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The Skull Ring
Julia Stone's past comes creeping back when she discovers a strange silver ring, and three men want to help her--but choosing the wrong one could cost not only her heart but her soul.
THE SKULL RING
Dr. Pamela Forrest is determined to bring Julia's memories to the surface, hoping to heal Julia's panic disorder. The therapist keeps returning Julia to a night twenty-three years ago when Julia was four. A night of hooded figures, strange chants, pain, and blood. The night her father disappeared from the face of the earth.
But the line between the past and the present begins to blur when Julia finds a silver skull ring that bears the name "Judas Stone." Someone is leaving strange messages inside her house, even though the door is locked. The handyman, who has a key, spends a lot of time in the woods behind her house. Her boyfriend Mitchell becomes distant and violent. And the cop who investigated her father's disappearance has followed her to the small Appalachian town of Elkwood.
Now she has a head full of memories, but she doesn't know which are real and which are the creations of Dr. Forrest. The shadows of Julia's panic are growing larger and darker. But succumbing to madness seems safer than heeding the whispers that claim ownership of her body and soul.
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Revised November 2010. DRM-free. A romantic psychological thriller from the bestselling Kindle author of LIQUID FEAR, DISINTEGRATION, CRIME BEAT, THE RED CHURCH, SPEED DATING WITH THE DEAD, and DRUMMER BOY. Visit Scott Nicholson's blog at Author Central on Amazon.
Excerpt bonus material
BENEATH by from Jeremy Robinson
33 A.D. by David McAfee
TORMENT by Jeremy Bishop.
----------------------------------------------
"A wonderful storyteller."-Sharyn McCrumb, author of The Ballad novels
"Always surprises and always entertains."--Jonathan Maberry, The Dragon Factory
"The Skull Ring creates unforgettable settings and characters. Nicholson weaves together fear and hope, cloaking his readers in palpable suspense."--Eric Wilson, NY Times best-selling Christian suspense novelist
"Scott Nicholson is a terrific writer. Like Stephen King, he has an eye and ear for the rhythms of rural America, and like King he knows how to summon serious scares. My advice? Buy everything he writes. This guy's the real deal.."--Bentley Little, His Father's Son
"Keep both hands on your pants, because Nicholson is about to scare them off."--J.A. Konrath, author of Shaken
"A chilling, suspense-filled psychological thriller." --Vicki Tyley, Thin Blood
THE SKULL RING
Dr. Pamela Forrest is determined to bring Julia's memories to the surface, hoping to heal Julia's panic disorder. The therapist keeps returning Julia to a night twenty-three years ago when Julia was four. A night of hooded figures, strange chants, pain, and blood. The night her father disappeared from the face of the earth.
But the line between the past and the present begins to blur when Julia finds a silver skull ring that bears the name "Judas Stone." Someone is leaving strange messages inside her house, even though the door is locked. The handyman, who has a key, spends a lot of time in the woods behind her house. Her boyfriend Mitchell becomes distant and violent. And the cop who investigated her father's disappearance has followed her to the small Appalachian town of Elkwood.
Now she has a head full of memories, but she doesn't know which are real and which are the creations of Dr. Forrest. The shadows of Julia's panic are growing larger and darker. But succumbing to madness seems safer than heeding the whispers that claim ownership of her body and soul.
-----
Revised November 2010. DRM-free. A romantic psychological thriller from the bestselling Kindle author of LIQUID FEAR, DISINTEGRATION, CRIME BEAT, THE RED CHURCH, SPEED DATING WITH THE DEAD, and DRUMMER BOY. Visit Scott Nicholson's blog at Author Central on Amazon.
Excerpt bonus material
BENEATH by from Jeremy Robinson
33 A.D. by David McAfee
TORMENT by Jeremy Bishop.
----------------------------------------------
"A wonderful storyteller."-Sharyn McCrumb, author of The Ballad novels
"Always surprises and always entertains."--Jonathan Maberry, The Dragon Factory
"The Skull Ring creates unforgettable settings and characters. Nicholson weaves together fear and hope, cloaking his readers in palpable suspense."--Eric Wilson, NY Times best-selling Christian suspense novelist
"Scott Nicholson is a terrific writer. Like Stephen King, he has an eye and ear for the rhythms of rural America, and like King he knows how to summon serious scares. My advice? Buy everything he writes. This guy's the real deal.."--Bentley Little, His Father's Son
"Keep both hands on your pants, because Nicholson is about to scare them off."--J.A. Konrath, author of Shaken
"A chilling, suspense-filled psychological thriller." --Vicki Tyley, Thin Blood
429 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
74 people are currently reading
691 people want to read
About the author
Scott Nicholson
211 books768 followersWith more than 800,000 books sold worldwide, Scott Nicholson is an international bestselling thriller writer. He won the Writers of the Future Award in 1999 and was a Stoker Award finalist in 2003. His Fear series was published by Amazon's Thomas & Mercer imprint and 47North released the supernatural thriller McFALL.
He's also published a number of supernatural, paranormal, and fantasy books and stories, including the AFTER, NEXT, and ARIZE post-apocalyptic series, as well as children's books, comics, and screenplays. His 2006 novel The Home is in development as a feature film.
He's also published a number of supernatural, paranormal, and fantasy books and stories, including the AFTER, NEXT, and ARIZE post-apocalyptic series, as well as children's books, comics, and screenplays. His 2006 novel The Home is in development as a feature film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 23, 2011
Visceral and gripping thriller my first read from author Scott Nicholson, he creates a good atmosphere of fear and tension. The story is about one woman's battle to recollect a dark event from the past and her courage in finding out the truth behind what a brotherhood and satanism had to do with her and her father. A splendid treat of a dark tale.
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January 31, 2014
Julia Stone has panic disorder. She hears voices in her head and has nightmares about the creeps. Julia does not trust anyone. Dr. Forrest hopes to heal Julia disorder. Dr. Forrest keeps returning to that night twenty three years ago, when Julia was just four years old. Julia does not want to remember what happened to her back then. Dr. Forrest hypnotizes Julia and sends her back to that day to see what she can remember. Julia see a hooded figure standing over her. The hooded figure has a knife in his hand. Julia believes that the hooded figure intends to cut her with it. Julia believes this how she got the scar on her stomach. Julia believes that this was a part of a satanic ritual that was taken place. Dr. Forrest pushes more and more to see if Julia can remember anything that happened that night. That night Julia's father disappeared and was never heard from again. The road to Julia's recovery is going to be one hell of a roller coaster ride. This book is a mystery/occult thriller.
May 17, 2010
Scott Nicholson's The Skull Ring is as tight and lean an examination of paranoia and fear as I've read in many a year. Its romp through Satanic cults and small town secrets reads like Stephen King meets Rosemary's Baby, but in some ways it affected me deeper than either, for it felt more grounded in reality than either King's down home style or Levin's sly humor. Nicholson's prose sucks you in, makes you cosy, then hits you with a whammy. You are right there with the protagonist, feeling her isolation, smelling her fear. I read this all in one sitting just before bedtime, and believe me, that's not such a good idea. This was my first Nicholson novel. It won't be my last.
February 28, 2010
I am really pleased to now have this book available after a long road and a number of revisions--Julia Stone is piecing together childhood memories of the night her father vanished, but when she finds a strange silver ring, the past comes creeping back in the form of a sinister cult. I hope you give it a try--to me, it's an important journey of faith, romance, and suspense.
March 9, 2012
What a ride! This book deserves 6 stars without a doubt. What's real and what's not real? Who can you trust? There were so many twists and turns it left my head spinning all the way through the end. Truely and honestly spook-tacular!
January 30, 2023
Having finished The Red Church which missed the mark for me, I decided to press on with another Scott Nicholson, and I must say this one was much more my thing.
Satanic cults and mind f*ckery rather than supernatural / spiritual evil made for a much better story for this reader. While our female protagonist was bloody infuriating at times and jumped from confident to cautious to scared witless to stoutly determined a dozen times a chapter, the overall premise was good and it was one of those books that kept you guessing and never sure exactly who the real bad guys or the real good guys were right until the closing stages. As Julia gradually uncovers more of her past and yet is simultaneously less certain about what is real and what is imagined, the naughty people step up their mind games driving her towards their ultimate objective.
A few gripes, apart from the previously mentioned frequent changes of character, such as the fact I couldn't decide what the "bad guy" was intending to do with Julia at the end and it kept fluctuating between one thing and the other, but overall a good psychological thriller / horror / mystery. I enjoyed it much more than the previous one and it gave me hope going into some of the others by this author sitting on my TBR list.
Satanic cults and mind f*ckery rather than supernatural / spiritual evil made for a much better story for this reader. While our female protagonist was bloody infuriating at times and jumped from confident to cautious to scared witless to stoutly determined a dozen times a chapter, the overall premise was good and it was one of those books that kept you guessing and never sure exactly who the real bad guys or the real good guys were right until the closing stages. As Julia gradually uncovers more of her past and yet is simultaneously less certain about what is real and what is imagined, the naughty people step up their mind games driving her towards their ultimate objective.
A few gripes, apart from the previously mentioned frequent changes of character, such as the fact I couldn't decide what the "bad guy" was intending to do with Julia at the end and it kept fluctuating between one thing and the other, but overall a good psychological thriller / horror / mystery. I enjoyed it much more than the previous one and it gave me hope going into some of the others by this author sitting on my TBR list.
February 28, 2010
At first glance, Julia Stone seems almost paranoid. She jumps at things that go bump in the night and seems to worry excessively. Then she comes home to find children's alphabetic blocks arranged on her coffee table, to spell out her name in the spooky way her father used to say it -- "Jooolia."
At this point, you start to feel the tingle of fear that runs up Julia's spine. The shadows in the house could easily hide creeps or demons. Thus, you're quickly pulled into Julia's world of terror and doubt.
Julia has fled from Memphis to the backwoods of Elkwood, North Carolina, looking for a quiet place to recover from deep psychological wounds inflicted by a terrible childhood trauma. The details of this trauma have been dredged up through therapy sessions that provide anything but comfort.
The nightmare of Julia's life, spent constantly peering into shadows and looking over her shoulder for creeps who may be after her, is examined up close and personal. A journalist, who's engaged to a young up-and-coming attorney from the "right" family, Julia harbors last-minute doubts about their relationship, along with growing doubts about her memories, her mental competence and even her sanity.
What ensues is a psychological suspense story that explores issues as varied as the existence of God and Satan, the reliability of recovered memories, the efficacy of psychotherapy, class distinctions (in the form of her attorney fiance and a friendly handyman/rival love interest), the virtues of risky individualism versus the safety of the status quo and the challenge of fighting the powers that be.
As the story unfolds, Julia is pushed by her therapist, Dr. Pamela Forrest, to explore the mystery surrounding her father, who's been missing ever since one terrible night when the unthinkable happened. This mystery is woven skillfully into the narrative which focuses on horrific crimes involving Satanic rituals -- the kind of ritual to which Julia recalls being subjected.
Scott Nicholson's vivid prose places the reader right inside Julia's skin. He draws out each of her actions with an almost slow-motion cinematic quality. The quiet woods around her house become a place of deep shadows and suspicious movements. Red eyes glow at her through her window. Her bedside clock is mysteriously stuck on 4:06 (numbers that end up being significant). She tapes one television program only to find a hell-fire Christian evangelist ranting in its place.
As the truth comes out, the story builds with pulse-pounding speed toward a breathtaking conclusion. Throughout the story, the question of who Julia can trust is omnipresent. THE SKULL RING is a perfect example of the maxim that just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean no one's after you.
At this point, you start to feel the tingle of fear that runs up Julia's spine. The shadows in the house could easily hide creeps or demons. Thus, you're quickly pulled into Julia's world of terror and doubt.
Julia has fled from Memphis to the backwoods of Elkwood, North Carolina, looking for a quiet place to recover from deep psychological wounds inflicted by a terrible childhood trauma. The details of this trauma have been dredged up through therapy sessions that provide anything but comfort.
The nightmare of Julia's life, spent constantly peering into shadows and looking over her shoulder for creeps who may be after her, is examined up close and personal. A journalist, who's engaged to a young up-and-coming attorney from the "right" family, Julia harbors last-minute doubts about their relationship, along with growing doubts about her memories, her mental competence and even her sanity.
What ensues is a psychological suspense story that explores issues as varied as the existence of God and Satan, the reliability of recovered memories, the efficacy of psychotherapy, class distinctions (in the form of her attorney fiance and a friendly handyman/rival love interest), the virtues of risky individualism versus the safety of the status quo and the challenge of fighting the powers that be.
As the story unfolds, Julia is pushed by her therapist, Dr. Pamela Forrest, to explore the mystery surrounding her father, who's been missing ever since one terrible night when the unthinkable happened. This mystery is woven skillfully into the narrative which focuses on horrific crimes involving Satanic rituals -- the kind of ritual to which Julia recalls being subjected.
Scott Nicholson's vivid prose places the reader right inside Julia's skin. He draws out each of her actions with an almost slow-motion cinematic quality. The quiet woods around her house become a place of deep shadows and suspicious movements. Red eyes glow at her through her window. Her bedside clock is mysteriously stuck on 4:06 (numbers that end up being significant). She tapes one television program only to find a hell-fire Christian evangelist ranting in its place.
As the truth comes out, the story builds with pulse-pounding speed toward a breathtaking conclusion. Throughout the story, the question of who Julia can trust is omnipresent. THE SKULL RING is a perfect example of the maxim that just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean no one's after you.
July 30, 2011
Excellent - I look forward to reading more of his books!
The story takes place in Elkwood, North Carolina. When Julia was 4 years old, her dad disappeared. She has some kind of scars on her stomach, and she thinks it was part of a satanic ritual. She isn't sure how involved her dad would have been in this ritual. Also, Julia thinks she is being stalked by some kind of a creep. She is going to counseling with Dr. Pamela Forrest to try to help her. Dr. Forrest is trying to help Julia remember what happened to her when she was younger. It's really hard for Julia to go back to those memories, and she would rather just forget about them. She is having weird dreams too.
There is another character in the story that is trying to help her, but she is warned to stay away from this person. It's hard to know who she can really trust. Not only does she see some kind of creep, but there is something weird going on with her digital clock and the blocks on the coffee table.
When reading this I could tell Scott Nicholson has a sense of humor. Here is a quote and you will see why:
"A Creep in a jeep? Sounded too much like Dr. Seuss to be dangerous. Silly. A coy boy with a toy, bark in the dark, a mental muddle puddle. Still the adrenaline jolt tingled her nerves at a hundred amps and caused her fingers to twitch." (Kindle loc. 113-114)
I also liked this quote:
"A real man doesn't mind a little meat on the bone." (Kindle loc. 782-83)
I read a lot of this book in the car on a family trip. I went to a concert that night (Slayer/Rob Zombie!!). When we got back to where we were staying at 1:00 a.m., I couldn't sleep so I tried to read more of this book. My ears were ringing, so it was a little tough to concentrate. Plus, it seemed like it was going to get really scary, and everyone else was sleeping. I decided to put the book down until the next day. It really didn't end up as scary as I thought it would be. I know there was talk of creeps and everything, but it wasn't an overly scary book.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and was not sure who in the book could be trusted and who couldn't. It was full of suspense and really kept me guessing. I really look forward to reading more by Scott Nicholson! The ending was totally unexpected too!
The story takes place in Elkwood, North Carolina. When Julia was 4 years old, her dad disappeared. She has some kind of scars on her stomach, and she thinks it was part of a satanic ritual. She isn't sure how involved her dad would have been in this ritual. Also, Julia thinks she is being stalked by some kind of a creep. She is going to counseling with Dr. Pamela Forrest to try to help her. Dr. Forrest is trying to help Julia remember what happened to her when she was younger. It's really hard for Julia to go back to those memories, and she would rather just forget about them. She is having weird dreams too.
There is another character in the story that is trying to help her, but she is warned to stay away from this person. It's hard to know who she can really trust. Not only does she see some kind of creep, but there is something weird going on with her digital clock and the blocks on the coffee table.
When reading this I could tell Scott Nicholson has a sense of humor. Here is a quote and you will see why:
"A Creep in a jeep? Sounded too much like Dr. Seuss to be dangerous. Silly. A coy boy with a toy, bark in the dark, a mental muddle puddle. Still the adrenaline jolt tingled her nerves at a hundred amps and caused her fingers to twitch." (Kindle loc. 113-114)
I also liked this quote:
"A real man doesn't mind a little meat on the bone." (Kindle loc. 782-83)
I read a lot of this book in the car on a family trip. I went to a concert that night (Slayer/Rob Zombie!!). When we got back to where we were staying at 1:00 a.m., I couldn't sleep so I tried to read more of this book. My ears were ringing, so it was a little tough to concentrate. Plus, it seemed like it was going to get really scary, and everyone else was sleeping. I decided to put the book down until the next day. It really didn't end up as scary as I thought it would be. I know there was talk of creeps and everything, but it wasn't an overly scary book.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and was not sure who in the book could be trusted and who couldn't. It was full of suspense and really kept me guessing. I really look forward to reading more by Scott Nicholson! The ending was totally unexpected too!
March 1, 2010
Friend and fellow author Scott Nicholson’s spanking new mystery/occult thriller The Skull Ring featuring Julia Stone is available for the Kindle. As a fan of Scott's work, I've already gobbled it up, so here's my two cents...
After surviving a horrible physical and emotional trauma, journalist Julia Stone flees the big city for a new job in the bucolic surroundings of the rural mountain town of Elkwood, North Carolina. There, with the aid of therapist, Dr. Pamela Forrest, Julia literally begins to confront her past demons and the crippling paranoia that plagues her. During these intense therapeutic sessions with Dr. Forrest, dormant memories from Julia’s subconscious begin to resurface–memories that hold secrets that not only threaten Julia’s sanity, but her very life.
Scott Nicholson is the author of The Red Church, They Hunger, Burial To Follow, and several other wildly captivating novels. A slick, pro-writer with a bent for moody, suspenseful tales set in the Appalachian environs of North America, Nicholson knows how to get under the skin of his characters, and thus, the reader’s. In his latest venture into the backwoods, Nicholson has created one hell of a unique heroine in the guise of Julia Stone. While as plucky and resourceful a protagonist as a reader could hope for, she is also terribly burdened and deeply flawed–which makes it all the easier to embrace and root for her.
After surviving a horrible physical and emotional trauma, journalist Julia Stone flees the big city for a new job in the bucolic surroundings of the rural mountain town of Elkwood, North Carolina. There, with the aid of therapist, Dr. Pamela Forrest, Julia literally begins to confront her past demons and the crippling paranoia that plagues her. During these intense therapeutic sessions with Dr. Forrest, dormant memories from Julia’s subconscious begin to resurface–memories that hold secrets that not only threaten Julia’s sanity, but her very life.
Scott Nicholson is the author of The Red Church, They Hunger, Burial To Follow, and several other wildly captivating novels. A slick, pro-writer with a bent for moody, suspenseful tales set in the Appalachian environs of North America, Nicholson knows how to get under the skin of his characters, and thus, the reader’s. In his latest venture into the backwoods, Nicholson has created one hell of a unique heroine in the guise of Julia Stone. While as plucky and resourceful a protagonist as a reader could hope for, she is also terribly burdened and deeply flawed–which makes it all the easier to embrace and root for her.
August 27, 2011
Crap. I figured out the plot of this book about 10 pages in. And Julia just needed to have the ever-living shit smacked out of her.
She has nightmares. She hears voices. Every man she comes across is a Creep...not a creep...a Creep. She sees a therapist. She moves out of the big city and begins going to another therapist who helps her bring out her 'repressed' memories. But she's still having nightmares, hearing voices, having panic attacks and seeing Creeps. No one can be trusted, she can't even trust herself.
Overall, I thought she was a pretty pathetic character. Her fiancee was an overbearing asshole who called her crazy and actually whined about going without sex for six months because they lived in different states. And she actually sits and contemplates her future with him in terms of...he'll have an affair or several but I'll forgive him and get botox and a boob job so he'll still love me. Um, what?
Daddy did bad things to me or maybe he didn't. Maybe it was his Satanist buddies or wait, maybe it was daddy. But then he left me.
Julia was just all over the place. I know real people struggle with the type of disorder(s) she did in the book. But damn, hop off the no-pill train and take some damn Prozac.
I did not enjoy this book and I do not recommend it.
She has nightmares. She hears voices. Every man she comes across is a Creep...not a creep...a Creep. She sees a therapist. She moves out of the big city and begins going to another therapist who helps her bring out her 'repressed' memories. But she's still having nightmares, hearing voices, having panic attacks and seeing Creeps. No one can be trusted, she can't even trust herself.
Overall, I thought she was a pretty pathetic character. Her fiancee was an overbearing asshole who called her crazy and actually whined about going without sex for six months because they lived in different states. And she actually sits and contemplates her future with him in terms of...he'll have an affair or several but I'll forgive him and get botox and a boob job so he'll still love me. Um, what?
Daddy did bad things to me or maybe he didn't. Maybe it was his Satanist buddies or wait, maybe it was daddy. But then he left me.
Julia was just all over the place. I know real people struggle with the type of disorder(s) she did in the book. But damn, hop off the no-pill train and take some damn Prozac.
I did not enjoy this book and I do not recommend it.
August 15, 2016
Siempre me pregunto cómo es que ciertos autores llegaron a ser best seller con tan poco contenido. "El anillo de la calavera" no es la excepción, con una trama lineal y un final adivinable desde el principio, la vida de Julia y los intentos de crear alarma en el lector fallan una y otra vez.
La secta, una especie de Bohemian Grove, los pentagramas y los chivos es algo que ya se ha visto al igual que los anillos de calavera como tienen los Skull & Bones, lo macabro no es macabro y el juego mental que le hacen a la protagonista Julia Stone deja mucho que desear.
Ahora, si te gustan las películas con trama básica seguramente podrás disfrutar de este libro, para mí le sobran al menos 100 páginas de puro relleno y vueltas sin sentido. Y finalmente todo se reduce a nada más que lo cotidiano. Le doy 2 estrellas porque hay peores por ahí, pero no creo que vuelva a leer algo de este señor Nicholson.
La secta, una especie de Bohemian Grove, los pentagramas y los chivos es algo que ya se ha visto al igual que los anillos de calavera como tienen los Skull & Bones, lo macabro no es macabro y el juego mental que le hacen a la protagonista Julia Stone deja mucho que desear.
Ahora, si te gustan las películas con trama básica seguramente podrás disfrutar de este libro, para mí le sobran al menos 100 páginas de puro relleno y vueltas sin sentido. Y finalmente todo se reduce a nada más que lo cotidiano. Le doy 2 estrellas porque hay peores por ahí, pero no creo que vuelva a leer algo de este señor Nicholson.
March 1, 2010
Julia can’t remember what happened the night her father disappeared or what happened to her that night. That childhood trauma has followed her all the way into adulthood. Years of therapy have yet to help her unlock the secrets of the past. The unknown weighs heavily on her and she lives in a constant state of fear of everyone. She believes in one thing, her therapy and the therapist forcing her to face her demons. Now Julia has moved to the North Carolina to start over and break free of her fears, but the past and those who terrorize follow her.
This is a first class thriller from Scott Nicholson. Julia’s fears are felt in living color and how a scene can go from zero to terrifying in nothing flat. The story makes you anxious just reading it. What makes this story a little scarier is that it’s based on some real life events. Highly recommended.
This is a first class thriller from Scott Nicholson. Julia’s fears are felt in living color and how a scene can go from zero to terrifying in nothing flat. The story makes you anxious just reading it. What makes this story a little scarier is that it’s based on some real life events. Highly recommended.
April 14, 2013
This was an absolutely riveting and creepily dark psychological thriller. Whew, that was a mouthful, but it describes this book perfectly.
Mr. Nicholson's writing was excellent, effortlessly taking the reader into the dark, tortured rooms of Julia Stone's mind and soul. She feared she was going insane as horrifying memories of pain and betrayal and Satanic rites that occurred when she was just four years old began to haunt her every waking, and sleeping, moment. She had no idea who she could trust or who was a Creep out to take possession of her body and soul.
This was a non-stop, sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat rollercoaster ride that left me wondering myself what was real and what was hallucination and madness. Even at the end, there was still a sliver of doubt, which the author planted so cleverly in my mind. Well done, Mr. Nicholson! :)
Mr. Nicholson's writing was excellent, effortlessly taking the reader into the dark, tortured rooms of Julia Stone's mind and soul. She feared she was going insane as horrifying memories of pain and betrayal and Satanic rites that occurred when she was just four years old began to haunt her every waking, and sleeping, moment. She had no idea who she could trust or who was a Creep out to take possession of her body and soul.
This was a non-stop, sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat rollercoaster ride that left me wondering myself what was real and what was hallucination and madness. Even at the end, there was still a sliver of doubt, which the author planted so cleverly in my mind. Well done, Mr. Nicholson! :)
March 21, 2016
Dr. Forrest is determined to help Julia discover why she can't remember the details behind the murder of her father when she was four. She remembers hooded strangers invading her home and her father disappearing. she is both mentally and physically scarred by the encounter. As she remembers gradually, she finds a ring shaped like a skull and remember one person wore one like it. Strange happenings keep occurring at her home, messages left in a locked home, and the handyman seems strange. She is not sure what are memories and what has been planted there by the dr. Then she discovers the cop who investigated her dad's disappearance has moved to the same small town where she is. When someone steps up to help she is not sure whether to trust him, but suddenly things began to return and she finds herself on the run.
March 2, 2010
I am not traditionally a suspense/horror reader. The author of this book contacted me to see if I would like to review the book after finding my blog. I am always up for something different so I agreed.
The opening of the book is classic suspense. I was on the edge of my seat. The main character is scared to death of being alone in her home, because of past events and the author did a great job giving what seems to be unrational fears real life and meaning. This is a suspense, through most of the book, you are not sure if the main character is deluded or someone really is out to get her.
A longer review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/skull-ring-by-scott-...
The opening of the book is classic suspense. I was on the edge of my seat. The main character is scared to death of being alone in her home, because of past events and the author did a great job giving what seems to be unrational fears real life and meaning. This is a suspense, through most of the book, you are not sure if the main character is deluded or someone really is out to get her.
A longer review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/skull-ring-by-scott-...
November 21, 2011
The beginning and ending of this book almost seems like 2 novellas sandwiched together. I loved the beginning of the novel. The suspense was so thick that I was uneasy coming home to an empty house. I could feel Julia's anxiety and became physically uncomfortable at times.
Unfortunately, the ending fell a bit flat. Not only did the action seem drawn out, but I would have preferred to have Walter disappear over a cliff. It would have been a much more powerful ending if Jooolia had called up a storm that wiped out her foes and we were left to ponder whether the storm came from heaven or hell.
My final thoughts, this book could have been great but instead fell short.
Unfortunately, the ending fell a bit flat. Not only did the action seem drawn out, but I would have preferred to have Walter disappear over a cliff. It would have been a much more powerful ending if Jooolia had called up a storm that wiped out her foes and we were left to ponder whether the storm came from heaven or hell.
My final thoughts, this book could have been great but instead fell short.
December 14, 2010
Another great read by Scott Nicholson! This book is horror,thriller, mystery all in one. I was kept guessing all the way to the very end. Nicholson is such a great storyteller and I can't wait to pick up the rest of his books.
While reading this story you rely feel for the main character, Julie. Is she crazy or not. If not who is stalking her. There are so many twists and turns in this one! Can't say enough good things about this author----check him out!
While reading this story you rely feel for the main character, Julie. Is she crazy or not. If not who is stalking her. There are so many twists and turns in this one! Can't say enough good things about this author----check him out!
March 6, 2017
Dont bother, a not very good Satanist story.
Pure rubbish with a lot of repetitive phrases throughout. I kept thinking it might get better but didn't. Don't bother!
Pure rubbish with a lot of repetitive phrases throughout. I kept thinking it might get better but didn't. Don't bother!
February 1, 2024
The Skull Ring is about Julia Stone, a woman who has a panic disorder due to the horrors of her past. This story was rife with Satanic cults, small town secrets, and people who you don't know if you can trust. The writing was great and so was the plot. The only reason this story got a 4 star instead of a 5 star, is because it was slow in the beginning and it took a few chapters before I could get into the storytelling. The ending was great, I love how everything works out in the end. The wrongs were mad right and she ultimately found out the truth of her past.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2018
Great book. Really well written. Could not put it down.
June 20, 2023
Nicholson does a fine job of relying almost entirely on paranoid mood through the first half.
September 27, 2010
Why I read this: I have seen Scott Nicholson's books around for several years, starting with The Farm and kept meaning to read him, then I got away from the horror or supernatural thriller genre for awhile. Then I saw this one and some of his other books reviewed on a blog and saw they were relatively inexpensive for the Kindle and I had to have it. Since then I was contacted by Scott to participate in his blog tour (see the interview and giveaway post) and he sent me some of his other books as well.
How is the novel driven: This is kind of interesting to think about. I think about suspense or horror type books as being mainly plot or event driven and while there is quite a bit of that in this book, I really think the characters, or really the character of Julia Stone is what the book is all about.
My thoughts: After interviewing Scott I think he refers to his genre as supernatural thriller. I think I agree. I always thought of him as horror but after reading The Skull Ring, I see more of the thriller aspect than the horror aspect.
Sure this is a book I am glad I did not start on Friday night when I was actually home alone. This is one of those read during the day books or read while others are home at night. It's scary in that thriller way - where the bad guys are real and really bad.
The Skull Ring focuses on Julia Stone who has moved to a small town in the mountains of NC to work on healing. When she was 4-years-old her father disappeared and she believes she was part of a Satan-Worshiping ceremony. She is seeing a therapist, working at the local newspaper and trying to make sense of her life and move on so she can marry her fiance back in Memphis. However unlocking Julia's mind is scary and she is never sure what to believe.
I loved this book - Julia's character development pushed this book along at a speedy clip. The other people she meets are put into question at every turn and I had a hard time figuring out who was good and who was bad and what exactly was going on with Julia. And in this type of book that is a great thing. Scott Nicholson writes a tightly plotted book with wonderful plot and character development. It's sufficiently frightening as well. Who is the bad guy, is Satan at work in Julia, is there God to help Julia, is Dr. Forrest helping her or hurting her and is Walter a friend or foe? These are all things that swirl around as Julia learns about herself and her past.
I loved the small mountain town setting. I could picture it so well. And everyone knows I am a sucker for a book set in my home state. It was also the perfect setting for this type of book.
If you like thrillers with a supernatural element then this is definitely the book for you. Well-written, perfectly paced and just an all-around exciting read, The Skull Ring scores high on my must-read scale. And I am really glad I have several more books by Scott on my Kindle ready to read as well.
Just a Note: I had several comments on the interview post say they like suspense, but not the blood and gore of horror. I can't speak for Scott's other books, but there really isn't much blood and gore in this one, it's mainly the suspense-type blood, not the horror type.
My Rating: 4.75/5.0
How is the novel driven: This is kind of interesting to think about. I think about suspense or horror type books as being mainly plot or event driven and while there is quite a bit of that in this book, I really think the characters, or really the character of Julia Stone is what the book is all about.
My thoughts: After interviewing Scott I think he refers to his genre as supernatural thriller. I think I agree. I always thought of him as horror but after reading The Skull Ring, I see more of the thriller aspect than the horror aspect.
Sure this is a book I am glad I did not start on Friday night when I was actually home alone. This is one of those read during the day books or read while others are home at night. It's scary in that thriller way - where the bad guys are real and really bad.
The Skull Ring focuses on Julia Stone who has moved to a small town in the mountains of NC to work on healing. When she was 4-years-old her father disappeared and she believes she was part of a Satan-Worshiping ceremony. She is seeing a therapist, working at the local newspaper and trying to make sense of her life and move on so she can marry her fiance back in Memphis. However unlocking Julia's mind is scary and she is never sure what to believe.
I loved this book - Julia's character development pushed this book along at a speedy clip. The other people she meets are put into question at every turn and I had a hard time figuring out who was good and who was bad and what exactly was going on with Julia. And in this type of book that is a great thing. Scott Nicholson writes a tightly plotted book with wonderful plot and character development. It's sufficiently frightening as well. Who is the bad guy, is Satan at work in Julia, is there God to help Julia, is Dr. Forrest helping her or hurting her and is Walter a friend or foe? These are all things that swirl around as Julia learns about herself and her past.
I loved the small mountain town setting. I could picture it so well. And everyone knows I am a sucker for a book set in my home state. It was also the perfect setting for this type of book.
If you like thrillers with a supernatural element then this is definitely the book for you. Well-written, perfectly paced and just an all-around exciting read, The Skull Ring scores high on my must-read scale. And I am really glad I have several more books by Scott on my Kindle ready to read as well.
Just a Note: I had several comments on the interview post say they like suspense, but not the blood and gore of horror. I can't speak for Scott's other books, but there really isn't much blood and gore in this one, it's mainly the suspense-type blood, not the horror type.
My Rating: 4.75/5.0
January 6, 2012
Every once and a while my “little” obsession with the written word has perks. While devouring mythical tales or getting into the mind of the mentally disturbed is more often than not a joy of its own…there are still those bright shining moments in time when I get to do the reading before everyone else, or even better…I get to do it for free.
“Scott Nicholson” emailed me last week and asked me if I would like to check out his upcoming novel “The Skull Ring” and I’m not going to lie…while I was excited to have the opportunity read it, my hopes for the novel were…how would you say it… drastically less pronounced?
I had never; in the hundreds of books I’ve read, or the hours I’ve spent staring at shelves, heard of this author, so when I sat down this weekend…Kindle in hand and an Olympic pool sized cup of coffee perched on the table in front of me, I smiled; when I realized that NOT knowing this author was a mistake.
“The Skull Ring” was a novel about acceptance…accepting that you can’t control everything…accepting that yes maybe you’re crazy…and accepting that sometimes the people you trust to “fix” you are more cracked up than you are.
Julia Stone is a basket case…literally…she spends every waking moment trying not to be pulled into the throws of a full out panic attack, and annoys local police on a daily basis with calls about monsters under her bed and mysteriously unlocked doors. After years of therapy and a not so gentle push from the man that claims to love her; Julia packs her stuff and moves to the mountains. All is well with fresh mountain air right? Wrong. Just when Julia thinks she’s starting to heal from her newly acquired personality disorder her world is upturned into a shambled mess of disappearing pets and itty bitty baby bones. Is Julia really crazy or is she stuck in the real life version of Deliverance?
“Nicholson’s” writing was complex, weaving several plot lines into 1 major story and… pulling it off (which I have to admit…some authors just lack the ability to do) His knack for writing “crazy” was so detailed it had me wondering if he himself had schizophrenic tendencies, and the cliffhanger scenes, that we all dwell on in a novel of this genre, were carefully and masterfully crafted leaving the reader guessing and on edge.
There were creepy crawl spaces, batty old neighbors who define the word nosey, self matriculating wooden blocks, a clock with a mind of its own, a sketchy handyman, and 1 spectacular chase through the woods.
My final say?
Spend so time with the creeps….get it, live it, love it…pass it on.
Happy reading my fellow Crazies and remember: Check the boots…it’s always about the boots!
“Scott Nicholson” emailed me last week and asked me if I would like to check out his upcoming novel “The Skull Ring” and I’m not going to lie…while I was excited to have the opportunity read it, my hopes for the novel were…how would you say it… drastically less pronounced?
I had never; in the hundreds of books I’ve read, or the hours I’ve spent staring at shelves, heard of this author, so when I sat down this weekend…Kindle in hand and an Olympic pool sized cup of coffee perched on the table in front of me, I smiled; when I realized that NOT knowing this author was a mistake.
“The Skull Ring” was a novel about acceptance…accepting that you can’t control everything…accepting that yes maybe you’re crazy…and accepting that sometimes the people you trust to “fix” you are more cracked up than you are.
Julia Stone is a basket case…literally…she spends every waking moment trying not to be pulled into the throws of a full out panic attack, and annoys local police on a daily basis with calls about monsters under her bed and mysteriously unlocked doors. After years of therapy and a not so gentle push from the man that claims to love her; Julia packs her stuff and moves to the mountains. All is well with fresh mountain air right? Wrong. Just when Julia thinks she’s starting to heal from her newly acquired personality disorder her world is upturned into a shambled mess of disappearing pets and itty bitty baby bones. Is Julia really crazy or is she stuck in the real life version of Deliverance?
“Nicholson’s” writing was complex, weaving several plot lines into 1 major story and… pulling it off (which I have to admit…some authors just lack the ability to do) His knack for writing “crazy” was so detailed it had me wondering if he himself had schizophrenic tendencies, and the cliffhanger scenes, that we all dwell on in a novel of this genre, were carefully and masterfully crafted leaving the reader guessing and on edge.
There were creepy crawl spaces, batty old neighbors who define the word nosey, self matriculating wooden blocks, a clock with a mind of its own, a sketchy handyman, and 1 spectacular chase through the woods.
My final say?
Spend so time with the creeps….get it, live it, love it…pass it on.
Happy reading my fellow Crazies and remember: Check the boots…it’s always about the boots!
August 27, 2011
This is the first of the author's books I have read, although he has several books. It is described as a psychological thriller which appealed to me. Scott is another author I have found thanks to kindle broadening my horizons.
Julia Stone has moved to a small Appalachian town to try and find some peace. She is haunted by the disappearance of her father when she was just 4 years old. With the help of therapist Dr Forrest she is uncovering disturbing memories of that night and is struggling to keep panic attacks and paranoia under control. The memories evoke images of satanic rituals. Strange things start to happen in her home and she starts to question her sanity but when she returns to her old family home she finds a skull ring with an engraving "Judas Stone" that seems to be solid proof of what she's remembering.
This book made me feel really uncomfortable and on-edge, and I felt so sorry for Julia struggling to make sense of what is happening to her. Was she the victim of a satanic cult, is she being pursued by that same cult now or is her therapist planting false memories under hypnotherapy with some ulterior motive? Julia also has to contend with an unsympathetic fiance who seems to have an agenda of his own. Until close to the end I was as unsure as Julia of who she could trust and what secrets really lay in her past.
At one point I found myself drifting a bit but as the story picked up pace I was pulled into it more. I also found Julia almost irritatingly childish in places, although I suppose this was intentional as she becomes more and more needy being dragged back to her childhood repeatedly by her therapist. It didn't stop me rooting for her through. My main gripe would be the ending which I found a bit trite and not entirely satisfying. However as a psychological thriller it gave me what I expected, a tense read, and I had no complaints on the proofing and formatting front. I'll definitely be looking at other books by the author.
Julia Stone has moved to a small Appalachian town to try and find some peace. She is haunted by the disappearance of her father when she was just 4 years old. With the help of therapist Dr Forrest she is uncovering disturbing memories of that night and is struggling to keep panic attacks and paranoia under control. The memories evoke images of satanic rituals. Strange things start to happen in her home and she starts to question her sanity but when she returns to her old family home she finds a skull ring with an engraving "Judas Stone" that seems to be solid proof of what she's remembering.
This book made me feel really uncomfortable and on-edge, and I felt so sorry for Julia struggling to make sense of what is happening to her. Was she the victim of a satanic cult, is she being pursued by that same cult now or is her therapist planting false memories under hypnotherapy with some ulterior motive? Julia also has to contend with an unsympathetic fiance who seems to have an agenda of his own. Until close to the end I was as unsure as Julia of who she could trust and what secrets really lay in her past.
At one point I found myself drifting a bit but as the story picked up pace I was pulled into it more. I also found Julia almost irritatingly childish in places, although I suppose this was intentional as she becomes more and more needy being dragged back to her childhood repeatedly by her therapist. It didn't stop me rooting for her through. My main gripe would be the ending which I found a bit trite and not entirely satisfying. However as a psychological thriller it gave me what I expected, a tense read, and I had no complaints on the proofing and formatting front. I'll definitely be looking at other books by the author.
January 4, 2012
Julia Stone has a good life in Memphis, she has a supportive and understanding fiance, a good job, and friends. All those things were making her happy until the paranoia and anxiety attacks starting to take over her life in the form of the memories of the trama she suffured when she was a child. On a suggestion from her therapist, Dr. Danner, Julia relocates herself to Elkwood and starts working with a new therapist, Dr.Forrest, to get to the bottom of these attacks and eventually "heal"herself. In the midst of her therapy sessions Julia discoveres who is resonsible for the trama she suffered and goes in search for more information finding out what she went through may have something to do with Satanic Rituals and a sinistor ring. With strange happenings around her house and with infomation discovered about her pasr Julia's paranoia and anxiety reaches and all time high as she turns to trust the only one that she feels understands her, Dr.Forrest. But is the good Doctor helping her or just creating more problems. In the process of trying to get better Julia discovers who she can trust (if anyone) and that people might not be who you think they are.
This is one of the many books i have read by Scott Nicholson and i am still impressed. He knack for keeping you on the edge of your seat and keeping you thinking. The fact that he puts you in the mind of a paranoid and anxiety ridden character really gives you the perspective of how she felt and even passed on some of the fear to the reader. His use of details that create such mental pictures make him one of a kind. Anyone that wants something different and doesnt mind a little sinister mind twisting should give this book as well as the author a try, you WILL NOT be disappointed.
This is one of the many books i have read by Scott Nicholson and i am still impressed. He knack for keeping you on the edge of your seat and keeping you thinking. The fact that he puts you in the mind of a paranoid and anxiety ridden character really gives you the perspective of how she felt and even passed on some of the fear to the reader. His use of details that create such mental pictures make him one of a kind. Anyone that wants something different and doesnt mind a little sinister mind twisting should give this book as well as the author a try, you WILL NOT be disappointed.
December 20, 2011
Julia Stone’s father disappeared when she was four and was never found. She spent time in a series of foster homes and finally was adopted. When she was in high school, she met Mitchell, and after college she became engaged to him. But that’s when things started to fall apart – she started to have panic attacks, becoming nervous and edgy, and upon starting therapy, hidden memories started to come to the front. Deciding that living in Memphis was too stressful, she moved to the small town of Elkwood in North Carolina and continued her therapy while working for the local newspaper writing features. Through hypnosis, she starts to remember what happened that last night, when her father disappeared. She remembers the hooded figures, the knife, the chanting, a goat’s head on a stake … she remembers her father cutting her. She remembers that she was a victim of Satanic ritual abuse. Then strange messages start appearing in her house, odd things start happening – someone keeps breaking in. Why are they after her? Who are “they”? And what is the mysterious skull-shaped ring that she remembers seeing?
This was one creepy and freaky book. Julia isn’t sure whom to trust, or what memories are real – it keeps changing, and she hears people saying things that they then say they didn’t actually say. Is she suffering from delusions? What is real? The reader often feels as disoriented as Julia, but in a good way – this is a highly engaging horror novel, and one I think anyone who loves horror or dark psychological suspense will really enjoy – highly recommended!
This was one creepy and freaky book. Julia isn’t sure whom to trust, or what memories are real – it keeps changing, and she hears people saying things that they then say they didn’t actually say. Is she suffering from delusions? What is real? The reader often feels as disoriented as Julia, but in a good way – this is a highly engaging horror novel, and one I think anyone who loves horror or dark psychological suspense will really enjoy – highly recommended!
September 3, 2016
Firstly, I would like to thank Mr. Nicholson for sending me a copy of The Skull Ring to review. This is the first book I've read that focuses on Satanic cults, though admittedly the story is more devoted to Julia Stone and her "relationship" to the cult. I have to say, parts of the story definitely gave me the creeps and I refused to read it at night, in the dark!
The suspenseful storyline is what carried this book and made it worth reading and at times, difficult to put down. There was the constant question of who Julia could really trust, though I did feel that many events that transpired were a bit predictable. I was reasonably sure who was to be feared throughout most of the book, though there were a couple of surprises I didn't see coming (as they related to certain characters, that is). As for the characters, they were all pretty good, basic characters but would have benefited from some further development and fleshing out to make the story even better. The friendship Julia finds herself forming with Walter felt a little hokey to me--not that it couldn't have happened, but I don't think enough of the book was used to really promote it to where the relationship made sense.
All-in-all, The Skull Ring is an easy read with a definitely "creepy-factor" that makes you want to know how the story is going to turn out.
The suspenseful storyline is what carried this book and made it worth reading and at times, difficult to put down. There was the constant question of who Julia could really trust, though I did feel that many events that transpired were a bit predictable. I was reasonably sure who was to be feared throughout most of the book, though there were a couple of surprises I didn't see coming (as they related to certain characters, that is). As for the characters, they were all pretty good, basic characters but would have benefited from some further development and fleshing out to make the story even better. The friendship Julia finds herself forming with Walter felt a little hokey to me--not that it couldn't have happened, but I don't think enough of the book was used to really promote it to where the relationship made sense.
All-in-all, The Skull Ring is an easy read with a definitely "creepy-factor" that makes you want to know how the story is going to turn out.
April 7, 2012
Trust no one.
That’s the message Julia Stone fails to get early enough. And that failure sets her up for a web of misconception spun by everyone around her—her fiancé, therapist, neighbors and even the police. These false allusions have her believing her father was a member of a Satanic cult and was willing to sacrifice her as a child for the benefit of his unholy master.
These implanted beliefs have her haunted by terrible visions and subject to panic attacks. Forced to leave the city, she seeks refuge in an Appalachian mountain village and with a new therapist. But as she settles into a reporter job on a weekly newspaper the visions and a series of invasive incidents increase, intensifying the panic attacks.
It seems the only person who truly wants to help her is the one person everyone else warns her to avoid.
Nicholson has crafted a thriller which draws the reader in with plenty of suspense, good dialogue and an atmospheric setting. There are plenty of surprises along the way and a satisfactory conclusion. As an added bonus, this enhanced Kindle edition includes the author’s screenplay based on the novel.
That’s the message Julia Stone fails to get early enough. And that failure sets her up for a web of misconception spun by everyone around her—her fiancé, therapist, neighbors and even the police. These false allusions have her believing her father was a member of a Satanic cult and was willing to sacrifice her as a child for the benefit of his unholy master.
These implanted beliefs have her haunted by terrible visions and subject to panic attacks. Forced to leave the city, she seeks refuge in an Appalachian mountain village and with a new therapist. But as she settles into a reporter job on a weekly newspaper the visions and a series of invasive incidents increase, intensifying the panic attacks.
It seems the only person who truly wants to help her is the one person everyone else warns her to avoid.
Nicholson has crafted a thriller which draws the reader in with plenty of suspense, good dialogue and an atmospheric setting. There are plenty of surprises along the way and a satisfactory conclusion. As an added bonus, this enhanced Kindle edition includes the author’s screenplay based on the novel.
March 16, 2010
Even moving to a new town can’t stop Julia Stone from still having nightmares about an evil person known only as The Creep. Luckily for Julia, Dr. Forrest is helping Julia get over her fears of The Creep. As much as Julia appreciates Dr. Forrest’s help, strange things are happening to Julia. For example… Julia awakes to find the clock time always stops at 4:06 am. The nightmares that Julia keeps having don’t really seem like nightmares at all but images of events that are real. Will Julia ever find the peace she desires?
The Skull Ring by Scott Nicholson is the first novel I have read by this author. If you are looking for a new horror book mixed with both mystery and psychological elements incorporated into the story then you should give this book a try. Be warned as this book does touch into cults and a few points in this story related the cults might be a little graphic for those who are weak in the stomach. My only issue was that Julia kind of got on my nerves. She would jump at every noise and sound. Overall, though I really did find myself enjoying this book.
The Skull Ring by Scott Nicholson is the first novel I have read by this author. If you are looking for a new horror book mixed with both mystery and psychological elements incorporated into the story then you should give this book a try. Be warned as this book does touch into cults and a few points in this story related the cults might be a little graphic for those who are weak in the stomach. My only issue was that Julia kind of got on my nerves. She would jump at every noise and sound. Overall, though I really did find myself enjoying this book.
September 14, 2011
Julia has lived a tormented life. She can’t remember the things that happened to her as a child, and it is those very things she must find out in order to live a normal life. For as long as she can remember she has been followed by ‘Creeps. But, are they real or merely a figment of her paranoid imagination? Julia leaves the city and opts for a smaller town and a new doctor to help her get to the truth. But, as Julia will soon find out, getting closer to the truth always comes with a price.
Scott Nicholson has woven a most unusual tale that twists and turns and shocks you with its fiery ending. A psychological roller coaster ride, The Skull Ring will keep you guessing until the very last page has been turned. With a voice reminiscent of Koontz, Scott Nicholson’s writing style is sure to please lovers of paranormal thrills and chills.
I am giving The Skull Ring a 4 spider rating and recommending it to all lovers of deep, dark and winding psychological/paranormal thrillers.
CK Webb
Scott Nicholson has woven a most unusual tale that twists and turns and shocks you with its fiery ending. A psychological roller coaster ride, The Skull Ring will keep you guessing until the very last page has been turned. With a voice reminiscent of Koontz, Scott Nicholson’s writing style is sure to please lovers of paranormal thrills and chills.
I am giving The Skull Ring a 4 spider rating and recommending it to all lovers of deep, dark and winding psychological/paranormal thrillers.
CK Webb
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