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As an Old Memory
Small Towns Have Long Memories The 1956 Homecoming Massacre shook the residents of Pinehurst to their very core, and it left survivor, Charlotte McAdams, broken for life. Forty years later, the McAdams family have become the victims of many strange happenings that seem to revolve around the fateful night of the massacre. As the anniversary draws nearer, so does the rope around the family threatening to destroy them all.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2020
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65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 28, 2020
This is a story of a small town in Alabama which has had a checkered past with regards to race. In the 1800s a witch was killed because of the color of her skin, and in similar fashion the town's 1956 homecoming massacre culminated in a lynching. Each of those events are linked with the McAdams family, though the current generation are trying to distance themselves from their past as decent people. Unfortunately as the 40th anniversary of the massacre approaches, strange events begin to happen and increase in intensity centered around the family making it clear that it'll take more than that to protect them.
This was a great story in a number of ways. It's somewhat Southern Gothic, with a ghost story, and witchcraft mixed in to make for a compelling read with plenty of excitement and creep factor. And, the characters, even the evil ones are written believably and at times that makes it hard to read but I think it was handled well.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crossroad Press for allowing me to request this book and voluntarily provide this honest review.
This was a great story in a number of ways. It's somewhat Southern Gothic, with a ghost story, and witchcraft mixed in to make for a compelling read with plenty of excitement and creep factor. And, the characters, even the evil ones are written believably and at times that makes it hard to read but I think it was handled well.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crossroad Press for allowing me to request this book and voluntarily provide this honest review.
July 6, 2020
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book to review, it was wonderful !
As an Old Memory
by Vic Kerry
Fabulous Ghost Story ! Absolutely loved this book.
The book kick starts with a major and bloody tragedy followed by an eerie haunting. Kept me reading into the very late hours of the evening because every chapter had a new spooky mystery to uncover. The more I read, the more ghosts appeared.
The story is set in a small town in Alabama and revolves around an old folklore about a murdered witch from the late 1800's who cursed the town with the main focus on a member the McAdam's family who played a large role in her death.
Moving from past to present timelines, the author gave great insight into the racial plight of 1950's Alabama. Old sins have long memories and the McAdam's family must face the horror caused by their ancestors.
Without giving away any spoilers, all I can say is that I loved this book from start to finish. If you are a horror fan, then you will enjoy this book. It's fresh, smart and well written. Unlike many horror stories, this had an intelligence to it that gave it a strong back bone for the more finicky reader. A very solid ghost story which incorporates, witches, racism, family tragedy, mental illness and a ton of creepiness. Can't ask for much more in a horror novel. I applaud you Mr. Kerry, very well done !
As an Old Memory
by Vic Kerry
Fabulous Ghost Story ! Absolutely loved this book.
The book kick starts with a major and bloody tragedy followed by an eerie haunting. Kept me reading into the very late hours of the evening because every chapter had a new spooky mystery to uncover. The more I read, the more ghosts appeared.
The story is set in a small town in Alabama and revolves around an old folklore about a murdered witch from the late 1800's who cursed the town with the main focus on a member the McAdam's family who played a large role in her death.
Moving from past to present timelines, the author gave great insight into the racial plight of 1950's Alabama. Old sins have long memories and the McAdam's family must face the horror caused by their ancestors.
Without giving away any spoilers, all I can say is that I loved this book from start to finish. If you are a horror fan, then you will enjoy this book. It's fresh, smart and well written. Unlike many horror stories, this had an intelligence to it that gave it a strong back bone for the more finicky reader. A very solid ghost story which incorporates, witches, racism, family tragedy, mental illness and a ton of creepiness. Can't ask for much more in a horror novel. I applaud you Mr. Kerry, very well done !
September 4, 2020
TW: N word, colored, homophobia
The 1956 Homecoming Massacre shook the residents of Pinehurst to their very core, and it left survivor Charlotte McAdams, broken for life. Forty years later, the McAdams family have become the victims of many strange happenings that seem to revolve around the fateful night of the massacre. As the anniversary draws nearer, so does the rope around the family threatening to destroy them all.
A very solid ghost story which incorporates, witches, racism, family tragedy, mental illness and a ton of creepiness.
I really enjoyed the fast paced story and despite following two timelines it was easy to follow and well-written.
The 1956 Homecoming Massacre shook the residents of Pinehurst to their very core, and it left survivor Charlotte McAdams, broken for life. Forty years later, the McAdams family have become the victims of many strange happenings that seem to revolve around the fateful night of the massacre. As the anniversary draws nearer, so does the rope around the family threatening to destroy them all.
A very solid ghost story which incorporates, witches, racism, family tragedy, mental illness and a ton of creepiness.
I really enjoyed the fast paced story and despite following two timelines it was easy to follow and well-written.
July 28, 2020
This was a great read. It was creepy and well-written. I really liked how it had a little bit of everything in there and lots of ghosts. If you like horror I would definitely read this book.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher/author for allowing me to read this book!
Thank you Netgalley and publisher/author for allowing me to read this book!
April 18, 2021
Thank you #NetGalley for the copy of #AsAnOldMemory.
This was a fun read, with a melting pot of all the right ingredients. A witch, racism, revenge, mental health issue, a massacre, etc. making this ghost story a great read.
4/5 ghosts 👻👻👻👻
#NetGalley #VicKerry #AsAnOldMemory
This was a fun read, with a melting pot of all the right ingredients. A witch, racism, revenge, mental health issue, a massacre, etc. making this ghost story a great read.
4/5 ghosts 👻👻👻👻
#NetGalley #VicKerry #AsAnOldMemory
July 24, 2020
This novel was my first read from this author, so it was nice to get a chance to see his style of writing. Thank you to NetGalley and Crossroad Press for the ARC!
Our story begins in a small town in Alabama where that town has a history...QUITE the history. A massacre at a high school in preparation for a homecoming dance takes place, and a young man has been placed with the blame.
Fast forward to the late 90s, we meet Alan McAdams and his sons, Thomas and Josh, as well as Alan’s father, Sim. Sim and his sister Charlotte were students at the time of the massacre. Weird things begin to happen in their small town in preparation for their own homecoming dance.
The storyline goes back and forth between the Jim Crow 1950s and the “present” time of the 90s. I like how the author did the timeline like this to keep up with what is going on.
I gave this a 4-star rating because in my copy of the ARC, I saw some spelling errors that threw me off, causing me to reread sentences a few more times to grasp what was meant. I don’t blame that on anyone.
There were moments in the story that, to me, made it feel predictable. Although, I did appreciate the twists in the story- those kept me on my toes!
Our story begins in a small town in Alabama where that town has a history...QUITE the history. A massacre at a high school in preparation for a homecoming dance takes place, and a young man has been placed with the blame.
Fast forward to the late 90s, we meet Alan McAdams and his sons, Thomas and Josh, as well as Alan’s father, Sim. Sim and his sister Charlotte were students at the time of the massacre. Weird things begin to happen in their small town in preparation for their own homecoming dance.
The storyline goes back and forth between the Jim Crow 1950s and the “present” time of the 90s. I like how the author did the timeline like this to keep up with what is going on.
I gave this a 4-star rating because in my copy of the ARC, I saw some spelling errors that threw me off, causing me to reread sentences a few more times to grasp what was meant. I don’t blame that on anyone.
There were moments in the story that, to me, made it feel predictable. Although, I did appreciate the twists in the story- those kept me on my toes!
August 26, 2020
*Thank you to NetGalley and Crossroad Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for my honest review.*
⠀
I liked the setup of the story a lot. I thought that it had the potential to be a really good ghost revenge story. I do think, however, that the plot got too complicated - with the supernatural aspects and reasonings becoming less convincing.
The overarching theme seemed to be the evils of racism - and the main villain was extremely racist. I disliked the book when it was from his POV, as being in his hate-fueled thoughts was sickening. Of course, that means that the character was a believable villain.
I also think that the story suffered from only having the POVs of Sim, Alan, and Josh. I think that having access to Jessica/Connie/Hazel's thoughts and reasonings would have lessened my confusion as to why they did what they did. I also wanted more from Charlotte. I wasn't convinced that she would have forgiven her brother for lynching her friend.
I also didn't love the final showdown of the book. I felt that there should have been more of a payoff, after all the setup.
However, overall, I didn't hate the book. I found it pretty entertaining, and I would try something else by this author.
⠀
I liked the setup of the story a lot. I thought that it had the potential to be a really good ghost revenge story. I do think, however, that the plot got too complicated - with the supernatural aspects and reasonings becoming less convincing.
The overarching theme seemed to be the evils of racism - and the main villain was extremely racist. I disliked the book when it was from his POV, as being in his hate-fueled thoughts was sickening. Of course, that means that the character was a believable villain.
I also think that the story suffered from only having the POVs of Sim, Alan, and Josh. I think that having access to Jessica/Connie/Hazel's thoughts and reasonings would have lessened my confusion as to why they did what they did. I also wanted more from Charlotte. I wasn't convinced that she would have forgiven her brother for lynching her friend.
I also didn't love the final showdown of the book. I felt that there should have been more of a payoff, after all the setup.
However, overall, I didn't hate the book. I found it pretty entertaining, and I would try something else by this author.
August 10, 2020
OVERVIEW:
1956, the evening before homecoming, the dance committee was murdered in cold blood. At a time when racism was still rampant, everyone accused Tobias Abernathy of the crime. They lynched him and Pinehurst was never the same again. 40 years later, as the anniversary of the massacre is looming near, creepy, inexplicable things have been happening. Looks like history is about to repeat itself.
REVIEW:
I'm still thinking about this one. It's about racism. That in itself is a horror story of epic proportions. It's the ghost story, I can't seem to appreciate it. I'd like to hear some thoughts from other perspectives, though.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crossroad Press for loaning me an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
1956, the evening before homecoming, the dance committee was murdered in cold blood. At a time when racism was still rampant, everyone accused Tobias Abernathy of the crime. They lynched him and Pinehurst was never the same again. 40 years later, as the anniversary of the massacre is looming near, creepy, inexplicable things have been happening. Looks like history is about to repeat itself.
REVIEW:
I'm still thinking about this one. It's about racism. That in itself is a horror story of epic proportions. It's the ghost story, I can't seem to appreciate it. I'd like to hear some thoughts from other perspectives, though.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crossroad Press for loaning me an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 19, 2020
I enjoyed this book but its not without some faults. Firstly, it was quite a slowly developing story with the amount of characters. However, they were mostly interesting and well written. I liked the twin timelines although it got confusing when the earlier time line jumped back and forth. The racism aspect to the book was uncomfortable reading but necessary for the story and god knows it's still an issue nowadays. I thought the ending was a bit rushed, The antagonist was defeated too easily for me considering the powers they had shown. Would definitely read more of this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2021
This was a near perfect horror book!I loved it!A town with a witch,rascism and murder in it's past begins to experience the unimaginable again. Tom Pile was an excellent narrator.The ending could have been better,but it was a joy to read.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
September 20, 2020
This was and is a difficult book to read. It was and was not completely enjoyable due to the racism in the book and other smaller aspects.
It is a really well-written ghost story.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
It is a really well-written ghost story.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
October 4, 2020
I am the author of this book, so I won't tell you what I think. I did rate it five stars, and that is not simply out of vanity. When I wrote this book, I was excited about it. Of all the novels I've written, I have been the most excited about his novel while writing it. Something about it grabbed and wouldn't let me go. I hope that you enjoy(ed) it because I write for two reasons. The first is because I love it. The second is to entertain.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews