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Riapoke
Meghan and her teenage son, Kyle, get a discounted rate at an upscale resort due to a last minute cancellation. Meghan wants to spend some time with her son before he takes off to college where she worries she will lose touch with the one person in her life which gives it meaning. The resort sits along the shores of beautiful Lake Oleander. The seemingly idyllic lake has two things going for it, the upscale resort and the town of Riapoke, which they are warned to stay as far away from as possible.A beautiful day leads to the accidental meeting of Mike Chase, and his daughter, Kelley. While the two kids hit it off as friends, Meghan and Mike feel an attraction and decide to spend a little more time together to see if their feelings for one another are genuine. Meghan worries she could never have for anyone like that ever again.The morning of the lunch date, Meghan and Kyle spend a little time boating on the beautiful lake before Meghan was set to meet Mike for lunch. Their outing ends in both swimming for their lives through a rainstorm that sinks the resort’s boat. They make it back to what they suppose is the resort’s boat docks, only to find out it is the docks of the town of Riapoke. Both mother and son are apprehended by the Riapoke’s only law enforcement officer and are held to meet Donny, the town’s mayor, judge, and unofficial Chief of Police. Donny secretly wears one other official title, high priest of a secretive cult responsible for the care and feeding of a demon residing beneath the bedrock of the town. Mike grows suspicious about his missing love interest and her son and tracks them down to the secretive municipality. Sneaking into town, he moves to save everyone before Meghan and Kyle become the final sacrifices, completing a prophecy spelling doom or salvation for the town or Riapoke.
242 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2017
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Nowak
5 books26 followersThank you for taking an interest in me. By now, you know that I’m Bryan Nowak, and the author of the books No Name, The Dramatic Dead, Riapoke, and Crimson Tassels. I grew up in Steger, Illinois, a South Suburb of Chicago. When I was a child, we spent lots of summers in Indiana. So much so, that I consider myself to be part Hoosier. Many of my relatives still live in Indiana and it’s a frequent destination for summer vacations.
I was born in the summer of 1973. I had the good fortune of attending Eastview Elementary School. There I learned the value of a good library through our Librarian, and one of my neighbors, Mrs. Lavelle. I exhausted the library of ghost stories, and tales of monsters. One in particular I remember was the tale of the restless spirits of dead pirates. It was supposedly a true story. Years later, after the advent of the internet, I would find out that the story was well known, and the location of the story is presently a bed and breakfast in South Carolina. Reading those stories are what gave me a firm foundation of suspense and the paranormal.
Eighth grade was a pivotal year for me. This was the year I left Central Junior High School, and Northern Illinois, forever. I moved to the little lake-shore town of Excelsior, Minnesota. Till this day it still stands out in my mind as an idyllic place to live. I continue to compare every other city to its quaint grandeur.
In Minnesota I joined the US Army Reserves and the National Guard. I am a proud veteran. I went to college in Minnesota and met my wife there. Our first son was born in Minnesota. It is safe to say that I will always have a soft spot in my life for the state that I once called home.
It was during my time in the U.S. Army that I was sent to the state of Virginia. I was filling in with an active duty unit who needed some extra help. I repeated this process over and over for the next three summers. It was during these active duty tours that I learned to really love the state of Virginia and vowed it would be my home if I was unable to live in the state of Minnesota. Many years later, my wife and I moved our family to Virginia. We have been residents of Virginia ever since, with our three children.
I generally prefer horror to other genera, but I am not necessarily a purist. I like a good solid mystery to go along with it to keep you turning the pages or flicking the screen of your e-reader. I prefer a story line that doesn’t ooze blood, but I want it saturated in tension and dread. I’m a firm believer that if I can entertain you while scaring you a little, I have done my job.
I sincerely hope you enjoy reading my books. If you are reading this, then you are already paying me the highest compliment you can pay any writer. Sincerely, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you.
-Bryan Nowak, Author
I was born in the summer of 1973. I had the good fortune of attending Eastview Elementary School. There I learned the value of a good library through our Librarian, and one of my neighbors, Mrs. Lavelle. I exhausted the library of ghost stories, and tales of monsters. One in particular I remember was the tale of the restless spirits of dead pirates. It was supposedly a true story. Years later, after the advent of the internet, I would find out that the story was well known, and the location of the story is presently a bed and breakfast in South Carolina. Reading those stories are what gave me a firm foundation of suspense and the paranormal.
Eighth grade was a pivotal year for me. This was the year I left Central Junior High School, and Northern Illinois, forever. I moved to the little lake-shore town of Excelsior, Minnesota. Till this day it still stands out in my mind as an idyllic place to live. I continue to compare every other city to its quaint grandeur.
In Minnesota I joined the US Army Reserves and the National Guard. I am a proud veteran. I went to college in Minnesota and met my wife there. Our first son was born in Minnesota. It is safe to say that I will always have a soft spot in my life for the state that I once called home.
It was during my time in the U.S. Army that I was sent to the state of Virginia. I was filling in with an active duty unit who needed some extra help. I repeated this process over and over for the next three summers. It was during these active duty tours that I learned to really love the state of Virginia and vowed it would be my home if I was unable to live in the state of Minnesota. Many years later, my wife and I moved our family to Virginia. We have been residents of Virginia ever since, with our three children.
I generally prefer horror to other genera, but I am not necessarily a purist. I like a good solid mystery to go along with it to keep you turning the pages or flicking the screen of your e-reader. I prefer a story line that doesn’t ooze blood, but I want it saturated in tension and dread. I’m a firm believer that if I can entertain you while scaring you a little, I have done my job.
I sincerely hope you enjoy reading my books. If you are reading this, then you are already paying me the highest compliment you can pay any writer. Sincerely, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you.
-Bryan Nowak, Author
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 2, 2022
RIAPOKE by Bryan Nowak is a wonderfully told dark folk thriller set in the wilds of Virginia. The story is gripping, the characters are rich and the setting and tone keep you turning the pages to read about the mysterious town of Riapoke.
The story relies heavily on pacing and Bryan Nowak wields it like an emotional weapon. The first act moves at a brisk pace through introductions and set up. The second act slows down, forcing you smell the roses and appreciate every little crack on to spin up to break neck speeds in the thrid act as it all comes to an exciting conclusion.
Riapoke is the type of story waiting for someone to bring to the big screen (or at least a streaming service near you.) The storytelling is captivating and unencumbered. For a folk horror, I found it didn't weight itself down in lore and history. That makes it accessible to a wider audience. So, you should access this book at your next earliest convince and take a trip to Riapoke, Virginia for yourself.
Bring a cross. Or, maybe, a tomahawk.
The story relies heavily on pacing and Bryan Nowak wields it like an emotional weapon. The first act moves at a brisk pace through introductions and set up. The second act slows down, forcing you smell the roses and appreciate every little crack on to spin up to break neck speeds in the thrid act as it all comes to an exciting conclusion.
Riapoke is the type of story waiting for someone to bring to the big screen (or at least a streaming service near you.) The storytelling is captivating and unencumbered. For a folk horror, I found it didn't weight itself down in lore and history. That makes it accessible to a wider audience. So, you should access this book at your next earliest convince and take a trip to Riapoke, Virginia for yourself.
Bring a cross. Or, maybe, a tomahawk.
July 8, 2021
This is the first book by Bryan Nowak I have read. There are tons of grammatical, spelling, and punctuational errors. Also, even more aggravating than those errors are the couple of times that the character's names are used incorrectly. For example, one character being called by the name of another character that is not even in that particular scene.
All of that being said, I really liked the book on the whole. It starts off pretty slow, but once it does pick up, it flies. I could see this being made into a movie. I think it would make a great movie to sit and watch with a giant bowl of popcorn!
If you love stories about cults and demons with excellent descriptions of surroundings, this book will definitely be worth your time!
All of that being said, I really liked the book on the whole. It starts off pretty slow, but once it does pick up, it flies. I could see this being made into a movie. I think it would make a great movie to sit and watch with a giant bowl of popcorn!
If you love stories about cults and demons with excellent descriptions of surroundings, this book will definitely be worth your time!
October 16, 2020
Great Story
I really enjoyed this story. There were enough twists & turns to keep me interested & make me want to keep reading. I like stories with strong well developed female characters & Meghan filled that category very well. I also enjoyed the supernatural component as well.
I really enjoyed this story. There were enough twists & turns to keep me interested & make me want to keep reading. I like stories with strong well developed female characters & Meghan filled that category very well. I also enjoyed the supernatural component as well.
July 5, 2017
Riapoke is a fiction thriller written about a mother and son taking a trip to Riapoke. When they arrived they ignore any suspicious and unusual thing they see or hear, little do they know their lives are in danger. Serial killing is a norm in Riapoke and Kyle has to work with his mother to save themselves out of this mess.
The interesting thing about this book was its world setting. Without a successful built up of the town, it would not have been able to be as good as a story it was. I believe the author managed to succeed in creating a very suspenseful and creative world where paranormal activities engage in producing this thriller novel.
I also enjoyed the dynamic between the mother and son. A small vacation before Kyle heading off to university became something way more than they anticipated. A vacation they will never forget, I am sure.
The character development was good enough to make them relatable. The pace was steady and there was an easy flow of what appeared to be the built up, in the ending. I look forward to reading more from this author and recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading fiction thrillers.
The interesting thing about this book was its world setting. Without a successful built up of the town, it would not have been able to be as good as a story it was. I believe the author managed to succeed in creating a very suspenseful and creative world where paranormal activities engage in producing this thriller novel.
I also enjoyed the dynamic between the mother and son. A small vacation before Kyle heading off to university became something way more than they anticipated. A vacation they will never forget, I am sure.
The character development was good enough to make them relatable. The pace was steady and there was an easy flow of what appeared to be the built up, in the ending. I look forward to reading more from this author and recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading fiction thrillers.
June 9, 2017
Such a trip! This book is really fun! I love that Riapoke has all of the traditional elements of a suspenseful thriller and yet there is no one person responsible for the evil acts committed in this story.
The story kicks off pretty quickly with a mother/ son road trip. A sort of last hurrah before Kyle heads off to University. Once they arrive at their destination, they hear some strange rumblings from the townies. Dismissing it all as small town gossip, they dive into their vacation without hesitation. They should have listened.
Riapoke has an excellent hook right at the beginning! Once you read the first few pages, you just have to know what is going on. The writing is good, fast-paced and it gets the heart rate up almost immediately. I had a blast reading this book and I’m happy to recommend this one to my mystery loving readers, who have grown tired of the usual tropes and want something different!
Rating… B
The story kicks off pretty quickly with a mother/ son road trip. A sort of last hurrah before Kyle heads off to University. Once they arrive at their destination, they hear some strange rumblings from the townies. Dismissing it all as small town gossip, they dive into their vacation without hesitation. They should have listened.
Riapoke has an excellent hook right at the beginning! Once you read the first few pages, you just have to know what is going on. The writing is good, fast-paced and it gets the heart rate up almost immediately. I had a blast reading this book and I’m happy to recommend this one to my mystery loving readers, who have grown tired of the usual tropes and want something different!
Rating… B
September 18, 2019
Stories of ‘strange’ neighbourhoods and remote towns have existed for years and will continue. The premise of something being ‘not quite right’ is a superb vehicle for a tale of terror. Mr Nowak draws the reader in with a rapidly evolving plot which all sounds very normal, and then things start to go wrong for a few of the characters, and in a bad, almost irretrievable way.
The sense of foreboding is related well and feels like the stuff of nightmares. I was impressed that when the pace picked up the action rarely eased, which if not done well can be exhausting.
Paranormal activity in such a story is fitting, rather than added as some authors produce a sort of ‘copy and paste’ section, so once again, this was an area where the author succeeded in my opinion.
A good terror/horror tale staged in a modern environment.
The sense of foreboding is related well and feels like the stuff of nightmares. I was impressed that when the pace picked up the action rarely eased, which if not done well can be exhausting.
Paranormal activity in such a story is fitting, rather than added as some authors produce a sort of ‘copy and paste’ section, so once again, this was an area where the author succeeded in my opinion.
A good terror/horror tale staged in a modern environment.
January 31, 2018
What an interesting read! I am new to Mr. Nowak’s writing and I am now a fan. The beginning starts off slow. You start to wonder what’s to come. There were some places where the story was kind of slow moving but overall, this book is a really great read! You get suspense and some horror. The author did a great job on the characters. Both likable and non likeable. I liked the author’s touch of Native American lore. I give this 4 stars!
March 10, 2018
An extremely creepy read. Enjoyed every page of it.
November 26, 2018
Bryan Nowak is quickly becoming a favorite author. This is a great story. I couldn't put it down.
December 15, 2017
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. Thank you, Bryan Nowak, for sending me this book!
“Just be careful up that way. On the other side of the lake, there is a little town called Riapoke. I’d steer clear of it. They are not particularly friendly to strangers up that way. (…) Just stick to the resort while you’re up there and you’ll be fine.” (p. 17-18)
Meghan Johnston and her seventeen-year-old son Kyle go on a trip before the boy leaves for college, in order to spend some quality time together. They drive to Hideaway Resort, a secluded resort in the Virginian wilderness, but along the way, they hear some strange stories about Riapoke, a small town on the other side of Lake Oleander and the mysterious disappearances that took place there. What will this mother-son vacation have in store for them? Will they listen to the warnings and stay away from the obscure town on the other side of the lake? Read and you will find out.
http://alinasbookishhideout.com/revie...
“Just be careful up that way. On the other side of the lake, there is a little town called Riapoke. I’d steer clear of it. They are not particularly friendly to strangers up that way. (…) Just stick to the resort while you’re up there and you’ll be fine.” (p. 17-18)
Meghan Johnston and her seventeen-year-old son Kyle go on a trip before the boy leaves for college, in order to spend some quality time together. They drive to Hideaway Resort, a secluded resort in the Virginian wilderness, but along the way, they hear some strange stories about Riapoke, a small town on the other side of Lake Oleander and the mysterious disappearances that took place there. What will this mother-son vacation have in store for them? Will they listen to the warnings and stay away from the obscure town on the other side of the lake? Read and you will find out.
http://alinasbookishhideout.com/revie...
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March 15, 2018DNF
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews