Okay so I had to start reading a different book before bed because this was too scary. It's about an app that messes with sleep and dreams! Yeah, try falling asleep after that. Super good read, though. Scary, paranormal, with some mystery and a twist at the end. A great book for fall, I love all kinds of creepy stuff leading up to Halloween and this hit the spot. And I'd read more by this author. Probably not at night, though.

I liked this book but not enough to give it 5 stars. It was spellbinding and an interesting concept to erase one's memory of a tragic event, but I liked Carson's other book better - The Chill.

Returning to the family cabin in Maine, unemployed journalist Nick Bishop takes up a friend’s offer to write a piece about a new mindfulness app called Clarity. After listening to its haunting song, Nick finds himself dreaming for the first time. But the dreams become nightmares and he learns that his mother may have altered his memory about the accident that killed his father, and that he may be the only one to survive after listening to it. Did his mom hurt him or help him?

“Memory is identity. Unwinding one destroys the other.”

As always Koryta’s ability to create an atmosphere that enables the reader to suspend belief shines through.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A supernatural, sci-fi book that easily combines both genres to create a good and fast read. Nick is lured back to his hometown by an old friend with the promise of a job. Once he arrives however he meets yet another old friend, and the motive for his homecoming becomes something else entirely.

WHERE THEY WAIT, by accomplished author Scott Carson, who brought us THE CHILL, is a stunning blending of cutting-edge neuroscience, advanced technology the existence of which would make Silicon Valley weep, and historically-founded New England/Maritime Canadian legend. It doesn't sound like a blend, but it's perfectly managed. The most intense scare here for me is the implacability and the realization that such technology and neuroscience is not just near-future: maybe it's already present. Maybe researchers on Defense Contracts, or under the purview of foreign governments, are already deep into planning and execution. From this Horror there will be no escape.

Just like Edgar Allan Poe said:”All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”

This book is a horrifying, jaw dropping, haunted the story of former war correspondent Nick Bishop who spent long time in Kabul, leaving the place with restricted traumatic experiences and PTSD, returning his hometown Maine to stay at the camp located at Rosewater. He’s jobless and his mother suffers from Alzheimer’s, living in the care house. So coming back to hometown, spending more time with her, finding new job opportunities seem like the most logical move.

As soon as he gets an interesting offer to write about a visionary app aims to shape dreams, he drives to the company headquarters to meet with eccentric CEO and his assistant Renee. He realizes that red head woman she recently talked on the phone is very same Renee from his childhood which helps him break the ice before the interview.

But when Bryce Lermond, the founder of app insists to use Nick as his test subject, Renee seems like irritated, trying to convince Nick reject the offer. But Nick accepts. Interestingly one of the reasons of his last relationship’s ending is his dreamless state: he never sees any dream even a nightmare!

But as soon as he tries to app, teasing the meditation parts, he realizes a woman starts singing an ominous song and a few minutes later, he just dozes off and with the sudden breaking sound of his chair, he wakes up, finding Renee stands in front of him.

Renee insists he shouldn’t use the app, because it’s not completely finished and he’s better delete it. This is a little exaggerated reaction: driving through all the way from her workplace to tell him this. Nick gets intrigued and acts like he’s erased the app! He doesn’t have any idea what kind of trouble he’s getting into!

Now a death woman is following him and he cannot get rid of those nightmares. He might have been careful what he’s wished for!

I am not giving extra spoilers. I already told enough!

I enjoyed this book which scared the living daylights out of me! Especially the ending was breathtaking. The plot was also unique, smart, progression and development were well constructed.

It earned my four haunted, nightmarish, screaming, somebody shut this eerie lady’s mouth stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Okay, I’m going to be that person.

I liked it. I even liked it liked it (yes I have a 13-year-old). But I didn’t love it.

While I was thoroughly intrigued by the app, and definitely creeped out by a lot that happens in the book, I found the storytelling style to be a little meandering. Now, I admit that’s more an ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ sort of thing and that my mood may have played a part, but I sort of wanted more to happen between the odd dream sequences.

The reason behind everything is incredibly unique. I completely loved the why and how of that. And the eerie elements were well done. But, it just wasn’t a book that I had trouble putting down. I put down a few times – the good thing is that I liked it enough to keep picking it up again.

If you’re a things-go-boom kind of reader, you’ll find that there’s little in the book that moves with intensity, but as a slow burn it does definitely work.

*ARC provided via Net Galley

For former war correspondent Nick Bishop, a job profiling new mindfulness app Clarity is a real step down from his normal work, but the job pays and it allows him to visit home foe the first time in a long time. The app seems like a rehash of the same old same old…except for the Sleep Songs. Nick, eager for a good night’s sleep tries the songs himself; and they seem to work. He gets deep, restful sleep; he also gets horrendous nightmares about a dead woman who seems to be following him. This is a creepy read that will have you rethinking all those sleep apps on your phone

Scott Carson, remember the name because this book was amazing. The premise is scary and operates under the guise of wellness. I couldn't wait to finish reading it and find out what happened. I loved it.