Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - Slash

So I'm doing double duty today.  Not only am I thrilled to FINALLY be participating in a blog tour for one of my favorite horror novelists, but I also get to do so with my Buddy Reads Partner in Crime - Stormi.  We both were able to snag this blog tour and I couldn't have been more thrilled.  So read on and then visit Stormi over @  Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!  And by the way, make sure you visit all of the participants listed above as the days go by.

TITLE: Slash

AUTHOR: Hunter Shea

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: October 24, 2019

FROM GOODREADS: Five years after Ashley King survived the infamous Resort Massacre, she’s found hanging in her basement by her fiancé, Todd Matthews. She left behind clues as to what really happened that night, clues that may reveal the identity of the killer the press has called The Wraith. With the help of his friends, Todd goes back to the crumbling Hayden Resort, a death-tinged ruin in the Catskills Mountains. What they find is a haunted history that’s been lying in wait for a fresh set of victims. The Wraith is back, and he’s nothing what they expected. 

MY THOUGHTS: Oh where do I began.  I had wonderful intentions of reading so many great horror books during the month of October but I read a couple that disappointed and honestly, it put me in a reading slump.  So many fellow bloggers knew this was on my TBR and hinted that this one would pull me out of it and that I would not be disappointed.  Now I have read numerous Shea books and as mentioned, he's one of my favorite authors, so I knew there was a good chance they were right.  Well guess what?  They were right.

So Slash starts off with Ashley and her fiance Todd.  Ashley and her friends were part of a huge massacre at the Hayden Resort five years ago and Ashley is the "final girl" meaning she is the only one that survived.  She lives the next five years of her life being idolized by many but also being in fear that the Wraith will find her and finish the job.  So early on, she kills herself (so not a spoiler folks).  Todd finds her and understandably has a hard time coping.  As part of the progress, he starts looking for clues Ashley left about everything that happened and he eventually starts putting the pieces together.   Todd decides to go to the Hayden Resort, which is set for demolition to see if he can find any more clues left from Ashley.  His friends decide to follow him.  But will they find the clues or will they find more than they bargained for?

This book was such a thrilling read.  Now I will admit the first 75 pages or so were slower paced but they were providing a lot of set-up and backstory.  Once the action started, it was hold on to your seat time.  Those who have read Shea know that he is not hesitant to kill off characters, and kill off he does.  He also puts a unique twist on the Wraith that I didn't initially see coming but was oh so pleased about where it was headed.  Some of the characters were likable and some not.  Some even straddled the line very precariously.  The ending was exciting and provided the reader with a conclusion that was digestible.  I can say the outcome for one of the characters wasn't what I really wanted, but I'll let it pass.

If you like slasher horror, blood, guts and carnage, then Slash is most definitely the book for you.  And it was the book for me because it actually "slashed" my reading slump (I know, I know).

RATING: 4.5 PAWS (but it may reflect as 4 on Goodreads because Goodreads sucks).

ANIMAL ABUSE TRIGGER WARNING:  NONE!  The is a cute rescue cat - who lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hunter Shea is the product of a misspent childhood watching scary movies, reading forbidden books and wishing Bigfoot would walk past his house. He doesn’t just write about the paranormal – he actively seeks out the things
that scare the hell out of people and experiences them for
himself. He’s the author of over 25 books, including The Jersey Devil (Pinnacle) and We Are Always Watching (Sinister Grin). Hunter’s novels can even be found on display at the International Cryptozoology Museum. The Montauk Monster was named one of the best reads of the summer by Publishers Weekly. He was selected to be part of the launch of Samhain Publishing’s new horror line in 2011 alongside legendary author Ramsey Campbell. He’s an avid podcaster and can be heard and seen on Monster Men and Final Guys every week. Living with his crazy and supportive family and two cats, he’s happy to be close enough to New York City to see the
skyline without having to pay New York rent. You can follow his travails at www.huntershea.com.