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Knot of Fear
Ivy Kingston is about to go down the rabbit hole to meet the ultimate horror.
Ivy, a Los Angeles real estate agent plagued with self-doubts thanks to an overbearing mogul father, is assaulted by two avatars in a metaverse called Rabbit World owned by her husband Orion. Traumatized, she refuses to sell property in Rabbit World, believing the metaverse is unsafe. When she sees the avatars stalking her in the real world, she fears for her sanity. She also fears another assault is imminent, one that will leave her bruised and bleeding this time. No place is safe, she learns and, to her horror, comes to the realization that nobody believes her.
Terrified, Ivy hires the private investigator Scott Brody to help her find justice—and stay alive.
Packed with psychological tension and nerve-racking suspense, award-winning author Bryan Cassiday’s Knot of Fear is a hair-raising horror thriller you won’t be able to put down.
Ivy, a Los Angeles real estate agent plagued with self-doubts thanks to an overbearing mogul father, is assaulted by two avatars in a metaverse called Rabbit World owned by her husband Orion. Traumatized, she refuses to sell property in Rabbit World, believing the metaverse is unsafe. When she sees the avatars stalking her in the real world, she fears for her sanity. She also fears another assault is imminent, one that will leave her bruised and bleeding this time. No place is safe, she learns and, to her horror, comes to the realization that nobody believes her.
Terrified, Ivy hires the private investigator Scott Brody to help her find justice—and stay alive.
Packed with psychological tension and nerve-racking suspense, award-winning author Bryan Cassiday’s Knot of Fear is a hair-raising horror thriller you won’t be able to put down.
322 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2022
1 person is currently reading
990 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Cassiday
63 books213 followersAward-winning author Bryan Cassiday writes thrillers and horror fiction. His novel Horde (Zombie Apocalypse: The Chad Halverson Series Book 6) won the 2022 Independent Press Award and the 2021 American Fiction Award for Best Horror novel. His novel Electric Green Mambas was a Finalist in the Reader Views Award for Thrillers 2021-22. His short story "Boxed" was published in the anthology Shadows and Teeth Volume Two, which won both the 2017 International Book Award for best adult horror fiction anthology and the Florida Association of Publishers and Authors President's Award gold medal for best adult horror fiction anthology 2017.
"A bracing page-turner with an unconventional hero."--Kirkus Reviews on Bryan's thriller Murder LLC
His thrillers include the psychological thriller The Payout and the Ethan Carr thriller Force of Impact, which Kirkus Reviews called "A fast-paced detective novel enhanced by exceptional characters and a striking ending."
Praise for Bryan Cassiday's Thriller Bolt
“From the very start, Bryan Cassiday spins what appears to be a typical Southern Californian private investigation novel in Bolt, but quickly takes off in a direction that speaks to our current troubled times. Well-plotted and crisply written, with great characterization, this is one to look for.”--Brendan DuBois, coauthor with James Patterson of The Cornwalls Are Gone.
"Noir suspense at its best! Private eyes, hit men, globe-trotting, and characters you don't know whether you can trust or not. Fans of James Ellroy, Dennis Lehane, and Fredrick Forsyth will love Bolt!"--Matthew Farrell, best-selling author of What Have You Done
Praise for Bryan Cassiday's Zombie Books
"The plot engages from the beginning and holds the reader's interest until the last page."--The Booklife Prize on Horde
"Cassiday blends thoughtful suspense and pulse-pounding terror to deliver a novel with both bite and creeping dread."--David Dunwoody, author of Empire and The Harvest Cycle
"Written with the epic scope of World War Z and infused with the gritty spook works derring-do of a Robert Ludlum spy thriller, Sanctuary in Steel is full of zombie mayhem through and through."--Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Flesh Eaters and Inheritance
"Sanctuary in Steel made me feel like I did the first time I watched Romero. Fresh, exciting and engaging like any outbreak story should be."--Iain McKinnon, author of Domain of the Dead
"A bracing page-turner with an unconventional hero."--Kirkus Reviews on Bryan's thriller Murder LLC
His thrillers include the psychological thriller The Payout and the Ethan Carr thriller Force of Impact, which Kirkus Reviews called "A fast-paced detective novel enhanced by exceptional characters and a striking ending."
Praise for Bryan Cassiday's Thriller Bolt
“From the very start, Bryan Cassiday spins what appears to be a typical Southern Californian private investigation novel in Bolt, but quickly takes off in a direction that speaks to our current troubled times. Well-plotted and crisply written, with great characterization, this is one to look for.”--Brendan DuBois, coauthor with James Patterson of The Cornwalls Are Gone.
"Noir suspense at its best! Private eyes, hit men, globe-trotting, and characters you don't know whether you can trust or not. Fans of James Ellroy, Dennis Lehane, and Fredrick Forsyth will love Bolt!"--Matthew Farrell, best-selling author of What Have You Done
Praise for Bryan Cassiday's Zombie Books
"The plot engages from the beginning and holds the reader's interest until the last page."--The Booklife Prize on Horde
"Cassiday blends thoughtful suspense and pulse-pounding terror to deliver a novel with both bite and creeping dread."--David Dunwoody, author of Empire and The Harvest Cycle
"Written with the epic scope of World War Z and infused with the gritty spook works derring-do of a Robert Ludlum spy thriller, Sanctuary in Steel is full of zombie mayhem through and through."--Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Flesh Eaters and Inheritance
"Sanctuary in Steel made me feel like I did the first time I watched Romero. Fresh, exciting and engaging like any outbreak story should be."--Iain McKinnon, author of Domain of the Dead
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 17, 2022
Private Detective Scott Brody has a new case involving a wealthy heiress named Ivy, who insists that Avatars from a metaverse, called Rabbit World, are stalking her. Orion, Ivy’s husband, is getting ready to launch Rabbit World. He is adamant that there cannot be any bad publicity. Ivy’s job is to sell virtual real estate in what is supposed to be a family friendly place. The first time she virtually enters it, two avatar thugs rape her. She quickly discovers that they have taken on a real life form and are stalking her in the real world. When her husband doubts her claims, she hires the PI to find out what is going on. Scott Brody isn’t too sure if he believes her either, but he does see that she is in danger. Orion has been dealing with some shady people and his insistence on not involving the police puts the couple and the PI in greater danger.
“Knot of Fear,” is the fifth book in the Scott Brody thriller series by Bryan Cassiday. Having not read other books in this series, I found that it stands well on its own. I would definitely like to go back and read the others, but it was not necessary to do so first.
The premise behind this quirky thriller is unique. I enjoyed the novelty of having to decide if the female protagonist was really experiencing something unique or if she had severe mental issues. I liked that the timeline was current. It begins as the COVID pandemic is ending. Some people are still wearing masks, which makes it harder to identify them. This strikes a nerve with my reality, because having people walk around still masked makes me more worried for my safety. This enabled me to better relate to what was happening to the main character. While it is Scott Brody’s series, the story mainly focuses on what is happening through Ivy’s eyes. It is obvious she does have some emotional issues; it was interesting to watch her try to figure out if she was having real experiences or actually about to have a breakdown.
The supporting characters were very interesting. Ivy’s husband was arrogant and unlikeable. Her quirky best friend seemed to have her best interests at heart, but was a little too extreme about how she viewed her own reality. This friend made the story more lively. The other characters were revolting, creepy, greedy and dangerous. They definitely added a lot more to the entertainment.
Readers who enjoy thrillers with scifi embellishments will love “Knot of Fear!” This would be an excellent selection for a reader’s group, too. It would lead to some fun discussions!
“Knot of Fear,” is the fifth book in the Scott Brody thriller series by Bryan Cassiday. Having not read other books in this series, I found that it stands well on its own. I would definitely like to go back and read the others, but it was not necessary to do so first.
The premise behind this quirky thriller is unique. I enjoyed the novelty of having to decide if the female protagonist was really experiencing something unique or if she had severe mental issues. I liked that the timeline was current. It begins as the COVID pandemic is ending. Some people are still wearing masks, which makes it harder to identify them. This strikes a nerve with my reality, because having people walk around still masked makes me more worried for my safety. This enabled me to better relate to what was happening to the main character. While it is Scott Brody’s series, the story mainly focuses on what is happening through Ivy’s eyes. It is obvious she does have some emotional issues; it was interesting to watch her try to figure out if she was having real experiences or actually about to have a breakdown.
The supporting characters were very interesting. Ivy’s husband was arrogant and unlikeable. Her quirky best friend seemed to have her best interests at heart, but was a little too extreme about how she viewed her own reality. This friend made the story more lively. The other characters were revolting, creepy, greedy and dangerous. They definitely added a lot more to the entertainment.
Readers who enjoy thrillers with scifi embellishments will love “Knot of Fear!” This would be an excellent selection for a reader’s group, too. It would lead to some fun discussions!
September 18, 2022
*spoilers*. I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Despite this not being my normal genre, the synopsis sounded interesting. I decided to try for the fee giveaway. The premise of the story was far fetched but I could work with that. What made me stop reading was 1. The gun choice the detective made with Ivy. Who would just give her a gun? 2. Not once but twice Ivy had to ask her friend about the backpack. Definitely redundant. 3. The husbands way of speaking was off putting. I didn’t like his character nor the way he spoke. Who even says “Beat it” anymore in regards to asking someone to leave? I really gave this book a go and really wanted to like it. Unfortunately the writing was not to my liking however the storyline was interesting and one I wish I could have finished.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews