Hunter Shea does it again in Rattus New Yorkus, the second entry in his One Size Eats All series. Rats are such nasty creatures. And intelligent. If anyone has ever tried to rid a building of them, they know what I’m talking about. You’ll catch the dumb ones, but the smarter ones watch and learn. What worked at first quickly stops working on the rest of them. Lucky for us, they’re not dangerously aggressive. Ah, but what if they were? Hunter takes that nugget and runs with it. And if it’s one thing the guy can do, its take an everyday creature and scare the shit out of us with it. Benny and Chris are exterminators in the Bronx and their marriage is on the rocks. Amid navigating the unknown waters of their separation, they’re called upon by the city to administer a newly developed rat control drug, a revolutionary substance called Degensis. Degensis is supposed to prevent New York’s rats from reproducing. That’s a good thing, since a rat’s gestation period is 21 days and can pop out 18 of the nasty boogers in one litter. Ah, but science never goes wrong, right?

What elevates Rattus New Yorkus from being a forgettable science gone amuck creature feature is Shea’s characters. I love Benny and Chris. Their situation feels real and familiar. We’ve all experienced break ups and that awkwardness that can go with it. Shea could’ve easily made one to be the bad guy here, but he doesn’t. The two simply drifted apart in their marriage, and that feels like real life. You don’t have to make one of the characters a bitch or an asshole. And because he didn’t, I sympathize with both of them equally. Then, throw them in this wild situation, and watch where it goes. Pulpy? Yes, but damn good writing.

4.5 Flaming Rats our of 5

A fast paced novella, now with more rats. Great characters, terrific story, sequel?Highly recommended.

“City rats are tough bastards.”

This is a B-grade movie I need to see! Mankind’s infinite wisdom strikes again. This time we’re taking on New York’s rat population, up close and personal with “hand-to-paw combat”.

Dr Randolph “Ratticus” Finch has developed a new rodenticide, Degenesis, that promises results. There are results, just not the ones he was hoping for. These rats are smarter and more aggressive, they’re multiplying quickly and they’re hungry. Exterminators Bennie and Chris Jackson are going to be working overtime on this one.

“They were enormous and mangy and looked like the embodiment of animal savagery and disease.”

I always have so much fun with Hunter Shea’s books. Although I really enjoyed watching the rats wreak havoc from a safe distance, a couple of the elements I look forward to in Shea’s stories weren’t quite as prominent in this one.

The action was pretty much non stop but my horror book bloodlust wasn’t entirely sated. The rats gnawed their way through the pages but I wasn’t sustained by graphic insides that are now your outsides details like I was in ‘Misfits’ and ‘Slash’. There also wasn’t the time for me to become invested in any specific character’s survival. I was actually on the rats’ side and wanted them to prevail, although I did have my swattin’ pole on hand, just in case.

I’m keen to experience all of the bloody fun that Shea’s novels promise and definitely want to see the mayhem unfold in the other One Size Eats All novellas.

“I think panic is an appropriate response to what we just saw.”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lyrical Underground, an imprint of Kensington Books, for the opportunity to read this novella.

Monsters come in all shapes and sizes and Hunter She is determined to write bout ll of them. “Rattus New Yorkus” promised a monstrous take on the rats of New York and I could not wit to sink my teeth into this book.



The rat population of New York just keeps getting bigger. The rats are getting bigger too. Exterminators are working hard to keep them in check but it seems like a battle they are destined to lose. Then along comes Dr. Randolph Finch and his new rodenticide, Degenesis. This chemical is billed as the next great step to control the pest population. It does not kill the rats but rather renders them sterile so that they cannot reproduce and grow new generations of the pests. This is the chemical that will save the city.



Chris and Benita Jackson are experienced exterminators in New York and they are not sold on the benefits of Degenesis. They think they understand rats after battling with them for years and have noticed some strange changes in their behavior. They seem to be growing more aggressive. Even worse, they seem to be changing their behavior and becoming more organized than before. The Jacksons fear that Degenesis is causing the rats to mutate. When the rats all mysteriously disappear, it seems like t least a vacation from the rodents. Then they world discovered what was going on beneath Grand Central Station and World War Rodent is set to begin.



Hunter Shea knows how to bring the chills and thrills, so what better topic than rats. Everyone hates rats so they make an easy target. And with their association with disease and the way they sneak around, it is easy to see why people do not like the critters. They are similar to spiders in the way in which they make the hair on the back of your neck stand up just at the thought of them. Shea, of course, does not sit back and let the natural scare factor kick in. Rather, “Rattus New Yorkus” brings the reader rats on steroids hellbent on taking over the world. The only thing in their way is those pesky humans, but that is a problem that is easily solved.



What does the reader get from “Rattus New Yorkus?” Just what I have come to expect from Hunter Shea. This is another fast-paced novel full of action and gore. Shea is the king of monster fiction and this novel is further proof as it is one of his best reads. It may not get in depth with the characters or bring much of a moral but it is a fun red in B-movie fashion just as I have come to look for in Shea’s books. “Rattus New Yorkus” is the story of a war against rats that become more vicious than ever before. They are also bigger than they used to be. Much worse, they also have developed a sort of hive mind that makes them smarter than they were in the past. Maybe even smarter than humans. This novel is about the showdown between rats and humans for the top spot on the food chain and it is not looking good for the humans. Highly recommended for Shea’s fans and anyone looking for a tale of action and adventure that reads like a runaway train from the first sentence until the last.



I would like to thank Lyrical Underground and NetGalley for this reader copy. Rattus New Yorkus is available now.

I always find Hunter Shea's books to be so much fun to read. They are often tongue in cheek with the campy blood and gore type carnage of the B movies of the 1950s. I always know I am in for a treat with one of his books.
Chris Jackson is a soon to be divorced expert exterminator who thinks he knows and has seen everything. Close but no cigar. These rats are something out of a nightmare and Chis soon finds himself in a battle against some pretty smart rats.

Book source ~ NetGalley

Chris and Benita Jackson have their own exterminating company and they’re one of several with a city contract. On a good day it’s hard to keep up with the rat population in New York City, but when they are ordered to use a new rodenticide named Degenesis, things are about to escalate and quickly.

If you have a phobia about rats DO NOT read this story. Because ewwwww! On the one hand I love the rat trivia I learned. On the other hand, the rats in this book? They are not your typical rat. They are disturbing on so many levels it’s not funny. This is a creature feature of horror and your cute little pet rat is not the star. No sirreebob. Go ahead. Pick it up by the wiry tail, if you dare.

Crazy-ridiculous should be a new word in the dictionary, because that's exactly what Shea has done with this novel. Using the cunning and sly intelligence of rats to take over New York in one hell of a thrill ride, Rattus New Yorkus is enough to make you second-guess buying another rat. Heck, it might even turn you into a scientist if you plan on spending the next dozen years or so researching the feasibility of something like this even happening at such a scale.

As much as we all like to dream, I'd certainly be dreaming about a rat-free York.

Rattus New Yorkus is another fun, cheese-filled horror offering by Hunter Shea. Chris and Benny are exterminators contracted by New York to help control the pest population. At urgings from city and scientists, the city exterminators are testing out a new position called Degenesis. This new chemical is said to work against rat reproduction, making it impossible to sustain colonies. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be what's happening. Instead, Chris and Benny are finding evidence of an increase in rat population. And increased aggression and intelligence. When the rats take to the streets in a frenzy more than once, attacking citizens, it's up to the exterminators and military to track the main nest and attempt to wipe out the plague of rodents.

Rattus is #2 in the One Size Eats All series. I quite enjoyed Jurassic Florida, but monstrous iguanas are a little improbable. Chemically altered rodents less so. Humans are constantly altering animal behaviours with the crap we dump in the environment. Pesticides are no exception. Everything adapts to what you throw at it, and it's clear that wild rats responded radically differently to the Degenesis position than the test subjects did. I kept rats once, as pets, and as breeders for python food. I know how smart those rats were, and wild rats need to be a lot savvier in order to survive. This was a short read, more plot driven than character driven. Unlike Jurassic Florida, Rattus felt a little more serious. I imagine it goes back to that believability factor. It's much easier to see this actually happening. I'm interested to see what critter will be showcased in the series next! Bees? Bees would be fun. Wild boar? Crows?

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Rattus New Yorkus by Hunter Shea

Note:

5 stars

This is a hit it miss author for me but I still like reading his books , and this one was no exception, it was the cover that made it request it from Netgalley as well as Soon As I saw it was Hunter Shea, and All I can say is Wow what a story ,this is one of those stories that shows you what happens when science and scientists go wrong and it's also the type of story that gives you goosebumps and make the hair on your arms stand up as well as keeping the lights on. With that said I want to say thanks Netgalley for giving me nightmares and letting me request it and read it in a change for my honest opinion .Can't wait to see what other stories he comes up with.

This one didn't wow me like Jurassic Florida. There were a few really great moments but it just seemed to be a bit bland compared to the other book.

While I loved "Jurassic Florida," the first book in the series, I honestly have to say I enjoyed this one even more. I don't know if it's because personally I found the rats to be creepier, or if because Shea was SUPER descriptive in this one and I could actually "smell" the situations (which trust me, is awesome and NASTY all at the same time).

Also, I felt a better connection with the MCs in "Rattus New Yorkus" and thought Chris and Benita were people I could really root for. However, if you read a lot of Shea novels, you also know that it isn't always smart to get attached to his characters.

"Rattus New Yorkus" has plenty of action and there really is never a dull moment. It also has one despicable character which always seems to make horror books fun - hey, I have to cheer on someone's possible demise. Shea has become an auto-read author for me and is one of my top 3 favorite horror authors. I can't wait to read the next in this series as well as anything else he produces.

Key Take Away: "...it’s a fun read. A throw back to good old 70s or 80s horror where nothing is taken too serious, and cliché, over the top imaginary is delightful. " 

Review:

Rattus New Yorkus. This is the scientific name for rats gonna eat your face! 

It also means a small book gets a small review.

A nice little story involving a freshly separated couple (the Jackson's) who happen to co-own a successful pest control service in New York.

By 'little story' I actually mean small, rodent size—a just over 100 page novella. By 'nice' I mean to say it’s a fun read. A throw back to good old 70s or 80s horror where nothing is taken too serious, and cliché, over the top imaginary is delightful.  

As luck would have it, the couple, under a city contract, are obliged to test some new poison that is meant to create a sterile rat population. As all pest control operators with a contract for the city do the same, we quickly come to the conclusion that this new poison has the opposite outcome. The rats breed at exponential speeds and have become much more aggression. Throw in the rats' hive mind-like coordination and we find our nearly divorced couple in a bit of trouble.

The characters are all a laugh.

The furious doctor, inventor of the failed poison, who’s too smart to admit he is wrong.

The weathered vermin-killing grump with all his wise rat-killing experience.

The take charge military commander who immediately realizes they are out gunned.

And the couple, filling the space with banter (poor Chris your ex has a new boyfriend she is hiding from you, I’m sure).

One fail from Hunter I will point out is that there is not one mention of a “rat king." A big-boss image would be a great one for the writer to have used, especially in a book dedicated to rampaging rats. Come on, if ever there were need of this image, it is in this story. No big deal, I just thought for sure it would come up.

Like I said, it’s a quick read so the time you spend on this one will not be missed. I suggest picking it up, it could be your toilet book and keep you entertained while sitting those 5 minutes a day. Probably better time spent than flipping through Facebook. Your friends do not post that stuff with the intention of giving your mind stimulation while you take a dump.

Now if you find you can finish this book off with only two trips to the toilet please consult your doctor. Or at least reconsider your diet.

Rated 5 out 5 small dark brown pellets.

Thank you very much.

Hunter Shea's novella series' (One size Eats All, Mail Order Massacres) have been absolutely delightful for creature-feature horror enthusiasts, and "Rattus New Yorkus" continues the trend. To curb the rat population in New York City, biologists have developed a poison intended to render rats sterile. Of course, the opposite proves to be true, and the new breed of rodents are EXTREMELY aggressive & bloodthirsty! Claustrophobic settings, rat chases, explosions, and great b-movie-humor dialogue populate this short & scary novella. It's a one-sitting read, and you'll definitely look forward to Shea's next "One Size Eats All" entry, THE DEVIL'S FINGERS!

Hunter Shea, by now, is a sure win for me. Well, not always but almost always. The previous book was about giant iguanas running rampant in Florida. This one had New York rats. *shudders*

It always fascinated me how pet rats were so incredibly clean and downright friendly while the wild variety is carrying almost every disease known to man. What they always are is smart as hell. And in this short book, that is exactly what's the problem.

A scientist is tinkering with whatever chemical formula in order to help exterminators in New York City to handle the rat problem better. However, that has unexpected side-effects and soon people are dying left and right and whole gangs of rats are cleaning out the neighbourhoods.

This would make an excellent b-movie. Seriously. It's just the right mix of monstrous creatures, mad science, military action, and ordinary people caught in the middle.

So much blood, so many "fireworks" ... so goooood. *evil grin*

Rattus New Yorkus by Hunter Shea
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Always be leery of any reviewer who says, "If you like, then..."

Why?

Because it usually means that if you pick up this book, you're gonna get eaten by horny rabid New York Rats juiced up the to gills on a super-potion, killing everyone in the most gruesome fashion ever.

Capishe?

Capishe.


Oh, I might want to mention that I would WATCH THE HELL out of this if it was a B-movie horror with an extra budget for all the special effects. It tickles all my fancies. :)

Shea usually does.

I picked this up with the hindsight that it was going to be a tongue in cheek b-horror kind of story and it certainly was that! But it is a quick entertaining read which kept me steaming through it and it's a perfect Sunday lazy afternoon kind of book.

I doubt it will leave many people scared unless you have a severe phobia of rats! If you do you best avoid this one

I wish I had saved some of the great lines peppered throughout it, my memory is terrible but I do remember one of them had something to do with tails being like satans ariels maybe? I'm going to have to flick back through it to find it as it amused me!

“Possibly a thousand rats were on our tail, their own tails bobbing like Satan’s spaghetti.”

Now that has got to go down as a classic surely?!! :-) 

Throughly enjoyed this book and I will be hunting out more of  Hunter Shea's books.

Rattus New Yorkus was published yesterday 21st August 2018 and can be purchased for  the amazing price of £1.81 now from Amazon

Another winning creature feature by Shea

I enjoy Shea's horror tales. They remind me of the 70s creature feature movies I watched as a teen.

In this novella, a scientist creates a poison called Degenesis and gives it to Manhattan's contracted city exterminators to try out on the overflowing population of rats in the city. It is supposed to sterilize the rats and eventually kill them off. But of course something goes wrong and there is a rat uprising.

Two of the exterminators are Benny (Benita) and Chris, a divorcing couple that have been an exterminating duo for thirty years. I loved this couple.

This was a fun "monsters at their worst" creepy story.

I received this novella from Kensington Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Seriously, this is a blast of a little book.

Hunter Shea takes the classic New York Rat problem and makes it legion. Picture them bigger, hungrier, and absolutely deadly!

The book is non stop fun and features a some characters I absolutely adored.

Don't take the book too seriously! Just sit back and enjoy the very chompy ride.

As usual, Shea delighted me and I can't wait for his next book!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

Rattus New Yorkus
Hunter Shea: One Size Eats All #2
Hunter Shea
Lyrical Underground/Kensington, August 2018
ISBN 978-1-5161-0794-0
Ebook

TONIGHT’S DINNER SPECIAL: US

They were either some kind of rat council of elders, or the rodent world’s version of a repugnant Moe, Larry, and Curly.

Benny and Chris—divorcing but still working together—are exterminators but even they are overwhelmed by what they’re seeing in the rat population, ever since they distributed a new kind of poison a few weeks earlier. Suddenly, the horrible creatures are much bigger and way more aggressive. Worse, they seem to be reproducing like crazy and working together, planning, strategizing.

And then they disappear but we know they haven’t really disappeared.

I’d yet to meet a man more intimidating than five-foot Sister Veronica.

I confess, I love creepy horror stories that are full of black humor and this one has it in spades. One liners abound and I just couldn’t resist chuckling even while I was reading about nasty rats:

I never said I wasn’t a world-class dumb-ass.

I’m beginning to think that Hunter Shea is a master of high camp as well as “normal” horror and Rattus New Yorkus was every bit as entertaining as the first of the One Size Eats All series. The third story, The Devil’s Fingers, will be released in October but, in the meantime, I’m happy to say there are plenty of older books to romp through and a new novel, Creature, coming in September.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, August 2018.

We all know that rats are crafty little buggers and learn very quickly from their mistakes. But what if they could demonstrate intent? An ability to outsmart even the most sleuth rodent exterminators. The genetic capability to reproduce tenfold in a matter of days? Well, that's what our two main characters Chris and Benny start to experience when a new type of rat poison does the exact opposite of what it was intended for.

Throughout this novella, I really enjoyed the fun, witty banter between Chris and Benny, the former spouses that continue to run their own exterminator business together. I loved watching their relationship twist and turn and loved their use of humour in even the gravest of situations.

Don't be fooled, however, while the quick-witted charm of our main characters provides a welcome distraction from the unfolding events, this book is ultimately a creature feature and Hunter Shea will have you squirming in your seat with his tense and graphic narrative of how it would really feel to be taken out by an army of rats.

Some books are just damn good fun and this is certainly one of them! I read this while on holidays and it was just the kind of short, snappy, witty creature feature I needed to help disengage my brain from the world around me.