Horror Spotlight discussion

This will be the discussion thread for THE TOLL by Cherie Priest.

Please use spoiler tags (without the spaces between brackets & spoiler) < spoiler > YOUR TEXT HERE < /spoiler > and if possible type the % or page # before your post. Some of us (me) are slow-pokes.

Enjoy, everyone!

I read this one and sorry, i finished it early this morning. It is soooo good!

I read earlier, but am waiting for the discussion! :)

Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | wrote: "This is the only book I've ever read that could make gardening sound slightly evil.

"

yes!

Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | wrote: "5% or so (audio)

What is it about [spoilers removed] that make them so perfect for horror books? Can't help but think about [spoilers removed]."

ohh! how about this.. (view spoiler)[ cause they are an in between space? would they count as that? (hide spoiler)]

Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | wrote: "5% or so (audio)

What is it about [spoilers removed] that make them so perfect for horror books? Can't help but think about [spoilers removed]."..."

oh yeah! i like that! creepy!

i grew up (and still live) in a small town but not that small! lol

Ooh, this sounds very promising!

I hope to start it as soon as I finish up Theme Music (which is amazing so far) but I am having a heck of a time concentrating :(

Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | wrote: "36% [spoilers removed]

.....What the hell is going on in this town?

I am regretting not having the physical book right now. I feel like I'm missing something juicy. LOL"

I'll tell you what i think about that after you finish the book.

Starting soon! I’m not reading comments yet just in case 😂

Starting this today!

Just started woohoo 🙌🏽

I haven't started yet. I'm having a helluva time concentrating on anything that isn't the tv right now *cries*. Maybe in a few days, I'll actually get going.

It’s starting to get to me too. I’m reading 2 right now and I really haven’t felt like reading the last couple of days.

I just finished Chapter 3! Can’t stop reading now because it’s getting...interesting...

I'm 11 chapters in. I haven't read much this week, but I'll definitely pick it back up over the weekend.

I’m on chapter 5 and Priest does such a great job immersing the reader into the small town. The dialogue and personalities are spot on for such an intimate community. I’m very intrigued with Claire and Daisy...

I’m on chapter 7.
The level of weird rises with each chapter!
Stay with it.

Just finished this! It sure did escalate in the last half. 🤭

KD wrote: "Just finished this! It sure did escalate in the last half. 🤭"

yeah it sure does.

No Jackie, we don’t. Not that I remember.

I started today, and I'm four chapters in. I'm enjoying the foreboding from the two elderly ladies.

There’s a lot of odd things in this one that wasn’t explained. It didn’t bother me too much. Maybe someday we’ll get another book set in this town or with another character from this town.

I finished this one early. I only meant to take a peek but I got sucked in and absolutely LOVED this book. It was fun and creepy and exciting and I just love love love the old ladies. I don't know if I would have found this if it weren't for the group read.

Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | wrote: "5% or so (audio)

What is it about [spoilers removed] that make them so perfect for horror books? Can't help but think about [spoilers removed]."

I can see this relationship! :)

Stephanie wrote: "I’m on chapter 5 and Priest does such a great job immersing the reader into the small town. The dialogue and personalities are spot on for such an intimate community. I’m very intrigued with Claire..."

yes!

Jackie Cowgill wrote: "I'm on page 218 and loving it! do we ever find out what the deal is with Chuckie, the dog in the tree though lol"

I had a terrier mix who climbed our weeping willow tree. He'd take naps in the "y" of the trunk. That part made me smile! That (view spoiler)[ doll's house, though!!! (hide spoiler)]

Finished this today! I had a gap between work projects and was able read the last 130 pages. I wish I could say I couldn't put the book down in this sitting, but unfortunately it didn't fully grab me. I absolutely loved the quirk of the town and all its supernatural traits the residents just casually accepted (would have loved to be immersed more in all the oddities, specifically that dollhouse). Truly this would make a great series. I think perhaps I found some of the dialogue between characters went on too long and repeated much of what was already set up for us. And for me personally, I never felt the thrill or the scare, though the final scenes with the monster were unique and evocative.

And yes, I would have also liked to see more of the dog in the tree!

Finally got started on this, after loving Boneshaker - she certainly is good at making the setting into a character in the story! What amazing places.

Okay, so... 12 hours ago I posted that I had started it. Grabbed me so much I had to keep zooming through the audiobook while I worked in the garden! Heh. DONE!

I agree with Karmen about the quirkiness of the town--that was the best part. Well, actually Daisy and Claire were--I would love to read about more of their adventures. And I so wish that the monster had been more...monstrous? I get that characters finding it hard to describe was a deliberate choice but I needed more details to find the horror in it. Still, I am glad to have read the book.

Michelle wrote: "I agree with Karmen about the quirkiness of the town--that was the best part. Well, actually Daisy and Claire were--I would love to read about more of their adventures. And I so wish that the monst..."

Agreed! Claire and Daisy are very interesting and I would love to read about their history and lives when they were younger. Priest eludes to their past quite a bit so that would make an interesting spin off series.

Carol wrote: "Okay, so... 12 hours ago I posted that I had started it. Grabbed me so much I had to keep zooming through the audiobook while I worked in the garden! Heh. DONE!"

While you worked in the garden? How very appropriate! Did you squish any grubs? heehee

I finished today. I have to do that spoiler block thingy... (view spoiler)[ So, I still wonder why Titus never CALLED his wife. What's up with that? He had cell signal!
What happened to all of the media people? Did they just leave?
I kept expecting something to explain who Cam was and why he was left on the Godmothers' doorstep. Who left him? Was there a clue? Nothing at all is spent until the end when the police officer suggests he might want to look into it as a way of enticing him out of the town. But why wouldn't they think he's from the town? Why isn't Cam in the least interested in knowing his past? (In truth, I thought his existence might have somehow tied in with the creature.)
How do the towns folk make a living? There are a dozen or so regulars, but how do they earn the cash to plunk down for Dave (or Jess) to make their drinks?
What's the deal with Jess? Why'd she just abandon Dave after that big scene with the Godmothers? I mean, it's implied that she has some strength behind her, even if it's misdirected, after all.
Why would they be sooooo cruel to that grieving mother? She was thrown into an insane asylum, yet she knew the truth (or a pretty close approximation of it.) That's despicable.
I enjoyed the quirky town with its many oddities. The shop windows. The dog in the tree. The drinking ghost. Especially the Doll's House.
I didn't like how the creature showed Jess' part in Dave's rescue 13 years before. It was too much like the creature invited them to sit and watch a bit of cinema. Showing, y'know?
The Godmothers were my favorite part of the book.
I think The Toll meandered at a Southern pace, steady and ambling. It was atmospheric and interesting.
I look forward to reading your thoughts, and as always, thanks for allowing me to read along with you! (hide spoiler)]

Jackie Cowgill wrote: "Latasha, what?! lol it's such an odd thing to randomly put in and not explain."
I think there were a lot of little things like this to give a feel for the quirkiness of the town.

Oh, some more thoughts: (view spoiler)[ Why did the thing negotiate with Jess? Presumably, it has something to do with her witchy magic, but I wish I understood a bit more. How did she know Dave was about to be taken by the troll? Was she stalking him? How did he not notice, if so? Doesn't the creature take its toll immediately? If so, how did Dave survive long enough for Jess to negotiate his release? ALSO, why didn't the creature just eat Jess?

Along those lines, the old newspapers seemed to indicate the creature took tolls with abandon when it brought the floods every 13 years. There are no mentions of survivors in the old newspapers. (Which would probably not have survived as well as they did in an abandoned and neglected library. ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED...sniff. Did that pull at anyone else's heartstrings?) ANYWAY, if it ate everyone who crossed the bridge, then why did Titus survive? Perhaps it is because of the being a hungry ghost-alligator-troll-thing instead of an actual living one? BUT when Titus and Dave return to look for clues and for Melanie, the creature had no problem eating them both - or whatever it is it did to them, because do ghost troll-alligator things eat?
I kept thinking there was a stronger connection between Jess and the creature, with the way everyone except all of the males in the story seemed to think she was bad news. The creature even took her likeness when luring Cam and Dave and used her voice. Then it "outed" her negotiation for Dave's life, which seemed odd, too. I mean, why would a creature bother to explain such a thing, unless it wanted to open up further negotiations.
Did the swamp really flood, or was that an explanation for the creature taking so many lives?
Ok, I'll stop now. I'd love to hear your thoughts, though. :) (hide spoiler)]

I just finished it!

I enjoyed it, but as mentioned by Kerry, (view spoiler)[ I'm really confused by the fact that the creature outed the deal as well. I feel like there is something missing. Either it was left out or I missed it entirely because I was reading 2 books at once. (hide spoiler)]

I am finally getting to this book. I have made 50 pages in so far. I am really loving this small town vibe. I am very intrigued by the bridge, and want to learn more. I have quite a ways to go, but am hoping to finish it by the end of the month.

KD wrote: "Just finished this! It sure did escalate in the last half. 🤭"

It does! I've just finished it. I liked it! The first half was a little slow burn but I really liked (view spoiler)[the whole thing about the bridge to somewhere, something else (hide spoiler)].
I don't know how I feel about the ending though...

Kerry wrote: "Oh, some more thoughts: Why did the thing negotiate with Jess? Presumably, it has something to do with her witchy magic, but I wish I understood a bit more. How did she know Dave was about to be t..."

I finished it a few days back. I agree with everyone. I really enjoyed the personalities and dynamics of the sisters. But still was left curious about the creature, their connection to Jess, and I thought there was some bigger connection to Cameron. Or maybe Cameron will be the new Jess or like the sisters?

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that we will be skipping the May Group Read and resuming it again in June. Look for a poll in mid-May. We have some exciting things coming up so please stay tuned!

In the meantime, please feel free to set up Buddy Reads! The more the merrier.

Bark wrote: "Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that we will be skipping the May Group Read and resuming it again in June. Look for a poll in mid-May. We have some exciting things coming up so please st..."

I am sad that we're not having a May reading (I enjoy reading with you all!), but I'll look forward to June! I hope everyone is safe and healthy.