Great!!
A Mask Of Flies is about a bank robbery gone horribly wrong, and while our MC is fleeing from the police, she’s also running from a supernatural entity from her past hellbent on tracking her down.

The tension/pacing were breakneck- the first like 50% especially was pretty much non-stop madness. It’s gory, with very intense graphic violence and gnarly injury details that had me cringing frequently

Gruesome and terrifying; this book has a lottttt going on. But for a crime/ supernatural horror this thing is pretty dang good. It’s a bit too gruesome for me, but I think that’s this authors work in general.

A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons
This is a review I’ve been putting off writing. Why? Because this book was a bit of a disappointment to me.
This book follows Anne Heller where after a bank heist gone wrong, is discovering aspects of her childhood that are probably best left unremembered.
I really liked the part of the plot line where you’re learning about Anne’s past and how she grew up and how it is effecting her now. What I didn’t like was the bank heist part of the story line. In this book Anne is on the run and apparently her picture is everywhere and all the cops are looking for her….but it just doesn’t come up as much as you think it would?
I didn’t hate this book. I didn’t love it. BUT I will say the narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, did an amazing job on the audiobook. She sounded exactly what I would like the main character to sound like.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great book! It had all the fears of growing up. Make a choice. Turn the page or close the book. Enter the darkness if you wish!

Gripping fusion of crime thriller and supernatural horror delivered via a relentless narrative - gorgeous cover too!

**Mask of Flies** is a compelling blend of mystery and horror that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows a protagonist who stumbles upon a sinister secret in a small town, uncovering layers of deceit and darkness. The author masterfully creates a chilling atmosphere, with vivid descriptions that bring the eerie setting to life. The characters are well-developed, each with their own secrets and motives. While the pacing can be uneven at times, the plot twists and suspense make up for it. Overall, it's a gripping read that earns a solid 4/5 stars for its thrilling narrative.

This book has a lot going on but not in a bad way. I think that the plot is great and the pacing was pretty good as well. I really like horror so once we got to where all the creepy stuff started to happen is when I think the book really starts to shine. I love a book with some grisly and gory details so that aspect didn't bother me but it may be much for some people so watch out for that. But if you can handle gore and like horror then I think this book is for you!

A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons is a gripping journey into the dark recesses of the human psyche. Lyons’ storytelling is nothing short of captivating, blending psychological tension with well-drawn characters and a plot that keeps you guessing.

One particularly unforgettable scene is when the protagonist, David, stumbles upon a hidden journal in the dilapidated basement of an abandoned house. This moment not only serves as a turning point in the story but also underscores Lyons' talent for building suspense. The eerie descriptions of the basement, combined with the chilling revelations in the journal, create an atmosphere of palpable dread and intrigue. David’s discovery propels him into a deeper, more personal quest that unearths long-buried secrets.

Throughout the book, Lyons excels in crafting multi-dimensional characters whose motivations and flaws feel achingly real. David's transformation from a skeptical outsider to someone entangled in a web of mystery and danger is both compelling and relatable. The author’s ability to weave in elements of horror with psychological depth results in a story that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

This book is a masterful exploration of fear, identity, and the shadows that lurk within us all. Matthew Lyons has delivered a novel that is not only a page-turner but also leaves you contemplating its themes long after the final chapter.

The book is eery, the plot is terrifying. This one had me watching happy cartoons before bed and hoping my mind would calm down after the madness. The book has fast points but also incorporates a slow burn feel where the plot is constantly churning and getting the reader ready for the next twist.

🪰A MASK OF FLIES🪰 by @cannibalghosts is about as twisty as it gets and even though there was a lot going on here causing me some confusion at times, overall I ended up enjoying the ride! Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publishers, @tornightfire and @macmillanaudio for the e and audio-ARCs.

🟢🟢🟢

At first I felt like this book didn't know what it really wanted to be. It starts hot and heavy with a heist and taking a cop hostage but that storyline eventually fizzles out. I felt a little let down by that even though it was really just the appetizer to a larger story. I liked the "second story" even more but won't give details so as to not spoil it for ya. Let's just say it takes a supernatural turn.

The landscape descriptions were vivid and captivating but the character development and dialogue were a bit lacking for me. I would give this book a solid 3 stars.

Huge shout out to the audio narrator @saskiaaudio - her voice and cadence kept me in the story even when I was not fully engaged!

Crime horror, indeed. A wild ride from start to finish. This book packed many punches that had me cringing and surprised. I enjoyed that, plus the setting. Let me tell you, as a Native Coloradan and having family from the Valley, this book captured the isolation, the small towns, the eeriness that just exists there. I loved that! Truly, the downfall was the amount of plot lines and people in constant motion intertwined. I was struggle to follow sometimes.

The audiobook narrated by Saskia Maarleveld is wonderful! Her tone of voice was perfect for this story. She was also easily understood at faster speeds.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Nightfire, Macmillan Audio and author Matthew Lyons for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had a hard time getting through this one but it's kind of hard for me to put my finger on why. I wasn't fond of the main character, she seemed a bit too much like the cliched bad girl with a good heart trope. I also felt the story dragged occasionally and could have been written as a much shorter novel. There were still definitely some fun moments, though.

The plot of this book is incredibly imaginative and intriguing, but I feel like it is trying to do too much in too few pages. I wanted to see more of the supernatural elements and some condensing of the on-the-ground sort of stuff.

Sadly this was a DNF for me - I just couldn't connect with it. Possibly the subject matter, as the writing is excellent, but it was very dark; maybe I've not been in the right mood for it.

I'll certainly be trying again in due course, so will update as and when. Apologies for now.

I don’t think I was prepared for how good this book is. I loved the supernatural elements it added to the suspense. I love a good crime novel and this one fit it perfectly

I love the variety of Lyons's books. The Night Will Find Us and A Black and Endless Sky were both super creepy in their own ways. I still check around the wood line at night when Watson is doing his business. Each book is something unique and here we have a crime/thriller/horror mashup complete with a botched bank heist, culty vibes, rural middle of nowhere setting for some isolation, and some good supernatural elements to keep it balanced. 

The thought that went into this is incredible. The complex layers in this story and the characters. Deeply flawed and at times very frustrating, it was fun being in Anne's head as she navigated the very unfortunate circumstances she found herself in. I think this could have been shortened a little - some repetitive parts but nothing to where I was ready to abandon the book. I love his books and will continue to pick up whatever he releases!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review "A Mask of Flies." I loved the concept of an outlaw mixed with pure horror. It is a story full of constant action. A bit gory so I would recommend it for true horror fans.

I am so thankful to Tor Nightfire, Macmillan Audio, Matthew Lyons, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this galley before publication day. I really enjoyed the dialogue and plot of this book and can’t wait to chat this one up with my friends!

I genuinely don’t know why it took me so long to read this it was fantastic and at no point did I know what was going to happen next

The prologue for this is basically a perfect short horror story, but once the novel truly started it went downhill fast, at least for me. The writing is sometimes way less assured and strong than it is at other times, which led to a disjointed reading experience that wasn't particularly immersive.