Not Your Average B&B - At Least I Hope Not!

TITLE: Dread and Breakfast
AUTHOR: Stuart R. West
PUBLISHER: Grinning Skull Press
PUBLISHING DATE: December 21, 2016

FROM GOODREADS:  
WELCOME TO THE DANDY DROP INN, WHERE EVERYBODY
IS TREATED LIKE FAMILY!

It's the worst snowstorm Missouri has ever seen, and nine strangers, each harboring their own secrets, find themselves sharing a roof at the Dandy Drop Inn.

CHECKING IN'S EASY, …

Tommy and Heather Goodenow, the inn's only scheduled guests, are young newlyweds brought together by God himself. They plan to start their life together by carrying out the Lord's work, and God help anybody who gets in their way.

Harold Carsten, an accountant for the mob, is on the run with $700,000 stolen from his employer.

Winston Ashford is a man on a mission. His mission? Retrieve the money Carsten stole and make sure the man never does it again.

And then there's Rebecca Stanchfield and her six-year-old daughter, Kyra; they're risking their lives running from an abusive past.

… CHECKING OUT'S A BITCH.

Jim and Delores Dandy wouldn't dream of turning anybody away, especially not on the worst night in Missouri's history, because that just wouldn't be neighborly.

Before the storm is over, blood will flow.

Who will survive to see the storm finally pass?

MY THOUGHTS: I feel like I practically devoured this book and it was such a fun and fantastic read that I'm honestly sad to say it's over. Basically an epic snowstorm has hit Missouri and an eclectic cast of characters (and that's putting it mildly) end up taking shelter in a small town bread and breakfast ran by Delores and Jim Dandy (and if I have a dollar for every time I heard "Go Jim Dandy Go!" in my head, I'd easily pay for my lunches this week). Anyway, basically this book is pretty much about a bunch of people trying to kill each other and if that isn't enough to grab your attention, it should be.

There are quite a few things which I found made this book that much more enjoyable. First of all, the book starts out with action right from the very beginning. There are very few lulls in this novel and if you do run across one here or there, just take a deep breath because you're going to need it. Secondly, this book is set entirely smack-dab in the middle of a horrible snowstorm. I love this setting for horror/thriller novels and in "Dead and Breakfast," I actually felt that the the snowstorm was one of the characters. Speaking of characters, there are so many good ones in this book - and not too many of them likable. Jim and Delores and their trusty caretaker Christian run the B&B, Rebecca and her daughter Kyra are on the run from an abusive husband and Rebecca will do practically anything to protect her daughter. There is a germophobic mobster and his stupid nephew, a crook, two religious fanaticals and a hitman with a heart of gold. Add in a few side players and you can see why I found this book so interesting and action-packed.

It would have been easy to make this book a gore-fest. However, West manages to make it creepy and eerie while building up suspense for the next thing that's about to happen. I did find it predictable in one place, but honestly, the element I predicated only made the book that much more fun so it really provided no real problem for the flow of the book at all. If you love suspense, horror and characters with large personalities, then you need to pick up "Dread and Breakfast." Also, look at that cover - that should be reason enough!

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and it in no way influenced my thoughts.

RATING: 5 PAWS