The Hoard by Alan Ryker

 

Summary:

 

A new breed…a new evil…

Hidden deep beneath its landfill lair of trash and filth, a strange new organism has come to life. When an accidental fire drives it out, the mysterious creature escapes across the drought-blasted Kansas prairie and finds the home of elderly hoarder Anna Grish. In desperate need of shelter, it burrows in, concealed amidst the squalor and mess.

When Adult Protective Services force Anna to vacate her junk-riddled home, she moves in with her son and his family. But there is something wrong with Anna, something more than her declining mental condition and severe hoarding disorder. Something sinister has taken hold of her, and it’s not only getting stronger, it’s spreading.

Amidst the wide-open Kansas plains, with endless blue sky above and flat, open vista stretching from one horizon to the next, there is nowhere to hide from…THE HOARD.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 216 pages

Source: NetGalley ARC

Expected Publication Date: November 27th 2012 by DarkFuse     

 

 In September I had the opportunity to be granted an e-ARC of this book from the publisher the day after I featured it on my Waiting on Wednesday #29 post much to my surprise that is because I only requested it the day before I got it.

 

Needless to say I started the book the evening I got it. Just look at the cover doesn't the cover scream spooky read to you? The cover is actually one of my favourite things about the book. It really sets the tone for the book and I think it's the perfect representation for the book.

 

The beginning of the book was a little weird and a little confusing because we started off seeing the world not through the eyes of person but through the eyes of a rat. It was interesting though and the fact that the rat some how made it into the the home of the hoarder Anna before the parasite that was controlling the rat transfered from the rat to one of Anna's cats then to Anna.

 

Basically the book is about parasites that spawn and take over hosts. They work their way into our bodies and then they take over the minds and bodies of their unsuspecting and frightened hosts with the single urge to take over.

 

I was so engrossed in reading this book that I was able to finish reading it in one night. I loved the creepiness. Nothing creeps me out more than parasitic creatures taking over people. Needless to say I was hooked.

 

The writing was great even though there could have been a little more depth to the characters the plot turned out really well. I was actually really impressed with how much I enjoyed the novel because it was very different than what I had been expecting.

 

This was the first time I'd  read a book where the main character was a hoarder and let me just say this. I WILL NEVER BE ONE!... Okay I might be a book hoarder in the future but I will not be a garbage and useless things hoarder. I thought the use of hoarding in the story was really unique and I doubt that the plot would have been as good with out it since it was such a major part of the story with the elderly Anna, her son Pete and his family.

 

When people started  going missing and dying that's when I really got into the book. What can I say? I have 2 older brothers and an older sister and lets just say I grew up in a home where nothing was censored really so I love all the death, destruction and gore the book had in it. Plus there were a lot of twists and turns in the plot that kept me guessing as to what the overall outcome would be.

 

Overall I would say this is a solid novel. It was enjoyable and one I would recommend to people who like horror novels. In fact I'm going to have to let Mr. Turning the Pages have a go at this one because I think it's the perfect read for people who also want a shorter horror read. I can't wait to read more by Alan Ryker and I hope I can read another of his books in the near future.

 

* I received a free copy of this book from the published via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and I was not compensated in any way.

Really Liked It!
★ ★ ★★

 

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