This definitely gave me some old school horror and had a quick fun start! It did start to slow down a bit and stalled my reading of it, but once I got back into it, it picked up! I did not care for the trope of characters doing dumb stuff, but sometimes that’s fun a slasher-type book!

Horror at Pleasant Brook by Kevin Lucia was a pleasant surprise. I am a lover of horror but so often, horror is written in ways that can be derogatory to women and minority groups and this one I felt really turned that on it's head. As it began with a lot of sex (which is very common in horror as well) I was worried this was going to be one of THOSE kind of books but that was the only time it was used and it was part of the story. I can handle that.
Moving forward, we are hearing from a diverse group of characters, each with their own hidden pain and trauma. You get to know them and I honestly started to like them all. It's a real bummer when they start getting picked off one by one....
As for the actual horror, the others were terrifying and the use of the mask was truly disturbing. I never want to run into those things. My only quibble would be I don't know if I ever fully understood what exactly they were or why...but they were creepy and totally made the story.
Without any spoilers, I was devastated by the ending. Way to rip my heart out Lucia!
I would highly recommend this author to any of my patrons looking for a good horror novel. I will add Lucia to my must read list.

(This Digital ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

An engaging, horrifying read that hooks you into the action & its world from the very beginning. Here, a small town is plagued with a supernatural threat that creeps up onto them, and the plot that follows feels both realistic and terrifying. The motley ragtag group of protagonists are forced to deal with a situation they are woefully underprepared for, and the final third of the book leads to a climax of the plot that was so insane I could not look away.

The Horror at Pleasant Brook is meta in its awareness of itself as a horror story set in a world where horror movies are a thing (one of the protagonists is himself a horror movie aficionado), but it also heavily borrows from horror tropes to further its plot. The more typical horror story elements did result in some scenes of the book feeling repetitive and drawn out, but for the most part, they were used well. The story also features descriptions of gore and violence that border on gratuitous. but in my opinion, it was still tastefully used.

Normally books that feature COVID as a plot point aren't typically my favourite, but I can accept the necessity of requiring such a massive event to be referenced in stories set in the post 2020 period. This story does not fall into this category. Without spoilers, the inclusion of the COVID lockdowns adds greatly to the horror setting.

As for the flaws: Despite featuring a range of characters and POV's, almost everyone's inner monologue sounds identical. I also thought the romance being included half way through the book was ham-fisted and unnecessary, especially since it felt like it came out of nowhere.

Overall, this is a great horror read, with one of the most terrifying monster-villains I have ever read. 4/5, would love to see what this author comes up with next.

Pleasant Brook is a small town that's barely big enough to be called a town. As Halloween approaches weird things are happening in the town. People are disappearing and people in strange masks are stalking around the shadows. Can whatever evil that's plaguing Pleasant Brook be stopped?

Kevin Lucia is a great story teller. The Horror at Pleasant Brook played out like a movie in my head. I grew to knew and love the characters as well. I wish we would have gotten a touch more lore on the big bad spooky stuff but otherwise really enjoyed the book.


Thank you to NetGalley and Crystal Lake Publishing for the ARC!

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley (thanks, NetGalley!). There was a lot I liked about this book--the somewhat unique concept, a variety of characters, genuinely creepy moments--but I did have my complaints as well. I do spoil a few things in this review, so proceed with caution.

First, the positives. I thought the masked creatures were an original concept, combining a lot of the horror of vampires and zombies. Lucia's visual descriptions were strong and striking; I had many visceral reactions to the scenes. It certainly spooked me. I also liked that Lucia tried to incorporate characters from a variety of backgrounds, and I especially appreciated the focus on queer characters. The characters drew from archetypes (horror-loving teenager, small town law enforcement, etc.) but still felt original and real to the book, not just a stock cast of characters. They each had a fair amount of backstory and their own personalities.

That said, several aspects of the book took me out of it. First, the pacing. The book opens with a pretty gruesome scene, and several of the opening scenes are similarly dark. While these scenes pack a punch at first, it really throws off the pacing of the rest of the book. It is hard to raise the tension and the stakes when you start off with murdering people and making more masked creatures. Every scene that follows, you can basically assume that there's a good chance the character you're reading about it about to die in a fairly predictable way. I found myself comparing the book to 'Salem's Lot, which I think does a better job of pacing (for example, a dog found dead in a graveyard and people getting sick rather than immediately jolting the audience with bloody murder scenes). This unfortunately makes the book a bit formulaic and it means a lot of the deaths lose their impact. Lucia often tries to remedy this by giving characters lots of backstory, but this doesn't really help the issue. For example, the death of the security guard who finally gets his opportunity to show his bravery ends up losing a lot of its emotional weight because that chapter is the first time we ever see that character.

Additionally, I felt like there were some inconsistencies and examples of characters not acting very wisely in a way that was very frustrating. For example, we learn fairly early on that the creatures fear crosses, yet about halfway through the book, all the protagonists seem to stop attempting to use this knowledge or learn more (e.g., does holy water work too? Would a cross drawn in permanent marker work as well as a tattoo in providing protection?). Another example is the fact that the creatures are somehow able to use mind control to a certain extent, but they seem to use it really rarely, making it feel more like a convenient plot device than a genuine part of their backstory.

Further, I was pretty disappointed in the lack of character development. Many of the protagonists struggle with something--alcohol abuse, questioning their sexuality, uncertainty over career prospects, parental relationships--and yet we rarely see any moments of growth. Of course, part of the tragedy of the book is that some things are cut short and that people die before pursuing their goals, but even so, I think this detracts from the book. An example is Scott and Jasper's reckonings with their sexuality. Jasper shows just the beginnings of self-reflection when he is turned, but Scott's arc does not really end up going anywhere. I would have loved to see him question what it means to have Jasper showing up at his doorstep night after night, even in monster form, or some kind of processing beyond just the immediate shame.

I want to end by saying that despite the book's flaws, I really enjoyed reading it. Lucia definitely excelled at creating memorable, chilling moments. Three weeks after finishing it, I still find myself a little unnerved entering my house at night, as a little part of me fears coming across one of these masked creatures. I expect scenes from the book will continue to flash through my memory as the weather gets colder and we get closer to Samhain.

The concept is cool. I just found the style of writing to be a bit amateurish. I found myself skipping over paragraphs about halfway through. And every time someone new saw someone wearing the mask, we get the description over and over and over again. I get that’s part of the story but jeez.

3/5 Stars

This was a quick and fun read that would have been even better had I been able to read it during spooky season. More than serviceable prose, fast pacing, and a unique take on small town horror. I don't have much else to say other than this makes for a great palette cleanse read in between larger books. I enjoyed the 80s vibes despite not taking place in the 80s and the evil big bad reminded me a bit of the antagonist from No Country For Old Men in a sense that he was an inevitable dark fate for the protagonist. Inescapable.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My thoughts:

👹 The Positives:

▪️ I really enjoyed the plot. It reminded me of the movie Slither, only instead of slug-like aliens taking over a small town, it was a multiplying demon mask.

▪️ The characters were great. There was gay, lesbian, and nonbinary representation, and the story felt overall inclusive. There was even a homeless character that wasn’t written in an overly stereotypical way, which was refreshing.

▪️ The demon masks were creepy, and the kills were creatively gruesome.

▪️ There were nods to other horror books and movies, which were fun to spot.

👹 The Negatives:

▪️ I found this book to be repetitive at times.

▪️ Something I think will be a negative for some is that this story takes place during COVID, and there are a lot of mentions of remote schooling, shops closing, and people’s views about precautions, mandates, etc. If these things bother you, this is probably a book you’d want to avoid.


Overall, I enjoyed this book. I felt it could’ve been a 5-star read had a lot of the repetitive stuff (recapping the plot, describing the mask over and over, etc.) been cut, but as it stands, here are my ratings:

Plot: 👹👹👹👹 /5
Characters: 🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️ /5
Scare Factor: ☠️☠️☠️ /5
Final Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 /5

The Horror at Pleasant Brook? More like the horror of an unpleasant book. I liked the concept of the story, I just wish it was a bit better. Would still recommend reading it though.

Oh my lord I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. It had me gripped straight from the get go. It felt like I was reading a teen slasher movie (specifically Scream because it talks about horror movie tropes and cliches, which I find is in itself a cliche now however this book did it well). It follows a lot of characters of a small town in America during the Covid pandemic being terrorised by beings wearing masks. Highly rate for a spooky and quick Halloween read.

Author Kevin Lucia could NOT have picked a more perfect time to have this book published than right before Halloween AND still during Covid sickness re-emerging around the World.

The town of Pleasant Brook and its MANY people who make it up have no idea what the hell they are in for this coming Halloween. And once it hits....all hell breaks loose and will never be the same again. This book was good however there are so many characters, that it made it hard to try to keep them in their own little corner of your memory, and it starts very slow. That almost made me not want to finish it. But I am glad I did. It made me feel like the beginning of the classic horror novel that will never be topped in my opinion only; Thomas Tryons' "Harvest Home". The covering of a face with some form of Masks has always made the reason for me to fear clowns and this book will do that to those readers who are new to the horror genre. Lucia has some GREAT scenes of gore and horror so just please stick with it, it pays off well.

I highly recommend this to anyone expecting to be creeped out and scared. The cover is phenomenal too!
4 SCREAMS very loudly

Set in the quaint town of Pleasant Brook, Lucia expertly crafts an atmosphere that initially seems idyllic but gradually unravels to reveal an undercurrent of unsettling mystery and impending dread. The author's descriptive prowess paints vivid images of the town and its inhabitants, evoking a sense of familiarity that soon gives way to an eerie and foreboding undertone.

The strength of the novel lies in Lucia's ability to build tension and suspense throughout the narrative. As the story unfolds, the layers of the town's history and its dark secrets are slowly peeled back, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each revelation. The pacing is well-measured, allowing the suspense to simmer and intensify until it reaches a crescendo of chilling revelations.

Additionally, the characters are intricately woven into the fabric of the town, each carrying their own burdens and secrets, adding depth to the story. The way in which their lives intersect with the unfolding horrors contributes to the sense of unease that permeates the narrative.

However, while the slow-burn tension and atmospheric setting are strengths of the novel, some readers may find the pacing a bit too gradual, especially if they prefer faster-paced narratives. Additionally, the resolution of certain mysteries might leave some craving more closure or further exploration.

Resting somewhere between the thrill of Stephen King and horrors of Grady Hendrix, Kevin Lucia’s The Horror at Pleasant Brook is a win. Gripping, entertaining, terrifying, and full of grotesque imagery, this novel is sure to get your heart pumping and mind reeling.

As someone who grew up in upstate New York, many of the locales and names hit home (literally and figuratively) for me. In other novels I found this oddly specific connection distracting and annoying, but in The Horror at Pleasant Brook it only added to my personal nightmare; which I absolutely loved. This novel has the makings to be a truly memorable horror movie and could easily become a cult classic in the haunted horror book genre.

The Horror at Pleasant Brook is a new spin on a classic horror story. An evil force threatens to swallow a sleepy Adirondacks town. Giving 80’s vibes, a group of unlikely characters band together to save the town. Mayhem ensues as blood is shed, tears are cried, and guts are spilled.

These characters are fun and face the impending doom in ways you wouldn’t expect. It was a fun read for any horror head!

After having just recently finished reading my first story by Kevin, Daughter of the Mists (which I absolutely loved) I was excited to see that there was a new Halloween story by him.  This one takes place in the small town of Pleasant Brook.  With Halloween approaching, an ancient evil is brought back to life and begins overtaking the town.  There's a sickness that's spreading in the form of a mask and anyone that succumbs to it becomes a part of it.  This book definitely had an old school horror feel to it, and was very creepy, and gory.  My one complaint would just be that I have covid fatigue, and really don't want to read about it anymore, but thankfully it was only mentioned in setting the scene, and wasn't an overwhelming part of the story.  I thought it was a great Halloween read and would definitely recommend it.

I was shocked to read the description and learn that the writer is an editor, because there were so many grammatical errors and so much repetition. There were also a lot of characters, and at least once the author mixed up two characters. It would have been better to make it tighter and cut out some errors, one odd one being the spelling of Jeep as JEEP.
The story itself was fun. I always enjoy the kind of "evil coming back and taking over a small town" stories. However, the characters were stereotypes and the writer seemed to be trying really hard to represent different sexual orientations, all while mercilessly shaming a young woman who made money stripping. I don't personally know anyone who would shame someone for that and it was a really weird thing to harp on.
The characters weren't smart and didn't follow up on what they learned, and one character who probably would have been cool died because another character who knew how dangerous everything was decided to go off alone to think in an empty area.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This was wildly entertaining and hard to put down. I am definitely going to be rereading this and keeping an eye out for more from this author

This was a gory ride! The story caught my attention from the very beginning with the creepy masks. I enjoyed the small town setting and “creatures/ 🧛🏽‍♀️ vampires”.

**Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review. **

Some fear blossoms more in the mind, some more in the gut. Scream, with all its violence and blood-smeared knives, is suspenseful and tense as we anticipate each inevitable death. On the other hand, the first Saw movie, which I’ve always deemed as psychological horror, still made me squirm physically, uncomfortable in my skin.

The Horror at Pleasant Brook has the latter effect. Set in a small town nestled between the Adirondacks late in the COVID-19 pandemic, Lucia’s novel will make readers flinch as they read, disturbed by each character’s gory end and supernatural transformation, even if it’s story slackens every once in a while.

When disgraced hometown hero Bobby Lee Haskel returns to Pleasant Brook to hawk moonshine, he stumbles upon a mysterious mask in the abandoned house where he’s squatting. Allowing the mask to meld to his face makes him feel powerful, but possesses him to kill his friends, his family, and those trying to live quiet lives in Pleasant Brook. Following each murder, Haskel — the First — transforms his victims into an army of the undead hellbent on ushering a new era of darkness.

It’s up to constable Grace Matthews, the small town’s only law enforcement officer, to make sense of the resulting disappearances. Along the way, she works with Scott Carter, a teenager with a passion for horror movies trying to fight the boredom of remote learning; Marty Crenshaw, who lives in an abandoned barn and eeks out an honest living doing odd jobs; Julie Lomax, an exotic dancer and recovering alcoholic disturbed by the appearance of the masked horrors at her strip club; and transgendered librarian Sage Hunter, Julie’s AA sponsor and Grace’s former lover.

If there’s a lot of characters to keep track of in The Horror at Pleasant Brook, it’s because Lucia succeeds at bringing this sleepy town to life. As readers, we feel like we are part of the town’s intimate community, aware of the drama and camaraderie and complicated history that connects these characters. When the horror spreading through town takes Scott’s only friend Jasper, with whom he shared an ill-conceived kiss, we readers feel his confusion and loneliness and sorrow. Lucia’s ability to establish intimacy and sense of community is his strength — and something that separates this gory horror story from the classic slasher films that it honors.

But the momentum of the story is often lost in this intimacy as well. We may spend too much time in Grace’s head, doubting her choice to leave the big city for her small town post; we get too lost in Scott’s mind worrying about Jasper, his mom, the father he never met. Likewise, at times, there’s too much repetition — similar scenes and details and and backstories that slow the action down or dilute the anxiety and inevitability readers need to really feel the novel’s terror.

Suffice to say, The Horror at Pleasant Brook works well as a horror novel. As a horror movie, however, there’d be too much down time, too much discussion, too much worrying and backpedaling and planning to sustain the appropriate tension. Certainly, the terrifying scenes are terrifying and worth the wait, rife with the kinds of blood-splattered horror readers will feel in the gut even if it doesn’t quite stoke the same sort of fear in the mind.

I enjoyed this book. It’s funny how it was able to stick with me. I started reading this book Back in Oct, got away from reading for quite some time yet I still had this book with me when I picked it back up to finish it.