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Behemoth
A mysterious car accident sets off a series of disappearances in a small and quiet town. An angry young husband, a lonely old woman, and a little boy last seen sleeping in his bed. All gone. Gossip spreads and townspeople claim there are rational explanations. So does Robert Garrahan, a writer who has a home nearby.
It remains little more than rumor until a desperate father tells Garrahan that his daughter will be the next to disappear. With a rambling story of monsters and strange rituals, the father tries to convince Garrahan that the town is rife with danger. Another freak accident forces Garrahan to look into the father’s claims.
His investigation reveals a seemingly normal village that hides a horrific past. An authoritarian priest who adheres to Biblical prophecies surrounding the mythical Behemoth, townspeople who turn a weary eye to the loss of a little girl, and whispers of a creature in the woods all conspire to keep Garrahan away. When he finally meets the girl’s mother, Garrahan comes to fear that he, too, will disappear in the strange town.
It remains little more than rumor until a desperate father tells Garrahan that his daughter will be the next to disappear. With a rambling story of monsters and strange rituals, the father tries to convince Garrahan that the town is rife with danger. Another freak accident forces Garrahan to look into the father’s claims.
His investigation reveals a seemingly normal village that hides a horrific past. An authoritarian priest who adheres to Biblical prophecies surrounding the mythical Behemoth, townspeople who turn a weary eye to the loss of a little girl, and whispers of a creature in the woods all conspire to keep Garrahan away. When he finally meets the girl’s mother, Garrahan comes to fear that he, too, will disappear in the strange town.
362 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
14 people are currently reading
3620 people want to read
About the author
H.P. Newquist
26 books89 followersHP Newquist has written more than 30 books, including national award winners This Will Kill You, Here There Be Monsters, and The Book Of Blood. Newquist has regularly explored the reality underlying the things that scare us. Newquist’s newest books, BEHEMOTH and Ten Years Gone, are guaranteed to captivate - and scare - lovers of fiction.
Newquist writes about everything from music and medicine to technology and terror. His work has been published in numerous languages and has been cited by The New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, and hundreds of other publications around the world. He has received awards from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, The Library Guild, the New York Public Library, the NSTA, VOYA, and the Center For Children's Literature. He also happens to be the founder of The National GUITAR Museum.
Newquist writes about everything from music and medicine to technology and terror. His work has been published in numerous languages and has been cited by The New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, and hundreds of other publications around the world. He has received awards from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, The Library Guild, the New York Public Library, the NSTA, VOYA, and the Center For Children's Literature. He also happens to be the founder of The National GUITAR Museum.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 1, 2020
Review to come
January 20, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Big thanks to Pete and Bloodshot Books for sending this my way.
I’m not a fan of the frequently overused phrase “unputdownable” but there really is no other way to describe this book.
We open up following a trio of young men going for a joyride and ending up on the small town of Morris. The town has an ‘odd’ reputation. No one goes out at night and no one leaves the town.
The boys crash the car which breaks a centuries-old boundary, keeping the monster of Morris within its confines.
From there, Newquist deftly weaves a thriller with a creature feature. This is HP’s 1st novel of fiction, but he has released over 20 non-fiction releases, and it shows he has the confidence to push the envelope and keep the reader guessing.
The story continues to progress throughout, and one thing I found that really made it riveting was the short and snappy chapters. I kept wanting to keep flipping, keep reading as I was dragged further and further into the mysterious history of Morris.
If I was to comment on a negative or something that didn’t gel – spoiler-free – there’s a few unanswered questions, which I can only hope we find out the answers too in the future.
This was easily a 5 star read, and if my list wasn’t already submitted, I’d have it on my top reads of the year list, easily.
Really can’t recommend this enough!
Big thanks to Pete and Bloodshot Books for sending this my way.
I’m not a fan of the frequently overused phrase “unputdownable” but there really is no other way to describe this book.
We open up following a trio of young men going for a joyride and ending up on the small town of Morris. The town has an ‘odd’ reputation. No one goes out at night and no one leaves the town.
The boys crash the car which breaks a centuries-old boundary, keeping the monster of Morris within its confines.
From there, Newquist deftly weaves a thriller with a creature feature. This is HP’s 1st novel of fiction, but he has released over 20 non-fiction releases, and it shows he has the confidence to push the envelope and keep the reader guessing.
The story continues to progress throughout, and one thing I found that really made it riveting was the short and snappy chapters. I kept wanting to keep flipping, keep reading as I was dragged further and further into the mysterious history of Morris.
If I was to comment on a negative or something that didn’t gel – spoiler-free – there’s a few unanswered questions, which I can only hope we find out the answers too in the future.
This was easily a 5 star read, and if my list wasn’t already submitted, I’d have it on my top reads of the year list, easily.
Really can’t recommend this enough!
May 28, 2020
A freak accident, a young girl, a mystery that Robert feels compelled to solve and he is drawn deeper and deeper into the evil that lives in Morris.
“Behemoth is God’s greatest creature.”
Robert Garrahan is one his way to his cabin and stops for gas. He meets a young girl, Abby. Each time he visits his cabin, he looks forward to stopping and saying hi to her…until one day she isn’t there. He can’t forget about her, so, regardless of all the road blocks he runs into, he looks for her.
What’s going on in Morris is more monstrous than he could ever have imagined.
Ethan – OMG – I hope the Behemoth gets YOU! I love to hate a character. LOL
They will do whatever is necessary to protect their secret.
Why is it young girls who are so often the target? Why not an old man, like the one ruling the town as if it’s a cult.
Robert’s road to answers is twisted and horrific. The town’s religious practices are secret and sacred. If this is religion, I want no part of it.
Behemoth gets steadily creepier and so much worse than I anticipated and I wonder who will survive. I am worried for some of the characters, and others…Dark, sinister, and I feel it’s going to be even worse than I thought, that man can sink even deeper into the pit of hell than I thought he would.
Behemoth by H P Newquist is very well written, filed with characters clearly defined, a monster who is truly terrifying and vengeful and suspense that kept me reading until the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Behemoth by H P Newquist.
See more at fundinmental
“Behemoth is God’s greatest creature.”
Robert Garrahan is one his way to his cabin and stops for gas. He meets a young girl, Abby. Each time he visits his cabin, he looks forward to stopping and saying hi to her…until one day she isn’t there. He can’t forget about her, so, regardless of all the road blocks he runs into, he looks for her.
What’s going on in Morris is more monstrous than he could ever have imagined.
Ethan – OMG – I hope the Behemoth gets YOU! I love to hate a character. LOL
They will do whatever is necessary to protect their secret.
Why is it young girls who are so often the target? Why not an old man, like the one ruling the town as if it’s a cult.
Robert’s road to answers is twisted and horrific. The town’s religious practices are secret and sacred. If this is religion, I want no part of it.
Behemoth gets steadily creepier and so much worse than I anticipated and I wonder who will survive. I am worried for some of the characters, and others…Dark, sinister, and I feel it’s going to be even worse than I thought, that man can sink even deeper into the pit of hell than I thought he would.
Behemoth by H P Newquist is very well written, filed with characters clearly defined, a monster who is truly terrifying and vengeful and suspense that kept me reading until the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Behemoth by H P Newquist.
See more at fundinmental
August 9, 2020
Spooky.
June 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this slice of small town biblical horror from HP Newquist.
The book is a fast paced descent into horror and myth and lore - the Behemoth is the central monster and one I didn’t really know much about other than it was in the bible - but Newquist brings this (quite unknown) entity to life and creates a small town horror vibe that really enthrals the reader.
After a drunken accident a car crash that opens the story we soon realise that this accident has set something in motion, something has been broken - a gate that was to keep something inside has been torn wide open and what was trapped is now loose - prepare to be thrown into an adrenaline ride of your life. The short chapters that Newquist uses help to drum up the tension and keep the book moving at break neck speed!
Garrahan was a brilliant protagonist and well detailed by Newquist - I loved his inner turmoil, his brokenness and what he needs to do to rectify all of this and the mistakes abs troubles that have blighted him since his discovery. He grows on the reader throughout the book and by the end I was cheering him on as I was getting to the stories explosive and full throttled conclusion!
I did have a few questions about how easily he became embroiled with all that was transpiring and the relationship he quickly had with the stories young protagonist - but that’s me being picky.
The story was great and it pulled me through whether I wanted to go or not - fear and excitement kept me a prisoner during the book and the twists and turns along the way kept me engaged throughout! A really great book that I enjoyed tremendously!
The book is a fast paced descent into horror and myth and lore - the Behemoth is the central monster and one I didn’t really know much about other than it was in the bible - but Newquist brings this (quite unknown) entity to life and creates a small town horror vibe that really enthrals the reader.
After a drunken accident a car crash that opens the story we soon realise that this accident has set something in motion, something has been broken - a gate that was to keep something inside has been torn wide open and what was trapped is now loose - prepare to be thrown into an adrenaline ride of your life. The short chapters that Newquist uses help to drum up the tension and keep the book moving at break neck speed!
Garrahan was a brilliant protagonist and well detailed by Newquist - I loved his inner turmoil, his brokenness and what he needs to do to rectify all of this and the mistakes abs troubles that have blighted him since his discovery. He grows on the reader throughout the book and by the end I was cheering him on as I was getting to the stories explosive and full throttled conclusion!
I did have a few questions about how easily he became embroiled with all that was transpiring and the relationship he quickly had with the stories young protagonist - but that’s me being picky.
The story was great and it pulled me through whether I wanted to go or not - fear and excitement kept me a prisoner during the book and the twists and turns along the way kept me engaged throughout! A really great book that I enjoyed tremendously!
April 14, 2021
There is so much to say about this story that I barely know where to begin. Let’s start with “Holy Hell, what a ride!” I am a huge fan of creature features and this delivered in so many glorious ways. HP Newquist is a new to me writer, with a large background in non-fiction. “Behemoth” is his first novel and it’s one hell of a debut!
Finely crafted characters, a richly detailed small town, a large dose of history and some religious scriptures all combine to make one chiling tale of the “Behemoth.” A creature that God has made along with Man. It ranks first among God’s works...Nothing on earth is its equal-a creature without fear. The Book of Job, 40:15.
This happens to be the opening lines of the book which sets up the entire tale, from start to end. Do you believe it? Is it real? Does it exist? Is it even possible that something so big, so monstrous could still be walking amongst men, even now? All of those questions and more are raised in this story, which reads as part mystery and all horror, as Robert Garrahan, editor-at-large of the New York Globe, is pulled into the biggest story of his life.
Robert spends his days off and many weekends at his house up in Ashford, where he is supposed to be working on a novel. Ashford is only a town away from Morris, but today, Garrahan needs to stop off in Morris to fill up his gas tank, someplace that he’s not been before.
A young girl, Abby, comes out to greet him at the old-fashioned gas station and she fills up his tank while making pleasant small talk with him. He is a bit amused and charmed by her and by the small town, which looks like it hasn’t progressed at all in the last several decades. Before he pulls off, she asks him about the radio station he is listening to so he writes the call letters down on one of his business cards and gives it to her, smiling.
Meanwhile, in Morris, a few days prior to Garrahan meeting Abby, a carload of drunk teens crash into a marker just outside of town and are found dead the next day. In Ashford, Billy McGrath suddenly disappears in the middle of the night. The following week, another woman is snatched from her bed. Something is stalking and killing people, snatching them directly from their homes.
Two more weeks pass before Garrahan makes his way back to Morris, hoping to see the town better. Of course, he stops by the gas station and this time he meets Abby’s father, Bruce Donahue, as Abby fills his tank. Small talk is made and connections are formed, but Garrahan does not know the role that his small visits will soon play.
A few weeks later, Bruce shows up in New York City seeking Garrahan out for help. He tells him that something is wrong in Morris, that Abby is in danger. That Garrahan is the only person outside of Morris that they’ve ever met. He desperately needs his help and the story Bruce tells Garrahan is more far-fetched than any he’s ever heard. In a cruel twist of fate, Bruce is killed by a car as he is leaving Garrahan’s office, with Robert Garrahan being the only person alive to know where Abby is and that something is very wrong.
Being a decent man, he knows he cannot leave her stranded in a hotel in the middle of New York City, so he goes to get her and takes her back to his apartment so he can try to figure things out from there. Abby backs up her father’s wild tale, leaving Robert Garrahan no choice but to investigate and to get Abby back to her mother, in Morris. Robert Garrahan has no idea what is really going on in Morris but he is determined to find out.
This is just the opening set-up for this horrifying tale as HP Newquist weaves his elaborate tale of terror through the small villages of Morris and Ashford and creates a cast of characters that are richly detailed, highly relatable and all come together to form one complex, chilling tale of chaos, murder and mystery as Robert tries to understand the history behind the “Behemoth.”
While this story does have some slow moments, it is well-worth the wait as the story unfolds. It is full of details, and old history that must be explained and pieced together in order to understand the entirety of events that are happening. This was such a well-written story with a very frightening creature, the likes of which I have not ever heard of before in any story.
I am giving this 4 solid stars out of five and I hope to see more horror from HP Newquist very soon.
Finely crafted characters, a richly detailed small town, a large dose of history and some religious scriptures all combine to make one chiling tale of the “Behemoth.” A creature that God has made along with Man. It ranks first among God’s works...Nothing on earth is its equal-a creature without fear. The Book of Job, 40:15.
This happens to be the opening lines of the book which sets up the entire tale, from start to end. Do you believe it? Is it real? Does it exist? Is it even possible that something so big, so monstrous could still be walking amongst men, even now? All of those questions and more are raised in this story, which reads as part mystery and all horror, as Robert Garrahan, editor-at-large of the New York Globe, is pulled into the biggest story of his life.
Robert spends his days off and many weekends at his house up in Ashford, where he is supposed to be working on a novel. Ashford is only a town away from Morris, but today, Garrahan needs to stop off in Morris to fill up his gas tank, someplace that he’s not been before.
A young girl, Abby, comes out to greet him at the old-fashioned gas station and she fills up his tank while making pleasant small talk with him. He is a bit amused and charmed by her and by the small town, which looks like it hasn’t progressed at all in the last several decades. Before he pulls off, she asks him about the radio station he is listening to so he writes the call letters down on one of his business cards and gives it to her, smiling.
Meanwhile, in Morris, a few days prior to Garrahan meeting Abby, a carload of drunk teens crash into a marker just outside of town and are found dead the next day. In Ashford, Billy McGrath suddenly disappears in the middle of the night. The following week, another woman is snatched from her bed. Something is stalking and killing people, snatching them directly from their homes.
Two more weeks pass before Garrahan makes his way back to Morris, hoping to see the town better. Of course, he stops by the gas station and this time he meets Abby’s father, Bruce Donahue, as Abby fills his tank. Small talk is made and connections are formed, but Garrahan does not know the role that his small visits will soon play.
A few weeks later, Bruce shows up in New York City seeking Garrahan out for help. He tells him that something is wrong in Morris, that Abby is in danger. That Garrahan is the only person outside of Morris that they’ve ever met. He desperately needs his help and the story Bruce tells Garrahan is more far-fetched than any he’s ever heard. In a cruel twist of fate, Bruce is killed by a car as he is leaving Garrahan’s office, with Robert Garrahan being the only person alive to know where Abby is and that something is very wrong.
Being a decent man, he knows he cannot leave her stranded in a hotel in the middle of New York City, so he goes to get her and takes her back to his apartment so he can try to figure things out from there. Abby backs up her father’s wild tale, leaving Robert Garrahan no choice but to investigate and to get Abby back to her mother, in Morris. Robert Garrahan has no idea what is really going on in Morris but he is determined to find out.
This is just the opening set-up for this horrifying tale as HP Newquist weaves his elaborate tale of terror through the small villages of Morris and Ashford and creates a cast of characters that are richly detailed, highly relatable and all come together to form one complex, chilling tale of chaos, murder and mystery as Robert tries to understand the history behind the “Behemoth.”
While this story does have some slow moments, it is well-worth the wait as the story unfolds. It is full of details, and old history that must be explained and pieced together in order to understand the entirety of events that are happening. This was such a well-written story with a very frightening creature, the likes of which I have not ever heard of before in any story.
I am giving this 4 solid stars out of five and I hope to see more horror from HP Newquist very soon.
June 17, 2020
'Behemoth is God's greatest creature. One of his most terrifying. According to Job, Chapter 40, Verses 15 to 18, Behemoth was made at the same time as man. It was monstrously large and extremely powerful...and God put that beast here specifically to remind us there are creatures more powerful than man.'
This Biblical reference about a creature that may, purportedly, still be walking the earth is just chilling. Quite frankly, it speaks to all the supposed sightings of creatures such as Bigfoot, Yeti, Abominable Snowman, Skinwalker, etc... that represents mythical beings which may still be amongst us all. Author HP Newquist knows monsters well and he uses said Behemoth as a central point in his latest novel of the same name.
The action begins on a spring night when three teen-aged boys are driving around the upstate New York village of Morris. Of course, they find the blockades that are up nightly which keep anyone from driving in or out of Morris. The boys drive where they shouldn't get the car stuck on what appears to be a burial site in the middle of a field and are each disposed of in horrific fashion by a wild creature they cannot fully see in the darkness of the night.
A news reporter from New York City has a small place upstate outside of Morris where he goes on weekends to work on his novel. He stops at the small gas station in Morris each time he is heading back downstate for a fill-up. Robert Garrahan is his name, and he gets to know on a very surface level the father and daughter that run the small gas station. You can imagine Garrahan's surprise when the father from the gas station, Bruce Donohue, shows up at his NYC office just days after his last visit. Bruce spews forth with much detail that initially sounds like the ranting of an insane person. He and his daughter, Abby, had snuck away from Morris against the orders of those who oversee the village. He goes on to talk about people disappearing from Morris and neighboring towns, without a trace. Homes in Morris are all locked up with iron gates for protection against something. Then, there is the ritual, which involves one of the youngsters of Morris being selected annually as a sacrifice to the brutal being they know as Behemoth.
It all sounds more than a little far-fetched to Garrahan --- that is until his partner is murdered in their apartment and he is confronted by an extremely frightening man named Malden who seems to be the leader in Morris. He asks Garrahan to come up to Morris and do research that they have been unable to do --- about the towns' history, the mysterious deaths of a group of priests which seemed to have started everything, and report back with his findings. Only then will he agree to release Garrahan and the Donohue's, without any need for sacrifice. However, what Garrahan finds in Morris is indeed the stuff of biblical, almost Lovecraftian horror, and it is very much for real.
BEHEMOTH is old-school gothic horror, historical horror mixed with modern-world superstitions and prejudices, and that makes things that much more chilling. Newquist has created a fine horror novel that dares to be called literary/historical fiction and entertains the reader from start to finish.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for JournalStone Hell Notes
This Biblical reference about a creature that may, purportedly, still be walking the earth is just chilling. Quite frankly, it speaks to all the supposed sightings of creatures such as Bigfoot, Yeti, Abominable Snowman, Skinwalker, etc... that represents mythical beings which may still be amongst us all. Author HP Newquist knows monsters well and he uses said Behemoth as a central point in his latest novel of the same name.
The action begins on a spring night when three teen-aged boys are driving around the upstate New York village of Morris. Of course, they find the blockades that are up nightly which keep anyone from driving in or out of Morris. The boys drive where they shouldn't get the car stuck on what appears to be a burial site in the middle of a field and are each disposed of in horrific fashion by a wild creature they cannot fully see in the darkness of the night.
A news reporter from New York City has a small place upstate outside of Morris where he goes on weekends to work on his novel. He stops at the small gas station in Morris each time he is heading back downstate for a fill-up. Robert Garrahan is his name, and he gets to know on a very surface level the father and daughter that run the small gas station. You can imagine Garrahan's surprise when the father from the gas station, Bruce Donohue, shows up at his NYC office just days after his last visit. Bruce spews forth with much detail that initially sounds like the ranting of an insane person. He and his daughter, Abby, had snuck away from Morris against the orders of those who oversee the village. He goes on to talk about people disappearing from Morris and neighboring towns, without a trace. Homes in Morris are all locked up with iron gates for protection against something. Then, there is the ritual, which involves one of the youngsters of Morris being selected annually as a sacrifice to the brutal being they know as Behemoth.
It all sounds more than a little far-fetched to Garrahan --- that is until his partner is murdered in their apartment and he is confronted by an extremely frightening man named Malden who seems to be the leader in Morris. He asks Garrahan to come up to Morris and do research that they have been unable to do --- about the towns' history, the mysterious deaths of a group of priests which seemed to have started everything, and report back with his findings. Only then will he agree to release Garrahan and the Donohue's, without any need for sacrifice. However, what Garrahan finds in Morris is indeed the stuff of biblical, almost Lovecraftian horror, and it is very much for real.
BEHEMOTH is old-school gothic horror, historical horror mixed with modern-world superstitions and prejudices, and that makes things that much more chilling. Newquist has created a fine horror novel that dares to be called literary/historical fiction and entertains the reader from start to finish.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for JournalStone Hell Notes
September 20, 2020
Eh. It was okay. I went in expecting more than I got. Definitely too “religious cult” for me. Not your traditional “scary”. 2.5 stars for me, but rounded up to 3.
February 6, 2022
Full of suspense, each chapter builds up and keeps you guessing until the end! And what a satisfying ending indeed!! This book hit all the points for me and as a bonus was built around Biblical aspects. This was my first work from Newquist, but certainly not my last!!!
March 9, 2020
Behemoth is a book written by HP Newquist. It takes us on a journey with our main protagonist, Robert Garrahan, who is a Journalist from New York City. Garrahan stumbles upon a small-town, Morris, in upstate New York, which has its many secrets.
The book itself is written in a journal form with corresponding dates and times that the events in the book take place. The book starts with a huge bang and it steamrolls all throughout its entirety. From the build of the story, to the descriptions of the characters, the setting of the scenes, and let’s not forget the way the monster is described. The pure detail in which its described sent chills up my spine to where I thought I might need a priest or my momma to come hold my hand.
All of those things combined creates one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. I look forward to reading more from the author. If Behemoth is an example of his work, I’m looking forward to reading more.
Check out more reviews at horrorbound.net
The book itself is written in a journal form with corresponding dates and times that the events in the book take place. The book starts with a huge bang and it steamrolls all throughout its entirety. From the build of the story, to the descriptions of the characters, the setting of the scenes, and let’s not forget the way the monster is described. The pure detail in which its described sent chills up my spine to where I thought I might need a priest or my momma to come hold my hand.
All of those things combined creates one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. I look forward to reading more from the author. If Behemoth is an example of his work, I’m looking forward to reading more.
Check out more reviews at horrorbound.net
October 10, 2021
Where do I start with this one? It's a creature feature with a biblical theme. Maybe I need to brush up on my Bible reading because this monster was a new one for me. The plot is basically a reporter stepping into something that changes his life forever. The characters are likeable. The story is good. The idea is very similar several other books... A small town sacrifices children to the beast, a way to keep it happy and the rest of the world safe. It was tastefully done, I just feel like I've read so many similar stories that it wasn't original. Still a good read
December 9, 2021
I just finished reading Behemoth by HP Newquist and I have to say it did not disappoint! Quiet town with a secret, people dying to get out, and a monster with religious ties. I'd highly recommend it!
October 20, 2020
Great creepy read.
June 14, 2020
Are you in the market for small-town secrets? How about an old testament cult? A whirlwind novel of mystery, murder, and disappearances? Well, friends, look no further – Behemoth is here to scratch that itch!
Robert Garrahan, a journalist by trade, has been making weekend trips between New York City and his small cabin in upstate New York to work on his book of New York architecture. One weekend, he detours into the small town of Morris for gas and is struck by the odd little town. It seems as though folks are coming out of their homes to watch him. The gas station owner and his daughter are friendly enough, they chat about the big city and how exotic it sounds. The next weekend, Robert stops again at the little gas station only to find the family gone and a new owner in place. He starts to dig into the town and finds that there have been a recent slew of disappearances in and around Morris and the book takes off from there.
While Newquist has several works of non-fiction under his belt, Behemoth is his first novel and hopefully will not be his last. I recommend checking this one out for sure!
As an aside, I received a digital copy of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Robert Garrahan, a journalist by trade, has been making weekend trips between New York City and his small cabin in upstate New York to work on his book of New York architecture. One weekend, he detours into the small town of Morris for gas and is struck by the odd little town. It seems as though folks are coming out of their homes to watch him. The gas station owner and his daughter are friendly enough, they chat about the big city and how exotic it sounds. The next weekend, Robert stops again at the little gas station only to find the family gone and a new owner in place. He starts to dig into the town and finds that there have been a recent slew of disappearances in and around Morris and the book takes off from there.
While Newquist has several works of non-fiction under his belt, Behemoth is his first novel and hopefully will not be his last. I recommend checking this one out for sure!
As an aside, I received a digital copy of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2020
Excellent 1st novel by veteran science writer. This is a gripping first novel by one of my favorite science writers. HP Newquist grabs your attention in the first few pages and doesn’t let go until the very end. “Behemoth“ is a nice combination of horror and wry humor, interspersed with twists and turns as the characters travel through fictional towns in New England and Upstate NY.
I’m ready for novel #2!
I’m ready for novel #2!
April 19, 2020
I was enthralled from the first to the final page! A perfect mix of mystery and horror with plenty of twists to keep the reader guessing! Love love love!
February 16, 2021
Absolutely gripping story that keeps you on the end of your seat until the last page!!
September 24, 2021
I loved this book! I think it’s a unique find and of course I love that I share a last name with the author! Very suspenseful at times a little easy to predict but it has a satisfying ending.
April 5, 2020
Behemoth by H.P. Newquist is a tale that centers around a biblical monster and a town that will do everything they can to appease the beast…
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
When the story begins, we meet a man that is traveling between New York City and his cabin out in the country. As he stops for gas one day, he meets a young girl that is interested in the radio station he’s playing from his car. He’s struck by her charm and curiosity and stops in to the gas station each time he is driving through. One day, she isn’t there. Neither is her father. The man that has taken their place says he doesn’t know who they were.
Our main character is curious and senses something is very wrong. Shortly afterward, he becomes wrapped up in quite the dangerous situation.
Man, there is just something about horror novels centered around religion that gives me the willies…
I’m not religious, but I did grow up going to Sunday School. I know lots of the stories from the bible, I’ve sung many of the religious songs… But the second my parents gave me permission to stop going to Sunday School and church, I was done. Since then, I’ve been working on my beliefs and they all center around fate and karma rather than a specific religious icon.
Anyway, just thinking about what people will do in the name of their beliefs without a second thought or an ounce of empathy is truly terrifying to me… and that was certainly the case here.
My Favorite Passages
He almost got enough air into his throat to scream. Almost. The thing attacked him.
Don’t make light of something you don’t understand. That’s stupidity.
The shadow moved oddly, like a flock of birds or a swarm of bees. It was slithering and flying at the same time.
Information from the past was being lost every single day, all over the world. People were taking knowledge with them to their graves.
My Final Thoughts
This tale will make your blood boil, but you won’t be able to stop reading until the mystery is finally resolved. It was filled with horror, suspense, a deeply twisted mystery, sacrifices, and murder. Phew! What a roller-coaster ride this one was!
If you enjoy horror tales with a dark religious focus, I would very highly recommend this one to you!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
When the story begins, we meet a man that is traveling between New York City and his cabin out in the country. As he stops for gas one day, he meets a young girl that is interested in the radio station he’s playing from his car. He’s struck by her charm and curiosity and stops in to the gas station each time he is driving through. One day, she isn’t there. Neither is her father. The man that has taken their place says he doesn’t know who they were.
Our main character is curious and senses something is very wrong. Shortly afterward, he becomes wrapped up in quite the dangerous situation.
Man, there is just something about horror novels centered around religion that gives me the willies…
I’m not religious, but I did grow up going to Sunday School. I know lots of the stories from the bible, I’ve sung many of the religious songs… But the second my parents gave me permission to stop going to Sunday School and church, I was done. Since then, I’ve been working on my beliefs and they all center around fate and karma rather than a specific religious icon.
Anyway, just thinking about what people will do in the name of their beliefs without a second thought or an ounce of empathy is truly terrifying to me… and that was certainly the case here.
My Favorite Passages
He almost got enough air into his throat to scream. Almost. The thing attacked him.
Don’t make light of something you don’t understand. That’s stupidity.
The shadow moved oddly, like a flock of birds or a swarm of bees. It was slithering and flying at the same time.
Information from the past was being lost every single day, all over the world. People were taking knowledge with them to their graves.
My Final Thoughts
This tale will make your blood boil, but you won’t be able to stop reading until the mystery is finally resolved. It was filled with horror, suspense, a deeply twisted mystery, sacrifices, and murder. Phew! What a roller-coaster ride this one was!
If you enjoy horror tales with a dark religious focus, I would very highly recommend this one to you!
July 4, 2021
I love it when a book plays out in your mind like a movie and right from the get go the book begins with a car accident involving drunk teens.
Who could imagine something so seemingly commonplace could lead into a series of terrible and terrifying events?
I found myself hard pressed to keep the book down as the narration flows and the short chapters seduce you into continued reading. Why is this area so strange? How does this town remain so... insular? What is really going on here?
For me, the creep factor was low except for some stand out moments in the book and there was some gore, but it was a very enjoyable read for any horror reader. There were some memorable characters and it's always interesting when you see a vast divide between what one person understands and what another person perceives. There's always a great moment when some one who doesn't believe what people have been telling him and then he discovers what is really happening.
#creaturefeature #religiousritual #creepychurch #lockdowntown
Who could imagine something so seemingly commonplace could lead into a series of terrible and terrifying events?
I found myself hard pressed to keep the book down as the narration flows and the short chapters seduce you into continued reading. Why is this area so strange? How does this town remain so... insular? What is really going on here?
For me, the creep factor was low except for some stand out moments in the book and there was some gore, but it was a very enjoyable read for any horror reader. There were some memorable characters and it's always interesting when you see a vast divide between what one person understands and what another person perceives. There's always a great moment when some one who doesn't believe what people have been telling him and then he discovers what is really happening.
#creaturefeature #religiousritual #creepychurch #lockdowntown
January 12, 2021
I had trouble with this book, there just wasn't enough tension to keep me invested. I started it and was intrigued by the opening with teenagers crashing a 'borrowed' car and then being attacked by a monster, however after that my interest fell off pretty quickly. The creepy small town didn't sink its claws into me because there wasn't enough time given to the mystery before the solution is presented very early in the book. The author includes A LOT of biblical quotes and while I understand that references need to be made since the monster is the behemoth from biblical myth, it rubbed me the wrong way.
In short, this book wasn't for me. I recommend you read other reviews to decide if this will interest you.
In short, this book wasn't for me. I recommend you read other reviews to decide if this will interest you.
March 13, 2020
Full review on gloriamcneelywriter.com
A monster of biblical proportions that brings out the worst in it’s worshipers, Behemoth will make you wonder about that strange town down the road and it’s even stranger inhabitants.
This book focused a little too much on the characters researching rather than progressing the story while time was of the essence. However, it was still enjoyable and kept me interested until the end.
A monster of biblical proportions that brings out the worst in it’s worshipers, Behemoth will make you wonder about that strange town down the road and it’s even stranger inhabitants.
This book focused a little too much on the characters researching rather than progressing the story while time was of the essence. However, it was still enjoyable and kept me interested until the end.
May 8, 2020
Behemoth has a decent opening sequence and goes rapidly downhill from that moment on, with there being very little worth recommending in this novel.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
May 14, 2020
Behemoth is a horror book where a town is haunted by something creepy. Nearly everyone has seen it at one point or another but they are all afraid of it.
Behemoth is a really creepy novel that shows you where religion can sometimes take you. Even though it's supposed to lift you up it can also lead you down the wrong path if you interpret things the wrong way.
Behemoth is a really creepy novel that shows you where religion can sometimes take you. Even though it's supposed to lift you up it can also lead you down the wrong path if you interpret things the wrong way.
January 16, 2025
What was that ending? I was hoping for something more culty/ human-driven sinister rather than an actual monster (or two?) 3 stars solely because they didn't kill off the main character and the book was well-written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2020
The book begins with a few passages from the bible, all concerning the existence of a fearsome creature whose only purpose is to remind mankind of their lowly place in God’s plan. As with all faiths, there are those followers who pick and choose what rules to follow and how strictly they adhere to the rules. At the other end of the spectrum, there are the religious zealots, those who very clearly see the line drawn in the sand, those who follow the bible without question. The inhabitants of small town Morris are the latter. Ruled by descendants of the original settlers, and naturally unwelcoming to outsiders, they have some very strange rituals. And one very dark secret.
When a passing journalist stops for gas and strikes up a friendly conversation with the young daughter of the gas station owner, his interest in the small town is piqued. Much to his misfortune. Despite cover-ups and a lack of help from most of the locals, a series of unfortunate occurrences set him on a collision course with the town rulers, and the horrifying creature they worship.
Protagonist Robert Garrahan, editor for prestigious newspaper the New York Globe and author, is a level-headed man. He believes in stone-cold facts and takes the world at face-value. If he can’t see something, or it doesn’t have two corroborating sources, he treats it with the kind of scepticism we would expect from a “newspaperman”. Despite the insistence of the Morris locals who seek his help, he refuses to believe in the existence of the titular Behemoth. But the reader knows different, thanks to the third person point-of-view and alternating chapters. These are often very short and conducive for a reader who can only read a book in short bursts. On the other hand, it could also lead readers to think: “Just one more chapter…”
There are a few instances where the story seems to wander from the main thrust of the narrative. But these are generally few and far between and the main storyline is compelling enough to keep us wondering what will happen next. By the time Garrahan has seen enough to realise that there is certainly something sinister going on in Morris, we are gripped and fully invested in the outcome. The scenes with the creature are genuinely terrifying and filled with dread, thanks to Newquist’s use of setting and descriptive language. And the antagonists, especially Malden and Leonard, are suitably sinister. While Malden is driven by the belief that he is doing the Lord’s work, Leonard is simply evil. But both are very believable characters and could well have been taken from real life. It all makes for an immersive and terrifying read, complete with a mysterious and scary creature, and an examination of the dangers of religious extremism in small-town America.
When a passing journalist stops for gas and strikes up a friendly conversation with the young daughter of the gas station owner, his interest in the small town is piqued. Much to his misfortune. Despite cover-ups and a lack of help from most of the locals, a series of unfortunate occurrences set him on a collision course with the town rulers, and the horrifying creature they worship.
Protagonist Robert Garrahan, editor for prestigious newspaper the New York Globe and author, is a level-headed man. He believes in stone-cold facts and takes the world at face-value. If he can’t see something, or it doesn’t have two corroborating sources, he treats it with the kind of scepticism we would expect from a “newspaperman”. Despite the insistence of the Morris locals who seek his help, he refuses to believe in the existence of the titular Behemoth. But the reader knows different, thanks to the third person point-of-view and alternating chapters. These are often very short and conducive for a reader who can only read a book in short bursts. On the other hand, it could also lead readers to think: “Just one more chapter…”
There are a few instances where the story seems to wander from the main thrust of the narrative. But these are generally few and far between and the main storyline is compelling enough to keep us wondering what will happen next. By the time Garrahan has seen enough to realise that there is certainly something sinister going on in Morris, we are gripped and fully invested in the outcome. The scenes with the creature are genuinely terrifying and filled with dread, thanks to Newquist’s use of setting and descriptive language. And the antagonists, especially Malden and Leonard, are suitably sinister. While Malden is driven by the belief that he is doing the Lord’s work, Leonard is simply evil. But both are very believable characters and could well have been taken from real life. It all makes for an immersive and terrifying read, complete with a mysterious and scary creature, and an examination of the dangers of religious extremism in small-town America.
December 10, 2019
This was a fast paced and exciting read full of intrigue and suspense. And an unexpected plot twist made this book very hard to put down.
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