Tag: cult thriller

The Gods Who Want to Die by Luke McCamley Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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A woman must navigate her way through a dangerous cult and the killer going after them in author Luke McCamley’s “The Gods Who Want To Die”.

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The Synopsis

A devoted mother is torn between love of family, and loyalty to a religious cult leader whose demands become increasingly bizarre-and deadly.

To all appearances, Shelly Grinstead is a happily married woman with three children. But appearances can be deceiving. There’s a dark past behind her, and a greater darkness looms ahead. Shelly is a firm believer in Necrotheism, a religious cult that helps immortal gods end their lives through the ceremonial mock-deaths of cult members. The only problem is, the latest deaths aren’t just ceremonial; they’re real. Someone is killing those who kill the gods, and no one knows who, or what, or how to stop it.

Shelly is also in love with cult leader Magnolia Blanchot, whose increasingly bizarre demands threaten to rip Shelly’s family apart. The police are just as bad in their own way, blackmailing Shelly’s son into playing bait for the killer. Whether that killer be god or man, Shelly’s not sure.

When tragedy strikes close to home, Shelly is forced to choose between loyalty and betrayal, faith and disbelief, life and death-before her tenuous grip on reality slips away….

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The Review

This was a gritty, yet wonderful blend of dark psychological horror and fantasy. The harsh realities of cult life and the psychological trauma and mind games that occur for people lost in these groups were extensively explored in this novel, allowing the more fantastic and supernatural elements of the mythos of this world to feel grounded and engaging to readers.

The author did a remarkable job capturing gripping character development and vivid imagery in this novel. The passionate and cruel reality of protagonist Shelly and her situation within the cult and her family really highlights the horror of this storyline and the depth of the world-building that went into the author’s narrative, allowing the gripping psychological drama to take hold in the reader’s mind.

The Verdict

Memorable, captivating, and entertaining, author Luke McCamley’s “The Gods Who Want To Die” is a must-read psychological horror and fantasy read. The twists and turns in the narrative, the grim horrors that the author brings to life through captivating detail, and thoughtful looks into the narrative made this a brilliant read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Luke has a background in teaching philosophy, religion, and ethics. He has written two novels and is currently working on a third. Formerly a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Luke left the cult in 2014 and experienced a profound transformation in values and outlook. He has two children, and currently lives in the west midlands in the UK. Major influences on his work are authors such as Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Alissa Nutting, Marisha Pessl, Iain Reid, Matthew Stokoe, and William Burroughs. His style is one that typically blends elements of true crime stories with philosophical, moral, and supernatural themes including fantasy horror. On a personal level, Luke subscribes to the philosophy of Absurdism, inspired by the writings of Albert Camus.

The Cult from Beyond (Randolph Landon, P.I. Book 2) by Alan Golbourn Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

After being pulled back into the investigative world when a grieving widow asks for help finding his missing son, P.I. Randolph Landon discovers a cult dedicated to otherworldly beliefs, a mysterious girl with green hair, and an illusive preacher with glowing green eyes in author Alan Golbourn’s “The Cult from Beyond”, the second book in the author’s “Randolph Landon, P.I.” series. 

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The Synopsis

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Now settled in Lincolnshire with his family, having given up his private investigator business, Randolph Landon believes he is done with the job. That is until Norman Parker comes along. Shortly after losing his wife, Norman’s son, Oliver, goes missing. Randolph decides to take on the case to help the grieving widower and discovers a strange symbol on the back of a photograph.

Discovering that Oliver has become involved with a strange cult and a mysterious green-haired girl, Randolph finds himself getting in deep once more — and ventures down yet another dark and chilling path. With the help of a detective friend back in London, things soon lead to a terrifying confrontation with an illusive preacher — with glowing green eyes …

The Review

 This was a powerful and captivating thriller. The way the author was able to flip the script of this series from occult horror into a steely and gripping sci-fi thriller was great to see play out in the novel. The tension that builds as the protagonist makes his way further and further into the cult and the mystery that swells as the detective seeks answers to the true origins of the cult made this narrative truly shine brightly in the genre.

To me, the heart of the narrative rested in the author’s strong character progression. Fans of the first book will be delighted in seeing the progression and growth that the protagonist exhibits, giving him real stakes as his family’s happiness and safety motivate him to keep going in his investigation. The mythos surrounding the cult and its origins, including the small town they end up engaging with as the protagonist seeks answers, all kept the reader invested in the narrative.

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The Verdict

Thrilling, action-packed, and entertaining, author Alan Golbourn’s “The Cult From Beyond” is a must-read sci-fi thriller novel you won’t be able to put down. Capturing the enigmatic rise of sci-fi cults in that era of time and adding a twist of genre-bending mythos, the author was able to infuse the spirit of the great detective narrative with a bit of Irish folk horror and powerful sci-fi storytelling to create a book that is impossible to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Alan Golbourn was born in Essex, England. He has enjoyed writing stories since a young age, when he was recognised early for his writing abilities. Amongst several interests and hobbies, including football and computer games, he holds a love and compassion for animals.