People in Pleasent Brook are going missing, and the streets are being haunted by gruesome masked figures, lurking in the darkness...

This book starts off with the gore, and barely stops. It's an absolute bloodbath and has some gnarly slasher vibe. It's like Stephen King's small town horror meets Scream, and I absolutely loved it! It's set around Halloween, which gives it an even more creepy, yet nostalgic feel.

When Bobby Lee puts on a mask he finds in an abandoned house, a dormant evil is released, and soon all hell breaks loose. With the help of a horror fanatic teen, the towns constable finds herself delving deep into the horrors which have begun to infect the town.

When I picked this one up, I half expected it to be set in the 80s / 90s (that cover gives off epic vintage horror!) So I was thrown off a little knowing that it's set in modern day. I still find it strange when reading a book that's set throughout COVID, and most the time I find that it doesn't really add to the story. However, it really added depth to this one!

The Horror at Pleasant Brook gets real creepy, especially when the creatures start showing hive-minded behaviour! Grace is a freaking badass, and all the characters felt so, so vivid. I blood LOVED this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Crystal Lake Publishing, and the author for the e-copy! I'll be buying a hardcopy for my shelf ASAP!

A very twisty tuent horror novel that brings several independent characters together to defeat a mask that sucks the life out of you and possesses you. Making you think you’re all powerful and strong when really it eats you from the inside out. An absolute must read for those who like small town horror.

This story grabbed my attention from the first page and by page 14, I was recommending it on my socials.
It does get a bit slow, but it picks right back up and pulls you in again.
I liked the story being told in duel POV., it let me get to know each character. Just don’t get attached to any one character :))

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Psychos in masks terrorizing a small town? Is this the new 2016.

Excellent plot with great reveals. But what really kept me glued were the characters. Few can develop characters as believable ad Mr. Steven King, but this author !damages to do it. Brilliant writing with intense suspense and some chilling of the spine too. Great horror book.

** spoiler alert ** *Netgalley*

TW: Body horror

Very reminiscent of Stephen King's works for me and I loved it.

The way you get to know these characters is splendid and really made me want to know more about them and their town outside of this story arc. I will say though, DON'T GET ATTACHED!

"Far as he was concerned, faith wasn't supposed to paint everything in black and white. It was supposed to help people better navigate the gray."

I have read a few books by this author and I highly recommend anything he writes! This book is well written and entertaining. I enjoy all books from Kevin Lucia and this book was no exception. With great character and plot development, this book is sure to impress and entertain all readers. I highly recommend!

Perfect for Halloween season, this novel is like a hybrid of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, vampires, and ghouls. It's all of those while maintaining its own very unique identity. And the author nails it perfectly.

This book is full of horrors and action that combines the best of both and leaves the reader breathless and frantic. There's not a dull moment to be found here and, as the story accelerates, you're in for a white knuckled, no holds barred terrifying ride.

Be sure to get this one and tell your friends about it. No reason being scared by yourself! I highly recommend.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own opinion.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.

Bad things don't happen in a small town. That's what most of us believe. We don't stop to wonder about the evil that can be lurking behind any door. We don't stop to think how one decision can change the course of lives. After all, a mask is only a mask right? This book starts off with a bang and doesn't let up. The story begins being told from different viewpoints which can be slightly confusing until you understand how each character ties together. Lucia wrote a story that literally gave me the creeps. I found myself glancing out my window while up alone reading. The characters and story blend together to create a super creepy atmosphere all while building relationships. I definitely will think twice before putting any unknown object near my face.

The story centers around the small town constable Grace who begins to investigate disturbing sightings of people in masks. What she believes is simply part of Halloween turns into a creepy have mentality gorefest. The characters are super diverse and I love how one of the most unlikely horror movie loving characters turns out to play a huge role in the story. The origins of the mask are slowly revealed throughout the story leaving you hungry for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc copy if this amazing read.

Pretty interesting but didn’t really capture my imagination. Will definitely check out the authors next book though.

This book follows a constable, Grace, and some weird happenings in the town, centered around Scott Carter. There are reports of people in masks, and the constable investigated. Keep reading to find out what happens next.

The descriptions in this book were so gross and creepy. Totally nailed the vibe of the horror book. I did love how Scott was the expert on what was happening because he loves horror movies. I got where this one was going quicker than I anticipated, but this was a good, creepy book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review Copy

Kevin Lucia's first novel THE HORROR AT PLEASANT BROOK is a blast to the 80's past and pays homage to the books and movies horror fans love and remember.

I think (and that's a big thought) that it's one of the maybe two or three stories he has written that don't take place in Clifton Heights. But the Heights do get a mention as being nearby; Pleasant Brook is a tiny hamlet in upstate New York. It's so small it only has one gas station, one constable, a Main Street and a few streets branching off from the Main Street.

It's character driven and you get to know everyone involved in the tale. It's full of violence and all the horror tropes. It's, in plain words, a bunch of fun with a very satisfying ending. I really enjoyed this.

I love a good haunting story and this was perfection

The dual POV was nice too I like seeing characters develop the story in their own words it was an awesome take on the “haunted town” trope and I really enjoyed it would definitely recommend for all my friends especially around the Halloween or summerween season

Another solid creep novel by Lucia. I loved all his previous novels. This one is just as good. I just wish there was more out there by this talented man. He writes characters so very well. I definitely will recommend this one to everyone I know.

Set aside whatever book you’re currently reading and pick this one up. This was easily one of the creepiest horror books I’ve read in years. It’s action-packed, full of detail, and the storyline was intricately crafted by the author. It has a very unique plot and it wrapped up in an unsettling way. Bonus points that the setting was in the Adirondacks!

I actually quite liked this book! It was familiar, yet different, and I found the alternate POVs to be a unique way to introduce characters and the varying stuff going on around town. Some of the characters were relatable, others were gruesome, and I found the writing style different for each character (to which I think helps the story get better!). The creature in the novel is remiscent of the creature IT and I found the lore of it interesting from the prologue and the rest of the story. While I wouldn't hail the story to be 100% unique itself, I find that the author did a great job establishing the characters and the creature itself - it makes the book far better than anticipated. I definitely recommend once it comes out!

Kevin Lucia’s first novel is a fun throwback to ‘80s tales of dread. The Horror at Pleasant Brook brings the reader to Pleasant Brook, an isolated town and community in the Adirondacks. Halloween is approaching and an ancient evil is rising that threatens to take the town and all within it.

I loved this and will be looking for this authors backlist for sure.

4 stars

It was fine but it definitely gave off the vibe as a basic horror story. Characters were bland and had no personalization, the writing was a bit weird, and I wasn't the biggest fan of going back and forth between present and past as it felt like it was taking from the story. Not quite 3 stars for me.

I wasn't expecting much when I downloaded this one, since it was a "read now" on NetGalley. But I liked the cover and the title, so I decided, what the heck... and yeah, it was pretty amateur. The author switched between past and present tense within the same paragraph multiple times throughout the book. A big pet peeve for me: the author kept calling phones "smartphones"- why? It's 2023? You don't need to specify that it's a smartphone on every single page. We get it. Anyway, the characters felt cookie cutter and bland. The plot was lukewarm. It might have had potential, but it really needs a lot of reworking.

Perfect for Halloween season, this novel is like a hybrid of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, vampires, and ghouls. It's all of those while maintaining its own very unique identity. And the author nails it perfectly.

This book is full of horrors and action that combines the best of both and leaves the reader breathless and frantic. There's not a dull moment to be found here and, as the story accelerates, you're in for a white knuckled, no holds barred terrifying ride.

Be sure to get this one and tell your friends about it. No reason being scared by yourself! I highly recommend.