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Nowhere, USA #2
Mad Dog
Description
The sorceress of psychological suspense is back with the second book in her highly-anticipated new Nowhere, USA series. Ninie Hammon is at her career-best in Mad Dog — a hair-raising tale that will make you jump and whip your flashlight around at small sounds in the night.
Rabies is a terrible way to die.
When Nower County veterinarian E.J. Hamilton rescues two little girls from the savage attack of a rabid Great Pyrenees, the beast almost rips his leg off. But worse than the injury is the fact that without the vaccine, E.J. will die of rabies within a week. Unfortunately, he can't get to the hospital because a shimmering mirage called the Jabberwock has locked everyone inside the borders of the county.
With E.J.’s rabies-clock ticking, childhood friends Charlie, Sam, and Malachi are desperate to solve the mystery of the Jabberwock. Is it somehow connected to what happened to Gideon? Maybe it isn’t just a ghost story that every man, woman, and child in that little town in Fearsome Hollow vanished into a mist one day exactly one hundred years ago?
The “vanishing” has started happening again — residents of Nower are disappearing and the houses they lived in age a century overnight.
If the Jabberwock is gobbling people up, how long before Nower becomes a ghost town?
Mad Dog is the second book in Ninie Hammon's new series, Nowhere, USA, a riveting psychological thriller about the residents of a forgotten county that inexplicably sinks through reality to find itself the middle of Nowhere.
Fans of Justified, Under The Dome, and LOST will find themselves right at home in Nowhere, USA.
The sorceress of psychological suspense is back with the second book in her highly-anticipated new Nowhere, USA series. Ninie Hammon is at her career-best in Mad Dog — a hair-raising tale that will make you jump and whip your flashlight around at small sounds in the night.
Rabies is a terrible way to die.
When Nower County veterinarian E.J. Hamilton rescues two little girls from the savage attack of a rabid Great Pyrenees, the beast almost rips his leg off. But worse than the injury is the fact that without the vaccine, E.J. will die of rabies within a week. Unfortunately, he can't get to the hospital because a shimmering mirage called the Jabberwock has locked everyone inside the borders of the county.
With E.J.’s rabies-clock ticking, childhood friends Charlie, Sam, and Malachi are desperate to solve the mystery of the Jabberwock. Is it somehow connected to what happened to Gideon? Maybe it isn’t just a ghost story that every man, woman, and child in that little town in Fearsome Hollow vanished into a mist one day exactly one hundred years ago?
The “vanishing” has started happening again — residents of Nower are disappearing and the houses they lived in age a century overnight.
If the Jabberwock is gobbling people up, how long before Nower becomes a ghost town?
Mad Dog is the second book in Ninie Hammon's new series, Nowhere, USA, a riveting psychological thriller about the residents of a forgotten county that inexplicably sinks through reality to find itself the middle of Nowhere.
Fans of Justified, Under The Dome, and LOST will find themselves right at home in Nowhere, USA.
- GenresHorror
215 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2020
57 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Ninie Hammon
48 books240 followersI was born in Socorro, New Mexico, sometime shortly after the earth cooled off. It’s clear that from the outset my parents never intended for me to amount to anything. How could I? With a name like “Ninie?” Please.
Fame and fortune do not come to people named Ninie Bovell (My maiden name.) Gabriella Bovary? You could work with that. Even something as pedestrian as Madeline Bovell or Rebecca Bovell or (though you’d lose points here for lack of originality) Elizabeth Bovell. But Ninie? I never had a chance.
If I sound a mite hostile, bear in mind that in one decisive stroke my parents sentenced their precious newborn daughter to a lifetime of explanations that began my first day at Muleshoe Elementary School. (Yeah, Muleshoe. The hits just keep on coming.) After a painful week, I had a rap down that I still use today:
“No, it’s not Ninnie like skinny and penny. It’s Ninie—rhymes with tiny and shiny. 9e…get it? And no, it doesn’t mean anything, it isn’t short for anything, long for anything, or a substitute for anything. It just is. (Pause here for the inevitable ‘Why?’) You got me, pal, I couldn’t tell you.”
I grew up in Texas, got a BA in English and theatre from Texas Tech University and snagged a job as a newspaper reporter. Didn't know a thing about journalism, but my editor said if I could write he could teach me the rest of it and if I couldn't write the rest of it didn't matter. I hung in there for a 25-year career as a journalist. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, but as soon as I figured out that making up the facts was a whole lot more fun than reporting them, I never looked back.
Now, I write suspense--every flavor except pistachio: psychological suspense, inspirational suspense, suspense thrillers, paranormal suspense, suspense mysteries.
In every book I write I try to keep this promise to Loyal Reader: I will tell you a story in a distinctive voice you'll always recognize, about people as ordinary as you are--people who have been slammed by something they didn’t sign on for, and now they must fight for their lives. Then smack in the middle of their everyday worlds, those people encounter the unexplainable--and it's always the game-changer."
Fame and fortune do not come to people named Ninie Bovell (My maiden name.) Gabriella Bovary? You could work with that. Even something as pedestrian as Madeline Bovell or Rebecca Bovell or (though you’d lose points here for lack of originality) Elizabeth Bovell. But Ninie? I never had a chance.
If I sound a mite hostile, bear in mind that in one decisive stroke my parents sentenced their precious newborn daughter to a lifetime of explanations that began my first day at Muleshoe Elementary School. (Yeah, Muleshoe. The hits just keep on coming.) After a painful week, I had a rap down that I still use today:
“No, it’s not Ninnie like skinny and penny. It’s Ninie—rhymes with tiny and shiny. 9e…get it? And no, it doesn’t mean anything, it isn’t short for anything, long for anything, or a substitute for anything. It just is. (Pause here for the inevitable ‘Why?’) You got me, pal, I couldn’t tell you.”
I grew up in Texas, got a BA in English and theatre from Texas Tech University and snagged a job as a newspaper reporter. Didn't know a thing about journalism, but my editor said if I could write he could teach me the rest of it and if I couldn't write the rest of it didn't matter. I hung in there for a 25-year career as a journalist. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, but as soon as I figured out that making up the facts was a whole lot more fun than reporting them, I never looked back.
Now, I write suspense--every flavor except pistachio: psychological suspense, inspirational suspense, suspense thrillers, paranormal suspense, suspense mysteries.
In every book I write I try to keep this promise to Loyal Reader: I will tell you a story in a distinctive voice you'll always recognize, about people as ordinary as you are--people who have been slammed by something they didn’t sign on for, and now they must fight for their lives. Then smack in the middle of their everyday worlds, those people encounter the unexplainable--and it's always the game-changer."
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 7, 2020
Why am I not surprised when I find that each book in a Ninie Hammon series is always better than the last one? Now we find that E.J., the local veterinarian, has been badly bitten by a rabid dog. No anti-venom, no physician, no way of stopping the onslaught of rabies and no way out of Nowhere County. What’s going to happen? E.J.’s friends are frantic and so am I because the end of the book is a total cliffhanger! I can’t wait for the release of Book 3!!
October 6, 2020
Full disclosure: I received an ARC copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
Ninie is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She is masterful at greeting the reader with a cast of “characters” that seem very real. It will feel like these are your friends and neighbors that you’ve grown up with. For me, the small town aspect really reminds me of my childhood home. Everyone knows everyone— history, faults, triumphs, and all. You’ll come for the story, but these people will not let you go.
…The Jabberwock, on the other hand, will not let them go. Anyone who tries to leave Nowhere county meets the… (unknown supernatural being?) which transports said person ever so “lovingly” to a specific location, sick as a dog. Some of the younger folks try to “ride” the Jabberwock multiple times. Yeah, that was maybe not such a great idea!
Things are okay with most of the residents for a while. Some begin to set up a sort of old-fashioned bartering system because… you need gasoline? You better conserve what you have in your pickup. You need food? It’s great to have a friend with a garden! Money may not do you a whole heck of a lot of good in this new society.
What’s that? You want to leave the county to help your sick parent get to her dialysis treatments? No such luck. You are out of gas? Sorry about that… there is none available. You want to pick up your infant son when he’s finally released from the hospital? No dice.
No one can come in or out. So, what happens when you need a hospital and the only medical doctor available is a veterinarian?
Who or what is the Jabberwock? What is it doing here? Who or what does it want? One resident in particular starts to notice things that suggest this Jabberwock may have altered the very fabric of the world. And that’s when things start to get weird…
I don’t want to spoil certain plot points, so I won’t give specifics, but just be ready to read until the end… which contained a twist that I definitely didn’t see coming, and I am sure neither did Mr. Reece…
I can’t wait for the next book!
Ninie is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She is masterful at greeting the reader with a cast of “characters” that seem very real. It will feel like these are your friends and neighbors that you’ve grown up with. For me, the small town aspect really reminds me of my childhood home. Everyone knows everyone— history, faults, triumphs, and all. You’ll come for the story, but these people will not let you go.
…The Jabberwock, on the other hand, will not let them go. Anyone who tries to leave Nowhere county meets the… (unknown supernatural being?) which transports said person ever so “lovingly” to a specific location, sick as a dog. Some of the younger folks try to “ride” the Jabberwock multiple times. Yeah, that was maybe not such a great idea!
Things are okay with most of the residents for a while. Some begin to set up a sort of old-fashioned bartering system because… you need gasoline? You better conserve what you have in your pickup. You need food? It’s great to have a friend with a garden! Money may not do you a whole heck of a lot of good in this new society.
What’s that? You want to leave the county to help your sick parent get to her dialysis treatments? No such luck. You are out of gas? Sorry about that… there is none available. You want to pick up your infant son when he’s finally released from the hospital? No dice.
No one can come in or out. So, what happens when you need a hospital and the only medical doctor available is a veterinarian?
Who or what is the Jabberwock? What is it doing here? Who or what does it want? One resident in particular starts to notice things that suggest this Jabberwock may have altered the very fabric of the world. And that’s when things start to get weird…
I don’t want to spoil certain plot points, so I won’t give specifics, but just be ready to read until the end… which contained a twist that I definitely didn’t see coming, and I am sure neither did Mr. Reece…
I can’t wait for the next book!
March 17, 2024
Book 2 in Nowhere was nearly as compelling as the first book, but I realized that if I continue to purchase each book (a total of 7), I'll be spending a lot of money, and I don't know if finding out the mystery is worth that cost. I'm going to have to do some thinking. I am enjoying the characters, and I'm enjoying the story, but not for $20 or more to get the complete story. While I understand publishing each novella as a separate book, it's not very cost-effective. That said, if I find I can purchase the remaining books for one flat price, I'll consider it. But, for right now, I'm going to pause on the series.
October 7, 2020
I so loved the first book in this series that I wondered how book two would measure up to it. Clearly, I forgot, momentarily, who wrote this series. Ninie Hammon never disappoints - never ceases to amaze me. This book is all that I hoped for and then a lot more! Ninie has a gift for writing books that keep you glued to every word - because you are experiencing them, living them - right along with her characters. She has written another brilliant psychological thriller that I could not put down! And along with that is a intriguing element of supernatural that is, to me, only interesting if it's done well and Ninie does it phenomenally well. In true Ninie fashion, we are treated to remarkable characters, some good and some sketchy, but interesting nonetheless. Also in her own unique way, the author throws in twists and turns that blindside the reader. All things together make Mad Dog the perfect Book Two in the series and keeps this reader eager for Book Three. Without reservation, I highly recommend!
May 18, 2024
WOW!
Oh my gosh, I found myself sucked into this fantastic story. The characters are both likable and realistic. The storyline is so riveting I wanted to scream when I quickly turned my ePage and read THE END! But, I took a deep breath and realized that all I need to do is get the next book in series compelling tale and read on. So, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I highly recommend it.
Purchased from Amazon
Oh my gosh, I found myself sucked into this fantastic story. The characters are both likable and realistic. The storyline is so riveting I wanted to scream when I quickly turned my ePage and read THE END! But, I took a deep breath and realized that all I need to do is get the next book in series compelling tale and read on. So, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I highly recommend it.
Purchased from Amazon
October 6, 2020
Normally, I don’t enjoy a book that ends with a cliffhanger, but this Nowhere, USA series works well with that method. The reader goes into this adventure knowing that there will be seven books and each one draws us in deeper and deeper. It works! As soon as I finish reading one book in this series, I’m eagerly anticipating the next.
As usual with a Hammon tale, I had a hard time putting the book down. The characters that we met in the first book became more “fleshed out” in this one so we are able to understand more of how they got where they are today. As we get to know them more and more, we care about them and want to see them alive and happy. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.
As usual with a Hammon tale, I had a hard time putting the book down. The characters that we met in the first book became more “fleshed out” in this one so we are able to understand more of how they got where they are today. As we get to know them more and more, we care about them and want to see them alive and happy. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.
October 6, 2020
Mad Dog, book 2 in the Nowhere, U.S.A. series, contains enough excitement to make you not want to put it down. I read for nearly 6 hours, and then, the most important/scariest/unbelievable thing happens and I turn the page and find the words "THE END." I wonder if Ninie Hammon's mind, when she finishes this series, will be the same as the one she started with. Bring on book 3!!!
October 24, 2020
Curiouser & Curiouser
This is the only book with a cliffhanger I've ever given 5 stars to. But I knew going into it that this wasn't going to be the end of the tale, and quite frankly, the author earned all 5 of these stars. This is another tightly woven addition to the Nowhere, USA series, which is fast becoming an addiction for me. It's got all the craziness, spookiness, and WTH illogic of LOST or Under the Dome. The best part of this author's writing, though, is her amazing characters. She doesn't just come up with one or two characters with a little depth, she creates a cast of dynamic individuals who play off each other beautifully and seamlessly as the story progresses.
And man, does this story progress...
We've progressed from riding The Jabberwock and ralphing all over the Dollar General parking lot in the first book. Now the beleaguered citizens of Nowhere are facing a rabid dog, vanishing people, and a house that's beyond haunted--it might be alive. The jury's still way out on that verdict yet. As Malachi put it: the question is why, and I've been asking that question so much it's getting mighty thin.
This much I know: 1) I'm glad I'm not in Nower County, KY and 2) I'm going to keep on reading to see if these guys make it out okay.
This is the only book with a cliffhanger I've ever given 5 stars to. But I knew going into it that this wasn't going to be the end of the tale, and quite frankly, the author earned all 5 of these stars. This is another tightly woven addition to the Nowhere, USA series, which is fast becoming an addiction for me. It's got all the craziness, spookiness, and WTH illogic of LOST or Under the Dome. The best part of this author's writing, though, is her amazing characters. She doesn't just come up with one or two characters with a little depth, she creates a cast of dynamic individuals who play off each other beautifully and seamlessly as the story progresses.
And man, does this story progress...
We've progressed from riding The Jabberwock and ralphing all over the Dollar General parking lot in the first book. Now the beleaguered citizens of Nowhere are facing a rabid dog, vanishing people, and a house that's beyond haunted--it might be alive. The jury's still way out on that verdict yet. As Malachi put it: the question is why, and I've been asking that question so much it's getting mighty thin.
This much I know: 1) I'm glad I'm not in Nower County, KY and 2) I'm going to keep on reading to see if these guys make it out okay.
October 14, 2020
The second in the "Nowhere" series, a slightly shortened format of the traditional full-length novel.
However ....
... shorter does not mean less - not in any sense whatsoever. What it means is that you get the full Ninie package, in a more concentrated offering, to maximize your experience enjoyment.
The full package includes characters that are so real, they could be sitting at your table with you, a story that twists, turns and wriggles to keep you engaged, descriptive work that is so good you can see it, dialogue that is authentic, witty, and easy to follow - the list goes on ...
The setting is a fictitious place, skilfully dreamed up and inserted into rural Kentucky, USA, in such a way that it integrates perfectly with its socio-economic and political environment as well as its geography. It could very easily be a real place. This is achieved through meticulous planning and attention to fine detail.
A fast-paced story, beautifully written and with a very subtle dusting of witty humour worked in to prevent it from getting too "heavy".
A winner and eminently readable step between books one and three of the series (at time of review, book three has not yet been released, but it is eagerly anticipated).
As always, great job Ninie!!
However ....
... shorter does not mean less - not in any sense whatsoever. What it means is that you get the full Ninie package, in a more concentrated offering, to maximize your experience enjoyment.
The full package includes characters that are so real, they could be sitting at your table with you, a story that twists, turns and wriggles to keep you engaged, descriptive work that is so good you can see it, dialogue that is authentic, witty, and easy to follow - the list goes on ...
The setting is a fictitious place, skilfully dreamed up and inserted into rural Kentucky, USA, in such a way that it integrates perfectly with its socio-economic and political environment as well as its geography. It could very easily be a real place. This is achieved through meticulous planning and attention to fine detail.
A fast-paced story, beautifully written and with a very subtle dusting of witty humour worked in to prevent it from getting too "heavy".
A winner and eminently readable step between books one and three of the series (at time of review, book three has not yet been released, but it is eagerly anticipated).
As always, great job Ninie!!
September 20, 2021
This is the second book in a series. I gave the first book 5 stars because I loved the premise, the writing and the characters.
I actually had a few issues with this book. The first is that there were a few editing issues. Not typos, but things such as the following:
The characters all talk about how the weather is odd because it's perfect and the sky is blue every day with not one cloud. But then shortly after, it talks about how a mirror at the county line reflects the clouds.
The other issue I had is that one of the characters wanted an abortion and the LP would not perform it. I am ok with that. But then the lecture that the nurse gave showed that the author was strongly pro-life and was preaching through the book. It just threw me off like there was this random page of the author's beliefs just plopped into the middle of this crazy story. It felt jarring to the story.
These are minor issues, but they just annoyed me. I found it more difficult to get back to the story and took a break before I moved on. But I WILL get the next book and continue the story.
I actually had a few issues with this book. The first is that there were a few editing issues. Not typos, but things such as the following:
The characters all talk about how the weather is odd because it's perfect and the sky is blue every day with not one cloud. But then shortly after, it talks about how a mirror at the county line reflects the clouds.
The other issue I had is that one of the characters wanted an abortion and the LP would not perform it. I am ok with that. But then the lecture that the nurse gave showed that the author was strongly pro-life and was preaching through the book. It just threw me off like there was this random page of the author's beliefs just plopped into the middle of this crazy story. It felt jarring to the story.
These are minor issues, but they just annoyed me. I found it more difficult to get back to the story and took a break before I moved on. But I WILL get the next book and continue the story.
October 30, 2021
Loved it!!
I loved the first book in this series so much that I was almost afraid to read the second and it not be as good. I needn't have worried because it was as great and maybe even better than the first. This series is set in Kentucky and its been very cool reading this awesome series and having my hometown mentioned and other towns and counties all around me. I feel like the author is from here as she crafts characters that I believe could be my neighbors. Oh and how horrifying the things that happen to them..it could be me.
Love it!!!
I loved the first book in this series so much that I was almost afraid to read the second and it not be as good. I needn't have worried because it was as great and maybe even better than the first. This series is set in Kentucky and its been very cool reading this awesome series and having my hometown mentioned and other towns and counties all around me. I feel like the author is from here as she crafts characters that I believe could be my neighbors. Oh and how horrifying the things that happen to them..it could be me.
Love it!!!
October 15, 2020
Amazing!!
Can't wait for the next book. This was a really good one Ninie. Great characters great story line. But I read the book too fast. New I have a wait for the next one. If you like Stephen King and Dean Koontz you will love Ninie Hammon. She's one of my favorite authors one of the best!!!!
Can't wait for the next book. This was a really good one Ninie. Great characters great story line. But I read the book too fast. New I have a wait for the next one. If you like Stephen King and Dean Koontz you will love Ninie Hammon. She's one of my favorite authors one of the best!!!!
October 8, 2020
Book was way to short
I really enjoyed reading but also disappointed. It ended abruptly!!! And only had 200 pages!! Truly disappointed!! I hope next book stands up better to Ninies other books#
I really enjoyed reading but also disappointed. It ended abruptly!!! And only had 200 pages!! Truly disappointed!! I hope next book stands up better to Ninies other books#
October 12, 2020
Can hardly wait for the next book
I'm on pins and needles! When is the next book coming? The tension is growing for the people of Nowhere County. How will they escape the Jaborwake?
I'm on pins and needles! When is the next book coming? The tension is growing for the people of Nowhere County. How will they escape the Jaborwake?
November 23, 2020
Now we're getting somewhere
The story of the jabberwock continues with us learning a little bit more about our main characters and maybe how the jabberwock come to be. Well written, the characters are very interesting, and the story is very suspenseful.
The story of the jabberwock continues with us learning a little bit more about our main characters and maybe how the jabberwock come to be. Well written, the characters are very interesting, and the story is very suspenseful.
October 12, 2020
Love Ninie Harmon books!
As usual, Ninie Harmon delivered an exciting read. Lots of suspense and surprises! I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading it!
As usual, Ninie Harmon delivered an exciting read. Lots of suspense and surprises! I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading it!
October 23, 2020
I liked the first book in this series a lot more but I am looking forward to the next one!
April 2, 2021
Great read
Suspenseful, keeps you interested and draws you into the story so that you can imagine the characters. Can’t wait to read the next book.
Suspenseful, keeps you interested and draws you into the story so that you can imagine the characters. Can’t wait to read the next book.
February 17, 2023
made no sense
It came on as a jumbled mess. Nothing made even sci fi connection had I read book 1 maybe I could get into i
It came on as a jumbled mess. Nothing made even sci fi connection had I read book 1 maybe I could get into i
January 18, 2024
This series just keeps getting better, and this is only book 2. I literally could not put it down. Ninie Hammon has a way of sucking you in and not letting go until she is done with you.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews