Death Rhythm

by Joel Arnold

Andrew Byrd figured his mother had been over-protective; the way she stood in his doorway at night, watching him fall asleep, the way she'd call him her baby doll, even after he was much too old for that sort of thing.But sometimes madness is buried deep.After an accidental meeting with Mae Stone, an aunt he'd never known, he learns of his mother's sadistic past, and the awful things she'd done.He learns of another aunt as well - one who played an old drum to drown out the screams coming from the basement, an aunt who didn't survive his mother's torments.When he meets Mae's strange neighbors - the beautiful redhead Natalie and her father Hector - he realizes that his mother's horrible past has not entirely disappeared.In fact, it has merely lain dormant, waiting for something - or someone - to bring it raging back to the present.And now...how will they drown out the screams?"From the opening scene of this book, I was hooked...Joel Arnold has written a novel that would make King fans not only proud, but thoroughly satisfied...I dare you to read this book without the hairs on your arms standing completely on end." - Tiffany's BookshelfJoin author Joel Arnold in this book of psychological horror set in small town Minnesota. About the Joel Arnold's writing has appeared in dozens of publications, ranging from Weird Tales and Chizine to Gothic.net and Cemetery Dance's anthology Shivers VII. Three of his short story collections are already available for the Kindle, as well as his novel Northwoods Deep. He received a 2010 Minnesota Artists Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, as well as a 2010 Gulliver Travel and Research Grant.

Genres: Horror

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

Joel Arnold is the author of several novels. His short stories and articles have appeared in dozens of publications, including WEIRD TALES, CHIZINE, AMERICAN ROAD MAGAZINE and Cemetery Dance's anthology SHIVERS VII. In 2010 he received both a MN Artists Initiative Grant as well as the Speculative Literature Foundation's Gulliver Travel & Research Grant.

Arnold teaches writing at student workshops throughout Minnesota and has given presentations about the Ox Cart trails of Minnesota and the Dakotas to several historical societies and other groups interested in history. He also serves as the literary director for the Savage Arts Council.

Arnold lives near the Twin Cities in Minnesota with his wife, two kids, two cats, a dog and a ball python. Plus he makes a mean coffee cake.

You can sign up for his newsletter here.

Reviews

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look Out For Big Ed...

DEATH RHYTHM
by Joel Arnold

2 1/2 stars. Although I liked LEAVE NO WAKE and NORTHWOODS DEEP by this author, and would recommend both, this story, not so much...

After a fight with his wife, Andy Byrd jumped into his car and sped into the night to get away from her for a while...

As he raced out of town, rehashing events in his mind, he hit and killed two deer, destroying his windshield...

A passing patrolman gave him a ride to Ellington, MN, where he could stay with his aunt Mae while his car was being repaired...

Look out for Big Ed while you're there, Andy!

And folks, that is all I can say about this plot that makes sense. Literally. This story was all over the map. I read it all the way to the end, and it still made no sense to me right up to the last word.

It was the weirdest noir crime story that I've ever read. I'd love some comments from people who've read it because I feel like I've been left in the Twilight Zone without a map...

Warning to some readers: Animal abuse and killing are part of this story as well as child abuse

[Joe Hempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joel Arnold is seriously messed up. The book gave you an overall creepy, somethings no quite right feeling. And the author gave you just enough of a teaser to lead you in, but you always thought he wasn't telling the whole story. Which of course he wasn't, there was always something going on.

There isn't much in the way of twists and turns though, but an over-all creepy feeling throughout the entire novel works just as well for me!

And eyeballs popping out like corks is always a pretty gross description.

I was able to pick this up from B&N for only .99, and it was well worth the price. Will be picking up more from this author.

[Jeannette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not make it far in this book at all. I get that in some books violence and uncomfortable things are necessary to the plot but after the third animal death within a few pages I had to give up.

[Caroline Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very hard work and not an enjoyable read. I struggled through to the end but can honestly say I wish I hadn't bothered. It was disjointed and jumped around a bit and there was no explanation as to why Andy kept having such voilent dreams when he knew nothing about what had happened in the past.

[Sheri White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read about it here:

Death Rhythm

[Adam Stephens · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disjointed & hard to follow.