Disconnection

by Erin Samiloglu, Erin Passons

The Barnes & Noble Review
Mississippi native's Erin Samiloglu's debut novel, Disconnection, is a contemporary horror, set in New Orleans, that revolves around a serial killer obsessed with cleansing the world of sinners while one of his victims strives to stop him -- from beyond the grave.

The Fishhook Murderer has the entire city of New Orleans -- "the Crescent City of Lost Souls" -- living in fear. After brutalizing and then drowning his victims, the killer carves a religious symbol into their backs. Sela Warren, an overworked waitress, finds herself stranded at a bar after her inconsiderate best friend leaves with a one-night stand. While retrieving her purse before trying to catch a cab home, Sela picks up what she believes is her friend's cell phone. When the phone rings the next morning, it turns out to be a young woman named Chloe Applegate -- that serial killer's most recent victim! After Sela gets over her initial shock, she and Chloe join forces to try to identify and stop the killer. Throw in a cop afflicted with nightmarish hemorrhoids, a cocaine-addicted stripper, and a "redneck from hell" -- and you've got a page-turner of the highest order.

Fans who enjoy their horror seasoned with generous amounts of religious symbolism and zealotry -- Bram Stoker's Dracula, Stephen King's Carrie, etc. -- should give Samiloglu's Disconnection a try. While obviously not on the level of Stoker or King, Samiloglu shows enormous potential with her proficiency at constructing a truly creepy atmosphere filled with realistic and compelling characters -- all with oodles of twisted wit and panache. Paul Goat Allen

Genres: Horror

ebook

First published July 1, 2005

Reviews

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my ever diligent pursuit of finding worthwhile female genre authors, I picked up this book. Sometimes it pays to judge the book by its cover. In this case judging by the unimaginative cover art and unoriginal and awkwardly phrased ("almost unimaginable" well, is it or isn't it) back cover description, one might imagine that this would at best pass the time and one would be accurate. Basically there is a bunch of fairly chiched and not particularly interesting characters crammed into a story that doesn't know what it wants to be. It starts off as a murder mystery, and fairly predictable at that, then tries to turn into a supernatural horror. There is a bizarre amount of liberal versus conservative views that seem to have some sort of a self serving purpose as well as a generous sprinkling of racial epithets of all sorts, there is a prominently featured phone (though not quite rationilized) in the story which presumably explains the title. The plot sort of comes together, if the reader doesn't think much about it and maybe manages to find some characters there to care about. The book does pass the time, but offers nothing of substance or particular interest to the reader.

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read. Everybody knows that one girl, troubled, independent, strong, intelligent.... Sela is a perfect written example of the 20 something trouble woman. The only thing that confused me about her character was that she was in her 20ish, but made a lot of references to the mid 1990s grunge era. I think the character would have been a bit young to really remember it. If that's the worse thing about this book, then it's not too bad.

This is a combination of a great serial killer novel intermingled with a love story and a lead detective with a strange medical issue as a side topic. I could not help but giggle and laugh every time Det. Lewis Kline's character came on scene.

I really enjoyed Dean and his cute, geeky characteristics. I was spooked by Chloe's character.

I read this book quickly and was not disappointed in the end. I love how Sela forged a relationship with Chloe, and how Chloe eventually helped her in the end.

This is a suspenseful book filled with twists and turns. I, however, have read many of these books and figured out the killer's identification quickly into the book. I even figured out the "why" of it as well.

It would have been great if the author went a bit more in to the history of the "Fish Hook" symbol, especially after Det. Kline discovered it with his daughter. Maybe a flash back to that era covering the when and why it was used, etc.

I would love to have read how the serial killer came about the "Fish Hook" symbol, how he determined to incorporate it into his life, and how he eventually became under the control of entity.

This is overall, a great novel for the author to segue into writing. I would love to see more of her work. She can twist and turn a story into a very creative outcome. She is a strong writer with a wonderful road ahead of her.

Overall Review: Buy the book. Enjoy a newish Indie Author. You won't be disappointed. I recommend it to anyone who loves books about ghosts, murders, suspense and the likes.

[Katherine Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good start for an obviously talented writer who seemed to be aiming for the mass-market, beach-reading set. I imagine we will be hearing from her again when she aims higher than her two debut horror books.

[Erin Samiloglu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! And the writer is really hot too!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good and has thrillers everywhere, you won't believe who the killers are. I highly recommend for ages 15+ (has strong language)

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure about this book. It started well and I sort of liked it, but I found it a bit unsettling, hence only 2 stars. I don't think I would read another by the same author.

[Steph Bostock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt the ending was a bit rushed and confusing, but overall enjoyed it.

[Fiona Watkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall an ok book. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. The pot had potential I just am not sure it reached as high as it could have done in terms of characters and satisfaction of reading.