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Clawing Free
What if monsters are real?
. . . and they know you by name?
Years after the grisly murder of her older sister, Lissy Oullette—a waitress in a small mountain town—is struggling to move on with her life when something rips it all apart . . . again.
At the lake near her home, Lissy discovers another body. And much like her sister’s, it’s been torn to pieces.
As she searches for answers, Lissy finds herself being lured back to the lake by something so evil, it seems inevitable that hers will be the next body found.
. . . and they know you by name?
Years after the grisly murder of her older sister, Lissy Oullette—a waitress in a small mountain town—is struggling to move on with her life when something rips it all apart . . . again.
At the lake near her home, Lissy discovers another body. And much like her sister’s, it’s been torn to pieces.
As she searches for answers, Lissy finds herself being lured back to the lake by something so evil, it seems inevitable that hers will be the next body found.
213 pages, ebook
First published July 6, 2021
66 people are currently reading
2855 people want to read
About the author
Josh Roberts
2 books440 followersJosh Roberts who has written two novels from his home in Columbus, Ohio, where he lives with his wife and children. When he's not writing, Josh is reading, watching movies, playing with his kids, or building one website or another.
For more information about Josh, what he's working on, or what he's reading, visit:
Website: www.joshmroberts.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joshrobertsauthor
For more information about Josh, what he's working on, or what he's reading, visit:
Website: www.joshmroberts.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joshrobertsauthor
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March 6, 2022Excerpt from the novel (prologue):
Thanks for reading! If you'd like to purchase the book, you can do so on Amazon.
Thanks for reading! If you'd like to purchase the book, you can do so on Amazon.
April 13, 2023
“You attempt to better understand that which you can’t explain. As to whether you can control it, that’s still an unknown. But the closer you come to knowing a thing, the less likely you are to let it control you.”
First of all, I want to thank Josh Roberts for this ARC; it was the book I didn't know I needed and proved to be exactly the right experience at the right time.
The story follows the events from a small town from Colorado, where the only thing out of the ordinary is the monster that is said to reside in the Diamond Lake. After the mysterious death of Mia and her friends, 11 years prior, Lissy lives a solitary life, mourning her sister and isolating herself as much as possible from the people around her. But when she discovers a new body, with the same claw marks her sister's body had presented and weird dark visions start messing with her head, she needs to face the reality and ask herself if there might be more to the rumors and legends than she originally thought.
“Why couldn’t there be something out there that you wouldn’t find in a textbook? There’ve been new creatures found before. We know for a fact that the ocean is full of animals that are yet to be cataloged. Heck, until a couple of years ago, giant squid were considered myth. That is, until they started washing up on beaches.” He stared hard into her eyes. “Now go ahead, tell me why there can’t be something out there we haven’t seen yet?”
I've spent the first half of the book trying to place it into a genre: horror, mystery, paranormal, thriller? But then I understood that it was never about any of that: it's a reminder for each and every one of us that we have a choice in our daily life. We can embrace the good, the love and fight for our happiness, or we can succumb to our fears, letting our worries and grief devour us. It's about hope, about finding the light inside us. It's a very interesting and unique portrait of the battle between evil and goodness.
“Life’s got a way of amplifying the bad and forcing out the good, sis. And I won’t lie; it’s hard to stop the process sometimes. We tend to remember tough experiences more than easy ones. We see flaws before we recognize beauty. We’re quicker to remember someone’s hate than their love. But life’s so much better when we fight with everything in us to hold on to what’s good."
A nice touch was the shy romance between Neil and Lissy and, as a girl that has exclusively read books with males written by women this year, let me tell you that I was shocked of how much I adored Neil. I mean, honestly, where can I get one? They don't make them like that where I'm from...
“You okay?” He was watching her now.
“Yeah. Just thinking.”
“About?”
“Mortality, spirituality, murderous dragons . . . you.”
He smirked. “I’ve never been lumped into a list like that before."
It was a very good book and it's definitely the best standalone I've read this year. I enjoyed it more than I was expecting and I've read it in a go, unable to put it down before reaching the end. It kept me hooked, from beginning to the final chapter.
‘Love always wins. You might feel afraid sometimes, or angry, or hurt—but if you respond with love, the bullies can’t win.’
First of all, I want to thank Josh Roberts for this ARC; it was the book I didn't know I needed and proved to be exactly the right experience at the right time.
The story follows the events from a small town from Colorado, where the only thing out of the ordinary is the monster that is said to reside in the Diamond Lake. After the mysterious death of Mia and her friends, 11 years prior, Lissy lives a solitary life, mourning her sister and isolating herself as much as possible from the people around her. But when she discovers a new body, with the same claw marks her sister's body had presented and weird dark visions start messing with her head, she needs to face the reality and ask herself if there might be more to the rumors and legends than she originally thought.
“Why couldn’t there be something out there that you wouldn’t find in a textbook? There’ve been new creatures found before. We know for a fact that the ocean is full of animals that are yet to be cataloged. Heck, until a couple of years ago, giant squid were considered myth. That is, until they started washing up on beaches.” He stared hard into her eyes. “Now go ahead, tell me why there can’t be something out there we haven’t seen yet?”
I've spent the first half of the book trying to place it into a genre: horror, mystery, paranormal, thriller? But then I understood that it was never about any of that: it's a reminder for each and every one of us that we have a choice in our daily life. We can embrace the good, the love and fight for our happiness, or we can succumb to our fears, letting our worries and grief devour us. It's about hope, about finding the light inside us. It's a very interesting and unique portrait of the battle between evil and goodness.
“Life’s got a way of amplifying the bad and forcing out the good, sis. And I won’t lie; it’s hard to stop the process sometimes. We tend to remember tough experiences more than easy ones. We see flaws before we recognize beauty. We’re quicker to remember someone’s hate than their love. But life’s so much better when we fight with everything in us to hold on to what’s good."
A nice touch was the shy romance between Neil and Lissy and, as a girl that has exclusively read books with males written by women this year, let me tell you that I was shocked of how much I adored Neil. I mean, honestly, where can I get one? They don't make them like that where I'm from...
“You okay?” He was watching her now.
“Yeah. Just thinking.”
“About?”
“Mortality, spirituality, murderous dragons . . . you.”
He smirked. “I’ve never been lumped into a list like that before."
It was a very good book and it's definitely the best standalone I've read this year. I enjoyed it more than I was expecting and I've read it in a go, unable to put it down before reaching the end. It kept me hooked, from beginning to the final chapter.
‘Love always wins. You might feel afraid sometimes, or angry, or hurt—but if you respond with love, the bullies can’t win.’
June 7, 2021
Well done, Josh Roberts
An excellent first novel, taking on the ultimate of life's battles. Can love conquer all? How much loss can one person take and still risk letting someone, ANYONE, in?
For readers of C.S. Lewis or Tolkien, this may just be the treat you've been waiting for -- read on!
An excellent first novel, taking on the ultimate of life's battles. Can love conquer all? How much loss can one person take and still risk letting someone, ANYONE, in?
For readers of C.S. Lewis or Tolkien, this may just be the treat you've been waiting for -- read on!
July 12, 2021
A very entertaining book.
August 18, 2021
When another murder occurs in the same place and the same way as Mia died 11 years prior, Lissy is determined to find out exactly what is happening and who.. or what is killing these people. With the help of the people around her she uncovers a dark truth and has to fight against it to protect the people she loves and the entire town she lives in.
I hadn't realised that this was a supernatural book when I picked it up which was honestly very exciting as I went into it thinking it was just a regular crime thriller (which I also love) and the shift from "who is the killer?" to "what is the killer?" was done very well. Thinking back on the first part of the book I now see how we were being set up and given small hints as to the supernatural aspect of the story but I am only realising that in hindsight which I believe is indicative of a great setup and good writing to follow through. I thought that the concept itself was really interesting and I liked how the monster was introduced and portrayed. The climax scene I thought was good but did end up being a little bit cliche for me.
4/5 stars, thank you to Josh Roberts for this copy to review.
I hadn't realised that this was a supernatural book when I picked it up which was honestly very exciting as I went into it thinking it was just a regular crime thriller (which I also love) and the shift from "who is the killer?" to "what is the killer?" was done very well. Thinking back on the first part of the book I now see how we were being set up and given small hints as to the supernatural aspect of the story but I am only realising that in hindsight which I believe is indicative of a great setup and good writing to follow through. I thought that the concept itself was really interesting and I liked how the monster was introduced and portrayed. The climax scene I thought was good but did end up being a little bit cliche for me.
4/5 stars, thank you to Josh Roberts for this copy to review.
June 27, 2021
Yikes! Creepy good first half! Perfect for horror fans!
Will recommend
Will recommend
September 14, 2021
I love thrillers and supernatural stories! I was impressed with this story as a debut novel. Bonus points for the folklore tied in being one I hadn’t ever heard of and enjoyed learning about. Had I not had a busy few days mapped out, this would’ve been a quick read for sure. It’s suspenseful enough that I didn’t want to put it down. I had my guesses for what was going on, but ended up being way off.
Though some of what happens is certainly morbid (in the way you want aspects of horror to be) other parts of the book feel a bit more YA than strictly adult. I couldn’t pinpoint if it was the writing style or specific nuance. Not that that’s a bad thing, but it feels worth mentioning. It’s a good story with a solid plot and it was interesting throughout its entirety. Not wanting to spoil it - the subject matter pushed me to research the Korean myths portrayed.
I appreciate how both Lissy and Neil were written. Their relationship was a formative undertone that held firm throughout the story. There were a few really important themes regarding love and loss that I think were well done also.
I don’t care to critique too harshly on grammatical or syntactical things when it comes to a debut. At certain points I was left wanting a bit more background or depth, but overall I’d say the book is well done.
I’d rate this 3.5/5⭐️ but for the purpose of this app, marked it as 4 because I feel like it deserves the round-up. Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Though some of what happens is certainly morbid (in the way you want aspects of horror to be) other parts of the book feel a bit more YA than strictly adult. I couldn’t pinpoint if it was the writing style or specific nuance. Not that that’s a bad thing, but it feels worth mentioning. It’s a good story with a solid plot and it was interesting throughout its entirety. Not wanting to spoil it - the subject matter pushed me to research the Korean myths portrayed.
I appreciate how both Lissy and Neil were written. Their relationship was a formative undertone that held firm throughout the story. There were a few really important themes regarding love and loss that I think were well done also.
I don’t care to critique too harshly on grammatical or syntactical things when it comes to a debut. At certain points I was left wanting a bit more background or depth, but overall I’d say the book is well done.
I’d rate this 3.5/5⭐️ but for the purpose of this app, marked it as 4 because I feel like it deserves the round-up. Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 26, 2021
I'm thankful to Josh Roberts for the opportunity to read the arc of his debut novel. The story begins in 2008 with a suspenseful and frightening scene. The suspense of that scene set the pace for the book, perfectly keeping my attention. Then the timeline begins to toggle between 2008 and 2019, giving the reader small pieces of information to keep you guessing about what could be behind the deaths happening at Diamond Lake. The plot twists kept me speculating about who or what was the culprit.
Credit to the author for the character development. The main character, Lissy, annoyed the hell out of me with her negativity and skepticism. I must admit that it was realistic to have a skeptic character; there is always at least one. Although, I still struggled most of the book to like Lissy. The main male character, Neil, is Lissy's best friend. These two share quite the experience as they set out to solve Diamond Lake's mystery. I enjoyed getting to know the town's people as these two set out on their journey of discovery and growth. The experience delivered a whole lot of emotion that had me caring and cheering for Lissy by the end. Great read from the beginning to the unexpected ending.
Credit to the author for the character development. The main character, Lissy, annoyed the hell out of me with her negativity and skepticism. I must admit that it was realistic to have a skeptic character; there is always at least one. Although, I still struggled most of the book to like Lissy. The main male character, Neil, is Lissy's best friend. These two share quite the experience as they set out to solve Diamond Lake's mystery. I enjoyed getting to know the town's people as these two set out on their journey of discovery and growth. The experience delivered a whole lot of emotion that had me caring and cheering for Lissy by the end. Great read from the beginning to the unexpected ending.
June 20, 2021
I would say that this is not the type of book I would normally choose. I was kindly offered a copy of the book, so how could I say no? I really, really enjoyed the story. The characters were well developed and the premise was interesting. I would definitely recommend the book to fans of thriller books.
June 27, 2021
Wow, there is not much I can say about this book that has not already been said.
It will have you wondering where it will take it, it will have you looking at life in a different way.
I am so glad I got to read this book, can’t wait to see what Josh Roberts writes next
It will have you wondering where it will take it, it will have you looking at life in a different way.
I am so glad I got to read this book, can’t wait to see what Josh Roberts writes next
July 6, 2021
Clawing Free by Josh Roberts is a story that asks the questions: what if monsters are real? And what if they know you by name? Eleven years after the grisly death of her older sister, Mia, Elisabeth “Lissy” Oullette is struggling to move on as she tries to put the pieces of her life back together. She works as a waitress in Mitchum, Colorado, a small mountain town, when the anniversary of her sister’s death approaches and her life seems to be falling apart again. A series of mysterious deaths start occurring at the lake near town. As she and her friend, Neil, search for answers, Lissy finds herself being lured to the lake by something so evil and so powerful that it seems inevitable that the next death will be hers. What is this evil that has been lurking? Can Lissy find the strength and courage to defeat it?
Inspired by C.K. Chesterton’s quote, “Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed” Clawing Free is a supernatural thriller as the heroine discovers a strength she didn’t know she had to defend her demons both real and the ones of her own making. A debut novel by author Josh Roberts, the theme of the love triumphs over evil rings throughout the story. Slowly, the layers of the mystery are peeled away, the reader is kept on the edge of their seat waiting, anticipating the discovery of the evil that hunts Lissy. The author’s descriptions of the monster are so vivid that I had no trouble imaging the horrifying evil in my mind. The final battle is intense and brings the story to a wondrous end. If you enjoy supernatural thrillers, you will enjoy Clawing Free.
Clawing Free is available in eBook.
Inspired by C.K. Chesterton’s quote, “Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed” Clawing Free is a supernatural thriller as the heroine discovers a strength she didn’t know she had to defend her demons both real and the ones of her own making. A debut novel by author Josh Roberts, the theme of the love triumphs over evil rings throughout the story. Slowly, the layers of the mystery are peeled away, the reader is kept on the edge of their seat waiting, anticipating the discovery of the evil that hunts Lissy. The author’s descriptions of the monster are so vivid that I had no trouble imaging the horrifying evil in my mind. The final battle is intense and brings the story to a wondrous end. If you enjoy supernatural thrillers, you will enjoy Clawing Free.
Clawing Free is available in eBook.
July 10, 2021
I enjoyed reading this and felt it was a good debut for the author. It was an interesting concept with some mythology I was unfamiliar with that led me to explore this background as well. I did have a little trouble making a strong connection to the characters, but it wasn't something that was going to make me not finish the book.
June 8, 2021
Thank you to the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book definitely keeps you hooked from start to finish. The starting was really well written and exactly what a thriller should be like...I forgot that it included monsters so when I came to that part it did really surprise me. I really liked the relationship between Lissy and Neil too.😊😊
I really enjoyed this book definitely keeps you hooked from start to finish. The starting was really well written and exactly what a thriller should be like...I forgot that it included monsters so when I came to that part it did really surprise me. I really liked the relationship between Lissy and Neil too.😊😊
June 26, 2021
Enjoyable - Looking forward to more
**Kindle ARC of this novel won via Goodreads Giveaways**
First off, I enjoyed this book. It has a good premise and unique perspective. It was an interesting vantage on the "good vs evil", "monster mayhem", "small town with big problems" type of storyline that fans of these genres will undoubtedly find fun.
I am loathe to spoil anything further, especially since this is a debut novel, after all. So I'll continue with the other (more technical, I suppose) part of the review. There are much more amazing reviewers out there that can provide a synopsis better than any clumsy attempt by me. Besides, you should definitely just read the book. It's good. Do it. Okay? Okay. Moving on.
As he is a newly published author and this is his first novel, there are some errors. Mostly small typos, formatting errors, and repetitive language/phrases. All forgivable, but will hopefully be remedied in future publications (of this work and others) if possible. (As of this review, I have noticed a few issues I found appear to have already been corrected!)
That being said, it was an intriguing premise and the errors I found, whether actual or merely a matter of personal preference didn't subtract from the entertainment value. While, grammatical errors and recurring language ("frame" being one of the worst offenders - there are other words to use when referring to a body, I promise - haha) do tend to give me twitchy-eye, it wasn't enough to deserve less than a solid 4.5/5 in my book.
(Other frequent offenders in my - albeit personal - view: "petite", " eleven years", "weakened state")
I see the great raw potential here and praise the heart and the talent so obviously put onto the pages. I know more time and experience will only strengthen and further polish this promising author to a brilliant, gleaming shine.
I definitely look forward reading more!
A big thank you to Mr. Roberts for allowing me this opportunity and for sharing your craft with the world. You have absolutely found a fan in this reader - 100%.
**Kindle ARC of this novel won via Goodreads Giveaways**
First off, I enjoyed this book. It has a good premise and unique perspective. It was an interesting vantage on the "good vs evil", "monster mayhem", "small town with big problems" type of storyline that fans of these genres will undoubtedly find fun.
I am loathe to spoil anything further, especially since this is a debut novel, after all. So I'll continue with the other (more technical, I suppose) part of the review. There are much more amazing reviewers out there that can provide a synopsis better than any clumsy attempt by me. Besides, you should definitely just read the book. It's good. Do it. Okay? Okay. Moving on.
As he is a newly published author and this is his first novel, there are some errors. Mostly small typos, formatting errors, and repetitive language/phrases. All forgivable, but will hopefully be remedied in future publications (of this work and others) if possible. (As of this review, I have noticed a few issues I found appear to have already been corrected!)
That being said, it was an intriguing premise and the errors I found, whether actual or merely a matter of personal preference didn't subtract from the entertainment value. While, grammatical errors and recurring language ("frame" being one of the worst offenders - there are other words to use when referring to a body, I promise - haha) do tend to give me twitchy-eye, it wasn't enough to deserve less than a solid 4.5/5 in my book.
(Other frequent offenders in my - albeit personal - view: "petite", " eleven years", "weakened state")
I see the great raw potential here and praise the heart and the talent so obviously put onto the pages. I know more time and experience will only strengthen and further polish this promising author to a brilliant, gleaming shine.
I definitely look forward reading more!
A big thank you to Mr. Roberts for allowing me this opportunity and for sharing your craft with the world. You have absolutely found a fan in this reader - 100%.
July 2, 2021
"Each and every one of you is called for a unique purpose. And it is the purpose of some to show others what they refuse to see."
How do I review this story without spoilers? There is so much I want to say.
Thank you Josh for the ARC to review. You have crafted such an amazing parable.
This book is for fans of Dean Koontz or Frank Peretti. If you like a thriller with a heart, this is the book for you.
I couldn't put it down and the ending did not disappoint. It is a bit of a slow burn, all of the action is in the last few chapters. But the story Josh weaves is so well written that you can't help but to keep turning pages to find out what is going on.
The flashback formula is cleverly done and really helps you connect with the characters.
There is a bit of romance, but I would not categorize this as a romantic book.
The main character Lissy has experienced some traumatic events in her life. She is hiding away from the world when the events of this book turn her life even more upside down and she realizes she can't hide anymore. She does not seem like a strong character at first, but you come to realize she has taken some blows and needs to heal. Her healing does not come easy and it's a battle that I think many of us can relate to.
"As long as there is love, fear cannot remain."
This is a thriller with a purpose. I highly recommend it.
How do I review this story without spoilers? There is so much I want to say.
Thank you Josh for the ARC to review. You have crafted such an amazing parable.
This book is for fans of Dean Koontz or Frank Peretti. If you like a thriller with a heart, this is the book for you.
I couldn't put it down and the ending did not disappoint. It is a bit of a slow burn, all of the action is in the last few chapters. But the story Josh weaves is so well written that you can't help but to keep turning pages to find out what is going on.
The flashback formula is cleverly done and really helps you connect with the characters.
There is a bit of romance, but I would not categorize this as a romantic book.
The main character Lissy has experienced some traumatic events in her life. She is hiding away from the world when the events of this book turn her life even more upside down and she realizes she can't hide anymore. She does not seem like a strong character at first, but you come to realize she has taken some blows and needs to heal. Her healing does not come easy and it's a battle that I think many of us can relate to.
"As long as there is love, fear cannot remain."
This is a thriller with a purpose. I highly recommend it.
June 30, 2021
This is a good debut novel. Stars with a mystery and have a emocional ending. It is about Lissy who finds a dead womem with no face. This dead will remember her her sister that was murder. She will want investigate who is behind.
My favorite moments of this story were the flasblacks that show the bound between the sisters and her friendship with Neil. Neil is so adorable. He was always there for Lissy wait for her to love him back. But she is afraid and just in the moment in danger Lissy admit her love for him.
" Clawing Free" is a novel about monsters , loss and a journey of self discovery. It reminds us that in the darkest moments it is possible to have hope. Demonstrates that love can destroy darkness.
My favorite moments of this story were the flasblacks that show the bound between the sisters and her friendship with Neil. Neil is so adorable. He was always there for Lissy wait for her to love him back. But she is afraid and just in the moment in danger Lissy admit her love for him.
" Clawing Free" is a novel about monsters , loss and a journey of self discovery. It reminds us that in the darkest moments it is possible to have hope. Demonstrates that love can destroy darkness.
September 6, 2021
I enjoyed this quick read. Couldn't put it down. I could visualize the lake and the monster like I was watching an Evil Dead movie.
Kept me intrigued and I liked how the novel flowed like you were on a scenic Rollercoaster and then drop. Then back up to a slow burn scene and out of nowhere another twist then drop.
Fantastic first novel by the author and hoping to read more.
Kept me intrigued and I liked how the novel flowed like you were on a scenic Rollercoaster and then drop. Then back up to a slow burn scene and out of nowhere another twist then drop.
Fantastic first novel by the author and hoping to read more.
September 12, 2021
I’ve been wanting to read this book for ages. So glad I finally got to!! This book was extremely well written. I immediately felt a closeness to Lissy and I was so engrossed in the story I felt like I was right alongside her throughout the whole crazy journey. Great first book Josh, I cannot wait for your next one!!
June 9, 2021
Thank you to the author for the ARC. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Straight off I will say ... what an absolute treat this book was, for a debut novel! I was blown away.
I was pulled into the world of the author's imagination right from the first page, and the thrill ride didn't stop until the last page. It felt like I was hurtling through choppy seas on a raft, that's the kind of thrill ride you can expect.
Excellent character development ... Lissy was super irritating, Neil was an absolute saint, Jack was, um, enuff said and Lee, cut from a different kind of cloth. This will make sense when you read the book.
There was a lesson in this book, and it wasn't shoved down my throat either.
Definitely going to be keeping my eye on this author. Highly recommended that you read this.
There was one small negative - for me it wasn't a frightening horror as it said on the cover. But I could just be desensitised to that as I do read quite a lot of horror. Definitely more along the suspense, supernatural thriller genre for me. That of course, is just my opinion, others might see it differently.
Straight off I will say ... what an absolute treat this book was, for a debut novel! I was blown away.
I was pulled into the world of the author's imagination right from the first page, and the thrill ride didn't stop until the last page. It felt like I was hurtling through choppy seas on a raft, that's the kind of thrill ride you can expect.
Excellent character development ... Lissy was super irritating, Neil was an absolute saint, Jack was, um, enuff said and Lee, cut from a different kind of cloth. This will make sense when you read the book.
There was a lesson in this book, and it wasn't shoved down my throat either.
Definitely going to be keeping my eye on this author. Highly recommended that you read this.
There was one small negative - for me it wasn't a frightening horror as it said on the cover. But I could just be desensitised to that as I do read quite a lot of horror. Definitely more along the suspense, supernatural thriller genre for me. That of course, is just my opinion, others might see it differently.
June 27, 2021
Just when you think it's safe to go the mountains...
This is an unusually intriguing novel. The very essence of good vs evil. And as Yungin, an important character in the story states, monsters are real.
This tale starts in Mitchum, Colorado at the Diamond Lake. People have been gruesomely murdered. They are disfigured and burned to death. But no one knows who or what killed them.
Then we meet Lissy, the sister of Mia, who was killed in that awful day. She is afraid to live or love. She hides behind her fear to avoid relationships or any sort of connection.
And then there is Neil, brother to the only survivor of the brutal attack. He is desperately in love with Lissy but she won't let him totally in. I definitely was a little annoyed by her attitude toward him at several points in the book but he was steadfast in his loyalty.
Lissy begins to suffer from blackouts and sees visions of the evil that lives in Diamond Lake. She is angry that her sister died there, she is angry that no one was ever held accountable, but mainly she is just angry at life. I understood somewhat but there were times as I said, she definitely tried my patience. She actually ended up incredibly strong and resilient.
It has been eleven years and she can't let it go. She starts feeling compelled to go the lake and she doesn't understand why and the visions are increasingly taking over her life.
A woman is found dead and mutilated, by Lissy. The police call it a suicide but she knows it was murder. Thus her journey begins.
Fear is the key to this book. The monsters that wait in the dark, the fear of the unknown, the fear in grief, and the fear of life. It is all tied in with th evil that lives in that lake. It's insidious and compelling and slowly taking over Lissy herself.
At points in the story it was almost allegorical and I wondered if the Monster just fed off Lissy's fear, and I just could not stop reading until I knew what the evil was. The revelation was fantasical, and frightening.
I am totally overwhelmed with the ending. I was so afraid of what was going to happen and it truly surprised me. I don't want to give anything away either you need to read it I feel without spoilers.
Thank you Josh Roberts for the opportunity to read this Arc. I loved it.
This is an unusually intriguing novel. The very essence of good vs evil. And as Yungin, an important character in the story states, monsters are real.
This tale starts in Mitchum, Colorado at the Diamond Lake. People have been gruesomely murdered. They are disfigured and burned to death. But no one knows who or what killed them.
Then we meet Lissy, the sister of Mia, who was killed in that awful day. She is afraid to live or love. She hides behind her fear to avoid relationships or any sort of connection.
And then there is Neil, brother to the only survivor of the brutal attack. He is desperately in love with Lissy but she won't let him totally in. I definitely was a little annoyed by her attitude toward him at several points in the book but he was steadfast in his loyalty.
Lissy begins to suffer from blackouts and sees visions of the evil that lives in Diamond Lake. She is angry that her sister died there, she is angry that no one was ever held accountable, but mainly she is just angry at life. I understood somewhat but there were times as I said, she definitely tried my patience. She actually ended up incredibly strong and resilient.
It has been eleven years and she can't let it go. She starts feeling compelled to go the lake and she doesn't understand why and the visions are increasingly taking over her life.
A woman is found dead and mutilated, by Lissy. The police call it a suicide but she knows it was murder. Thus her journey begins.
Fear is the key to this book. The monsters that wait in the dark, the fear of the unknown, the fear in grief, and the fear of life. It is all tied in with th evil that lives in that lake. It's insidious and compelling and slowly taking over Lissy herself.
At points in the story it was almost allegorical and I wondered if the Monster just fed off Lissy's fear, and I just could not stop reading until I knew what the evil was. The revelation was fantasical, and frightening.
I am totally overwhelmed with the ending. I was so afraid of what was going to happen and it truly surprised me. I don't want to give anything away either you need to read it I feel without spoilers.
Thank you Josh Roberts for the opportunity to read this Arc. I loved it.
March 8, 2022
A book that is, ultimately, about the battle between good and evil, And the triumph of the human spirit. Wonderful! Couldn't put it down.💜💜💜
May 9, 2022
A very decent story with grief, mystery, love, some fantasy. Plus, as a bonus, gore. I think the real action and a few real clues as to what was really the cause of this horror, could have come a bit sooner, and a tad less of the relationship or non relationship between Lissy and Neil, but otherwise it was very enjoyable and the ending was a surprise to me,.
August 31, 2021
Entertaining! It was reminiscent of a King novel without the slow burn beginning. I would recommend this as a quick, thrilling read with an unusual twist.
November 9, 2021
Different but entertaining
You defently will not guess what monster that will emerge in this novel, the story was original and different from most horror and supernatural books out there, original and fresh. During the read i sometimes feelt frustraited by the main caracters emotional constipation and the way she reacted to those around who love her, especially the male caracter but there is a reason and it will all be revealed. The book is just as much about handling grief as fighting a hidden treat that kills recidents in a small mountain town, it has weight on the spiritual and is the good old evil vs good fight but well written, read it in two goes
You defently will not guess what monster that will emerge in this novel, the story was original and different from most horror and supernatural books out there, original and fresh. During the read i sometimes feelt frustraited by the main caracters emotional constipation and the way she reacted to those around who love her, especially the male caracter but there is a reason and it will all be revealed. The book is just as much about handling grief as fighting a hidden treat that kills recidents in a small mountain town, it has weight on the spiritual and is the good old evil vs good fight but well written, read it in two goes
July 2, 2021
Clawing Free by Josh Roberts
Synopsis /
Years after the grisly murder of her older sister, Lissy Oullette—a waitress in a small mountain town—is struggling to move on with her life when something rips it all apart . . . again.
At the lake near her home, Lissy discovers another body. And much like her sister’s, it’s been torn to pieces.
As she searches for answers, Lissy finds herself being lured back to the lake by something so evil, it seems inevitable that hers will be the next body found.
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge thank you to Josh Roberts for generously providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Second. Happy Publication Day for 6 July 2021!
Clawing Free is the debut novel for author Josh Roberts.
Horror? Paranormal? This book falls into a genre I don’t read much of, and indeed, tend to shy from, as it and I do not normally see eye to eye. So I wanted to wait a little time after finishing before writing my review.
Diamond Lake, Mitchum, Colorado. People have been (gruesomely) murdered. They have been disfigured, burned to death. But no one knows exactly how they were killed or, more importantly, who killed them. Meet Lissy – Elizabeth Ouellette. Smart, headstrong, fearful, but yet fearless. In the eleven years since her sister’s brutal death, Lissy hadn’t been able to bring herself to hike the Lake trail. Now, eleven years later, a new body is discovered with the same claw marks her sister's body had. Lissy starts to have weird, dark visions that mess with her head. Why have these started? Lissy has to wonder whether there might be more to the rumours of the Lake than she originally thought.
I really don’t want to tell you any more for fear of spoilers.
As a debut book, it was definitely enjoyable. You can see the author’s confidence growing as the novel progresses. Starting off painfully slowly, the story gains momentum and, comes together at the end really well. Some of the dialogue is annoyingly repetitive. Protagonist, Lissy was definitely hard to like in the beginning. As to the story develops, so does Lissy – she becomes less negative and more sure of herself. The subtle hint of romance between Lissy and Neil (Lissy’s best friend) was nicely written. I have to say that Neil especially is one of a kind! They broke the mould with Neil.
Along the way, the author has given us subtle reminders that we all have choices. We can embrace the good, the love and fight for our happiness, or we can yield to our fears. Let our worries and grief devour us. It's all about hope, and above all, belief. We tend to remember tough experiences more than easy ones. We see flaws before we recognise beauty. We’re quicker to remember someone’s hate than their love. But life’s so much better when we fight with everything in us to hold on to what’s good. So please, Lis – not just for Mom, but for you – don’t let him go, not willingly. Fight to hold on as long as you can, ‘cause love like his was one of a kind. But hate and disappointment will show up at every turn.
Although I struggle to relate to this genre I have to say that the story was, for the most part, believable and enjoyable. If you love reading about the paranormal and enjoy horror tales I recommend this book to you. I think you will enjoy it very much.
A new author definitely worth following.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Synopsis /
Years after the grisly murder of her older sister, Lissy Oullette—a waitress in a small mountain town—is struggling to move on with her life when something rips it all apart . . . again.
At the lake near her home, Lissy discovers another body. And much like her sister’s, it’s been torn to pieces.
As she searches for answers, Lissy finds herself being lured back to the lake by something so evil, it seems inevitable that hers will be the next body found.
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge thank you to Josh Roberts for generously providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Second. Happy Publication Day for 6 July 2021!
Clawing Free is the debut novel for author Josh Roberts.
Horror? Paranormal? This book falls into a genre I don’t read much of, and indeed, tend to shy from, as it and I do not normally see eye to eye. So I wanted to wait a little time after finishing before writing my review.
Diamond Lake, Mitchum, Colorado. People have been (gruesomely) murdered. They have been disfigured, burned to death. But no one knows exactly how they were killed or, more importantly, who killed them. Meet Lissy – Elizabeth Ouellette. Smart, headstrong, fearful, but yet fearless. In the eleven years since her sister’s brutal death, Lissy hadn’t been able to bring herself to hike the Lake trail. Now, eleven years later, a new body is discovered with the same claw marks her sister's body had. Lissy starts to have weird, dark visions that mess with her head. Why have these started? Lissy has to wonder whether there might be more to the rumours of the Lake than she originally thought.
I really don’t want to tell you any more for fear of spoilers.
As a debut book, it was definitely enjoyable. You can see the author’s confidence growing as the novel progresses. Starting off painfully slowly, the story gains momentum and, comes together at the end really well. Some of the dialogue is annoyingly repetitive. Protagonist, Lissy was definitely hard to like in the beginning. As to the story develops, so does Lissy – she becomes less negative and more sure of herself. The subtle hint of romance between Lissy and Neil (Lissy’s best friend) was nicely written. I have to say that Neil especially is one of a kind! They broke the mould with Neil.
Along the way, the author has given us subtle reminders that we all have choices. We can embrace the good, the love and fight for our happiness, or we can yield to our fears. Let our worries and grief devour us. It's all about hope, and above all, belief. We tend to remember tough experiences more than easy ones. We see flaws before we recognise beauty. We’re quicker to remember someone’s hate than their love. But life’s so much better when we fight with everything in us to hold on to what’s good. So please, Lis – not just for Mom, but for you – don’t let him go, not willingly. Fight to hold on as long as you can, ‘cause love like his was one of a kind. But hate and disappointment will show up at every turn.
Although I struggle to relate to this genre I have to say that the story was, for the most part, believable and enjoyable. If you love reading about the paranormal and enjoy horror tales I recommend this book to you. I think you will enjoy it very much.
A new author definitely worth following.
3.5 stars rounded up.
March 19, 2022
Thank you Goodreads and Josh Roberts for allowing me to review Clawing Free.
“Life’s got a way of amplifying the bad and forcing out the good, sis. And I won’t lie, it’s hard to stop the process sometimes. We tend to remember tough experiences more than easy ones. We see flaws before we recognize beauty. We’re quicker to remember someone’s hate than their love. But life’s so much better when we fight with everything in us to hold on to what’s good.”
The Rundown:
Lissy is a twenty something year old waitress living in a small town in Colorado. She’s never gotten over losing her older sister Mia when Lissy was just a kid. Her Mom left town and her Dad passed even earlier than Mia. All that loss has left a hole in Lissy. But Mia left the biggest hole because her murder was never solved.
Lissy is being drawn to Diamond Lake where it all happened 11 years ago. She’s having weird visions and is being “called” to the lake, she just knows it’s tied to her sisters death somehow. She follows her hunch and goes back to the scene to discover another girl’s body torn up and burned exactly the same way Mia died. She’s never believed in monsters but what ever is killing people at the lake cannot possibly be human?! Whomever or whatever is doing this is evil to the core. And whether human or monster Lissy has to find away to stop this before she herself and/or others end up dead.
Characters:
I did not like Lissy in the beginning. I knew she was going through a lot but her personality was a lot to take. She was pretty assholish to those who cared about her. And I especially did not like the way she treated Neil, who is a total sweetheart. But during the course of the book she started to change and I started to admire her strength and root for her to get her life together.
Neil was there for Lissy totally and completely, no matter what she did or how much she pushed him away. I loved him for that but I also wanted to see him put Lissy in her place and stop letting her walk all over him like a doormat.
But by the end I was hoping they would get their HEA.
Plot:
The story is told in dual time lines. It’s mainly in the present but also goes back to the past a few days before Mia’s death and the night she was killed. Josh did a great job bringing Mia alive that way and getting to see Mia as a person and not just a name. It really helped me sympathize more with Lissie’s pain.
I can’t go into to much depth about the actual plot or I’ll ruin the book. But I enjoyed the horror story that was infused with Korean Mythology. I thought that was vey imaginative and unique. The story had twists that I appreciated not being able to guess right off the bat, which I can pin point in .02 seconds nowadays. But there wasn’t a whole lot of anticipation, which I feel is essential in horror.
I was definitely getting Stephen King-ish vibes, but the writing was a little rough at times and a bit too repetitive.
This is a decent start to a first book. I think Josh Roberts has talent and has some great stories ahead of him. And I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
“Life’s got a way of amplifying the bad and forcing out the good, sis. And I won’t lie, it’s hard to stop the process sometimes. We tend to remember tough experiences more than easy ones. We see flaws before we recognize beauty. We’re quicker to remember someone’s hate than their love. But life’s so much better when we fight with everything in us to hold on to what’s good.”
The Rundown:
Lissy is a twenty something year old waitress living in a small town in Colorado. She’s never gotten over losing her older sister Mia when Lissy was just a kid. Her Mom left town and her Dad passed even earlier than Mia. All that loss has left a hole in Lissy. But Mia left the biggest hole because her murder was never solved.
Lissy is being drawn to Diamond Lake where it all happened 11 years ago. She’s having weird visions and is being “called” to the lake, she just knows it’s tied to her sisters death somehow. She follows her hunch and goes back to the scene to discover another girl’s body torn up and burned exactly the same way Mia died. She’s never believed in monsters but what ever is killing people at the lake cannot possibly be human?! Whomever or whatever is doing this is evil to the core. And whether human or monster Lissy has to find away to stop this before she herself and/or others end up dead.
Characters:
I did not like Lissy in the beginning. I knew she was going through a lot but her personality was a lot to take. She was pretty assholish to those who cared about her. And I especially did not like the way she treated Neil, who is a total sweetheart. But during the course of the book she started to change and I started to admire her strength and root for her to get her life together.
Neil was there for Lissy totally and completely, no matter what she did or how much she pushed him away. I loved him for that but I also wanted to see him put Lissy in her place and stop letting her walk all over him like a doormat.
But by the end I was hoping they would get their HEA.
Plot:
The story is told in dual time lines. It’s mainly in the present but also goes back to the past a few days before Mia’s death and the night she was killed. Josh did a great job bringing Mia alive that way and getting to see Mia as a person and not just a name. It really helped me sympathize more with Lissie’s pain.
I can’t go into to much depth about the actual plot or I’ll ruin the book. But I enjoyed the horror story that was infused with Korean Mythology. I thought that was vey imaginative and unique. The story had twists that I appreciated not being able to guess right off the bat, which I can pin point in .02 seconds nowadays. But there wasn’t a whole lot of anticipation, which I feel is essential in horror.
I was definitely getting Stephen King-ish vibes, but the writing was a little rough at times and a bit too repetitive.
This is a decent start to a first book. I think Josh Roberts has talent and has some great stories ahead of him. And I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
June 27, 2021
First, I’d like to thank the author Josh Roberts for gifting me a copy of this book to preview before the release date. This book is very much out the genre I tend to read and it allowed me to continue to stretch myself as a reader. My review is an honest review of the text.
Now for my review. I read this book in one day. This book is cleanly written, with few grammatical error, and provides character development through a reflective look at their past as well as their present. I wouldn’t say the ending is predictable, but the reader can piece together information to know that battle that will occur for the main characters, Lissy and Neil.
I found myself frustrated with the main character a great deal of the time, and wondered if I would ever truly like her. While I didn’t love her in the end, I made peace with her flaws and often poor decision making skills. I did love Neil and his loyalty to Lissy. The monsters in the story were unique and tied in with folklore, which as an educator I felt fascinated by. Not to give a spoiler, but the book ends with kind of a moral. It surprised me a great deal for a fiction, horror genre text. It seemed even a bit sappy to think of love conquering all as the moral in this genre, but then I felt like I wanted this character to love so I liked her a bit more.
This book was a quick read and I found myself pulled into the story. I hope we will see more from this author as he continues to grow as a writer.
The book releases July 6th so be sure to check it out for a summer read.
Now for my review. I read this book in one day. This book is cleanly written, with few grammatical error, and provides character development through a reflective look at their past as well as their present. I wouldn’t say the ending is predictable, but the reader can piece together information to know that battle that will occur for the main characters, Lissy and Neil.
I found myself frustrated with the main character a great deal of the time, and wondered if I would ever truly like her. While I didn’t love her in the end, I made peace with her flaws and often poor decision making skills. I did love Neil and his loyalty to Lissy. The monsters in the story were unique and tied in with folklore, which as an educator I felt fascinated by. Not to give a spoiler, but the book ends with kind of a moral. It surprised me a great deal for a fiction, horror genre text. It seemed even a bit sappy to think of love conquering all as the moral in this genre, but then I felt like I wanted this character to love so I liked her a bit more.
This book was a quick read and I found myself pulled into the story. I hope we will see more from this author as he continues to grow as a writer.
The book releases July 6th so be sure to check it out for a summer read.
July 6, 2021
The good that lives in all of us versus the evil that lives in the world and wants to suck the good out of all of us is played out well in Clawing Free. When you lose someone you love suddenly and violently it is difficult to find closure and this is addressed as well. What do you do when you are living a nightmare of losing someone and then your nightmare comes to life? Read Clawing Free to find out! If you are a fan of Dean Koontz you will be thrilled with this tome as well.
June 26, 2021
Clawing Free by Josh Roberts. I won this kindle book in a GoodReads giveaway. This book was written well with good character development. Creepy enough to keep my interest to see it through to the end. I would recommend it and I look forward to following this author in his next project.
June 26, 2021
I loved this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing what would happen next. Cannot wait for it’s release!
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