FEVER HOUSE by Keith Rosson
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9780593595756
Release Date: August 15th, 2023
BISAC Categories: Horror - General Science Fiction - Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic, Thrillers - Suspense:
Sub-Genre/Themes: Cursed objects, Hit Men, City Life, Musicians, Crime Drama, Government agencies, Agoraphobia, Family secrets

Writing Style: Gritty, Humorous, back-and-forth POV with a large, ensemble cast

What You Need to Know: This is an investment. The novel is sectioned into parts, chapters are medium length, not buzzy & short, and not too terribly long. Peppered throughout are ‘transcripted, scientific, classified, governmental-style secret-agency type’ field notes about a being named Michael. There is a lot to keep straight at first, a sizeable, ensemble cast but it gets to be second nature after about 30%. The apocalyptic energy layered with graphic violence and crime-thriller-esque suspense makes this an intense read. Horror enthusiasts that enjoy lighter fare may want to proceed with caution. There are plenty of characters to invest in at an emotional level if you choose to dive in.


My Reading Experience: When gritty, suspenseful crime thrillers collide with supernatural, apocalyptic horror novels, FEVER HOUSE is the result; an explosion of graphic violence, colorful characters, and buck-wild storytelling.
I was laughing three pages in. The two main characters kicking this whole thing off are straight out of Mean Streets. You’ve got a small-time hood employing some amature muscle to collect debts by acting like heavies and roughing people up when they have to. They get involved in something that totally blows up in their face–just one bad decision after the next. It’s as entertaining and amusing as it is cringe-worthy; I wanted to read what would happen next through my fingers.
I LOVE THE DIALOGUE. Rosson has that whole rough-around-the-edges street lingo down solid. A few new characters get added into the chaos batter, making everything a bit more complicated but in a good way. I loved the way Rosson put the reader in the driver’s seat for the mystery. It was exciting to pick up clues and breadcrumbs while I developed theories.
I love ensemble, alternating POV/narrative storytelling when it’s done right. I think Jurassic Park was my first exposure to it and it has stuck with me all this time.
The risk, of course, is the reader will fall in love with one timeline and come to hate the others as just a distraction. This happened to me in SIGN HERE by Claudia Lux. And while this didn’t exactly happen to me in this book, some of the chapters were long and there were a few lags in the action but my overall reading experience was one of curious engagement most of the time.
Final Recommendation: FEVER HOUSE is cool and tempered like smooth jazz when it needs to be and full-on metal with the volume all the way up the rest of the time. Toward the end, it was classic punk rock overtones with a great hook for more in this universe. I bought my ticket!

Comps: LAST DAYS by Brian Evenson mixed with A VOICE SO SOFT by Patrick Lacey and a dash of SIGN HERE by Claudia Lux, infused with Hand of Glory mythology.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. The following opinions are my own.

This book blew me away. The crazy premise did not do it justice. It was so warped, creepy and anxiety inducing!!

Fever House is a rollicking good time!

Punk rock meets World War Z, but with conspiracy theories, cops and musicians.

It's grisly, it's gross and it's about family. Go into it just knowing there's a crime boss, a famous punk rocker's son and a secret government agency all after the same zombie severed hand that's somewhere lose in Portland, Oregon.🤘

Oh, and there's also like maybe a fallen angel the government is torturing for its own use.

There's multiple POV and a lot going on and I loved it all even if I did roll my eyes a few times at the cliche masculinity shit.

I'm excited for the sequel!!

Fever House was raw, gritty, outlandishly wild, and truly a mashup of genres that worked well together. I personally loved the crazy trajectory of the book and how things went totally apeshit in a short span of time. The deaths were gruesome and well written. We get a lot of character POVs and backstories, which I know doesn’t work for some people but I liked what it added here. Unfortunately, I had no idea this was not a standalone book until I reached the 90% mark and realized there was still a lot to resolve. So, I couldn’t help but be disappointed by all the questions I had at the end and the rather abrupt ending. It was just too long for me to not feel satisfied. I’ll definitely read the sequel. Recommend to apocalyptic horror fans.

I have to thank Net Galley and Random House for giving me an advanced readers copy of Fever House. This book was very well written and I was intrigued the first 30-35% of the book, but it really got away from me.

This book grew pages the entire time I read it. I felt there was a lot of filler information that wasn’t necessary to the plot line. Certain characters had their whole background story laid out and it was just too much. A whole chapter was a magazine article for the band and just wasn’t necessary. It was a very good story when it was just Hutch, Tim, and Nick being the prime focus. The story was intriguing enough to push through, but I think it was just too much filler. I gave it a three star for the lack of thrill. As much as was going on in the book, the thrill wasn’t there because the timeline kept bouncing away from the current day chaos that was taking place.

Thanks again Net Galley and Random House for the ARC. I really appreciated it!

I'm grateful to Random House and NetGalley for this digital ARC of Keith Rosson's 'Fever House.'

Wow! What a rollicking great read!

Multiple fantastic characters from the criminal underworld, federal law enforcement (official and otherwise), punk rock, the dark web, the military-industrial complex, and the supernatural involved in multiple storylines all revolving around a severed hand that has a marked affect on anyone in proximity to it.

Rosson doesn't waste any time in getting us right into the meat (no pun intended) and heart of the story and the action. We're not asked to wait around for strands of this thing to come together (although that happens in a very satisfactory way throughout the novel. Some lowlife debt collectors get things rolling and the key element of the story - the hand and its effect - is introduced right there in chapter one. And it just keeps going from there.

In some cases it's almost like you're reading a sequel - I had to check to see if that was the case but it's nor. Significant events are referred to like you're supposed to know about them but then, in most cases, they're explored later in the book. The origin of one of the key characters in this novel, though, remains a mystery but that's OK.

This is a really enjoyable read and great fun *but* it can be very dark and very violent so beware if that's likely to upset you.

Looking forward to more of this.

This was a gory, creepy, imaginative novel that is set in Portland, which was extra fun because that's where I live. It weaved together a lot of characters and ideas without getting too confusing or overly complicated. The chapters rotated between characters pov, but it was fairly easy to keep everyone straight.

There's a severed hand—a "remnant" that induces crazy, homicidal behavior in those near it, a shadowy government agency trying to find it, a creepy-otherworldly asset named St. Michael, and a has-been indie band singer from the 90s who can no longer leaver her apartment. Plus, thugs, gangsters, bad cops, psychics, and more. It was interesting and the ending sets it up for a sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Can you resist the hand? Great tagline! Very fitting.

It's hard to summarize what this crazy, scary, funny, hectic novel is about, but it's safe to say that it's a race against time set off by a pair of thugs trying to collect on a debt. Before you know it, you may be rooting for thugs, or cops, or FBI type agents, famous fallen musicians, or perhaps a mysterious entity that may very well be the antichrist.

This is no madcap story - it's scary, it is gory and it will haunt you at night. There are comparisons to Joe Hill and Steven King but I might prefer Justin Cronin. There is a broad spectrum of characters and points of view and just enough intrigue. The pieces snap together nicely and I cannot wait to see what happens next. If you like a bit of horror with your dystopia, aren't scared off by a phantom hand, or just looking for your next GREAT HORROR WRITER...Fever House is for you ! #Feverhouse #KeithRosson #RandomHouse #Netgalley

A fever dream from the very depths of hell, pure adrenalized, nightmare fuel. Rosson makes you feel like you're being dragged into hell with your eyelids stapled wide open. You just feel how dark and evil it's going to be, you are kicking and screaming and yet you feel it edging closer, perverse, awful, the absolute worst...the worst part is you just can't close your eyes. Fever House is freaking terrifying, sleep with the lights on, hold onto a rosary, pray you make it through to dawn, terrifying. This is movie worthy, gut punch horror at its finest, and I really hope Mr. Keith Rosson gives us a sequel!

"Fever House" is a novel that successfully blends weird and twisted elements, producing an atmosphere steeped in punk nostalgia. Its character development is noteworthy and the early chapters are engaging, drawing readers into the unfolding chaos. While the book suffers from pacing issues, with flashbacks that tend to disrupt the flow of the plot, it doesn't entirely diminish the overall reading experience. Despite an abrupt ending that leaves room for a sequel, the unique elements and intriguing narrative make "Fever House" an interesting read. The novel might not be flawless, but its standout features will definitely appeal to readers who appreciate horror with a punk twist.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and the author for the advanced copy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for sending me an advancer reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Blurb:
A demon hand that makes you violent and aggressive. A shadow government that wants to harness its power. When the hand goes missing, they must follow the trail of bodies it leaves behind… before they come back to life.

Review:
My honest review is that this is probably my favorite read of 2023. And I’ve read 50 books already! I was curious how Pulp Fiction was supposed to mix with Stranger Things, but good gracious that’s the best way to put it! It’s so ridiculously funny, it’s gory, it’s exciting, it has so many unusual elements that wouldn’t usually go together.

Vampires are sexy, but zombies are FUN. And this book was an absolute blast to read! I would have read it all in one sitting if I had the time. There were so many characters, but I never felt overwhelmed- they were all introduced gradually. I appreciated the amount of detail that Keith Rosson put into each character’s backstory to give insight into their motivations. It made me enjoy every perspective shift, even though I usually don’t like those. The writing was so colorful and strange that it made even mundane moments entertaining!

If you love demons, zombies, and government conspiracies, Fever House comes out on August 15th!

Very tightly written horror maintains its fast pace and keeps the reader guessing. Wonderful author voice doesn’t waste a word and errs on the side of brevity and wit, much to the reader’s delight.

When you pick up a Keith Rosson book, you know you're guaranteed a good time. And Fever House is no exception. This one took me by surprise, and took me places I hadn't expected.

It starts off simply enough - Hutch and Tim are out on the hunt for people who owe their boss Peach drug money. But after kicking the door in at one particular junkie's place, they discover more than they bargained for. The dude had a severed hand hidden in the freezer. And not just any severed hand, mind you. This one starts messing with your head. The closer in proximity you are to it, the darker and more violent your thoughts turn.

Scared of the thing, and desperate to get rid of it, Hutch calls his buddy Nick, a man who makes his living locating rare items for clients. Meanwhile, dark goverment agents are employing the remote viewing skills of a "subject" by the name of Saint Michael to narrow down its whereabouts, hot on the hand's trail. We learn that it once belonged to them and they are not going to stop until its back in their possession.

Hutch, Nick, and everyone else who crosses paths with this cursed thing are now running for their lives. A strange hell is about to be unleashed in Portland, and they are going to have front row seats when the madness begins.

Rosson seamlessly weaves multiple narrative threads together throughout the book, building character backstories that just continue adding layer upon layer to the main storyline, culminating in one big spider's web of death, deception, and destruction.

Be warned: there are some intentional loose ends here, as this book is part of at least a two-book series. You won't find a fully realized end, but the one we were served up should hold us over nicely until the next book drops.

THIS WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN I ANTICIPATED!
this book was a sprint, start to finish. my heart was racing from the first chapter and I didn't want to put it down.
I had no idea what to expect, but I definitely didn't expect this and I LOVED IT!!
if you're into horror I highly recommend this one!

This gave me idle hands meets night of the living dead vibes. Throw some punk rock and a little occult in there and wow. At first I had a hard time getting into it because there are multiple povs and until I got a feel for the characters my brain kept doing the squirrel thing. Crazy plot twist and turns. You really don't know who's good and who's bad. Not my typical read but I'm glad I requested it. And Katherine with that final girl energy 🙌

This book, y’all. It reminded me of a cross between Stephen King, a Noir detective novel, and a Reddit conspiracy theory. It‘s a bit crazy and I didn’t expect it to work…but it did. Without going into spoilers, it just workd; check it out.

Solid horror and I really wish it was a stand alone title. The plot is too complex for me to attempt a summary, but not too complex to follow and enjoy. Separating the characters' stories chapter by chapter was helpful for me to keep it all straight in my head, and I was happily surprised at how fleshed out everyone was, bad guys, good guys, neutral guys, all got a treatment that kept me invested in their outcomes. It's been a while since I've read a horror that really made me think about the nature of good and evil AND was so fast paced as to keep me up reading later than I probably should have. Lots of great theatrical action threaded in with fascinating and believable (mostly) characters. The only negative is I'd always rather read a book that ENDS, but this one I will definitely read the next installment whenever that appears. Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy.

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book!

I have scheduled promotional posts around release day for this book and I will provide a full review on my Instagram once I am able to get to this read.

Rating 5 stars on Netgalley as a placeholder for me to update later once the review is complete.

Will also complete a review on Goodreads once read.

Thanks again!

I didn't expect to like this book so much but wow was I surprised. Everything from the dialogue to the plot had me hooked as soon as I started reading. That rarely happens but the author undoubtedly took great care in how everything is presented. This is easily a 5 star read and am looking forward to checking out Keith's other works.

"Fever House" by Keith Rosson is a gripping horror novel that takes readers on a dark and intense journey. With a mix of intriguing characters, a sinister government agency, and a powerful severed hand, the story weaves together a tale of chaos and terror.

The narrative kicks off when Hutch Holtz, a small-time criminal, discovers a severed hand in a client's refrigerator during a routine job. To his surprise, the hand possesses a malevolent power that compels anyone in its proximity to engage in violent behavior. As catastrophic forces are set into motion, Hutch finds himself pursued by relentless government agents while the city of Portland falls under the hand's brutal influence.

Meanwhile, Katherine Moriarty, a former rock star, and her agoraphobic son, Nick, become entangled in the escalating chaos when Hutch reaches out to them for help. Their lives are thrust into a global struggle as they confront bloodthirsty mobs and deceitful government agents, all while unearthing long-buried family secrets that may hold the key to humanity's survival.

The strength of "Fever House" lies in its well-developed characters, each with their own flaws and vulnerabilities. The author skillfully pulls the reader into their individual plights, making it easy to empathize with their struggles. The interconnecting narratives of the characters, driven by the malevolent hand, create a sense of urgency and suspense that keeps the reader engaged throughout.

Rosson's writing is intelligent and full of raw emotion, infusing the strange occurrences with an unsettling sense of terror. The intricate plot gradually reveals its secrets, building intrigue and leaving the reader desperate to know what happens next. The author's ability to switch between multiple perspectives seamlessly is commendable, making it easy to follow the story despite the numerous characters.

While "Fever House" may not be a quick and easy read, it rewards the serious horror addict with its immersive and in-depth experience. The concept of an infectious disease that turns humans into violent animals is not new, but Rosson executes it well, breathing new life into the trope. The root cause of the infectious terror is unique, fresh, and creatively explored, adding depth and originality to the narrative.

The explosive and surprising ending is a treat for readers who have committed to the deep journey into this terrifying world. It delivers a satisfying conclusion to the intricate web of horror and leaves a lasting impact on the reader's mind.

In conclusion, "Fever House" is a chilling and well-crafted horror novel that immerses readers in a world of terror. With its compelling characters, intelligent writing, and unique take on a familiar concept, it is a must-read for fans of the genre. Dive into the depths of this book if you're ready to embark on a dark and twisted journey.