Creepy, atmospheric and funny in parts. Great ghost story which I really enjoyed and jumped at. Great characters

I couldn’t finish this book. And my main problem with it is that the description we get doesn’t reflect what the book portrays. I was expecting maybe some family/character drama around a haunted and cultish book. And I still think that’s the impression we get from the synopsis. But that’s not what we get.

There’s no intrigue around a book. We’re directly brought to the fallout, and we just know that the main character read a weird book. That’s it.

Of course, because I DNF’ed it, I don’t know if this turns out to be explained. But adding that expectation that wasn’t met with the portrayal of toxic masculinity, gory horror (that isn’t my thing) and confusing sci-fi out of nowhere, it just isn’t for me.

The section about the boy in the orphanage was pretty cool though.

Full review:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I went into Will Haunt You nearly blind. I didn’t know anything about the plot, or really what to expect. After hearing some excellent early praise for Brian Kirk’s new novel, I decided to read the prequel, OBSIDEO (more on that later). After I got through the first couple of chapters, I thought I knew where I was headed. Something strange, something violent. Perhaps a mix between Bentley Little and Brian Keene? But while Will Haunt You does sit at the table with Little and Keene, this isn’t a reheated narrative. It’s heart-breaking and visceral, while also bringing its own brand of dark humor. It’s a horror novel that wears its ingenuity and wit on its bloody sleeves.

This book focuses on aging rocker Jesse Wheeler. After reading a book given to him by a fellow band member, Jesse is dragged into what turns out to be the worst kind of nightmare. He’s chased, tortured, and forced to confront his demons in life. His tormentors are cruel and seemingly omnipotent. Will Haunt You plays with perception and conspiracy in a way that I rarely see. I had a blast reading through this. It certainly helps that Jesse is an excellent character to travel with. He’s both wry and realistic, with just the right amount of self-deprecation. His actions are largely driven by his wife and son, who play major parts in Jesse’s hellish journey.

But while I think Jesse is great, he’s not the true star of the show. I want to avoid dragging you further into Spoiler Town, but I will say that the antagonistic force of Will Haunt You is utterly terrifying. This haunting takes on many forms, and I enjoyed all of them. The horror of this book is bizarre and feels like something that came dripping out of a monster’s fever dream. A great horror novel often earns its crown through its set pieces, and Brian delivers them in spades. I had no idea what would be waiting for Jesse around each corner. Each new location brought out a fresh bout of anxiety for me. Who can be trusted? What form will the next torment take?

As a Bizarro horror novel, Will Haunt You really works. It’s inventive, emotional, and harrowing. The central thrust of the book makes for thoroughly engrossing reading. Some writers have trouble making their strange happenings believable, but Brian Kirk is certainly not one of them. The only real gripe I had was that the ending, which didn’t quite coalesce for me. It wrapped up too quickly, leaving me a bit confused. It’s not a deal breaker by any means, but that’s a testament to how excellent the rest of the book is.

If you love weird fiction, Will Haunt You is worth your time. Pick up the book. Embrace the oddity. Just be prepared for what waits for you after that last page…

Also: Brian Kirk wrote a short companion piece called OBSIDEO. It’s a potent piece of Creepypasta that is the perfect introduction to the book that follows. Seek it out, and heed the warnings inside. Trust me. Would I lead you astray?

I'm afraid this book just didn't do it for me.

It was incredibly difficult to follow, chapters that seemed to fill space instead of advancing the story, and the story never really seemed to finish.

It felt like a chore reading it at some stages and left me with a lot of questions. I was hoping to feel threatened throughout the novel due to the tagline but even at the end I just felt relieved that I'd finished it.

Will Haunt You by Brian Kirk is a character-driven tale of cosmic horror that reminds readers that there are dark, dangerous, possible futures lurking on the horizon, unexplainable, inescapable, beyond human comprehension.

Jesse Wheeler, former guitarist for a heavy metal band called The Rising Dead, is a sellout. He gave up his musical pipe dream to become a commercial jingle writer. However, he has two good reasons–a wife and a disabled son who count on his support. Jesse is a good guy with a raunchy backstory of sex, booze, drugs, and rock and roll. He has been living on the straight and narrow for seven years. One bad decision changes everything; he reads a cursed book. He was warned, but he read it anyway. On the night of a successful Rising Dead ten-year reunion, his life path goes sideways. While driving home from the concert, Jesse’s car dies. He quickly finds himself being attacked by tire-iron wielding backwoods mechanics. After a prolonged attempt to escape, he is eventually captured and wakes on an examination table in an underground torture chamber that operates like an alternate universe. Thus, he begins his true journey. He must fight for survival and to get home to his family.

The most notable aspect of the book is the main character Jesse Wheeler. The first-person point of view allows readers an intimate, honest access into his thoughts. This character is unconditionally developed. His voice is real, accurate, and honest, offering entré into the life of a rocker with nothing held back. Readers will wonder how the author gained such detailed insight into this ill-fated personality. Kirk manages to reveal the character in a natural, unstrained way. Jesse possesses deep insight into his past and its ramifications. Many of his thoughts are perceptive, often philosophical. His number one drive is to protect his family and perhaps to gain redemption along the way.

Although the cursed book or item trope is not an original concept on which to base a plot, the unique protagonist in Will Haunt You tells the tale from a distinctive, quirky perspective, thereby creating a denaturalizing effect. The plot becomes somehow new. Since the story is driven by a single, marginalized character, it lacks complexity except for a short episode that includes Jesse’s wife and child. A diary episode interrupts the flow and fragments the plot trajectory, but it manages to add intertextuality to the mix, which fans of postmodernism will enjoy. The only significant weakness in the plot are the torture scenes which may appear pointless or repetitive to some. However, readers who enjoy the genre will dig in, hoping to find meaning or the possibility of commentary on modern society.

The prose is smooth, conversational, and easy to read. All aspects of the text are on the surface and thus lack the inclusion of the finer things of literature such as symbolism and sub-textual undercurrents. However, one could say that the entire journey is a metaphor that attempts to warn readers to closely consider their life choices before it’s too late, before they must strive for redemption.

The audience most likely to enjoy Will Haunt You might be a younger crowd that will identify with the protagonist and relish a truly disturbing tale of cosmic adventure.

The cosmic question might be whether reading any book can change a reader. Many would say the answer is a resounding yes.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for a review.

Below is an except from the blurb

"You don’t read the book. It reads you. Rumors of a deadly book have been floating around the dark corners of the deep web. A disturbing tale about a mysterious figure who preys on those who read the book and subjects them to a world of personalized terror. Jesse Wheeler—former guitarist of the heavy metal group The Rising Dead—was quick to discount the ominous folklore associated with the book. It takes more than some urban legend to frighten him. "

I have to say when I read the blurb I was quite excited to read this book. Unfortunately, it did not quite live up to my expectations. The book was ok but just didn't hold my attention. All the elements were in there but it just didn't quite work for me and at times felt disjointed.

Though this has had comparisons to HOUSE OF :LEAVES, I don't think that WILL HAUNT YOU lives up to the other book. I went in thinking that it was going to focus more on the urban legend issue of the mysterious book, but we got straight into the fallout and once we did it became a little haphazard and confusing in the chaos. While I appreciated the metaphors about facing your past and your demons, a lot of the mythology and execution of said metaphors left me feeling cold. There was definitely potential here, and by the end I was able to wrap my head about everything, but it felt a bit too little, too late. While I wouldn't steer all horror fans away from WILL HAUNT YOU, I don't know if it will find connection to as many fans as it would like.

This book follows Jesse, a retired heavy metal guitarist and recovering alcoholic, as he falls down a metaphorical rabbit hole of horror after reading a cursed book. What he read in that book has led to the events that he now faces, and it’s only at the very end that we find out why.

There’s a meta- feel to this book in that the reader is warned to stop reading this book, lest we also be sucked in to a similar, awful turn of events. Obviously, horror readers are not going to fall for that line and if a cursed book really did exist, we’re too stubborn for our own good and would totally read it while enjoying a good cup of tea.

I must confess, this book didn’t really do it for me and I struggled to really understand the ‘why-ness’ of it all. But I did appreciate how the author masterfully blends horror with psychological suspense caused by Jesse’s own guilt and neuroses, it kept me invested to the very end.
The book is fast paced and covers a lot of ground, most of which is bizarre and horrifying in every conceivable way!

Fans of Stephen King and unreliable narrators will love this book, I can very much appreciate that though it wasn’t the book for me that other horror fans will get very excited about what this book has to offer.

Will Haunt You by Brian Kirk is an interesting book. The main character is an ex-rock band member who is definitely not happy with the choices he's made in life, but he's not completely aware of this fact at the opening of the story. He's ended up writing jingles for a living, married to a woman because they got pregnant, and caring for a very disabled young child. The story starts at a band reunion and then things GO ALL TO HELL. It's quite a ride - from being chased through a sewer by men out of Deliverance to being abandoned in a cabin in the woods surrounded by cavemen (maybe?). The book often breaks the fourth wall, warning you about reading the book in your hands. Which was fine except the ending, to me, fell sort of flat - I wish that the author had just plainly spoken at times instead of just alluding to what was happening. The ending confused me rather than scaring me. But that's just my reaction and maybe I need to go back and read the last few chapters again. All in all, worth the read for this man's terrifying journey.

Title: Will Haunt You

Author: Brian Kirk

Pages:288

Genre:horror

Publisher:Flame Tree Press

book synopsis



You don't read the book. It reads you.

Rumors of a deadly book have been floating around the dark corners of the deep web. A disturbing tale about a mysterious figure who preys on those who read the book and subjects them to a world of personalized terror. Jesse Wheeler--former guitarist of the heavy metal group The Rising Dead--was quick to discount the ominous folklore associated with the book. It takes more than some urban legend to frighten him. Hell, reality is scary enough. Seven years ago his greatest responsibility was the nightly guitar solo. Then one night when Jesse was blackout drunk, he accidentally injured his son, leaving him permanently disabled. Dreams of being a rock star died when he destroyed his son's future. Now he cuts radio jingles and fights to stay clean. But Jesse is wrong.

The legend is real--and tonight he will become the protagonist in an elaborate scheme specifically tailored to prey on his fears and resurrect the ghosts from his past. Jesse is not the only one in danger, however.

By reading the book, you have volunteered to participate in the author's deadly game, with every page drawing you closer to your own personalized nightmare.

The real horror doesn't begin until you reach the end. That's when the evil comes for you.



My thoughts

Would I recommend it: No

Will I read anything else by this author: don't know

When I say the cover I was hopping for book that was going to keeping me up all night reading and one that was going to be scary and creepy , and sadly it didn't do any of those things, in fact there was times I wanted to DNF it but I didn't for I kept hopping it would get better and win me over ,once again it didn't do any those thing, its not a story kept me wanting to read it , in fact there was non thing I liked about it at all , it didn't pull me in to , it didn't hook me , it was just boring and confusing .With that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read it and review it exchange for my honest opinion.

I had high hopes for this book liked the blurb thought it would be something different but no i just could not get into it. it lost me about half way in and it barely made it to the end i wish so much more had been done with the premise as it started so well



Thank you to netgalley and flaming tree press for the digital ARC in return for an unbiased review

I finally finished it!!!
I will admit, this book was very diffucult to read for me. There were points when i was truly invested and couldn't put it down, but then other points when i was having to re-read pages just to understand what was happening. There is alot of unnecessary descriptions througout Mr. Kirk's writing. I feel like that is a persons' preference and may be enjoyed by some readers. I feel like we see alot of the writers personality in this book. I liked the main character enough. I do feel like some of the book was a bit pretentious. Mostly towards the end with all of the "phylisophical" jargan. There was no clear explination as to why this was all happening and seemed a bit lazy with explaining it. I REALLY enjoyed the segment about the boy in the boys foster home, and the letters written by the woman in the cabin. I'd have loved to have read more about them! Overall, i gave it a 3, because i feel like he has some good stuff going on here, but it could use a bit more polishing in my opinion. I am very greatful to have received a copy of this ARC to review.
(Also, there is a typo on page 169, "Cassie" has three s's instead of the two)

Will Haunt You had one of the creepiest, and terrifying beginnings I can remember reading in a long time. Within the first half dozen chapters I was filled with an overwhelming sense of terror. The journey Jesse found himself on was a nightmare straight out of the movie Inception. Each layer crazier than the one before it, and it didn’t let up for a good portion of the story.
Will Haunt You had some great passages, like ‘You know how you can animate a series of drawings by flipping the pages? That was how my face was printed on the wall.’ That is a hell of a description. There were many more great passages here and many statements that were a slap to the face, a shot between the eyes. Ones that make you wonder and ones that tighten your chest. ‘We live in a psychotic world and the only way out is death’. Damn if that isn’t a harsh and brutal view, and it was exactly the world Jesse was struggling to survive.
As much as I loved the horrors and thought-provoking moments, which there were many, I more I read, the more lost I became. The story started to feel like it had gone in too many directions. For those who remember the greatness of the TV show LOST, this was the vibe I was getting. Many questions, too few answers.
Will Haunt You was great read for three quarters of the book, then I thought what the hell is happening. I could feel the momentum leaking from the pages and I wasn’t thrilled with the conclusion. Something was amiss, and I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. It was like knowing you missed a crucial five-minute segment of a movie, or the last line of a joke just before the punchline. I was left with mixed emotions and hoped for more in the end.

I started this book with high hopes and quickly realized I wouldn't be into it.
It had a strong beginning but flamed out somewhere in the middle.
Great idea, great author, mediocre book.
Thanks #netgalley and #flamingtreepress

Over the course of 2018 and now into 2019 two things have become abundantly clear. Indie horror releases have upped the level of quality and Flame Tree Press releases are stellar. Now while the two statements at face value would appear to be completely unrelated, I can guarantee you, they are one and the same.
There is nothing wrong with commercial literature. Many of the best horror novels of all time are considered commercial literature. But sometimes, and lately that has been happening a lot, commercial literature has a ‘happy ending’ or a ‘neatly wrapped up finale.’ Meanwhile, indie authors and indie horror strive to tell the tale they want to tell. No commercial editing, the release is designed to engage and enrage, not move to the #1 spot on the Bestsellers list.
Enter Flame Tree Press. They are fast becoming one of the go-to publishing imprints for top-notch releases. Why? Well personally I think it’s because their authors are not commercial authors at heart. They write tales designed to engage and enrage.
Which brings us to Will Haunt You.
This is my first Brian Kirk read, but it sure won’t be my last.
I came across the release of this book through the unique promotion Kirk and Flame Tree Press had on Twitter, where the prologue Obsideo was told. While the prologue itself was well done, the various puzzle pieces where Kirk utilized different bloggers was fantastic and it was great to see such an ‘outside the box’ marketing piece pulled off so well. I found some of the posts a touch cheesy (specifically the ‘I came inside and my books moved’ posts) but it definitely built some great momentum and word of mouth for Will Haunt You.
As I stated on Twitter when I started reading this; Brian Kirk’s use of prose is phenomenal. It’s like your favourite band. All you need to hear is the rhythm, not even the actual song, and you know who it is. I was sucked in immediately and found the author’s voice to be one I enjoyed. This story can best be described as a mash up of three movies; The Game starring Michael Douglas, The Cell starring Jennifer Lopez and 31 from Rob Zombie.
We follow the main character, Jesse, a former rock star-now jingle writer. The story picks up on the night of his band playing a one-off reunion show. Jesse longs for the glory days - young women, lots of booze and big arenas. Now he’s a recovering alcoholic and married with a special needs child.
Then he read a book recommended to him by a bandmate. Now he’s in over his head and Kirk puts the pedal to the metal. Things quickly spiral out of control and nothing is what it seems. Surveillance, the young-old character Malia, and a deepening mystery.
Will Haunt You is the ideal indie horror novel. Kirk takes the road less travelled, and in fact while it is written in first person POV, he breaks the fourth wall to talk directly to the reader a number of times. It works so satisfyingly well that it made me keep pushing deeper and deeper into the novel.
I don’t want to go too far into details, as I fear it will create spoilers. But here’s a Cole’s notes on what you can expect;
- Professor O.
- Hidden Labs
- Weird Beasts
- Abandoned cabins
- Heartbreak
If you read that list and still don’t find yourself interested, I’m so sorry. Because for me this book was the ultimate horror read. This will easily be on my best of 2019 list at the end of the year and look forward to checking out Brian’s other works!

This review will be posted on Kendall Reviews, Goodreads at publication date.

WILL HAUNT YOU is a chilling ride into the realms of your worst nightmare. In this case, it follows an ex-guitarist from a forgotten metal band, who decides to read a book one of his former bandmates recommended to him. Unbeknownst to him, the book is haunted and possessed by some unseen Evil. From that point on, the book (and the horrors behind it's creation) turn his reality inside out, making him question his own sanity and every bad decision that led him to this point in his life.

Brian Kirk writes the novel as a precautionary tale for his readers, warning them that the book in their hands is indeed a version of the same haunted tome that plagues his character. Overall, this setup works, and though it has similarities to the Ring franchise and John Carpenter's In The Mouth of Madness, the story deliveries enough chills and twists to keep the reader engaged.

***4 out of 5 stars***

(Thank you to Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for the ARC, offered in exchange for an honest opinion.)
#Amazon

Will Haunt You is a novel about a disturbing book that, if read, a mysterious figure will subject you to a world of personalized terror.

And the chances are, that on reading this, it will happen to you too.

Sounds like the dream, right?

The synopsis for this book sounded so intriguing, and it held a lot of potential for me until chapter 9 (about 20% of the way through the book). And then things started to get a little crazy for me.

The book follows Jesse, former guitarist for band, The Rising Dead, and since a tragic accident befell his son, Jesse is now sober and resentful. After reading the book, he is kidnapped, subject to some crazy shit and forced to fall off the wagon that he never really wanted to get on in the first place.

I'm not sure if it was the intention of this book or not, but from chapter 11 it felt like I'd been sober for a time and had myself fallen off the wagon. We had gone from a nice slow introduction to Jesse and his background, to then what felt like a short blackout before entering a new scene, that was over before you knew it, to a new scene that then forced you to slow down a bit, lots of random and quite crazy drama.. and for a lot of the rest of the book I thought, hang on?? What is happening here?! I was seriously confused.

The ending kind of picked up, but for me I was still a bit bewildered to what was going on and had gone on previously. I still don't really get much of why these things happened.

I highlighted this quote that I liked "What wars we'd fought together. Strength forged by the fires of our own friction" and the book is written pretty well. It's just a bit jumpy in places.

I think this one is probably a case of it's not me it's you. I give it 2.5 stars, and if you read it.. Beware, it might be safer if you don't.

Book Review 📖
Will Haunt You by Brian Kirk 📚
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‘WARNING’
I read a book much like the one you’re holding now. Please, put it down. Or better yet, throw it away. This is your last warning ⚠️ Turn the page, and you’re on your own. Actually, that’s not true. Then the page and he’ll be there, watching you.
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When scrolling through @netgalley I came across this book, and it sounded extremely dark and freaky!
The story follows Jesse who is part of a metal band called The Rising Dead, who get together every once in a while to perform again 🤟🏻
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We find out that one of Jesses friends/band mates gave him a book to read that creates an absolute nightmare for Jesse.
As the story develops will learn about all the mistakes Jesse has made in his life, troubling our character with the past that he has tried ever so hard to keep a secret!
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Will Haunt You - started extremely strong, I was even on the point of freaking out a little, and then came the middle of the book - where i actually said what the hell is actually going on!!! It really confused me, to the point where the book lost its haunting capability!
(But please don’t let this put you off, if you like the sound of it, you should go for it)
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The ending picked the haunting back up and I am thankful for that!!! I really enjoyed the ending, but just wished the horror would have knocked it up a notch in the middle!
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I would like to thank @netgalley and @flametreepress for the advanced reading copy...
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3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 from me 👏🏼

The beginning of this book was really creepy. I love Jesse’s warning to the reader about reading the book. The science or lab part of the story was confusing and weird. I had no idea where the story was going. It had a dream like quality to it. Even when I was confused, I had to keep reading to find out what happened to Jesse and his family. There’s a twist that was a surprise but I’m not sure I understood the ending. It kept me reading so it’s a 3.5 out of 5 for me which means I recommend it if you’re willing to read through weird.

Will Haunt You is an unusual novel about a former rocker named Jesse Wheeler. He's lived a hard life, and he's doing his best to live up to who he wants to be, and to move beyond who he has been. One night after a reunion with his old band mates, he finds himself in the middle of a nightmarish situation that dredges up the past he's trying to leave behind and brings fresh terror to his life.

If you've read House of Leaves, you may appreciate the staccato and disjointed writing style of Brian Kirk. I struggled through House of Leaves, and found Will Haunt You even more frustrating. I want to ask what Kirk has against sentences -- you know, actual sentences. The majority of the book is written in this annoying (intended as atmospheric?) style of awkward fragments, which is beyond distracting, I couldn't concentrate on what was supposed to be happening.

If the writing is supposed to add unnerving icing on the terror cake, then it certainly worked, but not in an enjoyable way. I love horror novels, but this was an awful experience.

Here are a few examples, but be aware the book is chock full of nothing but examples of short, amateurish fragments instead of rich writing:

"The dude I was just on the phone with, Solomon. Our drummer. Was our drummer, I mean. For the Rising Dead. "

"The dress was Victorian, but of a steampunk variety. Crimson with black lining. A form-fitting buttoned top with a billowing skirt, frilled at the bottom. High-heeled boots with black ribbons running up the open sides. Her eyes were unchanged. That sparkling jade."

"My words dying the instant they existed my mouth. Muffled like there's no air. A candle snuffed in space. Which made it hard to breathe. The thought of that."

I hate to say it, but I wouldn't recommend this book, as is, to anyone. It was torturous to read, but sadly not because it was scary.