Completely undefinable category and hands down my now favorite read of the year so far. Part coming of age, part super-natural mystery, alongside powerful themes of friendship, love, and family. I did NOT expect to cry towards the end, and I also did not expect for a 500+ page book to read like 300. ( I almost debated putting this one off due to length but trust me, it’s worth it!) My first read from this author but I doubt it will be my last!

Thank you, Atria Books and NetGalley, for the eARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

The synopsis for this one sounded so good and I am all for a good mystery thriller. However, the parts where it lost me were the supernatural elements. Because it was all wrapped up in one (and I didn't realize that before I started reading), it was hard for me to give this a higher rating and like this more than I could have. But, that's a personal preference and I'm sure others will enjoy this more than I did.

With that being said, this was written very well. It had a lot of attention to detail and described scenes well. I liked the characters and thought that the premise was interesting. Overall it was a good story.

4.5 ⭐

WOW. What a story. I absolutely LOVED it!

From the mystery to the nostalgic vibes to the supernatural essence. I was here for it all.

I really loved the depth of this story and how intricately detailed it was. Sometimes mysteries can feel and be a bit one dimensional in the world building / setting-the-stage sense, but Lost Man's Lane really delivers in that department. From the daily life and world of Marshall Miller down to the parallel depiction of world events of the time and musical sensations of the era, I was feeling simultaneously bittersweet and incredibly nostalgic. Portions of this were just so surreal and at the same time so relatable. I just got lost in all the little things and details of this book, in the best kind of way. Lost Man's Lane is so much more than a supernatural mystery! And my gosh, the mystery!!! Rather mindboggling and so, so cool. Though I certainly could have had more of said mystery. But the exponential unfolding of it throughout and then finally - finally! - the subsequent unraveling of it all, I couldn't stop reading! I had so many theories, but what Carson gives is beyond and so much better than I imagined! I really just loved all of it. New autoread author unlocked!!

- psychological thriller
- supernatural, slow-burn mystery
- incredibly nostalgic
- coming-of-age
- childhood friends-to-lovers romance

“Real terror is its own universal language; it never lacks clarity.”

This is an epic tale reminiscent of classic Steven King! This is not a genre I would read frequently but the writing is so good and the story so immersive that I know I will be thinking of these characters for quite some time.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an interesting book it really held my attention and there were a number of parts where I just could not wait to find out what happens next. Marshall Miller is a young man, seventeen, and it's the late nineties, Y2K fear is high and Marshall is concerned about graduating high school and moving onto college, though he needs to work on his grade average. During the summer break he is offered an internship of sorts with a local private investigator who is looking into the disappearance of a young woman, the same young woman that Marshall had seen in the back of a police cruiser that pulled him over, that was the last time the woman was seen. The PI, Noah, wants Marshall to do basic admin type stuff, though he does include him in some of his investigating work as well. I would consider this book more of a coming of age than a horror as it's tagged, but there are certainly parts where horror is front and present, especially if you are not keen on snakes like I am. There are some strange things that happen, like the day Marshall goes to see Noah and finds him dead, only for Noah to walk out of the house when the police descend on it when Marshall calls them. That incident was chalked up to stress, lots of coverage of the Columbine incident were on the news and Marshall had watched a lot. There are some very funny parts as well, Marshall's first attempt at climbing a rock wall had me laughing out loud, cuz I think I would have done something similar. Overall a good book and I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Atria/Emily Bestler Books.

Eerie, excellent coming-of-age tale

Excellent, excellent, excellent! It's been a while since I've read a story that kept me as enthralled as Lost Man's Lane did - from the beginning to the very end.

Marshall Miller is a normal 16 year old young man living with his meteorologist single mom in Bloomington, Indiana in 1999. Then he gets his driver's license, gets pulled over for speeding, and his life is never the same after that.

I loved the supernatural bent to this story. It felt like reading It or Boy's Life for the first times (and both books happened to be mentioned in this story).

I liked the character of Marshall but I also liked all the fully developed side characters - good guys and bad guys.

I liked the setting - Bloomington - and the year with its many happenings and historical references, such as Y2K and music.

I especially liked that the author Scott Carson (Michael Koryta) gave a proper ending to the story and didn't leave us readers hanging.

I highly recommend this tale if you like coming-of-age stories, thrillers, supernatural tales, or just exceptionally well-written books.

I received this Digital Review Copy from Atria Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review. This is that review.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"The moments before we make a mistake have a way of lingering "

Just one of many prophetic lines that are forever implanted in my mind from the very original compelling Lost Man's Lane by ultra brilliant author Michael Koryta writing as Scott Carson.

I've never read a supernatural thriller like this with pure evil, ghosts and then the emotional coming of age story of its brave, sweet 16 year old protagonist Marshall. Raised by a caring overworked mom, Marshall drives home by himself having just passed his driving test. He's pulled over by the very imposing Corporal Maddox and their confrontation is scarily unsettling. Listening to the underlying evil tone from gifted voice actor Corey Brill left me shivering in fear. But what haunts Marshall is the scared girl in the back of the police car. He dreams about the girl and then sees her picture on the news. She's missing and his world unravels as he realizes he may be her only hope.

This writer has created a full engaging supporting cast that slowly begins to understand, "there is a reason natural is in the word supernatural." With the help of charismatic P.I. Noah Storm, his BFF and true love, Carrie, and the goofy, stand by you no matter what friend Sean Miller, Marshall battles everything in this year of 1999 from worries over Y2K, fears from the Columbine shooting, and nerves from first love. Oh yeah, and snakes, lots of long, skin shedding snakes!

This thriller is masterfully plotted and the ending is perfection. It's the creepy goosebumps of Stephen King, the otherworldly thrills of Neil Gaiman, the jaw dropping twists of Freida McFadden, and the coming of age angst of J.D. Salinger all in one well founded man's story.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this book. Every time I picked the book up I didn't enjoy the read. It felt like homework. I never felt hooked into figuring out what the heck was happening. The book seemed to be neverending. Thrilled to cross it off my list. This book just wasn't for me.

It’s hard to find (my kind of) horror on NetGalley, so when I saw this book and saw the already high ratings on Goodreads, I had to check it out. This is a coming-of-age horror story, much like Stephen King’s “It” or Robert McCammon’s “Boy’s Life” (both of which were mentioned in the book!). This is horror with heart, my made-up favorite horror genre, and it is STUNNING.

The scene? Bloomington, Indiana. The year? 1999. The protagonist? Marshall Miller, son of locally famous meteorologist, Monica. The story starts with Marshall getting his driver’s license, then getting pulled over on his first trip. The officer, Corporal Maddox, was…intense. Threatening. Scary. What was more frightening? The young girl crying in the back of his car, wearing a familiar yet out-of-season outfit. The young girl who would soon be declared missing…

Marshall finds the whole incident jarring, and being the curious teen he is, decides to do some digging on Maddox. This digging doesn’t open a can of worms - it opens a mountain of snakes. His best friend, Kerri, and her father, Jerry, believe him, and believe what he’s found, but the police and even his own mother worry that he’s having hallucinations. This leads him to finding Noah, a private detective who is willing to help him dive into the history of the town.

I don’t normally like paranormal stories, supernatural or haunted tales, but this one was written so well. Characters like the Weller and Mr. Doig, and the choices Marshall has to make that year, make this an outstanding read. 1999 holds a special place in my heart, so I love the time frame and all the references - especially the musical ones. The author took me back to the days of downloading DMX and Counting Crows on Napster, thinking Keystone Ice was the classiest beer possible, and the Y2K fear.

The nostalgia in this book is real, the characters are amazing, the setting is stark but beautiful, and this really pulled the old heartstrings, while also giving the reader a unique story that never got cheesy, even when it dipped into the supernatural. It seemed real, and only the best horror writers can make that possible. Five stars for this one, and a big recommendation!

(Thank you to Atria Books, Scott Carson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

I love Scott Carson’s writing. It’s reminiscent of Stephen King. This beast of a book was no exception. The supernatural elements were so wonderfully placed throughout the book it didn’t throw me off like paranormal thrillers occasionally do. I loved the relationships in this book. I also loved the fear this book inspired in me. I was already afraid of snakes but this took me over the top. 5 stars

Lost Man’s Lane is a fabulously thrilling read. It kept me on the edge of my seat, heart racing. I was having nightmares about rattlesnakes and found myself searching the dark brush on the sides of the trail while my family hiked.
The writing was reminiscent of Stephen King’s writing. I found myself immersed in the story and went through ALL the emotions over the course of the 500+ pages. I have a feeling Lost Man’s Lane will be my top read for 2024.

I have posted this review on Amazon, Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6366676171

And Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5BmfIrrveV/?igsh=MTVnaGRvbXR4N3Fudg==

4.5 stars. I enjoyed this book more than I expected to! Supernatural elements (the book description is up front about having super natural elements) are usually a miss for me, but Carson used supernatural elements in a way that worked for me. I was totally engrossed in the plot and where it was going, and I was bummed every time I had to put the book down. I loved the 1999/2000 backdrop and how it was used to further the plot (Carson also incorporates lots of news tidbits from the time that I enjoyed for the most part, but did become a bit much at other times). I thought the characters were well developed, and I totally loved the relationship between Marshall and his mom as well as the new friendship between Marshall and Weller. I kept debating between 4 and 5 stars, but in the end decided that this is a book that will stick with me so 5 stars it is! This is my first book by Carson, but I will definitely be checking out more from him.

I'm giving it all the stars because this book has mystery, violence, horror, the supernatural, family relationships, and the icing on the cake for me, a lot of real life references to one of my favorite cities in the world.
I also really liked the main character and his mother. Marshall is a teenager in a single parent household, wondering who his father is while navigating relationships with his friends. There are so many things he can't explain about events that are happening, but his reactions feel real. This is a coming of age supernatural story, which I really enjoy. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Lost Man's Lane by Scott Carson was an entertaining story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel with its setting, intriguing characters and compelling writing.
The writing was good and the story was clever.
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that will have up flipping the pages quickly.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Bloomington, Indiana, February 11, 1999. Marshall Miller has received his driver's license just today. But he's already being pulled over by a cop for speeding. The encounter is unnerving, especially the crying girl sitting in the back of the squad car. And when Marshall learns that girl has been reported missing, the mystery goes so much deeper than he ever could have imagined. Lost Man's Lane is an exciting supernatural horror mystery about fathers, family, stones, and snakes.

I loved this book. The author does an excellent job blending a coming of age story with the mystery and horror genres. I think the fact that I was also a high school junior in the spring of 1999 made the novel especially resonant for me. I understood so much about the time that Carson works to evoke: the young internet and relative lack of social media, the anxiety about Y2K, and the unnerving shift in one's worldview following the Columbine tragedy.

The narrative style was a little jarring at times, and I found the first few pages hard to get into. And while rock-climbing does become an important plot point, the chapter where Marshall initially learns to climb feels a bit like the author attempting to showcase how much lingo he knows. The biggest disappointment for me is that Kerri seems to fade from the narrative towards the end of the book. She turns into a bit of a distressed damsel, which felt like a missed opportunity.

All in all, this was a very strong book and a 4.5/5 stars for me. The kid sleuth trope works nicely since Marshall is given an actual PI to learn from. There are so many emotional ups and downs, and I really came to love the main characters. I've heard good things about the author's other books, so I plan to check those out as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Additional review to be posted to Instagram on March 25, 2024 at @goodquietkitty.

I rarely give 5 star ratings but this one deserves at least 4.5. I'm a big fan of Michael Koryta and will read anything by him regardless of what pen name he uses. I especially like this one written as Scott Carson for the supernatural aspect as I think he really excels there. Lost Man's Lane is a thrilling tale of horror, family drama, mystery, and supernatural suspense. What more could you ask for? I would highly recommend it to fans of King, McCammon, Koontz etc. since Carson (Koryta) writes in a similar vein. My thanks to the publisher for providing a galley via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this one after hearing it being compared to a Stephen King but it just didn’t do it for me. Alternating the most mundane descriptions with very little action made for a very slow read and this is a BIG book. I still like this author and will continue to read others by him but this wasn’t for me. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for review

Teenager Marshall Miller is a witness to a missing girl investigation. Dealing with police and media is new, but nothing he can’t handle. Until something happens to kill his credibility. Now he bands together with some unlikely allies as he learns secrets behind his town’s history.

New favorite book alert! Once every couple years I find a book I devour page by page and absolutely love. This is the first since Fairy Tale. It puts me in the mind of my favorite book, Boy’s Life, which is funny because that book is actually mentioned as a book the main character reads. We have a great coming of age story, with some stereotypical, but necessary, characters (town bully, dense but affable and loyal jock) that really help to build a realistic journey. There are some strong supernatural components to the story, but nothing complicated or too wild. This was such a great read and worth every page (it is a long one)!

“Things that should have stayed dead in Bloomington had uncanny resilience lately.”

Lost Man’s Lane comes out 3/26.

Honestly, if I could give this book ten stars I would. It was that good. Fast paced and exciting from start to finish. I found myself unable to put this book down and as a result was up until 2 am reading it before I finally reluctantly passed out. The next day I picked it back up and lost hours of my time again

The story and writing are very reminiscent of 80s McCammon, which is fantastic for a reader with my tastes. The perspective of the lead character felt natural and not forced at all. 1999 doesn’t seem that long ago until you realize it was…25 years ago. The story has everything. Creepiness, adventure, great family support, friendships and first loves. All of it written beautifully.

For those of us climbers it was nice to read about so much climbing in a book like this. Really enjoyed all the climbing descriptions and it felt like the author likely has climbed or does climb. The wall is all.

This would have been an enjoyable audiobook but I found it to be just kind of a fine read. Nothing spectacular but definitely an interesting genre bend, it was very coming of age