Product Description

In the tradition of Salem's Lot and The Exorcist comes a mesmerizing novel of murder, possession and twisted family secrets. A recovering alcoholic on the run from his past, all Billy Smith wants is to be left alone. But commanded by the voices in his head to commit acts of violence he does not understand, he kidnaps a prostitute known only as Angel and heads north to a bucolic little New England town called White Falls. Something monstrous has taken root in White Falls, and has waited centuries for the right time to awaken. Psyches begin to unravel and violence erupts. The fate of the living ultimately rests on the back of one man. For the dead are watching . . . and they are hungry.

Nate Kenyon and his family reside in Boston, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #515167 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 333 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780843960204
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Stephen King's influence is apparent in Kenyon's debut spooker about White Falls, Maine, a sleepy backwater mired in ordinary smalltown routines until the day that ex-con Billy Smith arrives, drawn by dreams of death and dark purpose. Accompanying Billy is Gloria Johnson, a hooker he felt compelled to kidnap; she happens to be plagued by similar dreams. Meanwhile, Jeb Taylor, a local boy, has fallen under the spell of an amulet with a sinister history reaching back almost three centuries to the town's founding. As the characters struggle to understand the amulet's malignant influence, they come to terms with their ordained roles in the impending showdown between Good and Evil. Kenyon gives his tale an impressive panoramic sweep that shows the horrors manifesting subtly and insidiously through the experiences of a large cast of characters. Though the climax is a chaotic jumble that doesn't answer all the questions raised along the way, it has an energy and enthusiasm that make up for the book's otherwise formulaic plotting. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
A dark thrill ride, layered in an atmosphere of dreamlike unease and disturbing imagery… -- Horror World, December 1, 2005

A solid first novel by any standard…one part ghost story, one part spiritual journey, and one part Our Town... -- The Horror Channel, November 1, 2005

A vivid, moody, and at times startling novel; a very good start to what will hopefully be a prolific career. -- Apex Digest, January 1, 2006

Kenyon’s horror debut evokes an atmosphere of small-town claustrophobia…[a] tale of classic horror. -- Library Journal, December 15, 2005

…an impressive panoramic sweep that shows the horrors manifesting subtly and insidiously...through a large cast of characters. -- Publishers Weekly, November 1, 2005

Review
"From a darkly humorous tale of the power of words (Death and the Librarian) to a never-before-published response to events of September 11 (Ilion), Friesner's 12 stories illustrate the author's acutely sensitive vision of wonder in the everyday world... Known primarily for his 'Star Wars' novels... Zahn's short stories also deliver strong plots and memorable characters... Zebrowski's many novels (e.g. Macrolife) mark him as a visionary as well as a master of hard sf. The ten short stories collected in In the Distance provide a benchmark of his creativity... the author expands his concept of the human condition to embrace the stars. Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent author's, these three volumes belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."
-- Library Journal (December 2002) (Library Journal 20020615)

"...Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent authors, these three volumes (Death and the Librarian and Other Stories/ Star Song and Other Stories/ In the Distance, and Ahead in Time) belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."
-- Library Journal (December 2002) (Library Journal )

"Four more titles in Five Star's new series (God Is an Iron and Other Stories/ Generation Gap and Other Stories/ The Lady Vanishes and Other Oddities of Nature/ Suppose They Gave a Peace and Other Stories) of short fiction by noteworthy sf authors offer a variety of tales that illustrate the depth and staying power of the genre...Most of the stories in these volumes have only appeared in periodicals. Libraries wishing to augment their sf or short fiction collections should consider any of them."
-- Library Journal (June 2002) (Library Journal )

"Stephen King's influence is apparent in Kenyon's debut spooker . . . an impressive panoramic sweep that shows the horrors manifesting subtly and insidiously through the experiences of a large cast of characters."
- Publishers Weekly (Publisher's Weekly )

Customer Reviews

Superb story by a Fresh Face in Horror
I found Bloodstone, the debut novel by Nate Kenyon, to be a superb story. Not definable by a single genre, Bloodstone at times is a mystery, a horror, a thriller, yet at its heart is a story of love and the search for redemption. With twists that would make Dan Brown envious, and pacing you'd expect from a more seasoned author, Kenyon takes the reader on a coast to coast ride that will keep you guessing until the last page.

It is easy to see why several authors have referenced Stephen King when reviewing this book. Like King, Kenyon takes the time to breathe life into his characters. His world is very much our own, where you find not black and white, but varying shades of grey. Bloodstone takes such archetypes as the alcoholic ex-con and the prostitute junkie, moves gets past the stereotypes, and allows these characters the chance to be heroes.

The line between good and evil is razor thin and the choices made along the way determine on which side the protagonists ultimately fall. The beauty is that when these hard choices are made, Kenyon has so engrossed the reader into the story and fleshed out the characters so completely, that you feel an emotional connection. And that is what I look for in a book.

I recommend you find a copy of Bloodstone and thank me later.

Excellent and fun read
It's been a long time since I've read a horror story like this one. Most horror novelists are either very good at openings but then the rest of the tale doesn't hold up, or they are excellent a mood but the characters are weak, or sometimes you get the occasional author who struggles in the beginning but if you can make it 50 pages or so into the book, it really gets rocking and rolling. For a debut novel, I am unbelievably impressed by the even-ness of the entire book. We start out creepy, and the level of creepiness remains from beginning to end. We have multidimensional characters that we care about, and an intriguing plot that includes both present day and also letters from over a hundred years ago. Honestly I found the letters to be very engaging and would like to read more on that particular tale.

Short Summary: We open with Bill Smith having kidnapped "Angel" a junkie and prostitute, he is being plagued by dreams of the undead coming after him and seems to be drawn to a place he has never been. Angel is also having the dreams and has been hiding behind her addiction to keep them at bay. The two finally end up in a small town in Maine (why is it always Maine?) where they feel that something dark and sinister is about to occur and somehow they have a part to play. Meanwhile, Jeb Taylor's homicidal father has passed away in prison and Jeb collects his father's belongings, among which include some very strange and ancient artifacts. Jeb's behavior soon begins changing and horrific dreams begin to plague his mind as well.

I found this to be one of the most well thought out "first novels" I've read in a long time. I truly enjoyed the read. It is fairly fast paced and as I mentioned earlier, the level of "creepy" begins right off the bat and remains with you from beginning to end. True there are a lot of unexplained things in this book, but sometimes that just adds to the terror. Many people have compared him to an "Early Stephen King" and I can see the similarities, though I actually preferred this novel to the "More recent Stephen King novels." On the whole this was a very fun read and I look forward to more books by Mr. Kenyon.

Excellent debut!
Nate Kenyon has written an outstanding first novel. Bloodstone's plot is a thrill ride, the imagery is vivid and disturbing, Kenyon's characters have depth, and the ending is poignant and satisfying. Highly recommended!