Author Kevin Lucia could NOT have picked a more perfect time to have this book published than right before Halloween AND still during Covid sickness re-emerging around the World.

The town of Pleasant Brook and its MANY people who make it up have no idea what the hell they are in for this coming Halloween. And once it hits....all hell breaks loose and will never be the same again. This book was good however there are so many characters, that it made it hard to try to keep them in their own little corner of your memory, and it starts very slow. That almost made me not want to finish it. But I am glad I did. It made me feel like the beginning of the classic horror novel that will never be topped in my opinion only; Thomas Tryons' "Harvest Home". The covering of a face with some form of Masks has always made the reason for me to fear clowns and this book will do that to those readers who are new to the horror genre. Lucia has some GREAT scenes of gore and horror so just please stick with it, it pays off well.

I highly recommend this to anyone expecting to be creeped out and scared. The cover is phenomenal too!
4 SCREAMS very loudly

Resting somewhere between the thrill of Stephen King and horrors of Grady Hendrix, Kevin Lucia’s The Horror at Pleasant Brook is a win. Gripping, entertaining, terrifying, and full of grotesque imagery, this novel is sure to get your heart pumping and mind reeling.

As someone who grew up in upstate New York, many of the locales and names hit home (literally and figuratively) for me. In other novels I found this oddly specific connection distracting and annoying, but in The Horror at Pleasant Brook it only added to my personal nightmare; which I absolutely loved. This novel has the makings to be a truly memorable horror movie and could easily become a cult classic in the haunted horror book genre.

The Horror at Pleasant Brook is a new spin on a classic horror story. An evil force threatens to swallow a sleepy Adirondacks town. Giving 80’s vibes, a group of unlikely characters band together to save the town. Mayhem ensues as blood is shed, tears are cried, and guts are spilled.

These characters are fun and face the impending doom in ways you wouldn’t expect. It was a fun read for any horror head!

After having just recently finished reading my first story by Kevin, Daughter of the Mists (which I absolutely loved) I was excited to see that there was a new Halloween story by him.  This one takes place in the small town of Pleasant Brook.  With Halloween approaching, an ancient evil is brought back to life and begins overtaking the town.  There's a sickness that's spreading in the form of a mask and anyone that succumbs to it becomes a part of it.  This book definitely had an old school horror feel to it, and was very creepy, and gory.  My one complaint would just be that I have covid fatigue, and really don't want to read about it anymore, but thankfully it was only mentioned in setting the scene, and wasn't an overwhelming part of the story.  I thought it was a great Halloween read and would definitely recommend it.

I was shocked to read the description and learn that the writer is an editor, because there were so many grammatical errors and so much repetition. There were also a lot of characters, and at least once the author mixed up two characters. It would have been better to make it tighter and cut out some errors, one odd one being the spelling of Jeep as JEEP.
The story itself was fun. I always enjoy the kind of "evil coming back and taking over a small town" stories. However, the characters were stereotypes and the writer seemed to be trying really hard to represent different sexual orientations, all while mercilessly shaming a young woman who made money stripping. I don't personally know anyone who would shame someone for that and it was a really weird thing to harp on.
The characters weren't smart and didn't follow up on what they learned, and one character who probably would have been cool died because another character who knew how dangerous everything was decided to go off alone to think in an empty area.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This was wildly entertaining and hard to put down. I am definitely going to be rereading this and keeping an eye out for more from this author

This was a gory ride! The story caught my attention from the very beginning with the creepy masks. I enjoyed the small town setting and “creatures/ 🧛🏽‍♀️ vampires”.

**Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review. **

Some fear blossoms more in the mind, some more in the gut. Scream, with all its violence and blood-smeared knives, is suspenseful and tense as we anticipate each inevitable death. On the other hand, the first Saw movie, which I’ve always deemed as psychological horror, still made me squirm physically, uncomfortable in my skin.

The Horror at Pleasant Brook has the latter effect. Set in a small town nestled between the Adirondacks late in the COVID-19 pandemic, Lucia’s novel will make readers flinch as they read, disturbed by each character’s gory end and supernatural transformation, even if it’s story slackens every once in a while.

When disgraced hometown hero Bobby Lee Haskel returns to Pleasant Brook to hawk moonshine, he stumbles upon a mysterious mask in the abandoned house where he’s squatting. Allowing the mask to meld to his face makes him feel powerful, but possesses him to kill his friends, his family, and those trying to live quiet lives in Pleasant Brook. Following each murder, Haskel — the First — transforms his victims into an army of the undead hellbent on ushering a new era of darkness.

It’s up to constable Grace Matthews, the small town’s only law enforcement officer, to make sense of the resulting disappearances. Along the way, she works with Scott Carter, a teenager with a passion for horror movies trying to fight the boredom of remote learning; Marty Crenshaw, who lives in an abandoned barn and eeks out an honest living doing odd jobs; Julie Lomax, an exotic dancer and recovering alcoholic disturbed by the appearance of the masked horrors at her strip club; and transgendered librarian Sage Hunter, Julie’s AA sponsor and Grace’s former lover.

If there’s a lot of characters to keep track of in The Horror at Pleasant Brook, it’s because Lucia succeeds at bringing this sleepy town to life. As readers, we feel like we are part of the town’s intimate community, aware of the drama and camaraderie and complicated history that connects these characters. When the horror spreading through town takes Scott’s only friend Jasper, with whom he shared an ill-conceived kiss, we readers feel his confusion and loneliness and sorrow. Lucia’s ability to establish intimacy and sense of community is his strength — and something that separates this gory horror story from the classic slasher films that it honors.

But the momentum of the story is often lost in this intimacy as well. We may spend too much time in Grace’s head, doubting her choice to leave the big city for her small town post; we get too lost in Scott’s mind worrying about Jasper, his mom, the father he never met. Likewise, at times, there’s too much repetition — similar scenes and details and and backstories that slow the action down or dilute the anxiety and inevitability readers need to really feel the novel’s terror.

Suffice to say, The Horror at Pleasant Brook works well as a horror novel. As a horror movie, however, there’d be too much down time, too much discussion, too much worrying and backpedaling and planning to sustain the appropriate tension. Certainly, the terrifying scenes are terrifying and worth the wait, rife with the kinds of blood-splattered horror readers will feel in the gut even if it doesn’t quite stoke the same sort of fear in the mind.

I enjoyed this book. It’s funny how it was able to stick with me. I started reading this book Back in Oct, got away from reading for quite some time yet I still had this book with me when I picked it back up to finish it.

This gives 90s horror novel vibes, and I adore it. This was extremely entertaining, and kept me turning pages.

For fans of zombies, vampires, and body snatchers.
This novel felt like I was watching a gruesome horror flick play out; with a slow build that gradually picks up momentum throughout a sleepy, covid stricken town. Lucia does the genre proud, following a well loved formula, while still making the story their own. The plot was character driven, yet managed to not wear you down with too many details from the many faces of Pleasant Brook. A gory and lovely terror that gives not so subtle shout outs to classic and modern horror novels & movies, alike.

Thanks to NetGalley & Crystal Lake Publishing for the eARC!

The Horror at Pleasant Brook delivers a relentless and chilling experience for horror enthusiasts. From the first page to the last, the narrative is soaked in gore, creating an atmosphere that is both horrifying and captivating. The author skillfully weaves spine-chilling storytelling with meticulous attention to gory details, ensuring that the reader is consistently engrossed in the nightmarish world

Small town life, with big time horror. Lucia's take on the supernatural running loose in Pleasant Brook is unique, full of dread, and creeping terror. No matter who you are, how safe you think you may be, there's no escaping the noose pulling around your throat, an ancient horror that refuses to die. We follow a varied cast, all ages and parts of the community, as they encounter the big bad for the first(and for some, final) time. This story takes a view on isolation horror, combines it perfectly with the isolation during the height of covid, and brings it all home to a tiny town, showing you just how terrifying the bumps in the night can be. I had a fantastic time with this, and as my first of his work, I'll now be looking towards what else Lucia has out. Highly recommended, four star!

I couldn’t get into this book at all and DNF..

I thought the cover was pretty cool and the description sounded good.

That’s about all I can say.. There’s just way too much drug usage and sexual things going on. I quickly lost interest. I’m going to attempt to try to read it again.

Gory. Horrifyingly Terrific. Old school horror. Thats the best way to describe The horror at Pleasant Brook.
A mask is consuming the townsfolk of Pleasant Brook in Warren County upstate NY. ( I live in Warren county , upstate NY. So fun to have it mentioned time and again in the story) It’s turning them into a mix of zombie and vampire. It won’t stop till it’s consumed the whole town.
If you love horror and graphic gory descriptions this book is for you. I high recommend it.
Thank you so much NetGalley, Crystal lake publishing and Kevin Lucia for the free copy in exchange for my unbiased review. It’s a winner!

Book Review: The Horror at Pleasant Brook by Kevin Lucia

4 out of 5 stars

In The Horror at Pleasant Brook by Kevin Lucia, readers are transported to a small, isolated town nestled deep in the Adirondacks. As Halloween approaches, an ancient and malevolent horror descends upon the unsuspecting inhabitants. Unfolding like a classic Dean Koontz or Stephen King novel, this gripping tale of terror grips readers from the very first page. With its well-written prose, intense plot, diverse characters, and a shocking ending, The Horror at Pleasant Brook is a must-read for horror enthusiasts.

The plot of The Horror at Pleasant Brook is expertly crafted, drawing readers in with its relentless suspense and bone-chilling atmosphere. Kevin Lucia masterfully weaves together a story that combines blood, gore, terror, and moments of unexpected badassery. The author's skillful portrayal of the town's secrets, prejudices, and flaws adds depth to the narrative, making it all the more immersive.

One of the book's notable strengths lies in its diverse and well-developed cast of characters. Each character has their own distinct voice and personal struggles, allowing readers to form a genuine connection with them. From the relatable protagonist to the supporting characters who play pivotal roles in the face of unimaginable horror, their interactions and dynamics add richness to the story.

As I delved deeper into The Horror at Pleasant Brook, I couldn't help but envision it as a thrilling movie adaptation. The book's vivid descriptions and intense scenes create a visual experience that would translate seamlessly onto the screen. From the eerie setting of the Adirondacks to the heart-pounding moments of terror, this story possesses all the elements needed for a truly captivating cinematic experience.

While The Horror at Pleasant Brook is an excellent read overall, there were a couple of minor drawbacks that deserve mention. Firstly, due to its length, the pacing occasionally suffered. Some parts felt repetitive and could have benefited from a tighter edit to maintain a consistent flow. However, this does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

In conclusion, The Horror at Pleasant Brook by Kevin Lucia is a thrilling and engaging horror novel that harks back to the golden age of the genre. With its old-school charm, well-crafted plot, and diverse cast of characters, it offers an immersive reading experience that leaves readers eagerly turning pages. Although it could benefit from some pacing adjustments, it remains an excellent choice for fans of classic horror fiction. I highly recommend this gripping tale as a perfect read for the spooky season.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

A horror invades Pleasant Brook, a small town near the Adirondack mountains. People are disappearing and there is a mysterious mask involved.

This book has some glowing 5 star reviews on Goodreads, but I decided to check the 1-2 star reviews after contemplating DNF’ing. I wanted to see if I was crazy, but instead, I found my people. I was intrigued by the first chapter and it went sharply downhill after that. It is absurdly repetitive. The phrasing, the descriptions, just the same stuff over and over again. And some of the POV’s are confusing as hell. I kept re-reading and asking “wait, who said that?”, “who has the mask on”? And every time the mask was described as melting onto a face, all I saw was Jim Carrey in The Mask, though admittedly, this one is my fault not the book’s. 😂

Again, lots of 5 star reviews on this one, so if it sounds interesting, give it a try. It takes place right around Halloween so now is the right time to try it out.

Thanks to net galley for providing me with a copy of this novel as an ARC.

Loved, loved, loved this! Unsettling, gory, creepy, and fast paced! This is the perfect spooky season read! Love a small isolated town plagued with horrors! Definitely following this author now!

After ruining his high school football career and being kicked out of the military, Bobby Lee Haskel is back in Pleasant Brook squatting at the old Owen house with his buddy, Jesse. Bobby finds a weird mask and puts it on. The mask transforms him into something other, and his power-hungry self is loving it, despite it become permanently affixed to his face. The mask releases an ancient evil, and Bobby begins to slowly transform the town.

Scott is bored. His school has gone to remote learning after the Covid numbers jumped, and it's even worse than being in class. He's spending more time with his best (and only) friend, Jasper, and watching horror movies. When he and Jasper see some weird guys wandering around town with masks on, they quickly take off in different directions. Then Jasper goes missing, and Scott just knows it has to do with the masked people. But what can he do, he's just a horror-obsessed kid?

It took me a little to get into this but once I did, I had a difficult time putting it down. I have grown incredibly tired of Covid books, but setting this one during the pandemic really worked, actually helping the plot of the story. I mean, when no one is wandering around already, how do you know if they are missing? I loved Grace and Scott, and thought they were both great characters. The creatures were creepy, with the weird masks and hive-mind. And the ending, while it worked beautifully, was not quite what I expected. What more can you ask for?

I think this book was a decent horror novel. It was creepy and had me jumping at strange noises while reading it at night. It's a good choice for the person who wants to read about a lot of people dying.

But this book definitely wasn't perfect for me. I found it way too repetitive. The first few murder scenes were good, they were gross, well described, vivid. But then I read that same scene over, and over, and over, and over again. Every death was the same as the one before. The descriptions of the mask are repeated word for word every time one of the POV characters encounters one. I finished the book a couple days ago and I still remember the stringy, black hair, the bulging eyeballs, and the lolling tongue. You might think it's a good thing that the reader remembers details from the book, but in this case, I only remember those details because I read them 200 times in 350 pages. I wanted more variety from the author. I wanted more creative death scenes and a bigger vocabulary for the characters.

Overall, this book was okay. It was a creepy way to spend a few nights reading. But it wasn't the best horror I've read.