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Golem
"Excellently written, with a twisted, spiraling, unexpected end that will leave you speechless." ~ TBM Horror Experts
Detective. Angel. Victim. Devil.
A haunting tale of suspense, loss, isolation, contempt, and fear.
On November 1, 1951, war hero John Ashton was promoted to detective. His first assignment: find the district attorney’s missing daughter. But his only lead is Alena Francon, a high society sculptor and socialite committed to Bellevue’s psychiatric facility.
Alena has a story for the new detective. A story so outlandish John Ashton refuses to heed the warning. Alena admits to incarnating Golem, a demonic force, into her statue. A devil so profound he’s infiltrated every part of New York’s infrastructure. Even worse, he uses children to serve as bodily hosts for his demonic army, unleashing a horde of devils into our world.
When Alena’s confidant, Annette Flemming, confirms the existence of Golem, John is sent on a collision course where fate and destiny spiral into peril, and the future of the human race hangs in the balance.
The Devil Is In The Details!
Fans of The Silence of the Lambs, Clive Barker, John Connolly, old Stephen King, and Anne Rice will be fascinated by this edge of your seat psychological horror thriller with a story that tears out the heart of humanity and throws it on a slab to be feasted on.
Detective. Angel. Victim. Devil.
A haunting tale of suspense, loss, isolation, contempt, and fear.
On November 1, 1951, war hero John Ashton was promoted to detective. His first assignment: find the district attorney’s missing daughter. But his only lead is Alena Francon, a high society sculptor and socialite committed to Bellevue’s psychiatric facility.
Alena has a story for the new detective. A story so outlandish John Ashton refuses to heed the warning. Alena admits to incarnating Golem, a demonic force, into her statue. A devil so profound he’s infiltrated every part of New York’s infrastructure. Even worse, he uses children to serve as bodily hosts for his demonic army, unleashing a horde of devils into our world.
When Alena’s confidant, Annette Flemming, confirms the existence of Golem, John is sent on a collision course where fate and destiny spiral into peril, and the future of the human race hangs in the balance.
The Devil Is In The Details!
Fans of The Silence of the Lambs, Clive Barker, John Connolly, old Stephen King, and Anne Rice will be fascinated by this edge of your seat psychological horror thriller with a story that tears out the heart of humanity and throws it on a slab to be feasted on.
536 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2021
34 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
P.D. Alleva
19 books764 followersPD Alleva writes thrillers. Whether those thrillers are Sci-Fi Fantasy’s about Alien Vampires attempting to subjugate the human race, or steeped in a haunting mystery, or an urban paranormal fantasy, PD always provides readers with a profound, entertaining, and satisfying reader experience, in a new genre he has coined as alternative fiction. His novels blend mystery, conspiracy, psychology, and action with the supernatural, horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Alternative fiction is PD's attempt at describing what readers uncover in any one of his books, a new discovery towards mainstream storytelling. He's been writing since childhood, creating and developing stories with brash and impactful concepts he describes are metaphors for the shifting energies that exist in the universe. PD lives inside of his own universe, working diligently on the Sci-Fi/Fantasy series, The Rose Vol. II, the urban paranormal fantasy series, Girl on a Mission, and Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect, PD’s upcoming horror novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
September 13, 2022
“Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.”
― Edgar Allan Poe
I was a bit apprehensive of this one at first, I won’t lie. The synopsis of Golem sounded extremely intriguing, but it sounded like if not done just right, it would feel oversaturated.
Thank God it didn’t. More of that in a bit.
I won’t speak anything at all about the plot here, because I believe the synopsis on Goodreads says more than enough. Any novel of the psychological horror genre is a better experience when you know the least about the storyline, probably just some vague idea of whatever trajectory it may take, or to which group of readers it may cater. So, let’s just say it’s a blend of the early hardboiled crime fiction with supernatural elements that are inspired by the likes of Poe and Lovecraft, told in a psychological space not unlike Daphne du Maurier, with a stylization that is a homage to Dickens.
Big names, I know. But yes, the storytelling lives up to it, and the psychological aspect of the story is brilliant. One of the most frequented aspects of this genre is the existence of an entity, say, of which one of the primary characters has been a witness, but fails to convince the rest of the world about it, instead getting asked questions about his/her mental stability. Now, in 50% of the examples of this specific aspect, it is cliché overdone (let’s just cite an example, your wife suspects someone is stalking her. And there’s a psychopath loose in the city, then why the hell would you dismiss her as a hypochondriac from the very start? When Roman Polanski used this, it wasn’t so generic but now if I sense a similar storyline in any literature/movie I stay a mile apart from it).
In the rest 50%, the entity spoke of appears so ludicrous when you hear of it you as a reader enter a state of dilemma, as in ooh, does that really exist? Or is it all in his/her head?. Also, as said previously, if not done just right, it may end up being ridiculous and hilarious instead of horrifying. At all.
“The Devil pulls the strings which make us dance;
We find delight in the most loathsome things;
Some furtherance of Hell each new day brings,
And yet we feel no horror in that rank advance.”
― Charles Baudelaire
Golem falls in this second category. And it must be obvious by now, that I felt it was well done. Or else I wouldn’t have gone to this much elucidation.
One of the things that elevated the reading experience here is the spare use of non-linear storytelling, which maximizes the emotional impact we’re supposed to feel for our characters. Especially when we are getting acquainted with Alena’s character, it’s not that the backstory provided for her is something phenomenal. To be frank, it feels a bit ordinary at first glance, excluding supernatural occurrences. But it is as the story progresses that we begin to root for them. If the story frequented the different perspectives and timelines too much, it would’ve minimalized the impact, as do many novels nowadays. Instead, the author here decided to get out Alena’s entire backstory almost at once, a creative decision I enjoyed.
“I think perhaps all of us go a little crazy at times.”
-Robert Bloch
It's not just Alena, either. Even our protagonist Ashton, we’re not given a very profound exposure to him at first glance. His character does feel a bit underutilized, though, but in a way that you wish you got to see more of him in the story; however, on second thoughts, I might be the only person to be thinking along those lines. His character is a kind of amalgamation of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe with multiple Stephen King characters who have a traumatized past. But despite all of that, he will stay with you after you finished the novel (at least with me, he stayed longer than Ian Fleming’s 007).
So, of course, there’s scope, but this is still a very well-written addition to the genre. I’m looking forward to rereading this one soon, and if Alleva decides to continue with Ashton, I’m already in for it. Thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
― Edgar Allan Poe
I was a bit apprehensive of this one at first, I won’t lie. The synopsis of Golem sounded extremely intriguing, but it sounded like if not done just right, it would feel oversaturated.
Thank God it didn’t. More of that in a bit.
I won’t speak anything at all about the plot here, because I believe the synopsis on Goodreads says more than enough. Any novel of the psychological horror genre is a better experience when you know the least about the storyline, probably just some vague idea of whatever trajectory it may take, or to which group of readers it may cater. So, let’s just say it’s a blend of the early hardboiled crime fiction with supernatural elements that are inspired by the likes of Poe and Lovecraft, told in a psychological space not unlike Daphne du Maurier, with a stylization that is a homage to Dickens.
Big names, I know. But yes, the storytelling lives up to it, and the psychological aspect of the story is brilliant. One of the most frequented aspects of this genre is the existence of an entity, say, of which one of the primary characters has been a witness, but fails to convince the rest of the world about it, instead getting asked questions about his/her mental stability. Now, in 50% of the examples of this specific aspect, it is cliché overdone (let’s just cite an example, your wife suspects someone is stalking her. And there’s a psychopath loose in the city, then why the hell would you dismiss her as a hypochondriac from the very start? When Roman Polanski used this, it wasn’t so generic but now if I sense a similar storyline in any literature/movie I stay a mile apart from it).
In the rest 50%, the entity spoke of appears so ludicrous when you hear of it you as a reader enter a state of dilemma, as in ooh, does that really exist? Or is it all in his/her head?. Also, as said previously, if not done just right, it may end up being ridiculous and hilarious instead of horrifying. At all.
“The Devil pulls the strings which make us dance;
We find delight in the most loathsome things;
Some furtherance of Hell each new day brings,
And yet we feel no horror in that rank advance.”
― Charles Baudelaire
Golem falls in this second category. And it must be obvious by now, that I felt it was well done. Or else I wouldn’t have gone to this much elucidation.
One of the things that elevated the reading experience here is the spare use of non-linear storytelling, which maximizes the emotional impact we’re supposed to feel for our characters. Especially when we are getting acquainted with Alena’s character, it’s not that the backstory provided for her is something phenomenal. To be frank, it feels a bit ordinary at first glance, excluding supernatural occurrences. But it is as the story progresses that we begin to root for them. If the story frequented the different perspectives and timelines too much, it would’ve minimalized the impact, as do many novels nowadays. Instead, the author here decided to get out Alena’s entire backstory almost at once, a creative decision I enjoyed.
“I think perhaps all of us go a little crazy at times.”
-Robert Bloch
It's not just Alena, either. Even our protagonist Ashton, we’re not given a very profound exposure to him at first glance. His character does feel a bit underutilized, though, but in a way that you wish you got to see more of him in the story; however, on second thoughts, I might be the only person to be thinking along those lines. His character is a kind of amalgamation of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe with multiple Stephen King characters who have a traumatized past. But despite all of that, he will stay with you after you finished the novel (at least with me, he stayed longer than Ian Fleming’s 007).
So, of course, there’s scope, but this is still a very well-written addition to the genre. I’m looking forward to rereading this one soon, and if Alleva decides to continue with Ashton, I’m already in for it. Thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2024
Immersive and reminiscent of some of the classics of horror literature. This novel was a full experience!
March 3, 2022
HELL, I believe would be a better place than the torture PD Alleva puts us thru in his horror novel GOLEM.
Phew, psychological horror is a genre I don’t read too often, well, there is only so many nightmares I can stand to bear. The last book I remember reading with thousand of breaks of keeping it down and picking it up instantly was IT BY STEPHEN KING and honestly, that was 20 years back.
GOLEM, I feel is a genre by itself, the author succeeds in scaring the bejesus out of any living soul with a heart.
The blurb of the book says “Fans of The Silence of the Lambs, Clive Barker, John Connolly, old Stephen King, and Anne Rice will be fascinated by this edge of your seat psychological horror thriller with a story that tears out the heart of humanity and throws it on a slab to be feasted on.”
AND that is a fair warning by the author as he incorporates the scene into the book and left me reeling. The violence described in the story is pretty extreme with scenes of torture and abuse, even those involving children so readers who have issues about the same should stay away from this novel.
Alleva’s writing is visceral, the effect created is highly terrifying. The setting of the story in the historical times was fascinating as the author explores the wickedness that hides behind most faces irrespective of the class of society that they belong to. The story proceeds thru three main characters John, Alena, and Annette but it was the characterization of Golem that mesmerized me. As his formation is completed, we can’t help but be charmed by his personality like Alena, but as the horror is unveiled and the true colors brought to light, his mere presence is enough to fuel our rage and hatred.
There are parts of the story that I felt were lagging but as Alena keeps reiterating, the DEVIL is in the DETAILS so I could let it go. It was interesting to see how Alena manages to deal with Golem although she has been admitted to the psychiatric facility. The ending was as expected in perfect sync with the story even though I did wish for a different one. The author, however, has left a small crumb which was reassuring.
I have never been scared of ghost stories but it is always books that deal with DEMONS and DEVILS that have me hiding under the blankets freaking out and this one is definitely topping the list. PD Alleva in his acknowledgments explains the process of how the story was formed and in his own words “Golem is a story about isolation, paranoia, and division, and, as unfortunate as it is, reflects our current society in a nutshell. Who opened the front door and invited the devil in? Well, we all did, didn’t we?”
Highly recommended to readers who love horror fiction with psychological elements as the story explores the dreadful human vices which will have us hanging down our shameful heads.
Many thanks to the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
Phew, psychological horror is a genre I don’t read too often, well, there is only so many nightmares I can stand to bear. The last book I remember reading with thousand of breaks of keeping it down and picking it up instantly was IT BY STEPHEN KING and honestly, that was 20 years back.
GOLEM, I feel is a genre by itself, the author succeeds in scaring the bejesus out of any living soul with a heart.
The blurb of the book says “Fans of The Silence of the Lambs, Clive Barker, John Connolly, old Stephen King, and Anne Rice will be fascinated by this edge of your seat psychological horror thriller with a story that tears out the heart of humanity and throws it on a slab to be feasted on.”
AND that is a fair warning by the author as he incorporates the scene into the book and left me reeling. The violence described in the story is pretty extreme with scenes of torture and abuse, even those involving children so readers who have issues about the same should stay away from this novel.
Alleva’s writing is visceral, the effect created is highly terrifying. The setting of the story in the historical times was fascinating as the author explores the wickedness that hides behind most faces irrespective of the class of society that they belong to. The story proceeds thru three main characters John, Alena, and Annette but it was the characterization of Golem that mesmerized me. As his formation is completed, we can’t help but be charmed by his personality like Alena, but as the horror is unveiled and the true colors brought to light, his mere presence is enough to fuel our rage and hatred.
There are parts of the story that I felt were lagging but as Alena keeps reiterating, the DEVIL is in the DETAILS so I could let it go. It was interesting to see how Alena manages to deal with Golem although she has been admitted to the psychiatric facility. The ending was as expected in perfect sync with the story even though I did wish for a different one. The author, however, has left a small crumb which was reassuring.
I have never been scared of ghost stories but it is always books that deal with DEMONS and DEVILS that have me hiding under the blankets freaking out and this one is definitely topping the list. PD Alleva in his acknowledgments explains the process of how the story was formed and in his own words “Golem is a story about isolation, paranoia, and division, and, as unfortunate as it is, reflects our current society in a nutshell. Who opened the front door and invited the devil in? Well, we all did, didn’t we?”
Highly recommended to readers who love horror fiction with psychological elements as the story explores the dreadful human vices which will have us hanging down our shameful heads.
Many thanks to the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
October 26, 2021
I read the blurb for Golem…for fans of Silence of the Lambs, Clive Barker….and had to read it. I love the dark side and reading about the demons who walk there.
Newly pinned Detective John Ashton is on his first case and he is following up the lead for the District Attorney’s missing daughter and the criminally insane Alena who swears she has seen her.
John has his own secret. He has psychic abilities and he will need them.
Alena…Annette…
A battle between good and evil, humans and demons. The humans…their goodness… does it give them a chance against a crafty and evil Golem?
P D Alleva has no qualms about putting his characters through hell, suffering and torture.
I would have hope that thing were going well, standing strong, then something would kill it and I would wallow in despair with P D’s characters. I do like villains, but…
I love that P D Alleva was able to give me some of those spine tingling moments where I was afraid to read on,afraid to see what would happen next…and it sure didn’t end the way I thought it would. That is worth a star and solves the problem I had flipping back and forth between a three and a four.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Golem by P D Alleva.
See more at fundinmental
Newly pinned Detective John Ashton is on his first case and he is following up the lead for the District Attorney’s missing daughter and the criminally insane Alena who swears she has seen her.
John has his own secret. He has psychic abilities and he will need them.
Alena…Annette…
A battle between good and evil, humans and demons. The humans…their goodness… does it give them a chance against a crafty and evil Golem?
P D Alleva has no qualms about putting his characters through hell, suffering and torture.
I would have hope that thing were going well, standing strong, then something would kill it and I would wallow in despair with P D’s characters. I do like villains, but…
I love that P D Alleva was able to give me some of those spine tingling moments where I was afraid to read on,afraid to see what would happen next…and it sure didn’t end the way I thought it would. That is worth a star and solves the problem I had flipping back and forth between a three and a four.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Golem by P D Alleva.
See more at fundinmental
February 2, 2023
4.5 stars
Golem by P. D. Alleva is a psychological and gothic horror novel.
First, let me thank the author, for providing me with a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
On the day in 1951 that John Ashton made detective, he met Alena Francon. After seeing a picture in the newspaper of a missing child, Alena insists that the same child -- the district attorney's daughter, had been at her hotel. But it's hard to believe anything Alena says. Alena has been in a mental institution for a while. She freely admits to burning down her own hotel. But that's not why she's in Bellevue.
Her story is a little strange, hence the mental institution. Alena is an artist, and after the loss of her unborn child and her dissolved engagement, she became a bit of a recluse. She spent her time sculpting from a large piece of marble. She sculpted a man. Alena tells the detective that she literally breathed life into this statue, and the sculpture came to life. His name is Golem, and he is a demon, who (with Alena's help) has infiltrated high society, and he is using children as vessels for other demons to come to into the world. Needless to say, John is not buying Alena's story.
He is rather surprised when Annette Flemming, an acquaintance of Alena's, confirms that Golem actually exists. He will be even more dismayed when he meets the man himself. John will soon be wishing he had never heard of Alena, much less Golem.
My Opinions:
Well, this was an interesting, captivating read. Be warned, it's fairly graphic and gory.
The story is broken up between John's investigation, Alena's story, and that of Annette.
The author states that the book is about loss. I see that. Loss of family, loss of sanity, loss of self, and loss of freedom. Basically loss of control. The book is also about demons, about fear, and about evil. It is a deep, and dark tale, reminiscent of the old masters of horror - Poe and Lovecraft. Good vs evil, demons with a touch of folklore thrown in.
It was interesting how the author took his story about a statue coming to life, and centered it in New York City. He then included the political scandals of the time. In his notes, he mentioned that the hotel actually existed (although he changed the name). A lot of research was done into both the location and era.
There is no doubt that PD Alleva is a talented writer. Although sometimes repetitive, the book flowed well. He created a demon that manipulated everyone, and took great pleasure in their distress. Golem was a truly disturbing character. I found myself cheering for a mental patient, and a rather naive police officer, while knowing in the back of my mind that things are just not going to end well.
It's a fairly long book, and a couple of times I felt it dragged, although I can't really be specific, so perhaps that was just me.
On a side note, I loved the cover.
So, overall, this was quite good, and I'll be watching for more from this author.
For a more complete review of this book and others, (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
April 6, 2023
This is my first from PD Alleva, so I didnt know what to expect from him, but what I got, was an awesome psychological horror that I had a hard time putting down! It even had me checking around after seeing things out of the corner of my eye!
Its a good sized novel, coming in at 429 pages, and it starts off slowly, but builds up steadily and ramps right up about ¾ of the way through!
Paul uses some really great, descriptive prose that had me properly chilled at the first chapter!
Newly promoted detective, John, takes on a case involving a woman called Alena, now in a psychiatric hospital, claiming to have seen missing children in a burnt out hotel, and someone calling themselves Golem is said to be the culprit…… but there is much more to her story, oh so much more!
Alena, after some personal heartbreak, retreats to her mansion to recuperate, alone, and whilst there she proceeds to sculpt a marble figure of a man, a very special, very lifelike man….
John has supernatural insights which he hasnt used since being a child, as he was told by his father his talents were poison and not to be used, but will they come in handy now…?
This book was full of great mystery and intrigue throughout, with lots of creepy, shivers down the spine moments, it was haunting and chilling, and also quite brutal and bloody in places. Full of satanic rituals, dark ceremonies, cannibalism, sacrifices and possession! The possession by Baphomet was described in a terrifying way, watching through his eyes, hearing through his ears, feeling everything yet knowing there is nothing you can do, you are trapped, looking out in complete terror!
A great, creepy read…. 4.5/5 🫀🫀🫀🫀
*I READ THIS IN JUNE 2022*
Its a good sized novel, coming in at 429 pages, and it starts off slowly, but builds up steadily and ramps right up about ¾ of the way through!
Paul uses some really great, descriptive prose that had me properly chilled at the first chapter!
Newly promoted detective, John, takes on a case involving a woman called Alena, now in a psychiatric hospital, claiming to have seen missing children in a burnt out hotel, and someone calling themselves Golem is said to be the culprit…… but there is much more to her story, oh so much more!
Alena, after some personal heartbreak, retreats to her mansion to recuperate, alone, and whilst there she proceeds to sculpt a marble figure of a man, a very special, very lifelike man….
John has supernatural insights which he hasnt used since being a child, as he was told by his father his talents were poison and not to be used, but will they come in handy now…?
This book was full of great mystery and intrigue throughout, with lots of creepy, shivers down the spine moments, it was haunting and chilling, and also quite brutal and bloody in places. Full of satanic rituals, dark ceremonies, cannibalism, sacrifices and possession! The possession by Baphomet was described in a terrifying way, watching through his eyes, hearing through his ears, feeling everything yet knowing there is nothing you can do, you are trapped, looking out in complete terror!
A great, creepy read…. 4.5/5 🫀🫀🫀🫀
*I READ THIS IN JUNE 2022*
February 20, 2023
Horror is a genre that I haven’t read in a while and picking up Golem was certainly a shock to the system. Yes I love a dark and messed up crime thriller but this was another level all together. I found that I couldn’t read it at night time, as the first time that I did, I had weird statue dreams 😆 So it took me a while to read, being a chunky one at over 500 pages. But that is no reflection on my enjoyment of it. It was a slower paced book than I am used to as well, a lot like the older Stephen King horror books from my youth.
Golem is an historical fiction, psychological horror novel. We find ourselves in New York, in 1951. John Ashton has just been promoted to Detective and heads off on his first case. He will soon wish that he was never assigned it. On the surface it appears simple enough…the DA’s daughter has gone missing and Johns job is to find her. His investigation leads him to Alena Franco, a deeply troubled woman in a psychiatric facility. Her story of a statue come to life and preying on children is hard to believe, at first.
Golem was the devil. He was evil in every way. He will get into your head and stay there. This is a very dark and intense book, so detailed and descriptive. It is horror so it is gory. It is messy. It is scary. It is a great read, and how good is that cover. Freaked me out more than once.
Thank you to the author for reaching out and sending me a copy of his book to read. Golem is out now, if you dare.
Golem is an historical fiction, psychological horror novel. We find ourselves in New York, in 1951. John Ashton has just been promoted to Detective and heads off on his first case. He will soon wish that he was never assigned it. On the surface it appears simple enough…the DA’s daughter has gone missing and Johns job is to find her. His investigation leads him to Alena Franco, a deeply troubled woman in a psychiatric facility. Her story of a statue come to life and preying on children is hard to believe, at first.
Golem was the devil. He was evil in every way. He will get into your head and stay there. This is a very dark and intense book, so detailed and descriptive. It is horror so it is gory. It is messy. It is scary. It is a great read, and how good is that cover. Freaked me out more than once.
Thank you to the author for reaching out and sending me a copy of his book to read. Golem is out now, if you dare.
May 2, 2022
https://sophsbookworld.wordpress.com/...
I’m not gonna lie, this book scared the sh*t out me. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted but still I couldn’t stop reading it!
This is a historical horror about Golem, a literal statue that comes to life after it’s creator, Alena, breathes life into him. At first, Golem is a perfect man, helpful and kind. However, as the time passes Alena realizes that Golem came to the Earth with superior (and very evil) motives.
Many years later children are disappearing. Detective John Ashton is determined to be the hero who will find these children. Alena, now in a psychiatric hospital, knows who is responsible for these kidnappings, her statue Golem.
This story was so well written and interesting. It’s set in the 50s and is based on Jewish folklore where Golem is just like in this story, a statue that has come to life (although it is not an evil force like in this book). I always like reading books based on legends and mythology so this was a plus.
Usually I do not opt for horror because I’m a scaredy cat. So maybe this might not be as scary to you but to me it was. It’s extremely gory and has some serious cult-ish vibes. So, if you can’t handle gore this probably isn’t for you.
I do have some complaints though, mostly considering the cover. I do not like the cover and I feel like it doesn’t capture the story well enough. I know not to judge the book by it’s cover but let’s be honest, we all do it. I feel like cover is something that captures our attention and will decide whether or not we even consider picking the book up and finding out what it’s about. The author should definitely think about re-doing the cover.
That being said, the overall story and the writing was really good. I flew through this quite quickly because it was interesting and easy to read, even though it scared me. If you’re a fan of historical horror and folklore legends, you should definitely consider picking this up!
I’m not gonna lie, this book scared the sh*t out me. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted but still I couldn’t stop reading it!
This is a historical horror about Golem, a literal statue that comes to life after it’s creator, Alena, breathes life into him. At first, Golem is a perfect man, helpful and kind. However, as the time passes Alena realizes that Golem came to the Earth with superior (and very evil) motives.
Many years later children are disappearing. Detective John Ashton is determined to be the hero who will find these children. Alena, now in a psychiatric hospital, knows who is responsible for these kidnappings, her statue Golem.
This story was so well written and interesting. It’s set in the 50s and is based on Jewish folklore where Golem is just like in this story, a statue that has come to life (although it is not an evil force like in this book). I always like reading books based on legends and mythology so this was a plus.
Usually I do not opt for horror because I’m a scaredy cat. So maybe this might not be as scary to you but to me it was. It’s extremely gory and has some serious cult-ish vibes. So, if you can’t handle gore this probably isn’t for you.
I do have some complaints though, mostly considering the cover. I do not like the cover and I feel like it doesn’t capture the story well enough. I know not to judge the book by it’s cover but let’s be honest, we all do it. I feel like cover is something that captures our attention and will decide whether or not we even consider picking the book up and finding out what it’s about. The author should definitely think about re-doing the cover.
That being said, the overall story and the writing was really good. I flew through this quite quickly because it was interesting and easy to read, even though it scared me. If you’re a fan of historical horror and folklore legends, you should definitely consider picking this up!
March 30, 2022
Everything in my mind screamed 'omg Golem, Jewish legend, omg Pygmalion, one of the most famous plays and all that turned into a horror book!'
Alleva is mixing myths and legends in here a lot, but surprisingly, it comes very well together. Greek Mythology, Jewish legend, old civilizations are mentioned too and everyone's favourite gypsy witchcraft and Satanism. It's so well blended together and it works!
It gives us a sight of horror and thriller and the characters are written so well, it is just enough to understand them and follow their stories. 50s socialites, missing children, strange rituals, corrupted politicians and lots of body horror. I mean, who wouldn't love that.
I really enjoyed this book, it's a longer book and all the pages are worth it and I came across a lot of details and little Easter Eggs referring to famous literature characters.
And finally, Golem himself was absolutely mesmerising, I thought his character was so well done and there's a lot of originality added to already existing inspiration. Brava!
Please go explore Alleva's work, there's a lot of dedication that deserves to be appreciated 🖤
Alleva is mixing myths and legends in here a lot, but surprisingly, it comes very well together. Greek Mythology, Jewish legend, old civilizations are mentioned too and everyone's favourite gypsy witchcraft and Satanism. It's so well blended together and it works!
It gives us a sight of horror and thriller and the characters are written so well, it is just enough to understand them and follow their stories. 50s socialites, missing children, strange rituals, corrupted politicians and lots of body horror. I mean, who wouldn't love that.
I really enjoyed this book, it's a longer book and all the pages are worth it and I came across a lot of details and little Easter Eggs referring to famous literature characters.
And finally, Golem himself was absolutely mesmerising, I thought his character was so well done and there's a lot of originality added to already existing inspiration. Brava!
Please go explore Alleva's work, there's a lot of dedication that deserves to be appreciated 🖤
November 12, 2025
The protagonist, a detective named John Ashton, has to solve his first case. It sounds like a clear-cut job, something to be wrapped up after dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s—a straightforward task, according to Captain Knowles. Besides, the case itself is cold enough to be almost frozen. What could go wrong?
A lot, turns out.
A lot, turns out.
January 20, 2023
John is a brand new detective and his first assignment is to interview socialite, Alena, on the whereabouts of a missing DA’s daughter. Alena is in a psychiatric hospital following a breakdown where she burnt down her club ranting that there were children who were being used by a demonic force. She tells John her story, the story of Golem, hoping he can save the world from what is coming.
This is a supernatural horror story, disturbing and unnerving, there are possessed children in this story so be warned but they are gloriously creepy. It is atmospheric from the start with Alena’s confidante. Annette, alone at Halloween with someone at the door. Then we meet the detective, John, and Alena who tells her story and what she unleashed into the world. I liked the detective, John, a war veteran who has seen a lot of the evil men do but is forced to face the ultimate and who stares into the maw of darkness to try to save humanity. Alena is a fascinating character both weak willed and emotionally strong. This is a story of contempt and manipulation, exploring how our desire for power and prestige makes us ripe for corruption. A dark and sinister read, loved it.
This is a supernatural horror story, disturbing and unnerving, there are possessed children in this story so be warned but they are gloriously creepy. It is atmospheric from the start with Alena’s confidante. Annette, alone at Halloween with someone at the door. Then we meet the detective, John, and Alena who tells her story and what she unleashed into the world. I liked the detective, John, a war veteran who has seen a lot of the evil men do but is forced to face the ultimate and who stares into the maw of darkness to try to save humanity. Alena is a fascinating character both weak willed and emotionally strong. This is a story of contempt and manipulation, exploring how our desire for power and prestige makes us ripe for corruption. A dark and sinister read, loved it.
Read
April 21, 2022It was about time I changed my review, which isn't a review, just a good way to connect with readers. The Golem Selfie contest concluded so I needed to add something to this review box. Anyway, I'm loving the reviews for Golem and could not be more proud of the book. It appears Golem is doing well for himself, but then again, that's what Golem does.
Any questions about the story feel free to reach out to me. Until then, enjoy Golem.
~ P.D. Alleva
Any questions about the story feel free to reach out to me. Until then, enjoy Golem.
~ P.D. Alleva
January 3, 2022
I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team and thank her and the author for this opportunity.
I had never read any of Alleva’s books before, but I love horror, and I always enjoy reading something a bit different for Christmas, and this novel fitted the bill perfectly.
The description gives a fair idea of what the novel is about, and it is difficult to say more without spoiling the many surprises and scares. The author has managed to combine elements of a variety of myths and legends that have been adapted and used as inspiration for quite a number of stories before. Apart from the Golem of the title (from Jewish folklore), there are also elements of Pygmalion (the Greek original myth), the myth of Pandora’s box, and also elements of occultism and demonology, but without any heavy reliance on standard religious tropes or discourses, especially as pertaining to organised religions. To those who wish to know more, I recommend reading the author’s note at the end, where he explains the genesis of this book, his influences (he does highlight Frankenstein, as well as other classics and more modern horror stories and authors), and also his research and how he incorporated it into the final novel. It provides a good insight into the author’s process of creation, into his thoughts and motivations, and I found it fascinating in its own right.
As is the case with most genres, there are many subgenres and subtypes of horror stories, and some readers prefer some story topics to others, but I must confess to finding novels and movies about demons and evil possession, like The Exorcist and The Omen, among the scariest. I don’t scare easily, but this story manages to tap into the darkness within, psychological issues, post-traumatic stress syndrome, the worst of human weaknesses and vices, corruption at the highest level, and all kinds of crimes, some pretty extreme. This is a book fairly explicit in its use of extreme violence, with detailed descriptions of torture and abuse, with all kinds of victims (including young children), so any readers worried about violence, abuse, or satanic themes, should avoid it. (There are some sex scenes, although these are far less explicit than the descriptions of violence, but no less disturbing in that particular context).
The narrative follows a detective’s investigation, although it is not a typical police procedural, far from it. As tends to happen sometimes, the story ends up investigating the brand-new detective, John Ashton, as much as the case he is involved in. And, although I cannot reveal much, there are plenty of things about him we discover through the book and not all straightforward. We also get to hear about the world of the high society of New York and the Hamptons after WWII and also the events and places of the era, including references to real buildings, to cases of corruption in the city of New York, and to matters such as McCarthyism; we visit a psychiatric unit of the time and learn about some of the treatments in use, and their devastating long-term effects.
The two main characters are John Ashton, a family man (his wife is pregnant when we meet him, and he is happy to have been promoted to detective), who has survived some terrible experiences, but is not unscathed. The other main protagonist, Alena, we meet in pretty special circumstances, but we get to hear her story in the first person, as she narrates it to the detective. She is fascinating, and although she appears to be an unreliable narrator to Ashton —as she would to any police officer trying to solve the case— we are aware that there are far too many things that challenge a standard rational explanation. Like John, she has experienced terrible loss, and she is neither all good nor evil. She is a victim of forces she does not understand, but she tries to do the right thing, despite the cost to her health and sanity. There are plenty of other characters as well, and Golem is the most important (and a pretty memorable one as well, with many sides to his personality), but I can’t talk about them without spoiling the story, so you will have to read it if you want to find out more.
The way the story is told is quite interesting, as it is divided into three parts and an epilogue, and there is a character introduced at the very beginning of the story, during Halloween in 1951, that makes brief appearances during the novel, but we don’t get to know how she fits into the story until very close to the end. The device worked well for me, and it kept the intrigue going without slowing down the main narrative. Readers get to meet John Ashton next, and we hear about his experiences and events in the third person, although from his point of view, even down to his dreams and his pretty subjective impressions and intuitions. When he goes to talk to Alena, she gets to narrate her version of the story (written in the third person, although, as is the case with the rest of the novel, from her point of view and with direct access to her own thoughts and feelings), although not at first. She insists she will only talk to Ashton, and he (and the readers) get to hear her pretty incredible story, which requires a large degree of suspension of disbelief, but no more than would be expected from this genre. In fact, there is an interesting way of explaining what is behind the mysterious events and crimes, and not one I was familiar with, although some of the characters that make an appearance are well-known within the subgenre. Readers who worry about head-hopping can be reassured. Although the whole story is narrated in the third person, mostly from one of the main characters’ points of view, it is always clear whose point of view we are following. The story is also mostly told in chronological order (apart from Alena’s narration, which starts in 1947, although towards the end of the book we jump ten years into the future), and the pace quickens at the end, with alternating points of view that announce a pretty dramatic turn of events. (And yes, I can’t tell you anything else).
I have talked about the descriptions of violence and events that go beyond the realm of the rational, and the author does a great job with those, without overdoing the use of bizarre or complex language, but can be typical in novels centred on those subjects, but here the choice of register fits the characters and is functional and not overwrought or heavy. At times I noticed the repetition of certain words, adjectives, and expressions, that became pretty noticeable, to the point of being slightly distracting, but the more I read, the more I wondered if it was a stylistic choice befitting the subject, with its reliance on rituals and ceremonies. It does not detract from the story, the plot, or the characters, which are the most memorable elements of this novel.
Having read all this, I’m sure you won’t expect me to be specific when talking about the ending. Yes, it is very fitting and it works well. Of course, it is not a happy ending (this is horror, after all), but considering how the story goes, I think it reaches a difficult equilibrium. And, as is my preference in this genre, it is not a closed and reassuring ending. Good work.
Would I recommend it? With the caveats mentioned above, I definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy horror and like new takes and twists on ancient myths and stories, and especially those who appreciate novels that dig into the psychological depths of the human mind. As usual, I’d recommend readers to check a sample of the book before deciding if it would suit their taste, and, I leave you with the author’s own nutshell description and reflection on the book, as I think it might help you decide.
Golem is a story about isolation, paranoia, and division, and, as unfortunate as it is, reflects our current society in a nutshell. Who opened the front door and invited the devil in? Well, we all did, didn’t we?
I had never read any of Alleva’s books before, but I love horror, and I always enjoy reading something a bit different for Christmas, and this novel fitted the bill perfectly.
The description gives a fair idea of what the novel is about, and it is difficult to say more without spoiling the many surprises and scares. The author has managed to combine elements of a variety of myths and legends that have been adapted and used as inspiration for quite a number of stories before. Apart from the Golem of the title (from Jewish folklore), there are also elements of Pygmalion (the Greek original myth), the myth of Pandora’s box, and also elements of occultism and demonology, but without any heavy reliance on standard religious tropes or discourses, especially as pertaining to organised religions. To those who wish to know more, I recommend reading the author’s note at the end, where he explains the genesis of this book, his influences (he does highlight Frankenstein, as well as other classics and more modern horror stories and authors), and also his research and how he incorporated it into the final novel. It provides a good insight into the author’s process of creation, into his thoughts and motivations, and I found it fascinating in its own right.
As is the case with most genres, there are many subgenres and subtypes of horror stories, and some readers prefer some story topics to others, but I must confess to finding novels and movies about demons and evil possession, like The Exorcist and The Omen, among the scariest. I don’t scare easily, but this story manages to tap into the darkness within, psychological issues, post-traumatic stress syndrome, the worst of human weaknesses and vices, corruption at the highest level, and all kinds of crimes, some pretty extreme. This is a book fairly explicit in its use of extreme violence, with detailed descriptions of torture and abuse, with all kinds of victims (including young children), so any readers worried about violence, abuse, or satanic themes, should avoid it. (There are some sex scenes, although these are far less explicit than the descriptions of violence, but no less disturbing in that particular context).
The narrative follows a detective’s investigation, although it is not a typical police procedural, far from it. As tends to happen sometimes, the story ends up investigating the brand-new detective, John Ashton, as much as the case he is involved in. And, although I cannot reveal much, there are plenty of things about him we discover through the book and not all straightforward. We also get to hear about the world of the high society of New York and the Hamptons after WWII and also the events and places of the era, including references to real buildings, to cases of corruption in the city of New York, and to matters such as McCarthyism; we visit a psychiatric unit of the time and learn about some of the treatments in use, and their devastating long-term effects.
The two main characters are John Ashton, a family man (his wife is pregnant when we meet him, and he is happy to have been promoted to detective), who has survived some terrible experiences, but is not unscathed. The other main protagonist, Alena, we meet in pretty special circumstances, but we get to hear her story in the first person, as she narrates it to the detective. She is fascinating, and although she appears to be an unreliable narrator to Ashton —as she would to any police officer trying to solve the case— we are aware that there are far too many things that challenge a standard rational explanation. Like John, she has experienced terrible loss, and she is neither all good nor evil. She is a victim of forces she does not understand, but she tries to do the right thing, despite the cost to her health and sanity. There are plenty of other characters as well, and Golem is the most important (and a pretty memorable one as well, with many sides to his personality), but I can’t talk about them without spoiling the story, so you will have to read it if you want to find out more.
The way the story is told is quite interesting, as it is divided into three parts and an epilogue, and there is a character introduced at the very beginning of the story, during Halloween in 1951, that makes brief appearances during the novel, but we don’t get to know how she fits into the story until very close to the end. The device worked well for me, and it kept the intrigue going without slowing down the main narrative. Readers get to meet John Ashton next, and we hear about his experiences and events in the third person, although from his point of view, even down to his dreams and his pretty subjective impressions and intuitions. When he goes to talk to Alena, she gets to narrate her version of the story (written in the third person, although, as is the case with the rest of the novel, from her point of view and with direct access to her own thoughts and feelings), although not at first. She insists she will only talk to Ashton, and he (and the readers) get to hear her pretty incredible story, which requires a large degree of suspension of disbelief, but no more than would be expected from this genre. In fact, there is an interesting way of explaining what is behind the mysterious events and crimes, and not one I was familiar with, although some of the characters that make an appearance are well-known within the subgenre. Readers who worry about head-hopping can be reassured. Although the whole story is narrated in the third person, mostly from one of the main characters’ points of view, it is always clear whose point of view we are following. The story is also mostly told in chronological order (apart from Alena’s narration, which starts in 1947, although towards the end of the book we jump ten years into the future), and the pace quickens at the end, with alternating points of view that announce a pretty dramatic turn of events. (And yes, I can’t tell you anything else).
I have talked about the descriptions of violence and events that go beyond the realm of the rational, and the author does a great job with those, without overdoing the use of bizarre or complex language, but can be typical in novels centred on those subjects, but here the choice of register fits the characters and is functional and not overwrought or heavy. At times I noticed the repetition of certain words, adjectives, and expressions, that became pretty noticeable, to the point of being slightly distracting, but the more I read, the more I wondered if it was a stylistic choice befitting the subject, with its reliance on rituals and ceremonies. It does not detract from the story, the plot, or the characters, which are the most memorable elements of this novel.
Having read all this, I’m sure you won’t expect me to be specific when talking about the ending. Yes, it is very fitting and it works well. Of course, it is not a happy ending (this is horror, after all), but considering how the story goes, I think it reaches a difficult equilibrium. And, as is my preference in this genre, it is not a closed and reassuring ending. Good work.
Would I recommend it? With the caveats mentioned above, I definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy horror and like new takes and twists on ancient myths and stories, and especially those who appreciate novels that dig into the psychological depths of the human mind. As usual, I’d recommend readers to check a sample of the book before deciding if it would suit their taste, and, I leave you with the author’s own nutshell description and reflection on the book, as I think it might help you decide.
Golem is a story about isolation, paranoia, and division, and, as unfortunate as it is, reflects our current society in a nutshell. Who opened the front door and invited the devil in? Well, we all did, didn’t we?
July 11, 2022
This book is made for nightmares, and my goodness it is devilishly good!
Golem is the perfect socialite that everyone seems to admire, but Alena knows what Golem really is. While she tries to sever the connections that continuously haunt her, the soul's of the living are dangerously at stake. Meanwhile, new detective John Ashton investigates a high profile missing persons case when their paths collide during his visit to the psychiatric hospital. Is Alena crazy? Or is there something much darker lurking among the living?
If I could give Golem more than 5 stars, I would. This spine-tingling, nightmare inducing story haunted me for days...... just as a good horror book should.
Did I also mentioned the book includes multiple gems of history scattered throughout its pages? P.D. Alleva successfully incorporates demonic villains, ancient folklore, and historical details creating not only a fantastic psychological horror, but also a historically inspired one! I highly suggest you also read the author's note at the end (and yes..... wait until the end!) to get some background on what inspired the story and how it came to be. I promise it's worth the read.
Haunting, dark, and creepy - Golem is by far one of the best books I have read in years.
*FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of the book and wrote this review voluntarily. The opinions expressed are entirely my own and is in no way affiliated with the author or publisher.
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Golem is the perfect socialite that everyone seems to admire, but Alena knows what Golem really is. While she tries to sever the connections that continuously haunt her, the soul's of the living are dangerously at stake. Meanwhile, new detective John Ashton investigates a high profile missing persons case when their paths collide during his visit to the psychiatric hospital. Is Alena crazy? Or is there something much darker lurking among the living?
If I could give Golem more than 5 stars, I would. This spine-tingling, nightmare inducing story haunted me for days...... just as a good horror book should.
Did I also mentioned the book includes multiple gems of history scattered throughout its pages? P.D. Alleva successfully incorporates demonic villains, ancient folklore, and historical details creating not only a fantastic psychological horror, but also a historically inspired one! I highly suggest you also read the author's note at the end (and yes..... wait until the end!) to get some background on what inspired the story and how it came to be. I promise it's worth the read.
Haunting, dark, and creepy - Golem is by far one of the best books I have read in years.
*FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of the book and wrote this review voluntarily. The opinions expressed are entirely my own and is in no way affiliated with the author or publisher.
BookeryBliss Blog - Instagram - Facebook
November 1, 2022
What a horrifyingly delightful read. I haven’t read many books in the psychological horror genre so I don’t have much to compare it to, but I really enjoyed this horror-thriller read. It definitely grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it until the very last page.
In this book the protagonist, detective John Ashton, sets out to solve his first case. It seems like it would be quick and easy to tie up the loose ends, but that didn’t end up being the case at all.
The pace of the psychological elements was on point. It really builds as the story progresses. At no point did I want to put this book down!
This book is wonderfully written with lots of gruesome and graphic parts. I loved how there were detailed supernatural and folklore elements sprinkled throughout the book.
The story didn’t end the way I thought it was going to, but I’m ok with it. It was truly disturbing and left it feeling like there may be another book to come.
This book is dark, scary, and haunting and will stick with me for a while.
***there are trigger warnings for this book
In this book the protagonist, detective John Ashton, sets out to solve his first case. It seems like it would be quick and easy to tie up the loose ends, but that didn’t end up being the case at all.
The pace of the psychological elements was on point. It really builds as the story progresses. At no point did I want to put this book down!
This book is wonderfully written with lots of gruesome and graphic parts. I loved how there were detailed supernatural and folklore elements sprinkled throughout the book.
The story didn’t end the way I thought it was going to, but I’m ok with it. It was truly disturbing and left it feeling like there may be another book to come.
This book is dark, scary, and haunting and will stick with me for a while.
***there are trigger warnings for this book
November 16, 2022
Thankyou so much to the author for sending me this book in exchange for a honest review.
if I'm honest I didn't have high expectations as the book wasn't well known and I hadn't heard of it before. BUT it was absolutely brilliant I was hooked from the start and I loved how this story played out
I don't want to give any spoilers as I highly recommend you check this out for yourself. but it's a great creepy story that has a folklore, paranormal, supernatural theme that I absolutely love. I found the characters brilliantly thought out and u feel really connected to them and their lives.
I would recommend checking out the trigger warnings for the book as there is quite a long list but personally that just made me want to read it even more.
literally can't praise this book enough it was so different and unique that I don't even know what to compare it too.
if I'm honest I didn't have high expectations as the book wasn't well known and I hadn't heard of it before. BUT it was absolutely brilliant I was hooked from the start and I loved how this story played out
I don't want to give any spoilers as I highly recommend you check this out for yourself. but it's a great creepy story that has a folklore, paranormal, supernatural theme that I absolutely love. I found the characters brilliantly thought out and u feel really connected to them and their lives.
I would recommend checking out the trigger warnings for the book as there is quite a long list but personally that just made me want to read it even more.
literally can't praise this book enough it was so different and unique that I don't even know what to compare it too.
February 16, 2023
This is a nice slow burn with great fleshed out characters. I really enjoyed PD Alleva's writing style
If you love devil/occult horror you'll love this!
If you love devil/occult horror you'll love this!
December 8, 2022
Golem by PD Alleva is one of those books that you can easily get absorbed in and forget about everything around you. This is one of my top books of 2022, easily in the top five. This three-part horror novel needs to be read. If you enjoy Anne Rice, Neil Gaiman, or Brian Keene, you will most likely love this.
Detective John Ashton is on a case that is hard to believe. He needs to find the District Attorney's missing daughter. The only lead he has is Alena Francon, who says she has seen the missing daughter. The problem is, Alena is residing in an asylum and is having many outbursts that make the doctors feel she is unstable. Alena has a story to tell that is so unbelievable and filled with so much death, Detective Ashton thinks Alena is delusional and needs to remain in the asylum. She tells a story of sacrifices, cannibalism, and possessions. It is up to Detective Ashton to solve this case, and find the missing daughter. This could give a huge boost to his career.
PD Alleva is definitely an elegant writer. His writing style is mesmerizing at times. The story is filled with every emotion that belongs in a horror book.
"Her body quivered before she devoured the organ, her porcelain skin now stained with crimson chunks of organ with blood brushed on her cheeks like paint coated on a canvas." That is such a graceful and tasteful way of saying she is a cannibal. Yet the visuals it gives are beautiful and disgusting at the same time.
"Alena registered the glint in his eyes as if an ocean wave rushed from one side to the other." As you can imagine, the eerie feeling of what Alena felt and how fearful she was. Delicate and evil, all in one sentence.
I could give many more examples of the writing style, but I feel you should read this novel and experience the love and devotion Alleva put into this book for you. I will recommend this book many times to many people. It is worth it. It is like a love story between good and evil, with only one outcome.
Detective John Ashton is on a case that is hard to believe. He needs to find the District Attorney's missing daughter. The only lead he has is Alena Francon, who says she has seen the missing daughter. The problem is, Alena is residing in an asylum and is having many outbursts that make the doctors feel she is unstable. Alena has a story to tell that is so unbelievable and filled with so much death, Detective Ashton thinks Alena is delusional and needs to remain in the asylum. She tells a story of sacrifices, cannibalism, and possessions. It is up to Detective Ashton to solve this case, and find the missing daughter. This could give a huge boost to his career.
PD Alleva is definitely an elegant writer. His writing style is mesmerizing at times. The story is filled with every emotion that belongs in a horror book.
"Her body quivered before she devoured the organ, her porcelain skin now stained with crimson chunks of organ with blood brushed on her cheeks like paint coated on a canvas." That is such a graceful and tasteful way of saying she is a cannibal. Yet the visuals it gives are beautiful and disgusting at the same time.
"Alena registered the glint in his eyes as if an ocean wave rushed from one side to the other." As you can imagine, the eerie feeling of what Alena felt and how fearful she was. Delicate and evil, all in one sentence.
I could give many more examples of the writing style, but I feel you should read this novel and experience the love and devotion Alleva put into this book for you. I will recommend this book many times to many people. It is worth it. It is like a love story between good and evil, with only one outcome.
May 12, 2022
Recently promoted to Detective and with his wife expecting, life is good for John Ashton. His first case involves a missing child and a visit to Bellevue’s psychiatric facility to meet with socialite and sculptress, Alena Francon, the only witness to the little girl’s disappearance. When she takes John into her confidence, explaining that a statue she created is possessed by a diabolical entity, he dismisses her story as the ravings of a madwoman…
Golem is an absorbing horror that is truly terrifying in places and draws on different elements of myth and legend, which are sprinkled with a deconstructed dash of Rosemary’s Baby, and a subversive sprinkle of Pygmalion. It’s a gruesome cauldron of skin-crawling psychological horror.
Indeed, the novel comfortably straddles several sub-genres and utilizes a number of satisfyingly familiar horror ingredients. However, these are not just thrown in the narrative mix but purposefully placed, and innovatively applied to the story.
The novel is split into three parts and is set in the late 1940s/early 50s. This mid-century setting never over-shadows but is nicely complementary to the tale, bathing the action in slightly sepia, shadowy tones. Further, the lack of modern communication serves to ratchet up the fear levels for both characters and readers alike.
The story is told from the perspectives of John Ashton, Alena Francon, and an acquaintance of Alena’s, Annette Flemming.
Ashton has vulnerabilities and the reader is given a heavy dose of foreshadowing during his chapters, in some areas, you feel like shouting at the prose as he completely misreads the obvious, but it’s adept at keeping the pages turning.
Annette is an acquaintance of Alena’s and I found her a deeply unsettling character who could definitely inhabit her own novel. She also has personal issues, some immediately discernible, others bubbling under the surface. The scenes with her were tense, atmospheric, and thickly ominous.
They also had a very visual quality, especially the opening Halloween chapter, which also added to the reader’s creeping sense of dread.
Throughout Golem, Alleva’s writing lends an intense appeal to visualization achieved by the use of sharp, physical detailing, and heightened spatial awareness through the various characters’ observations and emotions.
Alena’s story is gripping, especially in the beginning. Her meeting with Maleva, the Gypsy, could have veered into trope but it was brilliantly executed. Palpably weighted with foreboding, ancient evil, and the downright macabre, it skillfully draws the reader layer by layer into its dark, demonic world.
Notwithstanding, as Golem slowly yet steadily comes to life beneath Alena’s hand, the chapters are strangely beautiful and quite moving. However, that changes when Alena’s socialite friends visit. Things take a distinctly visceral turn as Golem spends more time in the basement and serves a pate that, for many, would be an acquired taste.
From here on, Golem descends into a nightmarish rabbit hole of ritualistic, primal malevolence which is as appalling as it is compelling. My only critique would be that I found Alena’s story became a little overlong towards the end which slightly mitigated the impact of Golem’s fiendish machinations.
But, overall, an excellent horror-thriller in the chillingly awful tradition of Barker, King, Koontz, et al. Highly recommended.
Golem is an absorbing horror that is truly terrifying in places and draws on different elements of myth and legend, which are sprinkled with a deconstructed dash of Rosemary’s Baby, and a subversive sprinkle of Pygmalion. It’s a gruesome cauldron of skin-crawling psychological horror.
Indeed, the novel comfortably straddles several sub-genres and utilizes a number of satisfyingly familiar horror ingredients. However, these are not just thrown in the narrative mix but purposefully placed, and innovatively applied to the story.
The novel is split into three parts and is set in the late 1940s/early 50s. This mid-century setting never over-shadows but is nicely complementary to the tale, bathing the action in slightly sepia, shadowy tones. Further, the lack of modern communication serves to ratchet up the fear levels for both characters and readers alike.
The story is told from the perspectives of John Ashton, Alena Francon, and an acquaintance of Alena’s, Annette Flemming.
Ashton has vulnerabilities and the reader is given a heavy dose of foreshadowing during his chapters, in some areas, you feel like shouting at the prose as he completely misreads the obvious, but it’s adept at keeping the pages turning.
Annette is an acquaintance of Alena’s and I found her a deeply unsettling character who could definitely inhabit her own novel. She also has personal issues, some immediately discernible, others bubbling under the surface. The scenes with her were tense, atmospheric, and thickly ominous.
They also had a very visual quality, especially the opening Halloween chapter, which also added to the reader’s creeping sense of dread.
Throughout Golem, Alleva’s writing lends an intense appeal to visualization achieved by the use of sharp, physical detailing, and heightened spatial awareness through the various characters’ observations and emotions.
Alena’s story is gripping, especially in the beginning. Her meeting with Maleva, the Gypsy, could have veered into trope but it was brilliantly executed. Palpably weighted with foreboding, ancient evil, and the downright macabre, it skillfully draws the reader layer by layer into its dark, demonic world.
Notwithstanding, as Golem slowly yet steadily comes to life beneath Alena’s hand, the chapters are strangely beautiful and quite moving. However, that changes when Alena’s socialite friends visit. Things take a distinctly visceral turn as Golem spends more time in the basement and serves a pate that, for many, would be an acquired taste.
From here on, Golem descends into a nightmarish rabbit hole of ritualistic, primal malevolence which is as appalling as it is compelling. My only critique would be that I found Alena’s story became a little overlong towards the end which slightly mitigated the impact of Golem’s fiendish machinations.
But, overall, an excellent horror-thriller in the chillingly awful tradition of Barker, King, Koontz, et al. Highly recommended.
January 15, 2023
For fans of Stephen King, Clive Barker, etc, this psychological horror novel is definitely worth the read!
It's spooky and creepy. It reminded me at times of an old 80's type of horror story. But more than that, it was actually well-written and didn't cross the line to ridiculousness when the supernatural was added in (as can sometimes happen in King novels).
A great read! You may want to keep the lights on.
It's spooky and creepy. It reminded me at times of an old 80's type of horror story. But more than that, it was actually well-written and didn't cross the line to ridiculousness when the supernatural was added in (as can sometimes happen in King novels).
A great read! You may want to keep the lights on.
October 21, 2023
Detective. Angel. Victim. Devil.
I’m not going into the plot here because you need to dive into this book without any preconceptions. All I will say is that this is an exploration of human vices, wickedness and evil and I really enjoyed the visceral aspect of Alleva’s writing style.
The psychological aspect of this deeply disturbing story is perfection. I read Golem back in July (I’m still catching up with my reviews) and it keeps popping back up in my head. It definitely caused a couple of sleepless nights when I was reading it, so that shows just how much it played on my mind at the time. It scared the bejeysus out of me a few times (I almost did a Joey from Friends move and put it in the freezer!)
It’s a violent, disturbing read so don’t go into reading this if you have a weak stomach or don’t like gore and brutality in your books. All the trigger warnings have to go with this book- there are scenes of abuse and torture (including those involving children- didn’t like that aspect of the story), so be warned.
This is a definite rec for readers who love horror with a strong psychological element. Golem is out now. Thanks to the author for sending me the ebook in exchange for my honest review. If you like The Silence of the Lambs, Stephen King or Anne Rice’s books, go check Golem out.
I’m currently reading his new book Jigglyspot out on 31st October and it’s even more disturbing than Golem so I’m traumatised!
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m not going into the plot here because you need to dive into this book without any preconceptions. All I will say is that this is an exploration of human vices, wickedness and evil and I really enjoyed the visceral aspect of Alleva’s writing style.
The psychological aspect of this deeply disturbing story is perfection. I read Golem back in July (I’m still catching up with my reviews) and it keeps popping back up in my head. It definitely caused a couple of sleepless nights when I was reading it, so that shows just how much it played on my mind at the time. It scared the bejeysus out of me a few times (I almost did a Joey from Friends move and put it in the freezer!)
It’s a violent, disturbing read so don’t go into reading this if you have a weak stomach or don’t like gore and brutality in your books. All the trigger warnings have to go with this book- there are scenes of abuse and torture (including those involving children- didn’t like that aspect of the story), so be warned.
This is a definite rec for readers who love horror with a strong psychological element. Golem is out now. Thanks to the author for sending me the ebook in exchange for my honest review. If you like The Silence of the Lambs, Stephen King or Anne Rice’s books, go check Golem out.
I’m currently reading his new book Jigglyspot out on 31st October and it’s even more disturbing than Golem so I’m traumatised!
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 5, 2021
A dark Pygmalion with hints of the demonic from Rosemary’s Baby, Golem ticked all the boxes for me.
The titular Golem, while inspired by the Jewish myth, has more in common with a smooth tongued abuser than the monster of clay. He’s well done, his every word sure to manipulate and confuse the characters in the book.
The majority of this book is Alena’s story, a horror retelling of the Pygmalion myth, and I’m not sure why the author decided to frame it as Alena telling the story to a policeman rather than starting the book with this tale. However, my confusion about why the story is laid out the way it is didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it.
There are some frightening set pieces in this book, and the rest is an engrossing tale of depravity and dishonesty. The devil is in the details, and in every moment of this book, where the old saying is never more true - the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
I’ll be sure to read more by this author.
The titular Golem, while inspired by the Jewish myth, has more in common with a smooth tongued abuser than the monster of clay. He’s well done, his every word sure to manipulate and confuse the characters in the book.
The majority of this book is Alena’s story, a horror retelling of the Pygmalion myth, and I’m not sure why the author decided to frame it as Alena telling the story to a policeman rather than starting the book with this tale. However, my confusion about why the story is laid out the way it is didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it.
There are some frightening set pieces in this book, and the rest is an engrossing tale of depravity and dishonesty. The devil is in the details, and in every moment of this book, where the old saying is never more true - the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
I’ll be sure to read more by this author.
September 6, 2022
Gather around the fire everyone and get ready for one hell of a ghost story! Or should I say demon story?
I was jumping at every little sound while reading, which is how I know I was getting into the book because the world around me went away! This story gets into your mind you guys. I haven't walked into a basement in quite a minute unless it was lit nice and bright! Also, I will never be able to look at/hear a goat with a bell the same way ever again. Thanks for that one Alleva!
I felt having essentially the plot-mover be a detective was a prefect pick to help get the ball rolling and moving throughout the book. I didn't feel like it was a detective story though. A majority of the book was focused on Part 2 which was in Alena's point-of-view nearly the entire time and about what had happened to her years before. I only remembered that this was a recounting of her tale when we were pulled back by a musing of Ashton's. Although, being a detective, he had so much more freedom to go looking around and investigating the story in Part 3 after listening to Alena. And for those who read the book (which you should!), Don't forget about the first lady, Annette, you meet! She does show back up. Even though it might not seem that way while you are listening to Alena. I only say this because I did forget about her and when she showed up again it took me a moment to place her.
Alleva's writing is wonderful! I loved the super details that we have throughout the entire book! The portrayal of the time period that was picked and the use of real myths and legends are all fantastic. The horror element was brilliant and all the gore and fear was written great! My biggest complaint towards the writing was some of the expressions and turn of phrases were a tad repetitive. Sometimes these were a few chapters apart, but there were a few moments were they were closer to a page separating the same use of a sentence a couple times over (excluding the ritual moments, for obvious reasons). I know there are intentional moments when an author wants to get a point or phrase to stand out to the readers; however, over using something can also remove a reader from your world too. These as a whole weren't terrible and definitely didn't take away from the reading as a whole. The few time that the repetition did get annoying, you are quickly taken into a different scene and it isn't repeated for some time.
Creepiest part is easily Sophia. Every time she shows up after her ceremony. I have something seriously against humans crawling around in a spider-like manner. *shivers* It just isn't natural! And the scratching sound that accompanies her movements... Hard NOPE! My ass is gone ya'll! I mean, yeah, the heart eating and murders that happen are pretty horrifying and creepy too. But I have my priorities and it is removing myself from this creepy little girl. Thanks, but no thanks. Bye! :)
Can I be real though. Even though I know Golem is trying to steal souls. And to spread his demonic-ness all over the place. And to grow his horde of demonic children... ok so those are all super, super bad. Besides all of those horrible things, I would totally love someone cooking me food all the time. You know toss in a few chores getting done around the house. Keep the maintenance up around the place. Taking care of all the troubles Adulting gives you. That sounds so freaking nice! Not soul giving levels, but nice none the less.
Totally recommend this book! It is a perfect pump up for the Halloween fiends out there (myself included). Also, if you are into the scary, psychological horror books this is totally one for you! The biggest warning I would put on this book is the amount of torture and abuse that happens not only to the adults but the amount that happens to the children. If those are a trigger for you at all, I wouldn't read it. I know the gore had me wincing at times because there is a LOT of it, but I still throughly enjoyed the reading. If you are looking for a goo reading time to pick this up. I wouldn't suggest reading it late at night while alone in the house or while eating (I know I couldn't, I'm far to visual of a reader). Any other time though, absolutely!
Be careful who you open the door for and don't look them in the eyes!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary honest review.
I was jumping at every little sound while reading, which is how I know I was getting into the book because the world around me went away! This story gets into your mind you guys. I haven't walked into a basement in quite a minute unless it was lit nice and bright! Also, I will never be able to look at/hear a goat with a bell the same way ever again. Thanks for that one Alleva!
I felt having essentially the plot-mover be a detective was a prefect pick to help get the ball rolling and moving throughout the book. I didn't feel like it was a detective story though. A majority of the book was focused on Part 2 which was in Alena's point-of-view nearly the entire time and about what had happened to her years before. I only remembered that this was a recounting of her tale when we were pulled back by a musing of Ashton's. Although, being a detective, he had so much more freedom to go looking around and investigating the story in Part 3 after listening to Alena. And for those who read the book (which you should!), Don't forget about the first lady, Annette, you meet! She does show back up. Even though it might not seem that way while you are listening to Alena. I only say this because I did forget about her and when she showed up again it took me a moment to place her.
Alleva's writing is wonderful! I loved the super details that we have throughout the entire book! The portrayal of the time period that was picked and the use of real myths and legends are all fantastic. The horror element was brilliant and all the gore and fear was written great! My biggest complaint towards the writing was some of the expressions and turn of phrases were a tad repetitive. Sometimes these were a few chapters apart, but there were a few moments were they were closer to a page separating the same use of a sentence a couple times over (excluding the ritual moments, for obvious reasons). I know there are intentional moments when an author wants to get a point or phrase to stand out to the readers; however, over using something can also remove a reader from your world too. These as a whole weren't terrible and definitely didn't take away from the reading as a whole. The few time that the repetition did get annoying, you are quickly taken into a different scene and it isn't repeated for some time.
Creepiest part is easily Sophia. Every time she shows up after her ceremony. I have something seriously against humans crawling around in a spider-like manner. *shivers* It just isn't natural! And the scratching sound that accompanies her movements... Hard NOPE! My ass is gone ya'll! I mean, yeah, the heart eating and murders that happen are pretty horrifying and creepy too. But I have my priorities and it is removing myself from this creepy little girl. Thanks, but no thanks. Bye! :)
Can I be real though. Even though I know Golem is trying to steal souls. And to spread his demonic-ness all over the place. And to grow his horde of demonic children... ok so those are all super, super bad. Besides all of those horrible things, I would totally love someone cooking me food all the time. You know toss in a few chores getting done around the house. Keep the maintenance up around the place. Taking care of all the troubles Adulting gives you. That sounds so freaking nice! Not soul giving levels, but nice none the less.
Totally recommend this book! It is a perfect pump up for the Halloween fiends out there (myself included). Also, if you are into the scary, psychological horror books this is totally one for you! The biggest warning I would put on this book is the amount of torture and abuse that happens not only to the adults but the amount that happens to the children. If those are a trigger for you at all, I wouldn't read it. I know the gore had me wincing at times because there is a LOT of it, but I still throughly enjoyed the reading. If you are looking for a goo reading time to pick this up. I wouldn't suggest reading it late at night while alone in the house or while eating (I know I couldn't, I'm far to visual of a reader). Any other time though, absolutely!
Be careful who you open the door for and don't look them in the eyes!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary honest review.
November 13, 2023
I accepted a paperback copy of this book from the author in consideration of a review. All opinions are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.
GOLEM is my second novel by author P.D. Alleva. After reading his most recent release, JIGGLYSPOT AND THE ZERO INTELLECT, I was very excited to read more by this author!
The opening chapter gave me everything I could ask for in a horror novel: a taste of what is to come. Alleva even upped the ante by starting this book on Halloween night and throwing in a couple of creepy kids. (Am I the only one who finds little kids creepy? LOL)
This story takes place in New York, 1951. We meet John Ashton on a very proud day for him - the day he makes detective. With his shiny new rank, he also receives his first assignment: follow up on a lead concerning the missing daughter of the district attorney. As someone who loves crime stories, I was immediately caught up in the story. This lead John was asked to look into - someone called the station and claimed to know who had the missing girl and was none other than Alena Francon, a member of the elite New York high society, who happens to currently reside at Bellevue's psychiatric facility.
The first section of the book with its mystery, intrigue and hint at something sinister was captivating. The second section of the book is where I got a little bit caught in the weeds. This was Alena telling her story to John and I felt it went on a bit too long and I found myself losing interest.
Once we got back to the present, all You-Know-What broke loose and things got wild. Because I've read Alleva's newest release, which does feature a tie-in to this one, there were a bunch of fun revelations and explanations that I really enjoyed. I still can't decide if I'm glad I read them out of publication order or not! I think either way you read them, there's fun to be had when you learn certain things. (I want to talk about them *so* bad!!!)
The writing was a bit rough for me in this one. There were a couple words that were used so much that they became speedbumps for me, just bounced me right out of the story. I know Alleva gets better since I've read his newest one and that one is just *chef's kiss* with how well written it is. (I know I keep talking about his new one, but it was just so GOOD!)
GOLEM is a good book and I'm glad I read it. I do believe the author plans to write future books that will tie in with some of the history and characters we meet in this one and I hope to be among the first to read them!
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Amanda L., Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Sharon A-B, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E. & Sarah C.
"There's no such thing as ghosts and demons, he told himself. The heart of man is evil enough."
GOLEM is my second novel by author P.D. Alleva. After reading his most recent release, JIGGLYSPOT AND THE ZERO INTELLECT, I was very excited to read more by this author!
The opening chapter gave me everything I could ask for in a horror novel: a taste of what is to come. Alleva even upped the ante by starting this book on Halloween night and throwing in a couple of creepy kids. (Am I the only one who finds little kids creepy? LOL)
This story takes place in New York, 1951. We meet John Ashton on a very proud day for him - the day he makes detective. With his shiny new rank, he also receives his first assignment: follow up on a lead concerning the missing daughter of the district attorney. As someone who loves crime stories, I was immediately caught up in the story. This lead John was asked to look into - someone called the station and claimed to know who had the missing girl and was none other than Alena Francon, a member of the elite New York high society, who happens to currently reside at Bellevue's psychiatric facility.
The first section of the book with its mystery, intrigue and hint at something sinister was captivating. The second section of the book is where I got a little bit caught in the weeds. This was Alena telling her story to John and I felt it went on a bit too long and I found myself losing interest.
Once we got back to the present, all You-Know-What broke loose and things got wild. Because I've read Alleva's newest release, which does feature a tie-in to this one, there were a bunch of fun revelations and explanations that I really enjoyed. I still can't decide if I'm glad I read them out of publication order or not! I think either way you read them, there's fun to be had when you learn certain things. (I want to talk about them *so* bad!!!)
The writing was a bit rough for me in this one. There were a couple words that were used so much that they became speedbumps for me, just bounced me right out of the story. I know Alleva gets better since I've read his newest one and that one is just *chef's kiss* with how well written it is. (I know I keep talking about his new one, but it was just so GOOD!)
GOLEM is a good book and I'm glad I read it. I do believe the author plans to write future books that will tie in with some of the history and characters we meet in this one and I hope to be among the first to read them!
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Amanda L., Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Sharon A-B, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E. & Sarah C.
June 21, 2022
Surrounded by devils you believe are angels. Be careful, detective. Be very careful indeed"
.
Golem opens on Long Island, N.Y. on Halloween 1951. Annette Fleming is home alone, and deeply uncomfortable. Believing the night's events to be over and the tricker or treaters finished, she is alarmed when two strangers start knocking on her door. Then we shift focus to John Ashton, who has been promoted to detective. Following his promotion, John is told of a new lead regarding the abduction of DA Charles Xavier's (Isabella) daughter, and how Alena Francon, a known figure reported a "Golem" had perpetrated a crime. Soon, Detective Ashton is drawn into a strange world of golems, shady people and curious individuals all in the name of finding a missing girl. But will he find what he is looking for? And what is the truth about the Golem?
.
I like the post-WW2 America setting. It adds that little something to the story and I liked that setting. There's a nice nod to the McCarthy/Red Scare too which helps establish this setting too. The intro was a curious one and got my attention. It had a real mysterious vibe to it and you wondered just what was going on. Detective Ashton was a good lead too. The first meeting with Alena was interesting to be sure. She speaks in riddles about the mysterious Golem and what happened to the DA's daughter. The PTSD that Ashton has because of the war is a nice bit of character backstory. There's also a good few chapters where we get to explore who Alena was and her back story before the main plot kickstarted. The relationship between Alena and Golem was an interesting part as you saw her vulnerabilities leading to further troubles. To me, the Golem and Alena scenes had a sort of Frankenstein-eqsue element to it. Part of me felt the Alena/Golem flashbacks could have been shortened a tiny bit BUT it did introduce a lot of answers as to what exactly the Golem was up to and this whole sort of world of gods and monsters with it. I couldn't help a tiny bit more could have been squeezed out. On the whole, its a well written, vintage horror story with a lot of themes running through it, and I would say to check it out if you are looking for something which blends a lot of themes and concepts within horror to create something new and bold.
.
Overall 4.5/5 ⭐
Thank you PD for the free copy for review!
.
Golem opens on Long Island, N.Y. on Halloween 1951. Annette Fleming is home alone, and deeply uncomfortable. Believing the night's events to be over and the tricker or treaters finished, she is alarmed when two strangers start knocking on her door. Then we shift focus to John Ashton, who has been promoted to detective. Following his promotion, John is told of a new lead regarding the abduction of DA Charles Xavier's (Isabella) daughter, and how Alena Francon, a known figure reported a "Golem" had perpetrated a crime. Soon, Detective Ashton is drawn into a strange world of golems, shady people and curious individuals all in the name of finding a missing girl. But will he find what he is looking for? And what is the truth about the Golem?
.
I like the post-WW2 America setting. It adds that little something to the story and I liked that setting. There's a nice nod to the McCarthy/Red Scare too which helps establish this setting too. The intro was a curious one and got my attention. It had a real mysterious vibe to it and you wondered just what was going on. Detective Ashton was a good lead too. The first meeting with Alena was interesting to be sure. She speaks in riddles about the mysterious Golem and what happened to the DA's daughter. The PTSD that Ashton has because of the war is a nice bit of character backstory. There's also a good few chapters where we get to explore who Alena was and her back story before the main plot kickstarted. The relationship between Alena and Golem was an interesting part as you saw her vulnerabilities leading to further troubles. To me, the Golem and Alena scenes had a sort of Frankenstein-eqsue element to it. Part of me felt the Alena/Golem flashbacks could have been shortened a tiny bit BUT it did introduce a lot of answers as to what exactly the Golem was up to and this whole sort of world of gods and monsters with it. I couldn't help a tiny bit more could have been squeezed out. On the whole, its a well written, vintage horror story with a lot of themes running through it, and I would say to check it out if you are looking for something which blends a lot of themes and concepts within horror to create something new and bold.
.
Overall 4.5/5 ⭐
Thank you PD for the free copy for review!
January 4, 2022
What was it all about
A cop, John Ashton, was given the case of locating the missing daughter of the district attorney. What he came across was the story narrated by Alena. What he got to know was the existence of GOLEM.
How it made me feel
Cold icy shivers traveled down my spine as I read the book. Trigger warnings on the author’s website ought not to be negated. Some of the scenes were, to the core, horrifying. I had to stop and take a breather.
This was the horror that played with my mind where the writing brought the scenes directly to the forefront. As per the norm, I read the book in the night, not realizing some of the nightmares seriously would cling to me.
You have been warned.
When one is unknowingly surrounded by the corrupt, there is nothing one can do to make good on noble promises.
The Good
The writing was atmospheric where Golem’s presence could be keenly felt in the pages of the book, some of them would seem to bleed into real life. I didn’t think I would see this, if the book were to be made into a movie.
The book was fast-paced where all the characters started off innocent, but the author put them through their paces, so much so that they had to grow up. Fast.
Golem was a character worthy of mention so evil was he etched. He caused the horror of this book to skyrocket when he called forth the children. And yes, there are a few macabre scenes
I liked the book continued in the direction I expected from it, paving the way for the second book, if the author chose it.
The Bad
The cover could have been better. It didn’t really speak horror to me.
Being quite a big book, some places had a lag, but the devil was in details, so I could let that go. Alena could be a bit more convincing. Sometimes I didn’t get the feel that she had gone through the darkness with Golem’s ministrations.
Despite knowing triggers, it could still invoke in me some amount of fear and a need to step away from the book. That could be both good or bad.
The Conclusion
A true horror, well worthy of the genre it reflected.
A cop, John Ashton, was given the case of locating the missing daughter of the district attorney. What he came across was the story narrated by Alena. What he got to know was the existence of GOLEM.
How it made me feel
Cold icy shivers traveled down my spine as I read the book. Trigger warnings on the author’s website ought not to be negated. Some of the scenes were, to the core, horrifying. I had to stop and take a breather.
This was the horror that played with my mind where the writing brought the scenes directly to the forefront. As per the norm, I read the book in the night, not realizing some of the nightmares seriously would cling to me.
You have been warned.
When one is unknowingly surrounded by the corrupt, there is nothing one can do to make good on noble promises.
The Good
The writing was atmospheric where Golem’s presence could be keenly felt in the pages of the book, some of them would seem to bleed into real life. I didn’t think I would see this, if the book were to be made into a movie.
The book was fast-paced where all the characters started off innocent, but the author put them through their paces, so much so that they had to grow up. Fast.
Golem was a character worthy of mention so evil was he etched. He caused the horror of this book to skyrocket when he called forth the children. And yes, there are a few macabre scenes
I liked the book continued in the direction I expected from it, paving the way for the second book, if the author chose it.
The Bad
The cover could have been better. It didn’t really speak horror to me.
Being quite a big book, some places had a lag, but the devil was in details, so I could let that go. Alena could be a bit more convincing. Sometimes I didn’t get the feel that she had gone through the darkness with Golem’s ministrations.
Despite knowing triggers, it could still invoke in me some amount of fear and a need to step away from the book. That could be both good or bad.
The Conclusion
A true horror, well worthy of the genre it reflected.
February 6, 2023
John has just been appointed as a detective, and his first assigned criminal case turns out to deal with the disappearance of a little girl. Alena, a woman who is currently being cured in a psychiatric institution, claims to know where this missing girl is. In her opinion, she was kidnapped by a man named Golem, inside whom a devilish creature resides. Emotionless. Uncompromising. Prone to spreading evil, wreaking havoc, undertaking the worst activities that could be imagined. Causing pain and unimaginable suffering.
"Golem" is a multidimensional horror novel studded with ubiquitous references to other works, mythology, and cultures. The first chapter of the book constitutes an atmospheric introduction to the dark story fastened with a metaphorical buckle. We will get to know the range of the satanic pursuits from three different points of view, thus undoubtedly going faster with the flow of events. Sometimes the change of narration (or even timeline) may result in confusion, but after a quick brainstorm all events should perfectly fit into the accurate shape.
The whole plot was located in the late forties of the previous century in New York. I will not even list each of the triggers, because this book is filled with them to the brim. Cruelty spreads there in the New York's extravagant building's cellars, and those responsible for evil deeds wear pure human skins. Under the disguise of sophistication and sumptuousness manipulate others and kill those innocent.
I admit that sometimes I was tired of reading it... Especially when I closed the last page. I soaked up this story and I dreamed about those vicious endeavours at night. Suffering innocent beings. Terribly hurt children. After waking up in the middle of the night I saw the figure of the devil. It turned out to be the LED from my TV. That may indicate how this book enters the subconsciousness with its fearful descriptions.
Four stars, just because it could be a bit shorter, less repetitive.
"Golem" is a multidimensional horror novel studded with ubiquitous references to other works, mythology, and cultures. The first chapter of the book constitutes an atmospheric introduction to the dark story fastened with a metaphorical buckle. We will get to know the range of the satanic pursuits from three different points of view, thus undoubtedly going faster with the flow of events. Sometimes the change of narration (or even timeline) may result in confusion, but after a quick brainstorm all events should perfectly fit into the accurate shape.
The whole plot was located in the late forties of the previous century in New York. I will not even list each of the triggers, because this book is filled with them to the brim. Cruelty spreads there in the New York's extravagant building's cellars, and those responsible for evil deeds wear pure human skins. Under the disguise of sophistication and sumptuousness manipulate others and kill those innocent.
I admit that sometimes I was tired of reading it... Especially when I closed the last page. I soaked up this story and I dreamed about those vicious endeavours at night. Suffering innocent beings. Terribly hurt children. After waking up in the middle of the night I saw the figure of the devil. It turned out to be the LED from my TV. That may indicate how this book enters the subconsciousness with its fearful descriptions.
Four stars, just because it could be a bit shorter, less repetitive.
February 7, 2023
Rookie detective John Ashton is assigned a case he believes will send him on a wild goose chase. Alena Francis claims a marble statue by the name of Golem came to life and has been holding captive a horde of children at the Clairfield Hotel for his unholy ceremonies to summon Baphomet. With no real evidence to go on besides the crazed delusions of a madwoman, Ashton decides to track down this “Golem” to prove he’s not a demon. But instead he finds himself trapped in the middle of a sinister plan that threatens his wife and unborn child…
This story starts off in the year 1951 on a stormy Halloween night. It’s the perfect opener with a fantastically eerie atmosphere filled with dread and black eyed children. It’s a great way to hook a horror reader. The timeline along with the POV then shifts back to 1947 and goes in depth with the story of Golem all the way back to present day. It’s a slow burn of a story where nothing is left unexplained and the main characters are fully fleshed out with complex backstories. My only gripe is that while I appreciate a heavily descriptive story, there were a few moments where details felt repetitive and took too long to get to the point.
Other than that, I enjoyed my time reading this 538 page beast of a novel. It mixes Jewish folklore with satanism, witchcraft and the supernatural. If you’re looking to sink your claws into some occult horror, this may be the perfect evil book for you.
⚠️ A few content warnings: Physical violence and murder of a newborn (this part isn’t very graphic and can skimmed over).
This story starts off in the year 1951 on a stormy Halloween night. It’s the perfect opener with a fantastically eerie atmosphere filled with dread and black eyed children. It’s a great way to hook a horror reader. The timeline along with the POV then shifts back to 1947 and goes in depth with the story of Golem all the way back to present day. It’s a slow burn of a story where nothing is left unexplained and the main characters are fully fleshed out with complex backstories. My only gripe is that while I appreciate a heavily descriptive story, there were a few moments where details felt repetitive and took too long to get to the point.
Other than that, I enjoyed my time reading this 538 page beast of a novel. It mixes Jewish folklore with satanism, witchcraft and the supernatural. If you’re looking to sink your claws into some occult horror, this may be the perfect evil book for you.
⚠️ A few content warnings: Physical violence and murder of a newborn (this part isn’t very graphic and can skimmed over).
April 21, 2022
Disclaimer: I was offered a free e-copy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way impacted my review, and the below thoughts are mine alone.
Golem is a novel that, quite honestly, could be considered a genre all by itself. It feels like its own thing, almost a mashup of genres. Yes, it's a psychological horror novel, but it's also a lot more than that. I went into this engaging and clever story almost entirely blind, and as soon as I thought I had it all figured out, the rug was swept from my feet. This book is a trip. It's a visceral, gripping, horrific trip.
The author really doesn't shy away from anything in this novel. The characters are dragged to hell and back, and despite the copious amount of on page suffering, it's a novel that you just can't peel your eyes away from. A lot of scenes in this novel are actually horrifying, like, actually, genuinely horrifying. As the pages go on, this novel descends into madness, and the horror only becomes more and more intense.
This was just such a refreshing experience. Any psychological horror fan needs to give this one a shot.
Golem is a novel that, quite honestly, could be considered a genre all by itself. It feels like its own thing, almost a mashup of genres. Yes, it's a psychological horror novel, but it's also a lot more than that. I went into this engaging and clever story almost entirely blind, and as soon as I thought I had it all figured out, the rug was swept from my feet. This book is a trip. It's a visceral, gripping, horrific trip.
The author really doesn't shy away from anything in this novel. The characters are dragged to hell and back, and despite the copious amount of on page suffering, it's a novel that you just can't peel your eyes away from. A lot of scenes in this novel are actually horrifying, like, actually, genuinely horrifying. As the pages go on, this novel descends into madness, and the horror only becomes more and more intense.
This was just such a refreshing experience. Any psychological horror fan needs to give this one a shot.
February 13, 2025
I love reading about folklore. This book was incredible. From the opening of when Alena was ‘given’ the seed to bring about Golem to how society is so easily led by assumed promises of wealth and power. When Alena told the harrowing story of how the Golem came to be I was as flabbergasted as John. I think it would be very difficult to find a story like this credible if a: the storyteller was labeled mentally unstable and b: that a statue could be brought to life. What happened to Alena no doubt made bringing Golem to life simple but what continued to happen was so terrifying that how could Alena hope to cope with her contribution. This story definitely showed how easily people are able to overlook evil happenings just to gain some wealth and power. The members of this society obviously never thought of the consequences of their actions or what would come of their participation in such awful ceremonies. This book leaves a lot to ponder long after the book is finished.
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