Monday, November 25, 2013

Spiderstalk [Book Review]

Genre - Action/Horror/Sci-Fi/Suspense
(Sub-Genre - Giant Spiders!)
Year Published - 2013
Length - 468 (print) pgs.
Written by D. Nathan Hilliard

Rating: 5+ Skulls

Plot Summary:
Life hasn't been kind to Adam Sellars lately...

In the past year he has broken up with his fiancee, barely survived a terrible car wreck, and had his brother's family vanish while he lay unconscious in the hospital. Since then he has been a crippled shell going through the motions of life with nothing but the search for his brother to keep him going.

But Adam is about to discover that things can still take a turn for the worse.

Much worse.

His quest for his lost brother has brushed up against a very dark corner of the world and something has come out of that darkness with an unholy vengeance.
He can't fight it, he can't hide from it, and not even the police can protect him as his world descends into chaos.

His only hope lies in a mysterious pair of strangers who have appeared out of nowhere with an offer of aid. But they have their own agenda, and his survival may not be their top priority. Now Adam must keep his wits about him and learn to believe in himself again as events send him on a collision course with a monster more horrific than he ever dreamed possible.

Review:
If you regularly keep track of my blog posts/reviews, then the name D. Nathan Hilliard may sound familiar to you.
Back in January, I reviewed his novel 'Dead Stop'. I stated then (and still stand by it!)  that 'Dead Stop' is the Best Zombie Novel that I have ever read!
At that time, Hilliard also received one of my 5+ Skull Ratings (which basically means above & beyond; exceptional!)
As you can see, above, Hilliard has accomplished this feat once again!
(now the conundrum lies in deciding which book is his best...)

When I discovered that 'Spiderstalk' had to do with giant spiders, I was giddy with anticipation; as anything small, becoming giant, is right up my alley! However, I am going to tell you right now that the spiders that Hilliard has created are not your typical "cheesy" B-Budget Sci-Fi kind of spiders. Hilliard makes them absolutely terrifying! All you have to do is just read the Prologue, and you will see what I am talking about. But don't stop there!
There is so much more to this book than just giant spiders!

Hilliard has created an epic masterpiece with this novel, dealing with secret societies, Native American folklore, a centuries long tribal war, etc, and he just happens to add some spiders (ranging anywhere from two feet to forty plus feet!) in the mix.

Hilliard is one of those authors that draws you completely into the world that he has created, and once you have entered it is difficult to leave, let me yell you!
(My wife jokingly says that I am not going to be allowed to read Hilliard's next book, as I get so enraptured in his stories.)

I really don't want to say too much more about this book, other than the fact that this book will make an excellent gift for a reader in your life, and not just for horror fans! Anyone who enjoys a quick escape from reality will enjoy reading this novel!

Jason

P. S. Thank you, Mr. Hilliard, for the Epilogue. A most excellent way to end a perfect story!