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A Fine Evening in Hell
On the verge of divorce, Heather needs some excitement in her life, but she’s about to get more than she bargained for.
On a date with a younger man, the two park at an abandoned warehouse for some intimate privacy, unaware of the criminals using the abandoned building as a hideout.
Max and Bastian have just pulled a big heist. Now they’re running from vengeful gangsters, dirty cops, and demented ex-cons.
When things go wrong, the criminals take Heather hostage, forcing her to drive them across state lines on a snowy night. What began as a night of fun quickly becomes a nightmare—not only for Heather, but for Max and Bastian as well. If she’s ever going to get home to her child, Heather must fight to survive, even if it means fighting alongside the men who abducted her.
A Fine Evening in Hell is a taut, gripping thriller from Kristopher Triana, the award-winning author of Gone to See the River Man and Shepherd of the Black Sheep. It is a novel about new starts and last chances, facing up to consequences, and the courage that comes with motherhood.
On a date with a younger man, the two park at an abandoned warehouse for some intimate privacy, unaware of the criminals using the abandoned building as a hideout.
Max and Bastian have just pulled a big heist. Now they’re running from vengeful gangsters, dirty cops, and demented ex-cons.
When things go wrong, the criminals take Heather hostage, forcing her to drive them across state lines on a snowy night. What began as a night of fun quickly becomes a nightmare—not only for Heather, but for Max and Bastian as well. If she’s ever going to get home to her child, Heather must fight to survive, even if it means fighting alongside the men who abducted her.
A Fine Evening in Hell is a taut, gripping thriller from Kristopher Triana, the award-winning author of Gone to See the River Man and Shepherd of the Black Sheep. It is a novel about new starts and last chances, facing up to consequences, and the courage that comes with motherhood.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2022
27 people are currently reading
799 people want to read
About the author
Kristopher Triana
68 books2,146 followersKristopher Triana is the author of Gone to See the River Man, Full Brutal, They All Died Screaming, Shepherd of the Black Sheep, Toxic Love, and more.
His fiction has appeared in countless magazines and anthologies and has been translated into multiple languages, drawing praise from Publisher's Weekly, Cemetery Dance, Rue Morgue, Scream, The Ginger Nuts of Horror and others.
Full Brutal won the Splatterpunk Award for Best Horror Novel of 2019, and Triana won the award again in 2022 for The Night Stockers, which he cowrote with Ryan Harding.
He lives in Connecticut.
His fiction has appeared in countless magazines and anthologies and has been translated into multiple languages, drawing praise from Publisher's Weekly, Cemetery Dance, Rue Morgue, Scream, The Ginger Nuts of Horror and others.
Full Brutal won the Splatterpunk Award for Best Horror Novel of 2019, and Triana won the award again in 2022 for The Night Stockers, which he cowrote with Ryan Harding.
He lives in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
February 24, 2025
This was my first Kristopher Triana book that was not based in extreme horror or splatterpunk context. He is so talented, and I know that I say it a lot, but truly mean it. He writes his words like an artist paints a beautiful picture, no matter what the genre is. This was an intense, action-packed thrill ride that never really slowed down. Again, it was a very different experience not seeing a stomach-churning amount of gore, bloodlust, mind-numbing sexual encounters, vulgarities, etc, as I saw in Riverman, Body Art, Toxic Love, etc. But I liked this story quite a bit, as it was based in reality. Nothing was far-fetched and all of it could have, and definitely has, happened countless times in real life. And that's where some of the story really rattled me, as I can't believe some of the true horror that exists. We don't necessarily need things like vampires, werewolves, or any type of angry cryptid to scare the hell out of us. We sometimes need to look no further than ourselves and how things function all around us. And Mr. Triana did a magnificent job humanizing his cast of characters, despite their evil thoughts and deeds, so that you understand their mindsets. You may not agree with any of it, but you could empathize with all of it. And the ending left me feeling a good deal of peace towards everyone and everything that happened, too. Needless to say, I have a very difficult time finding things that I don't like about Kristopher Triana's works, and recommend him every chance I get, for damn good reasons. He is one of the best authors that I've read, and look forward to continuing to burn through all of his books.
March 15, 2022
Max and Bastian, who seem to be the worst criminals I have ever read about, decide to rob your average bar owner/drug dealer. Things go wrong in every which way possible. Heather and her side piece are getting it on behind an abandoned factory in her car. Two worlds collide into one bloody wild ride. Another thrilling book from Triana! Recommend.
July 7, 2024
No Rest for the Wicked...
A FINE EVENING IN HELL
by Kristopher Triana
No spoilers. 4 stars. I would classify this novel as a crime noir...
Two hapless criminals, Max and Bastian (Sabastian), get word of a large heroin drop at an Irish pub...
... and decide to steal the drugs for themselves and sell them for enough money to create a better lifestyle than they've known so far...
Trouble is...
They had to kill the pub owner and his bartender to get their hands on it. It was really messy and...
... they subsequently learn that the drugs belonged to a big crime lord, and he's out to find them...
Even more hapless are Heather and her boy toy Evan, who just wanted to sneak off for car sex in a dark industrial parking lot...
Max and Bastian spot the couple and...
In short order, the toy is killed, and Max and Bastian take Heather and her car hostage as they flee to Canada...
Along the way...
They take three more hostages including a dirty cop who was in on the first drug drop at the pub...
It's going to be a long night, and there will be no rest for the wicked as well as the innocent before they discover crime doesn't pay...
This was a decent crime noir story that became a page-turner toward the end. I found the dialog between the criminals a little incredible but overall a good story.
GONE TO SEE THE RIVER MAN by this author is also a good story.
A FINE EVENING IN HELL
by Kristopher Triana
No spoilers. 4 stars. I would classify this novel as a crime noir...
Two hapless criminals, Max and Bastian (Sabastian), get word of a large heroin drop at an Irish pub...
... and decide to steal the drugs for themselves and sell them for enough money to create a better lifestyle than they've known so far...
Trouble is...
They had to kill the pub owner and his bartender to get their hands on it. It was really messy and...
... they subsequently learn that the drugs belonged to a big crime lord, and he's out to find them...
Even more hapless are Heather and her boy toy Evan, who just wanted to sneak off for car sex in a dark industrial parking lot...
Max and Bastian spot the couple and...
In short order, the toy is killed, and Max and Bastian take Heather and her car hostage as they flee to Canada...
Along the way...
They take three more hostages including a dirty cop who was in on the first drug drop at the pub...
It's going to be a long night, and there will be no rest for the wicked as well as the innocent before they discover crime doesn't pay...
This was a decent crime noir story that became a page-turner toward the end. I found the dialog between the criminals a little incredible but overall a good story.
GONE TO SEE THE RIVER MAN by this author is also a good story.
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May 7, 2022I had the pleasure of beta reading this book! Full review soon :)
December 29, 2022
Wow! This is one of the most intense books I have ever read! It keeps you on the edge of your seat and keeps you turning the pages until the very end. The writing is terrific, beautiful main character, and the action leaves you breathless. Triana does a magnificent job providing an amazing amount of vivid imaging giving the reader a detailed and often horrifying picture of events.
August 10, 2022
Kristopher Triana conceives of someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he takes it to an extreme most of us would never imagine possible. A Fine Evening In Hell is a tense, character-driven thriller that explores the lengths we'll go to survive when life has taken a detour down a dark road into real-life terror.
Heather and Evan couldn't have dreamt just how awful their night would be when they snuck away to the parking lot of an abandoned warehouse for sex. Not only was the sex itself disappointing, but they soon find themselves caught in the middle of a dispute between criminals and the dirty cops hunting them down. Their attempt to find a secluded place for intimacy will lead them down a path with disastrous and deadly consequences.
Triana does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life, fleshing each out, and making them feel as human as anyone. There are no two-dimensional throwaway characters and no bland ciphers onto whom the reader can project themselves. We're meant to know these people, to love and hate them as the story dictates, and to feel an empathetic connection with them--even when we may not want to.
Kristopher Triana displays a versatility of style that is astounding, bringing his understanding of horror and visceral human terror to the all-too-real conditions of this story, and forcing us to feel the chill of that Northeastern climate as we're transported along with Heather.
Heather and Evan couldn't have dreamt just how awful their night would be when they snuck away to the parking lot of an abandoned warehouse for sex. Not only was the sex itself disappointing, but they soon find themselves caught in the middle of a dispute between criminals and the dirty cops hunting them down. Their attempt to find a secluded place for intimacy will lead them down a path with disastrous and deadly consequences.
Triana does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life, fleshing each out, and making them feel as human as anyone. There are no two-dimensional throwaway characters and no bland ciphers onto whom the reader can project themselves. We're meant to know these people, to love and hate them as the story dictates, and to feel an empathetic connection with them--even when we may not want to.
Kristopher Triana displays a versatility of style that is astounding, bringing his understanding of horror and visceral human terror to the all-too-real conditions of this story, and forcing us to feel the chill of that Northeastern climate as we're transported along with Heather.
January 7, 2024
This is the first book I’ve read by Kristopher Triana & I absolutely loved it!
This is one of the most intense books I have ever read! It keeps you on the edge of your seat & keeps you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning . The writing is terrific, loved the characters but the main character,Heather was so relatable. The fast paced action leaves you on edge throughout the entire book. The vivid descriptions were amazing & I loved the fact so many places I’m familiar with or mentioned (New Hampshire, Maine, Mt Washington, Bruins etc). This was an incredible first read for me.
This is one of the most intense books I have ever read! It keeps you on the edge of your seat & keeps you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning . The writing is terrific, loved the characters but the main character,Heather was so relatable. The fast paced action leaves you on edge throughout the entire book. The vivid descriptions were amazing & I loved the fact so many places I’m familiar with or mentioned (New Hampshire, Maine, Mt Washington, Bruins etc). This was an incredible first read for me.
August 24, 2022
While his horror is great, I honestly like Kristopher Triana's gritty dark fiction more. This was an intense story that had you even rooting for some of the bad guys at times.
May 28, 2022
Just as brutal as it is heartwarming, Triana brings us some of the worst of what’s going on in the world, layered with the good you sometimes find in the very unexpected.
Heart pounding from start to finish, I was with Heather in every moment. While I expected horror from Triana, I got dark crime fiction. But the horror is definitely there in the most despicable actions of the deranged. Prepare yourself for bloodshed, anxiety and the craziest car ride ever.
For the sheer fact I couldn’t look away, these 226 pages that took me on a roller coaster of emotions truly packed a punch. Entertained from beginning to end. 🙌🏻
Heart pounding from start to finish, I was with Heather in every moment. While I expected horror from Triana, I got dark crime fiction. But the horror is definitely there in the most despicable actions of the deranged. Prepare yourself for bloodshed, anxiety and the craziest car ride ever.
For the sheer fact I couldn’t look away, these 226 pages that took me on a roller coaster of emotions truly packed a punch. Entertained from beginning to end. 🙌🏻
October 30, 2022
It's sadly not my type of books, but I still wanted to read everything Kristopher Triana ever wrote. The main characters took some very bad decisions... Sometimes I wanted to hold my head in my hands. I did like the ending, and the descriptions are always so vivid with this author. But it's not my favorite book from him.
September 24, 2023
This books title is also what I like to affectionately call anything involving any form of human interaction, I'm not just saying this book is great because the character is called Heather...promise 👀 this blended thriller and horror elements together perfectly producing an adrenaline-fuelled bloody wild ride (literally), everytime I read Triana I'm reminded why I am unhealthily obsessed with him-- I mean his books....😅whilst not as extreme as his other books it still has that darkness we've come to expect (fear not splatterpunk friends theres still violence and gore) but this felt more like a gritty almost noir crime, just like his novel That Night In The Woods, Kristopher shows hes not just a talented extreme horror author but can deliver the slow burn spooky, crime/thriller/drama as well as the gory, taking well known tropes and giving them the *triana treatment*
July 8, 2022
A Fine Evening in Hell by Kristopher Triana
Wow. This is one hell of a psychological crime thriller. Kristopher Triana is a fucking phenomenal writer.... I don't know what to say except this book is fast paced and full of action. It's a awesome story and everything that could go wrong on a innocent date night does in this one and then some. The plot the characters and the awesome descriptive storytelling ability of Kristopher Triana makes this a solid 5 stars from me.
Wow. This is one hell of a psychological crime thriller. Kristopher Triana is a fucking phenomenal writer.... I don't know what to say except this book is fast paced and full of action. It's a awesome story and everything that could go wrong on a innocent date night does in this one and then some. The plot the characters and the awesome descriptive storytelling ability of Kristopher Triana makes this a solid 5 stars from me.
March 17, 2022
This one didn't grip me like most of Triana's work has. I found it rather tough going till the final quarter of the story. I think this might have made a better movie than a novel.
November 28, 2022
Everytime I read a new Triana book I'm reminded why he's one of my absolute favorite authors. His prose is always impressive and I always find myself attached to his characters. In this case I felt a strong kinship to Heather and even Bastian. It certainly was one fine evening in hell, but there were small moments of tenderness amongst the violence and chaos. Definitely a 5/5 skull read 💀
September 18, 2025
2.5/5 (rounded up for GoodReads)
I've had this book on my shelf for a few years and kind of forgot I had it. I was in the mood for a tried and true author when I went to my bookshelf and realized I had this one. I did know going into this book that it is not his typical extreme horror but rather an action thriller which intrigued me. I think the story here is very solid and if you're looking for a very fast paced crime thriller then this does pack a punch. I think we're it lost points for me personally is that I wasn't really invested in any of the characters and the middle section lost the initial steam from the beginning which made the story lag a bit. It does get fast paced in the end again but at that point I was uninterested and didn't have any strong feelings.
I will say, I appreciated the ending and I like how Triana tied things together - I can tell there was a lot of care taken into writing these characters. It just didn't work for me.
I've had this book on my shelf for a few years and kind of forgot I had it. I was in the mood for a tried and true author when I went to my bookshelf and realized I had this one. I did know going into this book that it is not his typical extreme horror but rather an action thriller which intrigued me. I think the story here is very solid and if you're looking for a very fast paced crime thriller then this does pack a punch. I think we're it lost points for me personally is that I wasn't really invested in any of the characters and the middle section lost the initial steam from the beginning which made the story lag a bit. It does get fast paced in the end again but at that point I was uninterested and didn't have any strong feelings.
I will say, I appreciated the ending and I like how Triana tied things together - I can tell there was a lot of care taken into writing these characters. It just didn't work for me.
December 17, 2022
A tame Kristopher Triana book?? I didn’t think that was possible haha I enjoyed this one, it’s a great one for if you’re just getting into Kris’ work!
July 23, 2022
Indeed a fine evening in hell!
While not as extreme as other Triana books this is still a fantastic read. From start to finish it has you gripped needing to know where the story was going next. For a short book this for a whole lot of chaos into one night!
While not as extreme as other Triana books this is still a fantastic read. From start to finish it has you gripped needing to know where the story was going next. For a short book this for a whole lot of chaos into one night!
February 26, 2022
WOW, that was intense!
I loved it. The characters are written so well you can almost see and smell them, and you get that sense of dread as things progressively get worse and worse.
This book has a similar feel to the movies Reservoir Dogs and A Simple Plan (I have not read the book as yet)
It is about Heather, on the verge of divorce, needs some excitement in her life, and on a date with a younger man, gets caught up with two criminals Max and Bastian who have just pulled a big heist, that went wrong.
Now they are all running from vengeful gangsters, dirty cops, and demented ex-cons. What began as a night of fun quickly becomes a nightmare—not only for Heather, but for the criminals Max and Bastian as well. If she’s ever going to get home to her child, Heather must fight to survive, even if it means fighting alongside the men who abducted her.
This is my first book by Kristopher Triana (I know, I know, I have only got back into reading recently, I have a LOT of catching up to do) but it is defiantly will not be my last.
I highly recommend this book it is intense and emotionally draining, now excuse me while I go hug my puppy.
I want to thank Bloodbound Books for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved it. The characters are written so well you can almost see and smell them, and you get that sense of dread as things progressively get worse and worse.
This book has a similar feel to the movies Reservoir Dogs and A Simple Plan (I have not read the book as yet)
It is about Heather, on the verge of divorce, needs some excitement in her life, and on a date with a younger man, gets caught up with two criminals Max and Bastian who have just pulled a big heist, that went wrong.
Now they are all running from vengeful gangsters, dirty cops, and demented ex-cons. What began as a night of fun quickly becomes a nightmare—not only for Heather, but for the criminals Max and Bastian as well. If she’s ever going to get home to her child, Heather must fight to survive, even if it means fighting alongside the men who abducted her.
This is my first book by Kristopher Triana (I know, I know, I have only got back into reading recently, I have a LOT of catching up to do) but it is defiantly will not be my last.
I highly recommend this book it is intense and emotionally draining, now excuse me while I go hug my puppy.
I want to thank Bloodbound Books for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2023
After a heist two criminals are on the run. When things go wrong, Heather is taken as a hostage to drive across state lines. Heather's life is not the only one in danger, now she must work along side the men who kidnapped her to try and survive.
This was dark, but not as fucked up as Trianas usual writing. A sense of dread almost from the start and it continued to escalate as things got progressively worse. This will have you on the edge of your seat.
This was dark, but not as fucked up as Trianas usual writing. A sense of dread almost from the start and it continued to escalate as things got progressively worse. This will have you on the edge of your seat.
March 17, 2022
Another great thriller by Triana. This was very intense. A lot of bad decisions are made. Awesome characters who go through a lot. Ending was very intense, and brutal.
April 10, 2022
If you thought you knew “bad men,” just wait until you pick up this one. Future divorcee Heather is having a bit of an escapade with her new, younger boyfriend, when the worst possible people happen to stumble upon the car. This leads to criminals Bastian and Max essentially forcing Heather to take a little journey with them, one that will yield disastrous consequences.
Another gripping plotline from the same man who brought you the savage and unrelenting “Gone To See The River Man,” though rather than extreme horror, this story takes on a more crime-noir tone. This book made me feel sorry for some morally corrupt people; and at one point, it even had me sort of rooting for them, and then feeling guilty about it because they’ve done such vile deeds.
There was a large chunk toward the middle of the story that is presented in the form of a flashback. I found this section particularly to be a bit of a drag, as well as a tad confusing. But this was not necessarily a fatal flaw to the book, as every section aside from this one did an amazing job at holding my attention.
The story is tense, and there are a few characters so despicable it would be a stretch to label them as “humans.” Seriously, some of these guys make murderers look like saints by comparison. I felt a strange sense of hope the entire time- as though I KNEW Heather was strong enough to overcome this ordeal. I won’t spoil the outcome; just know it is intense and I had a lot of fun getting there.
Fans of reading up on depraved tendencies, or even of strong protagonists and morally questionable characters will eat this one up. An original and attention demanding thriller from an author who has not disappointed me thus far.
Another gripping plotline from the same man who brought you the savage and unrelenting “Gone To See The River Man,” though rather than extreme horror, this story takes on a more crime-noir tone. This book made me feel sorry for some morally corrupt people; and at one point, it even had me sort of rooting for them, and then feeling guilty about it because they’ve done such vile deeds.
There was a large chunk toward the middle of the story that is presented in the form of a flashback. I found this section particularly to be a bit of a drag, as well as a tad confusing. But this was not necessarily a fatal flaw to the book, as every section aside from this one did an amazing job at holding my attention.
The story is tense, and there are a few characters so despicable it would be a stretch to label them as “humans.” Seriously, some of these guys make murderers look like saints by comparison. I felt a strange sense of hope the entire time- as though I KNEW Heather was strong enough to overcome this ordeal. I won’t spoil the outcome; just know it is intense and I had a lot of fun getting there.
Fans of reading up on depraved tendencies, or even of strong protagonists and morally questionable characters will eat this one up. An original and attention demanding thriller from an author who has not disappointed me thus far.
March 13, 2022
Heather's marriage is falling apart. After a fling with another man, her night turns into a living hell after she is caught up in a crime and becomes a hostage to two vigilantes fleeing the scene.
Triana weaves a crime noir thriller that is a non stop adrenaline ride. Who are the bad guys really? You will have to read this book to find out. Triana has a way of writing despicable characters, as well as characters that encompass both good and bad. There were characters that I was rooting for and characters I desperately wanted to see them suffer the way they made their victims suffer. Prepare to not put this book down once you start reading it. Strong trigger warnings. I received an ARC from Blood Bound Books in exchange for an honest review.
Triana weaves a crime noir thriller that is a non stop adrenaline ride. Who are the bad guys really? You will have to read this book to find out. Triana has a way of writing despicable characters, as well as characters that encompass both good and bad. There were characters that I was rooting for and characters I desperately wanted to see them suffer the way they made their victims suffer. Prepare to not put this book down once you start reading it. Strong trigger warnings. I received an ARC from Blood Bound Books in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2023
Y'all, this is my first book by this author but it definitely will not be my last. Wow. This is domestic horror, as in, this could actually happen to you. Triana's writing is atmospheric and brilliant. My throat was closing and I was a ball of nerves while reading this. I need more books by him immediately. This book is about heather. While she's fooling around with a younger man in her car in an abandoned parking lot, two criminals, who are in major trouble, take her hostage. She's going to drive them to wherever they want. Her night of fun is quickly becoming a nightmare and she's going to be in for the fight of her life to get back to her son.
June 16, 2022
Excellent crime thriller from a writer usually more associated with extreme horror, but like “Gone to See the River Man” this was an extremely enjoyable read. Triana writes awesome characters. Whilst probably a lot tamer than some of his other works, it’s still extremely violent and has unsettling themes. I look forward to reading more of Triana’s novels in the near future.
January 19, 2023
Meh. Not really for me. Totally different then his other books. Not extreme at all. Flat characters to me . Like a mellow gangster type book.
Weird … humpf
Weird … humpf
September 12, 2023
The pace for this one was a little slow even though I enjoyed the overall story. This is the first book I have read from Kristopher and I plan on reading a few more.
April 16, 2024
Not a big fan of this one. The story was dragging a bit and was kind of derivative. The characters were ok but a bit cartoonish in a not funny way. Ultimately I didn’t get into the story. This wasn’t the page turner I thought it would be.
Also there is no francs in Paris (or anywhere else in France for that matter) since 22 years…
A bit disappointing coming from Triana. I usually love his books.
Also there is no francs in Paris (or anywhere else in France for that matter) since 22 years…
A bit disappointing coming from Triana. I usually love his books.
April 3, 2022
I am a huge fan of Kristopher Triana and have loved reading all his books. This one does not disappoint. It is a fast read, intense, violent, extreme. All the things I love in a book. 5 stars !
November 6, 2022
A FINE EVENING IN HELL [2022] By Kristopher Triana
My Review Four Stars****
I bought and read this recent release by Triana earlier this week, and I was not disappointed. I purchased it because I was captivated by “Gone To See The River Man”, and had already decided to read more of Triana’s works. This was a recent release of his and had a genre designation of Organized Crime (not one of my go-to genres). However, the reviews were strongly positive and I was intrigued by the scenario in the description and instinctively felt that given Triana’s imagination and writing talent it would be an adrenaline infused roller coaster ride of a story line. And guess what? It was that and so much more.
There are only 57 global ratings on Amazon’s Customer reviews thus far, but I read several of them, and they are excellent. They also capture my own sentiments pretty darn well. The story is essentially the quintessential plot device of a person being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Phenomenal books have been written about a man (or woman) suddenly finding themselves in a situation beyond his or her wildest imagination. That is what happens on this particular “Fine Evening.” A 34-year-old mother of a little boy, and in the process of divorcing her husband, is stepping out one night for a bit of recreational sex with a 22-year-old guy. During her clandestine tryst, she abruptly finds herself a hostage and then on a road trip “In Hell”.
Triana is legendary for creating the most despicable characters that were ever depicted on a written page. I have not read but two of his works at this point but I can easily believe that is true. In this novel he demonstrates an uncanny ability to also mold fictional characters in shades of gray. The anti-heroes of career criminals Max and his 50-year black ex-con partner Bastion are cases in point. Main protagonist Heather’s world does not consist of men like these hardened criminals molded by not only their crimes but their imprisonments in maximum security facilities. She has never even had a parking ticket, but her behavior on this night is a bit morally suspect if not completely understandable. The three of them are soon joined by the superordinate goal of survival. I felt degrees of sympathy for both Max and Bastion, and that included when all hell loose on this trio fleeing across country.
This story was simply action-packed from the get-go, and Triana never let up on the gas pedal. Every time there was a moment of rest for the wicked, there was another hand grenade of hellfire pitched their way. During periods of the small brigade taking respite someplace they holed up, the reader was regaled by horror stories straight from the front pages. Bastion was able to relate to Heather the horror of his brother being murdered by racist white cops, but the author balanced the narrative by including the fire and brimstone Old Testament overkill murders of the white cop, his wife and two sons by his father and his brother. Bastion was ultimately left without his brother, his father and his uncle because of the murders and vengeance which spilled so much innocent blood.
There are also dirty cops in the story that I despised more than the career criminals, including Bastion who shot one of the cops in self-defense. But just when you think they (the dirty cops) were some “really” bad men, you find out that you are not even on the same planet as “bad.” Our motley trio of survivors with a second hostage in tow finally arrive at the launching pad for their road to freedom and Heather’s release. The “hell” of it is that Max’s stop is at the Compound of a white supremacist Nazi ex-con named Willem. I hated the character of Willem so much it was ridiculous and that was before I learned the depths of his depravity and evil. Willem’s trigger-happy girlfriend is a heartless Nazi bitch who is ready to shoot one of them in the head at a moment’s notice. A third member of the compound maintains the computer-generated business and of course we learn what a sleazy heartless piece of work he is before the final fireworks. It all goes sideways for our trio, not to mention “heats up” for the male hostage.
By the final chapters of the book, I was so riveted I was turning pages as fast as I could read. When things looked bleak and utterly impossible for Max, Bastion, and Heather I feared they would all be slaughtered, and likely tortured first. Only then did I learn how much worse than death certain fates could be. There were some surprises tossed in the mix, and Triana played the final scenes like a virtuoso. He made you aware as a reader just how darn vested in the outcome for these people you really were, and the end was a killer. I loved the ending. As Heather would later reflect:
“Today had been a master class in brutality and fear, an experience that would make The Devil himself shudder.”
This second book made me an even bigger fan of Triana, and this was a terrific tale.
KUDOS FOR THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE TRULY TALENTED TRIANA
My Review Four Stars****
I bought and read this recent release by Triana earlier this week, and I was not disappointed. I purchased it because I was captivated by “Gone To See The River Man”, and had already decided to read more of Triana’s works. This was a recent release of his and had a genre designation of Organized Crime (not one of my go-to genres). However, the reviews were strongly positive and I was intrigued by the scenario in the description and instinctively felt that given Triana’s imagination and writing talent it would be an adrenaline infused roller coaster ride of a story line. And guess what? It was that and so much more.
There are only 57 global ratings on Amazon’s Customer reviews thus far, but I read several of them, and they are excellent. They also capture my own sentiments pretty darn well. The story is essentially the quintessential plot device of a person being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Phenomenal books have been written about a man (or woman) suddenly finding themselves in a situation beyond his or her wildest imagination. That is what happens on this particular “Fine Evening.” A 34-year-old mother of a little boy, and in the process of divorcing her husband, is stepping out one night for a bit of recreational sex with a 22-year-old guy. During her clandestine tryst, she abruptly finds herself a hostage and then on a road trip “In Hell”.
Triana is legendary for creating the most despicable characters that were ever depicted on a written page. I have not read but two of his works at this point but I can easily believe that is true. In this novel he demonstrates an uncanny ability to also mold fictional characters in shades of gray. The anti-heroes of career criminals Max and his 50-year black ex-con partner Bastion are cases in point. Main protagonist Heather’s world does not consist of men like these hardened criminals molded by not only their crimes but their imprisonments in maximum security facilities. She has never even had a parking ticket, but her behavior on this night is a bit morally suspect if not completely understandable. The three of them are soon joined by the superordinate goal of survival. I felt degrees of sympathy for both Max and Bastion, and that included when all hell loose on this trio fleeing across country.
This story was simply action-packed from the get-go, and Triana never let up on the gas pedal. Every time there was a moment of rest for the wicked, there was another hand grenade of hellfire pitched their way. During periods of the small brigade taking respite someplace they holed up, the reader was regaled by horror stories straight from the front pages. Bastion was able to relate to Heather the horror of his brother being murdered by racist white cops, but the author balanced the narrative by including the fire and brimstone Old Testament overkill murders of the white cop, his wife and two sons by his father and his brother. Bastion was ultimately left without his brother, his father and his uncle because of the murders and vengeance which spilled so much innocent blood.
There are also dirty cops in the story that I despised more than the career criminals, including Bastion who shot one of the cops in self-defense. But just when you think they (the dirty cops) were some “really” bad men, you find out that you are not even on the same planet as “bad.” Our motley trio of survivors with a second hostage in tow finally arrive at the launching pad for their road to freedom and Heather’s release. The “hell” of it is that Max’s stop is at the Compound of a white supremacist Nazi ex-con named Willem. I hated the character of Willem so much it was ridiculous and that was before I learned the depths of his depravity and evil. Willem’s trigger-happy girlfriend is a heartless Nazi bitch who is ready to shoot one of them in the head at a moment’s notice. A third member of the compound maintains the computer-generated business and of course we learn what a sleazy heartless piece of work he is before the final fireworks. It all goes sideways for our trio, not to mention “heats up” for the male hostage.
By the final chapters of the book, I was so riveted I was turning pages as fast as I could read. When things looked bleak and utterly impossible for Max, Bastion, and Heather I feared they would all be slaughtered, and likely tortured first. Only then did I learn how much worse than death certain fates could be. There were some surprises tossed in the mix, and Triana played the final scenes like a virtuoso. He made you aware as a reader just how darn vested in the outcome for these people you really were, and the end was a killer. I loved the ending. As Heather would later reflect:
“Today had been a master class in brutality and fear, an experience that would make The Devil himself shudder.”
This second book made me an even bigger fan of Triana, and this was a terrific tale.
KUDOS FOR THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE TRULY TALENTED TRIANA
April 30, 2023
Kristopher Triana is an author I've been following for a long time, and he has proven that he's one of the most versatile authors in indie horror. A Fine Evening in Hell is the perfect example of this, especially if you compare this book to some of his more extreme ones, such as Full Brutal or Body Art.
The book centers around one good person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Heather is going through a divorce and is seeing a younger guy, Evan. While driving, she pulled over near an abandoned building to hook up with her new guy, when they get confronted by a couple of criminals. And I can't say anything else without giving away spoilers.
I will say, the book is a little slow at first, and it does take a bit to get into it. But when you get to that point, you're hooked. I noticed that's a theme with Triana--Full Brutal and Gone to See the River Man are like that, too. So I suggest readers plow through the book because the ending will be worth it--as it is in this book.
This is one of those stories where you think you know how things will end, and Triana takes you in another direction. You think things couldn't get worse, and then a whirlwind of a scene happens. This book is neverending.
What makes this book stand out is there are no good or bad guys. Well, there's one truly evil person. Again, won't go into details to avoid spoilers. But even most of the criminals in this book have their humanity, and the reader is always questioning the motives of the police. This leads the reader to question everyone since no one shows their true colors immediately.
No serious triggers here, and the brutality is definitely not as severe as it is in a book like Body Art. There are many racial slurs here and other triggers that come with crime fiction, such as murder and drug use. Otherwise, it's pretty tame compared to other Triana books, and a great one to introduce a new reader to his work.
Overall, four stars and this is one of my new favorite Triana books. Took off a star for some nit-picky stuff, like metaphors and analogies that didn't work, small stuff only another writer would point out. Otherwise, I 100% recommend this book to new and existing Triana and horror/splatterpunk fans.
The book centers around one good person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Heather is going through a divorce and is seeing a younger guy, Evan. While driving, she pulled over near an abandoned building to hook up with her new guy, when they get confronted by a couple of criminals. And I can't say anything else without giving away spoilers.
I will say, the book is a little slow at first, and it does take a bit to get into it. But when you get to that point, you're hooked. I noticed that's a theme with Triana--Full Brutal and Gone to See the River Man are like that, too. So I suggest readers plow through the book because the ending will be worth it--as it is in this book.
This is one of those stories where you think you know how things will end, and Triana takes you in another direction. You think things couldn't get worse, and then a whirlwind of a scene happens. This book is neverending.
What makes this book stand out is there are no good or bad guys. Well, there's one truly evil person. Again, won't go into details to avoid spoilers. But even most of the criminals in this book have their humanity, and the reader is always questioning the motives of the police. This leads the reader to question everyone since no one shows their true colors immediately.
No serious triggers here, and the brutality is definitely not as severe as it is in a book like Body Art. There are many racial slurs here and other triggers that come with crime fiction, such as murder and drug use. Otherwise, it's pretty tame compared to other Triana books, and a great one to introduce a new reader to his work.
Overall, four stars and this is one of my new favorite Triana books. Took off a star for some nit-picky stuff, like metaphors and analogies that didn't work, small stuff only another writer would point out. Otherwise, I 100% recommend this book to new and existing Triana and horror/splatterpunk fans.
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