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August's Eyes
"An intense tale reminiscent of classic works by Jack Ketchum or Stephen King" — Booklist
When dreams start bleeding into reality, a social worker is forced to face the mistakes of his past.
A serial killer has found a way to make his land of graveyards a sinister playground to be bent at his sadistic will.
The secrets behind August's eyes will bring two worlds together, and end in a cataclysm of pain and ruin.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
When dreams start bleeding into reality, a social worker is forced to face the mistakes of his past.
A serial killer has found a way to make his land of graveyards a sinister playground to be bent at his sadistic will.
The secrets behind August's eyes will bring two worlds together, and end in a cataclysm of pain and ruin.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published August 17, 2021
11 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Rolfe
72 books629 followersGlenn Rolfe is a singer, songwriter, and author of over eighteen books. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, toured in a minivan with his punk rock friends, played the Hard Rock Cafe in Denver, hosted a radio show at Bates College, and dreams of surfing in the Pacific Ocean one day with his future pet goat.
He loves the books of Stephen King, Brian Keene, Ronald Malfi, Jack Ketchum, and Richard Laymon, the music of Bruce Springsteen, Oasis, Pre-Reputation Taylor Swift, Kiss, and Billy Joel, and soaking in the sun and eating pier fries at Old Orchard Beach.
His kids love him despite his weirdness, so who could ask for more?
He is hard at work on many more books and songs.
Stay tuned!
He is the author of When the Night Falls, Until Summer Comes Around, August's Eyes, Blood and Rain, The Window, and more. Stay tuned for his next thrilling Maine horror novel, The Siren of Groves Peak (2026)
Richard Chizmar, New York Times and USA Today Best Selling-Author of Gwendy’s Button Box, says of Rolfe’s Blood and Rain: “A wonderful throwback to the fun and bloody days of paperback horror glory!”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
May 28, 2023
EXCELLENT HORROR WRITING AND STORYTELLING!
John and Sarah are a lovely and happily married young couple who are very much in love and the only thing missing right now from their lives is a baby. Sarah aches for a family of their own while John is content with their lives at the moment. The couple live in a small town where John grew up and almost everyone knows one another in this small place. This is a town known for their many cemeteries since it's unusual history goes back a few hundred years to a native American Indian tribe which had reservations on this piece of land and unfortunately a serious bloody and nasty past that many of the residents haven't any knowledge of.
When John was a boy he witnessed a horror that his mind buried deeply within his subconscious until the present time when suddenly he begins having frightening dreams night after night which starts putting a strain on his life and marriage until the nightmares become intertwined with reality and it's only a matter of time that not only is John's sanity is at risk but his life and anyone he loves may not survive this bizarre and horrific realm of death and evil personified.
WoW! This was a book that hopefully only nightmares are made of. The story was twisted, sick, spooky, creepy, bizarre and EMOTIONAL! Glen Rolfe's writing and characterization was stellar. If ever a cliche was fitting "This book is not for the faint of heart" has never been more true. I haven't read a horror story in a long time that made me feeling the "heebie jeebies". Absolutely cringe worthy. Now, with all that said I almost cried at the end. The storytelling evoked immense emotion which has to summarize the author as a great writer. Usually today's horror books are so over the top with gore or nonsense that I feel very cheated by the time I've finished reading. Don't get me wrong there is plenty of repulsive gore and all the nasties that go along with a horror story. I cannot recommend this thrilling and chilling book to any and all Horror Lovers!
WARNING! The subject matter is not for sensitive readers or anyone under 18 years of age.
I want to thank first the author Glen Rolfe, the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this fantastic horror story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this captivating book a rating of 5 TERRIFYINGLY CREEPY 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
Publication Date: August 17, 2021
Publisher: Flame Tree Press
Author: Glen Rolfe
John and Sarah are a lovely and happily married young couple who are very much in love and the only thing missing right now from their lives is a baby. Sarah aches for a family of their own while John is content with their lives at the moment. The couple live in a small town where John grew up and almost everyone knows one another in this small place. This is a town known for their many cemeteries since it's unusual history goes back a few hundred years to a native American Indian tribe which had reservations on this piece of land and unfortunately a serious bloody and nasty past that many of the residents haven't any knowledge of.
When John was a boy he witnessed a horror that his mind buried deeply within his subconscious until the present time when suddenly he begins having frightening dreams night after night which starts putting a strain on his life and marriage until the nightmares become intertwined with reality and it's only a matter of time that not only is John's sanity is at risk but his life and anyone he loves may not survive this bizarre and horrific realm of death and evil personified.
WoW! This was a book that hopefully only nightmares are made of. The story was twisted, sick, spooky, creepy, bizarre and EMOTIONAL! Glen Rolfe's writing and characterization was stellar. If ever a cliche was fitting "This book is not for the faint of heart" has never been more true. I haven't read a horror story in a long time that made me feeling the "heebie jeebies". Absolutely cringe worthy. Now, with all that said I almost cried at the end. The storytelling evoked immense emotion which has to summarize the author as a great writer. Usually today's horror books are so over the top with gore or nonsense that I feel very cheated by the time I've finished reading. Don't get me wrong there is plenty of repulsive gore and all the nasties that go along with a horror story. I cannot recommend this thrilling and chilling book to any and all Horror Lovers!
WARNING! The subject matter is not for sensitive readers or anyone under 18 years of age.
I want to thank first the author Glen Rolfe, the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this fantastic horror story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this captivating book a rating of 5 TERRIFYINGLY CREEPY 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
Publication Date: August 17, 2021
Publisher: Flame Tree Press
Author: Glen Rolfe
March 21, 2021
My thanks to Netgalley, Flame Tree Press and Glenn Rolfe for this ARC – my views are my own.
Glenn Rolfe is turning into a really great writer. If you’ve read some of his early works, you will notice the growth as an author. His name alone gets me interested in a book.
AUGUST’S EYES – and if I understand it correctly, this is not the polished end product – has a really great idea behind this story, and as a whole I think it has potential to become much better with a little work.
My biggest problem with this story is that it felt too long. While I greatly appreciate character development, some things became just a little monotonous. The dreams, for example, meant to build tension, had this ‘same-ness’ to them – there is too much description of the same thing over and over again. At some point in this story, you just want to get things going already. In my opinion, a lot can be cut without doing any damage to the story.
The second thing that bothered me (note, I’m not going to point out a few continuity mistakes), was the fact that the supernatural elements were somewhat vague – at what point did the cousins become such good friends, how did the dead manage to get him to do his bidding, how did the acceptance by August of the apology come so easily if he was angry enough to lure John there?
The third thing I need to mention was the lack of surprises. Everything just went from A to B – if you would have asked me at the halfway mark how this book would end, I would have called the death of John and saving of ‘the children’. There was nothing to knock the reader back on his ass, something that came out of nowhere and was unexpected. Would the death of either Pat or Sarah not have much more impact on the story?
What I’m getting at is that this story has nothing memorable about it. Next year this time, when I am a hundred books along, I doubt whether there would be much to remember. And that is a pity, because I really root for this author.
I’m rating this one down the middle (somewhat generously), because I believe there is still time to work on and improve this one. I would really like to read the end product after some changes has been made.
Glenn Rolfe is turning into a really great writer. If you’ve read some of his early works, you will notice the growth as an author. His name alone gets me interested in a book.
AUGUST’S EYES – and if I understand it correctly, this is not the polished end product – has a really great idea behind this story, and as a whole I think it has potential to become much better with a little work.
My biggest problem with this story is that it felt too long. While I greatly appreciate character development, some things became just a little monotonous. The dreams, for example, meant to build tension, had this ‘same-ness’ to them – there is too much description of the same thing over and over again. At some point in this story, you just want to get things going already. In my opinion, a lot can be cut without doing any damage to the story.
The second thing that bothered me (note, I’m not going to point out a few continuity mistakes), was the fact that the supernatural elements were somewhat vague – at what point did the cousins become such good friends, how did the dead manage to get him to do his bidding, how did the acceptance by August of the apology come so easily if he was angry enough to lure John there?
The third thing I need to mention was the lack of surprises. Everything just went from A to B – if you would have asked me at the halfway mark how this book would end, I would have called the death of John and saving of ‘the children’. There was nothing to knock the reader back on his ass, something that came out of nowhere and was unexpected. Would the death of either Pat or Sarah not have much more impact on the story?
What I’m getting at is that this story has nothing memorable about it. Next year this time, when I am a hundred books along, I doubt whether there would be much to remember. And that is a pity, because I really root for this author.
I’m rating this one down the middle (somewhat generously), because I believe there is still time to work on and improve this one. I would really like to read the end product after some changes has been made.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2021
Glenn Rolfe does it again! August's Eyes is pure nightmare fuel. The characters are great and believable. The story is amazing, weaving history, native american curses and modern day fears together. Glenn does not disappoint!
September 21, 2021
After letting this book sink in for a day or so, I'm going to keep my official rating at 4 stars, my personal rating though is 3 stars, let me explain.
I'm just not a big fan of this kind of horror trope
It's not fair to the author or the book especially if it's well written but just isn't you're thing to rate it poorly, and this book is well written. Once again Glenn Rolfe has shown us why he is a major new voice in horror and a must buy for me.
Well drawn characters and a creepy as fuck villain, a quick paced and taut thriller this should keep up all night and dwelling on the the story for days after.
Well done Mr. Rolfe.
I'm just not a big fan of this kind of horror trope
It's not fair to the author or the book especially if it's well written but just isn't you're thing to rate it poorly, and this book is well written. Once again Glenn Rolfe has shown us why he is a major new voice in horror and a must buy for me.
Well drawn characters and a creepy as fuck villain, a quick paced and taut thriller this should keep up all night and dwelling on the the story for days after.
Well done Mr. Rolfe.
November 6, 2021
Wow! This was chill and thrill ride into the creepy zone!
A small backstory:
John Colby is having some very strange nightmares that throws him back into time of being a kid along with having a couple of friends with strange names. John keeps having the recurring nightmares night after night but doesn't understand why or the reasoning behind it, so he goes to see a psychiatrist to find out what could be causing it.
Little does he know that his nightmares are very slowly bleeding into his world and that eventually those dreams could be coming true, but maybe there is more to it than what he thinks and he will need to figure it all out before it consumes him.
Why is John having bad dreams? Does he figure out what is causing them? What does he learn from them? No spoilers here as you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
This story was so creepy that it got under my skin and had me jumping at shadows in my room as I was reading it! Of course, I usually read these kind of books in the quiet and dark of the night so it is easy to become spooked!
Author, Glenn Rolfe, builds up the dreaded spooky atmosphere of the story as he slowly reels you into the book. I found myself reading quite a bit of the story when I first sat down to read it because I just could not put it down!
The characters are well rounded and I could feel everything they were feeling as I was reading this book. The author also mentions different things throughout the book that are nods to musical references, television shows, and books. It was almost like a walk down memory lane as I was reading the story as it was almost like getting inside the author's head.
I loved this spooky story and it will be going on my favorites shelf. Giving this book five "Creepy Chills" stars!
For more thoughts on this review, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/...
A small backstory:
John Colby is having some very strange nightmares that throws him back into time of being a kid along with having a couple of friends with strange names. John keeps having the recurring nightmares night after night but doesn't understand why or the reasoning behind it, so he goes to see a psychiatrist to find out what could be causing it.
Little does he know that his nightmares are very slowly bleeding into his world and that eventually those dreams could be coming true, but maybe there is more to it than what he thinks and he will need to figure it all out before it consumes him.
Why is John having bad dreams? Does he figure out what is causing them? What does he learn from them? No spoilers here as you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
This story was so creepy that it got under my skin and had me jumping at shadows in my room as I was reading it! Of course, I usually read these kind of books in the quiet and dark of the night so it is easy to become spooked!
Author, Glenn Rolfe, builds up the dreaded spooky atmosphere of the story as he slowly reels you into the book. I found myself reading quite a bit of the story when I first sat down to read it because I just could not put it down!
The characters are well rounded and I could feel everything they were feeling as I was reading this book. The author also mentions different things throughout the book that are nods to musical references, television shows, and books. It was almost like a walk down memory lane as I was reading the story as it was almost like getting inside the author's head.
I loved this spooky story and it will be going on my favorites shelf. Giving this book five "Creepy Chills" stars!
For more thoughts on this review, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/...
June 12, 2021
Over the last few years, I’ve read a number of Rolfe’s works and have fast become a fan. When I read and reviewed ‘The Window,’ I stated that it was amazing to read a novel that while reading it, you know you’re experiencing a book that will become a classic in the genre. I still believe that.
His last release, ‘Until Summer Comes Around,’ was a throw-back, coming-of-age vampire story. Vampire stuff has lost some of its appeal for myself, but it was Rolfe’s writing strengths that made that book enjoyable for me. I was excited for ‘August’s Eyes’ when it was announced. Big thanks to Netgalley, Flame Tree Press and Rolfe for approving this.
What I liked: ‘August’s Eyes’ opens up with two friends experiencing a horrible moment in a town’s history. Fast forward and we’re now following John, one of the two youth from back then, grappling with the ripples of that moment all those years ago.
Glenn does a great job of introducing the characters and giving them great depth (especially our teenager, Pat who had been dealt a tough hand) as well as making the small town of Spears Corner feel alive and real within a very short time.
Rolfe also introduces us to John’s dreams. More specifically Graveyard Land and his two friends there; August and One Eye. These two play an important role and, while August was fairly obvious to myself early on, Rolfe did a great job of teasing out their real identity and the place in John’s past that they hold.
One thing I always love with Glenn’s writing is that he always has characters that you feel like you’ve known your whole life, even within a few paragraphs of them arriving. No matter if they are good, bad or straight up creepy, Rolfe is a master at writing those folks who populate his books.
There’s a ton of emotion packed into this novel and the ending is both tragic, but fitting. One that’ll leave many readers gasping for air.
What I didn’t like: While the Indigenous storyline that plays out in the novel is necessary and really well done, I still don’t know if it completely worked for me. Or, more specifically, I can’t decide if it had a payoff moment for me.
As well, I found the epilogue to be a bit much and a bit too sweet. Not sure if it was a late addition, but it took some of the edge off of the ending for me. Some people will absolutely love it and theoretically it could set up a future sequel, but it was a bit deflating for myself.
Why you should buy this: Rolfe is really humming along and while this doesn’t read like some of Glenn’s traditional books that he’s released in the past, this one shows a really nice progression in how Glenn’s telling his stories and frankly, when a really great writer continues to better themselves with each and every release, the readers are in for a treat.
A book that’ll be a favorite of many readers this year, ‘August’s Eyes’ definitely delivered a fantastic read from start to finish.
His last release, ‘Until Summer Comes Around,’ was a throw-back, coming-of-age vampire story. Vampire stuff has lost some of its appeal for myself, but it was Rolfe’s writing strengths that made that book enjoyable for me. I was excited for ‘August’s Eyes’ when it was announced. Big thanks to Netgalley, Flame Tree Press and Rolfe for approving this.
What I liked: ‘August’s Eyes’ opens up with two friends experiencing a horrible moment in a town’s history. Fast forward and we’re now following John, one of the two youth from back then, grappling with the ripples of that moment all those years ago.
Glenn does a great job of introducing the characters and giving them great depth (especially our teenager, Pat who had been dealt a tough hand) as well as making the small town of Spears Corner feel alive and real within a very short time.
Rolfe also introduces us to John’s dreams. More specifically Graveyard Land and his two friends there; August and One Eye. These two play an important role and, while August was fairly obvious to myself early on, Rolfe did a great job of teasing out their real identity and the place in John’s past that they hold.
One thing I always love with Glenn’s writing is that he always has characters that you feel like you’ve known your whole life, even within a few paragraphs of them arriving. No matter if they are good, bad or straight up creepy, Rolfe is a master at writing those folks who populate his books.
There’s a ton of emotion packed into this novel and the ending is both tragic, but fitting. One that’ll leave many readers gasping for air.
What I didn’t like: While the Indigenous storyline that plays out in the novel is necessary and really well done, I still don’t know if it completely worked for me. Or, more specifically, I can’t decide if it had a payoff moment for me.
As well, I found the epilogue to be a bit much and a bit too sweet. Not sure if it was a late addition, but it took some of the edge off of the ending for me. Some people will absolutely love it and theoretically it could set up a future sequel, but it was a bit deflating for myself.
Why you should buy this: Rolfe is really humming along and while this doesn’t read like some of Glenn’s traditional books that he’s released in the past, this one shows a really nice progression in how Glenn’s telling his stories and frankly, when a really great writer continues to better themselves with each and every release, the readers are in for a treat.
A book that’ll be a favorite of many readers this year, ‘August’s Eyes’ definitely delivered a fantastic read from start to finish.
April 1, 2021
Full review to come.
However, this book is fantastic. I read it cover to cover in less than 24 hrs. I loved the characters, the plot, the pop cultures references and homages.
Not as splattery as some of Glenn's stuff, but if you like the character driven works like B&R and USCA and supernatural mystery like Abram's Bridge - you'll love this.
10/10
See full review here - https://horroroasis.com/augusts-eyes-...
However, this book is fantastic. I read it cover to cover in less than 24 hrs. I loved the characters, the plot, the pop cultures references and homages.
Not as splattery as some of Glenn's stuff, but if you like the character driven works like B&R and USCA and supernatural mystery like Abram's Bridge - you'll love this.
10/10
See full review here - https://horroroasis.com/augusts-eyes-...
August 17, 2021
This is my first by Glenn Rolfe, I really enjoyed the book. It was written at a nice steady pace and felt more like a coming of age story to me. It also had a slight Stephen King vibe, which for me is great as I'm a huge King fan. It was creepy, atmospheric and haunting, but I did feel there could have been more of those elements in it. Overall, I really liked the characters, so cared what happened to them, and I think the outcome was satisfactory. I look forward to reading more by Glenn 🖤
August 9, 2022
The town of Spears Corner, Maine, must have defunded their police, because there is an old converted van with no windows and a license that says "MIBOYZ" being driven around town by a drooling redneck who always seems to park his jalopy around teenagers riding their bikes. People feel uneasy and kids cross through other people's yards whenever the van makes an appearance. But the cops are all like, "Nah, it'll be fine."
But things are about as fine in Spears Corner as they are in Derry or Castle Rock. As a boy, Johnny was there when one of his friends was forcibly taken away in an old van, and he told no one. His friend's body was later found in a pond by police, and though the identity of his murderer was never discovered, it was suspected the boy may have been one of the last victims of a serial killer from Wisconsin who was eventually sentenced to be executed by electric chair. Now as an adult, Johnny seems to have forgotten the incident and moved on with his life, helping others as a dedicated social worker as though trying to undo the guilt of not helping his friend. But he is reminded of his past in his dreams, where he dwells in a cemetery populated by the ghosts of dead boys who are ruled over by a presence known only as "The Ghoul," as well as a mysterious kid named August who has no eyes. But now Johnny is seeing a green Dodge van on the streets of his sleepy town again, and along with it, he catches glimpses of August peeking from behind trees and around corners, grinning at him with those empty orbital sockets. Have his nightmares really broken into reality or is Johnny losing his mind? And if this is real, is August trying to warn him, or is he in league with the killer to help him bag the one that got away?
This is a clever take on the old ghoul motif combined with a Native American curse. It also plays out like a dark version of "Peter Pan" with more than a nod to the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films. But it is also a very thoughtful exploration of guilt, blending solid melodrama regarding relationship struggles with supernatural allegory. It is also about overcoming the traumas of the past. The internal struggles of the characters as played out through the lens of horror are really believable and well done. I enjoyed the characterizations very much, especially the entrepreneurial punk rock teenager Pat and John's Passamaquoddy therapist Dr. Rik Soctomah. There are some genuinely creepy set pieces and disturbing moments all tied together with Glenn Rolfe's beautifully flowing yet simple prose. There's also a healthy dose of musical nostalgia, though I can't believe I am using the word "nostalgia" to refer to bands like Hole and Alice in Chains. Getting old is no disgrace, folks, but it ain't no grace either.
If you are a fan of horror literature from the 80s to today, then "August's Eyes" has got to be on your reading list. Give it a try on a rainy afternoon or when it is foggy out, and enjoy.
But things are about as fine in Spears Corner as they are in Derry or Castle Rock. As a boy, Johnny was there when one of his friends was forcibly taken away in an old van, and he told no one. His friend's body was later found in a pond by police, and though the identity of his murderer was never discovered, it was suspected the boy may have been one of the last victims of a serial killer from Wisconsin who was eventually sentenced to be executed by electric chair. Now as an adult, Johnny seems to have forgotten the incident and moved on with his life, helping others as a dedicated social worker as though trying to undo the guilt of not helping his friend. But he is reminded of his past in his dreams, where he dwells in a cemetery populated by the ghosts of dead boys who are ruled over by a presence known only as "The Ghoul," as well as a mysterious kid named August who has no eyes. But now Johnny is seeing a green Dodge van on the streets of his sleepy town again, and along with it, he catches glimpses of August peeking from behind trees and around corners, grinning at him with those empty orbital sockets. Have his nightmares really broken into reality or is Johnny losing his mind? And if this is real, is August trying to warn him, or is he in league with the killer to help him bag the one that got away?
This is a clever take on the old ghoul motif combined with a Native American curse. It also plays out like a dark version of "Peter Pan" with more than a nod to the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films. But it is also a very thoughtful exploration of guilt, blending solid melodrama regarding relationship struggles with supernatural allegory. It is also about overcoming the traumas of the past. The internal struggles of the characters as played out through the lens of horror are really believable and well done. I enjoyed the characterizations very much, especially the entrepreneurial punk rock teenager Pat and John's Passamaquoddy therapist Dr. Rik Soctomah. There are some genuinely creepy set pieces and disturbing moments all tied together with Glenn Rolfe's beautifully flowing yet simple prose. There's also a healthy dose of musical nostalgia, though I can't believe I am using the word "nostalgia" to refer to bands like Hole and Alice in Chains. Getting old is no disgrace, folks, but it ain't no grace either.
If you are a fan of horror literature from the 80s to today, then "August's Eyes" has got to be on your reading list. Give it a try on a rainy afternoon or when it is foggy out, and enjoy.
April 30, 2021
“We all make our acquaintance with the Ghoul. That’s just … inevitable.”Spears Corner is a town with twelve graveyards and a bloody history. It’s where both the Ghoul of Wisconsin and John Colby grew up. John’s about to learn that even when you forget the past, that doesn’t mean the past forgets about you.
This is a world where dreams and reality converge, one that will make you highly suspicious of green vans.
If only there were a way he could make his Graveyard Land last forever. He’d do anything to stay with his boys.I enjoyed this book, although I never felt the need to look over my shoulder. Maybe I’ve consumed so much horror that I’m somewhat immune to it now. I don’t remember the last fictional story I read that scared me (real life often freaks the hell out of me though).
I liked John, flaws and all, and loved Pat, despite him bordering on being too perfect. There’s a significant amount of disturbing content in this book but thankfully the descriptions were sparse for the part I was dreading. I enjoyed the supernatural elements and although he was absolutely detestable, I wanted to find out more about how the Ghoul created his Graveyard Land.
This is my first read by this author but I very much doubt it will be my last. I’m intrigued to see what else they have to offer.
“The dead are dead, but that don’t mean they’re gone.”Content warnings include mention (some only briefly) of .
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
August 4, 2021
AUGUST'S EYES by Glenn Rolfe is a fast-paced coming-of-age horror story with a variety of elements at play. It straddles the past and present as well as reality and a nightmare world. Grief and pain are at the forefront, but there is also a serial killer, monsters, and terrifying scenes that transcend the real world. Good vs evil is a prevalent theme throughout. Rolfe creates compelling characters with depth, and you cannot help but feel for them on this journey. I became so attached to John and his past mistakes, current struggles, and how he was going to make sense of it all and come out on top. From his thoughts to what music he listens to, John felt like a friend of mine that I might have known forever.
I appreciated the random sprinkling of real-life connections and nostalgia, from a Taylor Swift song to 'old man Kiesling out on Devil's Creek Lane.' Side note: Devil's Creek by Todd Kiesling is a fantastic book and Rolfe played his hand here. And finally, mentions of some of my favorite movies like The Burbs and The Night of the Creeps helped pull me even deeper into the story. Rolfe does a great job at making this story wrap you up like a cozy blanket before all the horror breaks loose.
The ending. That ending. A few of those final paragraphs right before the epilogue turned on the waterworks. So much raw emotion there and I think it has a large part to do with how invested in these characters, their safety, and their happiness I became. Rolfe knocks it out of the park with AUGUST'S EYES.
I appreciated the random sprinkling of real-life connections and nostalgia, from a Taylor Swift song to 'old man Kiesling out on Devil's Creek Lane.' Side note: Devil's Creek by Todd Kiesling is a fantastic book and Rolfe played his hand here. And finally, mentions of some of my favorite movies like The Burbs and The Night of the Creeps helped pull me even deeper into the story. Rolfe does a great job at making this story wrap you up like a cozy blanket before all the horror breaks loose.
The ending. That ending. A few of those final paragraphs right before the epilogue turned on the waterworks. So much raw emotion there and I think it has a large part to do with how invested in these characters, their safety, and their happiness I became. Rolfe knocks it out of the park with AUGUST'S EYES.
September 15, 2021
As a firm favorite author, Glenn Rolfe, I was over the moon to be reviewing his new release, August’s Eyes. Dreams that bleed into reality? Reminiscent of Nightmare on Elm Street…yes, please!
John has a great life. Fulfilling career, beautiful wife, a roof over their head. The only thing that is missing from their life is a baby. Sarah longs to complete their family but John feels settled with how they are now. They’ve tried before and he can’t bear to see that hurt etched upon his wife’s face again. Things begin to change for John when he starts having disturbing dreams. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for their content but is the passage of time trying to alert him to something? Dreams are such a weird phenomenon. They feel so real at the time, awakening to confusion and the physiological effects of what our subconscious puts us through. August’s Eyes is an examination of how realities can become blurred, how the brain is our ultimate defense strategy.
These dreams are getting to John. Daily activities like work and interactions with colleagues are affected by the amount of restful sleep he isn’t getting. He just attributes it to stress but when he makes an appointment with Dr. Soctomah, his wife’s therapist, it becomes apparent that his brain is compartmentalizing traumatic events. His sessions with the therapist shake John’s life foundations. John’s memories, pain, and state of mind come over him like the rushing waves of a tsunami.
John’s hometown, Spears Corner has a dark history. It has around twelve graveyards and death is written upon its foundations. A native American tribe resided on land here and ultimately perished at the hands of Spears Corner’s founder. The past has a habit of remembering the deeds committed and John knows this better than anyone.
Glenn Rolfe has this habit of writing seriously creepy characters and August’s Eyes is no exception. His words are as heavy as lead and the narrative is heavy with potential. It is the perfect storm of angst. The story is emotive and a true depiction of how the human condition is the real evil lurking in the dark shadows. Rolfe has a repertoire of cunning and depravity and he isn’t hesitant to subject his readers to a fresh helping.
August’s Eyes was a superb read, which I read in intense excitement. I savored every dark word.
John has a great life. Fulfilling career, beautiful wife, a roof over their head. The only thing that is missing from their life is a baby. Sarah longs to complete their family but John feels settled with how they are now. They’ve tried before and he can’t bear to see that hurt etched upon his wife’s face again. Things begin to change for John when he starts having disturbing dreams. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for their content but is the passage of time trying to alert him to something? Dreams are such a weird phenomenon. They feel so real at the time, awakening to confusion and the physiological effects of what our subconscious puts us through. August’s Eyes is an examination of how realities can become blurred, how the brain is our ultimate defense strategy.
These dreams are getting to John. Daily activities like work and interactions with colleagues are affected by the amount of restful sleep he isn’t getting. He just attributes it to stress but when he makes an appointment with Dr. Soctomah, his wife’s therapist, it becomes apparent that his brain is compartmentalizing traumatic events. His sessions with the therapist shake John’s life foundations. John’s memories, pain, and state of mind come over him like the rushing waves of a tsunami.
John’s hometown, Spears Corner has a dark history. It has around twelve graveyards and death is written upon its foundations. A native American tribe resided on land here and ultimately perished at the hands of Spears Corner’s founder. The past has a habit of remembering the deeds committed and John knows this better than anyone.
Glenn Rolfe has this habit of writing seriously creepy characters and August’s Eyes is no exception. His words are as heavy as lead and the narrative is heavy with potential. It is the perfect storm of angst. The story is emotive and a true depiction of how the human condition is the real evil lurking in the dark shadows. Rolfe has a repertoire of cunning and depravity and he isn’t hesitant to subject his readers to a fresh helping.
August’s Eyes was a superb read, which I read in intense excitement. I savored every dark word.
May 4, 2021
Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/au...
John is having reoccurring nightmares about a graveyard and two mysterious young boys that hang out there. After analyzing these disturbing dreams, he discovers an unsettling truth buried within his subconscious mind.
Now time begins ticking for not only himself, but for those he cares for. As the spirits existing among the cemetery graves grow more and more restless, a sense of urgency takes precedence over all else.
Author Glenn Rolfe conceives an unspeakable story centered around a modest town possessing several dark secrets hidden in its past. Particularly the local cemetery, also known as Graveyard Land, carries buried perplexities that are chained to a monstrous evil known as The Ghoul of Wisconsin.
Kidnapping, rape and murder. This monstrosity appears in the form of a serial killer driven by compulsive addiction and perversion. His appetite for young boys is a true crime nightmare lifted straight from the twisted mind of Glenn Rolfe. Witnessing a serial murder rob young victims of their innocence can be stomach churning at times. Shrouded in a world of predators that manipulate for selfish gain only, August’s Eyes follows the footsteps of a murderer comparable to the likes of Bundy, Dahmer and Gacy.
Rolfe creates a timeline within his book that not only straddles reality and the spiritual world, but includes the past and present as well. This allows several gateways for the reader to explore and gain entrance to uncensored shadowy corners.
Music references are an enjoyable factor throughout the book that enhances the mood and timelines. It presents the atmosphere as well as descriptive scenery and scenarios. Fog shrouded grave markers, the phobias of entrapment and creepy crawlies that funnel out from the darkness… all of these bring the nightmarish ambiance that is needed to enhance the frame of mind.
As in true crime, there always seems to be a morbid fascination and curiosity of heinous acts of violence committed by perpetrators. Seeing the evil within Rolfe’s creation is guaranteed to make hairs stand on the back of your neck and ring the stranger danger alarm at full volume. He has pieced together something special for those who love a good thriller/horror book with plenty of “holy crap” moments. August’s Eyes delivers in a relentless, unforgiving manner, proving the author pens his work without kid gloves and no apologies. If you have children of your own, be prepared for a parent’s worst nightmare.
(originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com)
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/au...
John is having reoccurring nightmares about a graveyard and two mysterious young boys that hang out there. After analyzing these disturbing dreams, he discovers an unsettling truth buried within his subconscious mind.
Now time begins ticking for not only himself, but for those he cares for. As the spirits existing among the cemetery graves grow more and more restless, a sense of urgency takes precedence over all else.
Author Glenn Rolfe conceives an unspeakable story centered around a modest town possessing several dark secrets hidden in its past. Particularly the local cemetery, also known as Graveyard Land, carries buried perplexities that are chained to a monstrous evil known as The Ghoul of Wisconsin.
Kidnapping, rape and murder. This monstrosity appears in the form of a serial killer driven by compulsive addiction and perversion. His appetite for young boys is a true crime nightmare lifted straight from the twisted mind of Glenn Rolfe. Witnessing a serial murder rob young victims of their innocence can be stomach churning at times. Shrouded in a world of predators that manipulate for selfish gain only, August’s Eyes follows the footsteps of a murderer comparable to the likes of Bundy, Dahmer and Gacy.
Rolfe creates a timeline within his book that not only straddles reality and the spiritual world, but includes the past and present as well. This allows several gateways for the reader to explore and gain entrance to uncensored shadowy corners.
Music references are an enjoyable factor throughout the book that enhances the mood and timelines. It presents the atmosphere as well as descriptive scenery and scenarios. Fog shrouded grave markers, the phobias of entrapment and creepy crawlies that funnel out from the darkness… all of these bring the nightmarish ambiance that is needed to enhance the frame of mind.
As in true crime, there always seems to be a morbid fascination and curiosity of heinous acts of violence committed by perpetrators. Seeing the evil within Rolfe’s creation is guaranteed to make hairs stand on the back of your neck and ring the stranger danger alarm at full volume. He has pieced together something special for those who love a good thriller/horror book with plenty of “holy crap” moments. August’s Eyes delivers in a relentless, unforgiving manner, proving the author pens his work without kid gloves and no apologies. If you have children of your own, be prepared for a parent’s worst nightmare.
(originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com)
August 16, 2021
“We all have a price to pay for our sins, even the ones we forget.”
August's Eyes checked a lot of boxes for me. Coming-of-age. Weird dreams. Memory loss. Grief. Redemption.
John has begun having strange dreams about being a 12-year-old boy in Graveyard Land, where he needs to pick his grave. August and One-Eye have already picked their graves, and it's Johnny's turn. In his waking life, John is a stressed out social worker. He attributes the dreams to his stress and decides to take a vacation. But the dreams aren't from work. He watched his friend Ethan get abducted and killed as a child, and forgot all about it. In his dreams, his guilt is eating him alive.
This book was such a fun time. There were a lot of 90s nods, and while I was a bit small in the 90s, I still appreciated it. Knowing Glenn from his social media presence really made it a bit special for me. I also really enjoyed the social worker plot. John is such a good man, and I loved watching how he interacted with Pat and his family.
The only thing about this book I didn't enjoy was a spoiler, but for those who have read the book, you probably know which part I'm talking about. It's a different reaction for different people, and I'm sure other people won't react as badly as I have.
The ending also had me in tears. A good book is a book that made you cry.
Thank you to Net Galley, Flame Tree Press, and Glenn Rolfe for this advanced review copy! August's Eyes releases August 17th.
August's Eyes checked a lot of boxes for me. Coming-of-age. Weird dreams. Memory loss. Grief. Redemption.
John has begun having strange dreams about being a 12-year-old boy in Graveyard Land, where he needs to pick his grave. August and One-Eye have already picked their graves, and it's Johnny's turn. In his waking life, John is a stressed out social worker. He attributes the dreams to his stress and decides to take a vacation. But the dreams aren't from work. He watched his friend Ethan get abducted and killed as a child, and forgot all about it. In his dreams, his guilt is eating him alive.
This book was such a fun time. There were a lot of 90s nods, and while I was a bit small in the 90s, I still appreciated it. Knowing Glenn from his social media presence really made it a bit special for me. I also really enjoyed the social worker plot. John is such a good man, and I loved watching how he interacted with Pat and his family.
The only thing about this book I didn't enjoy was a spoiler, but for those who have read the book, you probably know which part I'm talking about. It's a different reaction for different people, and I'm sure other people won't react as badly as I have.
The ending also had me in tears. A good book is a book that made you cry.
Thank you to Net Galley, Flame Tree Press, and Glenn Rolfe for this advanced review copy! August's Eyes releases August 17th.
July 19, 2021
When John was a child, he witnessed something so traumatic that his mind has blocked it out. Now years later he is suffering from strange nightmares in which he is still a kid. John may have forgotten what he saw all those years ago, but it has not forgotten him! As his dreams begin to interfere with his real life they also threaten people around him, putting himself and his wife at risk. Do they still count as dreams if other people can see them too?
This was a very dark tale that takes place in a town with an evil history. I'm not usually one to bother with trigger warnings because I assume horror readers are expecting and prepared for some horrifying events. In this case, since the synopsis I was given does not really give much detail I feel that I should mention that this book contains child molestation and child murders. Not in an overly graphic way, but it is a big part of the story. It's a supernatural horror but a very emotional read. Some readers may recognize some of the names used, others may not, and I thought it was kind of cool to see the author has enjoyed some of the same works as I have. If you don't recognize them that's ok too, it doesn't detract from the story either way.
I received an advance copy for review.
This was a very dark tale that takes place in a town with an evil history. I'm not usually one to bother with trigger warnings because I assume horror readers are expecting and prepared for some horrifying events. In this case, since the synopsis I was given does not really give much detail I feel that I should mention that this book contains child molestation and child murders. Not in an overly graphic way, but it is a big part of the story. It's a supernatural horror but a very emotional read. Some readers may recognize some of the names used, others may not, and I thought it was kind of cool to see the author has enjoyed some of the same works as I have. If you don't recognize them that's ok too, it doesn't detract from the story either way.
I received an advance copy for review.
August 17, 2021
TW/CW: Pedophilia, child abuse, Taphephobia, kidnapping, child murder, alcoholism, homophobia, reference to miscarriage, Transphobia, Arachnophobia, Suicide, and emotional abuse.
Spears Corner, Maine may be one of the evilest places on Earth. The small town is the birthplace of the “Ghoul of Wisconsin”, a pedophilic kidnapper/serial killer who would give John Wayne Gacy a run for his money. It also has a bloody history of Native American genocide when white colonists came to take their land for settlement. Boasting twelve cemeteries, you could say that the town is well acquainted with death.
In 1994, 14-year-old Johnny Colby witnesses a horrific incident and immediately blocks it out in self-preservation.
Decades later, nightmares about young boys hanging around a graveyard are wreaking havoc on social worker John Colby’s life—he’s barely sleeping, his wife is concerned, and his boss is on his case about his slipping job performance. John is taunted by one known as August during these nightmares. August seems to know John, but John doesn’t recognize him. All John knows is that the boys of “Graveyard Land” want to make a permanent place for him.
Soon, his nightmares bleed over into his daily life, and he begins seeing August while awake. When August begins to target his loved ones, John must confront his past to see if there is a connection to the torment they are facing.
This was a fun read for me as I had never read a story of Glenn Rolfe’s before this one. It is an engrossing coming-of-age story that gave me strong Stephen King-like vibes. I loved the world-building and the nods not only to pop culture but also all the name-dropping of other authors that Rolfe included. Most of all, I loved the character of Patrick in the story. He is the true hero of this story in my eyes.
While there were some creepy elements, such including spiders heavily in the story, I didn’t have any big scares. The scariest part of the story is that the “monster” of the story is human—a serial killer with pedophilic tendencies. There are sections of this book that describe the sexual assault of the victims of the serial killer that were especially uncomfortable to read and nearly led me to DNF (not finish) this book. The story does pay off and I’m glad that I stuck with it to see the end result.
4/5 Stars
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #FlameTreePress for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review, in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Spears Corner, Maine may be one of the evilest places on Earth. The small town is the birthplace of the “Ghoul of Wisconsin”, a pedophilic kidnapper/serial killer who would give John Wayne Gacy a run for his money. It also has a bloody history of Native American genocide when white colonists came to take their land for settlement. Boasting twelve cemeteries, you could say that the town is well acquainted with death.
In 1994, 14-year-old Johnny Colby witnesses a horrific incident and immediately blocks it out in self-preservation.
Decades later, nightmares about young boys hanging around a graveyard are wreaking havoc on social worker John Colby’s life—he’s barely sleeping, his wife is concerned, and his boss is on his case about his slipping job performance. John is taunted by one known as August during these nightmares. August seems to know John, but John doesn’t recognize him. All John knows is that the boys of “Graveyard Land” want to make a permanent place for him.
Soon, his nightmares bleed over into his daily life, and he begins seeing August while awake. When August begins to target his loved ones, John must confront his past to see if there is a connection to the torment they are facing.
This was a fun read for me as I had never read a story of Glenn Rolfe’s before this one. It is an engrossing coming-of-age story that gave me strong Stephen King-like vibes. I loved the world-building and the nods not only to pop culture but also all the name-dropping of other authors that Rolfe included. Most of all, I loved the character of Patrick in the story. He is the true hero of this story in my eyes.
While there were some creepy elements, such including spiders heavily in the story, I didn’t have any big scares. The scariest part of the story is that the “monster” of the story is human—a serial killer with pedophilic tendencies. There are sections of this book that describe the sexual assault of the victims of the serial killer that were especially uncomfortable to read and nearly led me to DNF (not finish) this book. The story does pay off and I’m glad that I stuck with it to see the end result.
4/5 Stars
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #FlameTreePress for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review, in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 13, 2021
A really enjoyable serial killer thriller that is packed full of heart. I loved the characters and the supernatural twist. Recommended, especially if you enjoy Grady Hendrix.
May 8, 2021
When I dove into this book, I was immediately taken back to a trip out east a few years back. I was at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where over 100 victims of the Titanic disaster are buried. As I was looking at gravestones I mentioned that I had never experienced such an impactful “graveyard”. I was quickly corrected as the keeper of the cemetery was nearby and stated that there is a slight difference between a graveyard and a cemetery. A graveyard has a church on its grounds, while a cemetery does not. Sounds like a lot of wordsmithing to me, but when I looked it up, he was accurate. I am not sure how many people are aware of this difference, as most (like me) use the terms interchangeably.
With that being said, I enjoyed Mr. Rolfe’s book tremendously. This is a novel about a social worker who experiences a traumatic event when he was a teenager and it has now bled into his present-day dreams. This is a “past meets the present” story with a paranormal twist. How can a serial killer who was executed years earlier still wreak havoc in someone’s life today?
Mr. Rolfe is an expert storyteller. He has a vivid way of relaying the action without bogging the reader down in page after page of descriptive narration. The reader develops a relationship with the characters and we feel their happiness, heartbreak, and palpable fear throughout the novel. The story builds in energy and excitement until you are three-quarters of the way through, then you will not be able to set the book down. The tension at the end of the story is almost unbearable. It puts all the pieces of the puzzle together and the final picture is one that will leave you with mixed feelings: pleased that you now understand the dreams, yet sad as we lose someone we care about.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
With that being said, I enjoyed Mr. Rolfe’s book tremendously. This is a novel about a social worker who experiences a traumatic event when he was a teenager and it has now bled into his present-day dreams. This is a “past meets the present” story with a paranormal twist. How can a serial killer who was executed years earlier still wreak havoc in someone’s life today?
Mr. Rolfe is an expert storyteller. He has a vivid way of relaying the action without bogging the reader down in page after page of descriptive narration. The reader develops a relationship with the characters and we feel their happiness, heartbreak, and palpable fear throughout the novel. The story builds in energy and excitement until you are three-quarters of the way through, then you will not be able to set the book down. The tension at the end of the story is almost unbearable. It puts all the pieces of the puzzle together and the final picture is one that will leave you with mixed feelings: pleased that you now understand the dreams, yet sad as we lose someone we care about.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 3, 2021
TW/CW: Pedophilia, child abuse, Taphephobia, kidnapping, child murder, alcoholism, homophobia, reference to miscarriage, Transphobia, Arachnophobia, Suicide, and emotional abuse.
Spears Corner, Maine may be one of the evilest places on Earth. The small town is the birthplace of the “Ghoul of Wisconsin”, a pedophilic kidnapper/serial killer who would give John Wayne Gacy a run for his money. It also has a bloody history of Native American genocide when white colonists came to take their land for settlement. Boasting twelve cemeteries, you could say that the town is well acquainted with death.
In 1994, 14-year-old Johnny Colby witnesses a horrific incident and immediately blocks it out in self-preservation.
Decades later, nightmares about young boys hanging around a graveyard are wreaking havoc on social worker John Colby’s life—he’s barely sleeping, his wife is concerned, and his boss is on his case about his slipping job performance. John is taunted by one known as August during these nightmares. August seems to know John, but John doesn’t recognize him. All John knows is that the boys of “Graveyard Land” want to make a permanent place for him.
Soon, his nightmares bleed over into his daily life, and he begins seeing August while awake. When August begins to target his loved ones, John must confront his past to see if there is a connection to the torment they are facing.
This was a fun read for me as I had never read a story of Glenn Rolfe’s before this one. It is an engrossing coming-of-age story that gave me strong Stephen King-like vibes. I loved the world-building and the nods not only to pop culture but also all the name-dropping of other authors that Rolfe included. Most of all, I loved the character of Patrick in the story. He is the true hero of this story in my eyes.
While there were some creepy elements, such including spiders heavily in the story, I didn’t have any big scares. The scariest part of the story is that the “monster” of the story is human—a serial killer with pedophilic tendencies. There are sections of this book that describe the sexual assault of the victims of the serial killer that were especially uncomfortable to read and nearly led me to DNF (not finish) this book. The story does pay off and I’m glad that I stuck with it to see the end result.
4/5 Stars
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #FlameTreePress for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review, in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Spears Corner, Maine may be one of the evilest places on Earth. The small town is the birthplace of the “Ghoul of Wisconsin”, a pedophilic kidnapper/serial killer who would give John Wayne Gacy a run for his money. It also has a bloody history of Native American genocide when white colonists came to take their land for settlement. Boasting twelve cemeteries, you could say that the town is well acquainted with death.
In 1994, 14-year-old Johnny Colby witnesses a horrific incident and immediately blocks it out in self-preservation.
Decades later, nightmares about young boys hanging around a graveyard are wreaking havoc on social worker John Colby’s life—he’s barely sleeping, his wife is concerned, and his boss is on his case about his slipping job performance. John is taunted by one known as August during these nightmares. August seems to know John, but John doesn’t recognize him. All John knows is that the boys of “Graveyard Land” want to make a permanent place for him.
Soon, his nightmares bleed over into his daily life, and he begins seeing August while awake. When August begins to target his loved ones, John must confront his past to see if there is a connection to the torment they are facing.
This was a fun read for me as I had never read a story of Glenn Rolfe’s before this one. It is an engrossing coming-of-age story that gave me strong Stephen King-like vibes. I loved the world-building and the nods not only to pop culture but also all the name-dropping of other authors that Rolfe included. Most of all, I loved the character of Patrick in the story. He is the true hero of this story in my eyes.
While there were some creepy elements, such including spiders heavily in the story, I didn’t have any big scares. The scariest part of the story is that the “monster” of the story is human—a serial killer with pedophilic tendencies. There are sections of this book that describe the sexual assault of the victims of the serial killer that were especially uncomfortable to read and nearly led me to DNF (not finish) this book. The story does pay off and I’m glad that I stuck with it to see the end result.
4/5 Stars
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #FlameTreePress for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review, in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 31, 2021
In the last few days, Synchronicity has presented me with three books and news of a real-life horrific event, each of which has fed directly into the next. From "true crime" crime fiction to serial killer gorefest to a news item on a brutal assault to finally, AUGUST'S EYES, an ARC I chose to review this week due to the author (a don't miss option) and the eager anticipation of a long-term close Goodreads friend.
Glenn Rolfe is a superb, and as yet underappreciated, author. Come on, people, the illustrious Stephen King is NOT the only good thing to come out of Maine.
Glenn has the soul of a poet; multiple times I stopped myself to reread a gloriously poetic line, sure I had never read anything so lovely.
We also know from previous works that Mr. Rolfe is a master at "coming of age," again deftly presented here. He also grasps psychology [oh does he!] as if he himself had lived several lifetimes. He doesn't flinch at the examination of evil, either: neither human nor Other.
Caution: Kudos to Mr. Rolfe for not dwelling in the gore. However, be aware that the subjects here are horrendous and horrendously painful, so know before you commence.
Glenn Rolfe is a superb, and as yet underappreciated, author. Come on, people, the illustrious Stephen King is NOT the only good thing to come out of Maine.
Glenn has the soul of a poet; multiple times I stopped myself to reread a gloriously poetic line, sure I had never read anything so lovely.
We also know from previous works that Mr. Rolfe is a master at "coming of age," again deftly presented here. He also grasps psychology [oh does he!] as if he himself had lived several lifetimes. He doesn't flinch at the examination of evil, either: neither human nor Other.
Caution: Kudos to Mr. Rolfe for not dwelling in the gore. However, be aware that the subjects here are horrendous and horrendously painful, so know before you commence.
Read
June 17, 2023The ghosts of a man's past come back to haunt him in this twisted nightmare caught somewhere between a coming-of-age story and a mid-life crisis. A serial killer, ancient curse, and waking dream world join forces with depression, anxiety, and marital discord to weave a tangled web of grief where even sleep offers no escape.
March 22, 2021
Being the first person to review this book for Goodreads I’ll try to make it as objective and informational as possible. So here we go, you probably heard this before, but 25 years ago something terrible took place in a small town in Maine, something involving kids and a depraved evil being. Fast forward to the future and the past comes creeping back, slowly, through nightmares of a boy, now man, who thought he was so good at forgetting.
Pure King territory, really, nostalgia steeped past rolling into the increasingly dangerous present. And Rolfe does his absolute utmost to do the oh so familiar theme justice. To be fair, there are very few authors like Rolfe, he’s a lifelong trier and I admire that. Most authors, it seems, are either great right out of the gate or not and never get there, but Rolfe has actually steadily improved over the years, I’ve literally read his progress, it’s all there. Mind you, he isn’t going to hit King level any time soon, but just about every single book of his read chronologically is an improvement upon its predecessor and he’s now at the really decent level, finally. This book showed that off amply. The writing, the dialogue and especially the characters worked very well. Did he go over the top with the dream sequences? Yeah, probably. But you have a nicely creepy atmospheric scary story with some really decent characters and it makes for a pretty fun read.
I know I only offered plot generics until now, so here’s some more…main protagonist, 40, nice guy, happily married, good person, helps others for a living, kinda lonely, his only friend seems to be a local enterprising almost 16 year old kid (by far the best character in the book), dreams terrible dreams about the past he can’t remember, but apparently didn’t quite forget either. The wife seemed ok at first, but then her biological clock going off and it’s all you hear, in fact she cries for so much of the book, you almost expect her to just float away eventually. Rolfe also uses her as an homaging tools for some of his favorite authors, it seems. The man has a genuine love for the genre and it’s cute and all, but his fanboy approach results in namedropping (old man Keisling down the devil’s Creek road) that personally I find kind of distracting. Some genre fans might enjoy that sort of thing, though. Like an Easter egg.
Anyway, there’s also a highly sadistic pederastic serial killer, Native American legends, nice town with a not so nice (creepy, murderous) past and way too many cemeteries, etc. It’s like Rolfe knows the kind of novel he’s writing and checks every box on the list. Right down to the positively emotionally manipulative and oh so warm and cozy ending.
And yeah, it may not be all that original, but it’s genuinely entertaining and it reads quickly and has lots of spooky thrills for genre fans. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Pure King territory, really, nostalgia steeped past rolling into the increasingly dangerous present. And Rolfe does his absolute utmost to do the oh so familiar theme justice. To be fair, there are very few authors like Rolfe, he’s a lifelong trier and I admire that. Most authors, it seems, are either great right out of the gate or not and never get there, but Rolfe has actually steadily improved over the years, I’ve literally read his progress, it’s all there. Mind you, he isn’t going to hit King level any time soon, but just about every single book of his read chronologically is an improvement upon its predecessor and he’s now at the really decent level, finally. This book showed that off amply. The writing, the dialogue and especially the characters worked very well. Did he go over the top with the dream sequences? Yeah, probably. But you have a nicely creepy atmospheric scary story with some really decent characters and it makes for a pretty fun read.
I know I only offered plot generics until now, so here’s some more…main protagonist, 40, nice guy, happily married, good person, helps others for a living, kinda lonely, his only friend seems to be a local enterprising almost 16 year old kid (by far the best character in the book), dreams terrible dreams about the past he can’t remember, but apparently didn’t quite forget either. The wife seemed ok at first, but then her biological clock going off and it’s all you hear, in fact she cries for so much of the book, you almost expect her to just float away eventually. Rolfe also uses her as an homaging tools for some of his favorite authors, it seems. The man has a genuine love for the genre and it’s cute and all, but his fanboy approach results in namedropping (old man Keisling down the devil’s Creek road) that personally I find kind of distracting. Some genre fans might enjoy that sort of thing, though. Like an Easter egg.
Anyway, there’s also a highly sadistic pederastic serial killer, Native American legends, nice town with a not so nice (creepy, murderous) past and way too many cemeteries, etc. It’s like Rolfe knows the kind of novel he’s writing and checks every box on the list. Right down to the positively emotionally manipulative and oh so warm and cozy ending.
And yeah, it may not be all that original, but it’s genuinely entertaining and it reads quickly and has lots of spooky thrills for genre fans. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
September 12, 2021
First thank you Glenn Rolfe and Flame Tree Press for the absolute gift of this ARC for review, you all spoil me.
John Colby is suffering from horrific nightmares setting him and his life off track. Tension in his work life and home life are growing and his nightmares are getting worse and more vivid.
He has a feeling something is going to happen, there is something he has forgotten and the numerous graveyards in Spears Grove, Maine are becoming a compelling draw.
Something has awakened and it’s about to tear John’s life apart.
He needs to remember something soon, a lost memory, to save his friends and family.
No spoilers. The author is absolute tops when it comes to multiple voices and characters in scenes from their point of view. You care about each and every one of them and truly despise the bad ones.
The truth of the horrors of Spears Gove isn’t handed to you on a plate but expertly revealed to the reader through various different sources as he weaves a supernatural and murderous backstory along side. I can’t reveal more without a spoiler alert.
Some of the subject matter concerning child abduction and abuse can be a trigger for some. You’ve been warned.
It’s no secret that I am a fan girl for this author. He and I beat some of the same paths in this part of Maine and his references to names and places I know always sets a tone for me because I can see them. I know them. Wow, this state has some weird ghost vibes.
Grab a copy on release date 8/17/21. I finished In two days! I couldn’t put it down so get ready for a wild ride.
Just please not in any creepy vans, you’ll see.
John Colby is suffering from horrific nightmares setting him and his life off track. Tension in his work life and home life are growing and his nightmares are getting worse and more vivid.
He has a feeling something is going to happen, there is something he has forgotten and the numerous graveyards in Spears Grove, Maine are becoming a compelling draw.
Something has awakened and it’s about to tear John’s life apart.
He needs to remember something soon, a lost memory, to save his friends and family.
No spoilers. The author is absolute tops when it comes to multiple voices and characters in scenes from their point of view. You care about each and every one of them and truly despise the bad ones.
The truth of the horrors of Spears Gove isn’t handed to you on a plate but expertly revealed to the reader through various different sources as he weaves a supernatural and murderous backstory along side. I can’t reveal more without a spoiler alert.
Some of the subject matter concerning child abduction and abuse can be a trigger for some. You’ve been warned.
It’s no secret that I am a fan girl for this author. He and I beat some of the same paths in this part of Maine and his references to names and places I know always sets a tone for me because I can see them. I know them. Wow, this state has some weird ghost vibes.
Grab a copy on release date 8/17/21. I finished In two days! I couldn’t put it down so get ready for a wild ride.
Just please not in any creepy vans, you’ll see.
July 30, 2021
It’s been a while since I dived blindly into a horror, and I was really craving a bit of pure terror after reading some tame thrillers and historical fiction.
This is the story of John Colby, to whom we are first introduced to in 1994 at the age of just 14. We see him witness something terrible and then bury the memory in a dark corner of his mind without ever talking about it to anyone.
In the present day John works as a social worker and is married to Sarah. His life is good if it weren’t for the strangest nightmares that somehow seem to haunt him at daytime too. When he goes to see a therapist, he finds that he is missing parts of his childhood memories. For example, why can't he remember the murder of his childhood friend in 1994 at the hands of a serial killer?
Reading about John’s nightmares was like watching a Tim Burton movie, the characters August and One Eye would be a perfect example for a Burton movie.😆
Although I enjoyed the majority of the book, I felt this could have been so much better if there had been more creepy moments. And I’m not talking about the depraved villain, that really made the reading freaking uncomfortable 🤢, I’m talking of those little signs or scenes, that literally make your hackles rise, because you know something awful is about to happen.
That element to me was missing …
There were plenty of spiders though, which has left me a little itchy and some great references to old movies and SK books. I can tell the author is a huge old-school horror lover…
A huge thank you to @netgalley and @FlameTreePress for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
This is the story of John Colby, to whom we are first introduced to in 1994 at the age of just 14. We see him witness something terrible and then bury the memory in a dark corner of his mind without ever talking about it to anyone.
In the present day John works as a social worker and is married to Sarah. His life is good if it weren’t for the strangest nightmares that somehow seem to haunt him at daytime too. When he goes to see a therapist, he finds that he is missing parts of his childhood memories. For example, why can't he remember the murder of his childhood friend in 1994 at the hands of a serial killer?
Reading about John’s nightmares was like watching a Tim Burton movie, the characters August and One Eye would be a perfect example for a Burton movie.😆
Although I enjoyed the majority of the book, I felt this could have been so much better if there had been more creepy moments. And I’m not talking about the depraved villain, that really made the reading freaking uncomfortable 🤢, I’m talking of those little signs or scenes, that literally make your hackles rise, because you know something awful is about to happen.
That element to me was missing …
There were plenty of spiders though, which has left me a little itchy and some great references to old movies and SK books. I can tell the author is a huge old-school horror lover…
A huge thank you to @netgalley and @FlameTreePress for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 19, 2022
August's Eyes, the latest from Glenn Rolfe, shelves the supernatural monsters for a minute in favor of real monsters. The story begins with a flashback to John's (our protagonist) childhood. As he witnesses the abduction of a friend. In the opening pages, the reader faces an all-too-real dilemma. How would you react in that scenario? The obvious answer is to try and heroically fight a full-grown adult or report it to the police. Rolfe does a phenomenal job of exploring the struggles with finding the right answer, and it lays the groundwork for a hell of a novel.
What follows is trademark Glenn Rolfe. There's viciousness and brutality that never feels gratuitous, always in service of the story. There are numerous name drops and pop culture references to put the reader in John's headspace. That tact won't work for every reader, but it's been my experience that Rolfe employs it just right. We have a despicable antagonist straight from the annals of the worst true crime and well-developed, imperfect characters we can't help but be intrigued by, even when we step away from rooting for them for a moment.
A complete book with elements the author's long-time readers will love and traces of new ground that will keep them coming back, August's Eyes is a great 2021 horror offering.
What follows is trademark Glenn Rolfe. There's viciousness and brutality that never feels gratuitous, always in service of the story. There are numerous name drops and pop culture references to put the reader in John's headspace. That tact won't work for every reader, but it's been my experience that Rolfe employs it just right. We have a despicable antagonist straight from the annals of the worst true crime and well-developed, imperfect characters we can't help but be intrigued by, even when we step away from rooting for them for a moment.
A complete book with elements the author's long-time readers will love and traces of new ground that will keep them coming back, August's Eyes is a great 2021 horror offering.
August 4, 2021
August’s Eyes is my very first Glenn Rolfe, but it will definitely not be my last. John Colby is a hard working man married to the love of his life. He has a good life, but he starts having terrible nightmares. Is he simply having bad dreams or are his dreams trying to tell him something?
I really liked this book. It was part serial killer horror and part supernatural horror. Rolfe does an excellent job of meshing these two genres together to create an exciting fast paced read. I am a horror junkie and there were some scenes that actually had me cringing and I even cried at one point. In essence Rolfe wrote a beautifully horrific story that made me feel something . . . and isn’t that the very reason we read horror? Five glorious stars for August’s Eyes. .
I really liked this book. It was part serial killer horror and part supernatural horror. Rolfe does an excellent job of meshing these two genres together to create an exciting fast paced read. I am a horror junkie and there were some scenes that actually had me cringing and I even cried at one point. In essence Rolfe wrote a beautifully horrific story that made me feel something . . . and isn’t that the very reason we read horror? Five glorious stars for August’s Eyes. .
June 14, 2021
Review appears in the June 1 and 15, 2021 issue of Booklist Magazine: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2021/06...
Three Words That Describe This Book: shifting POV, unflinchingly menacing, contemplation on evil
Three Words That Describe This Book: shifting POV, unflinchingly menacing, contemplation on evil
April 12, 2021
It's the first book I read by Glenn Rolfe and WOW, it's excellent.
It's high on adrenaline, entertaining, a true horror that kept me hooked and spooked till the last page.
Excellent character development and world building, good storytelling and tightly knitted plot.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's high on adrenaline, entertaining, a true horror that kept me hooked and spooked till the last page.
Excellent character development and world building, good storytelling and tightly knitted plot.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
July 8, 2021
I received an advanced e-copy from NetGalley and the publisher, Flame Tree Press, in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
Since the publication of Blood and Rain in 2015, Glenn Rolfe has not stopped. Like a man on edge or a character possessed, Rolfe refuses to let anything deter him from giving life to some of our most dreaded fears. His passion for the bizarre and the macabre (spanning the gamut are werewolves, serial killers, demonic possession, vampires, hauntings and more,) are seemingly bottomless. What's more, his brand of storytelling isn't one-dimensional, albeit dark, very disturbing, and unequivocally adult-themed. What he delivers isn't your typical horror. Instead, he presents common clichés and spins them on their tops, and then pens narratives that only he can. But despite their bleakness, there's inevitably light. There is hope, even for the damned. Maybe especially for the damned. He writes with heart and soul, and I think that's what I admire most about his work.
Similar to his local counterpart, Stephen King, Rolfe's stories are often set in small Maine towns. They also tend to be coming-of-age tales set in the 80s and 90s, with a palpable nostalgic feel, whose primary focus are children.
"What makes you think he gets to pick one?" August, a tall kid with a clawed hand, asked. His hollow eyes matched the straight black hair that touched his funny shoulders. Johnny thought it looked like he was wearing shoulder pads made of baby skulls beneath his faded blue Superman t-shirt. Johnny didn't like that August's shoulders made him think of baby skulls, but he thought that was August's fault. Somehow. And those damn eyes. Just two black holes..
From the initial sentence, the author made the overall mood and tone of Spears Corner clear. Over time, he painted images of a town almost reliant on deception, ambition, greed and angst. Spears Corner was complex and secretive. It felt, in a lot of ways, like my hometown, all of which made it scarier and more relatable.
True to life, there were pockets within August's Eyes that brazenly defied explanation. Sometimes spiritual, often psychological, the intricate tale spun by Rolfe felt seamless, horrific, and was, in turn, downright magnetic. Regardless of the unexplained, those pockets were primarily rooted in trauma, yet they were also mysterious. Those scenes were the epitome of creativity, fascination, and originality. The entire novel was a lot of fun, but Graveyard Land, in particular, was pure delight.
"Dreams are a gateway to the spirit world," the doc said. "The shaman I mentioned, he delved into places beyond our realm. Places we are not meant to tread. Not the way he intended, at least."
The spirit world played a significant role, though the reader and characters didn't unearth those truths until much later. In fact, I shudder to think how different things might've turned out if not for a certain Passamaquoddy man. August's Eyes was a much stronger work because of the Indigenous mythology, which gave it some really nice fantastical elements. They were compelling on their own, but they helped deepen the mystery and profoundly strengthened the work as a whole. The Native elements were really refreshing and I wouldn't want August's Eyes without them. I can't see it any other way. More impressive yet, the character, Dr. Rik Soctomah, wasn't just there to aid John's journey. His purposes were numerous. His character was fully realized.
https://passamaquoddypeople.com/passa...
I loved the believability of these characters and the fact that they're vulnerable and deeply flawed. There were times I cheered them on; grieved with them, sympathized with their suffering. There were times that I genuinely empathized. There was one emotionally brutal scene when I was SHOCKED by John's actions. I remember feeling very angry. I really felt the sense of loss and betrayal. And as much as I loved John, Sarah, and Dr. Soctomah, I adored Pat even more. He's one of those characters with instant likability, as though etched from the fabric of real life. I can't begin to convey my adoration for Pat. Or how much I wish he was real. We all need a friend like Pat.
It was true, Spears Corner was a shiny, happy, American flag-flying town on the outside. Pot luck dinners at the local churches every weekend, yard sales by the dozens, and as much school pride as any of the football-loving Texas towns of the South, but beneath it all was an oozing river of deceit, jealousy, and outright hatred between the haves and have-nots.
However, there were a few things Rolfe could've handled better. The ending, for one. It was too easy, too neatly wrapped up. Given everything that came before, particularly the vile nature of the villain, I was expecting further complexities. Which isn't to imply a lack of escalation, but I was anticipating something grand. Diabolical. I really wish the antagonist had been three-dimensional, as opposed to your typical serial killer dossier. Interestingly enough, Rolfe was inspired by John Wayne Gacy, the prolific serial murderer commonly known as the "Killer Clown," in suburban Chicago, circa 1970s. With that in mind, I'd hoped for a more diverse creation, someone I could relate to on some level. Even an abstract one. I wanted more gray and less black and white. My third and final critique centers around the mythology of Graveyard Land. More than anything, I wanted--maybe needed-- to know how it became a reality. Its origin, the role of the shaman and everything pertinent. It was such a cool and creative pocket, entrenched in Passamaquoddy lore, but knowing those big details piqued my curiosity about the small ones.
Throughout this incredible experience, I couldn't help but compare it to The Window
(the only other book I've read by Glenn Rolfe,) and I marveled at how far he's come in only three years. His prose was more refined, the concepts felt fresh and inviting; the storytelling flowed with ease, like ink streaming across the page; the wording was more precise; the primary characters were fully realized.
Highly addictive, delightfully strange, creepy as hell and exceptionally written. Plausibly Rolfe's finest yet.
*A note regarding possible trigger warnings: they include cruelty to children and rape. Although they were present and gut- wrenching, it was never gratuitous. The author should be commended for that. Those horrible things happened, but they were never given specific details. They were only mentioned, and that's an excellent example of "Show, Don't Tell" being the exception to the rule.*
September 10, 2021
August's Eyes by Glenn Rolfe is a mind trippy horror that involves past trauma and dreams that can effect reality. The novel was fast paced and has some scenes of horror that will get under your skin. This book reminded me a lot of the Jennifer Lopez movie The Cell meets the villain from Joe Hill's N0S4A2. This book has a lot of fun pop culture references, and little bits of odd humor. I liked and cared about the main character John or Johnny still being tormented by a mistake he made as a scared kid that represses in his living dreams. This book is pretty brutal and not for everybody with trigger warnings of rape, abduction, and child abuse, book doesn't go into crazy detail but enough to unnerve the reader. I want to think Glenn Rolfe who reached out to me on Goodreads and asked if I would like to read his book. I want to think Flame Tree Press and netgalley for providing the book to me. August Eye's by Glenn Rolfe was published on August 17th 2021.
The Plot: When John was a teenager he saw his friend Ethan get abducted into a van and was so terrified about it he repressed it. John now has these dreams where he is a young teenager with two other boy's one with out eyes called August and anther boy called One Eye who has you guessed it one eye, they play in a graveyard land. The dreams scare him but also comfort him in some way. In real life John has a job which he hates, a great wife, after 2 failed pregnancies their relationship remains strained, his best friend is Pat a 16 year old neighbor kid with a mohawk. The dreams start feeling more real when his dream starts getting scary and in real life John sees a van that terrifies him and feels like it is watching him.
What I Liked: I looked the talk about different books both nonfiction and fiction. I liked the moment of wicked humor. John was a great character that I could identify with, a man trying to good but sometimes royally screwing up. August and the twist with his character was really good. The climax was done really well and was a satisfying ending. The dream scenes were my favorite and always interesting. I loved all the pop culture references to the 90's during the flashback and the modern day pop culture.
What I Disliked: The plot line between Sarah and John and the tries for pregnancy, never felt like it belonged in this story. I wanted something that dealt with John's repressed trauma, and tied it in to the story better. I do not like the cover art for this, it should have been spiders coming out of eye holes in my opinion.
Recommendation: I recommend you checking out August Eye's if you are in need of a good horror that will trip your mind a little bit. The trigger warnings of rape, child abuse, and abduction will keep some away but if you can stomach those things then this is a solid horror with a heart. I rated August's Eyes by Glenn Rolfe 4 out of 5 stars.
The Plot: When John was a teenager he saw his friend Ethan get abducted into a van and was so terrified about it he repressed it. John now has these dreams where he is a young teenager with two other boy's one with out eyes called August and anther boy called One Eye who has you guessed it one eye, they play in a graveyard land. The dreams scare him but also comfort him in some way. In real life John has a job which he hates, a great wife, after 2 failed pregnancies their relationship remains strained, his best friend is Pat a 16 year old neighbor kid with a mohawk. The dreams start feeling more real when his dream starts getting scary and in real life John sees a van that terrifies him and feels like it is watching him.
What I Liked: I looked the talk about different books both nonfiction and fiction. I liked the moment of wicked humor. John was a great character that I could identify with, a man trying to good but sometimes royally screwing up. August and the twist with his character was really good. The climax was done really well and was a satisfying ending. The dream scenes were my favorite and always interesting. I loved all the pop culture references to the 90's during the flashback and the modern day pop culture.
What I Disliked: The plot line between Sarah and John and the tries for pregnancy, never felt like it belonged in this story. I wanted something that dealt with John's repressed trauma, and tied it in to the story better. I do not like the cover art for this, it should have been spiders coming out of eye holes in my opinion.
Recommendation: I recommend you checking out August Eye's if you are in need of a good horror that will trip your mind a little bit. The trigger warnings of rape, child abuse, and abduction will keep some away but if you can stomach those things then this is a solid horror with a heart. I rated August's Eyes by Glenn Rolfe 4 out of 5 stars.
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