Like listening to a text book.

I had a really hard time staying focused on this story. It started out decent enough but before long I was lost and confused. I'm sure this didn't help but I had to take frequent breaks and listen to another book because this just became tedious to try to stay focused. I really felt like I was back in school and being forced to read a text book that made no sense to me.
I enjoyed J. Scott Bennett's narration. I don't fault him at all for me not being able to stay focused. I would like to go back and try to go through this book again and see if I can make heads or tails out of it. Not sure if this is Tom's typical style but if it is I am going to need to stay away.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

5 people found this helpful

Nwe take on the Haunted House

I had never heard of Tom Piccirilli, but the premise of this book seemed intriguing. I am a fan of J. Scott Bennett, so this was a double plus for me. I have really come to appreciate Bennett's style and ability, and am constantly amazed at how he takes hold of a story and molds it into something of his own. He does some great work here, and amps up Piccirilli's work to 11.

The story has multiple tiers to it. It is not a simple and straightforward haunted house story. There are also dark themes, such as incest, and other dangers children face that really steer the tale into some troubling waters. It is NOT for people with delicate sensibilities. The character are all, in one way or another, facing demons of their own, and a forced to deal with them as well as what is happening in the house. The only head scratcher is the turtle. Is it just a turtle, or is it something more? I never did figure that one out.

Either way, this is a dark story that makes you think long after you finish it. It kind of sticks to your soul like a stew does your stomach. It nourishes, but at the same time can be a little discomforting.

I did recieve a code for this book in exchange for a review.

5 people found this helpful

Interesting Paranormal Story

As far as haunted house stories go, 'The Deceased' was a fairly unique take on the idea! Plagued by his past, Jacob Maelstrom is drawn back to his home where his family was brutally murdered many years ago. This story vacillates between worlds and points in time, making for an interesting and fun to follow plot that is ever twisting and evolving. It's hard to say much of anything else without giving away spoilers! While it wasn't the best paranormal story I've read, it was certainly fun and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. J. Scott Bennett delivers a wonderful narrative performance.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

1 person found this helpful

Twisted, unusual horror story

This is a twisting story that muddies the water between reality, fantasy and insanity. It’s a convoluted plot of horror story authors, twisted characters, axe murders, incest, ghosts and spirits that feed off the living. Throughout a lot of the story I was not sure who was dead and who was alive, who was sane or who was insane, and I still don’t know what the turtle had to do with anything. It’s confusing and yet somewhat captivating at the same time. At times the only thing that kept me going through the flashbacks, the hauntings and the erratic weaving of the story, was the great narration. The narrator was a steady voice that created tension and pulled you through the tumultuous sea of dead and crazy people in this novel. The author’s style of writing seems somewhat structureless and yet you still want to keep going just to see if it all makes sense in the end; with this story, I’m not sure that it did for me.

1 person found this helpful

INSANE

I have to admit this is not his best book (2.5 actually). I had to repeat sections as seemed confusing so you need to listen to it closely. The author uses a lot of mental illness in his books. In this book Jacob returns to his childhood mansion and this is where horror begins reliving old memories. It contains brutality, incest, spirits and totally insane and several good sections. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you

1 person found this helpful

Too many flashbacks

I almost don't know what to say about this book. There is so much going on and it was hard to follow. The viewpoint switches back and forth through reality to hallucination to flashback to I'm not sure what was happening.

The protagonist is a horror writer whose family was murdered by his sister 10 years previously. He was a child at the time, doesn't remember any details, and is heading back to his family home to see if he can figure it all out. Two women follow him there, one is his agent's girlfriend, and the other is writing a thesis on his work. And then all hell breaks loose and the story takes one weird turn after another. What was up with the turtle?

I do have to say that male authors can be quite predictable. There's one scene where the author is describing how a young woman is holding an axe in preparation to commit an axe murder and the author stops to describe how appealing her breasts look at this moment in time. Seriously?

The audiobook narrator did a great job. I would have no problem listening to other books using him as a narrator.
I received a copy of this in audio format for free in return for an honest review

Nope

I was given this review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. I did not like this book at all. Brothers and sisters having sex, ghosts having sex that is pretty much the premise of this book, it is not for me and I would not recommend it

The deceased

I did not care for anything about this book aside from the narrator.It was impossible to follow.I wish I'd have given up on it. J Scott Bennett was a great narrator.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

crazy just crazy

**I received this audiobook in exchange for a honest review**

this book is insane. J. Scott Bennett did a fantastic job reading and the recording sounded great!
Jacob Maelstrom seriously has some problems and exist in a dream like state that - to the reader- goes from reality to memories to ..visions? hauntings? in a flash. at times it was hard to follow cause I kept thinking I missed a sentence or paragraph. it was ok, but is all of Tom Piccirilli's books like this or was it just this one? if they are all so scattered, I doubt I'd read another one.

Nonsensical

Saying this book is confusing is giving it too much credit. It jumps around into different situations, including way to much sibling 'intimacy' (that's really gross, dude), that to me, never amounted to anything substantial. When I think back, I'm not sure how I even finished it. I wish I had those hours back. I won't be purchasing anything more from Mr. Piccirilli. Narration was fine.