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Seven Cleopatra Hill
For the idyllic mountain town of Jerome, Arizona, a blizzard is coming. A storm of such magnitude, the likes of which the town hasn’t seen in thirty years. Nestled at the top of the mountain is the Jerome Grand Hotel, a historic inn rumored to be haunted. The perfect setting for both a Romance writer’s convention and ghost hunter enthusiasts, alike. James Landes is neither, but his wife Victoria is a writer, and he’s hoping for a weekend away at her convention filled with sex, food, and fun.
But in this blizzard, there is more than snow and ice. There is an evil born from rituals of long ago, and only Jerome’s lifelong residents know how to stop it. James never believed in the supernatural, but if he wants to make it out of this weekend alive, he will have to embrace it.
But in this blizzard, there is more than snow and ice. There is an evil born from rituals of long ago, and only Jerome’s lifelong residents know how to stop it. James never believed in the supernatural, but if he wants to make it out of this weekend alive, he will have to embrace it.
- GenresHorrorDarkSupernatural
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 17, 2022
12 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Justin Holley
26 books60 followersJustin is the author of the novels HELLWEG'S KEEP, TETHERED TO DARKNESS, the 3-book Blood From the Stars serial novel (THE FALL, THE CAPTURE, & THE END GAME), SEVEN CLEOPATRA HILL, BRUISED, WEDNESDAY'S CHILD, and THE GULLIES, as well as, several short stories haunting magazines and anthologies around the world. BRUISED was mentioned in Brian Keene's "Top Ten Books of 2015". He also investigates the paranormal with a TAPS-family group and plays volleyball twice a week. Correspondence from his fans is encouraged, and the best way to contact him is through his website: www.justinholley.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 22, 2022
“Seven Cleopatra Hill” by Justin Holley is truly a jam-packed horror novel that takes the haunted house/motel style of writing to a whole new level. This was an exciting read from start to finish with excellent characters, scary encounters, and a ton of gore. This was a very well-written novel that I felt was a diamond in the rough when it comes to how many haunted houses/motels are out there. This one definitely stands out from the rest and holds its own as a very unique take in this subgenre of horror.
I loved all the unique characters as they were nicely developed with the kids being my favorite ones. Miles was by far my favorite character and he’s just a kid! All the creepy situations in this novel were built up and delivered a knockout of a horror reading experience. I particularly enjoyed the pacing of the story as nothing dragged on at all, every word mattered and in 30 chapters, there was zero fluff here.
Don’t worry, I will not ruin anything for you as I want readers to be immersed and see all the different layers of suspense and horror that awaits. Even the gore in this novel added to the horror aspect of things as it was pretty tense in every encounter as things revealed themselves naturally. I had no idea where things would go and loved every minute of that feeling of not knowing what would happen until it was over.
Also, I’m usually not into romance when it comes to the horror novels I read but it was actually done very well in “Seven Cleopatra Hill” where it wasn’t overbearing at all. It didn’t take anything away from the story and I appreciated that as it added more substance and drama to things.
Once I hit the 80% mark, the race to the climactic ending was a fantastic journey as I loved how Holley was able to keep me on the edge of my seat as to what was ultimately going to transpire. The ending was beyond satisfying and a perfect way to wrap up this horror novel that will be one I remember for many years to come.
This may come as no surprise but I give “Seven Cleopatra Hill” by Justin Holley a perfect 5/5 as he has a new fan in me. I look forward to reading his previous and future work as he’s one incredibly talented writer. If you’re looking for a great weekend horror novel that is all about demons, ghosts, creepy characters, blood, and a haunted hotel during an insane blizzard, this one is for you as I’d highly recommend it!
I loved all the unique characters as they were nicely developed with the kids being my favorite ones. Miles was by far my favorite character and he’s just a kid! All the creepy situations in this novel were built up and delivered a knockout of a horror reading experience. I particularly enjoyed the pacing of the story as nothing dragged on at all, every word mattered and in 30 chapters, there was zero fluff here.
Don’t worry, I will not ruin anything for you as I want readers to be immersed and see all the different layers of suspense and horror that awaits. Even the gore in this novel added to the horror aspect of things as it was pretty tense in every encounter as things revealed themselves naturally. I had no idea where things would go and loved every minute of that feeling of not knowing what would happen until it was over.
Also, I’m usually not into romance when it comes to the horror novels I read but it was actually done very well in “Seven Cleopatra Hill” where it wasn’t overbearing at all. It didn’t take anything away from the story and I appreciated that as it added more substance and drama to things.
Once I hit the 80% mark, the race to the climactic ending was a fantastic journey as I loved how Holley was able to keep me on the edge of my seat as to what was ultimately going to transpire. The ending was beyond satisfying and a perfect way to wrap up this horror novel that will be one I remember for many years to come.
This may come as no surprise but I give “Seven Cleopatra Hill” by Justin Holley a perfect 5/5 as he has a new fan in me. I look forward to reading his previous and future work as he’s one incredibly talented writer. If you’re looking for a great weekend horror novel that is all about demons, ghosts, creepy characters, blood, and a haunted hotel during an insane blizzard, this one is for you as I’d highly recommend it!
October 8, 2022
Supernatural Spooks!
A small backstory:
James Landis and his wife, Victoria are eager to spend a weekend in the Jerome Grand Hotel in Jerome, Arizona which is considered to be haunted. As they settle into the hotel they realize that they might be stuck there for awhile as a blizzard has rolled in but what they do not realize is being trapped is the least of their worries as what roams the hotel is far worse than any blizzard and they will have to fight to survive if they want to make it out of the hotel alive!
That is about all I can give on a small taste without giving away spoilers, so if you want to know more about this story then you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
This is my first time reading this author and I was hooked from the very beginning of this book as it just grabbed me right away as I could barely put the book down! There are more than just the two main characters that I mentioned above as there are quite a few characters that I loved as well. There are two kids, Miles and Janey who are also the main focal characters of this story that are adorable but at the same time grown up way beyond their years along with some other characters that I loved as well.
The haunting was really spooky and the more I became invested in the story the more I wanted to stay camped out in the hotel with the characters. The pace is fast once more things start happening in the story and after the half way mark the book goes into full blown haunting horror along with a creature feature as well. This story is wrapped with everything creepy and chilling! Looking forward to reading more by this author as he has a few other books out as well to step into. Giving this book five "Haunted Hotel" stars!
A small backstory:
James Landis and his wife, Victoria are eager to spend a weekend in the Jerome Grand Hotel in Jerome, Arizona which is considered to be haunted. As they settle into the hotel they realize that they might be stuck there for awhile as a blizzard has rolled in but what they do not realize is being trapped is the least of their worries as what roams the hotel is far worse than any blizzard and they will have to fight to survive if they want to make it out of the hotel alive!
That is about all I can give on a small taste without giving away spoilers, so if you want to know more about this story then you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
This is my first time reading this author and I was hooked from the very beginning of this book as it just grabbed me right away as I could barely put the book down! There are more than just the two main characters that I mentioned above as there are quite a few characters that I loved as well. There are two kids, Miles and Janey who are also the main focal characters of this story that are adorable but at the same time grown up way beyond their years along with some other characters that I loved as well.
The haunting was really spooky and the more I became invested in the story the more I wanted to stay camped out in the hotel with the characters. The pace is fast once more things start happening in the story and after the half way mark the book goes into full blown haunting horror along with a creature feature as well. This story is wrapped with everything creepy and chilling! Looking forward to reading more by this author as he has a few other books out as well to step into. Giving this book five "Haunted Hotel" stars!
May 19, 2020
Wow this was absolute chaos and I kinda loved it.
I mean, there is a lot going on. We're stuck in a small town in the middle of a crazy snow storm, the likes of which have not been seen for 30 years. The grand hotel is haunted by ghosts already, but now suddenly something evil is getting about town, shredding people in its wake.
I liked that the ghosts were such a side character in this. Personally I tend to prefer to think of ghosts as mostly benevolent, so their role in this book really interested me. They're a connection between the world of the living and the evil that's currently terrorising that world. There's a fair bit of curiosity about who they are and what they want, but they're not the main focus. I would have loved more about them, though!
The big bad is pretty hard to get a read on, but it seems he's known to a few of the town inhabitants, who have rituals prepared for this kind of event. Only they're all old and useless so things don't really go as planned, leaving a bunch of newcomers in a whole world of trouble. Messy, messy trouble.
The characters were a real mixed bag, but aside from the kids I didn't really take to them. First you've got school teacher, James, and his sex-crazed wife, Vic, who are in town for Vic's romance convention. James is such a classic school teacher dude throughout, which I really appreciated, although he and Vic both flit between cowardly and brave, which was a little jarring. More on that later.
Robbie is the local cop, fairly new to the role, and he has a really tough time believing this is all the work of a mythical monster. If he can't shoot it, it doesn't exist. I did like that about him but he sure did take a lot of frustrating convincing, considering how many people were being slaughtered in unusual ways.
Angela is also a cop and unfortunately something about her just grated. I think because she was so fair-weather. She's recently been through a trauma and it colours her character so completely at the start but then suddenly a new relationship takes front and centre and her life becomes all about that? It was a bit too harsh of a transition for me to properly be on board with it. Aside from that, though, I liked her bravery and ingenuity, and her willingness to listen to people who had useful things to say.
The real stars here are Miles and Janey who have seen some crazy stuff in their meagre years and ain't afraid of no ghosts. They're kids with a wealth of knowledge on all things supernatural and bizarre, and they handle the chaos better than all of the adults combined. Janey has an unfortunate potty mouth, and I personally would have preferred something more mild than the c-bomb, but that's just my own aversion to vulgarity. Janey is the conduit and Miles is the action hero and together they make this story a lot of fun. It also helps ease the tension when things seem to be getting a little too serious because Miles says whatever he's thinking, and he and I apparently think alike.
The story jumps between James and Co at the hotel, and Angela and Co out about town. It gives us a nice contrast between action and history lessons, although this did feel a little messy at times. I did feel there were a lot of moments that were over-told, leaving me a bit detached from it all, but that certainly wasn't the case the whole way through as there were some passages that I really loved. I guess a good example would be the snow - it was constantly mentioned, but I often forgot that permeating cold because the snow itself seemed to bother the characters more than the cold. Living in Australia, I don't have any actual experience with snow storms so I don't think I got to fully appreciate its presence in this story.
There were also times were I felt the action stalled because the author felt the need to defend what he'd written. For example, during the chaos James asks a question then is proud of himself for still being able to ask important questions in the face of danger. I wonder if maybe these thoughts could have somehow been transferred into character development, so that we know how he feels without him having to consider it for us? There's also the constant shifting between bravery and cowardice for both James and Vic, which just got confusing after a while. They take turns in supporting one another, but the constant changing is jarring and after too much repetition becomes a little unbelievable. James is a little whipped at times, and Vic is constantly talking about sex, but then they switch and Vic is scared and James is the solid, dependable man, which is all well and good but it just makes it hard to properly understand these characters. I think maybe they needed to be developed a little more before all the chaos started. Again, I feel that a lot was justified in thoughts instead of by their character. If that makes sense. *nervous laugh*
Overall it was an entertaining story, but I think the characters were undeveloped in favour of grisly action. I do enjoy a bit of grisly action so that wasn't a deal breaker for me, but it did leave me a little detached from a story that otherwise sucked me right in. I think we needed a little more scene-setting and character-building prior to the storm coming in so that we could fully appreciate these people and their trials. Also more similes and feeling to help communicate the atmosphere a little better.
All the same it was a fun, chaotic ride that I thoroughly enjoyed.
With thanks to HA and the author for this group read, it was a fun time!
I mean, there is a lot going on. We're stuck in a small town in the middle of a crazy snow storm, the likes of which have not been seen for 30 years. The grand hotel is haunted by ghosts already, but now suddenly something evil is getting about town, shredding people in its wake.
I liked that the ghosts were such a side character in this. Personally I tend to prefer to think of ghosts as mostly benevolent, so their role in this book really interested me. They're a connection between the world of the living and the evil that's currently terrorising that world. There's a fair bit of curiosity about who they are and what they want, but they're not the main focus. I would have loved more about them, though!
The big bad is pretty hard to get a read on, but it seems he's known to a few of the town inhabitants, who have rituals prepared for this kind of event. Only they're all old and useless so things don't really go as planned, leaving a bunch of newcomers in a whole world of trouble. Messy, messy trouble.
The characters were a real mixed bag, but aside from the kids I didn't really take to them. First you've got school teacher, James, and his sex-crazed wife, Vic, who are in town for Vic's romance convention. James is such a classic school teacher dude throughout, which I really appreciated, although he and Vic both flit between cowardly and brave, which was a little jarring. More on that later.
Robbie is the local cop, fairly new to the role, and he has a really tough time believing this is all the work of a mythical monster. If he can't shoot it, it doesn't exist. I did like that about him but he sure did take a lot of frustrating convincing, considering how many people were being slaughtered in unusual ways.
Angela is also a cop and unfortunately something about her just grated. I think because she was so fair-weather. She's recently been through a trauma and it colours her character so completely at the start but then suddenly a new relationship takes front and centre and her life becomes all about that? It was a bit too harsh of a transition for me to properly be on board with it. Aside from that, though, I liked her bravery and ingenuity, and her willingness to listen to people who had useful things to say.
The real stars here are Miles and Janey who have seen some crazy stuff in their meagre years and ain't afraid of no ghosts. They're kids with a wealth of knowledge on all things supernatural and bizarre, and they handle the chaos better than all of the adults combined. Janey has an unfortunate potty mouth, and I personally would have preferred something more mild than the c-bomb, but that's just my own aversion to vulgarity. Janey is the conduit and Miles is the action hero and together they make this story a lot of fun. It also helps ease the tension when things seem to be getting a little too serious because Miles says whatever he's thinking, and he and I apparently think alike.
The story jumps between James and Co at the hotel, and Angela and Co out about town. It gives us a nice contrast between action and history lessons, although this did feel a little messy at times. I did feel there were a lot of moments that were over-told, leaving me a bit detached from it all, but that certainly wasn't the case the whole way through as there were some passages that I really loved. I guess a good example would be the snow - it was constantly mentioned, but I often forgot that permeating cold because the snow itself seemed to bother the characters more than the cold. Living in Australia, I don't have any actual experience with snow storms so I don't think I got to fully appreciate its presence in this story.
There were also times were I felt the action stalled because the author felt the need to defend what he'd written. For example, during the chaos James asks a question then is proud of himself for still being able to ask important questions in the face of danger. I wonder if maybe these thoughts could have somehow been transferred into character development, so that we know how he feels without him having to consider it for us? There's also the constant shifting between bravery and cowardice for both James and Vic, which just got confusing after a while. They take turns in supporting one another, but the constant changing is jarring and after too much repetition becomes a little unbelievable. James is a little whipped at times, and Vic is constantly talking about sex, but then they switch and Vic is scared and James is the solid, dependable man, which is all well and good but it just makes it hard to properly understand these characters. I think maybe they needed to be developed a little more before all the chaos started. Again, I feel that a lot was justified in thoughts instead of by their character. If that makes sense. *nervous laugh*
Overall it was an entertaining story, but I think the characters were undeveloped in favour of grisly action. I do enjoy a bit of grisly action so that wasn't a deal breaker for me, but it did leave me a little detached from a story that otherwise sucked me right in. I think we needed a little more scene-setting and character-building prior to the storm coming in so that we could fully appreciate these people and their trials. Also more similes and feeling to help communicate the atmosphere a little better.
All the same it was a fun, chaotic ride that I thoroughly enjoyed.
With thanks to HA and the author for this group read, it was a fun time!
October 15, 2022
This was a great buddy read with our Nightmares and Dreamscapes group. It was a scary creature feature with some spectacular characters. Miles especially won me over. I am also appreciative of a realistic sapphic relationship being portrayed. This was my 2nd Justin Holley book and I have really enjoyed both. Looking forward to more!
June 2, 2020
3.5 stars.
SEVEN CLEOPATRA HILL is my first read from Justin Holley. This story is not for the squeamish. It infuses legends, the supernatural, possession, and of course, plenty of death and blood.
In a remote town, a Romance Writer's convention is being held in the Jerome Grand hotel. James is there with his wife, Vic, when a massive snowstorm hits. Unfortunately for them, this is just the beginning of a length cycle of carnage and sacrifice that the elders in town know all too well.
"Something very wrong was happening at the Jerome Grand . . ."
Seeped in legends and folklore, this threat is of truly nightmarish proportions! The action, body count, and motivations all help to move the story steadily forward.
There was a fairly good-sized cast of characters here, including a possessed little girl and her slightly older brother (who follow their father around on ghost hunting missions), a police chief, Robbie, deputy Angela and her friend, Em, many of the town residents, and James and Vic.
". . . Everyone possessed the culpability of evil and capability of good . . . "
I loved the emergence of Angela, as she came to accept her past and think of a possible future--much different than the one she'd thought she'd be stuck with. The two kids were a great addition, both in comic relief, and knowledge.
". . . Easy for her. She's already possessed."
Robbie and the townspeople all played their various roles well. My only problem was James--and more directly, his wife Vic. She never seemed to "fit" the story--making unbelievable comments regarding sex all throughout the novel, especially during tense moments of horror (which took me right out of the flow of the story). I'm guessing she was supposed to be there for "comic relief", but her comments were so overdone that they just interrupted too many scenes. Perhaps if she were a "side character" it wouldn't have made such an intrusion, but she seemed like an unnecessary focal point for much of the tale.
". . . Some things should remain left alone . . . "
Overall, a great story with some genuinely horrific moments, dark comic relief, and an emotional pull that made me care about some of the characters. The main detraction was in one or two individuals that simply didn't feel like they "fit in" with this story at all. If they weren't involved in so many major scenes, I would have stayed with the events unfolding much better, and not felt as though they were interrupting the momentum.
I'll be watching out for more from this author in the future.
SEVEN CLEOPATRA HILL is my first read from Justin Holley. This story is not for the squeamish. It infuses legends, the supernatural, possession, and of course, plenty of death and blood.
In a remote town, a Romance Writer's convention is being held in the Jerome Grand hotel. James is there with his wife, Vic, when a massive snowstorm hits. Unfortunately for them, this is just the beginning of a length cycle of carnage and sacrifice that the elders in town know all too well.
"Something very wrong was happening at the Jerome Grand . . ."
Seeped in legends and folklore, this threat is of truly nightmarish proportions! The action, body count, and motivations all help to move the story steadily forward.
There was a fairly good-sized cast of characters here, including a possessed little girl and her slightly older brother (who follow their father around on ghost hunting missions), a police chief, Robbie, deputy Angela and her friend, Em, many of the town residents, and James and Vic.
". . . Everyone possessed the culpability of evil and capability of good . . . "
I loved the emergence of Angela, as she came to accept her past and think of a possible future--much different than the one she'd thought she'd be stuck with. The two kids were a great addition, both in comic relief, and knowledge.
". . . Easy for her. She's already possessed."
Robbie and the townspeople all played their various roles well. My only problem was James--and more directly, his wife Vic. She never seemed to "fit" the story--making unbelievable comments regarding sex all throughout the novel, especially during tense moments of horror (which took me right out of the flow of the story). I'm guessing she was supposed to be there for "comic relief", but her comments were so overdone that they just interrupted too many scenes. Perhaps if she were a "side character" it wouldn't have made such an intrusion, but she seemed like an unnecessary focal point for much of the tale.
". . . Some things should remain left alone . . . "
Overall, a great story with some genuinely horrific moments, dark comic relief, and an emotional pull that made me care about some of the characters. The main detraction was in one or two individuals that simply didn't feel like they "fit in" with this story at all. If they weren't involved in so many major scenes, I would have stayed with the events unfolding much better, and not felt as though they were interrupting the momentum.
I'll be watching out for more from this author in the future.
May 14, 2020
Seven Cleopatra Hill by Justin Holley is a terrific creature/paranormal horror novel! Lots of great fantasy, horror, suspense, well crafted characters (especially the kids!), plot, and the creature! I hope Holley makes this into a series with the kids as the main characters!
These are not your average kids! Janet is able to speak to spirits and Miles is so much older than his 14 years! He is fearless and knows all about the paranormal. What a great series that would be based off how awesome this book was!
Reading the book on Holley, he is THE Holley from TAPS! 😁
These are not your average kids! Janet is able to speak to spirits and Miles is so much older than his 14 years! He is fearless and knows all about the paranormal. What a great series that would be based off how awesome this book was!
Reading the book on Holley, he is THE Holley from TAPS! 😁
September 1, 2020
Fantastic!!
I had been waiting for this book for months since I first heard about it. The title, Seven Cleopatra Hill, immediately grabbed me and I had to know more.
It spoils nothing to tell you that 7 Cleopatra Hill is the address of the Jerome Grand Hotel, in Jerome, Arizona.
A large number of people become trapped in the hotel due to a massive snowstorm. Soon, they become trapped for a different reason, as something very large, and very pissed off comes after them.
To tell you why would spoil things.
I will tell you this however, the gore flies. And flies far. This is one of the bloodiest books I’ve read and I’ve read a lot. There are body parts in the snow, being thrown, being carried and being hung from trees. The body parts do fly in this one. Literally.
It definitely has a bit of humor thrown in. Especially from a couple, very young, ghost hunters.
There is a “love story” aspect in that about half way thru, two of the characters come to realize they both have the same feelings for each other. It’s very cool how Justin Holley weaves that aspect of the story in amongst the gore and sheer terror of what is happening. And when one of the two is taken by they thing wreaking havoc, the other goes all Charles Bronson and seeks vengeance.
I will point out something I was very impressed with and that is the author, Justin Holley’s knowledge of paranormal investigating. As a few characters are at the hotel to “ghost hunt” he is able to talk about investigating as if he was an investigator. Which, in fact, he is. His knowledge of the tools and tricks of the trade was very impressive. I really appreciated that he mentioned one specific tool investigators use and that is the MEL Meter. Created by real life inventor, Gary Galka, the MEL Meter is named after his daughter who was sadly killed in a single car crash.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. The pacing, dialogue and action all worked in coordination to really make this book hum.
Silver Shamrock Publishing is a phenomenal (newer) publishing house with a slew of books released and more to come.
I had been waiting for this book for months since I first heard about it. The title, Seven Cleopatra Hill, immediately grabbed me and I had to know more.
It spoils nothing to tell you that 7 Cleopatra Hill is the address of the Jerome Grand Hotel, in Jerome, Arizona.
A large number of people become trapped in the hotel due to a massive snowstorm. Soon, they become trapped for a different reason, as something very large, and very pissed off comes after them.
To tell you why would spoil things.
I will tell you this however, the gore flies. And flies far. This is one of the bloodiest books I’ve read and I’ve read a lot. There are body parts in the snow, being thrown, being carried and being hung from trees. The body parts do fly in this one. Literally.
It definitely has a bit of humor thrown in. Especially from a couple, very young, ghost hunters.
There is a “love story” aspect in that about half way thru, two of the characters come to realize they both have the same feelings for each other. It’s very cool how Justin Holley weaves that aspect of the story in amongst the gore and sheer terror of what is happening. And when one of the two is taken by they thing wreaking havoc, the other goes all Charles Bronson and seeks vengeance.
I will point out something I was very impressed with and that is the author, Justin Holley’s knowledge of paranormal investigating. As a few characters are at the hotel to “ghost hunt” he is able to talk about investigating as if he was an investigator. Which, in fact, he is. His knowledge of the tools and tricks of the trade was very impressive. I really appreciated that he mentioned one specific tool investigators use and that is the MEL Meter. Created by real life inventor, Gary Galka, the MEL Meter is named after his daughter who was sadly killed in a single car crash.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. The pacing, dialogue and action all worked in coordination to really make this book hum.
Silver Shamrock Publishing is a phenomenal (newer) publishing house with a slew of books released and more to come.
May 20, 2020
Full review pending
April 30, 2020
If I told you I just read a creepy book about people trapped in a haunted hotel with a raging blizzard on the way you might think I just finished The Shining. You'd be wrong. I just finished Seven Cleopatra Hill.
What seems to start off as a simple ghost story soon morphs into murder and mayhem when romance writer Vic and her school teacher husband James decide to ride out the storm instead of getting the hell out of dodge when they had the chance. Also stranded at the hotel are a couple of ghost hunting kids who have experience that may come in handy if only the spirits were the worst things to fear. The ghosts in the hotel are pretty tame compared to what's out there in the blizzard and heads will roll if it doesn't get what it wants. If you're looking for a gory good time, this is it.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
What seems to start off as a simple ghost story soon morphs into murder and mayhem when romance writer Vic and her school teacher husband James decide to ride out the storm instead of getting the hell out of dodge when they had the chance. Also stranded at the hotel are a couple of ghost hunting kids who have experience that may come in handy if only the spirits were the worst things to fear. The ghosts in the hotel are pretty tame compared to what's out there in the blizzard and heads will roll if it doesn't get what it wants. If you're looking for a gory good time, this is it.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
June 14, 2020
Wow, this book was hard to get through. I was ver excited to read Seven Cleopatra Hill: a hotel, ghosts, a writer's convention and some brutal killings were ahead of me. Sounded great. And the overall idea wasn't bad. There even were parts that I enjoyed.
Unfortunately, the parts that weren't fun, overweigh the rest.
I didn't really like one of the characters. They just seemed unbelievable. What they said, what they did.. The kids, especially Miles, were okay. But I couldn't stand James and his teacher attitude. His wife Vic was even worse. All their talk about sex, and it was a lot, REALLY a lot. And not even good, interesting or in any way appropriate or believable. It just was way over the top and it honestly made those parts of the book I liked worse.
Angela's and Em's story went from zero to 110% in just a few pages. That wasn't believable as well and I just couldn't connect to them.
There was also a lot of good, gore, rituals, brutal killings. I am okay with that, but I need more to enjoy a book like this. And unfortunately, that 'more' was missing for me.
Unfortunately, the parts that weren't fun, overweigh the rest.
I didn't really like one of the characters. They just seemed unbelievable. What they said, what they did.. The kids, especially Miles, were okay. But I couldn't stand James and his teacher attitude. His wife Vic was even worse. All their talk about sex, and it was a lot, REALLY a lot. And not even good, interesting or in any way appropriate or believable. It just was way over the top and it honestly made those parts of the book I liked worse.
Angela's and Em's story went from zero to 110% in just a few pages. That wasn't believable as well and I just couldn't connect to them.
There was also a lot of good, gore, rituals, brutal killings. I am okay with that, but I need more to enjoy a book like this. And unfortunately, that 'more' was missing for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 6, 2020What a ride this book is!
Kicking off at the Jerome Grand Hotel in Arizona, Justin Holley sets the scene for a tale of the supernatural. James and Victoria are staying in a hotel renowned for potentially being haunted only to find out they're about to be hit by a blizzard and snowed in. The stuff they're going to be put through from here on out is not for the squeamish.
It's okay to think why bother? I've already read The Shining but that's why I'm here. To tell you that you couldn't be more wrong. I don't want to reveal too much here, but the threat our characters face is ancient and a whole lot more brutal than I anticipated. It also takes the story into a place that doesn't tread quite as many tropes as it could have. Holley's addition of human interaction with the supernatural antagonist made for one of my favorite elements of the story. There is also a scene, and you'll know it as soon as you get to it, that reminded me of Stephen King's The Raft. See what I mean? Come with a strong stomach.
While James and Vic are the most likely nominees for main character, we spend our time with a pretty varied group coming from all walks of life. I think my favorite addition are Miles and Janey, a brother-sister pair who are far more adept at hunting and dealing with the supernatural than you might expect. This is a completely self-contained story, and I have no expectation that Justin Holley will revisit the events or characters, but I would absolutely read another novel centered around these two.
Silver Shamrock has been on a bit of a novella roll as of late, and even though Seven Cleopatra Hill comes in around 260 pages, that page count flies. The story is very linear which pulls the reader in and takes them along for the ride, not really giving you anything resembling a chance to hop off. There are a couple side trips to give backstory, but these are never gratuitous and only add to the reader's understanding and appreciation of the mythology involved.
In short, the newest addition to the Silver Shamrock family is another winner. Another book I won't be content to revisit in kindle form, but will need to add the paperback to my shelf. I was given a e-copy by the publisher for review consideration.
Kicking off at the Jerome Grand Hotel in Arizona, Justin Holley sets the scene for a tale of the supernatural. James and Victoria are staying in a hotel renowned for potentially being haunted only to find out they're about to be hit by a blizzard and snowed in. The stuff they're going to be put through from here on out is not for the squeamish.
It's okay to think why bother? I've already read The Shining but that's why I'm here. To tell you that you couldn't be more wrong. I don't want to reveal too much here, but the threat our characters face is ancient and a whole lot more brutal than I anticipated. It also takes the story into a place that doesn't tread quite as many tropes as it could have. Holley's addition of human interaction with the supernatural antagonist made for one of my favorite elements of the story. There is also a scene, and you'll know it as soon as you get to it, that reminded me of Stephen King's The Raft. See what I mean? Come with a strong stomach.
While James and Vic are the most likely nominees for main character, we spend our time with a pretty varied group coming from all walks of life. I think my favorite addition are Miles and Janey, a brother-sister pair who are far more adept at hunting and dealing with the supernatural than you might expect. This is a completely self-contained story, and I have no expectation that Justin Holley will revisit the events or characters, but I would absolutely read another novel centered around these two.
Silver Shamrock has been on a bit of a novella roll as of late, and even though Seven Cleopatra Hill comes in around 260 pages, that page count flies. The story is very linear which pulls the reader in and takes them along for the ride, not really giving you anything resembling a chance to hop off. There are a couple side trips to give backstory, but these are never gratuitous and only add to the reader's understanding and appreciation of the mythology involved.
In short, the newest addition to the Silver Shamrock family is another winner. Another book I won't be content to revisit in kindle form, but will need to add the paperback to my shelf. I was given a e-copy by the publisher for review consideration.
August 22, 2020
A massive snowstorm, a cursed town, a haunted hotel, Native American legends, ritual human sacrifice, ghost-hunting children, and a demon-possessed cryptid make up just a few of things Seven Cleopatra Hill attempts to incorporate into its tale. To say it has a lot going on is an understatement but surprisingly, the ambitious storyline works. The ghosts are the least concern as an ancient evil will unleash its wrath upon the town unless it is appeased. A romance writer's convention happens to place James and Vic in the path of the creature's fury when the older generation fails to complete the ritual.
Other than a pair of precocious children, the eclectic character cast felt superficial. The humor and dialogue seemed forced and juvenile, often missing the mark. The strong point for Seven Cleopatra Hill definitely lies in the action propelling the story onwards. There's no shortage of grisly violence and gruesome death scenes for the gore-loving horror fans. The mystery of the creature and its origins along with the adventurous quality of the story made Seven Cleopatra Hill a fast-paced, fun horror novel though a bit more character development would have solidified the read
Review originally featured in Unnerving Magazine!
Other than a pair of precocious children, the eclectic character cast felt superficial. The humor and dialogue seemed forced and juvenile, often missing the mark. The strong point for Seven Cleopatra Hill definitely lies in the action propelling the story onwards. There's no shortage of grisly violence and gruesome death scenes for the gore-loving horror fans. The mystery of the creature and its origins along with the adventurous quality of the story made Seven Cleopatra Hill a fast-paced, fun horror novel though a bit more character development would have solidified the read
Review originally featured in Unnerving Magazine!
April 14, 2020
12 Stars!!
Fascinating! First I've read from this author. I enjoyed the plotting, the creative premise, the interweaving of history (Native American), the characterizations. I liked the gentle, subtle, handling of the LGBT subplot. I admired how several of the characters demonstrated moral integrity, courage, devotion. This was a plot in which there was much opportunity to "make the right choices" or to fail miserably, many points along the plot line when characters had to be stand-up and righteous, or succumb to fear, despair, or even evil. My only objections [other than the recurrent obscenity, which actually was understandable in terms of one of the several subplots, a version of demonic Tourette's] was a crying need for proofreading for spelling errors [especially "vile" for "vial": there's a plethora of "vile" situations and entities, but the container is "vial."]
Fascinating! First I've read from this author. I enjoyed the plotting, the creative premise, the interweaving of history (Native American), the characterizations. I liked the gentle, subtle, handling of the LGBT subplot. I admired how several of the characters demonstrated moral integrity, courage, devotion. This was a plot in which there was much opportunity to "make the right choices" or to fail miserably, many points along the plot line when characters had to be stand-up and righteous, or succumb to fear, despair, or even evil. My only objections [other than the recurrent obscenity, which actually was understandable in terms of one of the several subplots, a version of demonic Tourette's] was a crying need for proofreading for spelling errors [especially "vile" for "vial": there's a plethora of "vile" situations and entities, but the container is "vial."]
Read
May 4, 2020*I received a paperback copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. Thank you Silver Shamrock Publishing for giving me the chance to check out this title.*
Unfortunately, I did DNF this one around 45%. There’s a line spoken here by a writer that might just sum up part of the problem with Seven Cleopatra Hill: “When you have so many characters and narratives and plot lines roaming around in there, something has to suffer.” I did not find the characters’ dialogue or actions plausible or natural; it was almost always cliché and juvenile (despite a primarily adult cast). The story was also generic and full of obvious horror tropes. I tried to keep pushing through the book, but I was so frequently unhappy. Sadly, this writer is clearly not for me.
Unfortunately, I did DNF this one around 45%. There’s a line spoken here by a writer that might just sum up part of the problem with Seven Cleopatra Hill: “When you have so many characters and narratives and plot lines roaming around in there, something has to suffer.” I did not find the characters’ dialogue or actions plausible or natural; it was almost always cliché and juvenile (despite a primarily adult cast). The story was also generic and full of obvious horror tropes. I tried to keep pushing through the book, but I was so frequently unhappy. Sadly, this writer is clearly not for me.
April 6, 2020
Whoa! I love a book that has everything I enjoy, ghosts, demons, a Bigfoot, cultists along with a smattering of magic, history and supernatural twists. This covers it all!
James and Victoria are at the hotel in the mountains on Seven Cleopatra Hill for a writing conference when the weather report advises the worst storm in 30 years will be bearing down on them. They and others decide to stay. James, not part of the conference, learns more about the hotels haunted history. He’s soon introduced to two young kids Miles and Janey who were raised in a ghost hunting family and they know more then they should.
No spoilers but let’s say things go down from there. Something was suppose to happen every 30 years to stop the evil from coming and those responsible have failed and now this evil wants it’s revenge and will take it in horror, blood and gore. A small band of police officers have no chance of protecting their community in the storm and from the evil stalking them. There is only one who can help them..
I loved this story, fast paced, gory almost to a fault but the mix of sub-genres was spot on! The characters were shallow enough that you didn’t care to much about their fates but that fit the story just fine. The neat wrap up of the ending was anticipated so nothing new you wouldn’t expect as a seasoned horror reader. I do recommend it as a fun way to spend a weekend reading something not too deep but thoroughly entertaining. Enjoy!
James and Victoria are at the hotel in the mountains on Seven Cleopatra Hill for a writing conference when the weather report advises the worst storm in 30 years will be bearing down on them. They and others decide to stay. James, not part of the conference, learns more about the hotels haunted history. He’s soon introduced to two young kids Miles and Janey who were raised in a ghost hunting family and they know more then they should.
No spoilers but let’s say things go down from there. Something was suppose to happen every 30 years to stop the evil from coming and those responsible have failed and now this evil wants it’s revenge and will take it in horror, blood and gore. A small band of police officers have no chance of protecting their community in the storm and from the evil stalking them. There is only one who can help them..
I loved this story, fast paced, gory almost to a fault but the mix of sub-genres was spot on! The characters were shallow enough that you didn’t care to much about their fates but that fit the story just fine. The neat wrap up of the ending was anticipated so nothing new you wouldn’t expect as a seasoned horror reader. I do recommend it as a fun way to spend a weekend reading something not too deep but thoroughly entertaining. Enjoy!
April 8, 2020
You can see my full review, and others at: https://mediadrome.wordpress.com
Seven Cleopatra Hill is a very ambitious story. There is a LOT going on. I mean, there’s a haunted hotel, a bunch of smug, smarmy asshats, psychic children, demonic possession, cannibalism, lore, vague allusions to a serial killer, ghost hunters, a demon with an affinity for modern human popular culture, ritual human sacrifice, and a couple of precocious children.
This book seriously has something for everyone.
Seven Cleopatra Hill is a very ambitious story. There is a LOT going on. I mean, there’s a haunted hotel, a bunch of smug, smarmy asshats, psychic children, demonic possession, cannibalism, lore, vague allusions to a serial killer, ghost hunters, a demon with an affinity for modern human popular culture, ritual human sacrifice, and a couple of precocious children.
This book seriously has something for everyone.
October 12, 2021
Haunted hotel? Check me in!
I love ghosts and haunted places, particularly places that are in full use by the living. Even more, I love anything to do with legends and folklore. Seven Cleopatra Hill has all of these fabulous elements and more!
This story eventually expands to follow several characters, but the heart of the story is James and Victoria Landes. They're staying at the Jerome Grand Hotel in Arizona for a romance writer convention, as Vic is a budding romance writer. James is a teacher, and isn't really keen on the trip but he loves his wife. The hotel immediately sounds cool as hell, a haunted older building perched on the side of a mountain like the rest of the town, but trouble is brewing when an epic snowstorm is about to hit. This has happened before, we discover: a once-in-a-generation storm that gets the hotel, ghosts, and townfolk riled up - and with good reason.
I don't want to spoil too much of the reveal, as I thoroughly enjoying watching it all unfurl, but let's just say when legends are found to be real, bad things tend to follow. James and Vic are trapped in the hotel with several others, including 2 hilarious ghost-hunting kids. They're also joined by a pair of cops going through plenty of personal issues who now have to face the terror lurking in this storm. And there are other side characters, all quirky and fun. Personally, I loved the super-old front desk lady. She's got a lengthy solo scene that actually made me laugh out loud.
In short, if you love ghosts/hauntings, gory legends brought to vivid life, an ensemble cast, and a bit of humor, this is the book for you. I was very entertained by this read, though it might be a bit graphic for some when the kills start. It was inventive, for sure. This is my first read by Justin Holley, but it won't be my last!
I love ghosts and haunted places, particularly places that are in full use by the living. Even more, I love anything to do with legends and folklore. Seven Cleopatra Hill has all of these fabulous elements and more!
This story eventually expands to follow several characters, but the heart of the story is James and Victoria Landes. They're staying at the Jerome Grand Hotel in Arizona for a romance writer convention, as Vic is a budding romance writer. James is a teacher, and isn't really keen on the trip but he loves his wife. The hotel immediately sounds cool as hell, a haunted older building perched on the side of a mountain like the rest of the town, but trouble is brewing when an epic snowstorm is about to hit. This has happened before, we discover: a once-in-a-generation storm that gets the hotel, ghosts, and townfolk riled up - and with good reason.
I don't want to spoil too much of the reveal, as I thoroughly enjoying watching it all unfurl, but let's just say when legends are found to be real, bad things tend to follow. James and Vic are trapped in the hotel with several others, including 2 hilarious ghost-hunting kids. They're also joined by a pair of cops going through plenty of personal issues who now have to face the terror lurking in this storm. And there are other side characters, all quirky and fun. Personally, I loved the super-old front desk lady. She's got a lengthy solo scene that actually made me laugh out loud.
In short, if you love ghosts/hauntings, gory legends brought to vivid life, an ensemble cast, and a bit of humor, this is the book for you. I was very entertained by this read, though it might be a bit graphic for some when the kills start. It was inventive, for sure. This is my first read by Justin Holley, but it won't be my last!
April 8, 2021
Every 30 years a blizzard comes to the Cliffside town of Jerome.
With it comes snow, ice, power outages and an ancient creature with a taste for violence and murder.
The guests trapped at the Jerome Grand Hotel and the locals are in for one hell of a night.
Loved the setting, idea and storyline but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. The children, Miles and Janey were by far my favorites as for the others, not so much.
My main issues were with the main two couples.
James was an irritating character. His and Vic's sex hints and conversations seemed a bit unrealistic and didn't really add anything useful to the story. The switching of bravery and not-so-brave attitudes between the two changed too often and too quickly which was a bit off putting. Sticking with one being brave and the other not so brave for the whole duration of the story would have worked much better in my opinion.
Angela and Em's relationship progressed from nothing to a full blown relationship way too unbelievably quickly. Angela also seemed too focused on her new sudden relationship when she should've been more focused on the terrifying and murderous snow creature killing everyone it comes across.
Main couples aside, I would have liked to see more of the hotel's ghosts involved along with some more creepy ghost / haunting scenes. The small involvement of the hotel ghosts seems like a missed opportunity to add some more creepy action to the story.
I think I would have enjoyed this more from Miles and Janey's POV.
With it comes snow, ice, power outages and an ancient creature with a taste for violence and murder.
The guests trapped at the Jerome Grand Hotel and the locals are in for one hell of a night.
Loved the setting, idea and storyline but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. The children, Miles and Janey were by far my favorites as for the others, not so much.
My main issues were with the main two couples.
James was an irritating character. His and Vic's sex hints and conversations seemed a bit unrealistic and didn't really add anything useful to the story. The switching of bravery and not-so-brave attitudes between the two changed too often and too quickly which was a bit off putting. Sticking with one being brave and the other not so brave for the whole duration of the story would have worked much better in my opinion.
Angela and Em's relationship progressed from nothing to a full blown relationship way too unbelievably quickly. Angela also seemed too focused on her new sudden relationship when she should've been more focused on the terrifying and murderous snow creature killing everyone it comes across.
Main couples aside, I would have liked to see more of the hotel's ghosts involved along with some more creepy ghost / haunting scenes. The small involvement of the hotel ghosts seems like a missed opportunity to add some more creepy action to the story.
I think I would have enjoyed this more from Miles and Janey's POV.
May 27, 2020
This has a LOT going on. I really wanted to like this more but to be totally honest I did not.
Plot - It seemed instead of having one or two great ideas and developing those we threw a bunch of good ideas together. More does not always equal better.
Characters - Other than the children they read mostly the same and lacked a distinct voice. A lot of the forward momentum hinged on Angela and Em's relationship(?); if you count falling madly in love, wanting to have children and get married within a span of a few minutes a relationship.
I found it disturbing and unrealistic how obsessed James and Vic were with sex. I'm talking your wife is one step away from being killed, you've seen people murdered, almost been killed yourself and you're still cracking sex jokes? I'm certainly not a prude but it felt very forced like the author was constantly trying to work sex into the situation.
Plot - It seemed instead of having one or two great ideas and developing those we threw a bunch of good ideas together. More does not always equal better.
Characters - Other than the children they read mostly the same and lacked a distinct voice. A lot of the forward momentum hinged on Angela and Em's relationship(?); if you count falling madly in love, wanting to have children and get married within a span of a few minutes a relationship.
I found it disturbing and unrealistic how obsessed James and Vic were with sex. I'm talking your wife is one step away from being killed, you've seen people murdered, almost been killed yourself and you're still cracking sex jokes? I'm certainly not a prude but it felt very forced like the author was constantly trying to work sex into the situation.
May 20, 2020
Point your toes because you will plunge right into deep waters if you jump into this book! It starts with sex and mystery and goes straight into mayhem.
I loved the characters. People are motivated by different things and that was highlighted by Mr. Holley! There is a brutal kind of truth to how he writes people. Some people are willing to do anything to anyone when scared. Others will make a stand and do what's right. A few walk the line between cowardice and courage. Then there are the people who get horny/have sex on the brain no matter what else is going on LOL.
There's more than enough gooey entrails to keep gore enthusiasts happy. Personally, though, I loved the ghosts!
I loved the characters. People are motivated by different things and that was highlighted by Mr. Holley! There is a brutal kind of truth to how he writes people. Some people are willing to do anything to anyone when scared. Others will make a stand and do what's right. A few walk the line between cowardice and courage. Then there are the people who get horny/have sex on the brain no matter what else is going on LOL.
There's more than enough gooey entrails to keep gore enthusiasts happy. Personally, though, I loved the ghosts!
April 18, 2022
Unusual
What you are getting may not be what you expect. This book is strange and filled with twists and oddities. The pace picks up about a third of the way through and it’s pretty intense from that point on. The characters and dialogue might not have felt the strongest (sometimes I wondered whether the absurdly hyper-PC opinions some characters had were meant to be serious or satirical, such as feeling empathy for someone who just tried to kill you), but it maintains originality.
What you are getting may not be what you expect. This book is strange and filled with twists and oddities. The pace picks up about a third of the way through and it’s pretty intense from that point on. The characters and dialogue might not have felt the strongest (sometimes I wondered whether the absurdly hyper-PC opinions some characters had were meant to be serious or satirical, such as feeling empathy for someone who just tried to kill you), but it maintains originality.
April 9, 2020
I was fortunate to read an early copy of this book, and I was absolutely charmed by it. I’m not typically a horror reader, but Holley has a wonderful way of infusing humor and adventure to offset the darker parts. His cast of characters is multi-faceted and interesting, and he captured the spirit of Jerome, AZ, so thoroughly that you truly feel you are there. I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to read what Holley has in store next!
April 17, 2020
A fun horror romp with some nice touches of humour. Haunted elevator, ghosts in the basement, a blizzard isolating the hotel and town plus an ancient curse and ghost hunting children. What more could you ask for? Should I say I enjoyed the fact it was a romance writer who suffered a horrible end? :)
My only downside was the teacher and his writer wife, they were a bit annoying, especially the former who came across as particularly smug and preachy at times.
My only downside was the teacher and his writer wife, they were a bit annoying, especially the former who came across as particularly smug and preachy at times.
December 18, 2021
I never thought I would be a fan of super natural thrillers but I guess I just never found the right novel until now. I’ve been known to start a book then flip to the last chapter to see how it ends. This book was so captivating that I didn’t WANT to flip to the end and ruin it for myself. The plot twists, imagery and absolute horror kept me hooked. Give it a read. You’ll be disturbed and terrified that you did.
June 7, 2024
I enjoyed the premise and the story very much. The setting was perfect.
I didn't care for a lot of the dialog. Especially James and Vic. It was awkward and uncomfortable. I *think* Holley was trying to make them sound like lofty academics. For laughs maybe? I also found Em to be childish and annoying.
I liked Miles and Janey a lot and hope they accomplish their supernatural hunting goals!
I didn't care for a lot of the dialog. Especially James and Vic. It was awkward and uncomfortable. I *think* Holley was trying to make them sound like lofty academics. For laughs maybe? I also found Em to be childish and annoying.
I liked Miles and Janey a lot and hope they accomplish their supernatural hunting goals!
December 14, 2023
Good story! I need more Janey and Miles now though!
April 2, 2024
What a turd full of ridiculous characters and oversexed mains. Barely finished that pile.
August 7, 2025
This book was atrociously written and extremely poorly edited. Almost every homophone Justin Holley could have got wrong, he did. I laughed out loud throughout, and not for the right reasons.
February 20, 2022
This was such a mess. A hundred things thrown into one place without a lick of grace.
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