Sentinel

I thank the author for the ARC and I am happy to review the book. Apart from being gripping and spine chilling, this book is a page turner. The book revolves around the Dreyer family's encounter with a supernatural being and the aftermath. First, their neighbour gets murdered and later on their four year old son vanishes without a trace. The author has graphically described the eerie scenario in the small town. Who is the supernatural being? What is the town hiding? Will Aaron Dreyer find his missing son? This is one of my best reads and is highly recommended for horror buffs.

Bensalem is a town with secrets and a dark history. But Aaron and Ellen Dreyer find out too late when their neighbor is brutally murdered and their four-year-old son Caleb goes missing. They feel it’s all connected to a mysterious creature that lurks in the woods outside their home. When the police don’t believe them, they take matters into their own hands and uncover a sinister truth that will have them questioning their own sanity…This debut novel is amazing! The author takes his time and is very adept at building dramatic tension and drawing out that sense of dread that makes you feel anxious all over. The characters are strong and deeply complex and as a parent, I felt the desperation and anguish the Dreyers were going through. The fact that I shed a tear is an indicator of powerful and effective writing that I truly connected with. The horror element is of the mysterious and eerie kind that sneaks up on you, grabs you by the throat and thrusts you into a terror filled atmosphere full of immeasurable unease and grotesque imagery.If you’re a fan of cosmic horror set in a small town with giant creatures that lurk in the woods, you’re gonna want to read this book. The author came up with a very original story that you’d never guess what the town is hiding and what their dark methods are. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel!

I really enjoyed this horror novel. I hadn't read any horror for sometime and I'm glad I took a chance on this after reading so many great reviews. Those reviews are deserved I think.While this is horror it also is quite beautifully written with scenes of nature and parenthood and family also being prevalent. I really liked the characters here too especially Deputy Cheryl McNamara who has family issues as well as work ones which I felt added to the story.A fairly short and easy to read novel with punchy chapters and dialogue I would say this is overall a traditional and old fashioned hometown horror and is certainly no worse of for that. I read in the back of my copy that there will be book 2 in 2022 which I will definately be spending my hard earned cash on and not regretting it for a second.

A young family move to Bensalem, a small town with the beauty of nature surrounding them, what could possibly go wrong. Sentinel is a slow build up as we learn about the townspeople of this small sleepy town, which is not nearly as sleepy as first impressions give. Once the story speeds up, it drags you along, heart kicking and screaming. An ensemble cast, there were definitely some characters I felt a deeper connection to then others, but I cannot wait to see what they have in store for them in the next installment.

Got this book on a whim since it was October and I was looking for some more horror books. I was definitely not disappointed when reading this. It grabbed my attention and I had a very hard time putting it down. If your looking for a good read you can't go wrong with this book.

“But it wasn’t the thing’s size,metallic smell, or even the three yellow eyes that scared Aaron. Rather, it was its unsightly collection of long, tentacle-like fingers.”Aaron and Ellen live in Bensalem with their son Caleb. After a bout of jet lag messes up his sleep pattern, Aaron sees a Lovecraftian monster casually going for a stroll through the meadow opposite his house. A huge beast, at least 20 feet tall, with three yellow eyes. From there things take a downward spiral for Aaron and Ellen, as their neighbour is eviscerated and Caleb taken from them.This book is a slow burner, with a lot going on. The writing is wonderfully descriptive and a joy to read. The story runs over 6 days and nights in the lives of the characters and there’s a lot packed in and you really feel for Aaron and Ellen as they search for their missing son.There are some gory scenes, but not too many.It’s the first book in a series so as expected not everything is resolved at the end. I’m completely fascinated by “The Order of the Old Roses'', a mysterious order that seems to be protecting the town. But in this book, at least, it seems to be the cause of everything that goes wrong. I’m also looking forward to seeing what happens to Cheryl McNamara, a local deputy, in the next book. Her daughter is having issues and she’s come into possession of a large grimoire that belonged to the local chapter of the order. The only problem I have is that book 2 isn’t coming until 2022, so I’ll have to wait.Overall I really liked this book. The story is chilling and immersive, and I can heartily recommend it.