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Cricket Hunters
Celia (Garcia) Lundy was fifteen in the fall of 1998 when Abby Powell, one of her five friends who called themselves the Cricket Hunters, disappeared without a trace. Cops scoured the central Texas town of Oak Mott searching for Abby. Interviewed everyone. Brought in the Texas Rangers to assist. Three key suspects emerged and were focused on, but no evidence was found. Eventually, the case went cold, and the passage of time buried the truth of Abby Powell’s fate.
Fifteen years later, as the anniversary of Abby’s disappearance approaches, Cel’s life is upended when her husband Parker, also once a Cricket Hunter, goes missing. When bizarre clues surface that point to a link between Parker’s and Abby’s disappearances, Cel is forced to delve back into the past in order to navigate the present. With the help of her abuela, a self-proclaimed bruja, she embarks on a tumultuous journey fraught with confrontation and trickery, spells and spirits, theft and murder, in order to find out what happened to her husband, and why.
Fifteen years later, as the anniversary of Abby’s disappearance approaches, Cel’s life is upended when her husband Parker, also once a Cricket Hunter, goes missing. When bizarre clues surface that point to a link between Parker’s and Abby’s disappearances, Cel is forced to delve back into the past in order to navigate the present. With the help of her abuela, a self-proclaimed bruja, she embarks on a tumultuous journey fraught with confrontation and trickery, spells and spirits, theft and murder, in order to find out what happened to her husband, and why.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2019
15 people are currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Hepler
16 books165 followersJeremy Hepler is the Bram Stoker-nominated author of The Boulevard Monster, Cricket Hunters, Sunray Alice, and numerous short stories and nonfiction articles. He lives in central Texas with his wife and son and is currently working on his next novel. For more information, you can find him on X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, or Amazon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
September 1, 2019
CRICKET HUNTERS proved to be compelling reading. Once I got going, I didn't want to put it down!
In the town of Oak Mott, Texas, back in 1998, Celia and her gang of friends call themselves Cricket Hunters. All is fun and games until one of them disappears. Fast forward fifteen years, and another member of their group vanishes-but this time it's Celia's husband. In her search for him, eerie things are happening. On top of that his family is blaming her for his absence. Will Celia and her group ever learn what happened to their missing friend? Will present time Celia find or discover what happened to her husband? You'll have to read this to find out!
I had a few issues with this book. At first, I wasn't sure if I was meant to be feeling empathy or sympathy for any of the characters. (I'm still not sure, really.) I found that task difficult. The only characters I truly liked were Natalie and Omar, and they weren't around as much as I would have liked. Luckily, I don't need to like any of the characters as long as the plot grabs me and this one did.
One other thing that bothered me, and this is purely personal is I understood the reasons behind why it was done and I did keep reading, but I didn't like it.
Because I found the plot engaging and the mystery interesting, I stuck with it and was surprised by a few things along the way. I always love when that happens because I'm rarely surprised these days. Overall, this was a fine coming of age story, (with some horrific aspects), as well as a suspenseful mystery and I recommend it!
Available Sunday September 1st! Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2ZxMjLt
*Thanks to Silver Shamrock publishing for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is it!
In the town of Oak Mott, Texas, back in 1998, Celia and her gang of friends call themselves Cricket Hunters. All is fun and games until one of them disappears. Fast forward fifteen years, and another member of their group vanishes-but this time it's Celia's husband. In her search for him, eerie things are happening. On top of that his family is blaming her for his absence. Will Celia and her group ever learn what happened to their missing friend? Will present time Celia find or discover what happened to her husband? You'll have to read this to find out!
I had a few issues with this book. At first, I wasn't sure if I was meant to be feeling empathy or sympathy for any of the characters. (I'm still not sure, really.) I found that task difficult. The only characters I truly liked were Natalie and Omar, and they weren't around as much as I would have liked. Luckily, I don't need to like any of the characters as long as the plot grabs me and this one did.
One other thing that bothered me, and this is purely personal is I understood the reasons behind why it was done and I did keep reading, but I didn't like it.
Because I found the plot engaging and the mystery interesting, I stuck with it and was surprised by a few things along the way. I always love when that happens because I'm rarely surprised these days. Overall, this was a fine coming of age story, (with some horrific aspects), as well as a suspenseful mystery and I recommend it!
Available Sunday September 1st! Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2ZxMjLt
*Thanks to Silver Shamrock publishing for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is it!
August 23, 2019
Wow!!! What a great read. This story is filled with magic, loss, heart ache and all that awful stuff we suffer through as teens. The characters are great. Shades of grey my friend. The story is so well written. Once you hit that 50% mark, cancel your plans for the rest of the day. You won't be able to stop reading. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Jeremy Helper in the future.
August 17, 2019
Loved it. Hepler was nominated for a Stoker Award with his book THE BOULEVARD MONSTER. It was a great book. But this one's even better. Highly recommended.
September 22, 2019
With hints of horror and undertones of the supernatural, Cricket Hunters leads readers down a dark and scary path of violence, lost innocence and misguided valor.
The story is split into two parts; focusing on a close-knit group of teens (collectively known as the 'Cricket Hunters') in the late 1990's and later as adults in the early 2010's. In both timelines, the characters face some strange and disturbing happenings, with the later period exhibiting more subdue horror than the earlier, though the conclusion to that portion of the plot is no less impactful.
There's a semi-Stranger Things vibe from the 1990'a portion of the book despite it reading more as a coming of age story; the threat of horror (or something horrible) was omnipresent and exciting while the 2010's portion read more like a mystery with ghostly overtones thrown in for good measure.
The characters and clever conclusion are real highlights of book providing a real punch to the overall plot. As a guy who reads a lot, I didn't see the ending coming until it slapped me in the face.
My rating: 5/5 stars.
The story is split into two parts; focusing on a close-knit group of teens (collectively known as the 'Cricket Hunters') in the late 1990's and later as adults in the early 2010's. In both timelines, the characters face some strange and disturbing happenings, with the later period exhibiting more subdue horror than the earlier, though the conclusion to that portion of the plot is no less impactful.
There's a semi-Stranger Things vibe from the 1990'a portion of the book despite it reading more as a coming of age story; the threat of horror (or something horrible) was omnipresent and exciting while the 2010's portion read more like a mystery with ghostly overtones thrown in for good measure.
The characters and clever conclusion are real highlights of book providing a real punch to the overall plot. As a guy who reads a lot, I didn't see the ending coming until it slapped me in the face.
My rating: 5/5 stars.
September 5, 2020
4.5!
Let it be known, there are certain storytellers that write their narratives with accessibility that feels so natural, so fluid--it doesn't *feel* like reading. Jeremy Helper wrote CRICKET HUNTERS this way. I opened up to the first page just to see if the story would reel me in and before I knew it, I was a third of the way in and the world had disappeared. I was completely absorbed by Helper's universe.
There are two timelines:
A coming-of-age narrative from the past (the late 90s which is my jam) and a fifteen years later storyline involving the same protagonists as grownups.
The title comes from the coming-of-age part of this story where a group of fifteen-year-olds form a very tight friend group and refer to themselves as The Cricket Hunters. Our main protagonist is Celia Lundy who is raised by her grandmother. The grandma is a practicing bruja and the 'cricket hunting' is an endearing part of Celia's relationship with her grandma and her friend group. The dialog between the teens felt authentic and natural--reminiscent of King's Losers Club, the Goonies, or Stranger Things. The addition of the practice of witchcraft and magic was a delicious element that I enjoyed very much.
I was captivated by this timeline and sometimes, when this kind of investment in one of the dual timelines happens, I will grow to resent the transitions to the present, but in this case--the adult story was just as compelling and had a dark, supernatural thriller feel to it. I will say that this was almost a flawless story to me apart from the fact that I just didn't feel an emotional connection to any of the characters. I liked the characters but I didn't LOVE them. So in comparison to other coming-of-age horrors where I have emotionally invested in the characters almost to a fault, this book was lacking that for me a little.
Cricket Hunters is the combination of two favorite sub-genres with the coming-of-age facet and the supernatural thriller/mystery; a very satisfying reading experience! This book has caught my attention to a degree that I will stand in line for anything Helper writes in the future. It has also captured my heart and will forever grace my lists of coming-of-age horror starting now.
A must read.
Let it be known, there are certain storytellers that write their narratives with accessibility that feels so natural, so fluid--it doesn't *feel* like reading. Jeremy Helper wrote CRICKET HUNTERS this way. I opened up to the first page just to see if the story would reel me in and before I knew it, I was a third of the way in and the world had disappeared. I was completely absorbed by Helper's universe.
There are two timelines:
A coming-of-age narrative from the past (the late 90s which is my jam) and a fifteen years later storyline involving the same protagonists as grownups.
The title comes from the coming-of-age part of this story where a group of fifteen-year-olds form a very tight friend group and refer to themselves as The Cricket Hunters. Our main protagonist is Celia Lundy who is raised by her grandmother. The grandma is a practicing bruja and the 'cricket hunting' is an endearing part of Celia's relationship with her grandma and her friend group. The dialog between the teens felt authentic and natural--reminiscent of King's Losers Club, the Goonies, or Stranger Things. The addition of the practice of witchcraft and magic was a delicious element that I enjoyed very much.
I was captivated by this timeline and sometimes, when this kind of investment in one of the dual timelines happens, I will grow to resent the transitions to the present, but in this case--the adult story was just as compelling and had a dark, supernatural thriller feel to it. I will say that this was almost a flawless story to me apart from the fact that I just didn't feel an emotional connection to any of the characters. I liked the characters but I didn't LOVE them. So in comparison to other coming-of-age horrors where I have emotionally invested in the characters almost to a fault, this book was lacking that for me a little.
Cricket Hunters is the combination of two favorite sub-genres with the coming-of-age facet and the supernatural thriller/mystery; a very satisfying reading experience! This book has caught my attention to a degree that I will stand in line for anything Helper writes in the future. It has also captured my heart and will forever grace my lists of coming-of-age horror starting now.
A must read.
September 10, 2019
Wow. This was a great slice of fiction by a super talented writer. Consider me a lifelong Jeremy Hepler fan.
September 24, 2019
Jeremy Hepler is a sneaky one. With CRICKET HUNTERS, I was only going to read a chapter or two. By the time I looked up, I was ten chapters in and I had lost complete track of time. Hepler has a way of doing that. With CRICKET HUNTERS, you had better set an alarm because it will soon be 3 a.m. before you know it.
Coming-of-Age horror is all the rage right now. CRICKET HUNTERS is one of the most unique ones that I’ve ever read. And by unique, I mean in a good way. A damn good way. Celia is raised by her Hispanic grandmother (Buela) who practices a form of bruja or white-magic. She pals around with her teenage friends in the small Texas town of Oak Mott where they declare themselves the Cricket Hunters. One day, her friend Abby comes up missing and no one has a clue what happened to her. Fast-forward fifteen years later, her husband and former Cricket Hunter, Parker, also disappears without a trace. Strange clues begin to pop up and it plunges Celia back into the past to finally confront what happened so long ago.
CRICKET HUNTERS has it’s shades of Stranger Things, Stephen King’s IT, and Robert McCammon’s Boy’s Life weaved into a completely engrossing tale that won’t let go easily. The Hispanic lifestyle and superstitions of a bruja really set this story apart from all the other out there. Hepler’s realistic storytelling breathes magic into its soul and pulls you down into it’s depths. I know you probably hear all the time that a reader couldn’t put something down. With CRICKET HUNTERS, that’s exactly what happens. Jeremy was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award with his first novel. If he doesn’t win it with his second, there needs to be a Congressional hearing.
5 Whispered Incantations out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://intothemacabre.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
Coming-of-Age horror is all the rage right now. CRICKET HUNTERS is one of the most unique ones that I’ve ever read. And by unique, I mean in a good way. A damn good way. Celia is raised by her Hispanic grandmother (Buela) who practices a form of bruja or white-magic. She pals around with her teenage friends in the small Texas town of Oak Mott where they declare themselves the Cricket Hunters. One day, her friend Abby comes up missing and no one has a clue what happened to her. Fast-forward fifteen years later, her husband and former Cricket Hunter, Parker, also disappears without a trace. Strange clues begin to pop up and it plunges Celia back into the past to finally confront what happened so long ago.
CRICKET HUNTERS has it’s shades of Stranger Things, Stephen King’s IT, and Robert McCammon’s Boy’s Life weaved into a completely engrossing tale that won’t let go easily. The Hispanic lifestyle and superstitions of a bruja really set this story apart from all the other out there. Hepler’s realistic storytelling breathes magic into its soul and pulls you down into it’s depths. I know you probably hear all the time that a reader couldn’t put something down. With CRICKET HUNTERS, that’s exactly what happens. Jeremy was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award with his first novel. If he doesn’t win it with his second, there needs to be a Congressional hearing.
5 Whispered Incantations out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://intothemacabre.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
February 14, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. The premise was interesting, and I always like a good coming of age story. However, I found the characters to be completely unrelatable, and after getting to know them, I really didn't care what happened to them. Some of the actions were cruel, and there was a great deal of repetition involved. It is a shame, because with more compassionate and likeable characters, things could have worked out differently.
August 31, 2019
“One for all and all for one…”
“Or some shit like that, right?”
I really enjoyed this one from Jeremy Hepler. It had a bit of everything. Mystery, magic, murder, betrayal, love, loss, revenge, coming of age and of course the Cricket Hunters. It stalled a bit in parts but there was more than enough story to pull it through to the climax which was perfect for the story.
Looking to more from Mr. Hepler.
Thank you to Ken at Silver Shamrock Publishing for the review copy. I have voluntarily left this honest review.
“Or some shit like that, right?”
I really enjoyed this one from Jeremy Hepler. It had a bit of everything. Mystery, magic, murder, betrayal, love, loss, revenge, coming of age and of course the Cricket Hunters. It stalled a bit in parts but there was more than enough story to pull it through to the climax which was perfect for the story.
Looking to more from Mr. Hepler.
Thank you to Ken at Silver Shamrock Publishing for the review copy. I have voluntarily left this honest review.
September 15, 2019
Five friends bond into the group they dub 'the Cricket Hunters' under the guidance of Celia and her abuela, a practicing bruja.....weaving a little of that white magic of childhood with the beliefs of their friend and her grandmother, while doing all the things that kids with bikes, woods and soaring imaginations do.
But with the sunshine comes the darkness.....and all magic isn't white. For one of them will disappear and never be seen again.
15 years later, Celia and Parker, one of her fellow hunters, are married. Celia has never let go of her abuela's teachings. But the past isn't finished with her or the Cricket Hunters, because now it's Parker's turn to vanish. And Celia will need the strength of her faith, and the magic of her childhood to find out what happened to her husband, and her long lost friend, because a darkness is gathering around her.
Jeremy Hepler delivers a brilliant coming of age tale, a mystery that runs the gamut from heartbreaking to bone chilling, filled with hope, heart and even horror.
I'll be watching for Jeremy's next books with avid anticipation.
Many thanks to Ken at Silver Shamrock Publishing, and Jeremy for the review e-ARC.
But with the sunshine comes the darkness.....and all magic isn't white. For one of them will disappear and never be seen again.
15 years later, Celia and Parker, one of her fellow hunters, are married. Celia has never let go of her abuela's teachings. But the past isn't finished with her or the Cricket Hunters, because now it's Parker's turn to vanish. And Celia will need the strength of her faith, and the magic of her childhood to find out what happened to her husband, and her long lost friend, because a darkness is gathering around her.
Jeremy Hepler delivers a brilliant coming of age tale, a mystery that runs the gamut from heartbreaking to bone chilling, filled with hope, heart and even horror.
I'll be watching for Jeremy's next books with avid anticipation.
Many thanks to Ken at Silver Shamrock Publishing, and Jeremy for the review e-ARC.
May 13, 2020
Plague Review 9: Cricket Hunters by Jeremy Hepler
Celia Lundy has an uncanny heritage. Raised by her grandmother in the ways of magic and witchcraft, Celia has a spell for almost any human ache or malady. But when her husband Parker disappears, Celia is confronted with a problem that her spells cannot overcome. As she also becomes embroiled in the police investigation for alleged involvement in the disappearance of Parker's female-co-teacher (whom Celia suspected to be having an affair with Parker), Celia has to relieve the magical and dangerous times when they were teenagers in 1998. Let the past haunt the present.
Cricket Hunters is one of the most effective, devastating, and emotionally draining books I have read. And this comes from an author who has yet to amass a large body of work! The following are the reasons for the rave above:
1. Right off the bat, Hepler's book plunges you into the world of curandero magic with the opening entitled "How to Craft a Cricket Stick". This sets the tone of the book, a coming-of-age horror/thriller steeped in lore. Attention to detail is given to the various magic rites throughout the book and this feels authentic and immersive.
2. Hepler's writing style is easy-to-read and therefore engaging. Like Richard Chizmar, Hepler knows that it's the ideas and themes that should stand-out and matter above all. This means that there is none of that "look at me write" mentality so prevalent in authors today; you get what you need to know and not 14 paragraphs of how the sky looks like an alien dragon's dangling intestine.
3. The themes. A book that name-drops Jack Ketchum and his novel Red is bound to be disturbing. But it's not just a book that deals with the "evils of men", it also dares to ask how such evil came to be in the first place. This line of exploration has been put out before (See Peter Straub's "Fee" from Borderlands 4) but Hepler deserves credit for presenting it inconspicuously.
4. There is also great handling of the horror elements. The ominous signs. The fleeting ghostly images. The familiar voice in the darkness. The unpredictable explosion of bloody violence. It feels handled by a seasoned pro and that's always good in my book.
5. The pacing is great. The story moves ahead with little to no digressions to unnecessary matters. The flashback scenes all have a relation to the main story and not just nostalgia filler.
To discuss more would ruin the experience. Read this book and you won't be disappointed. (I hope).
Celia Lundy has an uncanny heritage. Raised by her grandmother in the ways of magic and witchcraft, Celia has a spell for almost any human ache or malady. But when her husband Parker disappears, Celia is confronted with a problem that her spells cannot overcome. As she also becomes embroiled in the police investigation for alleged involvement in the disappearance of Parker's female-co-teacher (whom Celia suspected to be having an affair with Parker), Celia has to relieve the magical and dangerous times when they were teenagers in 1998. Let the past haunt the present.
Cricket Hunters is one of the most effective, devastating, and emotionally draining books I have read. And this comes from an author who has yet to amass a large body of work! The following are the reasons for the rave above:
1. Right off the bat, Hepler's book plunges you into the world of curandero magic with the opening entitled "How to Craft a Cricket Stick". This sets the tone of the book, a coming-of-age horror/thriller steeped in lore. Attention to detail is given to the various magic rites throughout the book and this feels authentic and immersive.
2. Hepler's writing style is easy-to-read and therefore engaging. Like Richard Chizmar, Hepler knows that it's the ideas and themes that should stand-out and matter above all. This means that there is none of that "look at me write" mentality so prevalent in authors today; you get what you need to know and not 14 paragraphs of how the sky looks like an alien dragon's dangling intestine.
3. The themes. A book that name-drops Jack Ketchum and his novel Red is bound to be disturbing. But it's not just a book that deals with the "evils of men", it also dares to ask how such evil came to be in the first place. This line of exploration has been put out before (See Peter Straub's "Fee" from Borderlands 4) but Hepler deserves credit for presenting it inconspicuously.
4. There is also great handling of the horror elements. The ominous signs. The fleeting ghostly images. The familiar voice in the darkness. The unpredictable explosion of bloody violence. It feels handled by a seasoned pro and that's always good in my book.
5. The pacing is great. The story moves ahead with little to no digressions to unnecessary matters. The flashback scenes all have a relation to the main story and not just nostalgia filler.
To discuss more would ruin the experience. Read this book and you won't be disappointed. (I hope).
August 31, 2019
Cricket Hunters takes place on two time lines. It is both a coming of age tale in the late 1990s and a supernatural mystery taking place today. Back then Cel and Parker were teenaged sweethearts, and part of a close knit group of friends. In the present day the bloom is off the rose and their marriage is quite rocky. After a heated argument with Cel, Parker disappears. Cel doesn't know if it's because of his philandering ways or if it is something to do with an unresolved incident in their past. The interpersonal relationships between the characters in the past and the way it shaped their adult selves is quite realistic and believable. In my opinion this is the author's best work to date and that is saying something considering his previous work is quite good. The ending left me awe struck.
5 out of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy for review.
5 out of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy for review.
May 16, 2023
4.5 ⭐ --- That was a hell of a finale! The last quarter of this novel is especially good, with the suspense and mystery hyped up and over. I don't think I've ever quite read a book like Cricket Hunters; it's not only well-written, but unique. Blending genres with ease (drama, coming-of-age, crime/horror, magic), this story features relateable characters, strong sequencing, and two well-conceived who-done-it scenarios (past and present day). I guess I have another new star writer to add to my watch list: Jeremy Hepler. I'll want to get a physical of this eventually - it belongs in my collection (and yours!).
October 10, 2019
Cricket Hunters is a heck of a sophomore achievement from Jeremy Hepler. It's billed as part coming of age, part thriller, and I think that's an apt description. We follow main character Cel after her husband goes missing, and flip back and forth between present time and 15 years before when a close friend went missing, and was never found. There's witchery, unexplained phenomena, and plenty of mystery as Cel tries to find her husband. Hepler has created some amazing, complex characters, and some of Cel's sufferings were so real I had to put the book aside - it's just that good. I loved the mix of elements, as well, with the legacy of spells and craft enacted by Cel and her grandmother. I was never able to predict where things were going, but I was definitely along for the ride. I don't want to spoil anything, so suffice it to say I couldn't have predicted the ending, but it made an amazing amount of sense once I got there. I loved this book, and can't wait to go back and read Hepler's first.
October 13, 2019
CRICKET HUNTERS is an excellent, dark coming-of-age horror story that I highly recommend! I love the relationship between Cel and her abuela, Yesenia. I could not put this book down when I started reading it and by the time I finished it, it was after two in the morning.
I had a feeling about how the story would play out, though I was right in one aspect, I was completely wrong about the ending. This is the first book that I’ve read by Jeremy Hepler, and it won’t be my last!
Thank you, NetGalley and Silver Shamrock Publishing for providing me with a copy of CRICKET HUNTERS in exchange for an honest review.
I had a feeling about how the story would play out, though I was right in one aspect, I was completely wrong about the ending. This is the first book that I’ve read by Jeremy Hepler, and it won’t be my last!
Thank you, NetGalley and Silver Shamrock Publishing for providing me with a copy of CRICKET HUNTERS in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2020
This is hands down one of the BEST books I’ve read in all of 2019, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. If you’re the type of person that doesn’t need to read a full review of something to want to buy or read it – GO NOW! ORDER IT! You won’t regret it!
In the story, we’re introduced to a central cast of characters that we follow through a timespan of 15 years. I loved the transitions between past and present – this isn’t always done well in books, but Hepler handled it perfectly, making it feel fluid and smooth rather than disjointed or clunky.
While there are some great horror elements to CRICKET HUNTERS, it’s also an amazing coming-of-age tale, especially in the parts from when Cel and her friends were young kids. I loved how real the depiction of childhood was, from their imaginative games to their neighborhood adventures. Woven together with Cel’s grandmother’s spells and superstitions, all of the chapters taking place in the 1990s felt really magical and enchanting to me.
In the present-day, the story felt more like a thriller – which I loved. Trying to solve the mystery in the present, while the mystery from the past unfolds alongside the main story, was a completely absorbing experience. I was swept away, and couldn’t put the book down – I honestly only stopped reading for the half hour it took me to drive home that day!
This was my first book by the author, so I didn’t know what to expect at all writing-wise – and I loved it all! Hepler’s writing is engaging and accessible while remaining completely original, from the twist ending to the beautiful blend of cultures and languages. This could easily be adapted into a movie, and I hope that someday it is, because the story is amazing and it’d be incredible on screen – although I’m not positive that any director could capture the atmosphere and ambiance to Hepler’s writing.
Overall, if I could give this 6 stars, I would. It will absolutely be in my Top Books of 2019 recap (coming soon!), and it’s one I’ll probably read again in the future. The publisher, Silver Shamrock Publishing, is putting some great stuff out recently – keep an eye on both Silver Shamrock & Jeremy Hepler‘s books!
In the story, we’re introduced to a central cast of characters that we follow through a timespan of 15 years. I loved the transitions between past and present – this isn’t always done well in books, but Hepler handled it perfectly, making it feel fluid and smooth rather than disjointed or clunky.
While there are some great horror elements to CRICKET HUNTERS, it’s also an amazing coming-of-age tale, especially in the parts from when Cel and her friends were young kids. I loved how real the depiction of childhood was, from their imaginative games to their neighborhood adventures. Woven together with Cel’s grandmother’s spells and superstitions, all of the chapters taking place in the 1990s felt really magical and enchanting to me.
In the present-day, the story felt more like a thriller – which I loved. Trying to solve the mystery in the present, while the mystery from the past unfolds alongside the main story, was a completely absorbing experience. I was swept away, and couldn’t put the book down – I honestly only stopped reading for the half hour it took me to drive home that day!
This was my first book by the author, so I didn’t know what to expect at all writing-wise – and I loved it all! Hepler’s writing is engaging and accessible while remaining completely original, from the twist ending to the beautiful blend of cultures and languages. This could easily be adapted into a movie, and I hope that someday it is, because the story is amazing and it’d be incredible on screen – although I’m not positive that any director could capture the atmosphere and ambiance to Hepler’s writing.
Overall, if I could give this 6 stars, I would. It will absolutely be in my Top Books of 2019 recap (coming soon!), and it’s one I’ll probably read again in the future. The publisher, Silver Shamrock Publishing, is putting some great stuff out recently – keep an eye on both Silver Shamrock & Jeremy Hepler‘s books!
January 29, 2020
This book had excellent, realistic characters that were easy to sympathize with, particularly Cel, who had several miscarriages and just wants to keep her marriage intact and find her husband, despite his wandering eye. There were some not-so-lovable characters as well, but even the flawed characters felt real and had understandable motives.
I'm usually really good at spotting twists and solving mysteries, but the multiple twists near the end of the book really surprised me, yet they felt natural and made sense in the story.
The two main mysteries ended up connecting in unpredictable but logical ways. The ending was very satisfying. I will definitely be checking out Jeremy's other novel THE BOULEVARD MONSTER and will keep an eye on his future work as well.
I'm usually really good at spotting twists and solving mysteries, but the multiple twists near the end of the book really surprised me, yet they felt natural and made sense in the story.
The two main mysteries ended up connecting in unpredictable but logical ways. The ending was very satisfying. I will definitely be checking out Jeremy's other novel THE BOULEVARD MONSTER and will keep an eye on his future work as well.
September 12, 2019
Let's just get it out of the way. Cricket Hunters is phenomenal, one of the best new novels I have read in a long time. So if you have any hesitation about reading and trust my opinion, for whatever reason, let that go, get your copy and get to it. It's great. It's probably my favorite book of 2019.
To that end, I have been waiting for it for two years. After reading his debut, 2017s The Boulevard Monster, about which I felt very similar, I salivated for Jeremy Hepler's next book. The Boulevard Monster took a great, simple premise, spun it on its head and twisted the reader through turns that just took me aback. It was new, different and classic all at once.
After reading both Cricket Hunters and The Boulevard Monster, I realize that this is Hepler's gift to horror fiction; To take classic premises and breathe the most fresh of air into them, make it uniquely his own, all while keeping the classic horror audience satisfied.
This guy needs to writing for the big time publishers, because I am not sure there's anything on the market like it, both familiar and incredibly unique.
Anyway, after reading The Boulevard Monster, I took to research of what his next book would be, and read a brief synopsis of what would eventually become Cricket Hunters. At first glance, it sounded like to be a much safer bet than his debut; a coming-of-age tale that pit a group of adolescents against a supernatural evil.
I guess, in essence, that classic story trope is there, but Cricket Hunters is far more than that. It's far more a murder mystery, human drama, with a decent heaping of the supernatural than anything else.
I am not going to bother with a summary, because I don't want to give anything away, so just let me say: buy the book immediately. You will not regret it.
My only qualm has nothing to do with Hepler's work, but with my physical copy being formatted poorly. It had no page numbers, and a strange issue where at the end of almost each chapter, there would be extra spacing between the words of the final few sentences. This is not meant to be a deterrent of any kind to the reader and simply of note to the publisher to fix up. Books this good should be presented flawlessly!
Anyway, read this right away. And Jeremy Hepler...please don't make me wait two more years for your next one.
To that end, I have been waiting for it for two years. After reading his debut, 2017s The Boulevard Monster, about which I felt very similar, I salivated for Jeremy Hepler's next book. The Boulevard Monster took a great, simple premise, spun it on its head and twisted the reader through turns that just took me aback. It was new, different and classic all at once.
After reading both Cricket Hunters and The Boulevard Monster, I realize that this is Hepler's gift to horror fiction; To take classic premises and breathe the most fresh of air into them, make it uniquely his own, all while keeping the classic horror audience satisfied.
This guy needs to writing for the big time publishers, because I am not sure there's anything on the market like it, both familiar and incredibly unique.
Anyway, after reading The Boulevard Monster, I took to research of what his next book would be, and read a brief synopsis of what would eventually become Cricket Hunters. At first glance, it sounded like to be a much safer bet than his debut; a coming-of-age tale that pit a group of adolescents against a supernatural evil.
I guess, in essence, that classic story trope is there, but Cricket Hunters is far more than that. It's far more a murder mystery, human drama, with a decent heaping of the supernatural than anything else.
I am not going to bother with a summary, because I don't want to give anything away, so just let me say: buy the book immediately. You will not regret it.
My only qualm has nothing to do with Hepler's work, but with my physical copy being formatted poorly. It had no page numbers, and a strange issue where at the end of almost each chapter, there would be extra spacing between the words of the final few sentences. This is not meant to be a deterrent of any kind to the reader and simply of note to the publisher to fix up. Books this good should be presented flawlessly!
Anyway, read this right away. And Jeremy Hepler...please don't make me wait two more years for your next one.
December 29, 2019
I keep saying that Silver Shamrock Publishing is putting out perpetually great work, but here’s the thing, every new book I read from this house necessitates making that statement at least once more. Good news friends, Jeremy Hepler’s Cricket Hunters is no exception.
This novel brings quite a bit to the table, and does a pretty immaculate balancing act with it. The story has present day elements as well as flashbacks, and the narrative shifts back and forth between the two timelines throughout. Hepler does a fantastic job making both points of view feel connected, and stressing the sense of urgency that make the reader feel like we’re catapulting towards an endgame.
There is so much coming-of-age material right now taking place in the 1980’s, which is great. I love the 80’s, but I was 5 when they ended. Consider this a personal note, but I love that Hepler chose to set our teenage group of friends in 1998, a time period that I have a lot more nostalgia associated with. I still know most of the words to “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo.
I loved getting to know the main character, Celia Lundy, and just as much her abuela, Yesenia. Cel is an imperfect character that becomes pretty easy to commiserate with. I didn’t necessarily agree with all her choices, but I was there to see her through. Yesenia brings the element of brujeria into the story, something that appears pretty infrequently in horror lit that I’ve waded through. The witchcraft never goes over the top, but does drive the plot and make itself an integral part.
Cricket Hunters is great example of simply dynamite storytelling. There are some big reveals towards the end, but the success of the book doesn’t hinge on them. I feel like even if some of Hepler’s choices hadn’t caught me by surprise, it wouldn’t have lessened the journey in any way. That being said, there’s at least one that blew my mind. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good coming-of-age mystery.
I received an e-book copy from the publisher for review consideration.
This novel brings quite a bit to the table, and does a pretty immaculate balancing act with it. The story has present day elements as well as flashbacks, and the narrative shifts back and forth between the two timelines throughout. Hepler does a fantastic job making both points of view feel connected, and stressing the sense of urgency that make the reader feel like we’re catapulting towards an endgame.
There is so much coming-of-age material right now taking place in the 1980’s, which is great. I love the 80’s, but I was 5 when they ended. Consider this a personal note, but I love that Hepler chose to set our teenage group of friends in 1998, a time period that I have a lot more nostalgia associated with. I still know most of the words to “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo.
I loved getting to know the main character, Celia Lundy, and just as much her abuela, Yesenia. Cel is an imperfect character that becomes pretty easy to commiserate with. I didn’t necessarily agree with all her choices, but I was there to see her through. Yesenia brings the element of brujeria into the story, something that appears pretty infrequently in horror lit that I’ve waded through. The witchcraft never goes over the top, but does drive the plot and make itself an integral part.
Cricket Hunters is great example of simply dynamite storytelling. There are some big reveals towards the end, but the success of the book doesn’t hinge on them. I feel like even if some of Hepler’s choices hadn’t caught me by surprise, it wouldn’t have lessened the journey in any way. That being said, there’s at least one that blew my mind. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good coming-of-age mystery.
I received an e-book copy from the publisher for review consideration.
January 9, 2020
From my Scfi and Scary review:
“She’d been raised to believe that if spells and rituals were used in the right way, cast or performed by a dedicated, well-versed bruja with an enlightened spirit, they could influence anything from hair thickness to emotions” (Hepler, Cricket Hunters, 8-9)
Here we have one of the cores of Jeremy Hepler’s novel, The Cricket Hunters. Yesenia, the main character, Cel’s, grandma practices curanderismo. I was able to reach out to the author for the name; it is such a central part of the story and I needed to know. This belief system/religion/magic is what ultimately shapes and informs much of the action within. This is important to remember especially in some of the scenes later on in the novel. What informs YOUR choices when so much is on the line?
Next, this novel delves into the bonds of friendship. Genre-wise, it is a mash-up of thriller, horror, and coming of age. There are dual timelines: one, a look back at how a group of friends grew up together and the horrors they encountered, and two, these same friends all grown up and realizing that what happened in childhood lingered and must be dealt with. I think Hepler moves between the timelines seamlessly and I love that the focus remains mostly on Cel. This is HER story even though the group friends includes boys and girls. She isn’t a side character in any sense.
I really enjoyed my time with this book. Hepler’s scholarship of the world of brujeria, Hispanic traditions, and fastidious attention to detail, made this book shine. I know that the author has another book out, a Stoker nominated horror novel, and I plan to check it out soon. Pick this book up if you love a great thriller mixed with supernatural forces; it is an engaging read.
“She’d been raised to believe that if spells and rituals were used in the right way, cast or performed by a dedicated, well-versed bruja with an enlightened spirit, they could influence anything from hair thickness to emotions” (Hepler, Cricket Hunters, 8-9)
Here we have one of the cores of Jeremy Hepler’s novel, The Cricket Hunters. Yesenia, the main character, Cel’s, grandma practices curanderismo. I was able to reach out to the author for the name; it is such a central part of the story and I needed to know. This belief system/religion/magic is what ultimately shapes and informs much of the action within. This is important to remember especially in some of the scenes later on in the novel. What informs YOUR choices when so much is on the line?
Next, this novel delves into the bonds of friendship. Genre-wise, it is a mash-up of thriller, horror, and coming of age. There are dual timelines: one, a look back at how a group of friends grew up together and the horrors they encountered, and two, these same friends all grown up and realizing that what happened in childhood lingered and must be dealt with. I think Hepler moves between the timelines seamlessly and I love that the focus remains mostly on Cel. This is HER story even though the group friends includes boys and girls. She isn’t a side character in any sense.
I really enjoyed my time with this book. Hepler’s scholarship of the world of brujeria, Hispanic traditions, and fastidious attention to detail, made this book shine. I know that the author has another book out, a Stoker nominated horror novel, and I plan to check it out soon. Pick this book up if you love a great thriller mixed with supernatural forces; it is an engaging read.
June 8, 2020
When Cel’s husband Parker is abducted, she finds herself wrapped up in a sinister mystery which harks back to their shared childhood, those electric teenage years were youth and the bonds of friendship seem eternal.
But as the police investigation begins to focus on Cel as a suspect, and the small town rumour mill circulates its old prejudices about her and her family’s bruja mysticism, she is forced to confront the
dark events which overshadowed a brief but devastating period in the carefree teenage years of her and her friends’ lives.
I went in expecting a horror novel, but in hindsight I’d say this is more of a coming-of-age, murder-mystery story, despite the elements of witchcraft. Regardless, I found this to be an engaging tale on the painful and harmful cost of love, and apart from some minor pacing issues (in my honest opinion), this was an intriguing mystery with excellently realised characters.
But as the police investigation begins to focus on Cel as a suspect, and the small town rumour mill circulates its old prejudices about her and her family’s bruja mysticism, she is forced to confront the
dark events which overshadowed a brief but devastating period in the carefree teenage years of her and her friends’ lives.
I went in expecting a horror novel, but in hindsight I’d say this is more of a coming-of-age, murder-mystery story, despite the elements of witchcraft. Regardless, I found this to be an engaging tale on the painful and harmful cost of love, and apart from some minor pacing issues (in my honest opinion), this was an intriguing mystery with excellently realised characters.
December 1, 2019
If you’re never come across Silver Shamrock Publishing make a mental note to check their back-catalogue out; they impressed me greatly with their recent novella In the Scrape by James Newman and Mark Steensland and continue the good work with the excellent Cricket Hunters. This was one of those novels I was given for review which I knew little about but was quickly sucked into a very cleverly told tale which effortlessly moves between 1998 and 2013 with a great sense of time and place. Set in a small Texas town, Cricket Hunters is as much thriller as it is horror, and I going to be very light on the plot to avoid potential spoilers. Make sure you follow the narrative closely and prepare yourself for a satisfyingly clever ending which knits the time periods together.
Cricket Hunters opens with Celia (known as ‘Cel’) reflecting on the poor state of her marriage; she has been with Parker for fourteen years and married for six, several miscarriages have put a strain on their relationship. She also suspects Parker is having an affair with a new teacher, Lauren Page, at the local school where he works. Early in proceedings, after an argument, Parker disappears, initially Cel thinks he is with Lauren, but soon the police become involved and Cel’s troubled relationship with Parker’s family only make things worse. The majority of the story is told from Celia’s point of view, but Parker is also featured and so the state of their marriage is seen from both points of view.
Stephen King gave us the ‘Losers’ Club’ and Jeremy Hepler introduces us to the ‘Cricket Hunters’ when we head back to 1998 with the second story strand built around a group of old close-knit school friends. The 1998 and 2013 periods were balanced perfectly and complimented each other with their plots slowly making clever revelations which impacted events in the alternative. In 1998 Cel and Parker are around age 15/16 and have been friends for years, but attraction is beginning to deeper towards flirtation and more. Three other members of the ‘Cricket Hunters’ are also introduced; Abbey, Natalie and Omar. The latter two characters have small roles in the 2013 sequence, Abbey however, is the elephant in the room as at some point around 1998 she mysteriously disappears. This is mentioned in the blurb, so should not be seen as a spoiler, and so Cricket Hunters effectively runs who parallel mysteries in 1998 (the murder) and 2013 (the disappearance). Are they connected and if so how? It was good, old fashioned, fun joining the dots together.
The 1998 sequences was also a terrific coming of age story with lifelong friends beginning to feel the pangs of attraction and leave childhood stuff behind, with thoughts of getting their driving licences and other more pressing business, like who to make out with. Abbey Powell matures physically quite early and soon catches the eye of Parker, who is also attracted to Celia and so tension develops as he is interested in both girls. Until this point Celia had often been the leader of the ‘Cricket Hunters’, which was the name the gang adopted after they used sharp sticks to kill crickets, the noise the insects make at night bothers the sister of Celia’s grandmother, with whom she lives. The mass killing of insects did seem like an unpleasant and odd pastime for teenagers, but it was an important part of the story.
Does that sound weird? The grandmother pays the teenagers to kill crickets…. This is because the grandmother is a self-proclaimed ‘bruja’, or so we’re told, which is Spanish for witch. The grandmother is Mexican and believes her sister has been cursed in some way and one of the strengths of the book is the reader is never quite sure whether this is real or not. Either way, as Celia has been growing up with her grandmother has been teaching her the tricks of the ‘bruja’ trade and she even has her own ‘grimoire’ which is a spell-book to help her with the trials which life might throw up. Celia believes this stuff, and when the ‘Cricket Hunters’ were younger they thought this was all very cool, but as they approach the age of sixteen it seems more like mumbo-jumbo stuff for kids. Jeremy Kepler balances this potentially supernatural angle balanced perfectly throughout both stories and has fun keeping the reader on their toes.
This is one of those stories where the children never truly leave their past behind and years later the shadows are still there clouding their judgment and personal relationships. Although I did not particularly empathise with any of the characters this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book and the 1998 sequence, in particular, had a dark vibe running through it which added an edge. If small town American life didn’t have this shadowy underbelly the world of dark fiction would be a much poorer place!
Several minor gripes; I found using italics for the occasional Spanish word to be incredibly repetitive and unnecessary, particular ‘abuela’ for grandmother, all it did was draw attention to a word which seemed to be used way too often. Secondly, Melanie and Omar were very much bit players in the 2013 sequence and might have been given more to do in the plot. Thirdly, there was some quite unpleasant animal torture/mutilation scenes in the book which some readers might find unnecessary and might influence your opinion of a couple of characters.
Overall though this was a book I sped through in no time at all which blended an entertaining coming-of-age mystery with elements of horror and suspense from an author to watch out for. I just picked up The Boulevard Monster and am ready to take more Kepler for a spin.
Cricket Hunters opens with Celia (known as ‘Cel’) reflecting on the poor state of her marriage; she has been with Parker for fourteen years and married for six, several miscarriages have put a strain on their relationship. She also suspects Parker is having an affair with a new teacher, Lauren Page, at the local school where he works. Early in proceedings, after an argument, Parker disappears, initially Cel thinks he is with Lauren, but soon the police become involved and Cel’s troubled relationship with Parker’s family only make things worse. The majority of the story is told from Celia’s point of view, but Parker is also featured and so the state of their marriage is seen from both points of view.
Stephen King gave us the ‘Losers’ Club’ and Jeremy Hepler introduces us to the ‘Cricket Hunters’ when we head back to 1998 with the second story strand built around a group of old close-knit school friends. The 1998 and 2013 periods were balanced perfectly and complimented each other with their plots slowly making clever revelations which impacted events in the alternative. In 1998 Cel and Parker are around age 15/16 and have been friends for years, but attraction is beginning to deeper towards flirtation and more. Three other members of the ‘Cricket Hunters’ are also introduced; Abbey, Natalie and Omar. The latter two characters have small roles in the 2013 sequence, Abbey however, is the elephant in the room as at some point around 1998 she mysteriously disappears. This is mentioned in the blurb, so should not be seen as a spoiler, and so Cricket Hunters effectively runs who parallel mysteries in 1998 (the murder) and 2013 (the disappearance). Are they connected and if so how? It was good, old fashioned, fun joining the dots together.
The 1998 sequences was also a terrific coming of age story with lifelong friends beginning to feel the pangs of attraction and leave childhood stuff behind, with thoughts of getting their driving licences and other more pressing business, like who to make out with. Abbey Powell matures physically quite early and soon catches the eye of Parker, who is also attracted to Celia and so tension develops as he is interested in both girls. Until this point Celia had often been the leader of the ‘Cricket Hunters’, which was the name the gang adopted after they used sharp sticks to kill crickets, the noise the insects make at night bothers the sister of Celia’s grandmother, with whom she lives. The mass killing of insects did seem like an unpleasant and odd pastime for teenagers, but it was an important part of the story.
Does that sound weird? The grandmother pays the teenagers to kill crickets…. This is because the grandmother is a self-proclaimed ‘bruja’, or so we’re told, which is Spanish for witch. The grandmother is Mexican and believes her sister has been cursed in some way and one of the strengths of the book is the reader is never quite sure whether this is real or not. Either way, as Celia has been growing up with her grandmother has been teaching her the tricks of the ‘bruja’ trade and she even has her own ‘grimoire’ which is a spell-book to help her with the trials which life might throw up. Celia believes this stuff, and when the ‘Cricket Hunters’ were younger they thought this was all very cool, but as they approach the age of sixteen it seems more like mumbo-jumbo stuff for kids. Jeremy Kepler balances this potentially supernatural angle balanced perfectly throughout both stories and has fun keeping the reader on their toes.
This is one of those stories where the children never truly leave their past behind and years later the shadows are still there clouding their judgment and personal relationships. Although I did not particularly empathise with any of the characters this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book and the 1998 sequence, in particular, had a dark vibe running through it which added an edge. If small town American life didn’t have this shadowy underbelly the world of dark fiction would be a much poorer place!
Several minor gripes; I found using italics for the occasional Spanish word to be incredibly repetitive and unnecessary, particular ‘abuela’ for grandmother, all it did was draw attention to a word which seemed to be used way too often. Secondly, Melanie and Omar were very much bit players in the 2013 sequence and might have been given more to do in the plot. Thirdly, there was some quite unpleasant animal torture/mutilation scenes in the book which some readers might find unnecessary and might influence your opinion of a couple of characters.
Overall though this was a book I sped through in no time at all which blended an entertaining coming-of-age mystery with elements of horror and suspense from an author to watch out for. I just picked up The Boulevard Monster and am ready to take more Kepler for a spin.
September 26, 2019
I love a good coming of age story, when done right, they transport you back to times that were somehow simpler, yet much more confusing. Frustrating, yet magical. When I caught wind of the latest by Jeremy Hepler, I knew I needed this book. I’m pleased to say it’s even better than I had hoped.
Cricket Hunters follows Celia Lundy as she attempts to locate her missing husband, Parker. The disappearance of whom seems to be somehow related to the disappearance of their childhood friend, Abby. Fifteen years pass between the events and the truth behind Abby’s disappearance remains unknown.
Jeremy Hepler wrote one damn fine book. The story takes place going back and forth between the present and the past. Hepler hits all the right notes of what you’d want in a coming of age tale. The characters experience loss, love, adventure, dangerous close calls, you name it. Celia is the protagonist here, and one interesting aspect that sets this book apart is Celia’s Hispanic heritage. Celia is raised by her Abuela, Yesenia, who is a Bruja. Throughout the book we’re treated to the delightful interactions between Cel and Yesenia. We watch as Yesenia casts healing spells, protection spell, barriers and all manner of witchcraft. The true joy of the book however, is following Celia and her friends, known as the Cricket Hunters, through their daily interactions.
The book is very well written with excellent prose. The story is fascinating and a breeze to follow. You can tell throughout reading that Hepler took great care writing this, there are no loose ends, no big plot holes, nothing at all I can find to complain about. The transition between time periods is woven throughout the story in a manner that makes sense and enriches the story, sometimes time jumps can be confusing and that was never the case here. Central to the story is the disappearance of Cricket Hunter Abby, and Celia’s husband Parker. I had suspicions as to what happened and when all was revealed, I couldn’t have been further from the truth, it came out of left field in the best way possible.
When I finally closed Cricket Hunters I was left completely satisfied. It has everything I love about coming of age stories while still managing to feel completely fresh. Jeremy Hepler has not only written a spectacular novel, but he has succeeded in writing one of the finest coming of age stories I’ve read in a long time.
Cricket Hunters follows Celia Lundy as she attempts to locate her missing husband, Parker. The disappearance of whom seems to be somehow related to the disappearance of their childhood friend, Abby. Fifteen years pass between the events and the truth behind Abby’s disappearance remains unknown.
Jeremy Hepler wrote one damn fine book. The story takes place going back and forth between the present and the past. Hepler hits all the right notes of what you’d want in a coming of age tale. The characters experience loss, love, adventure, dangerous close calls, you name it. Celia is the protagonist here, and one interesting aspect that sets this book apart is Celia’s Hispanic heritage. Celia is raised by her Abuela, Yesenia, who is a Bruja. Throughout the book we’re treated to the delightful interactions between Cel and Yesenia. We watch as Yesenia casts healing spells, protection spell, barriers and all manner of witchcraft. The true joy of the book however, is following Celia and her friends, known as the Cricket Hunters, through their daily interactions.
The book is very well written with excellent prose. The story is fascinating and a breeze to follow. You can tell throughout reading that Hepler took great care writing this, there are no loose ends, no big plot holes, nothing at all I can find to complain about. The transition between time periods is woven throughout the story in a manner that makes sense and enriches the story, sometimes time jumps can be confusing and that was never the case here. Central to the story is the disappearance of Cricket Hunter Abby, and Celia’s husband Parker. I had suspicions as to what happened and when all was revealed, I couldn’t have been further from the truth, it came out of left field in the best way possible.
When I finally closed Cricket Hunters I was left completely satisfied. It has everything I love about coming of age stories while still managing to feel completely fresh. Jeremy Hepler has not only written a spectacular novel, but he has succeeded in writing one of the finest coming of age stories I’ve read in a long time.
September 26, 2019
Twisted and I loved it.
I read this because it was a recommendation in my book club and I didn't know what to expect. I really enjoyed it. It's more of a twisted whodunit than a supernatural book, which I thought it was going to be about. But I liked it enough to check out other books by the same author.
This book is about a group of friends who have known each other since childhood. One of the friends isn't as good as they seem and this cause conflict within them leading to a tragic ending for multiple people. It's not your traditional happy ending.
I read this because it was a recommendation in my book club and I didn't know what to expect. I really enjoyed it. It's more of a twisted whodunit than a supernatural book, which I thought it was going to be about. But I liked it enough to check out other books by the same author.
This book is about a group of friends who have known each other since childhood. One of the friends isn't as good as they seem and this cause conflict within them leading to a tragic ending for multiple people. It's not your traditional happy ending.
August 13, 2019
this was a really good horror novel, the characters were interesting and I found the idea of someone missing to be very scary. It really was a great read that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
December 28, 2021
Perfect thriller to scratch your '80s nostalgia.
June 6, 2021
3.5 stars
Fifteen years after her friend Abby went missing, Cel's husband has disappeared. Mysterious clues that suggest the two disappearances are related have begun cropping up.
This is a solid thriller with hints of magic to it.
My first by Hepler and from Silver Shamrock press. I'll be keeping both on my radar.
November 27, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
4.5/5
Recently, I finally read ‘The Boulevard Monster’ by Jeremy Hepler, which easily vaulted itself into my all-time fav book list. I absolutely loved it and I vowed in my review (and my head!) that I wouldn’t push off reading his follow up release ‘Cricket Hunters’ long. I had pre-ordered the book when it was announced and so I was excited to see what Jeremy had conjured up for us.
I ended up bumping this up my TBR a bit – purely because of his outstanding story in ‘Midnight in the Graveyard.’ I love his writing voice and how much emotion and real-life hurt he packs into his stories.
If you follow my reading progress on Goodreads, don’t be fooled by the fact this took me three weeks to read. At one point I had 7 books on the go, so while I was loving this, I just wasn’t making as much progress as I wanted.
‘Cricket Hunters’ is set in two time periods, which I loved. We follow a group of teens aka the Cricket Hunters back in the 90’s but also their modern-day lives and how things from that time have now unravelled and conspired to create drama.
This made for a fantastic modern-day thriller but also a great coming-of-age piece.
We follow Cel, navigating life in a spiritual family. Sickness has invaded and her grandmother is ill. Her friends are there to help and from this basis, Hepler weaves a fantastic narrative. We get little bursts of warmth before interpersonal conflict derails and turns things sour but we also see how the actions of others can cause friction between people – no matter how close they are.
This is a very different story than ‘The Boulevard Monster’ but not in a bad way. It just shows how capable Hepler is at tackling different styles within the same genre. I really enjoyed that the main character was this young woman, who becomes a struggling, hardened woman. It was also nice to see it focus on a POC and someone who didn’t back down when people attempted to attack her beliefs and her background.
This would have been a 5 star read for me, but I’ve downgraded it to a 4.5, if that’s even much of a downgrade!
I had two small issues and I’ll try to be spoiler-free. The first was during the early storyline, there was a significant antagonist, a character that the whole group feared. Their storyline just abruptly came to an end. I was expecting a great ‘last-stand’ type scene to finish that bit off, but it never came.
The second was there was a lesser character – who does become quite prominent later on – but during that time, an incident occurs and the police and the group come out in full force. That character randomly shows up again later on and we find out what happened in a few sentences. I wished there would have been a bit more described and more storyline dedicated to that part. Those are my two small gripes, and they are quite minor in the grand scheme of this fantastic story.
Overall – Hepler is an amazing author and you NEED to read both ‘The Boulevard Monster’ and ‘Cricket Hunters.’ Now I just hope we get a new release from him soon!
4.5/5
Recently, I finally read ‘The Boulevard Monster’ by Jeremy Hepler, which easily vaulted itself into my all-time fav book list. I absolutely loved it and I vowed in my review (and my head!) that I wouldn’t push off reading his follow up release ‘Cricket Hunters’ long. I had pre-ordered the book when it was announced and so I was excited to see what Jeremy had conjured up for us.
I ended up bumping this up my TBR a bit – purely because of his outstanding story in ‘Midnight in the Graveyard.’ I love his writing voice and how much emotion and real-life hurt he packs into his stories.
If you follow my reading progress on Goodreads, don’t be fooled by the fact this took me three weeks to read. At one point I had 7 books on the go, so while I was loving this, I just wasn’t making as much progress as I wanted.
‘Cricket Hunters’ is set in two time periods, which I loved. We follow a group of teens aka the Cricket Hunters back in the 90’s but also their modern-day lives and how things from that time have now unravelled and conspired to create drama.
This made for a fantastic modern-day thriller but also a great coming-of-age piece.
We follow Cel, navigating life in a spiritual family. Sickness has invaded and her grandmother is ill. Her friends are there to help and from this basis, Hepler weaves a fantastic narrative. We get little bursts of warmth before interpersonal conflict derails and turns things sour but we also see how the actions of others can cause friction between people – no matter how close they are.
This is a very different story than ‘The Boulevard Monster’ but not in a bad way. It just shows how capable Hepler is at tackling different styles within the same genre. I really enjoyed that the main character was this young woman, who becomes a struggling, hardened woman. It was also nice to see it focus on a POC and someone who didn’t back down when people attempted to attack her beliefs and her background.
This would have been a 5 star read for me, but I’ve downgraded it to a 4.5, if that’s even much of a downgrade!
I had two small issues and I’ll try to be spoiler-free. The first was during the early storyline, there was a significant antagonist, a character that the whole group feared. Their storyline just abruptly came to an end. I was expecting a great ‘last-stand’ type scene to finish that bit off, but it never came.
The second was there was a lesser character – who does become quite prominent later on – but during that time, an incident occurs and the police and the group come out in full force. That character randomly shows up again later on and we find out what happened in a few sentences. I wished there would have been a bit more described and more storyline dedicated to that part. Those are my two small gripes, and they are quite minor in the grand scheme of this fantastic story.
Overall – Hepler is an amazing author and you NEED to read both ‘The Boulevard Monster’ and ‘Cricket Hunters.’ Now I just hope we get a new release from him soon!
September 12, 2019
I’ve loved Jeremy Hepler’s writing ever since reading his debut, The Boulevard Monster, and have been anxiously awaiting a follow up novel. I was NOT disappointed with Cricket Hunters. It’s a mix of coming of age, mystery, suspense, all told in alternating time frames between a group of friends as teens and as adults. I found the Spanish culture of the main character and her grandmother fascinating and it really added a unique layer to the story. I read this on Kindle, so could easily look up translations as needed, but that isn’t necessary to enjoy the story. Without spoilers, I will say there was a point towards the end where I let out an audible gasp at something I wasn’t expecting. Great book from start to finish; one of those rare “can’t put down” ones. After reading 2 of Hepler’s books, I now know that I can never start one when I have to get up for work the next morning, because I could not go to sleep without finishing!
September 24, 2019
STRANGER THINGS but with ZERO compelling characters
For real talk, tho, I had a rough time slogging through this. The writing was fine, the pacing was fine, the twists actually came at me and surprised me. My main problem was just my utter indifference to the fate of the main characters. I have a feeling I was supposed to care for Cel, but I really, really couldn't. From page 1 I disliked her, and it was downhill from there. I was actually hoping for her death by the end of the book.
Maybe it's me, but....I don't think it is. Not recommended. Which is a shame, because I was really looking forward to this. Oh Well. NEXT!
For real talk, tho, I had a rough time slogging through this. The writing was fine, the pacing was fine, the twists actually came at me and surprised me. My main problem was just my utter indifference to the fate of the main characters. I have a feeling I was supposed to care for Cel, but I really, really couldn't. From page 1 I disliked her, and it was downhill from there. I was actually hoping for her death by the end of the book.
Maybe it's me, but....I don't think it is. Not recommended. Which is a shame, because I was really looking forward to this. Oh Well. NEXT!
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