Alive: Everything looks the same yet the unthinkable has happened

Name: Alive: Everything looks the same yet the unthinkable has happened
Price: 13.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781500130879

✍️ John Kuykendall

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$13.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A detective hunts a serial killer while haunted by the dead in a collapsing society.

The novel follows Detective Oscar Mariani as he navigates a world where the dead walk among the living. He deals with a ritualistic killer targeting young women while managing his own internal demons and an unshakable ghostly presence. The plot examines the failure of authority and the rise of crime in a society on the brink.

Key Themes

silent ghosts serial killer societal collapse

Literary Context

Set in the near future, this work reflects anxieties about institutional failure and the breakdown of social order. It draws on horror traditions involving the undead and psychological thriller tropes surrounding detective work and personal trauma.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Clive Barker · Thomas Harris

👻

Ghost Stories

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2014 📖 258 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781500130879

📝 Description: Alive: Everything looks the same yet the unthinkable has happened

John Kuykendall presents a near-future thriller where the dead rise without warning. The world appears normal, yet silent, unshakable spirits haunt every citizen. These ghosts include relatives, friends, and strangers, creating an atmosphere of pervasive dread. Governments collapse as they lose control over resources and their own people. Crime spikes, and murders become commonplace, leaving society to question if the spirits or humans are responsible. Detective Oscar Mariani investigates these crimes while battling his own apathy and depression. He faces a difficult task with half the suspects invisible to his department. His strike rate remains low until he encounters a case involving a ritualistic serial killer targeting innocent young women at work. This investigation implicates powerful figures in high places. Mariani must solve the case to survive and potentially exorcise the ghost of a dead young man who watches him. This narrative blends supernatural horror with police procedural elements. It suits readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric thrillers featuring flawed protagonists and societal collapse. Those seeking lighthearted escapism or traditional ghost stories may find the tone too bleak. The story focuses on the intersection of crime, grief, and the uncanny.

💎 Our verdict on Alive: Everything looks the same yet the unthinkable has happened

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🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Kuykendall delivers a potent blend of supernatural horror and crime fiction, creating an atmosphere of pervasive dread through the concept of silent, unshakable spirits. The narrative excels in depicting the failure of authority and the rise of crime in a collapsing society, offering a grim yet fascinating look at human resilience. Detective Mariani serves as a compelling, albeit apathetic, guide through this terrifying landscape. While traditional ghost story enthusiasts might find the tone too bleak or the procedural aspects less engaging, fans of cosmic horror and psychological thrillers will likely appreciate the intricate interplay between crime, grief, and the uncanny in this disturbing near-future setting.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate dark, atmospheric thrillers with a focus on psychological depth will find value in this narrative. It offers a compelling exploration of grief and the uncanny, blending police procedural elements with supernatural horror. Those interested in stories about flawed protagonists battling internal demons amidst societal breakdown will enjoy the intense emotional landscape. The book provides a unique perspective on how authority fails when faced with the impossible, appealing to fans of bleak, thought-provoking fiction that does not shy away from heavy themes.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Kuykendall delivers a potent blend of supernatural horror and crime fiction, creating an atmosphere of pervasive dread through the concept of silent, unshakable spirits. The narrative excels in depicting the failure of authority and the rise of crime in a collapsing society, offering a grim yet fascinating look at human resilience. Detective Mariani serves as a compelling, albeit apathetic, guide through this terrifying landscape. While traditional ghost story enthusiasts might find the tone too bleak or the procedural aspects less engaging, fans of cosmic horror and psychological thrillers will likely appreciate the intricate interplay between crime, grief, and the uncanny in this disturbing near-future setting.