His Loneliness Will Soon Turn to Fear....

When Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina, he faces the reality of his parents' divorce, a school full of nameless faces–and Jocelyn Evans. Jocelyn is beautiful and mysterious enough to leave Chris speechless. But the more Jocelyn resists him, the more the two are drawn together.

Chris soon learns that Jocelyn has secrets as deep as the town itself. Secrets more terrifying than the bullies he faces in the locker room or his mother's unexplained nightmares. He slowly begins to understand the horrific answers. The question is whether he can save Jocelyn in time.

This first book in the Solitary Tales series will take you from the cold halls of high school to the dark rooms of an abandoned cabin–and remind you what it means to believe in what you cannot see.

My Review:

Thrasher, as always, creates a story that you cannot help but fall in love with. He creates a world set apart, a word that cannot be escaped, and a world that will always be a part of you. I can't even begin to describe the feelings that arose from reading this novel; of mystery, madness, evil, darkness, derangement, and a fear that clutches at you just by continuing to read.

Thrasher always puts out good material. No fluff or minced words, but solid characters, settings that are believable, and a final chapter that will leave you disturbed. I'm not certain that being disturbed is a good way to end a novel, but to Thrasher's credit, he is consistent with all of his work. I can't say I've ever walked away from one of his stories with a clear head mind and clean conscience. He makes me doubt that I am living a Godly life, and convicts me to greater heights.

Thrasher forces me to think, to re-evaluate all that I know and believe. He examines the human condition at it's very heart, and he is a relentless hunter that always finds his mark. I would highly recommend this novel to young people of all ages, as it has a powerful message that will speak to readers everywhere.

This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.

When Chris Buckley's parents split, he sides with his mother, and they move to Solitary to live in his uncle's cabin. In the cabin, it appears that Chris's uncle walked out of his life without taking any of his possessions. At school, as the new kid, Chris attracts attention of girls and the resident bully, while strange things go on all over town. When he meets Jocelyn he looses his heart, but she suggests that things are not what they seem.

This book is written from the point of view of a teen-aged boy, making it seem as if the reader falls into his life and thoughts. Chris is full of anger at his mother for her constant drinking and his father for his method of pushing his faith. Chris is definitely not someone who follows others easily. The gloom of the town hangs over the whole book, as Chris tries to find answers and save the girl. Interesting read, but definitely the first step in a series. There is no resolution of what Chris believes. This would be good choice for those who enjoyed Twilight, as the feeling is similar, but with a Christian bent.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

His Loneliness Will Soon Turn to Fear....

When Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina, he faces the reality of his parents' divorce, a school full of nameless faces–and Jocelyn Evans. Jocelyn is beautiful and mysterious enough to leave Chris speechless. But the more Jocelyn resists him, the more the two are drawn together.

Chris soon learns that Jocelyn has secrets as deep as the town itself. Secrets more terrifying than the bullies he faces in the locker room or his mother's unexplained nightmares. He slowly begins to understand the horrific answers. The question is whether he can save Jocelyn in time.

This first book in the Solitary Tales series will take you from the cold halls of high school to the dark rooms of an abandoned cabin–and remind you what it means to believe in what you cannot see.

My Review:

Thrasher, as always, creates a story that you cannot help but fall in love with. He creates a world set apart, a word that cannot be escaped, and a world that will always be a part of you. I can't even begin to describe the feelings that arose from reading this novel; of mystery, madness, evil, darkness, derangement, and a fear that clutches at you just by continuing to read.

Thrasher always puts out good material. No fluff or minced words, but solid characters, settings that are believable, and a final chapter that will leave you disturbed. I'm not certain that being disturbed is a good way to end a novel, but to Thrasher's credit, he is consistent with all of his work. I can't say I've ever walked away from one of his stories with a clear head mind and clean conscience. He makes me doubt that I am living a Godly life, and convicts me to greater heights.

Thrasher forces me to think, to re-evaluate all that I know and believe. He examines the human condition at it's very heart, and he is a relentless hunter that always finds his mark. I would highly recommend this novel to young people of all ages, as it has a powerful message that will speak to readers everywhere.

This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me mad.

Then why five stars?

Because I'm writing this a week after finishing it, still mad.

I don't think there could be a greater complement to an author and his work than a reader not being able to shake himself out of the book he's just read.

Is the writing style right on? Short sentences and paragraphs that at times feel stuttering, but do propel you through the story.

Incidents occur that make you say c'mon, really? Full of them, but even the author acknowledges that in a humorous way to keep the decision making from becoming too frustrating. And think of it, this is a horror/suspense novel. That type of genre doesn't exist unless you investigate the bump in the night without calling the police first.

But what this book truly holds is tension and suspense that had me clicking the next page button on my Kindle so quickly that I very well may have taken years of function off that button.

Travis's character development is amazing. These characters are so unique and hard to figure out, yet wind up becoming so endearing.

I was very angry with the end of the book and I vowed to walk away. I tried to read a new book, couldn't, then tried reading another but simply couldn't keep my mind from wondering what's going on next with these characters and the questions I'd been left with (and there are many...this is not a standalone book in the four part series). So instead of being firm on my vow to give up, I did an about face and ordered the second book, Gravestone, because I have to know what happens.

In terms of Christian fiction, this book is dark. There is a glimmer of hope which comes through faith, and I think having read the second book in the series this will continue to be fleshed out as the series progresses.

In closing, you may be put off by the writing style. You may find character reaction to events unbelieveable. But you won't be able to walk away. You will be just as stuck in the town of Solitary as Chris is.

I guess the first thing I want to say is wow. I've finally found a author whose books make me cry, laugh, and throw them against a wall in disbelief. Finally a author who doesn't conform to what everyone wants him to write. One who isn't afraid to write unhappy endings. Someone who is finally not writing by the rules and coloring outside the lines. Thank-you for writing the Solitary tales series, those books are one of the few that fulfill all of my expectations in a book.Chris Buckley is a perfect character, in the way that he is flawed, broken, sarcastic, and totally believable as a seventeen year old boy. I usually avoid love stories and horror/thriller stories, but you made me love both. You've inspired me not to conform in my own writing and to ignore what other people say.

I''m a seventeen year old writer who so far only has one book finished and two on the go. Thank-you again for inspiring me to continue writing as it''s easy to get discouraged. Please keep writing.