Abilene

by Jonathan Tripp

Abilene and her friends go to a cabin for a long weekend for a celebration. After a few bad choices the friends encounter an old hag who curses them.

60 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2022

Reviews

[Coy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonathan Tripp's best book to date, in my opinion. The pacing was excellent, and the tension that took hold in chapter one increased page by page, building to the climax. Abilene is an excellent character--sympathetic, likable, relatable, tragic--and this more than anything else kept me locked into the story.

The tale follows Abilene, Wayne, Kris, Kurt, and Heather into the mountains of Northern Arkansas, where the ensemble has rented a cabin. The journey is peppered with unsavory people who set an uneasy tone. Once settled, the story takes the reader in a much different direction than expected. I got Pumpkinhead vibes in the best way, but I won't ruin how the horror unfolds. It's deeply satisfying, though. Tripp comments at the end that the book is based on a short film he made, and that has me excited. Hopefully that version of the tale will emerge, too!

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and fast paced story. A group of friends decide to stay at a cabin in the woods. They don’t realize they are staying on cursed land until they have a run in with the “neighbour”.

I really enjoyed the premise and the author could even expand on this idea or the town folks’ tales to create a “Hideaway Mountain” series of short stories! I’d read the heck out of those too!

[Dawn Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good old hag in the woods story. Young adults are off to a cabin to party. They make a huge mistake and they pissed off the wrong person. If you’re looking for a final girl trope, this isn’t it. Once the carnage starts, it doesn’t stop. Easy, fun read.

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal and Intense!

I had a blast with this one. ABILENE is fast, cinematic, and the characters were a lot of fun to spend time with. Fans of Richard Laymon and Edward Lee will love this. Highly recommended!

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deliverance meets Pumpkinhead...

No spoilers. 3 stars. Five young adults go on a celebratory weekend away to a cabin in the Arkansas woods called...

The Hideaway...

In the small town, also called Hideaway, there is only one gas station and one general store...

Run by filthy, toothless good ol' boys...

The old one-story rental cabin is amid thick woods and mountains. After dinner, the young people retire to bed for the night...

Next morning...

They hike some trails to a secluded meadow where they accidentally kill a young boy...

Their troubles have just begun...

This short story was part DELIVERANCE, part PUMPKINHEAD (the horror movie).

It was an okay story but rather pedestrian and absolutely predictable. A good way to kill a couple of hours.

[H0rr0rbl0b · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like I was watching a film, where some typical Brodies talk crap to some locals and rough the wrong person up.They end up paying the price in the end,it was a good build up to the ending of the story where are main character Abs faces the old hag only to be laid out,skinned, also walking out a new Abs at the same time…..definitely recommend this one!

[Frazer Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast, fun & fearsome read from Jonathan Tripp.