Vicious

Brandon Massey delivers a suspenseful narrative in Vicious, drawing on traditions of gothic horror and supernatural thriller fiction. The story follows Kym Phillips, a single professional approaching her thirtieth birthday, as she drives from Atlanta to Los Angeles with her younger sister for college. This journey provides a backdrop for Kym’s reflections on her love life, which lacks marriage prospects. The plot shifts when a predator begins stalking them across the Southwest’s lonely highways and barren canyons. Massey, known for Dark Corner and The Other Brother, structures the novel around this relentless chase, emphasizing the uncanny instincts of the hunter and his pack of vicious minions. This book suits readers who enjoy lightning-paced tales of survival against supernatural threats. It appeals to those interested in road trip narratives that turn into horror scenarios. However, it may not suit readers seeking quiet literary fiction or stories with happy endings. The narrative focuses on the visceral fear of being hunted by a sick hunger for blood. Kym’s realization that escape is impossible drives the tension. Massey uses the vast, empty landscapes to isolate his characters, heightening the sense of dread as they face a foe who is utterly relentless. The novel captures the anxiety of middle age and professional solitude against a backdrop of primal terror. It blends the personal stakes of Kym’s life with the external threat of the night’s wild things. The pacing ensures the reader feels the urgency of the pursuit. By focusing on the predator’s perspective as well as the prey’s, Massey creates a balanced view of the hunt. The story concludes with the characters still in the grip of this relentless danger, leaving the outcome uncertain.