Review copy provided as part of the Things We Fear blog tour.
Kasey Campbell has been a bar tender for three years. Eric Winston an ex pro basketball player serves as the bars door man. He keeps the creeps from bothering Kasey, who has her fair share of guys hitting on all the time. It’s just another night for Matt who’s looking to score his next conquest. And it’s just another typical Saturday night for Kasey as she’s being undressed by the eyes of another creep. This time the creep is Matt Holmes or as a thinks of himself ‘next best night’. He is quickly shown the door and Kasey forgets all about this guy because he’s just another annoyance on any given night. Matt waits for Kasey to finish her shift as he hides in the shadows of a nearby alley. Of course this guy doesn’t waste any time taking what he wants. After knocking her out he takes her to the local abandoned paper mill and has his way with her then buries her with his other victims.
Glenn Rolfe character development is quick and spot on, we all know this kind of jack in the box. The guys who thinks he’s the most fascinating ladies’ man alive. In just a handful of pages I hated him and couldn’t wait to see what was waiting in the chapters to follow. Glenn then gives us two characters we can love, the ones who sadly fall victim to the cold cruel world. Glenn introduces us to Aaron who has an overwhelming fear of drowning, in fact it’s so bad he suffers panic attacks. He can’t even drive over a bridge without being set off. During the summer when he was a kid he went to the Kennebec River. A rope swinging afternoon gone wrong led to his near drowning. He swore something tried to pull him under and now avoids the water for fear of its return.
Aaron works as a teacher assistant at a local elementary school, the year is just a few hours from over and summer awaiting. When the last day of school is done he plans to enjoy the summer and some R&R. Emily a teacher and co-worker is just waking to a perfect sunny day, the last day of teaching for her is in sight. She has high hopes for the day until she looks outside and thinks a SUV is staring at her. An irrational fear but she feels this way regardless as she sees a shadow of a man behind the wheel. Sometimes the smallest things can set your pulse racing and get your fear monster to wake. Glenn has a great ability to make the reader feel the psychological horrors of his characters and I felt it along with Emily.
Matt, Aaron and Emily all teach at the same elementary school. Unfortunately for Emily Matt has his eye on her, always undressing her with his eyes. She always gets that hair standing up creepy feeling from him. Aaron decides to invite Emily to the beach and so they can enjoy the start of summer. Matt is furious that Emily blew him off and he goes into full stalker mode. He follows them and finds them on the pier, a perfect place for Matt to get rid of Aaron and have Emily for himself.
Glenn transfers the characters fears to your own within a few expertly written sentences. Being stalked or the fear of the water, or a guy who is too friendly. It doesn’t matter what you’re afraid of because Glenn puts the fear in you. Things We Fear is a quick read and I read it in one sitting. I was shocked more than once with Matt’s obsession and boldness. The ending went in a direction I hadn’t expected and I hated this guy even more than I had. As much as I really loved the story I was let down with how it was wrapped up. Without including any spoilers I leave it at that. I’ll really enjoyed Glenn’s last book Blood and Rain and was hoping for the satisfying ending he gave me. I really enjoy reading Glenn Rolfe’s work and I’ll continue to be on the look out for his next title.
Rating 3.8/5
Book Info
Length: 98 Pages
Publisher: Samhain Horror
Release date: March 8, 2016
To Purchase Things We Fear Click Here
Summer has just begun, and fear is in season.
School’s out, and the faculty at Fairington Elementary School are free for the summer. Emily Young can’t deny her attraction to Aaron Jackson, the Ed Tech from her classroom, but she’s afraid of being hurt again. Meanwhile, Aaron is determined not to let his phobia of drowning prevent him from enjoying the sun and the sand of Maine’s best beach town.
But they’re about to learn real fear. Fairington is home to a monster. Phys Ed teacher Matt Holmes has more to offer the ladies than a perfect smile. He’s a killer and he’s got his sights set on Emily.
Who at Fairington will conquer their fears? And who will fall to a psychopath’s hellbent rage?
Praise-
“Things We Fear is a compulsively readable tale of obsession and dark suspense, with one of the creepiest villains I’ve encountered in recent years.” — Tim Waggoner, author of The Way of All Flesh
“Glenn Rolfe’s new thriller is addictive. A quick, compelling read. Rolfe creates tension with a minimal amount of words. His characters are so well-drawn they come alive (before they die).” — Duncan Ralston, author of Salvage
“Fast paced and tense, with one of the most interesting monsters I’ve read about in recent times.” — Patrick Lacey, author of A Debt to Be Paid
“Glenn Rolfe is quickly establishing a name for himself as one of a number of excellent new writers to ensure the horror genre is kept alive and well. His previous books – Abram’s Bridge, Boom Town and Blood and Rain – have also served to show the extensive breadth of his imagination and Things We Fear carries on that trend. Quite simply, each story is fresh, new, exciting, and unpredictable.” — Catherine Cavendish, author of Dark Avenging Angel
“In this frighteningly real look at true horror, Rolfe manages to up the ante of tension while balancing genuinely heartbreaking moments, while showcasing his talent for creating unforgettable characters placed in equally unforgettable moments.” — David, Beneath The Underground
“There is a definite old school feel about this novella. It isn’t an over the top gore fest. Instead, what we have is a tense, psychological thriller that builds steadily towards a fitting climax.” -Adrian Shotbolt, at Ginger Nuts of Horror
Glenn Rolfe, Biography-
“Glenn Rolfe is an author, singer, songwriter and all around fun loving guy from the haunted woods of New England. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, and continues his education in the world of horror by devouring the novels of Stephen King and Richard Laymon.
He and his wife, Meghan, have three children, Ruby, Ramona, and Axl. He is grateful to be loved despite his weirdness.
He is the author the novellas, Abram’s Bridge, Boom Town, and his latest, Things We Fear (March, 2016), the short fiction collection, Slush, and the novels The Haunted Halls and Blood and Rain (October 2015). His first novella collection, Where Nightmares Begin, will also be released in March 2016. His next book, Chasing Ghosts, will be coming by 2017.
He is hard at work on many more. Stay tuned!
PURCHASE!
If you have any questions, would like a copy for review or to conduct an interview, contact Erin Al-Mehairi, Publicist, at hookofabook(at)hotmail(dot)com.
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