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Return to Grief Hollow #1
The Tear Collector
The misdeeds of our ancestors are debts passed from generation to generation. They lurk, hidden in the shadows, waiting for the right time to be collected. For the residents of Harper Pass—their debt is due. When a young autistic girl goes missing from a small Appalachian community, the residents of Harper Pass descend into chaos. Brooks Raker and his friends stumble across the police investigation, and as they dig deeper into the mysterious events, the boys realize the fate of their missing classmate pales in comparison with the evil lurking in the shadows of the quiet little town. With four boys who believe something sinister is at work, and an ambitious reporter breathing down his neck, Detective Holt of the Harper Pass Police Department must confront his doubts and follow the evidence. A chain of disappearances and suspicious deaths, leads Holt to the doorstep of the mysterious and reclusive Professor Wadlow who may know exactly what has come to collect in Harper Pass. Can the detective and the boys work together to unravel the dark secrets of Harper Pass before those secrets devour them all?
394 pages, Hardcover
First published November 25, 2019
70 people are currently reading
11182 people want to read
About the author
Shawn Burgess
4 books304 followersShawn Burgess is a dark fiction author, avid horror fan, and Halloween junkie. His stories often blend two or more of his preferred genres: thriller, mystery, horror, crime, urban fantasy, and suspense. In his fictional worlds, realistic characters collide with the strange, unusual, and sometimes terrifying.
GHOSTS OF GRIEF HOLLOW, the sequel to his international best-selling debut novel, THE TEAR COLLECTOR, is due out October 2022.
For all the latest updates on releases, interesting stories, sneak peek exclusives, and talk about books and movies, subscribe to his newsletter at https://shawnburgessauthor.com/subscr... Follow on Twitter/Instagram/FaceBook @ShawnBinJax & on TIkTok @AuthorShawnBurgess
Get a free ecopy of SOUR ROOTS at
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/pt0fsemsoq
GHOSTS OF GRIEF HOLLOW, the sequel to his international best-selling debut novel, THE TEAR COLLECTOR, is due out October 2022.
For all the latest updates on releases, interesting stories, sneak peek exclusives, and talk about books and movies, subscribe to his newsletter at https://shawnburgessauthor.com/subscr... Follow on Twitter/Instagram/FaceBook @ShawnBinJax & on TIkTok @AuthorShawnBurgess
Get a free ecopy of SOUR ROOTS at
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/pt0fsemsoq
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
January 7, 2020
I’ve seen others say that The Tear Collector has a feel of Stephen King with the story being centred around four boys, you’ll probably know The Body better as the film Stand By Me. In a way I would agree, we get to see the boys’ friendship and their bond grow through out as well having some very horrible bullies who are out for blood. Other than that though, this is an author who very much has his own voice.
The writing has a simplistic feel to it, making it easy for me to fall right in and get hooked. It can certainly be enjoyed by young adults who arn’t to squeamish and adults alike, again, who arn’t to squeamish. There is just enough blood, horror and gore without being to graphic that made sure I wasn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.
Whatever is threatening this small town, has the tension mounting the further into the story I got. Some of the story I wanted to read behind my hands as I have to admit it had me on edge as I worried over the safety of the towns people but especially Brooks and his friends and their families. I was even quite taken with the main cop in the book. Usually with small town police, they tend to be oblivious and so far up their own backsides. This one though had more understanding and I felt sorry for him being hit from all sides whilst trying to do his job.
The Tear Collector was a story that didn’t let go. There was something always going on, holding my interest through out. The main appeal had to be the four boys and their friendship. The second was the horror element. There are plenty of chills and scares throughout that sent my heart racing. I really enjoyed this debut novel by the author and can’t wait to read more.
The writing has a simplistic feel to it, making it easy for me to fall right in and get hooked. It can certainly be enjoyed by young adults who arn’t to squeamish and adults alike, again, who arn’t to squeamish. There is just enough blood, horror and gore without being to graphic that made sure I wasn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.
Whatever is threatening this small town, has the tension mounting the further into the story I got. Some of the story I wanted to read behind my hands as I have to admit it had me on edge as I worried over the safety of the towns people but especially Brooks and his friends and their families. I was even quite taken with the main cop in the book. Usually with small town police, they tend to be oblivious and so far up their own backsides. This one though had more understanding and I felt sorry for him being hit from all sides whilst trying to do his job.
The Tear Collector was a story that didn’t let go. There was something always going on, holding my interest through out. The main appeal had to be the four boys and their friendship. The second was the horror element. There are plenty of chills and scares throughout that sent my heart racing. I really enjoyed this debut novel by the author and can’t wait to read more.
January 6, 2020
The Tear Collector is Shawn Burgess's debut and a cross between a thriller and a horror novel with elements of the paranormal, mystery and even a young adult feel at times. It is also the first in a series, and if this is anything to go by the sequel is going to be intensely gripping. I rarely read horror and find that it appears to be a neglected genre with very few horror books being published. I am pleased I picked this up as it sounded like a homage to the one and only Stephen King, and it was exactly that with the same creepy vibes and a creeping sense of claustrophobia. Something is tormenting the small town of Harper Pass. A group of young boys decide to set out to discover what exactly this mysterious entity is and help the police to find their missing classmate Margo Combs in the process. Having gone missing in the dense woodland which surrounds the quaint, chocolate-box town makes this autistic girls disappearance all the more urgent. But as the bodies begin to pile up can the boys find out what is going on before the evildoer strikes again? What is this strange presence in Grief Hollow?
This very much reads like a homage to all the great horror writers out there and is so well crafted that once you are drawn in the story doesn't let you escape until it's all over. It is not for the faint-hearted, though, as it is gory, graphic and deeply disturbing and the terrified townsfolk refuse to believe that the brutal slayings are being carried out by a supernatural being as they don't know how to deal with it and put it to bed so they would much rather believe its the work of a deranged human; however, the boys have accepted that this isn't merely a serial killer or madman with psychiatric problems. As the boys come of age we watch them grow as people, and Burgess does a splendid job of making the cast both relatable and well developed each with their own quirks. It reminded me very much of Stranger Things and I am certain that those who enjoy those type of shows will devour this just as I did. A fun, intense and compulsively readable story and a page-turner and a must-read for horror/mystery/thriller connoisseurs. Many thanks to BOTBS for an ARC.
This very much reads like a homage to all the great horror writers out there and is so well crafted that once you are drawn in the story doesn't let you escape until it's all over. It is not for the faint-hearted, though, as it is gory, graphic and deeply disturbing and the terrified townsfolk refuse to believe that the brutal slayings are being carried out by a supernatural being as they don't know how to deal with it and put it to bed so they would much rather believe its the work of a deranged human; however, the boys have accepted that this isn't merely a serial killer or madman with psychiatric problems. As the boys come of age we watch them grow as people, and Burgess does a splendid job of making the cast both relatable and well developed each with their own quirks. It reminded me very much of Stranger Things and I am certain that those who enjoy those type of shows will devour this just as I did. A fun, intense and compulsively readable story and a page-turner and a must-read for horror/mystery/thriller connoisseurs. Many thanks to BOTBS for an ARC.
December 26, 2019
I liked the pacing, lots of things happening with little down time, plus the author definitely knows how to write the personalities of boys in the age range of 12 to 14. The writing is good, except for parts where I found it a little melodramatic and redundant. Otherwise, worth the read.
Thanks, Shawn.
Thanks, Shawn.
January 23, 2020
*I was sent a copy from Shawn in exchange for my honest review*
This is his debut novel. This book is classified as a young adult thriller.
I was absolutely invested in this novel from page one on. The writing of this author is absolutely spectacular. He did an amazing job of keeping me on my toes while delivering a spooky yet astoundingly thrilling novel. There were a few times that I jumped out of my seat while reading this. By far one of the best debut novels I have ever read. when I saw the cover I thought it was extremely spooky and creepy with the woods scene involving a young girl that could be missing. The details in this book were thoroughly described giving you a fantastic picture of what everyone had to go through in the story. I would highly recommend this book to everyone wanting to read a young adult thriller. This gave me a little bit of an adult version of Goosebumps with a tiny bit of crime scene as well. I cannot wait to see the next book that Shawn writes!!!!
My rating: 📕📕📕📕📕 (5 stars)
This is his debut novel. This book is classified as a young adult thriller.
I was absolutely invested in this novel from page one on. The writing of this author is absolutely spectacular. He did an amazing job of keeping me on my toes while delivering a spooky yet astoundingly thrilling novel. There were a few times that I jumped out of my seat while reading this. By far one of the best debut novels I have ever read. when I saw the cover I thought it was extremely spooky and creepy with the woods scene involving a young girl that could be missing. The details in this book were thoroughly described giving you a fantastic picture of what everyone had to go through in the story. I would highly recommend this book to everyone wanting to read a young adult thriller. This gave me a little bit of an adult version of Goosebumps with a tiny bit of crime scene as well. I cannot wait to see the next book that Shawn writes!!!!
My rating: 📕📕📕📕📕 (5 stars)
June 9, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
‘The Tear Collector’ is my first go-around with Mr. Burgess and what a great introduction to his writing. The synopsis itself and the cover had me massively intrigued and I’d seen some really good reviews about this around its release date.
What I liked: This story hums along and the principle plot behind it is right up my alley. Grief Hollow is a section of woods near a small town that everyone avoids. People go missing, odd things happen etc. The story opens with a horrific incident that sets the stage for the main events almost a decade later.
The story itself is broken into two main narratives; the first is a coming-of-age story about a group of friends who band together to face an unseen force, while also dealing with some local bullies. The second is the search for a missing girl, which then becomes more and more a police story about just what is going on.
The characters were great, and the short, quick chapters made sure you wanted to keep reading more, to find out just what is happening. The ending was a bit of a mixed bag, but it played out just the way the story needed. Good character resolutions and the epilogue was a fun add on.
What I didn’t like: Even with the quick chapters, there was a bit in the middle that seemed to lag, where the story didn’t really move along. Part of it was building trust and rapport within the group of characters, but the timeline of everything happening in this story wasn’t very long, so the middle section I thought could have been a bit more condensed. The other thing I wasn’t completely sold on was the ‘why’ of the thing in Grief Hollow, but that’s just me. It may work really well for others!
Why you should buy this: Everyone who reads horror loves coming-of-age stories set in the creepy woods. Add in bullies, disappearances and the police and this thing is primed for fans of this genre. I really loved the gore and then as we do see more of the thing, the story grows creepier and creepier.
This was a great introduction to Shawn’s work! I had a blast and it’s always a fun time when the story moves this quickly for most of the book.
‘The Tear Collector’ is my first go-around with Mr. Burgess and what a great introduction to his writing. The synopsis itself and the cover had me massively intrigued and I’d seen some really good reviews about this around its release date.
What I liked: This story hums along and the principle plot behind it is right up my alley. Grief Hollow is a section of woods near a small town that everyone avoids. People go missing, odd things happen etc. The story opens with a horrific incident that sets the stage for the main events almost a decade later.
The story itself is broken into two main narratives; the first is a coming-of-age story about a group of friends who band together to face an unseen force, while also dealing with some local bullies. The second is the search for a missing girl, which then becomes more and more a police story about just what is going on.
The characters were great, and the short, quick chapters made sure you wanted to keep reading more, to find out just what is happening. The ending was a bit of a mixed bag, but it played out just the way the story needed. Good character resolutions and the epilogue was a fun add on.
What I didn’t like: Even with the quick chapters, there was a bit in the middle that seemed to lag, where the story didn’t really move along. Part of it was building trust and rapport within the group of characters, but the timeline of everything happening in this story wasn’t very long, so the middle section I thought could have been a bit more condensed. The other thing I wasn’t completely sold on was the ‘why’ of the thing in Grief Hollow, but that’s just me. It may work really well for others!
Why you should buy this: Everyone who reads horror loves coming-of-age stories set in the creepy woods. Add in bullies, disappearances and the police and this thing is primed for fans of this genre. I really loved the gore and then as we do see more of the thing, the story grows creepier and creepier.
This was a great introduction to Shawn’s work! I had a blast and it’s always a fun time when the story moves this quickly for most of the book.
January 4, 2020
Wow!! I didn't expect to like this book so much. No offense to the author.
The book started with the main character Brooks and his friends being bullied. Then came a missing girl, a so called mad professor, a weird man, a dead body, and a murderer.
My first book by author Shawn Burgess, and what an unexpected read it was. Man, I was sucked in... No idea if it was the writing or the strange characters in the book!! Just kidding. Got to be honest, the writing was quite different for me to get the visual image initially. But hold on....
As I turned the pages, the thriller aspect of the story came into view, and I was enthralled. Gimme a good horror to read anytime. This was one heck of a ride with science and horror mixed together. It triggered my thriller-y heart and made me in awe of the author's mind.
I would have liked a bit more horror to knock me out. But having not read books by the kings of horror, I would say the book worked for me more as a thriller. The characters became real as the pages turned. I liked knowing how the cops worked in this town. Working in tandem, the story did come to its expected ending.
Overall, a thriller of a read over breakfast.
The book started with the main character Brooks and his friends being bullied. Then came a missing girl, a so called mad professor, a weird man, a dead body, and a murderer.
My first book by author Shawn Burgess, and what an unexpected read it was. Man, I was sucked in... No idea if it was the writing or the strange characters in the book!! Just kidding. Got to be honest, the writing was quite different for me to get the visual image initially. But hold on....
As I turned the pages, the thriller aspect of the story came into view, and I was enthralled. Gimme a good horror to read anytime. This was one heck of a ride with science and horror mixed together. It triggered my thriller-y heart and made me in awe of the author's mind.
I would have liked a bit more horror to knock me out. But having not read books by the kings of horror, I would say the book worked for me more as a thriller. The characters became real as the pages turned. I liked knowing how the cops worked in this town. Working in tandem, the story did come to its expected ending.
Overall, a thriller of a read over breakfast.
October 23, 2019
I was given an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mr. Shawn Burgess’s “The Tear Collector”, for me, proved to be a riveting and fun read regarding coming of age and horror.
Mr. Burgess captured with uncanny certainty the angst of adolescence awkwardness, sharp pain of loss, the need to belong, loyalty born of pre-adulthood and inner strength for teens. He weaves these facets through his beautifully paced and chilling tale of horror & mythos in such a way that the reader can seamlessly harken back to those awkward, uncomfortable times, and yet relate to the main characters so very easily as an adult reader.
I was reminded - a bit - of the movie “Stand by Me” while reading this story.
Mr. Burgess managed to brilliantly pull off a story told from the perspective of young teens, yet write it to be thoroughly enjoyed by adult fans of thrillers & suspense.
I look forward to more from this writer!
Mr. Shawn Burgess’s “The Tear Collector”, for me, proved to be a riveting and fun read regarding coming of age and horror.
Mr. Burgess captured with uncanny certainty the angst of adolescence awkwardness, sharp pain of loss, the need to belong, loyalty born of pre-adulthood and inner strength for teens. He weaves these facets through his beautifully paced and chilling tale of horror & mythos in such a way that the reader can seamlessly harken back to those awkward, uncomfortable times, and yet relate to the main characters so very easily as an adult reader.
I was reminded - a bit - of the movie “Stand by Me” while reading this story.
Mr. Burgess managed to brilliantly pull off a story told from the perspective of young teens, yet write it to be thoroughly enjoyed by adult fans of thrillers & suspense.
I look forward to more from this writer!
May 1, 2022
A group of kids vs an evil being in the woods…Did I love it? Fuck yeah I did!
June 19, 2022
The Tear Collector gives me Stephen King feels, and that’s a good thing. I’m thinking specifically of It and The Body (the story that the movie Stand By Me is based on), as The Tear Collector features a group of teenage boys banded together, supporting each other, and coming of age, against a formidable, deadly foe.
The setting in this case is the small Appalachian town of Harper Pass. When a young autistic girl disappears in a place where tragedy struck several years before, it sets off a chain of events that envelopes the town and entangles the boys in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. There’s a smart detective who’s way out of his depth, an overly aggressive young reporter, a disgraced, eccentric college professor, and a centuries-old evil bent on revenge. The friends are all well-developed characters with distinct, believable personalities.
Burgess has a flair for ratcheting up tension. The central mystery is well thought out, with a nice dive into the history that brought the reader to this point. This is a small-town thriller with a heavy dose of horror, and his big-bad is fun and inventive. Give this one a try!
The setting in this case is the small Appalachian town of Harper Pass. When a young autistic girl disappears in a place where tragedy struck several years before, it sets off a chain of events that envelopes the town and entangles the boys in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. There’s a smart detective who’s way out of his depth, an overly aggressive young reporter, a disgraced, eccentric college professor, and a centuries-old evil bent on revenge. The friends are all well-developed characters with distinct, believable personalities.
Burgess has a flair for ratcheting up tension. The central mystery is well thought out, with a nice dive into the history that brought the reader to this point. This is a small-town thriller with a heavy dose of horror, and his big-bad is fun and inventive. Give this one a try!
February 15, 2020
For those who enjoyed Stranger Things, this one's for you. I for one thought it read like a YA novel but some of the gory scenes probably pushed this one in the adult section. Burgess is a good author but I think the editing falls a bit short where words and expressions are repeated throughout. That said, the story is a good one and the pace is good. Just too much fist-bumping among teenagers for me. A generous 3*.
January 6, 2020
If you enjoy books by Stephen King then this book is probably up your street. Set in the small town of Harper Pass, deep in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America, everyone knows everyone else and their business as families have lived there for generations. So when a young autistic girl goes missing it affects the whole community but strange sightings of her are very disturbing.
This is a horror, thriller, mystery read that made my eyes read on when my brain was shouting look away! A search in the woods for the girl results in the horrific death of a local man, with the police desperately trying to fit a square peg in a round hole guessing at what could have caused such injuries so quickly. When the police step up investigations into the girl’s disappearance the local kids decide to do a little digging themselves and jump in with only bike power and a tsunami of adrenaline.
The mood is very eerie throughout the story with adults being unable to comprehend what they see and desperately trying to find a logical explanation of what is in front of their eyes. It may be a small community but quite a few appear in the story but the ones you need to keep your eye on stand out really well. The author made everyone feel real with their own complicated lives bubbling away be it bullying among the kids or adult relationships and gossip.
A brilliant storyline with everything well thought out. Love to read a book where the author isn’t afraid to shock his readers. Definitely, one to keep your eye on for future publications.
I wish to thank Book on the Bright Side for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
This is a horror, thriller, mystery read that made my eyes read on when my brain was shouting look away! A search in the woods for the girl results in the horrific death of a local man, with the police desperately trying to fit a square peg in a round hole guessing at what could have caused such injuries so quickly. When the police step up investigations into the girl’s disappearance the local kids decide to do a little digging themselves and jump in with only bike power and a tsunami of adrenaline.
The mood is very eerie throughout the story with adults being unable to comprehend what they see and desperately trying to find a logical explanation of what is in front of their eyes. It may be a small community but quite a few appear in the story but the ones you need to keep your eye on stand out really well. The author made everyone feel real with their own complicated lives bubbling away be it bullying among the kids or adult relationships and gossip.
A brilliant storyline with everything well thought out. Love to read a book where the author isn’t afraid to shock his readers. Definitely, one to keep your eye on for future publications.
I wish to thank Book on the Bright Side for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
September 3, 2019
In a preface to Robert Burns' poem, "Tam O' Shanter," Gawin Douglas wrote: "Of Brownyis and of Bogillis full is this Buke." For his thrilling debut horror novel, The Tear Collector, Shawn Burgess brings forth a Bogeyman to end all Bogeymen - and does so in as exciting and well-crafted a manner as is possible. At the same time as a local autistic girl, Margo Combs, is discovered to have gone missing in the woods around the small town of Harper's Pass, her classmate, Brooks Raker, stumbles on a mysterious, terrifying presence in Grief Hollow, just after encountering "Mysterious Margo" in her nightgown, unaware that she's vanished from her home. Are the two things connected? As one of the townspeople turns up dead, horribly mutilated, local police begin to take Brooks' tale of an evil, shadowy Presence a bit more seriously.
Burgess combines sharp, realistic dialogue with a finely-honed gift for storytelling to create a chilling, fast-paced thrill ride of a horror novel. For fans of adventure horror, The Tear Collector is a definite Must-Read! Every line of dialogue rings true, while every scene serves to move the story along at a brisk, exhilarating tempo, from Brooks' first encounter with Margo to the climactic, horrifying finish, a satisfying blend of resolution and just enough ambiguity to allow (we hope!) for the possibility of a sequel. To paraphrase Gawin Douglas, Of Bogeymen and brilliantly-executed terrors full is this book!
Burgess combines sharp, realistic dialogue with a finely-honed gift for storytelling to create a chilling, fast-paced thrill ride of a horror novel. For fans of adventure horror, The Tear Collector is a definite Must-Read! Every line of dialogue rings true, while every scene serves to move the story along at a brisk, exhilarating tempo, from Brooks' first encounter with Margo to the climactic, horrifying finish, a satisfying blend of resolution and just enough ambiguity to allow (we hope!) for the possibility of a sequel. To paraphrase Gawin Douglas, Of Bogeymen and brilliantly-executed terrors full is this book!
September 26, 2019
The Tear Collector is a fast paced horror-thriller that captured me in a number of ways, many of them unexpected.
The book's opening sequence is not only heartbreaking, but also introduces the mystery surrounding Harper Pass. The following chapters then introduce the reader to Brooks and the gang, who are the focus of the story.
A group of boys drawn into the horrifying secrets of a town is nothing new to the horror genre, but Burgess handles the tale
with skill. Brooks and his friends are well drawn out characters, kids who are subject to the same emotions and flaws all kids are subject to, yet the narrative never feels childish or melodramatic in ways that would diminish the story.
One of the story's biggest strengths is also it's biggest flaw. The pace. The book is fast paced and moves at one hundred miles per hour. Burgess does slow down the narrative at times, mostly when the narrative shifts from Brooks' point of view.
Overall I found the pacing appropriate, but there were moments when I wanted the book to slow down and let the reader stew in the mysteries shrouding Harper Pass and its residents.
Still I found the book entertaining in all the aspects that matter most--character development, plot, story, and more. Because of time constraints, I was unsure of picking up this title, but in the end, I am very glad I did.
The book's opening sequence is not only heartbreaking, but also introduces the mystery surrounding Harper Pass. The following chapters then introduce the reader to Brooks and the gang, who are the focus of the story.
A group of boys drawn into the horrifying secrets of a town is nothing new to the horror genre, but Burgess handles the tale
with skill. Brooks and his friends are well drawn out characters, kids who are subject to the same emotions and flaws all kids are subject to, yet the narrative never feels childish or melodramatic in ways that would diminish the story.
One of the story's biggest strengths is also it's biggest flaw. The pace. The book is fast paced and moves at one hundred miles per hour. Burgess does slow down the narrative at times, mostly when the narrative shifts from Brooks' point of view.
Overall I found the pacing appropriate, but there were moments when I wanted the book to slow down and let the reader stew in the mysteries shrouding Harper Pass and its residents.
Still I found the book entertaining in all the aspects that matter most--character development, plot, story, and more. Because of time constraints, I was unsure of picking up this title, but in the end, I am very glad I did.
September 5, 2019
Readers of Shawn Burgess's online work have been eagerly awaiting the release of The Tear Collector, and they will not be disappointed. Technically in the horror genre, The Tear Collector is much more than a tale of terror and gore - although I definitely recommend reading it in the daylight hours. Deft prose combined with thrilling, pell-mell action carry the reader page to page, wild anticipation stronger than the undeniable dread. A band of young boys, brought together by camaraderie in the face of small-town bullying, encounter an ancient evil only to discover that they are its true prey. But why? And how is this possible? Burgess weaves a complex tale of love and loss, betrayal and revenge, that will both terrify and haunt his readers. Although the characters are middle-school children, this is definitely a book for adult readers, who will find Burgess's work thoroughly engaging. "Love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave:" Can this love, this jealousy ever be buried?
December 29, 2019
Riveting!
Horror stories with kids as the protagonists have been popular since Stephen King's It and The Body (to name a few). We've also seen this over the years with Spielburg and now The Duffer Brothers. And guess what - it's still a trope worth exploring, as Burgess proves here.
The Tear Collector features child heroes, but this is not a kiddy story - almost as gruesome as the darkest of contemporary fairy tales. Something bad is happening in Harpers Pass, radiating from the creepily named Grief Hollow. Something is kidnapping kids, relentless to attain some mysterious goal, and it will destroy anything that gets in its way.
Join Brooks, Robby, Tee, and Dev on a quest to save their town and solve the big mystery. They're joined by some cool characters and staunch allies, but it's really these 7th graders who step up in the face of the terrifying unknown.
Awesome job, Shawn! I can't wait to see what you offer the world next😃
Horror stories with kids as the protagonists have been popular since Stephen King's It and The Body (to name a few). We've also seen this over the years with Spielburg and now The Duffer Brothers. And guess what - it's still a trope worth exploring, as Burgess proves here.
The Tear Collector features child heroes, but this is not a kiddy story - almost as gruesome as the darkest of contemporary fairy tales. Something bad is happening in Harpers Pass, radiating from the creepily named Grief Hollow. Something is kidnapping kids, relentless to attain some mysterious goal, and it will destroy anything that gets in its way.
Join Brooks, Robby, Tee, and Dev on a quest to save their town and solve the big mystery. They're joined by some cool characters and staunch allies, but it's really these 7th graders who step up in the face of the terrifying unknown.
Awesome job, Shawn! I can't wait to see what you offer the world next😃
October 7, 2019
The mystery of Grief Hallow consumes you from the very beginning and takes you on a chilling, suspenseful ride with Brooks and his friends as they try to figure out what is plaguing the quaint town of Harper Pass.
Thrillers and mysteries are my favorite genres and The Tear Collector, Shawn Burgess’ debut novel, did not disappoint. All the twists and turns throughout the story - many of them leaving me with my heart racing and my mouth ajar – kept me wanting more. Along with the strong story line, the descriptions of both the characters and the surroundings make you feel as though you are there trying to solve this town’s disturbance.
This book weaves together friendship, mystery, horror, and intellect. This page turner is one that will keep you on the edge of your seat, mind racing, and hoping it doesn’t end!
Thrillers and mysteries are my favorite genres and The Tear Collector, Shawn Burgess’ debut novel, did not disappoint. All the twists and turns throughout the story - many of them leaving me with my heart racing and my mouth ajar – kept me wanting more. Along with the strong story line, the descriptions of both the characters and the surroundings make you feel as though you are there trying to solve this town’s disturbance.
This book weaves together friendship, mystery, horror, and intellect. This page turner is one that will keep you on the edge of your seat, mind racing, and hoping it doesn’t end!
September 4, 2019
Shawn Burgess is an author to watch. If his next works are anything like his debut novel, The Tear Collector, he’ll be on a big time roll.
I enjoyed the smart storytelling, and the ease at which Burgess was able to travel between narrator, adults, and the youth in the story. It felt much like Stephen King’s talent for voicing all ages.
I appreciated the work Burgess put into defining characters. Each had a uniqueness, adding strength to the cast, as a whole. The story kept me from doing things I should have been doing, but I was glad I kept reading, all the way to the terrifying finish.
Want some horror? Mystery? The paranormal? You can find it here. The Tear Collector whipped it all into a tasty thriller soufflé. I’ll be waiting for the sequel so I can take another bite!
I enjoyed the smart storytelling, and the ease at which Burgess was able to travel between narrator, adults, and the youth in the story. It felt much like Stephen King’s talent for voicing all ages.
I appreciated the work Burgess put into defining characters. Each had a uniqueness, adding strength to the cast, as a whole. The story kept me from doing things I should have been doing, but I was glad I kept reading, all the way to the terrifying finish.
Want some horror? Mystery? The paranormal? You can find it here. The Tear Collector whipped it all into a tasty thriller soufflé. I’ll be waiting for the sequel so I can take another bite!
October 13, 2019
I cannot wait for the sequel!! I was immediately hooked within the first pages. The scene is set with an experience that impacts all the characters’ lives in some way. Fast forward several years and they are caught up in a mystery they can’t understand. The Tear Collector is much like Stranger Things, full of mystery and a relatable group of kids that you could easily see being the friends you grew up with! The Tear Collector is written in such detail that you could really picture yourself there. Shawn Burgess keeps you guessing until the very end while giving you little nuggets of back story with a few twists along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My only dismay is that I have to wait so long for the sequel!
May 9, 2022
This is his debut?!!!!? This reads like an author who has many bestsellers under his belt. It is a slow burn but holy cow, when he turns up the heat it is balls to the wall intense action. The characters are so well rounded and real. The descriptors are clear and creates such vivid imagery. My dreams were riddled with images of the Tear Collector. Very creepy and a spectacular coming of age tale. I am sad that it ended. I became attached to the town and the boys!
October 31, 2019
I was fortunate enough to be given an advance copy of Shawn Burgess's debut novel in exchange for an honest review, and Shawn did not disappoint. Although the horror/science fiction is not my normal "go-to" I enjoyed this book and tore through it in one sitting. The story is fast-paced, tightly plotted, and creepy as hell. As others have mentioned, the plot is reminiscent of Stranger Things and Steven King in that it involves a group of young boys solving a gory mystery of supernatural origins in their tight Tennessee town, so fans of those shows/books should enjoy this wild and graphic ride. Shawn is gifted in his ability craft descriptive scenes of intrigue, tension, and bloodshed. Reader be warned, The Tear Collector is not for the faint of heart. The books opens with a horrific and fatal forest fire and does not slow down from there. I was routing not only for the main protagonist, Brookes, but also a number of secondary characters, including a dedicated but overwhelmed Sheriff and an unlikely hero in need of redemption. Although the boys appear to solve the mystery and exterminate the evil that haunts their town, Shawn leaves several threads hanging and I can't wait for the sequel!
January 7, 2020
Make this one into a movie already!
This thriller moves quick! I was hooked by page 3 and when I got to end, I wanted more. While taking breaks from reading to do things like, go to work, I found myself thinking about the book and trying to figure out where the story was going – I was not successful.
Shawn Burgess delivers a captivating and well written story that made me laugh out loud, angered me and occasionally made me ask ‘what the bleep’? This story follows a group of young boys through their summertime adventures, intertwines interesting and relatable characters and wraps all of that around the investigation of a missing autistic girl. Remarkably this suspense-thriller is a fun story! It is reminiscent of The Sandlot but way scarier, Stranger Things and it bends your understanding of things in a way that leads to comparisons to novels by Stephen King.
I love this book and have already gifted it to several friends! I highly recommend and am excited to see more from this author!
This thriller moves quick! I was hooked by page 3 and when I got to end, I wanted more. While taking breaks from reading to do things like, go to work, I found myself thinking about the book and trying to figure out where the story was going – I was not successful.
Shawn Burgess delivers a captivating and well written story that made me laugh out loud, angered me and occasionally made me ask ‘what the bleep’? This story follows a group of young boys through their summertime adventures, intertwines interesting and relatable characters and wraps all of that around the investigation of a missing autistic girl. Remarkably this suspense-thriller is a fun story! It is reminiscent of The Sandlot but way scarier, Stranger Things and it bends your understanding of things in a way that leads to comparisons to novels by Stephen King.
I love this book and have already gifted it to several friends! I highly recommend and am excited to see more from this author!
January 17, 2020
I was sucked into The Tear Collector from the beginning. I was absolutely excited by the plot and I had a lot of trouble putting this one down. This is my first read from Shawn Burgess and you can be sure it won’t be my last. The writing…the characters…yeah, this was awesome.
I love horror. It might be my favorite genre (shh, don’t tell Fantasy that). When it is done right, the story seeps into you, and makes it difficult for you to stop thinking about it long after you finish reading.
This also had a thriller aspect to it which I think kept the pace going in the right direction. I really enjoyed the characters too.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Tear Collector and am looking forward to more from Shawn Burgess.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the blog tour with Book On The Bright Side. This review is my opinion, honest and unbiased.*
I love horror. It might be my favorite genre (shh, don’t tell Fantasy that). When it is done right, the story seeps into you, and makes it difficult for you to stop thinking about it long after you finish reading.
This also had a thriller aspect to it which I think kept the pace going in the right direction. I really enjoyed the characters too.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Tear Collector and am looking forward to more from Shawn Burgess.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the blog tour with Book On The Bright Side. This review is my opinion, honest and unbiased.*
September 7, 2019
Let’s just say I pretty much neglected my family and work while reading this book as I could not put it down. I don’t typically read this genre as I’m too much of a scaredy-cat but I was hooked in the first few chapters. After the first night I did have to stop reading it before falling asleep. Grief Hollow had a way of creeping into my dreams.
The well developed characters and intriguing plot kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t wait to see how everything would turn out for Brooks and the crew but I also never wanted the story to end! I’m thrilled to hear there is a sequel.
The well developed characters and intriguing plot kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t wait to see how everything would turn out for Brooks and the crew but I also never wanted the story to end! I’m thrilled to hear there is a sequel.
October 18, 2019
This story was fantastic. I grew up reading horror, devouring them in middle and high school but fell off reading them in college. The characters and stories no longer entertaining me, scaring me enough. I figured I outgrew them, my taste changing (which I'm sure is part of it).
However, The Tear Collector reminded me of why I used to love the horror genre. Burgess's storytelling is great, this novel filled with creepy, spine-tingling fun, that set my heart racing and my dark imagination soaring.
This debut novel is a must for horror fans.
However, The Tear Collector reminded me of why I used to love the horror genre. Burgess's storytelling is great, this novel filled with creepy, spine-tingling fun, that set my heart racing and my dark imagination soaring.
This debut novel is a must for horror fans.
November 24, 2019
The parallels we find between fiction and real life at times can be ironic and unsettling at the same time. Shawn Burgess’s The Tear Collector is paranormal thriller/horror novel about a group of boys in a small town who are trying to help the police find their missing classmate, Margo Combs. She’s an autistic girl who has gone missing in the woods. As the clues come unraveled and bodies pile up, they realize that Grief Hollow, is more than just a name.
Shawn asked me to ARC read his novel months ago and I put it into my calendar.
As I sat down to read Shawn’s story, a real-life version of this is rocking Anchorage, AK and the surrounding cities to their core. A 19-year-old special needs girl went missing at the beginning of June, her body turned up a few days later on a popular hiking trail. The horror of what happened to her, and the callous disregard for human life has everyone asking, why? At this point in the investigation, five teenagers have been arrested with conspiring to murder, sexual assault and other charges. A man in another state is being extradited to Alaska as part of the plot. There is so much that is terrifying about this tragic story that it is hard to wrap one’s mind around it. People often refer to Alaska as a “Little Big Town,” though large in area, it is small in population. Almost everyone I work with or know has some connection to someone involved in this case.
The fact that such evil exists in the human heart and mind is mind boggling. That someone who seems benign, who you interact with every day, could be plotting horrific murder. You almost wish there were a driving force behind it. Some sort of horrific greater evil that it could be blamed on.
Shawn’s story, by contrast, is a more traditional paranormal/horror story. The adults don’t want to believe their eyes and senses. There must be a logical, “normal” explanation for the deaths and disappearances. A serial killer, animal attacks, kids just screwing around. The kids in his story, on the other hand are more in tune with their senses and are willing to believe what they see.
Shawn’s setting and characters hook you from the very start. When Brady tries to kill the tent caterpillars in Grief Hollow, you know this is not going to go well.
***I was shaking my head, thinking oh no, don’t do it! But then I think of some of the REALLY dumb things we did as kids. We’re lucky we didn’t end up dead, maimed, or in “Juvy”.
The story only grows darker as you move with the club of young boys, the “Markland X Crew,” through the small town of Harper Pass and the woods surrounding it. They try to not only find their missing classmate, but figure out who or what has “marked” its inhabitants. The Markland X Crew battles bullies, stalks their suspects, and tries to stay one step ahead of the supernatural evil stalking Harper Pass.
Setting
While the Tear Collector is supposed to be set in Appalachia, it could easily be transplanted to any small town. Even the one I grew up with, just exchange desert for woods. Shawn paints a vivid picture of small-town life, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Grudges are carried through generations. For the kids, the world revolves around being in the popular crowd at school.
Characters
I have mentioned it in other reviews. I hate the question, “what is this story like?” or “What author is this writing like?” But I do have to admit the theme and style in this story reminded me greatly of two stories by Stephen King: IT and the Body (better known as the movie Stand by Me). It also kind of reminded me of a mash-up of the Monster Squad and the Sandlot. Shawn uses the themes of camaraderie and support as the boys of the Markland X Crew are forced to band together to unravel the mystery of Grief Hollow or suffer the same fate as their classmates.
I can think back to when I was a kid; and my brother, my cousin and myself would roam the trails, canyons and old abandoned mines of the Mojave Desert, solving mysteries and outwitting enemies in our heads. This story speaks to that innocent desire we have as children to solve the riddle that is baffling the adults, save the day and be the heroes.
When we realize that what is worrying the adults is that fact that when the mask is ripped off the monster, just like in Scooby-Doo, and what is beneath is revealed to be nothing more than another human, a little more of our innocence is stripped away. We start to grow up and deal with the harshness of reality. We realize that the monsters ARE other humans. We can’t spray holy water on it or wave an amulet and make everything right. The evil still exists even as the police lock it away, and the dead stay dead.
The characters he creates throughout the story are easy to invest in. Professor Wadlow, reminding me of a cross between “Scary-German-Guy” from Monster Squad and Laslow from Real Genius. Detective Holt trying to get on top of the pile of bodies and his crumbling personal life. Tee’s sister Angela, who just wants to head off to college and forget her part in the past troubles of Grief Hollow. But I will focus more on Shawn’s main characters below.
Brooks
He creates a believable and sympathetic character in Brooks Raker, for the most part our main character/narrator. Brooks is willing to do anything to join the Markland X Crew. Shawn shows us a somewhat awkward tweenaged boy with few friends.
My mom draws her head back, and her eyes grow wide; but after a moment her face lights up in a big smile too. She isn’t accustomed to me running off to play with friends, as in more than one.
His character reminded me of a cross between “Smalls” from the Sandlot and Gordie Lachance from Stand By Me. He has Smalls desire to fit in, but he’s not as innocent or gullible. Character wise, he’s a little more like Gordie, a young boy trying to figure out where he fits in the world. Brooks has realistic thoughts about girls and video games and even adult things. He is deeply empathetic to his friends’ emotional baggage, which we learn about as the story goes on. He is often the voice of reason to the rest of the group’s rash behavior. It is his initiation at the beginning of the story that sets him in juxtaposition to Sammy, the bully who already has it out for him. He ends up as the last person to see “Mysterious Margo” when he escapes from Sammy’s torture into the woods.
I enjoyed Brooks as a character. He has realistic hopes and fears of wanting to fit in, yet not wanting to get in trouble with either his parents or the law.
Shawn does a good job of slowly developing the trust between the boys in the Markland X Crew. Even though they have made a vow to one another as part of the club, their bond deepens as they realize they can’t turn to the adults with what is happening, they can only rely on one another, “brothers from another mother.”
“You guys are the best friends I’ve ever had. I’ll always be here for you. No matter what. Brothers.”
My voice fractures, the tortured grimace on Robby’s face leaving my stomach as hollow as an empty grave. It’s not fair. Man… It’s just not fair. I deliver several soft pats on Robby’s back, moisture gathering in my eyes.
The Markland X Crew
The other boys of the Markland X Crew are believable and relatable as well.
Robby
Fatherless Robby, who covers his raw emotions over his father’s death with rash behavior and bravado.
As Devin’s face flounders, I feel the weight of everything unsaid pressing upon me, the sharp divide separating Devin from the truth of Robby. The boy in pain behind that carefully constructed mask. The boy who lost his dad but also his mother to the long work hours and two jobs she had to get to support them. How the church turned its back on Robby and his mother after his grandparents paid for a Disney trip following his dad’s death. How small-town grumblings, a secret stash of money, the family better off than they’re pretending to be, became rumor that’s accepted as fact. And how those rumors spread quick as wildfire in a small town like Harper Pass until the spigot of compassion runs dry. But it’s not my place to tell.
Tee
Tee is a sort of middle ground between steady Brooks and rash Robby.
“Keep your voice down, bro.” Devin pushes his palms at the ground.
“Come on, Tee. You’re the only one who can fit.”
“Yeah man. Don’t you want to save your friend Margo?”
Tee throws eye daggers at Devin. “She’s not my friend. You guys are my friends, but you’re not acting like it.”
Devin
Dev, the new kid in town. Shawn shows us a boy whose seeming reckless behavior is both a reflection of his desire to fit in with his new friends and a lack of understanding of the local myths and legends (that have the other boys fearful).
I’m not sure what to make of Devin. In the few hours I’ve known him, I’ve already determined he’s one of the bravest kids I’ve ever met. But I wonder what’s behind that bravery. Crazy or just curious? Maybe curious. We talked about it a lot. And he’s never been. Probably just doesn’t know any better.
Antagonist and Plot Resolution
Shawn uses a mash-up of science and myth to create his evil within the woods. I would love to tell you more, but at the risk of spoilers, I will refrain from delving into too much depth here. I will say that our young heroes go on a nightmarish ride, often escaping by the skin of their teeth. They always adhere to the mantra that they never leave a member of Markland X Crew behind. When it is clear that they are all marked by this evil, they decide that they need to go face it together, rather than wait for it to destroy them one by one, reminding me of the teamwork and bravado of the children in Stephen King’s IT.
I gulp hard at Devin’s proclamation. We’re screwed! Can’t go to the police. Can’t go to our parents. Not like we can leave town. We’re sitting ducks.
Head-hopping/changing Pov
My one beef with the story was the PoV changes. We start out in 3rd person in the intro, jump to 1st person when we’re with Brooks, then jump back into 3rd person when we’re with other characters. I brought this up to Shawn in that I felt he should have just either stuck with Brooks in the 1st person the whole way or stayed in 3rd person with everyone. Unfortunately, at this point, it is a little late to change it.
Either way, it didn’t keep me from finishing the story. I read this straight through from start to finish, because I HAD to know what the thing in the woods was and if the Markland X Crew would come out on top. The story got more and more twisted as it went (just the way I like it).
There’s a scene with a centipede that made me say out loud, “Shawn, what the f--k?”
Teaser
…his body like a giant centipede with a waxy, burned-umber exoskeleton banded black at the edges of its body segments. Dozens of spiny legs screech over the steel bumper, shimmying forward in unison. The long, dagger-like legs that taper to fine needlepoints at the tips slice through the clear coat on the hood of the car. Cam’s breathing devolves into unmeasured, frantic panting. His heart jackhammers in his chest at the grotesque sight of its glossy, alabaster underbelly passing over the windshield, his ears in a state of revulsion as its lance-like legs chisel out chunks of glass as it ascends. The roof creaks before groaning under the weight of the creature, the squeal of scraping metal serrating Cam’s eardrums as it pulls the last of his hideous body over the windshield.
And it only got worse from there…
Can’t wait for the sequel.
Shawn asked me to ARC read his novel months ago and I put it into my calendar.
As I sat down to read Shawn’s story, a real-life version of this is rocking Anchorage, AK and the surrounding cities to their core. A 19-year-old special needs girl went missing at the beginning of June, her body turned up a few days later on a popular hiking trail. The horror of what happened to her, and the callous disregard for human life has everyone asking, why? At this point in the investigation, five teenagers have been arrested with conspiring to murder, sexual assault and other charges. A man in another state is being extradited to Alaska as part of the plot. There is so much that is terrifying about this tragic story that it is hard to wrap one’s mind around it. People often refer to Alaska as a “Little Big Town,” though large in area, it is small in population. Almost everyone I work with or know has some connection to someone involved in this case.
The fact that such evil exists in the human heart and mind is mind boggling. That someone who seems benign, who you interact with every day, could be plotting horrific murder. You almost wish there were a driving force behind it. Some sort of horrific greater evil that it could be blamed on.
Shawn’s story, by contrast, is a more traditional paranormal/horror story. The adults don’t want to believe their eyes and senses. There must be a logical, “normal” explanation for the deaths and disappearances. A serial killer, animal attacks, kids just screwing around. The kids in his story, on the other hand are more in tune with their senses and are willing to believe what they see.
Shawn’s setting and characters hook you from the very start. When Brady tries to kill the tent caterpillars in Grief Hollow, you know this is not going to go well.
***I was shaking my head, thinking oh no, don’t do it! But then I think of some of the REALLY dumb things we did as kids. We’re lucky we didn’t end up dead, maimed, or in “Juvy”.
The story only grows darker as you move with the club of young boys, the “Markland X Crew,” through the small town of Harper Pass and the woods surrounding it. They try to not only find their missing classmate, but figure out who or what has “marked” its inhabitants. The Markland X Crew battles bullies, stalks their suspects, and tries to stay one step ahead of the supernatural evil stalking Harper Pass.
Setting
While the Tear Collector is supposed to be set in Appalachia, it could easily be transplanted to any small town. Even the one I grew up with, just exchange desert for woods. Shawn paints a vivid picture of small-town life, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Grudges are carried through generations. For the kids, the world revolves around being in the popular crowd at school.
Characters
I have mentioned it in other reviews. I hate the question, “what is this story like?” or “What author is this writing like?” But I do have to admit the theme and style in this story reminded me greatly of two stories by Stephen King: IT and the Body (better known as the movie Stand by Me). It also kind of reminded me of a mash-up of the Monster Squad and the Sandlot. Shawn uses the themes of camaraderie and support as the boys of the Markland X Crew are forced to band together to unravel the mystery of Grief Hollow or suffer the same fate as their classmates.
I can think back to when I was a kid; and my brother, my cousin and myself would roam the trails, canyons and old abandoned mines of the Mojave Desert, solving mysteries and outwitting enemies in our heads. This story speaks to that innocent desire we have as children to solve the riddle that is baffling the adults, save the day and be the heroes.
When we realize that what is worrying the adults is that fact that when the mask is ripped off the monster, just like in Scooby-Doo, and what is beneath is revealed to be nothing more than another human, a little more of our innocence is stripped away. We start to grow up and deal with the harshness of reality. We realize that the monsters ARE other humans. We can’t spray holy water on it or wave an amulet and make everything right. The evil still exists even as the police lock it away, and the dead stay dead.
The characters he creates throughout the story are easy to invest in. Professor Wadlow, reminding me of a cross between “Scary-German-Guy” from Monster Squad and Laslow from Real Genius. Detective Holt trying to get on top of the pile of bodies and his crumbling personal life. Tee’s sister Angela, who just wants to head off to college and forget her part in the past troubles of Grief Hollow. But I will focus more on Shawn’s main characters below.
Brooks
He creates a believable and sympathetic character in Brooks Raker, for the most part our main character/narrator. Brooks is willing to do anything to join the Markland X Crew. Shawn shows us a somewhat awkward tweenaged boy with few friends.
My mom draws her head back, and her eyes grow wide; but after a moment her face lights up in a big smile too. She isn’t accustomed to me running off to play with friends, as in more than one.
His character reminded me of a cross between “Smalls” from the Sandlot and Gordie Lachance from Stand By Me. He has Smalls desire to fit in, but he’s not as innocent or gullible. Character wise, he’s a little more like Gordie, a young boy trying to figure out where he fits in the world. Brooks has realistic thoughts about girls and video games and even adult things. He is deeply empathetic to his friends’ emotional baggage, which we learn about as the story goes on. He is often the voice of reason to the rest of the group’s rash behavior. It is his initiation at the beginning of the story that sets him in juxtaposition to Sammy, the bully who already has it out for him. He ends up as the last person to see “Mysterious Margo” when he escapes from Sammy’s torture into the woods.
I enjoyed Brooks as a character. He has realistic hopes and fears of wanting to fit in, yet not wanting to get in trouble with either his parents or the law.
Shawn does a good job of slowly developing the trust between the boys in the Markland X Crew. Even though they have made a vow to one another as part of the club, their bond deepens as they realize they can’t turn to the adults with what is happening, they can only rely on one another, “brothers from another mother.”
“You guys are the best friends I’ve ever had. I’ll always be here for you. No matter what. Brothers.”
My voice fractures, the tortured grimace on Robby’s face leaving my stomach as hollow as an empty grave. It’s not fair. Man… It’s just not fair. I deliver several soft pats on Robby’s back, moisture gathering in my eyes.
The Markland X Crew
The other boys of the Markland X Crew are believable and relatable as well.
Robby
Fatherless Robby, who covers his raw emotions over his father’s death with rash behavior and bravado.
As Devin’s face flounders, I feel the weight of everything unsaid pressing upon me, the sharp divide separating Devin from the truth of Robby. The boy in pain behind that carefully constructed mask. The boy who lost his dad but also his mother to the long work hours and two jobs she had to get to support them. How the church turned its back on Robby and his mother after his grandparents paid for a Disney trip following his dad’s death. How small-town grumblings, a secret stash of money, the family better off than they’re pretending to be, became rumor that’s accepted as fact. And how those rumors spread quick as wildfire in a small town like Harper Pass until the spigot of compassion runs dry. But it’s not my place to tell.
Tee
Tee is a sort of middle ground between steady Brooks and rash Robby.
“Keep your voice down, bro.” Devin pushes his palms at the ground.
“Come on, Tee. You’re the only one who can fit.”
“Yeah man. Don’t you want to save your friend Margo?”
Tee throws eye daggers at Devin. “She’s not my friend. You guys are my friends, but you’re not acting like it.”
Devin
Dev, the new kid in town. Shawn shows us a boy whose seeming reckless behavior is both a reflection of his desire to fit in with his new friends and a lack of understanding of the local myths and legends (that have the other boys fearful).
I’m not sure what to make of Devin. In the few hours I’ve known him, I’ve already determined he’s one of the bravest kids I’ve ever met. But I wonder what’s behind that bravery. Crazy or just curious? Maybe curious. We talked about it a lot. And he’s never been. Probably just doesn’t know any better.
Antagonist and Plot Resolution
Shawn uses a mash-up of science and myth to create his evil within the woods. I would love to tell you more, but at the risk of spoilers, I will refrain from delving into too much depth here. I will say that our young heroes go on a nightmarish ride, often escaping by the skin of their teeth. They always adhere to the mantra that they never leave a member of Markland X Crew behind. When it is clear that they are all marked by this evil, they decide that they need to go face it together, rather than wait for it to destroy them one by one, reminding me of the teamwork and bravado of the children in Stephen King’s IT.
I gulp hard at Devin’s proclamation. We’re screwed! Can’t go to the police. Can’t go to our parents. Not like we can leave town. We’re sitting ducks.
Head-hopping/changing Pov
My one beef with the story was the PoV changes. We start out in 3rd person in the intro, jump to 1st person when we’re with Brooks, then jump back into 3rd person when we’re with other characters. I brought this up to Shawn in that I felt he should have just either stuck with Brooks in the 1st person the whole way or stayed in 3rd person with everyone. Unfortunately, at this point, it is a little late to change it.
Either way, it didn’t keep me from finishing the story. I read this straight through from start to finish, because I HAD to know what the thing in the woods was and if the Markland X Crew would come out on top. The story got more and more twisted as it went (just the way I like it).
There’s a scene with a centipede that made me say out loud, “Shawn, what the f--k?”
Teaser
…his body like a giant centipede with a waxy, burned-umber exoskeleton banded black at the edges of its body segments. Dozens of spiny legs screech over the steel bumper, shimmying forward in unison. The long, dagger-like legs that taper to fine needlepoints at the tips slice through the clear coat on the hood of the car. Cam’s breathing devolves into unmeasured, frantic panting. His heart jackhammers in his chest at the grotesque sight of its glossy, alabaster underbelly passing over the windshield, his ears in a state of revulsion as its lance-like legs chisel out chunks of glass as it ascends. The roof creaks before groaning under the weight of the creature, the squeal of scraping metal serrating Cam’s eardrums as it pulls the last of his hideous body over the windshield.
And it only got worse from there…
Can’t wait for the sequel.
January 15, 2021
Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good blinking scare. I bought this book when it came out because of a review I had read and that badass cover, chilling to look at. The book starts with the intro to something ghastly happening in the past. A horrific accident which sets the tone for the rest of the book.
Our main characters are the young Brooks and Detective Holt, with other chapters in the third person giving us the overview of the rest of the cast. The book starts chilling, a somewhat creepy beginning through some woods aptly named Grief Hollow and poor Brooks is in the thick of it. What starts off as what I thought would be a ghost story, with a Ring esq type woman, quickly descended into a Stranger Things and IT type of book. Adolescent boys and a ghoulish demonic beast which varies in shapes and sizes, just like what we experience in those two shows/films.
This book is not an easy read, it demands your full attention at all times. It is not a light read and where I found some nights my concentration lacking, I had to re-read what I had read because I got lost and needed to concentrate. The scenes with the boys were written in such a way, you could imagine them acting as they did. The immaturity of their speech, the breaking into someone’s basement, all classic things you see in horror films. I will admit that I did struggle with the flow of some of the book and I am not quite sure everything added up for me. The ending was quick but I did love, as with all good horror stories, the feeling of unease, to indicate all is not what it seems. I would love to have more spooky goings-on, I mean the scenes with Robby you knew something bad was going to happen and when they were executed, they were chilling. I am a sucker for those chills.
However, the misgivings of the boys are warranted, even when they were goofing around to try and lighten the mood, that overwhelming sense of malevolence never left the page. It was there manifesting, biding its time until we learn of its true face. I would have liked a bit more background on this but that is because I was intrigued by how it all started.
It was an enjoyable read, a chilling one at times, maybe don’t read this one at night, on your own even or when you are falling asleep and you are adamant someone just blew in your face to wake you up. You know that situation! Enough to make you put the book down and sleep with your light on.
Our main characters are the young Brooks and Detective Holt, with other chapters in the third person giving us the overview of the rest of the cast. The book starts chilling, a somewhat creepy beginning through some woods aptly named Grief Hollow and poor Brooks is in the thick of it. What starts off as what I thought would be a ghost story, with a Ring esq type woman, quickly descended into a Stranger Things and IT type of book. Adolescent boys and a ghoulish demonic beast which varies in shapes and sizes, just like what we experience in those two shows/films.
This book is not an easy read, it demands your full attention at all times. It is not a light read and where I found some nights my concentration lacking, I had to re-read what I had read because I got lost and needed to concentrate. The scenes with the boys were written in such a way, you could imagine them acting as they did. The immaturity of their speech, the breaking into someone’s basement, all classic things you see in horror films. I will admit that I did struggle with the flow of some of the book and I am not quite sure everything added up for me. The ending was quick but I did love, as with all good horror stories, the feeling of unease, to indicate all is not what it seems. I would love to have more spooky goings-on, I mean the scenes with Robby you knew something bad was going to happen and when they were executed, they were chilling. I am a sucker for those chills.
However, the misgivings of the boys are warranted, even when they were goofing around to try and lighten the mood, that overwhelming sense of malevolence never left the page. It was there manifesting, biding its time until we learn of its true face. I would have liked a bit more background on this but that is because I was intrigued by how it all started.
It was an enjoyable read, a chilling one at times, maybe don’t read this one at night, on your own even or when you are falling asleep and you are adamant someone just blew in your face to wake you up. You know that situation! Enough to make you put the book down and sleep with your light on.
February 8, 2022
OK, no spoilers. Um...
Starts creepy and snowballs from there. Shawn captures youth very well. And his writing style has a nice flow to it. I highly recommend this book. Kinda wish I had written it, LOL.
Starts creepy and snowballs from there. Shawn captures youth very well. And his writing style has a nice flow to it. I highly recommend this book. Kinda wish I had written it, LOL.
February 26, 2022
What a debut! You won't be able to put this one down, so make sure annoying things like work.. ;-D are cleared from your schedule.
It's an awesome story of friendship between a bunch of young boys who find themselves somehow chosen to fight evil. I cheered for them, positively detested Sammy, and read the last paragraph with my hair standing on end, where it will remain perpetually I think.. So do not hesitate. READ IT!
It's an awesome story of friendship between a bunch of young boys who find themselves somehow chosen to fight evil. I cheered for them, positively detested Sammy, and read the last paragraph with my hair standing on end, where it will remain perpetually I think.. So do not hesitate. READ IT!
January 7, 2020
I absolutely love to discover new authors and Shawn Burgess is most definitely a new author for me. 'The Tear Collector' is a bit out of my comfort zone because I don't usually read horror type books but they do say that a change is as good as a rest so without further ado I sat down and started to read. I really did enjoy reading 'The Tear Collector' even if it did scare the crap out of me at times, but more about that in a bit.
I made the fatal mistake of beginning to read this book shortly before I intended to switch my bedroom light off. Let's just say that the light wasn't switched off for quite a while because I was so addicted to the book and even after I did switch the light off, I found myself jumping at every little noise I heard. After that little incident, I made sure that I read the book during the daytime instead of during the night. I already have vivid enough dreams so I didn't want the book to make them even more vivid if you get my drift. I binge read the book over the course of a couple of days which really helped with my enjoyment of the story. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would still be sat there reading over half a dozen chapters and an hour later. The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out how the story concluded grew and grew. All too quickly I reached the end of the story which I had mixed feelings about. Don't get me wrong I was pleased to finish because it meant that I knew how the story concluded and my nerves could settle down but I was enjoying the change in genre, the storylines, the characters and the author's writing style so much that I just wanted the book and the story to continue.
'The Tear Collector' is well written. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me, the story is perfectly paced. The story starts with a bang and then maintains a fairly fast pace throughout. The author drew me into the story from the start and then took me on one hell of a journey through places that scared me and I met people that gave me the heebie jeebies. The author used such powerful and vivid descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself.
I have read other reviews which compare Shawn Burgess with Stephen King, who is the master of all things horror. Now I have never read a Stephen King book so I can't comment on any similarity between the two. Shawn Burgess deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. King but that's my opinion. If Mr. King's books are anywhere near as good as 'The Tear Collector', then I know that I will be in for one hell of a read, but I will only be reading them in the daytime!
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Tear Collector' and I would recommend this book to other readers. I enjoyed the change of genre and I will definitely be reading more of Shawn's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5 *.
I made the fatal mistake of beginning to read this book shortly before I intended to switch my bedroom light off. Let's just say that the light wasn't switched off for quite a while because I was so addicted to the book and even after I did switch the light off, I found myself jumping at every little noise I heard. After that little incident, I made sure that I read the book during the daytime instead of during the night. I already have vivid enough dreams so I didn't want the book to make them even more vivid if you get my drift. I binge read the book over the course of a couple of days which really helped with my enjoyment of the story. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would still be sat there reading over half a dozen chapters and an hour later. The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out how the story concluded grew and grew. All too quickly I reached the end of the story which I had mixed feelings about. Don't get me wrong I was pleased to finish because it meant that I knew how the story concluded and my nerves could settle down but I was enjoying the change in genre, the storylines, the characters and the author's writing style so much that I just wanted the book and the story to continue.
'The Tear Collector' is well written. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me, the story is perfectly paced. The story starts with a bang and then maintains a fairly fast pace throughout. The author drew me into the story from the start and then took me on one hell of a journey through places that scared me and I met people that gave me the heebie jeebies. The author used such powerful and vivid descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself.
I have read other reviews which compare Shawn Burgess with Stephen King, who is the master of all things horror. Now I have never read a Stephen King book so I can't comment on any similarity between the two. Shawn Burgess deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. King but that's my opinion. If Mr. King's books are anywhere near as good as 'The Tear Collector', then I know that I will be in for one hell of a read, but I will only be reading them in the daytime!
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Tear Collector' and I would recommend this book to other readers. I enjoyed the change of genre and I will definitely be reading more of Shawn's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5 *.
November 25, 2019
The Tear Collector is the exciting, excellent debut novel from Shawn Burgess. At its heart, it is a supernatural mystery thriller.
Let’s think about that.
This is not simply a horror story, though it is that. That’s where the supernatural part comes in and you get a taste of it right away as the book begins. There is a monster here, though Burgess gradually teases out exactly who/what/why that monster is.
There is also a great deal of mystery wrapped up in the tale. Readers will find themselves asking what is going on but also wanting to know why it is going on. Why are these things happening and how are they connected? Some of the characters, for example, are as mysterious as the monster for much of the book.
But I think it’s primarily a thriller. The main characters -- a group of teenagers who are contending with the horrors of supernatural creatures but also the horrors of bullying, a young man who has experienced horrors natural and supernatural from a young age, a local sheriff contending with murder and more -- are faced with exciting and scary obstacles, from sources human and other, throughout the book.
Burgess succeeds at blending these genres into a coherent, exciting whole. These characters seem like real people with real problems who are confronted with a literal monster while still having to contend with their real-life issues. One of the central characters, for example, becomes aware that he and those around him are endangered by a ghost-or-worse but also has to be afraid that if he leaves his house a group of bullies are hunting for him, looking for payback. As a reader, you can’t help but worry about him either way.
Burgess is an excellent writer. When I say that, I am talking about two different qualities. Yes, the writing is very good and he has a knack for turning a phrase to evoke an image or an emotion for the reader. Even more than that, though, he shines as a story-teller. He knows how to pace, he knows when to tantalize, he knows how to draw out a mystery so the reader wants to stay up later to read the next chapter and find out more.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to readers who like mysteries which include the supernatural, who like excellent writing, and who love a well-paced thriller. In other words, this will appeal to a lot of people.
(I received an advanced reader copy without expectation of a review.)
Let’s think about that.
This is not simply a horror story, though it is that. That’s where the supernatural part comes in and you get a taste of it right away as the book begins. There is a monster here, though Burgess gradually teases out exactly who/what/why that monster is.
There is also a great deal of mystery wrapped up in the tale. Readers will find themselves asking what is going on but also wanting to know why it is going on. Why are these things happening and how are they connected? Some of the characters, for example, are as mysterious as the monster for much of the book.
But I think it’s primarily a thriller. The main characters -- a group of teenagers who are contending with the horrors of supernatural creatures but also the horrors of bullying, a young man who has experienced horrors natural and supernatural from a young age, a local sheriff contending with murder and more -- are faced with exciting and scary obstacles, from sources human and other, throughout the book.
Burgess succeeds at blending these genres into a coherent, exciting whole. These characters seem like real people with real problems who are confronted with a literal monster while still having to contend with their real-life issues. One of the central characters, for example, becomes aware that he and those around him are endangered by a ghost-or-worse but also has to be afraid that if he leaves his house a group of bullies are hunting for him, looking for payback. As a reader, you can’t help but worry about him either way.
Burgess is an excellent writer. When I say that, I am talking about two different qualities. Yes, the writing is very good and he has a knack for turning a phrase to evoke an image or an emotion for the reader. Even more than that, though, he shines as a story-teller. He knows how to pace, he knows when to tantalize, he knows how to draw out a mystery so the reader wants to stay up later to read the next chapter and find out more.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to readers who like mysteries which include the supernatural, who like excellent writing, and who love a well-paced thriller. In other words, this will appeal to a lot of people.
(I received an advanced reader copy without expectation of a review.)
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