyes has eaten his dog. The only thing worse would be if no one believed him but his neighbors are so angry about their pest problems they are happy to add mountain lion to their list of complaints.
Lindsay Clark is a hard working zoologist and curator of the great cats at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo. Her girlfriend Faith, who treats Lindsay like a doormat, is the daughter of a County Board member to Ben's neighborhood. Faith asks Lindsay to help her mother out at the community meeting which is how she gets involved in the hunt for the alleged mountain lion.
Neither of these main characters interested me but the secondary cast has much to offer!
Richard Severance is a wealthy manor dwelling cryptozoologist whose intelligence is matched by his wit. He is that debonair guy who knows his shit. My favorite character was Dr. Alex Standingcloud, professor of Native American indigenous studies at George Mason University. It didn't hurt that he was tall and good looking but I do like a strong Native American character.
This isn't a monstrosity tale where the main character(s) suffers much doubt and ridicule. It's a shorter story and everybody gets on board fast which leaves room for plenty of action. I would love to read more tales with Severance and Standingcloud, it could be a classy adult Supernatural.
March 24, 2016
Sometimes in life you need to read a book that is both pleasure and entertainment. The Beast of Barcroft provides it in bucketloads.
The story opens with our feckless anti-hero Ben, girlfriend left him, neighbour from hell and then just as the universe tends to do, it kicks him even more when his dog is killed by a mountain lion. And it's all the neighbours fault. Trouble is, she's now dead and it's only getting worse.
This book has a great mix of characters, and a fast paced plot. If you enjoy cryptozoology and mythology then this is a book for you. Me? I enjoy a good creature feature and this ticked all my boxes. 4 stars.
The story opens with our feckless anti-hero Ben, girlfriend left him, neighbour from hell and then just as the universe tends to do, it kicks him even more when his dog is killed by a mountain lion. And it's all the neighbours fault. Trouble is, she's now dead and it's only getting worse.
This book has a great mix of characters, and a fast paced plot. If you enjoy cryptozoology and mythology then this is a book for you. Me? I enjoy a good creature feature and this ticked all my boxes. 4 stars.
June 17, 2017
OMG this was so good, so glade I wanted to pick this up and give it a try, there was some things I didn't understand but I'm hoping that since this was an uncorrected copy that it'll be fix when it comes out to buy, with that said I also want to say that I loved how it pulled me in the story and kept me wanting to read it, loved how it also used Native American myths and legends as part of the story.
December 16, 2024
Scary good! This horror novel will keep you intrigued and reading through the night. Well-written with solid characters that make you want to yell at them when you think they are about to do something stupid. I thought it was just the right amount of terror. Fans who love to be scared in their reading material will want to sink their teeth into this one.
November 13, 2015
I really enjoyed this
Review to follow
Review to follow
February 2, 2023
I just didn’t care much for it. Didn’t hold my interest and took me awhile to finish it.
July 13, 2020
Could not put this book down! One of the best books I have read in quite awhile! Fast-paced and concisely written (my fav!), I devoured this tale of terror in one sitting! Reading Northwoods, Book 2 of Bill Schweigart's Fatal Folklore trilogy next!
November 23, 2015
I’ll be honest; this novel caught me completely unaware. I was looking for something to fill a gap in my reviewing schedule, and was fortunate enough to pick up an e-copy via Net Galley. I had absolutely no idea what to expect going in and I’m happy to report that I was more than a little surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Turns out, The Beast of Barcroft is a pretty good example of the horror genre and is bloody entertaining to boot.
Ben McKelvie is a bit of a mess as a human being. His life is all over the place and if there is a wrong action to take you can almost guarantee that he’ll take it. The interesting thing is that this makes him a particularly good protagonist. Flawed characters are always far more intriguing to follow in my opinion. Ben makes mistakes, he is fallible, and it shows. There have been too many times in the past when a character comes across as perfect in every way and that drives me more than a little bit bonkers. In this instance it quickly becomes obvious the Ben is an entirely ordinary person who finds himself in the midst of a truly extraordinary situation. His actions and reactions to the various horrors he is forced to witness were one of the book’s real highlights for me.
The other characters are also quite well established. Needless to say, Ben can’t deal with his new non-human neighbour all on his own, so he needs to find allies to help him out. Lindsay Clark, a zoologist at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo, is initially sceptical but decides to give Ben the benefit of her experience. Lindsay also calls upon the expertise of Richard Severance, a crypto-zoologist, who is a bit more open to the possibility that the predator that is terrorising the small town might not be entirely natural. The final member of the dysfunctional little team is Dr. Alex Standingcloud. His expertise in Native American folklore and myth proves to be invaluable in their search.
There is a wonderfully tongue in cheek B-movie-esque create feature quality to the writing. I found myself visualising something that was a hybrid of The X Files, Silver Bullet and Supernatural.
If you enjoy your horror with a distinctly animalistic edge then I would recommend that you give The Beast of Barcroft a go. For less than the price of a small cup of coffee, Schweigart blends together a number of different mythologies to create a fun read that will appeal to any reader who enjoys their horror with bite.
The Beast of Barcroft is published by Hydra and is available now. A sequel, Northwoods, featuring some of the same characters, is due for release in February next year. I’ll be looking out for it.
Ben McKelvie is a bit of a mess as a human being. His life is all over the place and if there is a wrong action to take you can almost guarantee that he’ll take it. The interesting thing is that this makes him a particularly good protagonist. Flawed characters are always far more intriguing to follow in my opinion. Ben makes mistakes, he is fallible, and it shows. There have been too many times in the past when a character comes across as perfect in every way and that drives me more than a little bit bonkers. In this instance it quickly becomes obvious the Ben is an entirely ordinary person who finds himself in the midst of a truly extraordinary situation. His actions and reactions to the various horrors he is forced to witness were one of the book’s real highlights for me.
The other characters are also quite well established. Needless to say, Ben can’t deal with his new non-human neighbour all on his own, so he needs to find allies to help him out. Lindsay Clark, a zoologist at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo, is initially sceptical but decides to give Ben the benefit of her experience. Lindsay also calls upon the expertise of Richard Severance, a crypto-zoologist, who is a bit more open to the possibility that the predator that is terrorising the small town might not be entirely natural. The final member of the dysfunctional little team is Dr. Alex Standingcloud. His expertise in Native American folklore and myth proves to be invaluable in their search.
There is a wonderfully tongue in cheek B-movie-esque create feature quality to the writing. I found myself visualising something that was a hybrid of The X Files, Silver Bullet and Supernatural.
If you enjoy your horror with a distinctly animalistic edge then I would recommend that you give The Beast of Barcroft a go. For less than the price of a small cup of coffee, Schweigart blends together a number of different mythologies to create a fun read that will appeal to any reader who enjoys their horror with bite.
The Beast of Barcroft is published by Hydra and is available now. A sequel, Northwoods, featuring some of the same characters, is due for release in February next year. I’ll be looking out for it.
December 1, 2015
I think the monster is making a comeback. There seems to be a lot of literary creature features this year. Perhaps the vampire has finally ran out of blood and the zombies went on a brain-free diet. It is time Cryptozoology had a chance to lord over the horror novels for a time. Mythological creatures, Bigfoot, Sea creatures ...they all need a day in the sun.
The Beast of Barcroft is a novel about one of those creatures. Which one cannot not be said for the author Bill Schweigart takes a long time to name the monster in his novel. We are given a lot of choices though. In the beginning of the book, when down on his luck glass-half-empty Ben sees his dog killed by the creature, he is pretty sure it is a mountain lion. Except mountain lions are almost non-existent in the Washington DC suburb of Barcroft. There is a strange woman next door to him whose passion for collecting animals causes a neighborhood rat problem that that pales next to the increasing body count of the creature. From there on, The Beast of Barcroft develops into what could be called a monster mystery. What is the killer creature the resident fear and the officials scoff at? Is someone behind its appearance?
It's a nice plot and the author does follow with some nice imagery and scares. Yet the mystery wanes through a good part of the book. We do not even get a hint on the identity of the creature until about halfway through and perhaps that may not even be correct. By the middle of the novel, it feels like the plot is looking for a purpose and not finding it. The characters do not really help to find that purpose. Even Ben, despite a number of misfortunes, seems to be one-dimensional. When the Cryptozoologist arrives I am looking for a little eccentricity to relieve the ennui but none is found except for a few mild play of words on mythological terms. When we finally get to the true identity of the monster, it falls flat as does the expected climatic battle. If you spend so much time and drama to get to the payoff, I expect more than loose change.
But The Beast of Barcroft is still a pleasant horror tale. It just doesn't rise to the top of the food chain. Perhaps the zombies and vampires will one day have a worthy opponent from the loads of horrible creatures waiting in the literary wings but it won't be The Beast of Barcroft
The Beast of Barcroft is a novel about one of those creatures. Which one cannot not be said for the author Bill Schweigart takes a long time to name the monster in his novel. We are given a lot of choices though. In the beginning of the book, when down on his luck glass-half-empty Ben sees his dog killed by the creature, he is pretty sure it is a mountain lion. Except mountain lions are almost non-existent in the Washington DC suburb of Barcroft. There is a strange woman next door to him whose passion for collecting animals causes a neighborhood rat problem that that pales next to the increasing body count of the creature. From there on, The Beast of Barcroft develops into what could be called a monster mystery. What is the killer creature the resident fear and the officials scoff at? Is someone behind its appearance?
It's a nice plot and the author does follow with some nice imagery and scares. Yet the mystery wanes through a good part of the book. We do not even get a hint on the identity of the creature until about halfway through and perhaps that may not even be correct. By the middle of the novel, it feels like the plot is looking for a purpose and not finding it. The characters do not really help to find that purpose. Even Ben, despite a number of misfortunes, seems to be one-dimensional. When the Cryptozoologist arrives I am looking for a little eccentricity to relieve the ennui but none is found except for a few mild play of words on mythological terms. When we finally get to the true identity of the monster, it falls flat as does the expected climatic battle. If you spend so much time and drama to get to the payoff, I expect more than loose change.
But The Beast of Barcroft is still a pleasant horror tale. It just doesn't rise to the top of the food chain. Perhaps the zombies and vampires will one day have a worthy opponent from the loads of horrible creatures waiting in the literary wings but it won't be The Beast of Barcroft
October 11, 2015
Before you move into a new neighborhood you should really check out the neighbors first. That's a lesson that Ben McKelvie learns to his own chagrin. His neighbor Madeline is crazy, and not a good crazy, she is singlehandedly turning her property into a toxic waste dump. First she leaves food out for pigeons, and when rats come to eat the pigeon food, she feeds them too. Poor Ben, this is not what he expected when he moved into Barcroft.
But things get worse, first his dog gets eaten by a mountain lion. Or was it a mountain lion? He's not really sure, it looked like one, but the eyes were strange and haunting. The policewoman who takes his statement doesn't seem to care. Neither does the town council. What's a guy to do? Team up with a big cat curator from the National Zoo. At least she believes that there's a big cat stalking the neighborhood. Or is it a big cat? Something fishy happens with evidence collected from the scene that leads them to team up with a cryptozoologist and a Native American shaman to root out the source of the evil that's stalking Barcroft.
This book was a real page-turner. The action came on fast and the suspense didn't quit. The characters were interesting and likable. I also really liked that when one of the characters turned out to be gay it was incorporated naturally into the story. I think fans of Stephen King and Bentley Little will really enjoy this book.
But things get worse, first his dog gets eaten by a mountain lion. Or was it a mountain lion? He's not really sure, it looked like one, but the eyes were strange and haunting. The policewoman who takes his statement doesn't seem to care. Neither does the town council. What's a guy to do? Team up with a big cat curator from the National Zoo. At least she believes that there's a big cat stalking the neighborhood. Or is it a big cat? Something fishy happens with evidence collected from the scene that leads them to team up with a cryptozoologist and a Native American shaman to root out the source of the evil that's stalking Barcroft.
This book was a real page-turner. The action came on fast and the suspense didn't quit. The characters were interesting and likable. I also really liked that when one of the characters turned out to be gay it was incorporated naturally into the story. I think fans of Stephen King and Bentley Little will really enjoy this book.
October 6, 2015
I received a advanced copy through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review:
It is a must read for any Stephen King fan. While reading this book I was wondering if the author is a King fan of his earlier works because this is what the book reminded me of. It is a story about a beast (not sure what it is) that is terrorizing a small community which started when a troublesome neighbor dies. Strange things started to happen with no explanation. When Ben was out one night with his dog Bucky a shadow swept Bucky away. Ben wasn't sure what it was since it looked like a big cat. A little paranormal activity in the story and the funny part the way it is written it flows with the story. I kept on reading this book to find out what the animal was. In the beginning of the book you think it’s on the line of a mountain lion, wolf, or some critter from the forest. Now Ben is determined to find out what this beast is and why it is terrorizing his neighborhood. In comes Lindsay who works for a zoo in the Washington DC area along with her friend Severence who will help Ben get to the bottom of what is going on in his little town.
The author weaves a tale that can give you nightmares since this thing is what you fear most.
It is a must read for any Stephen King fan. While reading this book I was wondering if the author is a King fan of his earlier works because this is what the book reminded me of. It is a story about a beast (not sure what it is) that is terrorizing a small community which started when a troublesome neighbor dies. Strange things started to happen with no explanation. When Ben was out one night with his dog Bucky a shadow swept Bucky away. Ben wasn't sure what it was since it looked like a big cat. A little paranormal activity in the story and the funny part the way it is written it flows with the story. I kept on reading this book to find out what the animal was. In the beginning of the book you think it’s on the line of a mountain lion, wolf, or some critter from the forest. Now Ben is determined to find out what this beast is and why it is terrorizing his neighborhood. In comes Lindsay who works for a zoo in the Washington DC area along with her friend Severence who will help Ben get to the bottom of what is going on in his little town.
The author weaves a tale that can give you nightmares since this thing is what you fear most.
November 27, 2015
Thank goodness I know my neighbors well; otherwise, The Beast of Barcroft might well have left me cowering behind locked doors and drawn blinds. This terrific, fast-paced horror story was hard to put down, so I was delighted to discover that it may be the launch of a new series featuring not only traumatized suburbanite Ben McKelvie, but also National Zoo great cat curator Lindsay Clark, Native American indigenous studies expert Alex Standingcloud, and eccentric (is there any other kind?) cryptozoologist Richard Severance.
What prevented The Beast of Barcroft from earning five stars was its relative lack of character development, particularly with respect to Standingcloud and Severance, who clearly have a relationship predating the events in this novel. I look forward to them acquiring more depth in the sequel, Northwoods, which is scheduled for publication in February, 2016.
I received a free copy of The Beast of Barcroft through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What prevented The Beast of Barcroft from earning five stars was its relative lack of character development, particularly with respect to Standingcloud and Severance, who clearly have a relationship predating the events in this novel. I look forward to them acquiring more depth in the sequel, Northwoods, which is scheduled for publication in February, 2016.
I received a free copy of The Beast of Barcroft through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2015
"Ben’s fiancée leaves him...,his dog dies, apparently killed by a predator. But the worst is yet to come ... for he’s not dealing with any ordinary wild animal. This killer is something much, much worse. Something that couldn’t possibly exist—in this world.
Now, as a devilish creature stalks the locals, Ben resolves to take action. With some grudging assistance from a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the crackpot theories of a self-styled cryptozoologist, he discovers the sinister truth behind the attacks" (from the author's website )."
An intriguing story with an hair-raising twist on the neighbor from hell,revenge, and legendary beast. Cryptozoology meets science, the rational meets the supernatural. Gruesome details mix it up with a fast-paced and action-packed story. Recommended for public libraries and bookstores where Stephen King and Dean Koontz are popular. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read the digital ARC.
Now, as a devilish creature stalks the locals, Ben resolves to take action. With some grudging assistance from a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the crackpot theories of a self-styled cryptozoologist, he discovers the sinister truth behind the attacks" (from the author's website )."
An intriguing story with an hair-raising twist on the neighbor from hell,revenge, and legendary beast. Cryptozoology meets science, the rational meets the supernatural. Gruesome details mix it up with a fast-paced and action-packed story. Recommended for public libraries and bookstores where Stephen King and Dean Koontz are popular. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read the digital ARC.
November 18, 2015
What a good read! For lovers of something a little different... Not just a thriller/horror... Ben's life looks promising, things are going well. Then all of a sudden it takes a turn for the worse, he moves next door to a crazy animal lover, his fiancée leaves him, his dog is killed... Could things get any worse?! All this pales into significance, the worst is yet to come.
I really want to tell you more, but don't want to give the game away, and there's surprise after horrific surprise! It's simply great! I cannot wait for the sequel Northwoods, available February 2016. Thanks to author Bill Schweigart and Random house publishing group - Hydra, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this superb story.
I really want to tell you more, but don't want to give the game away, and there's surprise after horrific surprise! It's simply great! I cannot wait for the sequel Northwoods, available February 2016. Thanks to author Bill Schweigart and Random house publishing group - Hydra, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this superb story.
November 17, 2015
A neighbor whose house attracts rats to the community! Add anxiety attacks and insomnia; that's what Ben's dealing with! The problems continue to escalate from there! Strange sounds, odors...people disappearing, strange murders! Can he believe his own eyes as to who's responsible? The people in the neighborhood are fed up and terrified! They demand answers and results! Ben teams up with Lindsay (works with animals) and butts heads with Officer Cushing as they seek to end the terror! Thrilling sci-fi/horror story with engaging characters, dialog and mystifying ancient terrors! Look forward to reading more chilling tales by Mr. Schweitzer! Received book free thru Netgalley for honest review.
October 19, 2015
Ben and his fiancee buy a house in a nice neighborhood, but things quickly go downhill. Their neighbor feeds and keeps all sorts of animals attracting pests to the neighborhood. Then Ben's fiancee leaves him. When his dog is attacked and killed before his eyes, he can't believe what he's seen. No one else does either. This predator is stalking and killing his neighbors and him.
I enjoyed this book. Makes you a bit jumpy when you hear a howl at night or something goes bump in the night. I did have to suspend belief at one point in the book, but later in the story it made sense.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. Makes you a bit jumpy when you hear a howl at night or something goes bump in the night. I did have to suspend belief at one point in the book, but later in the story it made sense.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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